A iust and moderate Answer To a most iniurious and slaunderous Pamphlet intituled An exact Discouery of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie and Rebellion Wherein the innocency of Catholike religion is proued and euery obiection returned vpon the Protestant Accuser and his owne profession Psal 57. vers 1. Si veré vtique Iustitiam loquimini recta iudicate filij hominum With licence of Superior TO THE MOST EXCELLENT and mightie Prince our gratious and dread Soueraigne IAMES by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France and Ireland defender of the faith TWo thinges most Gratious Soueraigne among the rest of chiâ—fest regard in terrene and humane affaires were euer apprised at the highest value Life the present being Fame and Reputation the beautie and splendor theereof The first giuing esse aftâ—r non esse to the greatest earthlie Creature the other maintaining in some sorte a perâ—ptuall life and glorious liuing when we be dead Therefore by how much the possessors of those dignities be more popular publique and greater in number State or preeminence â—y so many degrees vnworthily and trecherouslie to be depriued of them is more iniurious guilâ—ie of wickednesse and obnoxious to Restitution Concerning the former The late intended Conspiracy against the life of your Royall Maiestie the Life Vnion Rule and Direction to these vnited Kingdomes so many Nobles and Persons of esteeme was so heinous impiety that nothing which is holy can make it Legitimate no pretence of Religion can be alleadged to excuse it God and heauen condemne it Men and earth detest it Innocents bewaile it the Nocent and vnhappie Delinquents themselues perceiuing how their Religion reproueth it in repentance haue lamented it Protestants exclaime against it and your dutifull Religious and learned Catholikes Priests and others which haue endured most for their profession hold it in greatest horror and make it a subiect of their grieuous sorrow that any of their profession should attempt so barbarous and vnnaturall cruelty or practise any disobedience at all to your Highnesse And will sweare protest promise and performe to your Maiesty whatsoeuer Loyaltie Obedience and dutie is due from a subiect to his Temporall Prince by the word of God lawe of Nature or hath beâ—ne vsed by the subiects of this Kingdome to any your Pâ—ogenitoâ—s Christian from the first to the last acknowledge and rendâ—r to your honorable Counsaile and all Magistratâ—s in ciuiâ—l causes so much Honor Reuerence and Submission and to all other Protestant subiects like amitie and neighbourlie affection as if they were of the same Religion which we prâ—fesse Concerning the second of publike reproache and defamation most worthy Prince if it only concerned the Catholikes of this Nation although it be no easie question to proue that men in such matters and at such times are masters of their fame yet they could be content to burie it in their graue of obliuion with so many miseriâ—s which they haue long susteined for their holy faith and to say with the Apostle Maledicimur et benedicimus persecutionem patimur et sustinemuâ— blasphemamur et obsecramus but when the Purgamenta huius mundi and omnium peripsema must be made the badge of all maintainers of that worshippe and all be stiled sâ—ditious and traiterous Persons quite contrarie to your Highnesse often Assertions and publique Proclamations That all Catholike subiects to all forraigne Princes your Confederates must weare that Liuerie and their Soueraignes be attended with such seruants All Catholike schooles termed Seminaries of rebellions and so directly not only the reputations of all those Vniâ—ersities Princes and Prelates of the Church of God but God himselfe whose howse it is and whose honor can neither be giuen nor taken away is thus condemned as is set forth in a late pamphlett intituled An exact Discouerie of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie Silence would be too suspicious of neglect in many greatest duties to God in heauen his Church on earth to your Maiestie and the whole Catholike world Therefore I poâ—e wretch and sinner an vnworthy member of that sacred bodie of Christ and one of your Highnesse obedient subiects in all submission craue pardon not only to make demonstrance of Catholikes due and expected Loyaltie to your Soueraigne Authoritie and refute the friuoulous obiections of that Author But with Dauid against Goliah in the behalfe of King Saul and the people of God to strike with his owne sword and returne all and euery of his deadlie reasons vppon himselfe and his owne Profession Which as I may lawfully obserue by common consent of all entreating of the law of conscience in this case being onely to vse our owne right of iust defence and not to offend or defame Accusers which charitable exposition I desire of all Protestant Readers So if I had trauelled no farther into that doctrine then to the last printed booke by your Maiesties Printer of the late intended conspiracy I might as easily performe it for that Protestant author giueth it out as a general Rule vndoubted Maxime to all professors of worship to take armes if their religion be in hazard and that no priuate man could thinke his life more happily bestowed than to fight pro Aris which is greater liberty than any opinion which our aduersarie can finde among Catholike Writers so by him attached of treason and rebellion But he shall receiue a more plaine and plentifull recitall both of publike positions and practises from all his neighbouring Allies in religion to proue his owne profession to be both Seminary and Granary of such prouision Which I am more inforced vnto because this discouerer by so many not vsuall Catholike Authors alleaged in his booke discloseth his inueterate malice against vs that he was now in his desired oppoâ—tunitie deliuered with ioy of that wherewith hee had trauailed so long in paine or to renew in subtile mâ—nner his old good affection to your Maiestie doth marshall you euen now otherwise all his reâ—sons be too childish in the number of câ—uell Tyrants Excommunicates Apostatâ—es and the infamous of all ages not only Princes but base persons So that eyther for disloyalty to your Highnesse or inured inflamed hatred vnto vs or both hee can sinde no centâ—r of his slaunders except your Maiestie bee mâ—de the man and marke where at the penâ—ll canons and constitutions of holy Church did point and leuell hundreds of yeares befâ—re you were borne â—r his religâ—on receiued life This is the miserable distressed state of many thousands your most loyall and louing subiects dread Liege for their faithfull dutie to God and a religion taught in this kingdome and imbraced by all your progenitors and our ancestors so many hundred yeares from their first conuersion that euery aduersary may preach and print against vs and make their challenges as though eyther for ignorance we could not or for distrust of our cause we were vnwilling to make them answer or come to triall when quite contrary wee haue
with whome Io de Turrecrem Augustinâ—s de Ancona Castro and other Diuines consent which Câ—nsure Wickclâ—ffe and hiâ— Protestant succâ—ssors did impâ—â—e vppon Pâ—incâ—s and temporall Magistrates eyther for hâ—râ—siâ— or any other â—rime Others as Sâ—â—us â—anus and Cordubensiâ— affirâ—e in that 〈…〉 â—o be deposâ—d And such â—â— the discipline of the Chuâ—ch of God that these men and all Cathoâ—ike â—choâ—les euen in Rome it selfe as confidâ—ntâ—y dispâ—t thâ—sâ— qâ—estions for whâ—â—â—aâ—se hâ—w and when and by Panormitaâ— sup caâ— Significaâ—â—i Canonist in c. Si Pâ—â—â— whom Popes may be dâ—posed aâ— they doâ— eithâ—r speake or write of the greatest pâ—iuiâ—edges of thâ—t Apostolike See And Panormitanus a Canonist with others iâ— so confident in this businesse that they teach a Pope may be dâ—posed for any sinne that is scandalous to the Châ—â—ch of Christ if he be incâ—â—rigible Fiftly the present Professorâ— which handle this qâ—â—stion betweene Popes aâ—d Pâ—inces doe not holde any sinâ—ulâ—r opinion tending to the indignitie or dommage of any Prâ—testant Regent more than to all othâ—rs in equâ—ll termes bâ—â— what is now by them mainâ—ained was publike dâ—ctrine befoâ—e Protestancie had either prâ—nce or peâ—ple to eâ—brace â—t and at tâ—iâ— tiâ—e do iustifie â—he like senâ—â—nce câ—ncerning all Catholiâ—e Rulers in â—qâ—all ballaunce of compâ—â—ison and â—hat openly wâ—thout â—â—proofe in thâ—ir owne domâ—â—â—ons Sixtly to giue contentment to all that will not be contentious or â—ffâ—ct to be singular in persecâ—â—ing or domagâ—ng â—he Church of God Thâ—â—e Authors doe not sâ—y that â—he 〈◊〉 power â—â— simpâ—y and â—â—â—olutely subiect to the Papall and Spâ—râ—tuall auâ—horiâ—ie but in case of iniuries offered or great impâ—diment of the spiritual good more preeminent then the tâ—mporall And in such câ—uses euen in temporall affaires and among such powers and Princes iniuries offered and iust right denied or hindered giueth a prerogatiue to equalles iure belli among Kings and ciuill Regents to recouer their owne redeeme their wrong â—equite their iniuries where the offendor denieth to make requitall Therefore seeing this Discouerer cannot finde anie such ciuil power soueraigne ouer Kinges challenged by Popes and against which hee so much inueigheth nor any other more peculiarly intended against Protestant Princes then all others in like proceedings let him draw his weapon against those by whome he is assaulted in this kind First against the Canonists and the Legists euen in England and of the Arches except they will dissent from the more receaued opinion of like profâ—ssors secondly against himselfe all Protestâ—nt write s. Against the first bicause which is his case in question they defend that the empror is lord of all the world insomâ—ch that Bartholus the great Legâ—sâ— affirmes Baâ—thol in extraâ—ag ad rep imen glosse per venerab Qui filii c. that peraduenture it is hâ—resie to teâ—ch the contrary 〈…〉 saith he it is against the scripture Exist edâ—ctum à Caesare vâ— dâ—â—â—râ—beretur orâ—is where the whole woâ—ld and Princes thereof were at his designement And which the Protestants alleadge for temporâ—ll Princes supremacie omnis anima potestatibus sublimiorjbus subdita sit therefore as he reasoneth all Princes be subiect to him as the highest power And in this case of Armes and death which this man so often obiecteth the cause is more daungerous in respect that in the whole papall and canon law of the Popes there is no penaltie of death against any hereticke or excommunicate neyther is such punnishement to bee inflicted by any spirituall Iudge or executioner But that kinde of reuenge or justice is only Codic haeret leg Adrian et Codâ—c de Iudaeis leg Quicunque prouided by the emperiall and ciuill Constitutions and by temporall Authority and brachâ—um scecuiare to be put in practise Lastly lett him battaile against himselfe and his Protestant Protestants Religion of all others is the greatest eâ—nemy to Princes and Catholique worship the most fauourable brethren which of all people in the woâ—lde that euer were or be are the most guilty in these proceedings as I will at large demonstrate hereafter and Catholikes of all most innocent For seeing all professors of Religion Israelites Pâ—gans Catholikes Protestants and all others euer prescribed some meanes and manner to keepe both Rulers and the ruled in order of all people to whom that authority was attributed by any The Popes of Rome proportion of time and place cousidered haue beene the actors of the fewest translations of titles in Princes Not aboue foure or fiue examples can be giuen in the whole christian worlde in aboue 1500 yeares and not many excommunications from the first of â—hillipâ—e the first Christian Emperour as some suppose by the Eusch histor Pope of Rome or of Archadâ—â—s by Pope Innoc nâ—â—us the first within 400 yeares after Christ when the Prophettes and Priests of Niceâ—hor hâ—st in Arcâ—ad Iurie deposed more in one Kingdome and the excesse of the Paans is not to be recited And the Protestants themselues since their originall haue deposed as many or â—ore thâ—n all the Popes in to many yeares and that onelie for Religion when for that quaâ—râ—ll not one Prince in the Popedome hath lost his Diademe nor any without common consent of the Christian worlde For Protestants I instance in the Prince of Geneua deposed and in the King of Spaine and the present Arche-duke in the Lowe Countries expelled from their Right the Kinge of Polonia in Sweueland at this present in litle better estate the Queene Regent in Scotland so made a subiect and his Maiesties mother deposed the Emperour denied his allowance of tribute for the Turkishe warres his Townes taken and â—ept against him the Duke of Loraine and others in the like predicament And the violent attempts which they haue vndertaken by rebellion agâ—inst their Princes for this quarrell of Religion haue beene more then all excommunications of Princes by Popes for any respect whatâ—oeâ—er the particulars will appeare in their proper place And whence can all these impious practises proceed with so generâ—ll apâ—lâ—â—â—e but from their most impious and rebellious publiquâ— position you haue heard before that the proces of Popes is such in this busines that no Prince except more wicked thâ—n any now liuing or as vnfoâ—tunate as some foure or fiue in all the time of Christianâ—ty in the worlde neede stand in daunger Contrariewise by Protestant religion no sinner or no King Const Concil in aâ—â— Wickcl Luâ—â—â—â— to 6. pag. 〈…〉 Luth. Calâ—in in Dan. Suingl lib. 4. Philipp Nichol. fundâ—m Caluin Sect c. Luther denieth all obedience to Princes differing from him in Religion calling them Pilates Tyrants Herods Iudas and that his Protestants handes must be imbrued with bloud in such cases Caluin telleth that ipso facto they are bereaued If no permission of Swinglius doctrine no Prince with him and all bee Martirs that be slaine in rebellion for that quarrell The english Protestant Confer 14. 1604 pag. 47. Luther lib. capt Babyl Notes
as his Maiestie is witneâ— vppon the Bible doe not disalowe the killing of a Prince in such cases And this is to bee perfect Protestant disciples of their Apostle Luther who taught no lawe can be imposed vpon Christians but as they will all humane lawes must be taken away Therefore saieth Caluin Beza Testâ—tr ordin Burg. in Reman sup edict Reg. Gall Petr. Frar or contr Sect. Defenâ— Reg. Relig. Athomannus Spiphazius and the rest of that holie Sinode that Kinges Queenes their children and postâ—ritie lâ—st Kinges aâ—â—se againe and all Magistrates must be put to death and so euery particular Protestant must be more then a Pope an Emperour or rather a god to put Princes to death at their pleasute and we must say with the Consistorian Protestants not only â—uerie priuate man may be executioner of Princes but teach that it is necessâ—â—ie to assigne rewardes for such murtherers of Rulers wee must not call them Kings or Superiours but Tirants Monsters and not worthy of life But more of this hereafter in their generall positions and practises The rest of the penalâ—ies which this Author alleadgeth as belonging Catholikes denie no temporall societie oâ— duety to Protestants to the excommunicate and such heretickes and which he writeth that Catâ—olikes doe teach are due and to be extended vpon all Protestants of England be thus recited to spoile Protestants of their goods deny tâ—thes to the Ministers not paying debts to Creditors seruants not dâ—tâ—full to Masters wiues not beneuolent to Huâ—bands Pareâ—ts dis-inheâ—iting Children children not obeying Pâ—rents kinsmen to kindred and countriemen to their Countrie to be vnkinde But I haue answered before that these societies are not to be denied to the Protestants of England because we doe not estâ—eme them in that case of heretickes and excommunicates Secondly the world is witnes for vs and against this Obiector that we as truly and sincerely performe these communications and respects to our country protestants as they them selues and rather in more ample manner And although Tithes be due to spirituall Ministers for Sacraments and holie thinges which we doe not receaue from them yet we doe not withdrawe Concil Const in artic Wickcliff their payment to the protestant Cleargie neither say as their martir Wickliffe did that they be but almes and may be taken awaie at princes pleasures Thirdly I answere that those canonicall punishments he citeth against the censured were not of purpose ordaind against his protestancy but the decrees of such proceedings may be great-grandfather to that Religion not now in vse either in this kingdome France Heluetia Sweueland Denmarke and most part of Germany or in farther circuit And if the penal constitutions of the generall Councell of Trent representing Pope Prelates Princes and the whole church of Christ are not yet after fourty yeares continuance receaued in the recited Prouinces or Kingedomes There is not so great daunger that those Papall paines will euer giue to this man so much cause of so outragious exclamations They were long before the birth of protestancie prouided for countries and people whence heresies had not entered not where such opinions haue preeminence And if it should please his Maiestie to restore the Catholike faith in England yet there is not perill that protestants should fall to such feares of these penall constitutions to be admitted penalties are not so soone imposed their nature is to be restricted and not dilated If so many other kingdomes vnder Catholike Regents Fraunce Sweueland Bohemia Polonia Transiluania c. doe not consent to their admittance This Iland one of the last by cituation and so long at variaunce with the Roman Church is not likelie to be the first in that wherein nature desireth to be the last We haue not now an other Queene Marie Inheretrix to the Crowne to be joyned in mariadge with a potent Prince in whose Dominions they be in force simbolizing with husband conformity in countrie discipline is neuer like to breed you scruples in this behalfe And yet in such a metaphisicall case nemo laeditur nisi à seipso though you haue anowed to be an heretike and excommunicate you must be cited and admonished before censure and obstinate before and after or else your daunger is not deadlie Thus I haue proued at lardge as my violent and distressed leasure would giue me allowance that the chiefest building of all these slaunders against vs is ruinate and ouâ—rthrowne that we doe not esteeme all Protestants for heretickes and excommunicate as he pretendeth neither that they are subiect to such penalties as he alleadgeth that they are not censured or as such to be depriued of any ciuill societie communication their goodes liues liberties dignities honor homage fealtie subiection dutie loue or any thing pretious their proper and peculiar but contrariewise to enioy and possesse those priueledges in as ample manner and freedome as if they were of the same Religion which we defend Answer to the first Reason Now I will with breuitie answere to his particular pretended reasons grounded vpon the generall before confuted And first to his first Sillogisme or rather Sophisme the maior proposition whereof is already ouerthrowne and only requiring repetition is as followeth They who by their slaunderous doctrine make all Protestants in their common censure heretickes so odious and unworthy of any ciuill or naturall society must necessarily be adiudged seditious and intollerable among the Protestants My answere is absolute before that no learned Catholike so reputeth the Protestants or any one Protestant of this kingdome but attributeth or ought so to do by his Religion as much terrene honor homage duty and loue to our King his honorable Counsaile and all in Authority in their degrees and vnfeined affection to the rest as if they were of the same faith and profession in Religion Then the minor proposition if the same medium be kept must needs be false which is this But the Romish Seminaries and Iesuites doe brand all Protestants with detestable crimes thereby to deny them all ciuill and naturall Respects Ergo. I answer If the first part of this second proposition be vnderstood of the wickednesse of many English Protestants not only condemned of their brethren Admonit 1. 2. Parliam perit 1000. Minist Cartw. against I. W. Puritanes but by themselues confessed and their owne lawes so conuicted it proueth them for such but proueth not sedition but true and loyall dealing in Catholikes which doe not say with Protestants masters and martirs Wickliffe and Husse and their brothers Concil Conâ—â— iâ— Wickl artic Io. Husse c. Waldensians that wicked men in Magistracie be deptiued of Rule and Iurisdiction but against their owne fellowes in profession defend their offices power authority and preeminence If the Discouerer will haue the force of this proposition to remaine in the later sentence thereby to denie them all ciuill and naturall Respects It is both vnproperly spoken and slaunderously obiected against Catholikes which
excommunicate before his Election neither is hee now but is both elected and setled in his throne both without any contradiction of the Pope and with his Iubet of all obedience and prohibet of deniall thereof All the Catholikes of this Kingedome applauded it as much as Protestants And his vnion and league with Catholike Princes and people abroad is sufficient answer that this is a malicious slaunder of holy Priesthood and proveth Catholikes innocent Protestants guilty and this man an vniust accuser The Argument retuâ—ned vpon Protestants with a recitaâ—l of their seditious doctrinâ— But for breuitie to passe ouer forraigne Protestants in this place I will put this disputer in minde of his brethrens dogmaticall principles and positions in this vnited Kingdome The Protestant Writers and Preachers of England defended that Wyat was no Traytor to Queene Mary And thus they wrote expresly It is lawfull to kill Kings and both by Gods law and mans law Queene Goodm pag 103 obed pa. 99. 113. Goodm pa. 99. Mary ought to be put to death what Priest of England did ever so write speake or thinke of any Protestant his Soueraigne she was a tyrant a monster a cruell beast And yet the purer sort of Protestants affirmd of Queene Elizabeth as his Lordship of Canterbury Hay an pag. 13 15. 23. Dâ—ing poliâ— pâ—g 133. 134. sup wiâ—nesseth That she was worse then her sister Many and they more suppressed by her then by the other They did write That she was not to be obeyed being against their proceedings and openly moued the greatest Subâ—egents in England to take armes against her affirming if they Suppliâ—aâ— to the gouer of Wales pa. 16. 36 37 38 39 Dâ—ng posâ—t lib 4 e. 3 4 Goodm p. 144. 145. Obed. pag 110. Knos hist pag. 37 â— Obed pag 99. 103. 104. Goodm pa. 99. Buchan iâ—â— â—â—g pag. 40. 58 Obed. pa. 111 refused it they ceased to be Magistrates These also insuing be more of their holy dogmaticall principles Euill Princes ought by the law of God to be deposed and inferior Magistrates ought to doe it cheefely It is lawfull to kill wicked Kings It were good that rewards were appointed by the people for such as kill tyrants as commonly there are for those that haue killed eyther woolues or beares or taken their whelpes The people haue the same power ouer their King that the King hath ouer any one person Iudges ought by the law of God to sommon Princes before them and to proceede against them as against all other offenders the people may arraigne the Prince the Ministers may Buchan pa. 62 Cartwr replic 2. pag. 65. Obed. pag. 115. 116. Bucha p. 70. excommunicate him any Minister may excommunicate the greatest Prince he that is excommunicate is not worthy to enioy any life vpon earth Whereby is euident the monstrous dissimulation of this people which sometimes for their aduantage will not be scrupulous to denie that with other articles of their religion and the cheefest and to say that they onely claime power to excommunicate not to depose and kill Princes And to testifie how easily Suru pretend holy Dâ—â—cipl pag. 283. 284. Buchan pag. 6 13. Obed. pag. 25 and for what ordinary offences Princes may be thus intreated the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury is witnesse that fornication drunkennesse swearing cursing fighting chiding brawling breaking of the Sabbath wanton and vaine words and the like be sufficient incitements and causes of such proceedings with them And they tell vs further That the people are better then the King and of greater authority the people haue right to bestow the Crowne at their pleasure the authority which Princes haue is giuen them from the people and the people may take it away againe as men may reuoke their Proxies and letters of Attorney Now I would demand of this obiector whether they be members of the Roman Catholike Church or the pillars of his Protestant Congregation that congregateth and gathereth together such monsters as holy children which teacheth a double prerogatiue ouer Princes one in the people when inferior Magistrates and not Magistrates may and must by their doctrine depose Kings and Soueraignes and likewise their ministery as before hath as ample or a more preeminent authority Which also concluded from these English Protestant principles If Magistrates transgresse Gods lawes themselues and commaund others to doe Goodm pa. 119. 139. the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiects did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but to be examined condemned and punished as priuate transgressors When Magistrates doe cease to doe their duties the people are as it were without officers and then God giueth the sword into their Pa. 185. 180. 184 hands And such was the vniuersall practise of all protestants especially Caluenists in all places of their holy preaching Germany Heluetia Denmarke France England and Scotland with others in foâ—mer times and at this present the Protestants in Hungary Transiluania Sweueland and the Low Countries in actuall sedition and rebellion against their Soueraignes Emperour King and Princes are instance Concerning that spirituall supremacy which the lawes of England The Kings supremacy denyed by all Puritans and eâ—ther denâ—ed or doubted of by al english protestant writers atrribute to his Maiestie it can be no question but all Puritans doe deny it which not onely teach a superior power both in people and Ministers to which the rest of the Protestants of the same congregation as before must needes consent But also in this regard that the gouernment of their Eldership or Bresbitery incomposible with Princes Supremacy is the cheefest article of their religion and distinctiue note of their reformed Church Then to come to the present Protestant writers anâ— their designements the Archbishop of Canterbury is the man which maketh Suru of preâ— Diâ—cipl relation that this was a common proposition Princes haue no more to doe with matters of the Church then the Ministers haue with the affaires of the Common-wealth And there it is alleaged that such gouernment by Princes is worse then by the Pope for diuers reasons Pa. 25â— 253. 254 255 â—â—6 c. sup there recited and not confuted by any Protestant I will recite the sentences of the principall Protestants of this time Doctor Fulke in plaine termes acknowledgeth D Fulke hâ—br c 13 â—ect 9. 1. peâ—r 2. v. 13. â—â—ct 5. Ioh. c. 21. 1. petr 5. Mat. c. 16. Bell. moâ—iu lib. 2. fol. 78 79. 80. 81 Suru part 3. c. 10 pa. 426. 1. part pag 34. Whitâ—ker contra Bellar controu 1. q 8. D. 〈◊〉 li. de concil that Emperours and Kings owe obedience to the Clergy and cannot prescribe laweâ— of Religion to Bishopâ— by their iudgements Maister Bell writeth the Ecclesiasticall affaires to be in the Cleâ—rgy as to decide controuersies and that the King hath only charge and authority to command the
this Dominion and your most fauoured be therein in the same case with your Suppliants that ancient faith and religion which wee defend cannot be cause to such offence for so all Catholikes in the world that be and euer were were to be censured by their Princes with such measure To professe that religion in a Protestant regiment cannot breede such variance for so all other Catholike subiects in all protestant Countries were in the same case And if one and the same religion can by any not appearing reason be feared by some subiect to suspitions at home which theiâ— politicke wisedome may suppose no forraigne protestant gouernment hath so sufficiently attended and considered we haue in the sincerity of our soules without all aequiuocation or doubtfull sence purged our selues from all jealosie of those opinions pretences or practises which our enemies could discouer worthy to bâ— obiected In answer whereof we haue both made manifest proofe that we doe not otherwise esteeme of the Protestants of this nation then our selues and those of the same faith with vs in all ciuill societies and communications that we giue the sâ—me temporall dutie loyalty and obedience to our Soueraigne honour to Nobles and loue to all that although we differ in religion yet we are so farre from making Protestants odious and vnworthy of mutuall communications in ciuill affaires that we defend their dignities magestâ—acy and rule against men of their owne profession We doe not assigne any soueraigne mere ciuill power ouer Princes as the Protestants in all places haue taught and practised neither any spirituall preeminence in any externe Prelate preiudiciall to Princes right as our opposers doe in Presbiteries and priuate Ministers we haue not denied either election or succession of Protestant Princes as our aduersaries haue done both to Catholikes and Protestants for their owne aduanâ—age our doctâ—ine denieth no obedience to you which was euer giuen to any Christian Prince of England from the first vnto the last King Henry the seuenth by whom and whose eldest Catholike Daughter your Highnesse is inthroned We doe not suggest the discouerers obiected forcible deposition of elected Princes Protestants haue depriued more in this short being of their Gospel by their popular mutenies and priuate authoritie than all Popes in all ages of christian religion with publike consent of Princes and people haue condiscended vnto Protestants haue taken Armes and raised generall rebellions more often against Princes not to be condemned than all Popes haue imposed censures by publike complaint against those which are noted in histories for extraordinary impious If any hath otherwise proceeded no Catholike may defend it wee doe not nor may not by our religion intend designe or practise iustifie or defend the murther of Princes or professe rebellions the discipline of the holy Church and generall Councells rules in our religion denie it for lawfull what priuileges protestancy claimeth what it hath taught and practised in that point Hungary Transiluania Germanie Bohemia Denmarke Heluetia Flanders Sweueland France Emâ—en your Maiesties kingdomes and your selfe haue beene witnesses for many yeares We doe not allow in opinion or may practise in act aequiuocation concealed double or secret sence in affaires of Common-weale and iuridicall interrogatories and profession of religion They be Protestants which defend and practise it in such causes not iustifiable in true diuinitie Our Priests neither vnder that reduplicatiue formalitie as Priests nor otherwise maintaine by our religion any position or pactise seditions or not obedient if any particular men for want of learning haue seemed to speake or thinke or for want of grace dealt or practised in other sence no religion made all men Saints religion did not teach it and Catholikes generally condemne it Therefore our confidence cannot but continue that the Royall promises of your highest Authority of Lenitie of no bloud for Religion shall not be recalled The demerritt of a fewe is no generall impediment The Scriptures instruct vs anima quae peccauerit ipsa moriatur one man must not be are the burthen of others sinnes All Schooles agree that no man can condignelie meritte first grace to any other though but one then the transgression of one or fewe cannot be demeritte for innocents to be afflicted great is the difference of the members in a naturall and ciuill body in this cause though the first doe suffer in some sence together by connexion in nature yet in the second the case and reason is different Remember most worthy Prince not only how grieuous but how generall the penalties against your Catholiques be enacted And yet new threatnings be made that new and more straunge as nec inter gentes shall be ordained The bodies honours reputations and riches of husbands to be punished for their wiues religion and soules to which they are neither husbands nor superiors Children to be taken from Parents Parents to be depriued of theiâ— education which Catholike Princes doe not and in conscience cannot offer to the Iewes themselues though in some opinion the slaues of Christians Children seruants kinsmen and neighbors are to be made hired Espialls to betray their parents masters kinred friends in things as vnlawfull which the whole Catholique world honoureth for holy and they venture their soules and fempitermtie that they be such commendable Artes Functions of phisicke c. which haue not connexion with Religion are to be put to silence in Catholikes The seuere penaltie for not monethlie professing the Protestant faith in Churches when in all diuinitie the precept of Profession of true and vndoubted faith in se and ex se bindeth but seldome is to be increased And others of such condition too many here to be mentioned and too grieuouâ— and vnnaturall we hope in your Princelie opinion to be concluded by a Kings consent Therefore vnder sauour for all I instance in one most heauie and generall in those of our deceased Queene All Priests though neuer so dutifull or obedient be censured for Traitors equally with the greatest offendor in sinne of Treason when many guiltlesse soules of that sacred order would not for thousands of worlds once consent to any such or a farre inferior offence A thing most straunge and beyond all example that men in respect only of their calling and function and that function so reuerenced by all our forefathers should without further cause be condemned as guilty of so a detested crime We defend holy priesthood to be a sacrament which being ordained by God cannot be changed by man Pope Prelate or humane power but remaineth in al things substance and doctrine the same which in those dayes when it was so honorably esteemed of all your christian progenitors when our mother Church kept her first integrity by your Highnesse iudgement as we are ready to make defence And if your Maiesty should decree the like law against any degree or profesâ—ion of your other subiects or the king of France or other Prince in other estate of men should enact by