regular and others must doe neyther all the priests of this Nation nor any one except disobedient to his superior was guilty of this conspiracy or did or doth eyther intend designe or practise such irreligious wickednesse And both holy and happy is that religion to be esteemed among whose professors in this The diâ—course of the laâ—e intended treasâ—n Kingdome so many thousands and in the daies of so manifold disgraces and miseries for that faith so small a company of cheefest Agents or Assistants are charged with that offence Wee haue heard read seene and tasted of many conspiracies and rebellions by protestants and more and greater by them proportion of time and Countries obserued where both Kings whole kingdomes and Common-weales haue beene put in hazard and yet they were dogmaticall men in that profession accounted Prophets Apostles Euangelists and conspired thousands for euery one particular person in this recited and yet their conspiracies were not condemned by their Preachers and Doctors but iustified and applauded not forbidden but commanded by their spirituall maisters and their rebells slaine in such actuall seditions against Princes not reproued but approued and canonized for holy Martyrs When all things be contrary in this case by the protestant disourse it selfe of this tragedy And if proofe can be made of any one of holy priestly order to haue beene an Agent in so vnholy businesse he will be as much abandoned of all good priests and Catholikes as of the protestants themselues for that disloyalty The ignominy and perpetuall reproach wherewith the names of vnhappy Watson and Clarke are stained with all of our religion will be a witnesse in any case of like comparison The seuenth Reason confuted and returned CHAP. VIII HIs seuenth Sillogisme is this Seeing it is in a manner all one to commit a villante and to commend it we may argue that whosoeuer shall iustifie acts of treasons and parricides are not vnguilty of the same crimes To this I grant and adde which is euidently proued before that the cheefest teachers and professors of Protestancy doe not onely iustifie but commend canonize for holy encourage command and reward such proceedings therefore they are not vnguilty of the same crimes And whereas he setteth downe for his lesse Proposition But all Priests doe iustifie such heinous parricides Ergo I haue proued before both by their owne authority continuall experience and at this time that such assertions be most false and slanderous But hee will maintaine his sentence because Bellarmine saith Many Popes haue worthily depriued many Princes of their regall authority The examples be in Leo 3. Fredericke 1. Otho 5. and Childericke King of France To Obiections of which nature I haue often answered before And sincere dealing would haue alleaged the true causes of such processe with those Princes which take away the enuie of this matter proue a flat disparitie in the cases compared and bring eternall shame to many Protestant rebellions and often deposing Princes for meaner quarrells and for no true cause at all The rebellions and attempts be too many to be recited The examples of Princes deposed or depriued of their Kingdomes Countries or territories by Protestants meaner then Popes be more in so short a time then in all the papall gouernment Queene Mary of Scotland the King of Spaine and Enfanta in Flanders the Emperor in diuers parts of Germany and elsewhere in former time the present Emperour in Hungary the Prince of Transyluania the Prince of Geneua Marquesse of Embden Duke of Loraine king of Denmarke king of France king of Sweueland in their territories surprized inuaded taken sold to enemies or kept by rebbells no such thing in the Popes cases neuer making themselues the richer by others losses yeelde testimony in this businesse Next commeth in a gratias agimus for the death of King Henry the third of France by the Author of the booke de iusta abdicat Hen. 3. which was a Catholike But I tell him that also a Catholike Doctor Barkeley a professor at Mussipont hath confuted that booke which also may serue for other citations from thence which I haue answered before He accuseth Cardinall Alane for approuing the rendering of Dauontore vnto the hands of the King of Spaine the true owner By which he condemneth himselfe to be within the compasse of his owne conclusion of rebellion and to iustifie such acts of treason for all the world can witnesse that Towne truly to belong to that King Then not the surrendering of it to the lawfull Prince which hee condemneth but the wrongfull withholding of it which he approueth was treason and rebellion And such as this discouerer is such also the rest of his Clergy protestant brethren in England must bee esteemed euen in this point for in their name the first defence of those disobedient and seditious Netherlanders was vndertaken And so both by publike positions and practises they teach and iustifie actes of treason and rebellion both in themselues and their euangelicall brethren so many yeares in so many disloyall attempts rapines intrusions dis-inheritings deposings piracies murthers and extreamest outrages against their naturall and true Soueraignes and not in one onely act and oration one of Gallobelgicus excessiue reportes made of the death of Henry the third in France Ergo Protestanrs are not vnguilty of these crimes The eight Reason confuted and returned vpon Protestants CHAP. IX THus he frameth his next Argument Those Snakes that doâ— naturally sting so soone as they get warmth may not be harbored in the bosome of the Common-wealth To which proposition I say concedo further adde by such assertion that the protestant Preachers and professors of the reformed Churches may not be harbored in any kingdome or ciuill Country for they are proued before naturally to sting and kill if they can so soone as they haue obtained power to performe it Which I will now also more plentifully demonstrate in this chapter when I haue exempted Catholikes from the accusation in the second proposition which is But all Priests professe rebellions as soone as they can presume of their strength Ergo. His cheefest proofe of this is from Bannes who as he telleth vs teacheth that a King may be deposed where there is euidens noticia criminis euident knowledge of his sinne I answer That such opinion is to be reproued as against not onely Cunerus Nauarre c. but the great Laterane generall Councell to which Bannes and all Catholikes must submit their sentences which also dischargeth vs of this forged slaunder and condemneth the accuser of vniust calumniation But he vrgeth further from the same Author holding the English Catholikes excused quia non se eximunt ex superiorum potestate nec bellum contra eos gerunt quia non suppetunt illis vires ob sequentia pericula which this discouerer thus translateth The English Catholikes who now doe not take Armes against the Protestants are excused because they want sufficient power I answer If this
A iust and moderate Answer To a most iniurious and slaunderous Pamphlet intituled An exact Discouery of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie and Rebellion Wherein the innocency of Catholike religion is proued and euery obiection returned vpon the Protestant Accuser and his owne profession Psal 57. vers 1. Si veré vtique Iustitiam loquimini recta iudicate filij hominum With licence of Superior TO THE MOST EXCELLENT and mightie Prince our gratious and dread Soueraigne IAMES by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France and Ireland defender of the faith TWo thinges most Gratious Soueraigne among the rest of chiâ—fest regard in terrene and humane affaires were euer apprised at the highest value Life the present being Fame and Reputation the beautie and splendor theereof The first giuing esse aftâ—r non esse to the greatest earthlie Creature the other maintaining in some sorte a perâ—ptuall life and glorious liuing when we be dead Therefore by how much the possessors of those dignities be more popular publique and greater in number State or preeminence â—y so many degrees vnworthily and trecherouslie to be depriued of them is more iniurious guilâ—ie of wickednesse and obnoxious to Restitution Concerning the former The late intended Conspiracy against the life of your Royall Maiestie the Life Vnion Rule and Direction to these vnited Kingdomes so many Nobles and Persons of esteeme was so heinous impiety that nothing which is holy can make it Legitimate no pretence of Religion can be alleadged to excuse it God and heauen condemne it Men and earth detest it Innocents bewaile it the Nocent and vnhappie Delinquents themselues perceiuing how their Religion reproueth it in repentance haue lamented it Protestants exclaime against it and your dutifull Religious and learned Catholikes Priests and others which haue endured most for their profession hold it in greatest horror and make it a subiect of their grieuous sorrow that any of their profession should attempt so barbarous and vnnaturall cruelty or practise any disobedience at all to your Highnesse And will sweare protest promise and performe to your Maiesty whatsoeuer Loyaltie Obedience and dutie is due from a subiect to his Temporall Prince by the word of God lawe of Nature or hath beâ—ne vsed by the subiects of this Kingdome to any your Pâ—ogenitoâ—s Christian from the first to the last acknowledge and rendâ—r to your honorable Counsaile and all Magistratâ—s in ciuiâ—l causes so much Honor Reuerence and Submission and to all other Protestant subiects like amitie and neighbourlie affection as if they were of the same Religion which we prâ—fesse Concerning the second of publike reproache and defamation most worthy Prince if it only concerned the Catholikes of this Nation although it be no easie question to proue that men in such matters and at such times are masters of their fame yet they could be content to burie it in their graue of obliuion with so many miseriâ—s which they haue long susteined for their holy faith and to say with the Apostle Maledicimur et benedicimus persecutionem patimur et sustinemuâ— blasphemamur et obsecramus but when the Purgamenta huius mundi and omnium peripsema must be made the badge of all maintainers of that worshippe and all be stiled sâ—ditious and traiterous Persons quite contrarie to your Highnesse often Assertions and publique Proclamations That all Catholike subiects to all forraigne Princes your Confederates must weare that Liuerie and their Soueraignes be attended with such seruants All Catholike schooles termed Seminaries of rebellions and so directly not only the reputations of all those Vniâ—ersities Princes and Prelates of the Church of God but God himselfe whose howse it is and whose honor can neither be giuen nor taken away is thus condemned as is set forth in a late pamphlett intituled An exact Discouerie of Romish doctrine in case of Conspiracie Silence would be too suspicious of neglect in many greatest duties to God in heauen his Church on earth to your Maiestie and the whole Catholike world Therefore I poâ—e wretch and sinner an vnworthy member of that sacred bodie of Christ and one of your Highnesse obedient subiects in all submission craue pardon not only to make demonstrance of Catholikes due and expected Loyaltie to your Soueraigne Authoritie and refute the friuoulous obiections of that Author But with Dauid against Goliah in the behalfe of King Saul and the people of God to strike with his owne sword and returne all and euery of his deadlie reasons vppon himselfe and his owne Profession Which as I may lawfully obserue by common consent of all entreating of the law of conscience in this case being onely to vse our owne right of iust defence and not to offend or defame Accusers which charitable exposition I desire of all Protestant Readers So if I had trauelled no farther into that doctrine then to the last printed booke by your Maiesties Printer of the late intended conspiracy I might as easily performe it for that Protestant author giueth it out as a general Rule vndoubted Maxime to all professors of worship to take armes if their religion be in hazard and that no priuate man could thinke his life more happily bestowed than to fight pro Aris which is greater liberty than any opinion which our aduersarie can finde among Catholike Writers so by him attached of treason and rebellion But he shall receiue a more plaine and plentifull recitall both of publike positions and practises from all his neighbouring Allies in religion to proue his owne profession to be both Seminary and Granary of such prouision Which I am more inforced vnto because this discouerer by so many not vsuall Catholike Authors alleaged in his booke discloseth his inueterate malice against vs that he was now in his desired oppoâ—tunitie deliuered with ioy of that wherewith hee had trauailed so long in paine or to renew in subtile mâ—nner his old good affection to your Maiestie doth marshall you euen now otherwise all his reâ—sons be too childish in the number of câ—uell Tyrants Excommunicates Apostatâ—es and the infamous of all ages not only Princes but base persons So that eyther for disloyalty to your Highnesse or inured inflamed hatred vnto vs or both hee can sinde no centâ—r of his slaunders except your Maiestie bee mâ—de the man and marke where at the penâ—ll canons and constitutions of holy Church did point and leuell hundreds of yeares befâ—re you were borne â—r his religâ—on receiued life This is the miserable distressed state of many thousands your most loyall and louing subiects dread Liege for their faithfull dutie to God and a religion taught in this kingdome and imbraced by all your progenitors and our ancestors so many hundred yeares from their first conuersion that euery aduersary may preach and print against vs and make their challenges as though eyther for ignorance we could not or for distrust of our cause we were vnwilling to make them answer or come to triall when quite contrary wee haue
excommunicate before his Election neither is hee now but is both elected and setled in his throne both without any contradiction of the Pope and with his Iubet of all obedience and prohibet of deniall thereof All the Catholikes of this Kingedome applauded it as much as Protestants And his vnion and league with Catholike Princes and people abroad is sufficient answer that this is a malicious slaunder of holy Priesthood and proveth Catholikes innocent Protestants guilty and this man an vniust accuser The Argument retuâ—ned vpon Protestants with a recitaâ—l of their seditious doctrinâ— But for breuitie to passe ouer forraigne Protestants in this place I will put this disputer in minde of his brethrens dogmaticall principles and positions in this vnited Kingdome The Protestant Writers and Preachers of England defended that Wyat was no Traytor to Queene Mary And thus they wrote expresly It is lawfull to kill Kings and both by Gods law and mans law Queene Goodm pag 103 obed pa. 99. 113. Goodm pa. 99. Mary ought to be put to death what Priest of England did ever so write speake or thinke of any Protestant his Soueraigne she was a tyrant a monster a cruell beast And yet the purer sort of Protestants affirmd of Queene Elizabeth as his Lordship of Canterbury Hay an pag. 13 15. 23. Dâ—ing poliâ— pâ—g 133. 134. sup wiâ—nesseth That she was worse then her sister Many and they more suppressed by her then by the other They did write That she was not to be obeyed being against their proceedings and openly moued the greatest Subâ—egents in England to take armes against her affirming if they Suppliâ—aâ— to the gouer of Wales pa. 16. 36 37 38 39 Dâ—ng posâ—t lib 4 e. 3 4 Goodm p. 144. 145. Obed. pag 110. Knos hist pag. 37 â— Obed pag 99. 103. 104. Goodm pa. 99. Buchan iâ—â— â—â—g pag. 40. 58 Obed. pa. 111 refused it they ceased to be Magistrates These also insuing be more of their holy dogmaticall principles Euill Princes ought by the law of God to be deposed and inferior Magistrates ought to doe it cheefely It is lawfull to kill wicked Kings It were good that rewards were appointed by the people for such as kill tyrants as commonly there are for those that haue killed eyther woolues or beares or taken their whelpes The people haue the same power ouer their King that the King hath ouer any one person Iudges ought by the law of God to sommon Princes before them and to proceede against them as against all other offenders the people may arraigne the Prince the Ministers may Buchan pa. 62 Cartwr replic 2. pag. 65. Obed. pag. 115. 116. Bucha p. 70. excommunicate him any Minister may excommunicate the greatest Prince he that is excommunicate is not worthy to enioy any life vpon earth Whereby is euident the monstrous dissimulation of this people which sometimes for their aduantage will not be scrupulous to denie that with other articles of their religion and the cheefest and to say that they onely claime power to excommunicate not to depose and kill Princes And to testifie how easily Suru pretend holy Dâ—â—cipl pag. 283. 284. Buchan pag. 6 13. Obed. pag. 25 and for what ordinary offences Princes may be thus intreated the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury is witnesse that fornication drunkennesse swearing cursing fighting chiding brawling breaking of the Sabbath wanton and vaine words and the like be sufficient incitements and causes of such proceedings with them And they tell vs further That the people are better then the King and of greater authority the people haue right to bestow the Crowne at their pleasure the authority which Princes haue is giuen them from the people and the people may take it away againe as men may reuoke their Proxies and letters of Attorney Now I would demand of this obiector whether they be members of the Roman Catholike Church or the pillars of his Protestant Congregation that congregateth and gathereth together such monsters as holy children which teacheth a double prerogatiue ouer Princes one in the people when inferior Magistrates and not Magistrates may and must by their doctrine depose Kings and Soueraignes and likewise their ministery as before hath as ample or a more preeminent authority Which also concluded from these English Protestant principles If Magistrates transgresse Gods lawes themselues and commaund others to doe Goodm pa. 119. 139. the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiects did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but to be examined condemned and punished as priuate transgressors When Magistrates doe cease to doe their duties the people are as it were without officers and then God giueth the sword into their Pa. 185. 180. 184 hands And such was the vniuersall practise of all protestants especially Caluenists in all places of their holy preaching Germany Heluetia Denmarke France England and Scotland with others in foâ—mer times and at this present the Protestants in Hungary Transiluania Sweueland and the Low Countries in actuall sedition and rebellion against their Soueraignes Emperour King and Princes are instance Concerning that spirituall supremacy which the lawes of England The Kings supremacy denyed by all Puritans and eâ—ther denâ—ed or doubted of by al english protestant writers atrribute to his Maiestie it can be no question but all Puritans doe deny it which not onely teach a superior power both in people and Ministers to which the rest of the Protestants of the same congregation as before must needes consent But also in this regard that the gouernment of their Eldership or Bresbitery incomposible with Princes Supremacy is the cheefest article of their religion and distinctiue note of their reformed Church Then to come to the present Protestant writers anâ— their designements the Archbishop of Canterbury is the man which maketh Suru of preâ— Diâ—cipl relation that this was a common proposition Princes haue no more to doe with matters of the Church then the Ministers haue with the affaires of the Common-wealth And there it is alleaged that such gouernment by Princes is worse then by the Pope for diuers reasons Pa. 25â— 253. 254 255 â—â—6 c. sup there recited and not confuted by any Protestant I will recite the sentences of the principall Protestants of this time Doctor Fulke in plaine termes acknowledgeth D Fulke hâ—br c 13 â—ect 9. 1. peâ—r 2. v. 13. â—â—ct 5. Ioh. c. 21. 1. petr 5. Mat. c. 16. Bell. moâ—iu lib. 2. fol. 78 79. 80. 81 Suru part 3. c. 10 pa. 426. 1. part pag 34. Whitâ—ker contra Bellar controu 1. q 8. D. 〈◊〉 li. de concil that Emperours and Kings owe obedience to the Clergy and cannot prescribe laweâ— of Religion to Bishopâ— by their iudgements Maister Bell writeth the Ecclesiasticall affaires to be in the Cleâ—rgy as to decide controuersies and that the King hath only charge and authority to command the
protestants proceedings in dissimulaâ—ion and aeqâ—â—â—ocating Was not the behauiour of Luther the Eâ—angelist so vile in this kinde that neuer any pillâ—ry-mate so behâ—ued himselfe as his owne friends Fox Sleiden and othâ—r Protestants giue demonstration and not only in Fox 2. in Luth. Sleidan lib. 1. Staphil apolog Cocl in act Luther ciuiâ—l but dâ—uine matters where bâ— all iudgement no aequiuocation may be allowed yet at his pleasure now he appealed to Pope now dâ—â—iâ—d it now recanted his errors presently defended them now sâ—bâ—â—tted him selâ—e to Cardinall Câ—â—etan now refused it now teachâ—ng one now another religion aâ— best serued his purpose all hiâ— owne wâ—itings be still witnâ—sses against him So did the Protestants of England dissemble flatter change and rechange both their faith and their fashions to please King Henry the eight the protectorâ— of Kâ—ng Edward the sixt and Queene Elizabeth as histories and statutes are testimony to thâ—ir confusion The like and worse cogging lying aequiuocating and dissembling was practised by Calum as the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Beza and Suru pret diseipl Beza â—n viâ— Caâ—u Staphil Apolog. others beare râ—cord for which he was banished Geneua for a lying and dissembling seducer and by such trades deluded the Artizans and â—itâ—zens there the second tiâ—e restord himself obtaind principallity by such meanes So also he â—oosened the Tygurines and among his Disâ—iples Iura perâ—â—ra seâ—ua fidem sciliâ—et Caluiâ—iaâ—um was made a dogmatical princâ—ple In England Cramner the pâ—otestant Archbishop oâ— Canterbury in his time and the most â—ubliâ—e man of that profession cannot be excused Fox himsâ—lfe being Iudge from câ—unterfaiting the hands of 50. conuocaâ—â—on Fox 10. â— in Câ—â—nmar men to giue a lying credit to his false cause as Doctor Weston proued against him in the publike Schooles of Oxford and in the same place Doctor Martiâ— made demonstration how hee had forsworne himseâ—â—e and beene periured in a most high degree twice at the least swearing obedience to the Sea of Rome And most certaine it is that so often he had sworne to the supremacie of King Henry the eight and King Edward the sixt and yet after all this againe in the daies of Queenâ— Mary he swore a new obedience to the Pope And Cranmer himselfe confessed hee had sworne such contrary oathes but excused it by aequiuocation so much condemned by this accuser affirming as his words doe signifie that he spake one thing and meant another which in causes of râ—ligion such as this all men condemne for greatest wickednesse For what authority soeuer men haue to examine God hath alwaies a true right vnto his honour not to be denied Such was the proceeding also of Bucer and Peter Martyr the two great Protestant professors of diuinity in Cambridge and Oxford whom the whole English Gospel could not match and yet contrary to their foâ—mer profession and doctrine they taught what the Parliament would please to appoint And I would demand whether all the Protestâ—nt Adherents to the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke were not in this case of aequiuocation and is it not both now ordinary to Puâ—itans who in acknowledging externally his Maiesties supremacy and supprâ—ssing their Presbâ—terie an essentiall point of their faith and note of their Church doe not as they beleeue in minde And externally communicate in Churches â—eruice and sacraments with Protestants whom and whose religion they condemne to hell and the Protestants dissemble lâ—kewise in the Kings supremacy The tenth Reason confuted and returned CHAP. XI THe tenth and last Obiection being no new Reason but an Epilogus of the former that is All Romish Priests as Priests to professe some and other some All of those sedâ—ious posirions are before confuted and prooued in euery particular to be vntrue and needeth no further answer being before euident that neither all Priests nor any one Priest as a Priest doth or can maintaine any one disobedient or seditious opinion And whatsoeuer this man more malitiously than truly or wisely saith That all Priests in the Popish Seminaries vow obedience to their superiors and therefore that the superiors maintaining such Seditious positions the schollers are bound to their doâ—â—rine These assertions be most falsly obiected for first the schollers doe not vowe any obedience to their Superiors and that obedience which they promise practise is in obseruing the collegiall â—â—â—es and constitutions as in Cambridge and Oxford all Schollers when they be matriculated ingraffed to the Vniuersity do accustome there is neither vow oth nor promise to obey theÌ„ in their doctrin Secondlie this cannot be either vowed punished or performed for no Rector of any colledge is ordinarily a Reader of diuinitie in his Colledge Thirdly the Caholike Students neither of England or any other Nation are bound to defend their masters reading but in matters of faith and generallie receaued doctrine And although Bellarmine did some times read controâ—ersies in Rome And Doctor Gifford was a professor in Rhemes Doctor Stapleton at Louaine and the Cardinall at Doway which be all readers to English which he alleageth yet not all English Priests nor the tenth part of them were Auditors and Schollers to these professors and yet there is not any one sentence alleaged from any of them or any other Catholike which in true sence will bring any preiudice to our most holy and innocent cause as I haue made demonstration Thus it absolutely remaineth proued most gratious Prince that if the opinion of any Diuines concerning deposing Princes or making warre against them by subiects be treasonable and not tollerable in a Common-weale it is in the Protestant profession by many degrees exceeding any other both for opinion and practise and that the opinion of Catholikes is the least dangerous to this or any State And for this Discouerer if his late recited Arguments that schollers must agree with their Maisters in sentence shall stand good himselfe with all Ministers of his profession being the disciples of so many seditions and rebellions Pedagogues his and their Ancestors in protestancy must also with them be guilty in that kinde The Conclusion VVHerefore most mercifull Soueraigne the poore innocent and distressed Catholiques of this kingedome humbly entreat licence to propose that question to your Maiestie our earthly King which guiltlesse and holy Iob in his greatest Iob c. â— afflictions so confidently in this manner disputed with his Creaâ—or and King in heauen Answer me how great iniquities and sinnes I haue shew vnto me my wickednesse and offences why doe you hide your face and suppose mee for your enemie you shew your power against a leafe tossed with the winde and doe persecute dried stubble Non peccaâ—â— in amaritudinibus moratur oculus meus wee haue not as we hope sinned against you and yet our eyes remaine in bitternesse of teares and can behold nothing but matter of mourning and lamentation Our nature and Nation cannot turne your gracious aspect away for all of
this Dominion and your most fauoured be therein in the same case with your Suppliants that ancient faith and religion which wee defend cannot be cause to such offence for so all Catholikes in the world that be and euer were were to be censured by their Princes with such measure To professe that religion in a Protestant regiment cannot breede such variance for so all other Catholike subiects in all protestant Countries were in the same case And if one and the same religion can by any not appearing reason be feared by some subiect to suspitions at home which theiâ— politicke wisedome may suppose no forraigne protestant gouernment hath so sufficiently attended and considered we haue in the sincerity of our soules without all aequiuocation or doubtfull sence purged our selues from all jealosie of those opinions pretences or practises which our enemies could discouer worthy to bâ— obiected In answer whereof we haue both made manifest proofe that we doe not otherwise esteeme of the Protestants of this nation then our selues and those of the same faith with vs in all ciuill societies and communications that we giue the sâ—me temporall dutie loyalty and obedience to our Soueraigne honour to Nobles and loue to all that although we differ in religion yet we are so farre from making Protestants odious and vnworthy of mutuall communications in ciuill affaires that we defend their dignities magestâ—acy and rule against men of their owne profession We doe not assigne any soueraigne mere ciuill power ouer Princes as the Protestants in all places haue taught and practised neither any spirituall preeminence in any externe Prelate preiudiciall to Princes right as our opposers doe in Presbiteries and priuate Ministers we haue not denied either election or succession of Protestant Princes as our aduersaries haue done both to Catholikes and Protestants for their owne aduanâ—age our doctâ—ine denieth no obedience to you which was euer giuen to any Christian Prince of England from the first vnto the last King Henry the seuenth by whom and whose eldest Catholike Daughter your Highnesse is inthroned We doe not suggest the discouerers obiected forcible deposition of elected Princes Protestants haue depriued more in this short being of their Gospel by their popular mutenies and priuate authoritie than all Popes in all ages of christian religion with publike consent of Princes and people haue condiscended vnto Protestants haue taken Armes and raised generall rebellions more often against Princes not to be condemned than all Popes haue imposed censures by publike complaint against those which are noted in histories for extraordinary impious If any hath otherwise proceeded no Catholike may defend it wee doe not nor may not by our religion intend designe or practise iustifie or defend the murther of Princes or professe rebellions the discipline of the holy Church and generall Councells rules in our religion denie it for lawfull what priuileges protestancy claimeth what it hath taught and practised in that point Hungary Transiluania Germanie Bohemia Denmarke Heluetia Flanders Sweueland France Emâ—en your Maiesties kingdomes and your selfe haue beene witnesses for many yeares We doe not allow in opinion or may practise in act aequiuocation concealed double or secret sence in affaires of Common-weale and iuridicall interrogatories and profession of religion They be Protestants which defend and practise it in such causes not iustifiable in true diuinitie Our Priests neither vnder that reduplicatiue formalitie as Priests nor otherwise maintaine by our religion any position or pactise seditions or not obedient if any particular men for want of learning haue seemed to speake or thinke or for want of grace dealt or practised in other sence no religion made all men Saints religion did not teach it and Catholikes generally condemne it Therefore our confidence cannot but continue that the Royall promises of your highest Authority of Lenitie of no bloud for Religion shall not be recalled The demerritt of a fewe is no generall impediment The Scriptures instruct vs anima quae peccauerit ipsa moriatur one man must not be are the burthen of others sinnes All Schooles agree that no man can condignelie meritte first grace to any other though but one then the transgression of one or fewe cannot be demeritte for innocents to be afflicted great is the difference of the members in a naturall and ciuill body in this cause though the first doe suffer in some sence together by connexion in nature yet in the second the case and reason is different Remember most worthy Prince not only how grieuous but how generall the penalties against your Catholiques be enacted And yet new threatnings be made that new and more straunge as nec inter gentes shall be ordained The bodies honours reputations and riches of husbands to be punished for their wiues religion and soules to which they are neither husbands nor superiors Children to be taken from Parents Parents to be depriued of theiâ— education which Catholike Princes doe not and in conscience cannot offer to the Iewes themselues though in some opinion the slaues of Christians Children seruants kinsmen and neighbors are to be made hired Espialls to betray their parents masters kinred friends in things as vnlawfull which the whole Catholique world honoureth for holy and they venture their soules and fempitermtie that they be such commendable Artes Functions of phisicke c. which haue not connexion with Religion are to be put to silence in Catholikes The seuere penaltie for not monethlie professing the Protestant faith in Churches when in all diuinitie the precept of Profession of true and vndoubted faith in se and ex se bindeth but seldome is to be increased And others of such condition too many here to be mentioned and too grieuouâ— and vnnaturall we hope in your Princelie opinion to be concluded by a Kings consent Therefore vnder sauour for all I instance in one most heauie and generall in those of our deceased Queene All Priests though neuer so dutifull or obedient be censured for Traitors equally with the greatest offendor in sinne of Treason when many guiltlesse soules of that sacred order would not for thousands of worlds once consent to any such or a farre inferior offence A thing most straunge and beyond all example that men in respect only of their calling and function and that function so reuerenced by all our forefathers should without further cause be condemned as guilty of so a detested crime We defend holy priesthood to be a sacrament which being ordained by God cannot be changed by man Pope Prelate or humane power but remaineth in al things substance and doctrine the same which in those dayes when it was so honorably esteemed of all your christian progenitors when our mother Church kept her first integrity by your Highnesse iudgement as we are ready to make defence And if your Maiesty should decree the like law against any degree or profesâ—ion of your other subiects or the king of France or other Prince in other estate of men should enact by