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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	according_a	church_n	power_n	3,403	5	5.0065	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52875	The sentiments of N.N. (a loyal subject of the Roman Catholick communion) touching the Roman consistorie's designs and practices, by and with their correspondents here, (viz. the Jesuits, monks and friers) to the prejudice of this nation, and the future involving it in misery and trouble, under the (feigned) pretence of advancing Catholick religion : together with some general remedies or expedients for preventing thereof, expresses in certain propositions, and humbly submitted to the censure of those whose prudence, or authority inables them better to judge of things.	N. N., loyal subject of the Roman Catholick communion.	1679 (1679)	Wing N55; ESTC R5986	30,279	45

England but the Sword and that the Pistol will confute Heresie more to purpose a great deal than the Pen with other like speech which is observ'd sometimes to fall from them shewing as I verily perswade my self a most wicked and hostile resolution to be taken up by the Consistory of reducing England if ever they shall be able to the Communion of the Catholick Church and obedience of the Apostolick Sea not by any fair proper Christian and Apostolick means or endeavour but by Fire and Sword Compulsion and Violence and with all the Miseries and Calamities that War and Foreign Tyranny can bring upon us unless God of his Goodness in mercy prevent it Proposition XXII That to prepare the way to this work and to facilitate the bringing about their design it is their business at present as much as may be to keep up the Divisions that are amongst us in point of Religion and by all arts and means to obstruct and hinder a perfect reconciliation and a firm Union betwixt his Majesty and the generality of his Subjects that so all Parties remaining still in the old Fewd and at distance one with another and all likewise more or less in disgust and disaffected to the Royal Government and Interest we may all for want of Union amongst our selves be the more easily subdued when time shall be to the yoke they are making for us Proposition XXIII That therefore to prevent the hideous mischief that will certainly first or last follow and fall upon this Nation through the wicked practices and industry of this Party if timely care be not taken to the contrary and to disappoint the devilish designs of those who machinate and project such misery to us the only and most effectual means under God would be if all True hearted English of what Judgment soever in point of Religion could be perswaded timely to unite both Counsels and Affections for one of These without the other will do but little good and to be jealous of every thing or motion that tends of disunion either of the Subjects from their Sovereign or of the People amongst themselves Proposition XXIV That this Union can never be permanent and cordial unless some convenient Liberty of Conscience and Free-exercise of Religion at least in private be granted to all Dissenting Parties whatsoever without exception of any that profess themselves Christians Proposition XXV That this Liberty granted and a perfect Union of all English hearts following upon it would with God's help effectually secure us against all evil practices whatsoever of this nature and more disappoint the designs and counsels of our enemies than any other courses or counsels that can be taken by us and it being likewise a thing so consonant to the common grounds of Protestant Religion it cannot well be opposed by any Protestant nor would be I verily believe if once well set on foot by any Persons but such as care not how much they Sacrifice the Peace and publick Welfare of the Nation to their own Pride Passion and worldly Interests Proposition XXVI That therefore the deposing of all animosities rancour and ill-will against one another upon the account of any differences in Religion is a thing to be wish'd pray'd for and endeavour'd by all sorts of People that pretend to Religion as a thing far more consonant to Christian Piety and Charity and most conducing to our present and future safety and especially that great prejudice which too many English are apt to have against those of the Roman Catholick perswasion if they rightly consider'd the matter both Charity and Prudence would perswade them at length to lay it aside seeing it hath hitherto serv'd for nothing nor eve will serve to any other effect than to be a plausible and easie means for Ambition Covetousness Cruelty and Hyocrisie to advance themselves into Power and to exercise their Tyranny over us A Truth which this Nation hath been taught by so late and sad experience that we cannot think many Persons will be found in the whole Nation to dispute it Proposition XXVII Wherefore verily judging it an Expedient most fit for the general and secure Settlement of the Nation in Peace and Safety I shall take the boldness to wish That Liberty of Conscience to all Christians professing Faith in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures were by Act of Parliament made such a Fundamental Law of State as that it should be Treason or a Premunire Unpardonable for any Person in time to come whether in Parliament or out of Parliament to speak against it or to wish motion or argue for the Repeal of it Proposition XXVIII That in such case it would be the duty of us Catholicks in order to our having the benefit of the general Indulgence and Liberty aforesaid to be willing and ready at all times to give the State sufficient assurance of our Fidelity and Loyal Affections to his Majesty and the present Government and of our having nothing to do with the Pope Consistory or Court of Rome in any thing relating to Temporal Affairs or the Government of State but only in Things Spiritual and pertaining to our Faith and Conscience Proposition XXIX That though the Oath of Allegiance already by Law established be in it self both sufficient and fit for this purpose and the taking thereof by us Catholicks undoubtedly consistent with the Catholick Faith which we profess and with the duty of good Subjects yet because some cavillatory Objections are made against it and the pope upon mis-information hath by some private Breves forbidden the taking of it to prevent all scrupling and dispute about the matter it might be wish'd perhaps that a new Oath might be fram'd comprehending as particularly and expresly all things pertaining to Temporal Allegiance as the Wisdom of Parliament should think fit to prescribe But withall by an express Proviso declaring that notwithstanding any words in the Oath we are left free to acknowledge and give that respect to the pope as chief Pastour of the Church which according to the Principles of our Faith is known to belong to him that is in matters meerly spiritual and pertaining to Faith and not in Temporal Affairs wherein his Authority Jure Divino is nothing at all out of his own Territories And as for that which he claims Jure Ecclesiastico by vertue of some Canons or by Prescription Custom c. we doubt not but these being all Titles of Humane Right meerly the power grounded upon them may upon just reasons be limited suspended or abrogated by the Sovereign Authority of each Nation Kingdom or State respectively for it self and as de facto in this and divers other Christian Kingdoms and Countries even of the Roman Catholick Communion it is abrogated or not acknowledg'd Proposition XXX That as the World goes and the Inclinations of People generally are the Parliament we think needs not much to fear that upon granting Liberty of Conscience to Roman Catholicks

necessary charge in any constant manner Not to mention their like Unwillingness to conform to that more strict regularity of life manners habit and conversation which the Gospel and many holy Canons of the Church require of them and would then if Religion had been made free as well for their own honour as for good example and conscience sake have been no less look'd for at their hands Proposition V. That the reason why the Consistory also neglected this opportunity and thereby in effect betrayed that cause which they pretend so much to maintain was really no other than this That they do not indeed care for Religion nor mind or look at the advancement thereof either in England or any where else farther than it serves for the advancement of the private and temporal Interests of the Court and City of Rome Which in relation to England alone is manifest enough even from hence Viz. that though the general Unqualifiedness of their Church-men here were by some sent from the Consistory with particular authority to enquire into that affair so much taken notice of that thereupon and for no other reason not without some resentment they Voted That it was not for the honour of Catholick Religion that the profession thereof should be free in England but rather still to remain under Persecution although I say this matter were so long since sufficiently taken notice of by Those 1660. or 1661. who want not authority to do well if they pleas'd yet neither then nor since has there been any good order taken for the redress of those abuses and supplying those patent and scandalous defects which they found and made shew to be much offended at But on the contrary instead of reforming what is known to be amiss or quickening up that most grievous and scandalous Acedie of Ecclesiasticks to a better performance of duty letting all things remain as they were or rather to run on from bad to worse as time in the revolution of a few years will further shew to the deserved shame both of the one and the other Proposition VI. This therefore may be laid down I think as an indubitable Maxim and matter of Consideration to all Princes and People of Christendom That the Interest of the Roman Court and City and not the advancement of the Religion the advancement of their profit the advancement of their Extravagant Authority and Power and not of the true Catholick Faith and Religion without these is the thing which the Roman Consistory looks at in all their Counsels and Proceedings it is the Cynosurd by which they steer all their courses Proposition VII It is likewise evident that in order to this end Viz. of advancing their Temporal Interests and Grandeurs they have wholly laid aside and do totally neglect all ways and means of advancing Religion here in England that are fair open and proper and such as might have been attended unto with permission of the State and had its effect by the free and deliberate consent of the People themselves as it ought to be and think only of the ways of Policy and Power of Policy to surprize us and of Power to compel us when they shall see time In the mean while waiting to this purpose the opportunity of finding or otherwise of making some Foreign Prince or Princes our Enemies into whose hands what by the help of Domestick Factions what by their own evil practices they doubt not but to be able in time to devolve the Sovereignty of these Nations and by that means to promote their Temporal Interests Viz. Profit and Power here more than they can hope to do under the present Government which God preserve and establish ☞ Since the writing hereof which was about Ten or Eleven Years since something has fallen out concerning his Royal Highness the Duke of York which may make it probable that the Consistory will use all their Interest and Power to promote his Rights and Title in Reversion To which I answer it may be so they will if they can see no other way of proceeding more advantageous to themselves But be sure they will do nothing without Stipulation and forcing his Highness for the gaining of their favour to condescend to some conditions or other less worthy of his Highness's Princely Dignity and Honour and no less contrary perhaps to the Liberties and Freedom of These Nations How much better therefore were it that his Highness were called home and that for more security by the Joynt authority and Votes of Both Houses of Parliament where his Rights first solemnly acknowledg'd Consultation may be afterwards freely had concerning such Laws as shall be judg'd necessary for preserving in time to come the Protestant Religion by Law now established in its full Liberty with all the Rights Priviledges and Immunities by Law belonging to the Ministers thereof against all attempts whatsoever made by what Persons or Powers soever and upon whatsoever pretenses Vnto which Laws with convenient Salvo's and Proviso's for the Liberty of his Highness's Person and Domesticks there 's little doubt to be made but his Royal Highness for the full satisfaction of all the good People of these Nations and for the quieting of mens minds will readily consent and oblige himself as far as can be requir'd of him by the wisdom of Parliament Proposition VIII That it is the Interest and also the avowed Policy of the Roman Court in order to the perpetuating and establishment of their own Domination and quiet to keep all other Princes and People as much as may be in continual trouble and commotion and if not in some actual War and Hostility yet at least in jealousie one with another and more especially such Princes and People as are either her professed Enemies or not so much her Friends as it is pretended they should be Proposition IX That in order to this end Viz. the prudent management of their Interest the Roman Consistory maintains her Instruments and Agents in all the Princes Courts that are of any consideration in Christendom Some publick and commonly known as Nuncioes Internuncioes Legats c. where they will be admitted others secret and not known to be what they are the chief business both of the one and the other respectively being to observe the Inclinations Passions Humours and several Interests of Those who sit at the Helm of Government or are any way considerable in State and accordingly by their dexterous Insinuations and Compliances to work upon them and to dispose and temper them so far as they can to such resolutions as are best agreeable to their own designs and to the designs of the Court from whence they come or otherwise if they cannot yet at least to stave them off and keep them as much as is possible from being Enemies or acting any thing contrary to the Consistories Interest which is as it were their After-game Proposition X. That by means both of the one and the other but chiefly of those

of Religion Proposition XLVIII I meant only to insist upon such matters as related to the Church and State of England otherwise I could willingly enough have added more of the like evil practices which for my part I cannot but a little suspect that the same parties viz. those of the Roman Court and its Emissaries Agents c. do use in other Foreign Countries and particularly in that so important business of Candia so long and so hard besieged by the Turks I profess to you Gentlemen and to all the World if you think fit I cannot free my Thoughts from frequent suspicions and fears that even in this great affair of Candia the Consistory proceeds not so faithfully as it should to the Interest of Christendom and of those brave Men who have to their immortal same and merit so long defended it corresponding contrariwise more or less with those of the Divan and being if not more willing it should fall into the Turks hands than otherwise yet they are indifferent in the case and care not much though it do That which makes me have this apprehension are These General Observations following First I do certainly know if their own reports be of certain credit as I doubt not but they are in these matters that the Jesuits have got a very considerable Interest even at Constantinople and I believe even in the Court it self by their cunning and compliant addresses their dissembling in religion where they see cause and allowing others to do so so that there wants no means of entertaining correspondence if the parties be willing Secondly I observe that the Persian the Turks constant enemy and who is known ever upon such occasions as this to have found opportunity and some pretence or other to invade his Dominions doth not in all this time of his Enemies being so deeply engaged here in any sort stir against him But 't is alike certain the Jesuits are not a little prevalent in that Court too and may for ought any Man knows to the contrary by their practices and arts help to stave off such resolutions in favour of the Turk Thirdly the Pope's Gallies sent the last Summer to their Succour under the command of his Nephew so unseasonably and hastily returning as creditable report says they did and carrying off with them the Gallies of Malta and Sicily also and thereby leaving the Seas free for the Turk to send Supplies to his Army which by their faithful and constant attendance upon that Service as 't was hoped they would have done might with God's blessing have been hindered What can all this signifie but the cold and uncordial affections which was on that side towards the safety of the place Fourthly the like sudden return also of the greatest part of the French Succours lately sent upon a disgust taken as they say by their General at some disappointment he met with which was occasion'd by the Consistory Neither can I have any other thoughts concerning the present return of the Duke de Navailes with the Succours last sent than as proceeding from the prevalency of Consistorial Counsels both in the French Court in their Ships at Sea and perhaps even at Candia it self Lastly because that to be so indifferent and prevaricating in the business is consonant enough to the Principles they go upon in other cases measuring and doing all things according as Temporal Interest leads them and nothing without it or out of any good and pure motives of religion If it be demanded what Interest the Pope or Consistory can have to advance the Turkish power I answer very much I do not mean so far to advance it as to bring it over near themselves They are wiser than to do so But to detain it upon the Frontiers of Christendom and there to suffer the Turk rather to gain than lose ground I must confess I am more than half of opinion it may be both the Interest and the design of Rome and that for this end namely that in case Christian princes should go about at any time by the Authority of a General Council effectually to redress the many abuses in Religion and Church-government which are countenanced and supported by the corrupt Doctrine and bad example of that Court they of the Consistory may have the Turks power at hand to let in upon them to disturb the work A thing of no great difficulty for the Consistory to procure by their practices and Ministers in the Ottoman Court and which without doubt they will do whensoever such a case happens if good heed be not taken And therefore I say they care the less at present to permit the Turks reducing of Candia and thereby making himself master of the whole Isle of Crete knowing they shall have him so much the nearer amongst us Whereby also the Roman Agents living disguiz'd at Constantinople gain so much the more credit there with those they treat with and advance their Interest in the Ottoman State and Councils Whereas on the other side if the Consistory were faithful in the case and would permit his Holiness to give that assistance there to himself which he well might and also to exhort Christians so effectually to the defence of it as he ought and that Christian Princes would rightly apprehend the occasion which God gives them and send their Succours thither in such unanimous and considerable manner as the place and cause doth most justly require This Noble and Renowned Candia might by God's merciful Providence and Favour prove a Rock whereon the whole Power of the Ottoman Tyranny should in fine split it self and Christendom be restored to its just primitive and most to be wish'd for Liberty But alas private Interest rules and prevails too much every where for such good and publick resolutions to be taken to any effect POST-SCRIPT to the precedent Matter The place is now lost and yielded up to the Turks but with such evident Symptoms of some secret Treachery amongst the Defendants causing disunion of Counsels and ill-management of Affairs as do not at all lessen my former suspicion And as I do very easily believe what I have heard said That the loss of it was the Death of the last Pope so I do as little doubt but if the Truth were known he griev'd not more for the loss of the place than that it was lost by such Means and Contrivances as he out of Piety would but through the prevalency of contrary Counsels in his Court was not able to hinder Proposition XLIX A fresh occasion I have of like fear from the Turks last Summer so easily taking of Caminiec in the Frontier Provinces of Poland A place heretofore accounted and found to be impregnable to all Infidel Powers whether of Turks or Tartars and a great Bulwark of Christendom on that side now rendred as it were upon Summons The pretence for it is want of and some Casualty happening to their powder But the like accident happening and occasioning the loss