SERIOVS CONSIDERATIONS for repressing of the increase of IESVITES PRIESTS and PAPISTS without shedding of Blood Written by Sir R. C. and Presented to King IAMES of happie Memory Printed Anno Dom. MDCXLI CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE REPRESSING of Priests Jesuites and Recusants without drawing of Blood I Am not ignorant that this later Age hath brought forth a swarm of busie heads which measure the great mysteries of State by the Rule of their self-conceited wisdome But if they would cōsider that the Common-wealth governed by grave Counsellors is like unto a Ship directed by a skilfull Pylot to whom the necessities of occasions and grounds of Reason why hee steereth the Helme to this or that point of the Compasse are better knowne then to those that stand aloofe off they would perhaps be more sparing if not more wary in their Resolutions For my owne particular J must confesse that J am naturally too much inclined to his opinion who once said Qui bene latuit bene vixit and freshly recalling to mind the saying of Functius to his Friend at the houre of his untimely Death Disce meo exemplo mandato munere fungi Et fuge ceu Pestem {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} J could easily forbeare to make my hand-writing the Record of any opinion which neverthelesse I protest to maintaine rather deliberatively then by the way of a conclusive assertion Therefore without wasting precious time any longer with needlesse Prologue I will briefly set downe the question in the termes following Whether it be more expedient to suppresse Popish practises against the due Allegiance to his Majestie by the strict execution of the Lawes Touching Jesuites and Seminary Priests or to restraine them to close Prison during life if no reformation following The doubt propounded consisting of Two Branches necessarily requireth to be distinctly handled that by comparing either part the conveniency mentioned in the Question may be cleered with more facilitie 1. In favour of the first Division there are not a few who grounding themselves on an ancient Proverbe {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A dead man bites not Affirme that such are dangerous to be preserved alive who being guilty condemned and full of feare are likely for purchase of life and liberty to ingage their utmost in desperate adventures against their King and Countrey 2. No lesse is it to be feared that while the Sword of Justice is remisse in cutting off hainous offenders against the dignity of the Crowne the misled Papall multitude in the interim may enter into a jealous suspence whether that forbearance proceed from the feare of exasperating their desperate humours or that it is now become questionable whether the execution of their Priests be simply for matter of State or pretended quarrell for Religion 3. And whereas in a remedilesse inconvenience it is lawfull to use the extremity of Lawes against some few that many by terrour of the Example may be reformed what hope can there be that clemency may tame their hearts who interpret his Majesties grace in Transporting their Priests out of this Realme to be a meere shift to rid the Prisons of those whom Conscience could not condemne of any capitall crime 4. Neither are their vaunting whisperings to be neglected by which they seeke to confirme the fearefull Soules of their party and to inveigle the ignorant doubtfull or discontented persons for if the glorious extolling of their powerfull Friends and the expecting of a golden day be suffered to winne credit with the meaner sort the relapse cannot be small or the meanes easie to reforme the Errour without a generall combustion of the State 5. Let experience speake somewhat in this behalfe which hath evidently discryed within the current of few yeares That the forbearance of Severity hath multiplied their Roll in such manner that it remaines as a Corrasive to thousands of his Majesties well affected Subjects 6. To what purpose serves it to muster the names of the Protestants or to vaunt them to be ten for one of the Roman faction as if bare figures of numeration could prevaile against an united party resolved and advised aforehand how to turne their faces with assurance unto all dangers while in the meane time the Protestants nestling in vaine security suffer the weed to grow up that threateneth their bane and mercilesse ruine 7. Sometimes the Oath of Supremacie choked their presumptuous imaginations and yet could not that infernall smoake be wholly smothered nor the Locusts issuing there-out be cleansed from the face of this Land Now that the Temporall power of the King contained in the Oath of Allegeance is by the Papall Sea and many of the Adorers thereof impudently avowed to be unlawfull shall the broachers of such Doctrine be suffered to live yea to live and be received of us for whose destruction they groane daily 8. To be a right Popish Priest in true English sense is to beare the Character of a disloyall Renegade of his naturall obedience to his Soveraigne Whom if by connivence he shall let slip or chastice with a light hand what immunity may not Trayterous delinquents in lesser degrees expect or challenge after a sort in Equity and Justice 9 If there were no receivers there would be no Theeves Likewise if there were no Harbourers of the Iesuites it is to be presumed that they would not trouble this Isle with their presence Therefore Rigor must be extended against the Receiver that the Jesuite may be kept out of doores were it then indifferent Justice to hang vp the Accessary and let the Principall goe free namely to suffer the Priest to draw his breath at length while the entertainer of him vnder his Roofe submits his body to the Executioners hand Without doubt if it be fit to forbeare the chiefe it will be necessary to receive the second offender into protection Wherewith a mischiefe must ensue of continuall expence and scandalous restraint of so great a number 10. Reputation is one of the Principall Arteryes of the Common-wealth which Maxime is so well knowne to the Secretaries of the Papacie That by private Forgeries and publicke impressions of Calumniations they endeavour to wound us in that vitall part Howsoever therefore some few of that stampe being better tempered then their fellowes in defence of this present government have not spared to affirme That tyranny is vnjustly ascribed therevnto for so much as freedome of Conscience after a sort may be redeemed for money Notwithstanding there want not many Pamphleters of their side who opprobriously cast in our teethes the converting of the Penalty inflicted on Recusants and refusers of the oath of alleageance from the Kings Exchequer to a particular purse surely we cannot presume that these Libellers may be disswaded from spitting out their venome maliciously against vs when they shall see their Priests mewed vp without further processe of Law For either they will attribute this calme dealing to the Justice of their cause the strength of their
was objected against him yet it plainely appeares in his demeanure That hee would gladly have survived the possibility of that glory if any such hope had remained neither is it to be presumed that being in prison he would ever have conceived that we durst not touch his Reverence or that the Law was remisse which had justly condemned him and left his life to the Kings mercy it was the distance of the place and not persons that interpreted the sending over Seas of the Priests to be a greater Argument of their innocency then of his Majesties forbearance For had Father Parsons himselfe bin Coram nobis his song would rather have been of mercy then Justice It is truely said that we are all instructed Better by examples then precepts Therefore if the Lawes printed indictments recorded cannot controle the Calumniations of those that wilfully will mistake Treason for Religion By the execution of 2. or 3. of that Backbiting number I doubt not but the question may readily be decided Namque immedicabile vulous ense recidendum est ne pars sincera trahatur To dally with Pragmaticall Papists especially with those that by their example counsell pervert his Majesties Subjects I hold it a poynt of meere Injustice For what comfort may the good expect when the bad are by connivence freed to speake and imboldened to put their disloyall thoughts in execution For explaining therefore of my meaning it is necessary to have a regard vnto the nature of the Kings Liege people that are to be reformed by example of Iustice other forrayners who will we nill we must be censurers of our actions It hath been truly observed that the Nations of Europe wch are most remote from Rome are more superstitiously enclined to the dregs of that place then the neare neighbours of Italy whether that humour proceed from the cōplexion of the Northern bodies wch is naturally more retentive of old Customes then hotter Regions or that the vices of the City seated on 7. Hils are by crafty Ministers of that Sea concealed from the vulgar sort Ilist not now discusse but most certaine it is that the people of this Isle exceed the Romans in zeale of their profession Insomuch that in Rome it selfe I have heard the English Fugitives taxed by the name of Pichiapetti Inglesi Now as our Countrymen take surer holdfast of Papall Traditions then others so are they naturally better fortified with a courage to endure death for the maintenance of that cause For this Clymate is of that temperature out of which Vegetius holdeth it fittest to choose a valiant souldier where the heart finding it self provided of plenty of blood to sustain sodain defects is not so soone apprehensive of death or dangers as where the store-house of blood being small every hazard maketh pale Cheeks and trembling hands Angli say ancient writers bello intrepidi nec mortis sensu deterrentur And thereunto Botero the Italian beareth witnesse in his relations of many strangers therefore comming out of forraine parts among the Rarities of England desired to see whether report hath not bin too lavish in affirming that our condemned persons yeeld their bodies to death with cheerfulnesse And were it not that by daily experience we can call our selves to witnesse of this truth J could produce the Reverend Judge Fortescue who in commendation of our English Lawes made suteable as he well observeth to the inbred conditions of the Inhabitants of this Soyle avoweth that the English people in tryall for criminall causes are not compelled by Tortures to confesse as in other Nations it is vsed for as much as the quality of the English is known to be lesse fearefull of death then of Torments for which cause if the Torments of the Civill Law were offered to an innocent person in England he would rather yeeld himselfe guilty and suffer death then endure the horror of lingring paines Insulani plerumque fures saith one and so true it is that this Country is stained with that imputation notwithstanding that many are put to death to the end that others by their fall might learne in time to beware if then it doth appeare that terror prevailes not to keep men from offences which are condemned by Law and Conscience what assurance can there be to scare those who are constantly satisfied in their minds that their sufferings are either expresly or by implication for matter of Religion and health of their Soules In such a case to threaten death to Englishmen Quibus nihil interest humive sublimive putrescant is a matter of small consequence Purpuratis Gallis Italis aut Hispanis ista minitari to a setled resolution of death menaces to prolong a wearisome life prevaile much more in such cases Rightly did Clement the 8th consider that by burning two Englishmen in Rome for supposed Heresie he rather impaired his cause then bettered it Jnsomuch that many present at the resolute death of Mr. Marsh who was brought to dust in Campo di Santa Fiore spared not to proclaime him for a Martyr carried away of his ashes for a Relique wished their soules in the same place with his which newes brought to the Popes eare caused him as it was bruted about in Rome solemnly protest That none of the English Nation should publiquely from that time forward be consumed with fire On the other side if we read the volumes written in praise of their Priests constancy their Martyrologie or Kalender of Martyrs and Path way of salvation as it were chalked out vnto the Papists by sacrificing their lives for the Pope we shall find that by taking away of one we have confirmed and invited many whereof I could give particular instances if I thought any scruple were made in that point As for forraigne parts which hold with the Papall Supremacy it is cleere that they will be severe and partiall Judges in this cause For albeit that here in England it is well known to all true and loyall Subjects that for matter of Roman Doctrine no mans life is directly called into question But that their disobedience in reason of State is the only motive of their prosecution Neverthelesse where a great Canton of Christendome is rooted in a contrary opinion things in this world are for the most part esteemed by outward appearance this Land cannot escape malicious scandals neithet shal there be want of Colledges to supply their faction with Seminaries Therefore again and again I say that if the state of the question were so set that it were possible by a generall execution of the Priests and their Adherents to end the controversie J could in some sort with better will subscribe thereunto But seeing J find little hope in that course J hold it safer to be ambitious of the victory which is purchased with lesse losse of blood and to proceed as Tully teacheth his Orator who when he cannot wholly overthrow his Adversary yet ought he to doe it in some part and
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
party or patience or that tract of time hath discovered our Lawes importing overmuch sharpenesse in good policy to be thought fitter for abrogation by non vsance then repealed by a publicke decree 11. Moreover it is fore-thought by some that if these Seminaries be onely restrayned that they may prove hereafter like a snake kept in the Bosome such as Bonner Gardiner and others of the same Livery shewed themselves to be after Liberty obtained in Queene Maries dayes And if the losse of their Ghostly Fathers agrieve them it is probable that they will take Armes sooner and with more courage to free the Living then to set vp a Trophie to the dead 12. How soever the Iesuites Band is knowne in their Native soyle to be defective in many respects which makes them vnderlings to the Protestants as in authority armes and the Protection of the Lawes which is all in all Neverthelesse they insinuate themselues to forraigne Princes favouring their party with promises of strange assistance at home if they may be well backed from abroad To which purpose they have divided the Inhabitants of this Realme into foure Sects Whereof Ranking their Troupes in the first place as due to the pretended Catholiques they assumed a full fourth part to their property and of that part againe they made a Subdivision into two portions namely of those that openly renounced the established Church of England and others whose certaine number could not be assigned Because they frequented our service our Sacramēts reserving their hearts to their Lord God the Pope The second party they allot to the Protestants who retaine yet as they say some Reliques of their Church The third Ranke and largest was left vnto the Puritans whom they hate deadly in respect that they will hold no indifferent quarter with Papistry The fourth and last maniple They assigne to the Politicians Huomini say they Senza Dio Senz anima Men without feare of God or regard of their Soules Who busying themselves onely with matters of State retaine no sense of Religion without doubt if the Authors of this partition have cast their account aright we must confesse the latter Broode is to be ascribed properly vnto them For if the vndermining of the Parliament House the scandalizing of the King in Print who is Gods annoynted And the refusall of naturall obedience be workes of those that neither stand in awe of God or Conscience well may the Papists boast that they are assured of the first number and may presume likewise of the lasts friendship when occasion shall be offered For the preventing of which combination it is a sure way to cut off the Heads that should tye the knot or at least to brand them with a marke in the forehead before they be dismissed or after the opinion of others to make them vnwelcome to the faeminine Sexe which now with great fervency imbraceth them These are for the most part Arguments vented in ordinary discourse by many who suppose a Priests breath to be contagious in our English Ayre others there are who maintaine the second part of the question with reasons not vnworthy of observance Death is the end of Temporall woes But it may in no wise be accounted the grave of memory Therefore howsoever it is in the power of Justice to suppresse the person of a man the opinion for which he suffered conceived truly or vntruely in the hearts of a multitude is not subject to the edge of any swor◠how sharpe or keene soever I confesse that the Teeth are soone blunted that byte only out of the malice of a singular faction But where poyson is diffused through the veynes of a Common-wealth with intermixture of Blood good and bad separation is to be made rather by vacuation then by present incision The greatest byter of a State is Envie ioyned with thirst of Revenge which seldome declares it selfe in plaine Colours vntill a Jealousie conceived of personall dangers breaketh out into desperate resolutions Here comes it to passe that when one mal-contented member is grieved the rest of the body is sensible thereof neither can a Priest or Iesuite be cut off without a generall murmure of their Secretaries which being confident in their number secretly arme for opposition or confirmed with their Martyrs blood as they are perswaded resolve by patience and sufferance to glorifie their cause and to merit heaven Doe we not daily see that it is easier to confront a private Enemy then a society or Corporation And that the hatred of a State is more immortall then the spleene of a Monarchy Therefore except it be demonstrated that the whole Roman City which consists not of one broode but of a succession of Persons may be cut off at the first stroake as one entrei head I see no cause to thinke our state secured by sitting on the skirts of some few Seminaries leaving in the meane time a multitude of snarlers abroad who already shew their Teeth and onely waite opportunity to bite fiercely I will not deny that whom we feare we commonly hate provided alwaies that no merit hath interceeded a reconciliation For there is great difference between hatred conceived against him that will take away the life and him that may justly doe it and yet in Clemency forbeares to put it in effect For the latter breedeth reverent awe whereas the former subjecteth to servile feare alwaies accompanied with desire of innovations And although it hath bin affirmed of the Church of Rome Quod Pontificium genus semper crudele Neverthelesse out of Charity let us hope that all Devils are not so black as they are paynted Some or perhaps many of them there are whom Conscience or in default thereof pure shame of the world will constrain to confesse that his Majestie most graciously distinguisheth the Theory of Popery from the Active part thereof as being naturally inclined Parvis peccatis veniam magnis sever itatem commodare nec poena semper sed Saepius poenitentia Contentus esse 2. Mistaking of punishments legally inflicted commonly proceeds from fond pitty or the interest which we have in the same cause both which beget blind partiality Admit then that the Papall side affecting merit by compassion may be meerely touched with the restraint of their Seminaries that cannot be denyed I hope except they had the hearts of Tygers that in humanity they will preferre their ease of durance before the Rigor of death And albeit that PARSONS BELLARMINE and the POPE himselfe constraine their spirituall Children to thrust their fingers into the fire by refusing the oath of alleageance Notwithstanding we have many Testimonies in Judiciall Courts and printed Bookes that the greater part of them are of that Theban Hunters mind who would rather have seen his Dogs cruell Acts then have felt them to his owne cost Garnet himselfe also in one of his secret Letters lamented that after his death hee should not be enroled amongst the Martyrs Because that no matter of Religion