that for want of means to procure a pardon had been kept in prison fince the time of the Queens decease By all which and much more that might be said it fully appears That King James was no hard Master reaping where he had not sowed and gathering where he had not strowed nor yet Revengeful who though he was to have been blown up after all these Favours and Liberties conferred on them still continued I might say increased them notwithstanding that horrid and matchless Conspiracie even to his dying day with as much Indulgence and Favour as he could without Offence or Scandal to the tender Consciences of his own Church which as he ought so he did chiefly regard § Neither were King James his Favours confined to the Papists of Great Britain only but were extended also to those never to be obliged Catholicks in Ireland For he resolved not to take any advantage of great Forfeitures and Confiscations which he was most justly Entitled unto by Tyrones Rebellion but out of his Royal Bounty restored all the Natives to the Intite possession of their own Lands in hope this would for ever have engaged their Obedience to him and his at least if not unto the Crown of England And yet he had not Reigned 6 Years e're the Earl of Tyrone not long before obliged by the Queen with Titles of Honour great store of Lands Commands of Horse and Foot in her pay was designing afresh the raising of another Rebellion into which he easily drew the whole Province of Vlster then entirely at his Devotion But his Design being prevented he with his chief Adherents fled into Spain from whence he never returned which impious and ungrateful Act of his and his Adherents rendred them justly suspected to be Irreconcilable to a Protestant Prince which forced the King to cause their persons to be attainted thehir Lands to be seized those Six Countries within the Province of Vlster to be Surveyed c. And the same course to be taken likewise in Lemster where the Irish had made Incursions and violently repelled the Old English And though the King was by due course of Lavv justly Entituled to all their vvhole Estates there yet vvas he gratiously pleased to take but ¼ part of their Lands vvhich coming to Brittish undertakers made them to flourish vvith costly Buildings and vvith all manner of Improvements 21. b. so that the very Irish seemed to be very much satisfied with the flourishing and peaceable Condition of the whole Kingdom and yet could not Acquiesce therein but Rebel they must against King Charles the Son who besides many other Favours and Connivances had so far gratified the Natives Anno 1640. that he grants unto the Commissioners then sent unto him out of Ireland the Act of Limitations so vehemently desired by the Natives and the Act for the rilinquishment of His Majesties Right and Title to the Four Counties in Connaught Besides at this time the Papists privately enjoyed the exercise of their Religion throughout the whole Kingdom by the Indulgence and Connivance of the late Governours they having their Titular Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans Abbots c. who all lived freely though obscurely yet without controll and exercised a voluntary Jurisdiction Multitudes of Priests Jesuits and Friars returning out of Spain and Italy where the Irish Natives that way devoted were thither sent for Education and now returned lived in the chief Towns and Villages and in the Houses of the Nobility and Gentry exercising their Religious Rites and Ceremonies none of the severer laws being put in Execution whereby great penalties were to be inflicted on Transgressors in that kind Were they ever the more faithful for these great Indulgencies nothing less For in August 1641. after about forty years peace the Popish party in both Houses of Parliament then sitting in Dublin grew so insolent as being scarce compatible with the present peaceable Government they were forc'd to adjourn for 3 Months before which time viz 23. Octob. 1641. they brake out into that detestable and desperate Rebellion as is not to be matcht in any story wherein in less than Two Years they murdered in cold Blood above 200000. English Protestants destroyed some other ways and expelled out of their Habitations nay moreover they threatned to burn Dublin destroy all Records and Monuments of the English Government to make Laws against speaking English and that all names given by English to places should be abolished and the Antient names restored And was not this also a great demonstration of their Faithfulness to the King and Crown of England Let every man judg as he sees cause how faithfully they requited King Charles the first for his favours towards them which were many and great which I will not here enumerate it being super-abundantly done already in print in divers Pamphlets though I fear with no good intention towards that glorious Martyr but rather to raise an Odium towards him from some of his weaker Subjects willing happily for other ends to be so seduced many whereof I hope have lived to see and consider that his pious life and death gave a just contradiction to those false Imputations and Jelousies And yet I must not forget one remarkable kindness of his who loved not to punish scrupulous peaceable Consciences sanguinarily towards Papists who being sent unto by both Houses of Parliament Anno 1640. for the Execution of John Goodman a Condemned Priest did in answer to them 3. Febr. 1640. own that he had reprieved him not without giving them great reasons for his so doing viz. For that neither his Father nor yet Queen Eliz. did ever avow that any Priest in their times was Executed meerly for Religion and therefore did remit this particular cause to both the Heresies cautionating them withall That happily his Execution might seem a severity in other States 22. b. and might draw inconveniences on his Subjects in other Countries and therefore held himself discharged from all inconveniences that might ensue upon his Execution And this did he notwithstanding the Popes Directions unto the then Superior of the Catholicks in England Anno 1638. were expresly to command them suddenly to desist from making such offers of Men towards the Northern Expedition then under consideration as we hear they have done little to the Advantage of their Discretion and that they be not more forward with Money than what Law and Duty enjoyns tem to pay § Such was the kindness and faithfulness of those Irish Papists to the King and Crown of England that indeed they did rise I must needs say most Catholickly in Rebellion against both from all parts of the Kingdom designing thereby to monopolize the whole Government of that Kingdom into their own hands exclusive of the King if several Oaths are to be credited published by the Kings Warrant to enjoy the publick profession of their Idolatrous Religion and to Expell all the English by whose protection countenance favours and purses that Kingdom was so
had attempted any thing against Ireland If Gregory the 13th had not renewed the said Bull and Excommunication If the Jesuits had never come into England If the Pope and King of Spain had not practised with the Duke of Guise for his attempt against Her Majesty If Parsons and the rest of the Jesuits with other our Countrey-men beyond the Seat had never been Agents in those traiterous and bloody designs of Throckmorton Parry Cullen York Williams Squire and others If they had not by their Treatises and Writings endeavoured to defame their Sovereign and their own Countrey labouring to have many of their Books translated into divers Languages whereby to shew their own disloyalty If Cardinal Allen and Parsons had not published the Renovation of the said Bull by Sixtus Quintus If thereunto they had not added their scurrilous and unmanly Admonition or rather most prophane Libel against Her Majesty If they had not sought by false perswasions and unghostly Arguments to have allured the hearts of all Catholicks from their allegiance If the Pope had never been urged by them to have thrust the King of Spain into that barbarous Action against the Realm If they themselves with all the rest of that Generation had not laboured greatly with the said King for the Conquest and Invasion of this Land by the Spaniards who are known to be the cruelest Tyrants that live upon the Earth If the Pope had not ordered Ridolphi to distribute 150000 Crowns to advance the attempt whereof some was sent to Scotland some to the Duke of Norfolk alias And King Philip to send the Duke of Alua and his Forces into England to assâ—st the Duke of Norfolk If in all their whole proceedings they had not from time to time depraved irritated and provoked both Her Majesty and State with those and many other such like their most 〈…〉 ungodly and unchristian practises there had been no Speeches amongst us of Racks and Torments nor any cause to have used thim for none were ever vexed that way simply for that he was either Priest or Catholick but because they were suspected to have had their hands in some of the said most traiterous designs And most assuredly the State would have loved us or at least born with us and we had been in much better condition than now we are Important Considerations c. fo 39 40 41. printed 1601. Furthermore antoher in answer to a Letter of a Jesuited Gent. by A. C. fo 89. complains of the Jesuits averring That Her Majesty is an Heretick an Excommunicated Princess and consequently to be deposed What Jesabelling of her have I heard them use What questioning whether no Jehn have subdued her why yet she prospereth why yet she Reigns why yet she lives what defaming her what throwing Soil at her Picture what avowing her Royal Lyons and Flower-de-luze no better worth than to serve for Signs to Baudy-houses Thus do the Jesuits and Jesuited use Her Majesty to my express knowledg and worse which for good manners I omit fo 90. nay they sent one to me in the nature of an Engineer from beyond the Seas to perswade my assisting his firing the Queens Navy throughout England against the next years coming of another Spanish Armado f. 90. Was it not Fa. Parsons and Fa. Creighton F. 9. That with much vehemency and bitterness contended for the disposing of the Crown of England the one for the Lady Infanta the other to his King of Scotland Were they not Jesuits which plotted with the Duke of Parma for surpriseing or stealing away of the Lady Arabella and sending her into Flanders who imployed the Messenger into England about the affair but Fa. Holt Jesuit who but the same Jesuit was consenting with Sir William Stanley to the sending in of Richard Hesket for soliciting Ferdinando Earl of Darby to rise against Her Majesty and claim the Crown was it not the same Jesuit that entertained York and Young in the Plot of firing Her Majesties Store-houses that set on work Mr. Francis Dickinson and others to perswade Watermen to fly with Ships and all into the service of the Spaniard f. 93. their Conspiracies were not confined to England only but they were extended also to Scotland whereupon were the Three Catholick Earls Angus Arrol and Huntley convicted of High Treason by Act of Parliament about 1593. if not upon certain plots laid by Fa. Creighton Fa. Gourdon and upon hopes given them of succour from Spain Why was the Lord of Fentry Executed but for the same designs imparted to him by Fa. Ro. Abercronii a Jesuit Was it not the principal cause of Fa James Gordons travel to Rome about the same time to solicite the Pope and other Princes to assist the King of Scots if he enterprise any thing either against England or in his own Countrey 93 94. And yet these matters will not be believed at this day by the Papists though it be their own voluntary confession in several of their printed Books yet extant Priests and Jesuits each deservedly accusing other of Treasons and Conspiracies against the Queen Her Person Crown and Dignity with this difference only that the Priests mostly the Jesuits seldom acknowledged the Queers great favours and Jenity towards them the Queen had great reason to believe them both not barely because cause they peached one the other but because thereof she really found the sad effects And indeed because she and her Council did very wisely consider that Papists some Centuries of Years before ever Jesuits were thought of did universally incline unto and side with the Pope against their temporal Princes usurping many great and exorbitant authorities and priviledges over them whereof Histories are full and therefore it was but high time that the Queen should by wholsom Laws inflicting moderate pains and mulcts provide against both one and the other This is no small Bedrall of Treasons Vide Important consider f. 16 17 18. Conspiricies provocations c. and yet as many more they might have urged nay to do the Secular-priests right they have done it particularly sparsim both in this and divers others their Books and also made large very large acknowledgments of the Queens Bounty Moderation and Clemency towards those Papists that were quiet and faithful a gratefulness that I have not found in any of the Jesuits and in so doing they did the Queen but right for from the year 1. Eliz. unto 11. Papists came to our Church and Service without scruple so that for 10 years they made no Conscience nor Doubt to Communicate with us in prayer But when once the Bull of Pius Quintus often called by the Queen Impius Intus was published wherein the Queen was accursed and deposed 16 and Her Subjects discharged of their obedience and Oaths of Fealty yea cursed if they did obey Her Then and not till then they refrained our Churches and Service so that recusancy in them the name of Recusant being never heard of until the 11.
beautified and inriched as it then was and is at this day though now by them miserably pejorated by that Intestine War raissed by themselves in the midst of their happy enjoyments and that without any provocation ground or colour against the King as himself expressed under his Great Seal To this give Testimony those early instructions privately sent over into England by the Lord Dillon of Costeloe presently after the breaking out of the Rebellion by the Remonstrance of the County of Longford pretended about the same time to the Lords Justices by the same Lord Dillon as also by their frame of their new Common-Wealth found in Sir John Dungans house not far from Dublin and sent upon thither out of Connaught to be communicated to those of Leinster the sum of which and other such like is summ'd up and may be seen to have that purport in the Irish Rebellion written by Sir John Temple f. 80 81 82. § Indeed if the Irish Papists had been so Loyal and Faithful as they now boast themselves to have been Nay had they had the least spark of gratitude for that King who had disobliged so many by obliging them so much they would never in his distresses have capitulated so severely and on the Swords point with him nor have held him to such hard tearms as they did in all their Treatises which they used only as Stratagems to Trapan not to serve His Majesty For in the Year 1643. when a Cessation was concluded with them by the Kings Authority and both English and Irish Engaged by Articles to Transport their Armies to England for His Majesties Service the English did it the Irish only pretended they would do it when the English were gone and then accordin gto one of their old Maxims Nulla fides servanda cum Hereticis they plotted and attempted the ruine of the small Remnant of English left behind in Munster where the Lord Inchiquin commanding by the Kings Commission and the English with him were necessitated to stand on their own defence against the Popish Army Orery 25. Though in the Year 1645. the Earl of Glamorgan gave as Adventageous tearms as they could ask and condescended to such hard and dishonourable propositions on the Kings part as the then Marquess now Duke of Ormond in Justice and Honour neither could nor would condescend unto and though the Commissions of the confederate Catholicks solemnly engaged the publick Faith for the performance of them 23. b. one Article whereof was That they should send 10000. to serve His Majesty c. yet did they not in due time perform their plighted Troath herein which was a great disservice to His Majesty In which slender performance of theirs they could have no other end than thereby to render the Rebells in England more irreconcilable to His Majesty that so that War might be kept up that they might the better gain by Fishing in those troubled Waters so that they well hoped to give Law to both It was the constant observation of the Protestant Army there that the lower and more unfortunate the King was in his successes in England the higher were the demands of the Irish for the Truth is how Loyal and dutiful soever their pretences were towards the King yet their design was to set up for the Pope and the establishing the Romish Religion and erecting its Spiritual Monarchy at least if not a Temporal with it The Arch-Bishop of Tuum was a principal Agent in the Irish Wars and of the Supreme Council of Kilkenny He attended the Army about this time to visit his Diocess and to put in Execution an Order for the Arrears of his Bishoprick granted to him from the Council at Kilkenny which Order together with the Popes Bull and several other Letters of Correspondence between him and his Agents from Rome Paris and several parts of Ireland were found about him whereby it did appear that the Pope would not at the first engage himself in sending of a Nuntio for Ireland till the Irish Agents had fully satisfied him that the Establishment of the Catholick Religion was a thing feaseable and attainable in that Kingdom in which being satisfied he was content to sollicite their cause with Florence and Venice c. and also to delegate Farmano his Nuntio to attend the Kingdom who after some delays in France was at last posted from thence by express Order from the Pope and he arrived at that River of Kilmore in a Friggot of 21 Guns in October with 26 Italians of his Retinue Secretary Belinges and divers Regular and Secular Priests and also with great Supplies for the service of the King no doubt as 2000 Muskets 4000 Bandaliers 2000 Swords 500 Petronells and 20000 l. of Powder all which arrived at Brooke-Haven the same Month together with 5 or 6 Deskes or Small Truncks of Spanish Gold how far all those Popish Auxiliaries conduced to the Kings service and the Protestant Interest I leave to all Contemporaries to judg As in the year 1645. so in that Year 1646. after a peace concluded with them they treacherously attempted to cut off the Lord Lievtenant and his Army with him who marched out of Dublin on security and confidence of that peace 24. b. The same year the Council and Congregation of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland obliged their General Preston by a solemn Oath to exercise all Arts of Hostility against the Lord Marquess of Ormond the Kings Vice gerent and his Party and to help and advise with Council and assist in that service the Lord General and Vlster employed in the same Expedition In the Year 1647. from Kilkenny 18. January the General Assembly of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland employed Commissioners to Rome France and Spain to invite a Forrein power into Ireland To Rome they sent their Titular Bishop of Ferns and Nichola◠Plunket Esq Knighted there by the Pope for his good service therein to declare that they raised Arms for the freedom of the Catholick Religion which are their own words in the Third Article of those their Instructions Orerey This is consonant to the Oath framed the same Year with some Addition to what had formerly been taken by the said General Assembly and pressed on all sorts of people under pain of high Treason which Oath enjoyns the maintenance of these ensuing Propositions 1. That the Roman Catholicks both Clergy and Laiety in their several Capacities have the free and publick exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and Function throughout the Kingdom in as full lustre and splendour as it was in the Reign of Hen. VII or any other Catholick King his Predecessors Kings of England and Lords of Ireland either in Ireland or in England 2. That the Secular Clergy of Ireland viz. Primates Archbishops Bishops Ordinaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries and other Dignitaries all other Pastours of the Secular Clergy their respective Successors shall have and enjoy all and all manner of Jurisdictions
of Latria or Divine Worship his Image is to be adored with the adoration of Latria also which induces me to believe that that in Jeremiah ch 10. is as truly applicable to the now Romanists as to the Jews of old All which seriously considered and that though Supreme Magistrates have power moderately and in measure by wholsom Laws not by Fire and Faggot Tortures and Inquisitions to compel and to secure the true Religion and undefiled and their Realms professing the same yet I find no warrant in Bibliis Sacris for any power to tollerate and indulge any false Religion in their Dominions § Concerning which I shall say thus in general That though no mortal man hath rightful power to forbid Christs Spiritual Duties the Worshipping of God Preaching his Word and Truth yet I say first that no Indulgence ought to be given by the Magistrate to any Sect whtsoever whose Doctrins and Principles are not known and therefore none to Quakers and Enthusiasts whose Rule is not the Scripture but the Light within them which is darkness to others if not to themselves and it may be Hosanna to day and yet Chucifige to morrovv Then the Principles by vvhich other Sects do worship being known the legislative Magistrares whether Monarchs or Free States are the Judges of them how confistent or inconsistent with Gods true Religion and Worship and with the peace and wellfare of their own Dominions and Subjects and accordingly may or may not Indulge or Tollerate their Religion and Worship And therefore Princes ought to use great Caution and to be very wary and circumspect herein for that sins committed by others through our Example Instigation Connivnace or Tolleration become ours by just Imputation In Naboths death the Judges and false Witnesses were the next Agents Jesabel the Plotter only and Instigator 1 King 21.7 13 23. Yet she is punished for shedding Naboths Blood though her hand was not upon him Even in Courts of ordinary Justice it seems just and is so in our Law that not only the Executioner but the Plotter Abettor Instigator and Concealer of Treason be punished with death Yea see how far a less degree of participation brings guilt upon our Souls The Rulers amongst the Jews that but tollerated the breach of the Sabbath are charged to have prophaned the Sabbath Nehem. 13.17.18 Yea the least Countenance given to Idolatry makes culpable of Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.18 21. To this agrees the Prohibition of St. Paul Communicate not with other Mens sins 1 Tim. 5.22 And that command Lev. 16.17 Thou shalt rebuke thy Neighbour plainly and not suffer him to sin It is a Gospel-Principle that Gods Children ought to be careful not only to eschewe evil in their own persons but also to prevent it in othrss A notable Example we have in the people of Israel who well knowing that God was a Jealous God Deut. 4.24 Isa 42.8 and would not have his Glory communicated to others nor his praise unto Graven Images out of their abundant caution minding the concerns of their Brethren as their own when they heard Tidings how the Rubenites Gadites and half Tribe of Manasseh had Erected an Altar not for Worshipping as they truly protested but for Memorial so fearful they grew of Gods Wrath that they presently dispatched an Embassy to their Brethren to prevent their sin And see how pithily they deal with them Is the Iniquity of Peor too little for us from which ye are not cleansed to this day that ye also must depart from following the Lord Josh 22.17 Thus they in a shew only and appearance of evil which we are commanded to abstain from 1 Thes 5.22 and to resist unto Blood striving against sin Qui non vetat peccare quum possit Jubet Heb. 12.4 The Conclusion is strong What sins of others we labour not within our Province Power and Compass to prevent are ours in the guilt as well as those of our own personal Commission The Reasons are many 1. We hazard our selves to infection 1 Cor. 5.6 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 2. Vnto wrath Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues Apoc. 4.3 We hazard the Delinquents to obstinate impenitency We blemish our own same and sinceâ—ity 5. Quantum in nobis we encourage others to like exorbitancy in sinful Worship even in our common Laws it is held maintenance when a great person only by his presence countenanceth a Cause Saints of old were regularly scrupulous and abstemious in this kind I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with distemblers I have heated the Congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked Psal 26.4 5. Jer. 15.15.17 I sat not in the assembly of mockers nor rejoyc'd Did not Elias sharply repove King Ahab and the Commons of Israel for that error He did not say Why permit you not those that will to serve the Lord and those that lift to serve Baal But How halt you between Two opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then fallow him 1 Kings 18.21 Since it is confessed both by Protestants and Papists That there can be no God save the Lord Psal 18.31 and he never meant to surrender any piece of his Glory Isa 48.11 but is so jealous of it that he will be served and only served with all our Heart and with all our Soul Deut 10.12 I reckon it cannot stand with a Magistrates duty to reverse this Heavenly Decree Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Mat. 4.10 Deut. 6.13 with establishing Two Religions in the Realm And the first precept forbiding more Gods than one barreth all other services of the same God save that which himself hath appointed for himself His commands relating to his own Worship are very severe very strict He that is born in the House and bought with thy Money must need be Circumcised i. e. Observe the whole Law Gen. 17.12 So the charge of Keeping the Sabbath is had upon the Father of the Family for all that are within his Gate Exod. 20.10 The Lord commandeth That if any person Brother Son Daughter the Wife of thy Bosom or thy Friend which is as thy own Soul shall intice to Idolatry or any City shall set up a new Worship the one shall be killed the other destroyed Det. 13.6 9 12 15. To this belongeth that precept to seperate the pretious from the vile Jer. 15.19 and this viz. Not to sow the Field with divers Seeds nor to wear a Garment of divers things Lev. 19. â—0 So Moses Deut. 22.10 Thou sha't not plough with an Oxe and an Asse together which St. Paul thus expoundeth 2 Cor. 6.14 Be not unequally yoaked with unbelievers Which the Apostle demonstrates to be as absurd and monstrous as that righteousness shall have fellowship with unrighteousness or light to have communion with darkness or that
11. How then can Kings bear with your Sacrilegious prophaning of the Lords Supper and forbidding Gods own Word to be read and licence the rest of your Impieties and Blasphemies and hope to be free from your plague When Valentinian the younger was requested to wink at the renewing of an Alter for the Pagans in Rome St. Ambrose disswaded him in these words All men serve you that be Prmces and you serve the Mighty God He that serveth this God must bring no dissimulation no Connivance but saithful zeal and devotion be must give no kind of consent to the worship of Idols or other superstitious or prophane Ceremonies for God will not be deceived nor mocked who searcheth all things even the secrets of our Hearts Ambrose lib. 5. Ep. 30. Now what account will God exact for his Name blasphemed his Word exiled and wrested his Decalogue dockt his Sacraments curtal'd and prophaned And what answer must be made for the ruine of Faith harvest of sin murder of Souls consequent always to the publick freedom of Idolatrous and Superstitious Worship and Heresies which ought to be fully considered and wilely prevented by Christian Magistrates who must as well as the meanest of their Vassals give an account of their Stewardships when called thereunto at the day of their Account § When Mary afterwards Queen of England earnestly besought her Brother King Ed. 6. both by her own Letters and by the mediation of the Emperour That she might have the free use of Mass in her Family alledging her Conscience for it that her House was her Flock c. The King by his Council made answer that it was well liked that her Grace should have her House or Flock but not exempt from the Kings Laws and Orders neither may there be a Flock of the Kings Subjects but such as will hear and follow the voice of the King their Shepherd God disalloweth Law and Reason forbiddeth it Policy abhorreth it and her Honour may not require it However at her earnest intreaty and desire made in the Emperors Name thus much was granted and no more that for his sake and hers also it should be suffered and winked at if she had the private Mass used in her own Closet for a season until she might be better informed whereof was some hope having only with her a few of her own Chamber so that for all the rest of her Houshold the Service of the Realm should be used and no other After this was granted in Words the Emperors Ambassador desired some Testimony of the Promise under the Great Seal which being denied he desired to have it by a Letter which was also denyed but not without shewing sound reasons that he perceiving it to be denyed with Reason wight be the better contented with the answer But when there was ill use made of this Indulgence and Connivance her Chaplain taking too great a liberty by publick Celebration of the Mass out of her Presence was sent for by the Council imprison'd c. for whom though her Grace mediated by many carnest Letters both to the King and his Council yet did his Majesty signifie to her by a Letter dated 24. January 1550. That though he had for a while connived that she might be brought as far towards the Truth by Brotherly love as others were by Duty and in hope of her amendment yet now if there be no hope why should there be sufferance Alledging also That his charge was to have the same care over every mans Estate that every man ought to have over his own And that in her own House as she would be loath openly to suffer one of her Servants being next her most manifestly to break her Orders so must she think in his state it would prejudice him to permit her so great a Subject not to keep his Laws that her nearness to him in Blood her greatness in Estate and the condition of the Time made her fault the greater The Example is unnatural that our Sister should do less for us than our other Subjects the Case standerous for so great a person to forsake our Majesty And therefore 24. Aug. 1551. He sent Commissioners to signifie to her That His Majesty did resolutely determine it just necessary and expedient That her Grace should not in any ways use or maintain the private Mass or any other manner of service than such as by the Law of the Realm was authorized and allowed So resolure was this young Josiab this Noble pious Prince though his dear Sister and the next Heir of the Crown had divers times offered her Body at the Kings Will rather than to change he rconscience § Queen Eliz. as in other things so in Religion was according to her assumed Motto semper endem never suffering the least Innovdtion thereof and therefore as in the first Year of her Reign she took great care that those Protestants which then began to frame a new Eeclesiastical Poliey being transported with a humour of Innovation should be repressed betimes and that but one only Religion was to be tollerated Angli Bello in trepidi nec mottis sensu deterentur lest diversity of Relig ons amongst the English a stout and Warlike Nation might minister continual Fuel to Seditions So in the Second Year of her Reign when the Emperor and Catholick Princes by many Letters made earnest inter cession that the Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks displaced for refusing the Oath of Supremacy which notwithstanding most of them had Sworn unto and taught in their Sermons and writ in defence thereof in the Reign of King H. 8. might be mercifully dealt withall there being as themselves had written and calculated above 9400. Ecclesiastical orefer ments and not above 189. displaced whereof 14 were Bishops that Churches might be allowed to the Papists by themselves in Cities she answered That although those Popish Bishops had insolently and openly repugned against the Laws and Quiet of the Realm and did still obstinately reject that Doctrin which most of them under H. 8. and E. 6. had of their own accord with heart and hand publickly in their Sermons and Writings taught unto others when they themselves were not private Men but publick Magistrates yet would she for so great Princes sakes deal favourably with them though not without some offence to her own Subjects But to grant them churches wherein to celebrate their divine Offices apart by themselves she could not with the safety of the Common-Wealth and without wrong to her ovvn Honour and Conscience neither vvas there any cause vvhy she should grant them seeing England embraced no nevv or strange Doctrin but the same vvhich Christ commanded the Primitive and Catholick Church received and the ancient Fathers vvith one Mind and Voice approved and to allovv Churches with contrary Rites and Ceremonies Besides that it openly repugned the Laws established by Authority of Parliament were nothing else but to sow Religion out of Religion to distract good Mens minds
without obtaining an Imprimatur from the Kings Council and how likely they are to obtain that is not hard to guess 29. Jan. 1663. Another ordaineth Parents to give Pensions to their Children who turn Papists although the Children will not dwell with them Declaration 24. Oct. 1663. and Acts of Council 30. Jan. 1665. As if paternal Authority were nulled by Childrens Apostacy forgetting that Christian Religion doth not absolve Slaves from their Subjection to their Masters yet Dominus Deus vester Papa can discharge Children of their obedience which they owe to their Parents of the Protestant Religion Another prohibits the Exercise of Charity towards their Brethren who have no sufficiency of their own for their livelyhood 5. Oct. 1663. Another dischargeth payment of Debts by those of the Commonalty who shall turn Papists The very Heathens never pretended that those Christians who did but Apostatize to them should be discharged from payment of their Debts Another prohibits Ministers to preach without the place of their residence thereby depriving them of the benefit of Annexation i. e. the priviledge of one Ministers supplying Two Churches which singly are not able to afford a compleat maintenance 22. Feb. 1664. Another giveth liberty to Priests and Fryars to enter their Houses and come unto their Bed-sides when sick or dying to sollicite them to change their Religion 18. Sept. 1664. 12. May 1665. Another maketh it criminal in Ministers to style themselves Pastors or Ministers of the Word of God Nay they have regulated the very Garments of Ministers forbidding them to wear a long Garment that they may have no Character of distinction from the peasants 30. Jan. 1663. In the Declaration of pretended Relapses 1663. ratified in Parliament 7. Jan. 1663. It is ordained that those of the Religion who have once embraced the Popish Religion shall never again return unto it under pain of perpetual Banishment A thing plainly contrary to the Edict Yet they have given it a retrospective and retroactive power to execute it against persons who became of the Religion long before the Declaration was in being and accordingly have proceeded against some whom they have imprisoned compelled to do penance by going Bare-foot and Bare-headed through the streets with a burning Torch to the place of Justice or person offended and there to ask forgiveness and then Banished the Kingdom I could cloy the Readers with like severities usque ad nauseam but I forbear having no other design by this brief Narrative but only to give a tast of the difference of severities which we use here and which are used against us abroad in our Neighbour Nations without going farther into Germany Hungary Poland and other Popish Countries Vide the Memoirs of the King of Sweden to the Emperour Let William Watson the Secular Priest conclude for our Justification viz That all the sufferings brought upon the Papists here in England was the due reward for their own demerits Which Axiome is as compleatly true now as it was in his days Now what hope can we have to speed better than our Neighbours who only want power to do as much for us but I proceed As in the days of Queen Eliz. so now they begin to play their old tricks over again and would fain perswade us that there is a Generation of them that are faithful and dutiful Subjects to this Crown whatsoever others of the same Communion are and therefore plead hard for Indulgence and Tolleration above their Fellows F. 5. As that they disown the Paramount and Omnipotent Powers attributed to the Pope in many particulars and look upon it as a grievance rather than a right belonging to him and complain and wish for remedy that they will stand with the King his Crown and Regality in some Cases by them named and in all others in all points to live and dye with them They farther conceive that it is the right of every National Church to provide for the particular concerns thereof and yet confesses that it is not for her safety to receive those who do not believe as she doth It is there owned F. 7. yet not without a Peradventure that the Church of England hath preserved the face of a continued Mission and un-interrupted Ordination that her moderation in Doctrin is great that her disciple preserves Episcopal Government that she abhors Phanaticisme and the wild Errors of a private Spirit that though she hold the Scripture to be the Rule of Controversie yet holds withall that it is not of private interpretation and that she is for Vincentius Lyrinensis Rule quod ab omnibus quod semper quod ubique that the Papists upon many occasions have been found as faithful to the State as any of their fellow Subjects At last this Diologist P. takes pet F. 15.33 that the seasonable discourse accounts the Protestant Religion excellent and the Popish full of stupidity which though granted yet he argues may we not therefore be permitted to say our Prayers in private which is all the Indulgence allowed us and that sure it is no part of the Protestant Church to hinder others from being as good as they can and the worse our Religion is the more need we have of praying to make us better A great Courtier I must confess and hath complemented us highly to his own ends and advantage yet with little Injury to us which though I cannot so courtly return in its own kind without flattering yet I modestly wish that all the Papists were no worse minded And yet if they were I do not know that this State were the more secure This very Scene was acted in Queen Eliz. days as I have shewed before and their own Books which are very numerous and very full of such acknowledgments and disclamours and yet some of the same Leaven for their unfaithfulness to her and this Crown came with the first unto untimely ends and that deservedly I will hope better of these of this Generation presuming they will take warning by other mens harms However I presume this State will be as wise now as they were in her days and trust to neither for that the more secure we are of the one the less safe we are from the other The Seculars and Regulars in her days confessed much more viz. That though they disliked the severity of her Laws yet could not but acknowledg that the State had great cause to make such except they should have shewed themselves careless and though the Laws were very extreme yet the occasions of them were very outragious and likewise that the Execution of them was not so Tragical as many did write and report Import Consider f. 11. A Letter from a Jesuited Gent. f. 65 66. Dialogue between a Secular Priest and a Lay. Gent. sparing discovery and others sparsim In Queen Eliz. days such of the Papists who though they did not forbear to profess Loyalty and Obedience to Her Majesty and were ready to resist any
Canum Rabies venenum Serpentum cruenta saenitia Bestiarum Gratulandum est cum tales de Ecclesia separantur ne columbas ne Oves Christi Soeva sua venenata contagione praedentur What hath the fierceness of Wolves The madness of Dogs The venom of Dragons and the Bloody Cruelty of Wild Beasts to do in a Christian Breast There 's joy and gladness when such are seperated from the Church lest the gentle and innocent Doves and Sheep of Christ be made a prey to their cruel Jawâ— and Venom May our King live for ever and may there never want a man of his Race to sit on his Throne Ruling in Righteousness fearing God and hating evil and that there may be a high-way of Holiness throughout his Dominions that wayfaring men though fools may not erre therein Isa 35.8 Surely there is no inchantment against Jacob neither is there any Divination against Israel Numb 23.22 Rara temporum faelicit as sub Nerva Trajano ubi sentires quae velles dicere quae sentires FINIS A Postscript shewing the purport of Pius Quintus his Bull against Q. Eliz. and also a form of Indictment of such Papists as were Executed for Treasons in her days that all the VVorld may be the better satisfied that not one of them dyed for any point of Religion and this is as a Supplement to what is so particularly set down in Horae subsecivae PIus Quinrus Pontisex Maximus de Apostolicia potestatis pleniâ—â—dine 25. Feb. 1570. deâ—laravit Elizabetham pretenso Regni Jure necnon omni quoeunque Dominio Dignitate privilegioque privatam Itemque proceres subditos populos dicti regni ac caeteros omnes qui illi quomodncunque juraverunt a Juramento hujusneodi ac omni fidelitatis debito perpetuo absolutos i. e. Pius Quintus the great Bishop of the fulness of Apostolick power hath declared Elizabeth to be bereaved of her pretended right of her Kingdom and also of all and whatsoever Dominion Dignity and Priviledge and also the Nobles Subjects and people of the said Kingdom and all others which had sworn to her any manner of ways to be absolved for ever from such Oath and from all Debt or Duty of Fealty c. with many threatning cursings to all that durst obey her and her Laws And for the Execution hereof to prove that the Effect of this Bull and Message was flat Rebellion mark what Dr. Sunders the Popes Fire-brand in Ireland writeth in his Book de visibili Monarchia Pius Quintus Pontifex Maximus Anno Domini 1569. Reverendum presbyterum Nicolaum Mortonum Anglum in Angliam misit ut certis illustribus viris Authoritate Apostolica denuntiaret Elizabetham quae tunc rerum potiebatur hereticam esse ob eamque causam omni dominio potestate excidisse impuneq ab illâ—is velut Ethnicam haberi posse nec cos illos legibus aut man datis deinceps obedire cogi i. e. Pius Quintus the greatest Bishop Anno Domini 1569 sent the Reverend Priest Nicholas Morton an English man into England That he should denounce or declare by the Apostolick Authority to certain Noble Men Elizabeth who then was in possession to be an Heretick and for that cause to have fallen from all Dominion and power and that she may be had or reputed of them as an Ethnick and that they are not to be compelled to obey her Laws or Commandments Thus you see an Ambassade of Rebellion from the Popes Holiness by an old doting Protestant a Fugitive and Conspiriator unto some Noble Men which were the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland Heads of the Rebellion that followed the success whereof he declares viz. Qua denuntiatione multi nobiles viri adducti sunt de fratribus liberandis cogitare auderent ac sperabant illi quidem Catholicos omnes summis viribus affuturos esse Verum etsi aliter quant illi expectabant res evenit quia Catholici omnes nondum probe cognoverant Elizabetham Haereticam esse declaratam tamen laudanda illorum Nobilium consilia erant i. e. By which denuntiation many Noble men were induced or lead that they were emboldened to think of the freeing of their Brethren and they hoped certainly that all the Catholicks would have assisted them with all their strength but although the matter happened otherwise than they hoped for because all the Catholicks knew not that Elizabeth was declared an Heretick yet the Councils and Intents of those Noble Men were to be praised This want of Information was soon after diligently and cunningly supplyed by sending multitudes of the Seminaries and Jesuits to inform the people as a Supplement to amend the former error Though Dr. Sanders hath thus written yet it may be said by such as favoured those Two Noble Jesuits Ro. Parsons and Ed. Campion that Dr. Sanders Treason is his proper Treason in allowing and justifying of the said Bull and not to be imputed to Parsons and Campion who notwithstanding had by special Authority charge to Execute the Sentence of this Bull which may appear by the subsequent Writings taken about one of their Confederates immediately after Campions death who in his life time would not be known of any such matter whereby may appear what trust is to be given to such Peudo-Martyrs Facultates concessae P. P. Roberto Parsonio Edmundo Campiano pro Anglia die 14. Apr. 1580. Petatur a summo Domino nostro Explicatio Bullae declaratoriae per Pium Quintum contra Elizabetham ei adhaerentes quam Catholici cupiunt intelligi hoc modo ut obliget semper illam haereticos Catholicos vero nullo modo obliget rebus sic stantibus sed tum demum quum publica ejusdem Bulle Executio fieri poterit Then followeth many other Petitions of Faculties for their farther Authorities not needful here to recite in the Close the Pope Answers Has praedictas Gratias concessit Summus Pontifex patri Roberto Parsonio Edm. Campiano in Angliam profecturis die 14. Aprilis 1518. presente Oliverio Monarco assistente Faculties granted to the Two Fathers Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion for England the 14. day of April 1580. by Gregory the XIII Let it be asked or required of our most Holy Lord the Explication or meaning of the Bull declaratory made by Pius Quintus against Elizabeth and such as do adhere or obey her which Bull the Catholicks desire to be understood on this manner that the same Bull shall always bind her and the Hereticks but the Catholicks it shall by no means bind as matters now stand or be but hereafter when the publick Execution of that Bull may be had and made Then in the Close was added The highest Pontiff or Bishop granted the aforesaid Graces or Faculties to Father Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion who are now to take their Journey into England 14. April 1580. being present the Father Oliverius Manark assistant By this it is apparent how