his own name for hee would traduce and defanâ—â— her Highnes and the State and yet without perill to himselfe but out of the apprehension of others and in theyr name deliuer at large that all former persecutors come short of her Maiestie in cruelty agaynst Catholikes But in the end least he might notwithstanding the cariage of this trayterous imputation vnder the shadow of others be challenged for the same he smootheth the matter on his owne part and as if he allowed her Maiesties proceedings which elsewhere hee brandeth with the title of an vniust vexation he tendreth an answere and defence in the behalfe of them He sayth therefore that considering the English Romanists sought the death of theyr Soueraigne the conquest of theyr natiue countrey the subuersion of the State the alteration of all lawes and customes the destruction of all the ancient inhabitants of the land it is rather to bee wondred that one Catholike should bee left aliue in England then that theyr persecution hath been so great Which answer of his her Maiesty may take for a sufficient warrant for her forbearance of imitating the sayd Emperours in this particular of allowing Chappels and Churches for the exercise of Popery The Christians to whom this fauour was yeelded were not in opinion affection and action traytors to God and to the Emperours as some pretended Catholikes haue been and are vnto God and her Maiestie and therefore the cause of the sayd Christians and the English Romanists being so vnlike and different her Maiesty is not to hold the like course towards the one as the Emperours held towards the other The fifteenth argument Vnder the Persian and the Turke there is liberty of conscience granted to all men Her Maiestie therefore may with good reason grant the like libertie vnto English Romanists No action of a Pagan and atheall Monarch ought in a question of the worship and seruice of the Lord to be a president vnto a Christian Prince Besides such to whom the Persian and Turke allow this liberty doe neither in opinion derogate ought from theyr soueraignty nor in action attempt any thing agaynst the same nor for number or other respects are able so to doe whereas in the case of the Romanists within this kingdome it is farre otherwise they being for opinion aduersaries to her Maiesties supremacie for loyaltie freed by popish buls from acknowledgement of alleageance vnto her for affection deuoted to a forrayne Potentate for theyr carriage in plot and action heretofore conspirators agaynst God theyr Prince for intention and wish aymers at alteration for number dependency confederacy as well forraine as domesticke and other correspondent abilities strong and to be suspected Vpon which regards I do inferre that the proceeding of the Persian and Turk in this cause of toleration ought not to be vnto her Maiesty a direction for doing the like The sixteenth argument All Kings and princes of this age haue thought it the fittest and safest course to grant libertie of conscience to their subiects as in France Flanders Germany and other countries hath bin practised Therefore her Maiestie should allow vnto Papists the same fauour for exercise of their religion The Quilibet offereth vnto vs an 〈◊〉 truth in the Antecedent For the Princes and Gouernours of the Countries here mentioned and all other Potentates holding correspondence in religion with the Pope as they doe haue for the most part both in plot and action imployed theyr vtmost policy and meanes to the supplanting and extirpation of the Gospell and the professors thereof within theyr kingdomes and territories hauing for warrant of theyr proceedings in this behalfe the decree and resolution of the Councell of Trent particular directions from the Pope and the iudgement of the Prelates and Clergy within they owne dominions It is not vnknowne how passionate and violent the Spaniard hath been now a long time for an vtter suppression of the holy truth professed by some his subiects His Inquisition his secret combination with the Guisian his armies by sea and land do testifie agaynst him The riuers of bloud that France in the dayes of Henry the second but especially of his three sonnes successiuely hath seene in attempts and massacres agaynst the Hugonots are scarce yet dry What should I speake of the courses held agaynst the Gospell in Flanders and heretofore in Germany and England Is there at this day any popish Prince and gouernour who is of sufficient power to displant and subuert the profession of the same within his seuerall iurisdictions and doth it not If any shall alleage the toleration of religion at this present in France he must consider that the sayd religion is allowed vpon the same ground of necessity and dishability on the part of the Catholikes to expugne and ruine it as it was in the time of Charles the 9. and Henry the third â—or were they of sufficient strength to remoue or abolish it well might the memorie and name of Hugonots remayne in theyr records assuredly theyr persons should not hold other place and interest there then now they do at Seuil in Spaine or at Millan and Rome in Italy in which places there is streight order taken to proceede with al rigour agaynst them whereas if the Pope Spanyard and other Princes of like iudgement and affection in religion held it the safest course to graunt liberty of conscience as the Quilibet vntruly insinuateth they would repeale theyr Edicts and decrees agaynst Protestants cancell and frustrate the power of the Inquisition spare all search after theyr persons surcease theyr confiscations and all criminall processe agaynst them As the Antecendent deserueth no credit with vs so the consequence inferred theron may iustly be censured For disproofe whereof we must remember that Râ—tionâ— legibus viuitur non exomplis Experience hath euicted it to bee a course of perill for princes to gouerne themselues by exaÌ„ples especially where there is not a coÌ„currence of the same reasons and circumstances inducing thereto Now in this case of allowing toleration the circumstances and reasons are not like first in the Princes themselues of which the Emperor the French the Spanyard the Polonian â—â—e for outward profession and practiâ—â— deuoted Papists whereas her Maiesty professeth the Gospell Secondly in the particular to be graunted they supposed to allowe the free exercise of the Gospell a doctrine in it selfe most lawfull and holy and which yeeldeth vnto Princes euery parcell of theyr honour and euery poynt of Soueraignety whereas her Maiesty is solicited to the admittance of Popery a thing in it selfe impious and which denyeth vnto Princes a Soueraigne interest and power ouer theyr Subiects and transferreth it to a forraine Potentate Thirdly in the ground and motiues of graunting this libertie the sayd Princes I meane such of them as haue yeelded herein induced thereto not out of humour to gratifie theyr subiects nor out of respects of security to theyr persons and States but out of extreame necessity as absolutely disabled to preuaile agaynst them whereas no such violent and desperate regard doth as yet inforce her Maiesty vnto it Lastly in the persons to whom this fauour of toleration is to be communicated they the sayd Princes allowing it to such who repute and acknowledge them for their lawfull Soueraignes and who neuer plotted or attempted ought agaynst their Crowne and life whereas her Maiesty is to impart and yeeld it to those who hold her for dis-inuested by the Popes bull of her imperiall Crowne and regalities who haue disposed of theyr alleageance to a forrayne Prince who haue been interessed in proiects and practises agaynst her royall person and State and who are ready vpon opportunity offered and vpon direction mandatory receyued from the Vicar of Rome to take armes for the subuersion of her scepter and the Gospell So as the examples propounded to perswade and inforce an imitation in her Maiesty carying with them so many differences in the circumstance of the persons and things in questions are not meete presidents and such from which a sound consequence may be deduced to draw allowance from her Maiestie of the toleration solicited The seauenteenth Argument is in pag. 280. Vpon grant of toleration all occasion would be taken away of sending english youths to the Seminaries beyond the Seas there to be trayned and fitted for practises against the State â—â—â—refore her Maiestie may with good reaâ—â—n allow the same â—â—â—cerning the Antecedent first it is 〈◊〉 and vncertaine whether vpon this occasion they would surcease transmitting theyr youths to the sayd Seminaryes Secondly if they should yet theyr institution of discipline within the Realme may bee the same for substance and to the same intent and purpose it hath beene formerly in the sayde Seminaryes considering that toleration is able to furnish vnto them instructors and doctrines of the same quality and vse But let vs suppose the contrary should her Maiesty to preuent theyr trayning in a schoole of treachery giue place and intertainement to toleration VVere not this to cure the indisposition of some members of the State by a remedy fitted in euery respect to augment the malady yea to infect the whole body Besides to consent to an alteration of this nature and consequence as toleration is of were not onely agaynst the rule of piety and duty to God but agaynst the law also of ordinary policie and wisedom except in the case of deliuerance from greater and imminenter perill and in counterchaunge of profits more importing To receiue and allow the free exercise of Poperie in the State by publike authoritie were to broch a vessell of poyson and to haue the Antidote vncertaine or to rayse a flame in a Citie and to leaue the quenching therof to doubtfull possibilities FINIS â—g 255. r 256.
so they pretend also a peremptory resolution to oppose personally against all attempts of this nature and further to draw vnto an actuall correspondence with them herein all Catholiques with whome they shall bee able to preuayle Moreouer not reason onely but experience of all tymes hath taught that the disunion of confederates though followed on the one part onely with the extremity of malice neuer fayleth eyther to worke and rayse impediments to the common cause or to seeke the weakening and suppression of the aduerse party Further whereas it is affirmed that there hath beene a carefull course held to preuent the disturbance of theyr common peace and of their disseignes the trueth hereof will be testified by the directions they receyue ordinarily from theyr Superiors how to carry themselues in matters of weight by the order and discipline established amongst them to encounter and remedy scandalous accidents by the entercourse of intelligence that is betwixt them and the Commaunders of theyr faction by theyr watchfulnes and continuall preparation to take aduantage of all occurrents and tymes fitting theyr intents Hereupon it is that they want not theyr Catalogues of the number in each Shire and City deuoted to theyr side and how they are furnished with armes munitions and other abilityes Wherefore vppon the considerations aboue remembred I doe inferre that eyther theyr quarrell is colourable and entertayned of pollicy or they instrumentes of hinderance to the aduauncement intended vnto the publique cause of the Sea Apostolique If any shall in this place outof the obiection aboue mentioned reply that theyr profession to discouer and oppose against all treacheries whether in plot or action doth cleere the pretended difference from the imputation of disguising and fraude Igraunt it doth so in case it be really and sincerely vpon all occasions performed what is verbally professed But in doing hereof they shall bee found guilty of high Treason against the authority of the Romane Church whose cause by this course of detection and opposition they doe wilfully betray But against this later they doe contest and openly professe all readinesse to shed each droppe of theyr best blood for the publique good and honour of Saint Peters Chayre What therefore can we conceyue and conclude other then this that both the pretended contention and the sayd profession accompaning the same is counterfeyte Besides for a further proofe hereof let vs drawe into examination the vehement protestation tendered by the Seculars of all sincere and dutifull alleageance to her Maiesty and likewise of all detestation towards the Spanyard and his title If the protestation both of the one and the other proceede not from any found affection but from a fraudulent intention of the heart wee may then with good reason charge them with want of loyal and faythfull meaning in their pretended difference For of these three namely theyr zeale to her Maiesty theyr hatred to the Spanyard theyr quarrell with the Iesuites there is originally the same ground and ende viz. the aduauncement and good of theyr common cause and the two first are made the motiues of the latter For out of a zeale to the surety of her Maiesties state and vpon hatred of the Spanyard and his tytle they pretend a capitall abhorring of the Iesuits whose complots tend to the destruction of the one and to the aduantage of the other so as of what quality and tincture the two former are of the same wee are to iudge that to bee which groweth from them But the question is of this protestation whether it be feyned First that it is so in that part thereof which is of duty and alleageance to her Maiesty I haue these presumptions to perswade me Where the same opinion in Religion the same obligation of dutifull respect and obedience to the Pope the same endeauours of supplanting the Gospell and aduauncing Popery the same distrust and feare of her Maiesty infinitly wronged and dishonoured by them the same apprehension of supposed vexations and tyrannies executed vpon them and in generall where the same cause of malice and hatred to her royall person and the State doth remayne there in all likelyhood can be no change of affection For the disposing of a malicious and trayterous heart to duty and fidelity must proceede from a surcease of those causes which gaue life and breath to malice and treachery As they nourish in heart the originall and spring of theyr disloyalty and malice so is there no probability of theyr inclination to alter and remoue it theyr meanes being as great as heretofore theyr confederates as many and strong theyr aduauntages agaynst vs encreased as may appeare by theyr glorious vauntes of fauour in Court and Countrey theyr inlarged hopes and insolency theyr conceyt and reporte of desperate hostility betwixt Protestants and Puritans Besides were they out of a grieued heart for theyr former rebellious cariage sincerely affected to the safety and preseruation of her Highnesse would they perswade the graunt of such meanes as threaten a present and an ineuitable daunger to her person and the state They prease a repeale of the Statutes which secure her Crowne and dignity they solicit a tolleration of theyr religion that they might without perill and controulement employ theyr seruice in effecting reconcilements to the Pope they direct catholique subiects when to proceede to the execution of most Antichristian censures and Bulls for deposition of our Soueraigne lastly they labour a finall disunion and diuision first betwixt her Maiesty and her Subiects and then betwixt Subiect and Subiect and so consequently the subuersion both of Prince and people Can they solicit and labour the ruine of her Maiesty and yet be reputed sincere and vnfeyned in theyr profession of allegeance and fidelity vnto her Againe were they resolutely and soundly deuoted to performe loyalty and duety vnto her in all such poyntes of seruice as concerne her honour and safety and particularly in detection of treacherous disseignements in recouery of disaffected subiects from the Pope to her obedience in aduenturing theyr persons and goods agaynst all forraine attempts then would the Pope and Spanyard surcease theyr plots and practises against this State vpon feare of theyr discouery defection of Catholiques from them and dispayre of preuayling To conceyue that the inuadors will come furnished out of theyr owne sufficiency and so stand absolutely vpon theyr domestical and proper strength not looking to finde the helpe and succour of a faction amongst vs is idle or to thinke they shall bee able to preuayle notwithstanding the discouery made of theyr proiects and attempts were to hold vs for accessary to our own ruine in leauing to the inuadors the helpes they attend and hope for and in fayling to furnish all due meanes on our part for resistance If then vpon seasonable aduertisement giuen of theyr intended enterprises we shall disappoynt them of the strength and supplies they expect and inable our selues in euery respect with preparations of all natures
an exâ—â—dient for preuention of perill in this behalfe First there is an impossibility of such caution there being nothing that this or any forraine nation can yeelde which could be in valew satisfactory and answerable to her Maiesties life Secondly a possibility herein supposed yet cautions of what nature soeuer will be found exposed to so many incertainties as that they cannot serue for groundes of assurance in the case of so precious and inestimable a iewell Obligation of othe is with Romanists dispensable Ostages subiect to mortality and other accidents pledges in the nature of lands or chattels decayable caution of townes from forraine Catholiques full of difficulties and inconuenients Thirdly vpon the succeeding of an attempt against her Soueraigne and vnualuable person how shall we in so great a confusion and astonishment either reteyne in our hands without present daunger the caution giuen or pursue the recouery of satisfaction if we be not seazed thereof Speech therefore in the case proposed of caution is senseles But he hath happely some better ground for displanting and extermination of Puritans Howsoeuer it pleaseth him in shew to distinguish betwixt such as agreeing in the opinion of doctrine against the church of Rome doe notwithstanding differ in some honourable additions and circumstances of discipline yet in truth and in the secret account of his popish heart whosoeuer acknowledgeth not the soueraignety of Peters chayre or standeth in opposition of iudgement to the Counsell of Trentâ— is vnto him and to all of his stampe a Puritan and shall in that day of Iubiley which they haue so long attended passe as conuict of heresie to the faggot or sworde In those times of Queene Mary when the Pope swayed the Scepter in this land it was not enough to pleade a concurrence with them in opinion touching the gouernement of the state Ecclesiasticke by Bishops and other subordinate officers of the Clergy It was neither the Episcopall Rocâ—et nor the ornament of Typpet nor the squarenes of a Cap nor the mustring in Cope or Surplice that could then priuiledge a Protestant against the Clinke or the Purgatory of Smithfield And doe we thinke if then euery Professor of the Gospell from the Archbishoppe to the poore Curate and from the person of Honour to the Cobler were drawne into question of life that any hereafter shall for respect of his Typpit or Rochet finde fauour and impunity I doubt not but there haue beene many of each sorte and quality in France Germany the lowe Countries and else where who shoulde haue beene spared from the hard measure and extremity offered vnto them if their liking of the auncient dignities and outward formalities in the Churche could haue procured them regarde and grace It were against common sense to conceiue that they will persecute the refusing of the Surplice and leaue vncensured the contempt of the Masse punish all inconformity to externall ceremonies and beare with contradiction to the Popes Supremacy As to the Duke of Medina if in 88. hee had preuayled in his attempt against vs each Catholique would haue seemâ—d Protestant his sworde not discerning the one from the other but resolutely proceeding on to make roome for the King his Master So if the Lorde in his iustice should abandon this sinfull Land to the mercy of the Secular Priest and Iesuit then to smooth the way and passage for S. Peters Vicar euery Protestant should be adiudged a Puritan Whereas therefore hee pretendeth in word the ruine of the Puritans I hold it for certaine he intendeth in deede the generall dispatch of all Protestants For what else can we probably conceiue to be his drift herein It is cleere that his heaping of so many scandalous indignities vpon them and his charging them not only in generall with endeauours to pull downe Kings and Princes but in particular with practise to kill her Maiesty and to subuert all other Protestants cannot haue other scope then the raysing and nourishing of perpetuall ielousies great feares and bloody hatreds not onely betwixt the Protestant and the supposed Puritan but specially betwixt her royall selfe and many thousands her faythfull subiects and consequently the absolute depriuing her of their ready and dutifull seruices If then he labour to destitute and strip his Prince of the loyall affection and seruice which an infinite multitude woulde tender and performe vnto her if hee would likewise stirre the flame of ciuill contention amongst all the Protestant subiects of this State doth he not thereby ayme at some fearefull eclipsing of her Maiesties power and strength Doth he not prepare and fashion an ouerture to a desolation and change of State Either Religion and peace with the loue seruice and multitude of people on the one part and the reciprocall fauour and respect from the Prince on the other part are not the true foundations and pillars of the stand and greatnes of Monarches within their seuerall dominions or if they be then he that shall employ the whole force of his wit and affection as well to the expugnation of Religion and the mutuall amity amongst compatriots as to disarme his Soueraigne of the loue seruice and multitude of his subiects and to worke in him a reiection likewise on his part of all Princely and respectiue conceit towardes them cannot but stand in the iudgement of vnpartial men iustly chargeable with the imputation of a trayterous heart to his Prince and Countrey As therefore the vrged repeale of the sayde Statutes and the toleration of Popery is of a pernicious consequence so would he through the side of the Puritan wound both Prince and Subiect both Bishop and Curate Besides to yeelde vnto the mayne question in hand some further light let it be considered what doctrine he deliuereth in his Quodlibets of State and Succession for resolution and direction of the Subiect in case of the Popes excommunication The regarde of the time and the present affliction indured by Catholiques makes him as hee sayth vnwilling to maintaine positions odious to the State but yet hee is bolde to enforme the Subiects of their duty herein First therefore hee giues them to vnderstand that it is lawfull for his Popeship to excommunicate Princes and lawfull also for the Subiects to put in execution the sentence of such excommunication Secondly he doth aduertise them that howsoeuer both the one and the other be lawfull yet in regard of the manifold inconueniencies insuing thereof it is not expedient so to proceede Thirdly because the question of expediency should not vpon occasion offered for aduauncement of their religion either intangle scrupulous and nice consciences or minister discouragement to the forward and hotspirited Catholique he cleareth it and directeth them when they are to refuse their allegeance vnto their Soueraigne and take armes against him for execution of the sayd sentence Hee doth therefore the Bull and the denounciation thereof being supposed to bee of sufficient validity teach and instruct them that when they may without
fitting an honourable and assured defence they grounding theyr attempt partly vpon our weakenes and defect of preparing partly vpon hope of a faction and all needfull supplyes amongst vs and finding a frustration of their hopes in this behalfe will in all probable discourse lay aside theyr thoughts and intents of proceeding agaynst vs. If it shall bee obiected that the surcease of attempting aboue mentioned is already performed on the part of the Pope and the Spanyard theyr late combination and practise for the conquest of Ireland and Ostend the present courses held for reconciling vnto the Pope the directions giuen and secretly executed for winning a party vnto the infanta or to the King regnaÌ„t wil sufficiently answere and conuince this doubt But for a further inforcement of the Seculars protestation in this particular of theyr alleageance and to win credit thereto it will be anouched that the auncienter sort of them euer misliked this course of restoring religion by treason and inuasion If they alwayes disliked it why did they not detect it and so preuent as much as rested in them the perill intended to her Maiesty and the State They answere That the respect of theyr common cause and the hope they had the politicall Fathers would 〈◊〉 growne more moderate in theyr disseignements against our Soueraigne moued them to bee silent in this behalfe Which is in effect as if they should say the hope conceyued that theyr sayde disseignements would in the meane tyme haue preuayled moued them to this silence VVere they touched with so simple and light a regard of her Maiesties life that they had rather she should in her person receyue a mortall wound thâ—â— themselues vtter a word to preuent it Is it in the imminent daunger of the Church and State which by theyr disclosing might bee diuerted a sufficient iustification of theyr silence herein in that they hoped the contriuers of the perill would haue reclaymed themselues If the issue had answered your desires then would you haue honoured the Machiauillian Fathers with a crowne of glory whome now in shewe you pursue with the greatest infamies and indignities If then in the tyme of so present an hazard you refused notwithstanding your pretended fidelity and mislike of the course in hand to affoord so much as one syllable from your Priestly lips for preseruing the life of your Soueraigne there is no probability that hereafter in the like case of attempt and hope of successe on your side you reteyning the same dutifull respect to the Pope and your common cause rather in an higher degree of affection then heretofore you will fall to a ready performance of the loyall seruice whereof you make so often profession But what is it that drew you to a mislike of the practises interteined by the Iesuiticall Fathers for executing the Popes sentence It cannot be the consideration of any vnlawfulnes in them For howsoeuer you finde it against the reason of expediency that eyther the Pope should excommunicate or the catholique subiect execute the sentence denounced till the proceeding thereto might be without notable hurt and preiudice yet you hold both the one and the other to be lawfull Neyther can it bee the inconuenience and trouble which befell vnto your persons vpon the issue of the sayd practises that moued you to detest them For in the question of aduauncing the honour and good of the Romane Church you hold no account of liberty or life the glory of your supposed martyrdome doth weigh more with you then any worldly respect you are not eyther so vnwise as to esteeme of the resolutions and courses by the euent or so enamoured with your selues as to prefer your particular before the generall Besides the sayd course being not onely warrantable de iure in your opinion but de facto plotted with all politique foresight out of due consideration of the meanes for prosecution and compassing thereof out of the best intelligence that could bee procured and with speciall regard to the good of the Seculars what ground of iust exception can they haue against it If there were imperfection in the cariage of it the blame must rest vpon the Actors and not vpon the plot Agayne whereas the successe of the courses held became also preiudiciall to the Iesuits why doe not those Fathers indite Satyrs agaynst the Seculars Why doe not they who had theyr part in contriuing of them discharge theyr spleene agaynst the Seculars who had a principall hand in acting them Or why doe not both Iesuit and Secular publish theyr detestation of the Pope by whose warrant and authority they proceeded both to the plotting of theyr courses and the execution of them If then the Seculars hatred of Iesuiticall practises cannot probably grow from the ground and cause pretended by them it cannot runne in other account then of forgery and therefore theyr protesting of shewing loyalty to her Maiesty in opposing agaynst the sayd practises must needes receyue the like â—â—and and censure But let vs graunt vnto them that whereof they would haue vs to rest perswaded viz. that the enacting of penall lawes the restraynt of theyr persons and in some the losse of life and goods occasioned by the sayde practises did draw them to a dislike of the same First in this confession they contradict themselues this theyr pretended dislike being a censuring of the sayde courses for detestable treasons and so are they styled by them in sundry passages Now if they partake in nature with treasons how can they be reputed lawfull But you allowe them for lawfull and giue direction when they may bee executed Secondly if the sayde inconuenience to your persons and goods were the principall motiue of your hatred to the sayde courses then did you approue them considered in themselues and so far forth as they intended her Maiesties destruction And this latter would you haue well disgested in that her proceeding agaynst you was adiudged by you to bee a tyrannous persecution and oppression You neuer notified your mislike of those courses till experience acquainted you with the danger of them to your persons you betooke your selâ—es to your beades solicited al your Saints plyed the mumbling of Masses perswaded others to theyr particular deuotions for the happy successe of the same and were ready also to bee imployed personally in some part of the appoynted seruice If then the disseignes in question they being considered in themselues and for such as by warrant from the Pope did intend the aduauncement of the Sea Apostolique with the suppression of her Maiesty were allowed by you and if the supposed persecution onely occasioned by the issue of them moued you to mislike thereof and to an hatred of her Maiesty as may appeare by your infamous discourses and libels what are we to apprehend of your professed allegeance which growes not from conscience of duty nor from perswasion of vnlawfulnes in the sayd disseignes nor yet from consideration of the pretended hurts you haue
against the lawfull authoritie and state of a prince For in case such religion were treaâ—on â—â—en â—â—ouâ—d God be repugnant to himselfe and maintaine in his word a direct opposition betwixt his owne ordinance which is the lawfull authoritie of Princes and the articles of doctrine deliuered in his sayd word But the popish religion is in the articles thereof for which the Romanists suffer treason against the lawful authoritie and state of a prince Therefore the pâ—pish religion in the articles therof for which they suffer is not grounded vpon and warranted by the word of God For proofe of the Assumption in this latter syllogisme it must bee remembred that the Popes excommunication or bull is with them a matter of religion and that they doe in generall acknowledge the same for a lawfull and iust censure and likewise themselues bound to see the contents thereof executed in case of his commaundement And whereas in particular the said bull doth import and declare his Popeships soueraignty aboue her Maiestie by vertue whereof he proceedes agaynst her the ground of his proceeding namely her defeâ—â—â—on â—â—om the Romane faith his depriuing her from the Crowne imperiall of this Realme his discharging her subiects from all alleageance vnto her his charging them to disobey her and her lawes hereupon our English Romanists out of a perswasion of an erronious and misguided conscience carying them according to direction giuen in that behalfe to an execution of y sayd censure haue taken boldnes to auouch their immunity and exemption from her Maiesties power ouer persons causes ecclesiastick to repute and adiudge her for an heretike to deny her to be the lawfull Queene of England being in theyr iudgement iustly depriued of all such regal title and dignity to hold themselues absolutely discharged from al duty and subiection to her and her lawes to reconcile and withdraw whom they could from alleageance to her Maiestie vnto the obedience of a forraine Potentate thereby to fit and prepare them for courses of alteration to plot and practise the destruction of her royall person to solicite both domesticks and strangers to take armes for her deposition to allow and iustifie home insurrections and the Popes hostile proceedings in warre against her to giue intertaâ—â—ment comfort and aduice to such whose hand is in conspiracies and attempts for subuersion of the State to indite and disperse sedicious writings whereby to rayse all contempt to her Maiestie and all reuerent estimation and respect to the Popes bull Now out of this which is here set downe I deduce this conclusion which is a confirmation of the assumption in question The actions aboue mentioned for the execution of the sayd bull are treasons against the lawfull authoritie of her Maiestie and the State The articles of popish religion for which the Romanists suffer are the actions aboue mentioned for the execution of the sayd bull Therefore the articles of popish religion for which the Romanists suffer are treasons against the lawfull authoritie of her Maiestie and the State The proposition being the expresse letter and text of the law falles not within the compasse of controulement vnlesse â—t be auerrred that the royall authoritie of her Maiestie is vsurped and vnlawfull as some of the Priestlâ— and â—â—uiticall progenie haue not blushed to publish taking for warrant of this theyr treasonable assertion the sayd bull of Pius 5. and his successors In refutation wherof though vnworthy of answere we may alleage what the Quilibet in this question of her Maiesties in depriued and lawfull authoritie hath from such his authors as are of note and account with the Church of Rome receiued and set downe viz. that Princes cannot be remoued from their scepters propter defectiâ—nem a fide pag. 250. Item 293. where hee hath laboured to yeeld an ample demonstration hereof agreeably to that maxim of reason and law Cuius est imperium adimere â—iusdem est conferre But the Pope hath no warrant either from the law of God or the particular lawes of this State to conferre and bestow the Crowne of England Therefore it resteth not in him to transferre it from that most princelie and sacred head on which it is inuested and feated by God himselfe according to the right of succession by bloud and inheritance established by the lawes and statutes of this land Were it not a labour needles in so cleereâ— sunneshine of trueth I would further insâ—st vpon the illustration thereof The assumption is a matter of authentical record in such Courts of iustice where the Romanists haue iudicially receyued triall and sentence and sundry of them haue vnder theyr hands as may yet appeare confessed the actions and disloyâ—lties charged vpon them Neither is it now a competent and iustifiable plea in behalfe of the condemned Seminaries to affirme the proceeding agaynst them to bee for matter of Religion and conscience when the politique lawes of the State agreeable with the holy ordinances of the Lord doe finde such Religion to be treason and censure such conscience for a disloyalty in â—udgement and affection And were the aboue named actions which are warranted by the sayd bull of the nature and quality that is pretended then would there ensue â— confusion of matter ciuill with spirituall whereas both diuine and humane reason hath euer distinguished betwixt them â—olding that for matter of Religion and â—avth which being prescribed in the first able is a part of Gods worship and diâ—ectly regardeth a future life and that for â—iuill which 〈…〉 ded in the â—â—cond is not originally and in it selfe a part of Gods spirituall worship but may oncerne the fame and the life to come â—v consequent and interposition of some â—hird thing And therefore the savd bull 〈◊〉 farre as it importeth the deposition of Princes from theyr regalities being in â—uery particular article and action leading thereto a direction for matters of this worlde enioyned or prohibited in the second table and not communicating in nature with the spirituall seruice of the Lord cannot fall vnder the account of a matter spirituall and of fayth And so the poynâ— of Supremacy being no part of the worship required in the first table but a soueraigue power deliuered vnto Princes from the second to see the sayde worship accordingly performed must not bee reputed for other then a temporall and politiqâ—â— royalty or soueraignety It is true that by consequent and in regard of the thing ordered by direction from the same it dâ—â— concerne fayth and Religion but it is nâ— employment in any function or office Ecclesiasticke For had it been of other the of a ciuill consideration the religion Kings of Iuda 〈…〉 inâ—â— medling in the same as a matter not coâ—patible with theyr callings The summe therefore of this latter â—â—gument is this Matters of Religion and fayth are parts Gods spirituall worship and prescriâ— in the first table But the articles and actions for which Romanists suffer are not parts of Gods spirituall worship and
popish reconcilement such are the courses they holde to intertayne theyr friends in the hopes of perfit reformation and so to fashion and prepare them for all oportunities that shal bee presented to that purpose I cannot compare toleration more aptly then to a protection granted to the Irish rebell For as hee doth vnder the countenance and commodity of this protection repayre vnto the principall townes and places of his acquaintance where hee both giueth and findeth encouragements to obstinate himselfe and others in a rebellious disposition with directions for performance of seruice agaynst the State and where likewise hee receyâ—eth intelligence as well of all resolutions and proceedings on our part as of the meanes and abilities thereto together with a supply of his particular defects and wants of victuall money munitions and being thus furnished in euery respect doth immediatly renounce the benefit of his protection and imploy himselfe and his followers in courses of treason and rebellion So vpon graunt and opportunity of the sayde toleration the Romanists will boldly visit each Prouince City and corner of the Realme where ministring to others and mutually receyuing from them some heate of encouragement they will bestow theyr best endeuours in the seruice of reconcilement vnto the Pope in raising to an higher degree the hatred alreadie conceyued agaynst our profession in cleering the doctrine and obligatory power of Popish buls and censures in procuring intelligence in Court and countrie in giuing and taking directions when and how to proceede in all seruices for the Romish Church in supplying themselues with abilities and furnitures of each sort and nature So as the time of toleration will not prooue other then partly a seede time as well of hopes and desires to haue an entire reestablishment of the Popes soueraignty amongst vs as of sundry proiects tending thereto and partly also a meane of speciall aduantage whereby to fortifie theyr side and to inable it for the execution of the sayd proiects But for that the Assumption may seeme questionable and doubtfull the Quilibet yeeldeth it this light If there be no excommunication against refusall of combining with the Spanyard the English Romanists will not combine with him But vpon graunt of toleration there will not be any new or old excommunication to that purpose Therefore vpon grant of toleration the English Romanists will not combine with him Albeit the proposition be subiect to question yet shall it at this time passe for a probability But the Assumption may not finde the like fauour For who should hinder the procuring of a new and formall excommunication to that effect or an absolute repeale of the old Are the Seculars in greater credit and grace with the Pope then eyther the Iesuite or the King of Spayne who is specially interessed in the cause Will the Pope in so great a likelihood and oportunity of preuailing against our religion and aduancing both his owne and the Spanish title as toleration hath offered vnto him forbeare to vse in furtherance thereof so powerfull a meane as excommunication is held to be The Quilibet speakes in this assumption if he disguise not as if the Pope and Spanyard were at his deuotion and would in regarde of a curtesie done to the Catholikes in the cause of toleration disclayme theyr titles of soueraignty to England and the neerer they approch to the long attended and wished issue of theyr deseignments the more irresolute and backward they would be in seconding the same The tenth argument Vpon graunt of toleration the Iesuits should be disabled to intertaine brokers of their treacheries and slaunders and to winne any to their side Therefore her Maiestie may with good reason graunt the same To iustifie the Antecedent hee telleth vs that the collections of money which now the Iesuites enioy and whereby they stand inabled for the seruices here specified would be otherwise disposed of vpon the admittance of toleration For answere whereto first it is improbable that the Iesuits men of rare giftes of speciall fauour with the Pope and Spanyard of extraordinary care and dexterity for the aduauncement of the Catholique cause should be left vnfurnished of such contributions and meanes as may serue them in that behalfe Secondly though the said contributions should determine or be otherwise imployde yet should they not rest destitute of instruments for broking theyr treacheries and many others that would side and confederate with them For toleration would in a short tyme supply vnto them gratis a generation fitted to theyr humors Thirdly notwithstanding there were a trueth in the Antecedent yet the consequence implying that grosse error in piety and policy which hath been in this dispute so often obserued deserueth checke and reiection The eleuenth motiue is of no more validity then the former Vpon graunt of toleration euery Catholique would be ready to abandon and expell the Iesuits as the authors of theyr former troubles Therefore it may please her Maiestie to admit it The Quilibet so dealeth with vs as if the nature of toleration and the effects accompaning the same were vnknowne to the State When hee telleth vs therefore that toleration will be a meane to rayse in the hearts of Catholiques such a detestation of the Iesuites as that they will labour the extermination of them and theyr confederates wee must apprehend and interpret it as a meere delusion being not ignorant that the doctrine and directions which will during the tyme of toleration bee sowne and dispersed doe require the imployment of Iesuites who in the account of the Commaunders and heads of these factions are reputed men of best sufficiency for managing the aduauncement of the Romish Church And whereas hee alleageth for the grounde of this hatred agaynst the Iesuites that they haue beene the authors of trouble to the Catholiques herein the Catholiques who knew that the plots and practises agaynst her Maiesty and the State haue been intertayned not only by the Iesuits but by the Secular Priests likewise yea by the Pope himselfe and the Spanyard may iustly censure him for calumniation and forgery But it being graunted that the Catholiques would hold such proceeding agaynst the Iesuites yet the regarde thereof cannot bee a sufficient warrant to her Maiesty to commit an impiety and such as is ioyned with dishonour and perill Hitherto of the motiues delyuered by the Quilibet pag. 151. Here hee ceaseth not but soliciteth elsewhere the same cause and namely pag. 229. where hee pleadeth thus by a twelfth argument The twelfth argument If toleration will secure the present interest of her Maiestie of the State in generalls of the Nobility of the Bishoppes her Maiestie may in reason admitte it But toleration will secure the present interest of her Maiestie the State the Nobility the Bishops Therefore her Maiestie may in reason admit it The Proposition presenteth vnto vs an inconsequence For vnlesse the vtility and aduauntage of toleration recommended therein bee euident and of continuance also which poyntes are