protestation that Idiscourse by the way of proposition rather then Arrogance of defining any thing with pardon therefore may I be permitted to say That the first easie Law of xijd inflicted on him that could not give a reasonable excuse for his absence from Church or Sundayes was one of the best Ordinances that hath hitherto bin enacted But while wee sought to make new Statutes savouring of more severity we neglected the old and were loath to execute the new For it is a certaine Rule that whosoever in policy will give liberty and yet seeme to suppresse a crime let him procure sharpe Lawes to be proclaimed which are onely necessary for some times and rare occasions to be put in Execution but not to be an ordinary worke for every day of the Weeke Daily use likewise teacheth us that it is lesse grievous to punish by an old Law then by a new Forsomuch as Truth it selfe seldome gets credit without proofe and it is hard to free the people of suspition that new Lawes are not rather invented against the particular persons and purses of men then against the corrupt manners By force of which reason I am induced to conceive that the old use of the Church contained in good nurture and Ecclesiasticall censures will much more prevaile to muzzell Popery then any fresh devises whatsoever Neither doe J thinke it blame-worthy to affirme that our cause hath taken harme by relying more on the Temporall then the Spirituall Armes For while we trusted that Capitall punishments should strike the stroake we have neglected the meanes which would for the most part have discharged the need of such severity The Oath of Allegeance is not offered generally to servants and meane People who if they had taken the Oath by absolution of a Priest might recoyle from it or change their opinion at leisure without any ready meanes to discover their Leger-demaine that Oath I feare will not bee often pressed and to them that shift from place to place how can it be tendered The principall Papists now cover themselves in the crowde of the multitude but if we can discover the affection of the multitude they easily will be unmasked and being singled out rest ashamed of their nakednesse which under correction of better judgment may be effected if every new commer to inhabit in a Towne and servants newly entertained within a Weeke or xiiij dayes be caused to repaire to the Minister there in presence of the Churchwardens and other honest men to subscribe unto such briefe and substantiall Articles concerning Faith and Allegeance as shall be according to Gods Word and Justice ordained to distinguish the sheepe from the Goates In forraine Countries every Host is bound to bring his Guest before an Officer there to certifie his name with the occasion of his comming intended time of his abode in those parts and in case he stay longer he must again renew his Licence so curious and vigilant also are they to keepe their Cities from infection that without a Certificate witnessing their comming from wholsome places they may not escape the Lazeretto No lesse ought wee to be watchfull to prevent the contagion of our Soules then other Nations are of their bodies every thing is hard and scarcely pleasing in the beginning But with time some such course may be readily put in Execution which I propound rather as matter for better heads to worke on then peremptorily to be insisted on in the same Termes But lest any charge me with Temerity that when I desire to know the multitudes inclination by the meanes aforesaid I satisfie my selfe with their Parrots Language pronouncing it knowes not what I thinke it not impertinent to put them in mind that heretofore I have required instructions both precedent and subsequent and am ever of the mind that though all this cannot be done at once yet it is necessary alwayes to be doing our best knowing that not to goe forwards in Religion is the ready way to goe backwards It is not the outward obedience of comming to Church that discovers the inward thought of the heart it is the confession of the Tongue that must utter these secrets And where the Curates are insufficient or the Parish great I wish they had Catechistes to assist them maintained by the Purses of the Recusants which Pension being collected for Gods cause will free us of scandall though it grieve them to pay the spirituall Army waged against their owne Stratagems surely by giving them way in petty matters they are growne to be very masterfull in their party Plato affirmeth that the Popular state proceeded from the Licence which the people took to make immoderate Applauses in the Theaters when as by arrogating that immunity without contro ement in place of their Governors and perceiving the Nobility to joyne with them in the same passions they thought their Heads as worthy to governe as any of those that were made out of the selfe-same mould In like manner while we suffer ignorance openly to maintaine such petty glimpses of Popery as are thought to be scarce worthy to be look't at and in small matters runne an indifferent course which neither make sure friends nor feeble Foes unawares they take the bridle from us and eate out Religion as it were by an insensible Gangrena Principiis obsta serò medicina paratur Cum malaper longas convaluere moras For by sufferance of breaking smaller Lawes People are emboldned to set the greater at nought To comprehend all things in a Law which are necessary to the Reformation I neither hold it profitable nor expedient yet it is discretion to provide for the most important smaller matters whereof the Lawes speake not are to be commended to the discretion of Parents Masters and other reverent persons who by example and advice may prepare younglings by education and custome to obey the Lawes especially such as are in high place ought in this behalfe to be like Caesars Wife Non solum crimine sed etiam criminis suspitione vacare and with circumspection to behave themselves that the world may conceive in requiring obedience to God and their Soveraigne that they hold the multitude rather for companions then slaves if great men take another way they may seduce many by example though by Words they expresse not their concealed opinions Tace loquere said God to Moses it is the speech of the heart which utters more then words and syllables And in our common Lawes it is held maintenance when a great Personage onely by his presence countenanceth a cause Neither let us secure our selves with this Argument the Papists are plyable in small matters ergo they will yeeld in greater And because they tooke no Armes in 88. therefore it were needlesse curiosity to suspect them now for who knowes not that small baites are used to take the greatest Fish vt cum esca una etiam hamus devoretur Warinesse is the sinewes of Wisdome and nothing is more dangerous then to be secure in matters of State Therefore for the Lawes already made I wish that the most effectuall of them which least concernes life may be executed For better it were not to make them then by neglect to set them at liberty seeing that many offences there are which men would abstaine from if they were forbidden but when a strict commandement is avoided without punishment therout springs an unbridled Licence hardly to be reformed by any rigour To conclude I say freely that who so endeth his dayes by a naturall death he shall be subject to receive many mens doomes for every particular offence But when for Religions sake a man triumpheth over the sword that one eminent vertue razeth out the memory of other errours and placeth him that so dyeth in Paradice if common opinion may be lawfully vouched which glory having many followers and admirers awaketh even dull spirits to affect their footesteps and to sell their lives for the maintenance of the same cause J need not envy the name of a Martyr to the Jesuit for his cause if it be rightly weighed will blanch that title but I desire to have all those Lineaments defaced which may compound that counterfeit Image in prosecuting of which purpose if J have failed in my advice and by confused handling intricated the question J humbly request that a wise mans verdit may mitigate the heavines of yt censure It is neither good to praise bad Counsels because of their good successe nor to condemne good Counsels if the Events prove not fortunate lest many be animated to advise rashly and others dishartned to counsell gravely Illi mors gravis incubat Qui notus nimis omnibus Ignotus moritur sibi Senec. Trag. FINIS
with all endeavour to confirme his owne party in the best manner that may be 4. He that forbeareth to sowe his ground in expectance of good winde or a favourable Moone commonly hath a poore Crop and a leane Purse So shall it fare with this state if private whisperings of discōtented persons that neverlearnt to speak well be too nicely regarded yet ought they not to be slightly set at nought lest our credit grow light even in the Ballance of our dearest friends The Papasticall Libels informe against vs as if we were desirous to grow fat with sucking of their Blood the very walls of their Seminary Colledge at Rome are bedawbed with their lying phansies and in every corner the Corner-creepers leave some badge of their malicious spleen against vs crying out of cruelty and persecution But if the penalty of death be changed into a simple indurance of Prison what moate can they find in our eyes to pull out or with what Rhetorick can they defend their obstinate malipertnesse wch with repaying vs ill for good deserve to have coales of indignation powred vpon their heads Visne muliebre consilium said Livia to Augustus let severity sleepe a while and try what alteration the pardoning of Cinna mayprocure The Emperour harkened to her Counsell and thereby found his Enemies mouthes stopt and the malice abated some there are perchance that will terme this Clemency innovation and vouch the Precedent of that City who permitted none to propound new Lawes that had not a Corde about their necks ready for vengeance if it were found voprofitable But let such Stoyicks know that there is great difference between the penning of a new Law and advise given for the manner of executing it neither by their Leaves are all Jnnovations to be rejected For divine Plato teacheth vs that in all Common wealths vpon just grounds there ought to be some changes And that Statesmen therein must behave themselves like skilfull Musitians Qui artem Musices non mutant sed musices modum 5. That an evil weede groweth fast by example of the new Catholiques increase is cleerely convinced But he that will ascribe this generation simply to his Majesties Heroicall vertue of Clemency argueth out of the fallacy which is called Ignoratio Elenchi Was not the zeale of many cooled towards the last end of Queene Elizabeths Raigne hath not the impertinent heate of some of our owne side bereft us of part of our strength And the Papacy with tract of time gotten a hard skinne on their Consciences Parva metu primo mox sese attollit in altum But if we will with a better insight behold how this great quantity of Spawne is multiplied we must especially ascribe the cause thereof to their Priests who by their deaths prepare and assure more to their sect then by their lives they could ever perswade It were incivility to distrust a friend or one that hath the shew of an honest man if he will franckly give his word or confirme it with a sacred Oath But when a protestation is made upon the least gaspe of life it is of great effect and possesseth those that cannot gain say it upon their owne knowledge The number of these Priests which now a dayes come to make a Tragicall conclusion is not great Yet as with one Seale many Pattents are Sealed so with the losse of few lives numbers of wavering spirits may be gained Sanguis martyrum semen Ecclesiae And though these Priests having indeed a disadvantagious cause are in very deed but counterfeit Shadowes of Martyrs unto a true vnderstanding yet will they be reputed for such by those that lay their soules to pawne vnto their Doctrine with whom if we list to contend by multitude of voyces we shall be cryed down without all peradventure For the gate of their Church is wide and many there are that enter thereinto 6. By divers meanes it is possible to come to one and the selfe-same end seeing that then the some of our welwishings is all one Namely that Popish Priests may have no power to doe harme It is not impertinent to try sundry pathes which may leade vs to the perfecting of our desires Politicians distinguish Inter rempub constitutā rempub constituend According to the severall natures whereof Statists are to dispose of their Counsels and Ordinances Were now the Rhemists and Romulists new hatched out of the shell the former course of severity might soone bury their opinions with their persons But sithence the disease is inveterated variety of Medicines is Judiciously to be applyed The Romans did not punish all Crimes of one and the selfe-same nature with extremity of death For some they condemned to perpetuall Prison and others they banished into an Island or some remote Country even in the case of Religion they were very tender to dip their fingers in Blood For when Cato was Consul and it seemed good vnto the Senate to suppresse with violence the disordered Ceremony of the Bacchanals brought by a strange Priest into the City He withstood that Sentence alleadging that there was nothing so apt to deceive men as Religion which alwaies presents a shew of Divinity And for that cause it behoved to be very wary in chastizing the professors thereof lest any indignation should enter into the Peoples mindes that somewhat was derogated from the Majestie of GOD Others more freely have not spared to place Religion J meane that Religion which is ignorantly zealous amongst the kinds of Frensie which is not to bee cured otherwise then by time given to divert or qualifie the fury of the Conceit Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum Howsoever in valuing the power of a city or strength of Arguments quality and worth is to be preferred before number Neverthelesse where the uttermost of our force is not known it imports much to have it conceived that the multitude stands for us for doubts and suspitions cast in an Enemies way evermore make things seeme greater more difficulty thā they are indeed we have by Gods mercy the sword of justice drawne on our behalfe which upon short warning is able to disunite the secret Vnderminers of our quiet we have a King zealous for the house of the Lord who needeth not to feare lesse successe in shutting up of Priests then our late Queen had in restraining them in Wisbich Castle where lest their factious spirits should grow rusty they converted their Canker to fret upon themselves and vomiting out gall in quodlibets shewed that their Disease was chiefly predominant in the spleen Whattempests they have raised in their Colledge at Rome their owne bookes and many Travellers can witnesse The storme whereof was such that Sextus Quintus complained seriously of the vexation which he received oftner from the English schollers then all the Vassals of his Triple Crowne And untruly is the Magistrate noted of negligence or overmuch severity that layeth waite to catch the Foxes and the little Foxes which spoile the Vinyard
after so many yeares of preaching of the Gospell that the common people still retaine a sent of the Roman perfume The cause is for that the formall obedience of comming to Church hath bin more expected then the instruction of private families publique Catechising is of great vse but the first elements thereof are to be learnt at home and these which we learn from our Parents stick most surely in our minds What was the cause why the Spartans continued their governmeÌ„t so many Revolutions of times without mutations Histories record that learning their Countrie Customes from their infancy they would not be induced to alter them And in this our native soyle we perceive that the common Lawes which relye on antient Customes are better observed then late Statutes of what worth soever they be so doth it fare with the poore People which being once seasoned with the old Dregs of Papisme will hardly be drawne from it till the Learning of the true Faith be growne to a Custome I will prescribe no order of affâ—ires to effect this But I suppose that the antient laudable course by the Bishops confirmation will not be sufficient to fulfill so great a taske the Ministers must and ought to be the principall and immediate haÌ„ds to give assistance to so gratious a worke and in case any be defective in their duty the Reverend Bishops may take notice thereof in their Visitations Perhaps it will be thought a hard taske to constraine old People to learne the A. B. C. of their Christian Beliefe But how hard soever it be I hold it no incivility to prepare people of all Ages for the Kingdome of heaven By the order contained in the Booke of Common prayer on Sundayes and Holidayes halfe an houre before the Evensong the Curate of every Parish ought to examine Children sent vnto him in some points of the Catechisme and all Fathers Mothers Masters and Dames should cause their Children Apprentises and servants to resort unto Church at the time appointed There obediently to heare and be ordered by the Cutate untill such time as they have learnt all that in the said Book is commanded And when the Bishop shall appoint the Children to be brought before him for their confirmation the Curate of every Parish shall send or bring in writing the names of those Children of his Parish which can answer to the Questions of the Catechisme and there ought none to be admitted to the Holy Communion untill such time as he can say his Catechisme and be confirmed many times I have stood amazed to behold the magnificence of our Ancestors Buildings which their Successors as this day are not able to keepe up But when J cast mine eyes upon this excellent Foundation laid by the grave Fathers of the Church and perceive their children neglect to build therupon with exceeding marvaile I rest almost besides my selfe For never was their better Ground-plots laid which hath bin seconded with lesse successe It was not the hanging vp of the Bull of Pius Quintus on the Bishop of Londons doores or the forbearing to hang vp Priests that hath wrought this Apostasie but the idlenesse and insufficiency of many Teachers conspiring with the Peoples cold zeale that hath bin the contriver of this unhappy Web Untill the xith yeare of Queen Elizabeth's Raigne a Recusants name was scarcely knowne The reason was because that the zeale begotten in the time of the Marian persecution were yet fresh in memory And the late Persecutors wat so amazed with the suddaine alteration of Religion that they could not choose but say Digitus Dei est hic In those dayes there was an emulation between the Clergy and the Laity and a strife arose whether of them should shew themselves most affectionate to the Gospell Ministers hanted the houses of worthiest men where Iesuits now build their Tabernacles and poore Country Churches were frequented with the best in the Shire The Word of GOD was pretious Prayer and Preaching went hand in hand together untill Archbishop Grindals disgrace and Hatfields hard conceit of prophecying brought the flowing of these good graces to a still water The name of a Papist smelt ranck even in their owne Nostrills and for pure shame to be accounted such they resorted duly both to our Churches and exercises But when they saw their great Coriphaeus Sanders had slily pinned the name of Puritans upon the sleeves of Protestants that encountred them with most courage perceived that the word was pleasing to some of our own side they took hart agrace to set litle by the service of God duty to their Soveraign therwith start up froÌ„ among us some that might have bin recommended for their zeale if it had bin tempered with discretion who fore-running the authority of the Magistrate took upon them in sundry places and publikely to censure whatsoever agreed not with their private conceits with which crosse humours vented in Pulpits and Pamphlets most men grieve to be frozen in zeale and in such sort benummed that whosoever as the worthy Lord Keeper Bacon observed in those dayes pretended a little sparke of earnestnesse be seemed no lesse then red fire hot in comparison of the other And as some things fare the worse for an ill Neighbours sake dwelling beside them so did it betide the Protestant who seeking to curbe the Papist or reprove an idle Droane was incontinently branded with the ignominous note of a Precisian All which wind brought plenty of water to the Popes Mill and there will most men grind where they see apparence to bee well served 12. If without great inconvenience the children of Papists could be brought up out of their company it were a happy turne But I find it to be full of difficulty There is provision made to avoid Popish Schoole-masters but there is no ward against Popish Schoolemistresses that infect the silly Infants while they carry them in their Armes which moveth me to suppose that the former proposition to examine how Children and servants are brought up and truly to certifie the list of the Communicants and Recusants will be the readiest meanes to let his Majesty know the yearly increase or decrease of the church in every Diocesse And whosoever shall send his children or any of his Majesties subjects to be placed in Monasteries or Seminary Colledges or Popishly to be brought up in sorraine parts I thinke that for punishment both the one the other worthily might be disfranchised of the priviledges due to natural English-men so far-forth as any good by the Lawes may descend to them But not to be exempted from the penalties thereof or the Regall jurisdiction of the Crowne J know well that contradiction is odious and makes a man seeme ambitious to be thought more understanding then others In which case the Spanyard useth onely to terme him presumptuous whom he would call Foole if civility would beare it But in my defence I hope it shall suffice againe to revive my former