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
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
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
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
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
against the Jesutis and the Jesuits against the Priests whereby the Reader may in transitu besides all this perceive that there be as many and as great differences between them as among Protestans Smiths Preface to the Apology f. 12. See also Citizen the Morgentine Jesuit f. 2 c. 18. of his POliticks and Campanella in his Monarchia Hispan The Jesuits now seem to drive another design all the World over viz. as they have one Ecclesiastical or Universal Monarch so to set up a temporal universal Monarch which Eul. Postellus attributes to Terra sancta cui Gallia ob primariam orbis nomen jus substituitur eo quod Ambae toti arhi legem sunt daturae I now proceed to shew you how faithful the Papists were to the Crown of England after King James came to it The first Meritorious Act towards King James was to calumniate him with a breach of promise as made to some of them before he came into England for a Tolleration of their Religion which now he did deny to perform which had this intended double mischief in it viz. That it should bring an Odium upon him from the Protestants for making such a promise and the like from the Papists for the breaking of it And unto whom should this promise be made but unto that Arch-traitor Percy and to that false Priest Watson both afterwards found in other Treasons for which being condemned Watson confessed to the Earl of Northampton purposely sent by the King to examine him who was the first first Author of that false report at Winchester a day or Two before he was Executed at which time no man is prefumed to lye that he never could receive any spark of Comfort touching ease of Counscience to Catholicks from His Majesty 17. b. how unjustly soever the World had made him Author of that Scandal though withall he added how unwilling he had been to declare to his Fellows how averse the King shewed him in his own Words lest over great discouragement might render them desperate The like did Percy another desperate Traitor aver after his return out of Scotland both before and after the Queens death that in the point of Conscience he found the kings intent and final purpose to be peremptory Proceedings against Traitors 182. A. 6. 45.6.46 The like slander and Scandal was raised upon the King by the Lord of Belmerinath his Scotish Secretary by sending the Pope Word that King James would become his obedient Son who afterwards being Arraigned acknowledged his offence in devising Letters and sending them to Rome which himself got cunningly Signed in shuffling them in amongst others His Majesty being utterly ignorant of the Contents Speed 917. Another faithful service towards King James his Person Crown and Posterity was plotted by Watson and Clark Two Secular Italianated Priests who drew others of the Nobility and Gentry into their Hellish Confederacy as Lord Cobham Lord Gray of Wilton Sir Walter Raleigh Lord Warden of the Stanneries Sir Griffin Markeham Sir Edward Parham George Brooke and others their design was to have surprised the Kings person and his Son Prince H. to have kept them prisoners in the Tower or in Dover Castle and there by violence to obtain their Ends viz. A Tolleration of Religion and a removal of evil Councellors or to put some other projects in Execution and then to obtain their Pardons Watson to have been Lord Chancellor Lord Gray Earl-Marshal of England George Brooke Lord Treasurer Sir Griffin Markham Secretary c. Thus did they divide the Bears-skin which is not yet caught though the same Generation in all probability be still in hot pursuit of the same Quarry viz. A Tolleration and Change of Religion in the transferring of all Crowns from Protestant to Popish Princes and Government according to Parsons and Campanella's Plat-form Of those Consederates only Sir William Parham was acquitted and Three only Executed viz. George Brooke Clark and Watson who had taught equivocating and to avoid his other solemn protestations both by Word and Writing that the Act was lawful being done before his Coronation for that the King was no King before he was Anointed and the Crown solemnly set on his Head By this we may conclude that there is no trust to be reposed in Papists of any Order What Man in the World could profess and pubish to all the World in Writing more obedience and faithfulness to a Prince than Watson did to Queen Eliz. most fiercely and bitterly blaming the Jesuits for their iterated and re-iterated Treasons and Rebellions against her and for creating disturbances in allt he states of the World where they are As he lived to see so I hope he lived to repent of his sin and error for he left this brand and suspicion on the Jesuitical Order at his death that they in revenge had cunningly and covertly drawn him into this Action which brougt him into this shameful End § What shall I say more 18. b. 31. Vox faucibus haeret I am now come to that monstrum horrendum Informe Ingens cui Lumen Ademptum unto Guy Fawks and his dark Lanthorn that never to be parallel'd Gunpowder-Treason in which I will say with the Grave Senator repertum esT hodierno die facinus quod nec Poeta fingere nec Historia sonare nec Minus Imitare poterit This plot of plots is yet so fresh in memory and so well known all the World over that I will not enter into the particulars of it though there are some so desperately Jesuited that either out of simplicity or Impudence will not confess the truth thereof others extenuate it by saying they were only a few discontented persons desperate in Estate or base or not setled in their Wits without Religion Habitation Gredit Means or Hope and as our Apologizer for Catholicks f. 5. A few Desperadoes But most certain it is that they were Gentlemen of good Houses of excellent parts and of Competent Fortunes Besides that Percy was of the House of Northumberland Sir William Stanley who principally imployed Fawks into Spain and John Talbot of Graston both of great and Honourable Families others say That there was never a Religious Man in this Action which is no truer than the other Whoever yet knew a Treason without a Romish Priest In this there were many Three of them Legiers and States-men Henry Garnet alias Waller superior of the Jesuits Legier here in England T. F. Creswel Legier Jesuit in Spain Fa. Baldwin Legier in Flanders as Parsons at Rome besides their Itinerant or Cursory Men as Gerrard Oswald Tesmond alias Greenway Hamond Hall and other Jesuits Proceedings 27 18. Others of them condemn it now that happily would have commended it it had taken effect Prosperum Scetus virtus vocatur would have been a good Axiom then such Hellish Actions being of their Nature and Number quae non Laudantur nisi peracta 〈◊〉 â—gainst whom was this Hellish Plot contrived not to name Parliament Council
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
beautified and inriched as it then was and is at this day though now by them miserably pejorated by that Intestine War raissed by themselves in the midst of their happy enjoyments and that without any provocation ground or colour against the King as himself expressed under his Great Seal To this give Testimony those early instructions privately sent over into England by the Lord Dillon of Costeloe presently after the breaking out of the Rebellion by the Remonstrance of the County of Longford pretended about the same time to the Lords Justices by the same Lord Dillon as also by their frame of their new Common-Wealth found in Sir John Dungans house not far from Dublin and sent upon thither out of Connaught to be communicated to those of Leinster the sum of which and other such like is summ'd up and may be seen to have that purport in the Irish Rebellion written by Sir John Temple f. 80 81 82. § Indeed if the Irish Papists had been so Loyal and Faithful as they now boast themselves to have been Nay had they had the least spark of gratitude for that King who had disobliged so many by obliging them so much they would never in his distresses have capitulated so severely and on the Swords point with him nor have held him to such hard tearms as they did in all their Treatises which they used only as Stratagems to Trapan not to serve His Majesty For in the Year 1643. when a Cessation was concluded with them by the Kings Authority and both English and Irish Engaged by Articles to Transport their Armies to England for His Majesties Service the English did it the Irish only pretended they would do it when the English were gone and then accordin gto one of their old Maxims Nulla fides servanda cum Hereticis they plotted and attempted the ruine of the small Remnant of English left behind in Munster where the Lord Inchiquin commanding by the Kings Commission and the English with him were necessitated to stand on their own defence against the Popish Army Orery 25. Though in the Year 1645. the Earl of Glamorgan gave as Adventageous tearms as they could ask and condescended to such hard and dishonourable propositions on the Kings part as the then Marquess now Duke of Ormond in Justice and Honour neither could nor would condescend unto and though the Commissions of the confederate Catholicks solemnly engaged the publick Faith for the performance of them 23. b. one Article whereof was That they should send 10000. to serve His Majesty c. yet did they not in due time perform their plighted Troath herein which was a great disservice to His Majesty In which slender performance of theirs they could have no other end than thereby to render the Rebells in England more irreconcilable to His Majesty that so that War might be kept up that they might the better gain by Fishing in those troubled Waters so that they well hoped to give Law to both It was the constant observation of the Protestant Army there that the lower and more unfortunate the King was in his successes in England the higher were the demands of the Irish for the Truth is how Loyal and dutiful soever their pretences were towards the King yet their design was to set up for the Pope and the establishing the Romish Religion and erecting its Spiritual Monarchy at least if not a Temporal with it The Arch-Bishop of Tuum was a principal Agent in the Irish Wars and of the Supreme Council of Kilkenny He attended the Army about this time to visit his Diocess and to put in Execution an Order for the Arrears of his Bishoprick granted to him from the Council at Kilkenny which Order together with the Popes Bull and several other Letters of Correspondence between him and his Agents from Rome Paris and several parts of Ireland were found about him whereby it did appear that the Pope would not at the first engage himself in sending of a Nuntio for Ireland till the Irish Agents had fully satisfied him that the Establishment of the Catholick Religion was a thing feaseable and attainable in that Kingdom in which being satisfied he was content to sollicite their cause with Florence and Venice c. and also to delegate Farmano his Nuntio to attend the Kingdom who after some delays in France was at last posted from thence by express Order from the Pope and he arrived at that River of Kilmore in a Friggot of 21 Guns in October with 26 Italians of his Retinue Secretary Belinges and divers Regular and Secular Priests and also with great Supplies for the service of the King no doubt as 2000 Muskets 4000 Bandaliers 2000 Swords 500 Petronells and 20000 l. of Powder all which arrived at Brooke-Haven the same Month together with 5 or 6 Deskes or Small Truncks of Spanish Gold how far all those Popish Auxiliaries conduced to the Kings service and the Protestant Interest I leave to all Contemporaries to judg As in the year 1645. so in that Year 1646. after a peace concluded with them they treacherously attempted to cut off the Lord Lievtenant and his Army with him who marched out of Dublin on security and confidence of that peace 24. b. The same year the Council and Congregation of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland obliged their General Preston by a solemn Oath to exercise all Arts of Hostility against the Lord Marquess of Ormond the Kings Vice gerent and his Party and to help and advise with Council and assist in that service the Lord General and Vlster employed in the same Expedition In the Year 1647. from Kilkenny 18. January the General Assembly of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland employed Commissioners to Rome France and Spain to invite a Forrein power into Ireland To Rome they sent their Titular Bishop of Ferns and Nichola◠Plunket Esq Knighted there by the Pope for his good service therein to declare that they raised Arms for the freedom of the Catholick Religion which are their own words in the Third Article of those their Instructions Orerey This is consonant to the Oath framed the same Year with some Addition to what had formerly been taken by the said General Assembly and pressed on all sorts of people under pain of high Treason which Oath enjoyns the maintenance of these ensuing Propositions 1. That the Roman Catholicks both Clergy and Laiety in their several Capacities have the free and publick exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and Function throughout the Kingdom in as full lustre and splendour as it was in the Reign of Hen. VII or any other Catholick King his Predecessors Kings of England and Lords of Ireland either in Ireland or in England 2. That the Secular Clergy of Ireland viz. Primates Archbishops Bishops Ordinaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries and other Dignitaries all other Pastours of the Secular Clergy their respective Successors shall have and enjoy all and all manner of Jurisdictions
Priviledges and Immunities in full and ample manner as the Roman Catholick Secular Clergy had or enjoyed the same within this Realm at any time during the Reign of the late King Hen. VII sometimes King of England and Lord of Ireland any Law Declaration of Law Statute Power or Authority whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding 3. That all Laws and Statutes made since the 20th Year of Hen. VIII whereby any restraint penalty or other restriction whatsoever is or may be laid upon any of the Roman Catholicks either of the Clergy and Laiety for such their free Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion within this Kingdom and of their several Functions Jurisdictions and Priviledges may be repealed renewed and declared void in the next Parliament by one or more Acts of Parliament to be past therein 4. That the Primates Arch-Bishops c. of the Roman Catholick Secular Clergy and their respective Successors shall have hold and enjoy all the Churches and Church-Livings in as large and ample manner as the late Protestant Clergy respectively enjoyed the same on the first day of October 1641. together with all Profits Emoluments Perquisits Liberties 25. b. and other Rights to their respective Sees and Churches belonging as well in all places now in the possession of the confederate Catholicks also in all other places that shall be recovered by the said confederate Catholicks from the adverse party within this Kingdom saving to the Roman Catholick Laiety their respective rights to the Laws of the Land § But to return to the said Instructions it is Recorded in another part of the said Third Article that they intend to insist on such Concessions in matters of Religion and for the security thereof as his Holiness shall approve of and be satisfied with And in the Ninth Article they were instructed to make application to his Holiness for his being Protector of Ireland wherein they were before the Phanaticks in England and by special instance to endeavour his acceptance there c. Nay their Commissioners then sent to France and Spain were required in case of the Popes refusal of being their Protector to offer it to either of those Kings nay to any Popish Prince from whom to use their own words they might have most considerable aids Orerey Faithful and Meritorious Servants still if they may be their own Judges though they desired and designed the Pope nay any King or Prince rather that the King of England ratified to be their Liege Lord for so many successions of Princes together Neither was it in those Treaties only that they shewed themselves such Loyal and Faithful Subjects but in that other also Anno 1648. wherein they forced and compelled the King to yield unto such unreasonable condiscentions that nothing but pure necessity could ever have extorted from him or his Lieutenant And did they Acquiesce in those Articles or were they at all more Loyal and Faithful to the King than before not at all for they having got by the 18th Article a Papal-like preclusin of all offences to be committed or done after their date they then thinking themselves sufficiently authorised and pardoned for all or any new Crimes by a pardon of much more force than of one from their Holy Father the Pope they were not long e're they began to vilifie and disobey the Kings Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in pursuit wereof they sent to the Lord Lieutenant in April 1650. desiring him to leave the Kingdom and to commit the Government thereof to one that they should choose and might confide in and this without so much as acquainting his present ajesty with it And in very deed they had good reason so to do or else how was it possible for them to compass teir main design viz. The Atchieving of the Government into their own hands and power that so they might have a Native King of their own and extirpate the English Root and Branch Though herein they were disappointed by the Piety Honour Courage and Integrity of the Lord Lieutenant yet did they not forbear to impeach and affront the Kings Authority in him for in August following by their publick Declaration they did therein manifest to the people that they were no longer obliged to obey the Ordersor Commands of the Marquess of Ormond whereby they did evidently break these Articles and declare their power paramount to His Majesties Orerey 5 6,7 And this they pursued yet farther not without some scorn for in the next Month they caused their Clergy to Excommunicate not only the Lord Lieutenant but all that should feed or adhere to him a great Bug-bear I must confess but it being solemnised Glave Errante it scared not his Grace nor any of his Adherents from their duty and so it mist of their desired end however this shewed their good will to have preserved His Majesties Regal Authority by bereiving his Lieutenant of it All Meritorious and our best Friends still The Rump that Infamous Rump Infamous as for many other abominations so most superlatively for their High-Court of Injustice was much more beholding to them than the King was for they made Petitions and Supplications unto them as unto the Supreme Authority of the Nation Entitling them the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England wherein they did readily subject and put their Consciences Lives and Fortunes as insecure Sanctuary under the Protection thereof they are their own words And herein vaunted That several of them were able to make appear their constant good affection and adherence to the Rump their own words still and prayed a competent time to be allowed them for making out the same Vide the Petitions of Sir Ra. Talbot Baronet and Garret Moore Esq who were not herein private but publick persous and so owned in the Title of their Petitions being for the behalf of others for whom they were Sollicitors Agitators or Trustees call them what you will and were so continued for the Irish Papists until of late days which is more than ever they would do to King Charles I. or King Charles II. for they treated with their Majesties upon the Swords point upon as great tearms of defiance as if they had treated with the Tork and not with their Liege Lord Vide Orerey fo 14 15. Of which sit liber Judex the Articles of the Treaties They went yet further congratulating with them by acknowledging That their withered hopes and former confidences were a fresh revived by the Rumps return to the management of the Government under which their propensions to peace and quietness were so great that they willingly acquiesced in their transplantation albeit it was not executed by any Legal power as not being derived from their Honours What could they submit more than they did Consciences Lives Fortunes Nay their Transplantation they accepted chearfully nay Petitioned for it would they yet but acquiesce in that their Transplantation only as they bragg'd unto the Rump that they did to them it would be some manner of
Expiation for their Crimes past and encouragement to His Majesty more securely to confide in them for the time to come and be a means to remove many Fears and Jealousies and would make way for future Graces But they are yet so far from doing any thing of this Nature that they contend Tooth and Nayl both by Pen and Interest for the performance of those extorted and Inglorious Articles made 1646. Articles that nothing but pure necessity could ever have compelled His Majesty to have yielded unto Articles that themselves broke and set at naught as hath been proved besides did not Gallway after the Articles of 1648. Treat with the Duke of Lorraine to be Protector of Ireland Did not Waterford deny a passage to the Lord Lieutenant and his Army Nay sought they not his life afterwards or to deliver him to the Usurpers had he not suddenly and secretly withdrawn and secured himself Their General Assembly stiled themselves His Majesties Loyal and Faithful Subjects and to manifest it the Enacted That no Temperal Government or Jurisdiction should be assumed kept or executed in Ireland or in any Province or County thereof other than of what should be approved or instituted by their General Assembly If this be not professing like Saints and doing like Devils I do not know what is profess Loyalty that they might have the better opportunities to perpetrate their wicked designs Kiss and Betra with Judas Salute and Honourably present with Ehud and at the same time thrust a Dagger into the Kings Bowels Hosanna on the rips of their Tongues and Crucifige in the depths of their Hearts And yet so Impudent as to style themselves the Kings best and most faithful Subjects They Addressed their Petitions to the Supreme Authority of this Nation the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England First odrator f. 59. They affirmed that they had generally taken and punctually kept the Ingagement 2. Moderator f. 41. They promised that if they might enjoy their Religion they would be the most quiet and useful Subjects of England 1. Moderator f. 31. They proved it in these words viz. The papists of England would be bound by their own Interest the strongest obligation amongst wise Men to live peaceably and thankfully in the private Exercises of their Consciences and becoming gainers by such Compassions they would not so reasonably be distrusted as the Prelatick party that were loosers 1. Moderator f. 36. I have dwelt the longer on the practises and designs of the Papists of Ireland for that there was clear demonstration in pact of foot of their Affection and Adherency to the Pope before nay against their rightful King and Sovereign which hath been evidenced by their publick Acts and Monuments of which for a Teste take a part of one Translated viz. Vrban 80. ad futuram rei memoriam Having taken into our serious consideration c. Orerey f. 59 60. by their often Treaties their Acts of their General Assembly and of their Council by their Instructions to their Engineers to their Forrein Princes c. All which are excellently and much more largely Anatomized and descanted on by the Earl of Orerey in his answer to P. W. Into whose hands many of the Originals having fallen cannot be gainsaid and if they had not yet their Catholick and open rising in Arms and fighting on every occasion against His Majesties Armies and Comwands is a demonstration as evident as the Sun at noon that they were Rebels to the height to all intents and purposes for it was begun continued and ended by Papists only not one Protestant among them both Secular and Regular the Pope himself the Head of their Church in the person of his Nuntio Rinuccini generalissimo of all their Forces both by Sea and Land with all his Tribe of his Ecclesiastical Orders contributing all assistance and encouragement imaginable thereunto Whereby it is most manifest that the horrd Rebellion was not only a Crime of some in their Church but even a Crime of their Church I now pass to the Papists of England concerning whose Actions and Affections it cannot reasonably be expected that I should so clearly discover their more secret Designs and Machinations for that our Civil Wars here were not Papists fighting under the Popes Banner Countenance and Encouragement against Protestants as they did in Ireland But Protestants Jesuitically in that point principled against a Protestant King and his Liege-men that were more loyally minded and principled and so were never Embodied together apart and by themselves and therefore could never Assemble and Confederate together either in Battle to fight or in full and open Council to design and plot but what they did covertly and in the dark by foâ—â—enting dissentions and Intestine Wars according to Corzen the Moguntine Jesuit in the Second Book of his Politicks Ch. 18. and to Campanella's design de Monar Hisp Ch. 24. p. 204. c. I am vero ad enervandos Anglos nihil tam conducit quam dissentio discordia inter illos excitata perpetuoque nutrita quod cito meliores occasiones suppeditabit and that by putting the Parliament upon it ut Angliam in formam Reipublicae reducant ad Imitationem Holandorum and how near it was brought to this by our late Republicans is most notorious So confident were the Jesuits of their Plots and Designs taking effect that Campian in his Book printed 1583. at Trevers declares thus concerning the English in the name of his Holy Order viz. Our Will is That it come to the knowledg of every one so far as it concerns our Society that we all dispersed in great numbers through the World have made a League and Holy solemn Oath That as long as there is any of us alive that all our Care and Industry all our Deliberations and Councils shall never cease to trouble their quiet and safety we shall procure and pursue for ever their Ruine the utter destruction of their Religion and of their Kingdom It is long since we have taken this Resolution with the hazard of our lives 53.29 b. so that the business being already well begun and advanced it is impossible that the English can do any thing to stop our design or surmount it Faithful Men still no doubt they are yet unto the Mither and Red-Caps of Rome only but nothing less unto the Crown and Diadem of England And shall we after all such demonstrations dis-believe their own protestations and not take their own Wrods for it § Besides if we may guess at the Body of Hercules by his foot we may then by tracing some of the Footsteps of our English Catholicks as have casually come to light discover the main design of them and especially of those of their Clergy to have been for the ruine of the King of happy memory and of the Protestant Religion Yet I would not be mis-understood herein as if I meant every Individual Papist for some of them and those of Noble Families and
Fortunes as also others of them of meaner rank ventured both Lives and fortunes very gallantly for their Sovereign but it was still against a Protestant not against a Popish party however I wish they may continue heartily Loyal against all parties and that all of that Religion were so minded which though I may wish yet can never rationally hope to see whilst they continue true to Romish Principles which oblige them to set up another Supreme Head within those His Majesties Dominions in derogation of this Imperial Crown and Scepter I shall not trouble you with the repetition of many store of the disguised and dark Actings of the Papists against the King and Crown of England they being already extant in several Treaties viz. In hidden works of darkness brought to light Jus Patronatus Mr. Prinne his Speech in Parliament his Memento his Epistle to a reasonable and legal vindication c. Quaders unmarked In which and other Books many particulars may be seen of their secret undermining Actings In the Year 1638. when the Kings had great need both of Men and Money and the Hearts of all his Subjects and their contributions whether Popish or Protestants his Holiness gave directions to his Catholicks in England whereof these following were part viz. You are to command the Catholicks of England in general that they suddenly desist from making such offers of Men towards this Northern Expedition as we hear they have done little to the advantage of their direction And likewise it is requisit considering the penalties already imposed they they be not forward with Money more than what Law and Duty enjoyns them to pay without any Innovation at all or view of making themselves rather weaker Pillars of the Kingdom than they were before Declare unto the best of the Peeres and Gentry by word of mouth or Letters that they ought not at this time to express any averseness in case the High Court of Parliament be called nor shew any discontents against the Acts which do not point blank aim at Religion being in general the most fundamental Law of this Kingdom Advise the Clergy to desist from the foolish nay rather illiterate and childish Custom of distinction in the Protestant and Puritan Doctrin and especially this Error is so much the greater when they undertake to prove that Protestanisme is a Degree nearer to the Faith-Catholick For since both lye without the verge of the Church it is a needless Hypocrisie yea it begets more malice than it is worth All busie Inquirers are defended but especially into Arcanes of States It is affirmed by in a printed Speech before a great Assembly 4. September 1654. p. 16 17. That he knew very well that Emissaries of the Jesuits never came over in those Swarms as they have done since these times That divers Gentlemen could bear witness with him that they had a Consistory and Council abroad that Rules all the Affairs of the things of England That they had fixed in England in the limits of most Cathedrals of which he was able to produce the particular Instruments an Episcopal power with Arch-Deacons and other persons to pervert the people in the midst of all our sad Distractions And I presume it will not be denied Inde quod nuper veteres com gravere Coloni that very many of them have been sent or come over from Forrein Seminaries into England under the disguises of Converted Jews Phisitians Chyrurgians Independants Quakers Fifth Monarchy Men Agitators Mechanicks Merchants Factors Travellers Souldiers that they might the more unsuspectedly have an Influence on the Committees Agitators and Officers of the Army It was confessed to one of the English Nobility at Rome by the English Provincial there that they had then above 1500. of their Society in England able to work in several professions and Trades which they had there taken upon them the better to support and secure themselves from being discovered Who ever considers the fore-mentioned Plat-form laid subtilly by F. F. Parsons and others to work insensibly our Ruine Vide Smiths Preface fo 12. the Swarms of Papists here ready to joyn Heds and Hands and Hearts on all occasions and opportunities to bring it to pass the new printing about the time of that borrid matchless Murder of their Dolman that Infamous and Traiterous Libel against our Kings under a new Title of several Speeches delivered at a Conference concerning the powers of Parliaments to proceed against their Kings for mis-government together with what is averred for truth and offered to be justified when ever called thereunto by that learned and worthy Divine Du Moulin in his Vindication Se. 58 59 60. c. will easily conclude that their Merits have not been of that Nature as to be used as Arguments for a Tolleration no nor yet for the least of kindness viz. When the business of the late bad times are once ripe for an History and time the bringer of Truth to light hath discovered the Mysteries of Iniquity and the depths of Satan which have wrought so much crime and mischief it will be found that the late Rebellion was raised and fostered by the Arts of the Court of Rome That Jesuits professed themselves Independent as not depending on the Church of England and Fifth Monarchy Men that they might pull down the English Monarchy and that in the Committees for the destruction of the King and the Church they had their Spies and their Agents § The Roman Priest and Confessor is known who when he saw the fatal stroke given to our Holy King and Martyr flourished with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy we have in the World is gone When the News of that horrible Execution came to Roan a Protestant Gentleman of good credit was present in a great company of Jesuited persons When after great Expressions of Joy the gravest of the Company to whom all gave ear spake much after this sort The King of England at his Marriage had promised us the re-establlshing of the Catholick Religion in England and when he delayed to fulfil his promise we summoned him from time to time to perform it we came so far as to tell him That if he would not do it we should be forced to take those courses which would bring him to his destruction We have given him lawful warning and when no worning would serve we have kept our Word to him since he would not keep his Word to us That grave Rabbies Sentence agreeth with this certain Intelligence which shall be justified whensoever Authority will require it That the Year before the Kings death a select number of English Jesuits were sent from their whole party in England first to Paris to consult with the faculty at Sorbon then altogether Jesuited to whom they put this Question in writing That seeing the state of England was in a likely posture to change Government whether it was lawful for the Catholicks to work the change for the advancing and securing the
Catholick Cause in England by making away the King whom there was no hope to turn from his Heresie which was answered affirmatively After which the same persons went to Rome where the Question being propounded and debated it was concluded by the Pope and his Council That it was both lawful and expedient for the Catholicks to promote the alteration of State What followed that Consultation and Sentence all the World knoweth and time the bringer forth of Truth will let us know But when that Horrible Paricide committed on the Kings Sacred person was so universally cryed down as the greatest Villany that had been committed in many Ages the Pope commanded all the papers about the Question to be gathered and burnt In obedience to which order a Roman Catholick in Paris was demanded a Copy which he had of those papers but the Gentleman who had refused to consider and detest the wickedness of that project refused to give it and shewed it to a Protestant Friend of his and related to him the whole carriage of this Negotiation with great abhorrency of the practises of the Jesuits In pursuance of that Order from Rome for the pulling down both of the Monarch and Monarchy of England many Jesuits came over who took several shapes to go about their work but most of them took party in the Army About Thirty of them were met by a Protestant Gentlemen between Roan and Deipe to whom they said taking him for one of them That they were going into England and would take Arms in the Independent Army and endeavour to be Agitators A Protestant Lady living in Paris in the time of our late Calamities was perswaded by a Jesuit going in Scarlet to turn Roman Catholick When the dismal News of the Kings Murder came to Paris this Lady as all other good English Subjects was most deeply afflicted with it and when this Scarlet Divine came to see her and found her melting in Tears about that heavy and common disaster he told her with a smiling Countenance That she had no reason to lament but rather to rejoice seeing that the Ca-Cholicks were rid of their greatest Enemy and that the Catholick Cause was much furthered by his death Upon which the Lady in great anger put the Man down the Stairs saying If that be your Religion I have done with you for ever Many Intelligent Travellers can tell of the great Joy among the English Convents and Seminaries about the Kings death as having overcome their Enemy and done their main Work for their settlement in England of which they made themselves so sure that the Benedictins were in great care that the Jesuits should not get their Land And the English Nunns were contending who should be Abbesses in England An understanding Gentleman visiting the Friars of Dunkirk put them on the discourse of the Kings death and to pump out their sence about it said That the Jesuits had laboured very much to compass that great Work To which they Answered That the Jesuits would engross to themselves the Glory of all great and good Works and of this amongst other Works whereas they had laboured as diligently and as effectually as they So there was striving for the glory of the Atchievment and the Friars shewed themselves as much Jesuited as the Jesuits In the height of Olivers Tyranny Tho. White a Priest and a right Jesuit in all his Principles about Obedience set out a Book Entitled The Grounds of Obedience and Government wherein he maintains That if the people by any Circumstance be devolved to the state of Anarchy their promise made to their expelled Governor binds no more That the people are remitted by the evil mannaging or insufficiency of their Governour to the force of Nature to provide for themselves and not bound by any promise made to their Governour that the Magistrate by his miscarriages abdicateth himself from being a Magistrate and proveth a Brigand or Robber instead of a Defender that word Defender he writes with a great D. that the Reader may take notice whom he means His Book is full fraught with Argumentations of this Nature All in barr and prejudice to His Majesties Restauration Of the same opinion was F. F. Bret when at St. Malo he was earnest with those Gentlemen that had so gallantly defended the Castle of Jarsey to take the Engagement from which they ought to be freed by the Articles of their Rendition maintaining that they were not to acknowledg any Supreme but the prevailing power Du Monlin Ibid. § Having dwelt thus long on this unpleasant Theme it is now time to wind up this Botton and therefore Admit the Papists had merited in these late troubles as much as they pretend they have from the King and his Father yet doth it not follow that they ought therefore to be rewarded with a Tolleration of their Religion or with any Mitigation of our Laws prohibiting the exercise thereof no more than it was fit Joseph for the good service done to his Master should be be gratified with the company of his Masters Wife Neither did his Master think this reasonable though he acknowledged the extraordinary good Service of his Servant much less did Joseph expect it In like manner the Papists must first satisfie us That the Tolleration of their Religion is not Tolleration of Idolatry which the Scripture calls Spiritual Adultery nor yet the exercise of a World of Impieties under the Mask of Religion before they can convince as whatever their Loyalty may otherways be that it is either lawful or reasonable for Magistrates whom the Scripture stileth Gods and who standing in Gods stead ought to be as jealous of his Honour in that case as a Husband would be of his Wife Nay as much as in them lies even as God himself who professeth himself to be a Jealous God to Authorize or connive at the Exercise of such a Religion or as to account very strict Laws too severe in that Case for which there is both Precept and Example in the Word of God It is a very great Truth That Kings neither can nor ought to give permission or allowance of any things which in their own Natures are evil and opposit to the Salvation of Mens Souls and which though they should permit them would nevertheless continue and remain sins and exclude them that do and practice them from obtaining Salvation And of such a Nature are many Popish Doctrins c. And certainly those Princes are most worthy of the praise of God and Men that endeavour to remove such Abuses and all things forbidden by God which remaining make it impossible for men to be saved or if saved yet so as by Fire very difticultly But in things not repugnant to the will of God all Princes have liberty to do that which the good and weal of their State requires I appeal to all the Oaesars in the World nay to all mankind if it be reasonable that the requital of the good Services of particular
11. How then can Kings bear with your Sacrilegious prophaning of the Lords Supper and forbidding Gods own Word to be read and licence the rest of your Impieties and Blasphemies and hope to be free from your plague When Valentinian the younger was requested to wink at the renewing of an Alter for the Pagans in Rome St. Ambrose disswaded him in these words All men serve you that be Prmces and you serve the Mighty God He that serveth this God must bring no dissimulation no Connivance but saithful zeal and devotion be must give no kind of consent to the worship of Idols or other superstitious or prophane Ceremonies for God will not be deceived nor mocked who searcheth all things even the secrets of our Hearts Ambrose lib. 5. Ep. 30. Now what account will God exact for his Name blasphemed his Word exiled and wrested his Decalogue dockt his Sacraments curtal'd and prophaned And what answer must be made for the ruine of Faith harvest of sin murder of Souls consequent always to the publick freedom of Idolatrous and Superstitious Worship and Heresies which ought to be fully considered and wilely prevented by Christian Magistrates who must as well as the meanest of their Vassals give an account of their Stewardships when called thereunto at the day of their Account § When Mary afterwards Queen of England earnestly besought her Brother King Ed. 6. both by her own Letters and by the mediation of the Emperour That she might have the free use of Mass in her Family alledging her Conscience for it that her House was her Flock c. The King by his Council made answer that it was well liked that her Grace should have her House or Flock but not exempt from the Kings Laws and Orders neither may there be a Flock of the Kings Subjects but such as will hear and follow the voice of the King their Shepherd God disalloweth Law and Reason forbiddeth it Policy abhorreth it and her Honour may not require it However at her earnest intreaty and desire made in the Emperors Name thus much was granted and no more that for his sake and hers also it should be suffered and winked at if she had the private Mass used in her own Closet for a season until she might be better informed whereof was some hope having only with her a few of her own Chamber so that for all the rest of her Houshold the Service of the Realm should be used and no other After this was granted in Words the Emperors Ambassador desired some Testimony of the Promise under the Great Seal which being denied he desired to have it by a Letter which was also denyed but not without shewing sound reasons that he perceiving it to be denyed with Reason wight be the better contented with the answer But when there was ill use made of this Indulgence and Connivance her Chaplain taking too great a liberty by publick Celebration of the Mass out of her Presence was sent for by the Council imprison'd c. for whom though her Grace mediated by many carnest Letters both to the King and his Council yet did his Majesty signifie to her by a Letter dated 24. January 1550. That though he had for a while connived that she might be brought as far towards the Truth by Brotherly love as others were by Duty and in hope of her amendment yet now if there be no hope why should there be sufferance Alledging also That his charge was to have the same care over every mans Estate that every man ought to have over his own And that in her own House as she would be loath openly to suffer one of her Servants being next her most manifestly to break her Orders so must she think in his state it would prejudice him to permit her so great a Subject not to keep his Laws that her nearness to him in Blood her greatness in Estate and the condition of the Time made her fault the greater The Example is unnatural that our Sister should do less for us than our other Subjects the Case standerous for so great a person to forsake our Majesty And therefore 24. Aug. 1551. He sent Commissioners to signifie to her That His Majesty did resolutely determine it just necessary and expedient That her Grace should not in any ways use or maintain the private Mass or any other manner of service than such as by the Law of the Realm was authorized and allowed So resolure was this young Josiab this Noble pious Prince though his dear Sister and the next Heir of the Crown had divers times offered her Body at the Kings Will rather than to change he rconscience § Queen Eliz. as in other things so in Religion was according to her assumed Motto semper endem never suffering the least Innovdtion thereof and therefore as in the first Year of her Reign she took great care that those Protestants which then began to frame a new Eeclesiastical Poliey being transported with a humour of Innovation should be repressed betimes and that but one only Religion was to be tollerated Angli Bello in trepidi nec mottis sensu deterentur lest diversity of Relig ons amongst the English a stout and Warlike Nation might minister continual Fuel to Seditions So in the Second Year of her Reign when the Emperor and Catholick Princes by many Letters made earnest inter cession that the Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks displaced for refusing the Oath of Supremacy which notwithstanding most of them had Sworn unto and taught in their Sermons and writ in defence thereof in the Reign of King H. 8. might be mercifully dealt withall there being as themselves had written and calculated above 9400. Ecclesiastical orefer ments and not above 189. displaced whereof 14 were Bishops that Churches might be allowed to the Papists by themselves in Cities she answered That although those Popish Bishops had insolently and openly repugned against the Laws and Quiet of the Realm and did still obstinately reject that Doctrin which most of them under H. 8. and E. 6. had of their own accord with heart and hand publickly in their Sermons and Writings taught unto others when they themselves were not private Men but publick Magistrates yet would she for so great Princes sakes deal favourably with them though not without some offence to her own Subjects But to grant them churches wherein to celebrate their divine Offices apart by themselves she could not with the safety of the Common-Wealth and without wrong to her ovvn Honour and Conscience neither vvas there any cause vvhy she should grant them seeing England embraced no nevv or strange Doctrin but the same vvhich Christ commanded the Primitive and Catholick Church received and the ancient Fathers vvith one Mind and Voice approved and to allovv Churches with contrary Rites and Ceremonies Besides that it openly repugned the Laws established by Authority of Parliament were nothing else but to sow Religion out of Religion to distract good Mens minds
be made 5. Novemb. for the Gun-powder-treason to root them out of the Confines and Limits of the Kingdom protesting in Parliament that he could not permit the increase and growth of Popery without betraying the liberty both of England and Scotland and of the Crown in his posterity and did declare in his Speech in Parliament 1605. That none of those that truly know and believe the whole Grounds and School-Conclusions of their Doctrins can ever prove-good Christians or good Subjects Vide his Works 504. Nay farther in the Second Year of his Reign ter ' tr ' upon a false rumor being spread that His Majesty intended to grant a Tolleration to Papists he commanded all the Judges with divers of the greatest Nobility viz. Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer and to Assemble in the Star-Chamber to receive their opinions upon these and other points at which time the Lords severally declared how the King was discontented with the said false Rumor and had made but the day before a protestation unto them that he never intended it and that he would spend the last drop of Blood in his Body before he would do it And prayed that before any of his Issue should maintain any other Religion than what he truly professed and maintained that God would take them out of the World Vide Sir George Crokes Reports part 2. ter tr Anno 2 Jac. Reg. in Banco Regis § When a Match with Spain was propounded to King James for Prince Charles and there with an Article defired for a Tolleration of the Popish Religion which when King James had propounded to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1623. the Arch-Bishop did write his Sentiments of King James in which Letter He besought His Majesty to take into his consideration what your Act is and what the Consequence may be by your Act you labour to set up the most Damnable and Heretical Doctrine of the Church of rome the Whore of Babilon How hateful it will be to God and grievous to the good Subjects the professors of the Gospel that your Majesty who hath often disputed and learnedly written against those should now shew your self a Patron of those wicked Doctrins which your Pen hath told the World and your Conscience tells your self are Superstitious Idolatrous and Detestable Besides this Tolleration which you endeavour to set up by your Proclamamation cannot be done without a Parliament unless your Majesty will let your Subjects see that you will take unto your self ability to throw down the Laws of the Land at your pleasure c. prout King James not long after viz 23. Ap. 1624. returns this Answer to a Petition of his Parliament touching Recusants viz. What my Religion is my Books declare my profession and my behaviour do shew and I hope in God I shall never live to be thought otherwise sure I am I shall never deserve it And for my part I wish that it might be written in Marble and remain to posterity as a mark upon me when I shall swerve from my Religion for he that doth dissemble withy God is not to be trusted by Man My Lords Ip rotest before God my Heart hath bled when I have heard of the increase of Opery and God is my Judg it hath been so great a grief unto me that it hath been like Thorns in my Eyes and Pricks in my sides so far have I been and ever shall be from turning any other way And my Lords and Gentlemen you all shall be my Confessors if I knew any way better than other to hinder the growth of Popery I would take it and he cannot be an honest man who knowing as I do and being perswaded as I am would do otherwise The Romish Catholicks for want of this liberty and tollerance in the time of Queen Eliz. and since have made and written many bitter Complaints and Invectives against the Rigour of our Penal Laws c. Rex Talionis I could requite them by commemorating the flames they kindled in England to burn their Brethren to dust How Pius Qintus conferred England on Philip II. King of Spain and approved as an Act lawful by Azorius Instit Mor. part 2. lib. 11. c. 5. And how many Princes they have displaced poisoned and murdered The Holy House which the Friars have planted in spain resembling the Torments of Nero his Garden the Massacres of Provence Piedmont of old and of late and of Paris where they murdered Men Women and Children by Thousands against the very Grounds off all Equity Piety Charity and Humanity without Convicting Accusing or so much as Calling them before any Judg to hear what was misliked in them And when was any of this put in Execution some of it even the 24 Aug. 1572. the very Year that Charles IX the French King pretending great kindness to the Protestants had in Testimony thereof desired a Confederacy at Blois with Queen Eliz. and the Princes of Germany in favour of them whom notwithstanding he had secretly and treacherously designed to the flaughter For no sooner were the Articles of Confederacy agreed on which was the 11th of April and confirmed by Oath by the Queen at Westminster 15. May in the presence of Montmo rency stiled the first Christian Prince and accounted the most Noble Family of all france who also again earnestly sollicited the Marriage with the Duke of Anjou but for that they could not agree about the Exercise of Religion he hasted into France to the Marriage of Henry of Navarre and Madam Margarite the French Kings Sister To this Marriage in pursuance of the said Bloody Design were invited the Queen of Navarre and all the choicest of the Protestants and also Burleigh and Leicester our of England pretending Honour to them and the Palatine Elector's Sons out of Germany that being brought into the snare both they and with them the Protestant Evangelical Religion might with one stroak if not have had their Throats cut yet at least receive a Mortal Wound For no sooner was the Marriage Solemnized but that barbarous Massacre of Paris and the Bloody Butchering of the Protestants throughout the Cities of France upon men of all Estates was cursedly put in Execution and that within Two days after Mota Fennelon the French Ambassador had propounded the Marriage between Queen Eliz. and the Duke of Anjou at Kenelworth Camb. Elisab 162. Which considered I annot but wonder to hear you thus complaining at the Fatherly Chastisement wherewith this Realm seeketh your amendment and sucketh not your Blood Compare the penalties which you fret at with the Laws of former Emperours and you will see how easie they are in respect of their ancient Edicts which restrained such as did forbear to communicate with the Church of Christ from buying selling disposing bequeathing Goods or Lands by will or otherwise yea from receiving any Legacies or enjoying their Fathers Inheritance the place where Schismatical Service was faid Chappel or House to be forfeited and the Bishop and Clergy-man
to pay 16 l. weight in Gold or to be banished God l. 1. Tit. 5. Mamcheos Ibid. 8. Cuncti St. Augustin Ep. 48. When it was expected by reason of the goodness of his Nature that he should mediate for some of these penalties to be released gave this quick and smart answer Nay marry let Princes in Gods Name serve Christ in making Laws for Christ § It was in the days of Queen Eliz. objected That for want of the Exercise of a Religion many sorts want things necessary to Salvation and many are forced to things which Bring Damnation Sol. We do not know what those things necessary to Salvation are which this Realm wanteth Receive with meekness the Word that is grafted in you which is able to save your Souls 1. Jam. 21. So long as we refuse no part of the Gospel which is the power of God for the Salvation of every Believer Rom. 1.16 all other Wants signifie little St. Paul doth warrant us That the Scriptures are able to direct and instruct Salvation by Faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16. less we believe not more we need not dream you what you list of Salvation and Damnation The Comfort of the Scriptures shall nourish our Hopes Rom. 15. It is you not we that keep back half the Communion one of the Commandments and the publikc use of the Scripture the very Rule and Guide to Salvation § It grieves you sore As lawful for Protestants as Papists to compel that any of your Tribe should be invited against their Wills to frequent our Sacraments or Service and that any mans Conscience should be forced Then why did you force Numbers with extream violence to recant and forswear the perswasion of their Faith What Reason can you bring that you may compel others and none must compel you Where got you that exemption or if Compulsion be lawful for both sides alike Why storm ye so much at our easie penalties and those seldom or never put in execution when your selves are justly charged with many cruel and unchristian Butcheries and Tragedies your Inquisiting your Burning your Murdering of Thousands without any refpect of Innocent or Ignorant is indeed very lamentable This kind of compelling which Queen Eliz. used and out Laws still prescribe cannot be denyed to be Charitable and to be resembleable to that Co-action which the Seriptures commend in Josiah which the most virtuous Emperours followed in the Primitive Church and which St. Austin upon deep debating the cause found allowed by God himself as the chiefest point of that Service which he requireth of Christian Princes As much as they are troubled with Compulsion when it is used against themselves yet they can glory in it when they use it against others Witness Peter Damesius the French Kings Ambassador to the Council of Trent who in his solemn Oration to that Synod vapoured that the Kings of France had never suffered any Sect in any part of France nor any but Catholicks yea have procured the conversion of Strangers Idolaters and Hereticks and have constrained them with pious Arms to profess the true and sound Religion rectius Heresie He shewed how Childibert compelled the Visigothes who were Arrians to joyn themselves to the Catholick Church and how Charles the Great made Wars 30 Years with the Saxons to reduce them to Christian Religion Cons Tr. 186. Our Sacraments Service and Sermons are reformed according to the Constat of Christs Will and Testament and therefore ought to be used and frequented and persons may be compelled to frequent them To come yet nearer home unto our own days What are the persecutions of the Hugonots Hungarians at this day but Compulsions those contrary to several Edicts Agreements and Sanctions of their Princes which thereby besides their just right derived from God himself become their just due and ought as Inviolably to be kept as well on the Princes as on the Subjects part God never brake his Covenant made with his people and Princes ought as solemnly in this to Imitate their God and their Lord whose Vice-gerents they are and ought not to transgress or go beyond their Commission Nothing of this kind can ever be claimed from or objected justly against our Protestant Kings or Parliaments I will not look far back nor mention those solemn cursed Oaths some of our European Princes have taken to destroy and extirpate Hereticks e. Protestants Root and Branch I shall here only call to mind the Edicts of Nantez made by H. 4. as a particular Irrevocable fundamental Law In pursuance whereof Commissioners were sent into all Provinces to execute the same which being done in due form the Commissioners returned the Execution thereof into the Hands of the King to serve as a Rule and Standard in all future Debates which might happily arise on that Subject Now to tell of all the violations of this Edict at the Instigation of the Jesuitical Clergy would fill a Volume therefore I shall stint it to a few of many New Commissioners since 1660. being Commissioned are commanded to Execute the Acts of Council made in Consequence of that Edict which are no other than so many violations of the same The Council Anno 1662. past an Act that the Protestants shall not be admitted before the Commissioners to prove the right for the Exercise of their Religion by Inquests or Witnesses even although the Witnesses be Roman Catholicks whereby they have lost near Three parts of Four of all their Churches Provence which had 15 or 16. Churches is now reduced to 4. Grex which had 23 Churches hath now but 2. In all Bretaigne remains but 2. High and low Languedock are reduced to half their Number Poictu which had 61 indisputable Churches is now reduced to 13. by an Act of 6. August 1665. and so of divers other Provinces By which means the Protestant Religion suffers more than by any Parisian Vespers the Protestants being necessitated either to live without any publick Exercise of their Religion or through infinite dangers and inconveniencies to wander 50. or 60. Miles distant from them One Act of Council hath robbed them of the liberty of praising God by forbidding singing of Psalms even privately in their Houses May 6. 1659. March 17. 1663. Another Act hath deprived them of the comfort of paying their last duty to their Dead with any conveniency compelling them to bury clandestinely and in the night Inhumanity heyond that of Heathens 7. Aug. 3. Novemb. 1662. Another hath divested Protestant Magistrates what ever be their charge or quality of the priviledge of presiding in their Courts Soct 1663. Another hath taken away all means of Instructing and Educating cheir Children leaving them at most and that only in some places the smaller Schools where is only taught to Write Read Compt as if study of Religion were incompatible with the study of Humane Sciences 26. Eeb. 1663. Another hath restrained the liberty of Printing any Book in favour of the Religion
Intollerable on a Politick Account neither can any Merits render it tollerable or reasonable Notwithstanding their pretensions of Merit are so high that they are not content with connivance safety which they enjoy without grudging and with more freedom and less trouble than many non-assenting Protestants nor yet with Honours which they have had also in great measure nor yet with power and trust of which they have had their shares also and yet are not contented Lords Paramount they must be or else restless and clamorous they will be Such is their Nature that it must devour or trample down all before it or else it will never rest satisfied Such is the unsatiableness of this Scarlet Lady so often drunk with the Blood of the Saints that no Blood could yet satisfie but that she still cries Give Give In all Histories from Generation to Generation they that run may read prodigious Examples of Exorbitant Papal Claims and pride over Kings Emperours Princes and Free States even against right reason and to the Indignation of all Mankind and these justified by their Popes Councils Decretals Canons and Divines of the first Magnitude ascribing to the Pope power of deposing Kings if Hereticks and they are all so when his Holiness pleaseth so to tearm them by as good Logick as the Foxes Ears are Horns if the Lyon please to call them so And if yet there be any Papists that in Word or Writings do disown such Doctrins as the Seculars did in Queen Eliz. days of whom notwithstanding it is observed That they never discovered any traiterous design until it was first discovered by others and that in several Treasons though many of the Seminary Priests were active and forward yet they are as little to be confided in as those that own and justifie them for that by so doing they contradict and disclaim the very Faith they own and profess and unto which they are sworn thereby forsaking their Popes Councils Canons Divines and Decretals nay their Doctrins of Supremacy of believing as the Church i. e. as the Pope believes of Infallibility and Probability of Equivocation of no Faith to be kept with Hereticks c all Doctrins of the Church of Rome which alone are in their esteem of power sufficient to warrant and justifie their blind obedience and to null all the security that can possibly be given between Prince People whether Oaths or Laws Civil or Ecclesiastical nay Divine And if we may prognosticate of practises to come by practises past let the said Experience of former Ages and of all Countries and of ours in particular rise up in Judgment against them that they never have been never will be Loyal Subjects to our Protestant Princes the Reasons are strong for that they are ever incited to such evil Machinations and practises by the strong impulse and impetuous zeal of their own Doctrins and Superstitions and all proceeding from causes pecular unto Romish Religion and Principles which they have not in the least as yet changed nor disclaimed nor yet their Interest § Besides if the Papists of England have merited any thing from the King and his Father in these late troubles it is no thanks to their Religion and therefore no reason they should be gratified in their Religion for had it proceeded from the undoubted principles of their Religion it would have held as well in Ireland as in England nay it would have held as well in Queen Elizabeth and King James his time as in the time of King Charles Father and Son a Postscript to an Answer to a Jesuited Gent and also in a sparing Discourse It being confessed by themselves that none of them have in all the times of persecution dyed expresly for Religion but all for Treason b Answer to a Letter to a Jesuited Gent. f. 45. And that Irish Papists would have been as little Loyal to Queen Mary as unto Queen Eliz. But the continual Plots against the Life and Crown of that Queen and that horrid Gun-powder Plot against King James and all his Race and Nobles and the late Rebellion in Ireland against King Charles do demonstrate the contrary and their Religion where that and the Pope are concerned teaching the contrary but they thought not their Religion in that case concerned if they had then it would have appeared whether their Loyalty would have born up against it or no more than it hath done in former times Therefore if any such Merits have been they have been only personal and so may be and no doubt so have been and will be requited with personal favours but in no case with such as may tend to the advantage of the Popish and consequently to the disadvantage of the Protestant Religion Power and Interest of our Princes But let us a little examin what in truth have been the Merits of the Papist in the late Wars To say the Papists were the Formal Causes of the late War upon what hath been before written were happily not quite besides the Cushion However the former matter and grounds administers good Reasons to believe and affirm that they were great occasions both of the rise growth and continuance of our late Wars Some and those not a few of the wisest and most sober Cavaliers thought that the Papists did look upon the War as their great Interest and Hahvest either by opening unto them occasions to pretend something in favour of their party in case the King prevailed or otherwise by somenting of the War between Protestant and Protestant they should have gained an Interest through their divisions when they had weakened one another and that by fishing in troubled Waters they should gain some advantage by the confusions which as the Law stood in a setled State of Affairs they could not expect § However if the Papists did not design those divisions and the breaking in pieces of the Antient Government of this Kingdom and that wherein they hoped to find their Interest it is certain they were great occasions thereof for what on the one hand with their Negotiations before the War by Seignior Con and other the Popes Agents and the State tampering with the Pope and King of Spain about the Infanta not yet on t of the Minds and Memories of his Subjects and their boldness upon the favour they might happily expect from the Kings Mother and the Clemency which they found from his Father no way desirous to have the Sanguinary Laws Executed upon them and what by the Rebellion of those of that Religion in Ireland they created so great Jealousies in the minds of the Protestant party in England that it rather weakened the Royal party than fortified it and made the Adverse party so numerous and so successful as a long time it was And it may be truly said there was never a Papist in the Kings Army but it lost him the Hearts of many Protestants and as it cannot be supposed that they brought a Blessing on the Kings Armies
Nayls only that otherwise would crack our Crowns and seek our lives unless we will quantum in nobis sacrifice once more all that is near and dear unto us unto Romish Tyranny § I shall yet further Conclude That if Protestant Princes will but rightly consider that they like Gods own Sabbath were ordained for Kingdoms and not Kingdoms for them and that if they will follow but the very Dictates of right Reason and the very light of Nature they cannot without being felones de se establish or tollerate by Law Popery in their Protestant Dominions For as self-preservation by the very Law and Light of Nature is the Suprema lex of every Individual and consequently of every Prince considered only as a single person So Salus Populi wherein the Prince himself is also included and involved even politically and in respect of Magistracy considered is the Suprema lex also And the first and principal thing Magistrates are to look after is to preserve Magistracy and the Authorty they are intrusted withall for the good of the Governed in its full power and prerogative And for this great reason also it is wonderful absurd to suppose a Magistrate obliged to tollerate any thing destructive to the very being of the persons and Authority of him and his people for whose wellfare he is intrusted And of such a Nature is Popery and is the design of Papists and no pretence of Conscience whatsoever is in such a Case to be hearkned unto or endured it being against the very Light of Nature and in-truth nothing else but to pretend Conscience the better to enable them to destroy not Religion only but even Protestant Mankind For the very Light of Nature abandons all such principles from the least Tolleration they making men cease to be true Subjects to the State or good Common-Walthsmen in relation to others Though I have thus justified the Act of Parliament by the confessions of Papists themselves by matters of Fact Reasons of State and warranty of Scripture yet I can give no Vote or Encouragement for Sanguinary Laws meerly for matters of Religion abstract from treasonable and capital crimes and practises nor yet to imitate our Adversaries in Inquisitions fleaing with Stripes starving with Hunger Cold and Nakedness plunging into loathsom Dungeons full fraught with stinking Nastines and with Toads Serpents and other venomous Creatures nor yet for unnecessary pecuniary Mulcts And I am confident that such true English generous Blood runs in the Veins of English Parliaments that they naturally pity the distressed and abhor cruelties that they will not use Extremities not put in Execution the utmost of the Penal Laws but will mould them a gently as the peace and safety of the Nation will bear and permit And I am verily perswaded That if their over busie and fiery Priests had not been over Active the Review and Revival of any severities against them had never been though of and if any new Acts do ensue it is but what they have brought upon themselves and for which none may be blamed but themselves and their Layety only because they suffer themselves to be led blind-fold by their Noses by them who have no Authority so to do for which they are much very much to be commiserated there being a vast difference between the Seducers and Seduced But if any more severe Laws than other ought to be put in Execution certainly they ought to be inflicted on Idolaters and Blasphemers That the Papists are Idolaters hath been demonstrated by many Pens and that they are Blasphemers is as evident For according to the Notion of Blasphemy even in the New Testament He that assumes and appropriates to himself a property Divine is a Blasphemer and in truth a setter up of more Gods than one and of such a Nature is their Doctrin of Infallibility This is most Evident from Luke 5.20 21. when the Jews Taxed Christ himself for speaking Blasphemy who did not rayl but only said to the Paralitick Man Thy sins are forgiven thee Yet they not acknowledging him to be God did account it Blasphemy in him to take upon him to forgive sins which is a property meerly Divine For who said they can forgive sins but God alone so Rev. 2.9 I know the Blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Much more he that says he is In allible a property Divine when he is not So John 10.33 For a good Work we stone tee not but for Blasphemy because thou being a Man makest thy self God What was this blasphemy even because he said I and my Father are one v. 31. Whereby it is apparent that the Popes assuming to themselves a property Divine make themselves guilty of Blasphemy and indeed of making more Gods than one which is undeniable Idolatry To which if their Luciferian Dogma's be added it will not mince the matter at all viz. Credere Dominum Deum nostrum Papam non potuisse statuere prunt statuit Haereticum censetur Extravag Johan 22. cum inter nonnullos gloss ibid. declaramus Idem est Dominium Dei Papae Augustus Ambonitanus q. 45. 35. Dominus Deus noster Papa Clement in proem in Gloss ibid 121. Rex Regum Dominus Dominantium Extravag de Majoritat obedientia But let these pass In the Church of Rome the Popes were the first Preachers of force and violence and that their St. Dominick was one of the first that I read of that preached the Doctrin of Death and Tortures for opinions in Religion He was the founder of the begging Order of Friars preachers and therefore in Honour of him the Inquisition is intrusted only to the Friars of his Order And if they will believe their own Legends his own Mother the night before he was born dreamed that she was brought to bed of a Mastiff Dog with a Fire-brand in his mouth The Hieroglyphick whereof I leave to every Reader to make Only his deportment towards the Albigenses is storied to be as mad as that of Dogs so that one saith of him That a Hundred Thousand of them were put to flight Aeo quidem ut Centum Haereticorum Millia ab Octo Millibus Catholicorum fusa interferta fuisse perhibeantur and slain by 8000 Catholicks and of those who became Captives 180 were burnt to death the first Example that I find in the Church of Rome of putting dissenting Brethren to death for Religion Though my particular Confession engages me Experimenta per mortes Agere yet I abhor to be of the Colledge of Blood-suckers whose Bellies like those Canes Sepulchroles of the Romans are never satisfied with the Blood of Saints I have learnt better things from Isa 27.4 Fury is not in me And from Psal 11.5 Him that loveth violence his Soul hateth lest God should return Blood upon me in fury and in jealousie Ezek. 16.38 I Conclude with St. Cyprian Quid facit in pectore Christiano Luporum feritas