by what words thereof can he challenge the obedience of all the subiects or Christians in that Common-wealth 3 Whether if St. Peter be affirmed to be the said Monarche what can be alledged for his Superiority that is not equally communicable to the rest of the Apostles ioyntly or severally by the like authorizement 4 Whether St. Peter was more especially appointed the chiefe Apostle for both Iewes and Gentiles If for the Iewes how came it that St. Paul reproved him for misleading the Iewes If for the Gentiles why was St. Paul by a publike consent and Counsell nominated to be the Apostle of the Gentiles who at Rome planted the Church and from whom the succession is most proper 5 Whether St. Peter ever came at Rome sith there is evident demonstration by computing the times and places of his abode during his life after Christs ascension that he could not be there at all by any coniecture as by the Epistles of St. Paul is evicted 6 Allowing that St. Peter was at Rome was he not there as an Apostle and so no more appropriate to that place then to the whole world 7 Being an Apostle how came he to be chiefe yea the vniuersall Pastor over both Iewes and Gentiles except such his Pastorship were rather Apostolicall then Episcopall If his 〈◊〉 were Apostolicall then all the Apostles had interest thereunto as well as he If Episcopall did he renounce or relinquish his Apostleship to erect a new state or seate of an 〈◊〉 Bishop neuer mentioned in the Scripture and of a larger extent and dominion then the Apostleship and by what warrant and authoritye did he so 8 If he did found any such Episcopall eminencie vniversall over all the Churches of the world and that invested in his owne person why may it not be thought that such his Episcopall function was setled vpon him rather at Antioch where his chiefest abode was after his departure from Ierusalem then at Rome 9 Whether in case he preferred Rome before Antioch Ierusalem and other places whereof there is no apparant proofe or certainty is that successive seare established at Rome of the like and the same power vertue and veritie as was conferred on his owne person 10 Whether such supposed succession were afixed to the place or aplied to the persons 11 Whether if the succession were applied to the place was it not cut off and discontinued when there was no vniuersall Bishop refiant at Rome which for some hundreths of yeares after Christ and since the vsurpation Papall for a long time together hath come to passe 12 If the succession were in the persons did not the abominable wickednes of life or the open profession of Atheisme Arianisme Coniuration and contracting with the Deuill damnable doctrines of all sorts and hereticall positions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by such persons yeain their Cathedra dissolve the said succession and what 〈◊〉 they make for Pope Ioane whose stay standeth vnrefuted 13 Moveover he 〈◊〉 me what became of this 〈◊〉 and where that Common-wealth of Christians as they will needs calbit that they may make themselues common wealths men could finde there one 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Governor when there were two three or 〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at once 14 Yet we haue not done questioning with him This great 〈◊〉 of doubts must resolve vs how it commeth to 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 persian 〈◊〉 Russian 〈◊〉 and other 〈◊〉 Churches haue not beene made 〈◊〉 with this 〈◊〉 mentall part of doctrine that Christ hath ordayned the Bishop of Rome the supreame and vniuersall Pastor of the whole Common-wealth of Christians which he hath 〈◊〉 and founded 15 He is also to 〈◊〉 himself of an answere to another question Whether the succesors of S. Peter were it once agreed vppon who they were Clement Linus Cletus or 〈◊〉 did over hold or exercise any ditivation of authority from St. Peter over 〈◊〉 and other Apostles that survived St. Peter in the Church or did they or any of them striue for Superioritye with them yea rather did they not yeeld vnto them 16 Besides this 〈◊〉 diving determinor in Divinity doubts must take into his consideration what warrantize of any lawful vocation election and ordinatiō the succeeding Bishops of Rome can avow or maintain sith no man may take on him any 〈◊〉 ministery or 〈◊〉 but in that regular and 〈◊〉 manner And whether such their calling to their Ministeriall offices and Pastorall charge were ordinary or extraordinary the difference in the admissions and choyce of such Bishops which sometimes was by substitution of the proceeding Bishop sometimes by election of the people and in later times by the suffrages of Cardinals and sometimes by meere intrusion giveth cause to move this question 17 What reasons can be pretended or alledged why if both Christ and St. Peter intended the succession of Bishops onely in that Sea of Rome 〈◊〉 there hath new Titles beene taken vp of Patriarke 〈◊〉 and then of Supreame head of the Church and then of Papa or Pope which seemeth to inferre an alteration or else an augmentation of the power or charge first conferred by Christ or St. Peter vppon that Sea and so consequently a question whether the latter diuised Titles be likewise authorized from Christ 18 Doth it not behoue that this so pregnant a Patron of Papacy doe cleare all causes touching the interruption and discontinuance of the supposed succession of Popes whereof some hauing before beene propounded it shall not be amisse to cast him one bone more to whet his teeth or witt vppon I would know whether after cannons and constitutions made by his Holinesse and ratyfied by Councells touching the lawfull election and admittance of the Bishop of Rome if a Pope enter vnduly and contrary to such orders and Cannons by simony bribery faction yea with strong hand or any other corrupt courses may notwithstanding be held and reputed a lawfull Pope and the acts by him done the carnalls by him made and the decrees or trans-actions of his time shall bee adiudged as to stand in the right of Christs Vicar on earth Are not in such cases the linckes of the chaine tying together the succession broken or let loose sith in the particulers in whom the same should be continued such elections and ordinations are adiudged intrusions and vsurpations yea vtterly voyde and very nullities 19 Yet I must make him a little more worke with other questions what is the cause that for so long a space of 600. yeares after Christs Assention this position of the Romish Supremacy and vniuersall head-ship if it were so evident and demonstratiue from Christs owne appointment as this bold bragger would haue vs to beleeue was neither by the Fathers of the Primitiue Church nor by any generall Councels approoued or ratified 20 I am disposed to offer him another objection like a blocke to stumble at which neuer any Papist yet well passed ouer but he brake his shin against it and that is the opinion and censure of Gregory the
the heart of man at the Creation so was it also reduced and comprised by the Wisedome of God into the Tables of the Morall Law in the which for as much as we haue an expresse commandement of honor and obedience to gouernors that must remaine fixed in our hearts to hold vs firme in the Bond of allegiance Then let P. R. and all his conjoyned Catholikes as hee vaunteth make it plaine vnto vs that eyther Nature hath implanted or the Commandements of God haue enioyned therepressing or deposing of such Princes vppon any exceptions surmizes or accusations whatsoeuer As for the Law of Nations because that is but secundary and derivatiue from the other what hath beene averred of the one holdeth the same respect and certainty as doth the roote it selfe from whence it issueth yet before wee depart from this Argument of Natures working I haue to note that this cunning and curious Composer of Bookes and Contriuer of cases doth in this his chiefe proposition worke himselfe quite out of the question and putteth the Pope cleane out of the doores for the question being of the power of the Pope that is of the power authority and iurisdiction of a Forraine Commander and Iudge he telleth vs that God and Nature hath left some sufficient authority in euery Common-wealth c. which directly maketh the Popes preheminency with vs altogether needelesse and a very nullity sith by his owne sayings and that more agreeable to reason there is sufficient authority within the Land not requiring any his 〈◊〉 or vsurpations to the gouerning of that body which is of it selfe compleate and liueth by the vigor spirit and powerfull opperation of his owne soule his lawfull Soueraigne Thus is the Pope as touching the first reason drawne from the Law or Right of Nature or Nations either left out by him or cast out by me from repressing of Princes or 〈◊〉 himselfe within these our Countries or Territories The second reason bringeth a better Commission that will make way through all repugnances it is inforced in the name and authority of Christ himselfe and it is thus chayned together for impregnable strength Christ was to found is Common-wealth of Christians the farre more perfection then other states had before been establishe subjecting temporall things to spirituall and appointing a Supreame Vniuersall gouernour in the same with a generall charge to looke to all his sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates Therefore hee inferreth that the Supreame care iudgement direction and censure of the matter in question was left by Christ vnto the sayd Supreame 〈◊〉 or Pastor of his Church and Common-wealth But it was doubted whether this power was committed to the supreame Pastor directly and immediatly or indirectly and by consequence The Canonists out of the Commission vnto St. Peter Pose ones meas do hold the direct and immediate authority charge and ouersight in temporallities The Catholike Diuines vpon whom the brunt and pressure by 〈◊〉 must bee sayed haue thought it safer to chuse the indirect and consequentiall which they expresse in this manner When the gouernment of spirituall affaires is impugned by any temporall Gouernors so as the sayd spirituall Commission cannot be executed without redresse or remedy 〈◊〉 and in such cases the said Supreame Pastor is to haue authority to proceede against the temporall gouernors Also for the defence and preseruation of his spirituall charge but both parts fully are agreed that there is such authority left by Christ in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessity thereof Here is goodly building of Castles in the ayre Castles did I say Nay of the Tower of Babell in the steede of the City of God Christ sayth hee was to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection then other states c. why Christs intentions erections and perfections were all to saue sinners and to bring them vnto Heauen what proofe is this that hee was to found the Popish Hyerarchy or the Antichristian Monarchy and what is this farre more perfection c. Is it an outward pompe or power to chayne and fetter Princes vnder a temporall obedience of a Spirituall Vsurper What is this same subjecting of temporall things to spirituall is it to make a Minister or Bishop of Heauenly matters tyrannous and rampant ouer the temperall states setting their imperiall feete vppon the neckes of Lyons and Dragons what is the nature end and eminency of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ is it any other then the Preaching of the Gospell the way of salvation and the possessing of euerlasting life Then what straightnesse what extractions doth the Limbeckes of their braines bewitched with temporall vanities make of a worldly rule and Dominion He was to appoint one Supreame and 〈◊〉 Gouernor c. we on the other side constantly denying this their principle doe easily bring them to the end of their wits yet wee will pocket vp one confession in this place which hee is likely to forsake and not acknowledge another time In more perfection sayth hee then other states had before beene established acknowledging thereby that vnder the Law and in the old Testament the temporall was not subject to the spirituall Hath hee not well collected and conected his propositions to bring out this grand conclusion of superiority ouer Princes doth he not neede a distinction of proofe to make these parts that cleaue like sand to hold together against the breach which wee are to make vppon him His distinction of direct or indirect shal be directly anoyded and his great Mace which hee beareth vp in his March of state of Ordine ad Deum must bee directed and ordered to a better sence and his commission of pasce shall bee examined how farre it can authorize him to assume the pretented power If hee will but thanke me for it I will befriend him a little with my directions I will chalke him out his way with a straight line by the which hee must be brought and passe along if he desireth to come right vppon the conclusion I will distribute his journey into seuerall baytings or reposes otherwise called common places I doubt it will prooue a long labour and very troub esome to carry his commission along with him hee is like to venture himselfe in many straights and hazardable passages and will be often stayed by the Kings Watch but more often foundred by the rubs and roughnesse of the way which hee is to walke through He must begin and set forth at this poynt 1 That Christ purposing to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection c. hath appoynted the same to be an absolute Monarchy vnder one supreame and vniversall Governour visible eminent and knowne as the head on earth in all causes of Christs kingdome 2 Next who that individuall person is whom Christ appointed to be such a Monarche and by what commission is he assigned thereunto and
a geminall vnderstanding thereof yet such charge is not thereby more appropriate to Peter then to other Apostles but if they so far tender out the same to make them beget vnto vs a Pastor of Pastors a Bishop of Bishops a supreame and soveraigne governor of the whole Church I may not yeeld their logick such libertie as to conclude so vnconsequently Againe allow that in this commission and charge every Pastor were required not only to instruct the sheepe of his fold with wholesome doctrine of faith but also to have an eye to their life and conversation to reprove them admonish them and censure them with ecclesiasticall discipline what is that to the governing in secular affaires or to the claime of such an vnlimmited power by the Popes intrusion I may not yeelde to their Rhetoricke such a preuayling or perswading power as that where they cannot shape so much as a shadow there they shall erect and create the true substance of a more then Monarchiall principallity It is heere auouched that Catholike exposition includeth within this worde Pasce the commission of gouerning also Therefore many Catholikes that will rather hazard the exclusion of his if they bee Catholikes then they will condiscend to this interpretation A graue and profound Catholike one of the pillers of papacy Cardinall Baronius being to animate and confirme his Holinesse proceedings against the Venetians for their great sinne of executing Iustice against men of clericall habit in causes criminall and ciuilly punishable passed ouer this Text of Pasce as not sufficiently seruing the turne to prooue the Popes right of jurisdiction in such t̄eporall affaires and thereuppon interpreting and applying the same restrictiuely to the teaching function made choyce of a fitter peece of Scripture to accommodate vnto that case and to put into the Popes hand for the justification of that excesse of his authority Hee maketh the office of St. Peter to be two-fold the first of feeding and teaching comprised in the word Pasce the other of correcting and chastifing contayned in the words of Christ vsed in the vision of the beasts presented to Peter occide et manduca kill and eate You see that hee was content to leaue that leane and pining application of Pasce and to finde out a more stinging Text that might pierce to the very quicke of the cause doth not this same occide et manduca giue authority to draw blood putting the Sword into his Holinesse hand to execute at his will and pleasure such as hee shall recon Beasts without exception of great and small people or potentates Is it not made evident thereby that all sorts of people whatsoever cleane or vncleane high or low friend or foe are as it were tyed and bundled vp together and so subiected and abiected at his feete to feed vpon and satiate his devouring appetites It maketh no matter for the proper sense of the text figuring and signifying Iew or Gentile the wrest and streine thereof serveth best to his purpose cutting even to the core of this question Old Father Barronius in his dreame espied more then young S. Peter could apprehend by vision He hath found and inferred out of that place that which St. Peter if hee lived to this day except his successors did teach him could never have gessed at the Excommunication and further degradation of States and Soueraignes In the same his encoraging advice to his Holinesse which I rather recount because it so evenly matcheth with their moderne divinity hee stirreth vp the fainting spirit of the Pope with a Memento te positum esse in Petram Remember that thou art placed for Rocke whosever rusheth against thee shall be crushed all to peeces Therefore where his Holinesse layeth a heavie hand to his fulminating censures there no resistance rescue or reliefe can availe to defend from destruction For this Prophesie is as fitly appliable to the Viear of Christ as it was directly and properly referred to Christ himselfe Thus this learned Cardinall bestowed vpon his Holinesse as he were the very image and character of Christ vpon earth the self-same attribute and exaggeration vsed in scripture to set forth the might and dignity of our redeemer Nay further hee will needs comfort the Pope with the application of that to his person in perticuler which Christ assured to his whole Church in generall that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against him and will earthly Princes then persume to shut his Holinesse out of dores Hee that hath a power over Hell it selfe shall not he commaund and over-rule the earth These beeing the proude and prophane conceits which they have of that Idoll of Rome their imagined Lieutenant of Christ they draw not only from the Spouse of Christ the rich ornaments of her glory to deck that bewitching Harlot with but also hold it no robberie to enrobe the man of sinne with the gracefull and blessed titles of the Sonne of God for which so Luciferian and blasphemous arrogatings I doubt it will not be made good and verified that the gates of hell shall not be shut against him I must confesse that I like better of the simplicitie of our mitigator in misliking vpon the poore probability of reason picked out of the word Pasce and that rather by a consequence then by any direct induction then I doe of the affected and vnserchable subtilty of this Cardinall and some others who studying for vnwonted straynes and forcings doe cast beyond the Moone to magnifie or dignifie his Holinesse aboue the Sunne I will be bold to set downe some more of these deepe digged and far-fetched argum̄ets not with any purpose to vouchsafe them any time or paines for answere but euen to admire if not exclaime at the impious and presump tuous absurdity of such their so frivolous and most strange inferences Pope Bonifacius the eight that layd the first stone of this Babilonian building out of the words of Christ vnto his Disciples in the twenty two of St. Luke they sayd vnto him behold here are two Swords Christ answered it is sufficient By these two Swords sayth Boniface Christ meaneth the spirituall and temporall both the which are left by our Sauiour for the defence and preseruation of his Church and because there would be no order but mutiny tumult and confusion if these swords should not well agree therefore there must needes be employed and intended by Christ a subjection and subalteration of the one sword vnto the other and both depending vpon one Supreame Command From this supposed authority of Christs leauing and recommending both Swords vnto his Church Boniface tooke vppon him the power of both Swords and caused to be passed as an Article of Faith that the Pope is supreame ouer both estates spirituall and temporall and shortly after in a Iubile publikly shewed himselfe with a key in one hand and a sword in the other And that hee may the better maintaine the taking of the sword hee further argueth that one
sallogize against himselfe All power is giuen to mee in Heauen and in Earth but my Kingdome to bee of this World is such a power Ergo my Kingdome is of this same World Now obserue also his witty and substantiall reconcilement hee had a Kingly temporall power in this life but hee renounced the vse and priuiledge of the same Or thus hee had no direct Dominion vppon temporall things yet indirectly for preseruation of his spirituall Dominion hee had and might haue vsed the same and in that sence left it to his successour Is not this most shamelesse and direct abusing of Christ and his most Sacred Word When hee sayd at another time that the Foxes had holes and the Birds of the Ayre had nests but the Sonne of man had no place to hide his head If these expositors had then beene knowne to his Apostles they would haue replyed Sir you haue places of refuge but you renounce the vse and priviledge thereof or albeit you haue not any place directly yet indirectly for the necessity of your function you haue all palces at your Command or if you haue not in your owne indiuiduall person yet in your Successors you must needes haue else how should they maintayne the hauing and inhabiting of such Royall and Magnificent edifices wherein they keepe such stately and more then imperiall Courts What is this else then to tell Christ hee wotteth not what hee sayth and to enter him like a Novice in their new Schooles of equiuocation to learne their falatious mentall preseruations But admit it to be incident into their Offices to interpret Christ as themselues listeth How doth it happen that the rightfull successors of Christ doth not also succeede him in his modestye humilitye povertye and meekenesse especially beeing commaunded to learne of him and so in like sort as Christ did renounce the vse and priviledge of Temporall Power or whence haue these successors their so plenarye and direct preheminence when from Christ they could convey it but indirectlye and by consequence Or can they make any demonstration or playne proofe of the stint and circuite of time at the periode or expiration whereof that Temporall Dominion which in Christ was Indirect and Potenticall should become vnto the Pope Direct and Ordinarye Or was there not as vrgent cause that Christ in respect of the many letts impeachments and impediments which he met withall should for the preservation of his Spirituall Dominion directly or indirectly in some sort or other betake himselfe to his Temporall Authoritye Except they will say that hee was in his owne person militant and suffering but in these his successors triumphant and glorious Let mee then bee answered Whether such a Succession hath any image or representation of that first type or patterne which sayde Learne of mee To manifest yet more discerningly the idlenesse the fraude and vnfit applying of this distinction let them know that is not to be trusted vnto because it will serue their adversaries as well as themselues for where the question may be propounded and disputed whether temporall Princes may suppresse or remooue Popes if the authorities alleadged out of Gods Word and the Histories of the Church shall not suffice to giue in evidence for any such direct and vndoubted preheminence in Princes then we may make bold of this their make-shift distinction that Princes haue euer had such a power annexed and proper to their governing charge though they haue forborne the vse and preuiledge thereof or that indirectly and by consequence for the vpholding of their states and keeping of their people in obedience which by so many Popish practises is dayly perverted they may and ought to exercise and execute the same Moreouer let it be examined how and from what originall this distinction draweth his pedigree what bosome or heate did first hatch it and what causes of weight doth still nourish and continue the same Mr. P. R. hath fully acquainted vs with the certainty thereof For if Christ sayth he should not haue left such an authority in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes hee should not haue sufficiently provided for the necessity thereof It is maruaile that this our Moderator and mollifying Mittigator did not vse the word of conveniency in the stead of necessity to haue avoyded the disadvantage of the stricktnesse of that word can there concerning the subsistance and stability of the Church any more vrgent causes to be imagined for the vpholding thereof then there was in the first times of the primitiue purity or is the vsurping power of the supreame Pastor his ouer awing or over peering of Princes his correcting and repressing of them by alienating subiects and egging enemies against them any constitutiue causes or essentiall necessities of the Church I will not deny but that the height and eminency wherevnto the Bishops of Rome haue aspired by encroching vpon the rights and vndermining the states of temporall Gouernors as indeede to be provided for and maintayned by this presupposed necessity But the purity the poverty the simplicity the feruency of the first fathers and propagators of the faith and Church of Christ needed none of these humaine and worldly additaments none of these temporall encountrings or conflicting with Potentates no such foreseeing perpecations to affront all occurting causes nor any such politiciall circumventings and fortifications for defence and offence against Princes They conquered powers and principalities but with the spirituall Armor of God they beate vppon them with the hammer of the word they cut deeply into the secrets of their soules with the sword of the spirit they prayed for their peace and prosperity they embrased the very persecutions with obedience and for the countenancing fauours by giuing them respit from affliction and the sunne shine of liberty they honoured them as the nursing fathers of the Church when I contemplate the composute and frame of the Popish Monatchy and the linking together of so many cunningly contrived positions tending all of them to the encrease of gaine and advance of Honor to the Sea of Rome I wish that some excellent Scholler extraordinarily endued would out of his many obseruations collected exhibite vnto the world in imitation of Matchauell who made the shames and vices of the house of Florence the patterne of a perfite Prince this Antichrist of Rome as a true president of Tyranny and Vsurpation by publishing with an apt resemblance as well the vilde and vnchristian practises as also the false and pernicious articles whereby he hath atchived so strange matters and attained vnto so vnmeasurable greatnesse which my desire is the more increased the more I consider how the webs of that worke hath ensuared if not enthralled Christian people euen in the carriage of this controversie I haue traced the foot-steps of many politicke reaches and now in the closing vp of the matter a faire traine is layd to catch and lay hold vpon an easie follower which we must not so suddenly passe by as
to haue any iurisdiction power superiority preeminence or authority Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme if he digest this then see how one thing draweth on another all our former differences are at once and in this one compounded also for if the Pope being a forraigne Prelate or Potentate be excluded from hauing any Ecclesiasticall power or Spirituall authority within this Realme Then our question of his preheminency or jurisdiction in repressing the exorbitant and pernicious excesse of great men as an Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Supreame Pastor direct or indirect is at an end clearely determined I doubt not but his excellent Majesty of his Princely care to bring home so many lost sheepe and to bosome them againe in his dearest loue will affoord them that fauorable interpretation which this there Aduocate and Orator requireth in their behalfe In the meane space not to loose what we haue got I returne vnto P. R. the like charge of making good of his word touching the Oath of Supremacy in the sence and distinction afore mentioned and therewithall might thinke it not reasonable any further to stricke a yeelding aduersary that by so voluntary an offer cleareth the cause from any further controuersie But remembring the nature and quallity of our adversary and the many winding and intricaking trickes he is vsed vnto in the canvassing of this or the like controversies I feare that this our reconciliation is rather seeming then substanciall and will suddainly vpon a small touch fall a sunder againe to as great a discrepance for howsoeuer he doth so franckly yeeld vnto his Majesty a supremacy of the Church in Ecclesiasticall causes as touching outward preseruation onely let him be but sifted a little in his meanings it will breake from him that he neuer purposed to strengthen the state and authority of our Soueraigne with any such power of absolute defence and protection which shall presently appeare by ministring vnto him some few questions I pray you Sir what Church and what Ecclesiasticall causes doe you consent to be within the Kings Royall preseruation is it incident and appropriate to his Princely Scepter to mayntaine the religion now established in his Dominions by making Lawes for enforcing subjects to an vniforme allowance and profession thereof by punishing Recusants according to Iustice and by employing all his powers to suppresse the oppugners or Conspirators against the same Dareth he to abide by this will he henceforth justifie this preseruation and that by his religious oath which hitherto the impoy-soned pens of these Iesuited spirits haue not spared odiously to tearme a cruell persecution wee haue shaked him already from his attonement with vs in this poynt He will tell vs plainely That the Church and Ecclesiasticall cause which he authorized the Prince to protect and preserue is onely the Catholike Church and Religion and then as if orbs and vrbs were all one that the Catholike is the Romish so that vnlesse the King will turne Leigeman with a kinde of vazilage to the Sea of Rome his right of Supremacy in the outward preseruation of the Church which this man dareth assure vs that all Catholikes in England will easily accord vnto must be denied him as not due and proper to the Title of his Regality Papacy is the pole-starre of all their contemplations It is the Centure whereunto are carried and cleaueth fast all their drifts and disputations And no further shall any Prince hold power especially in Ecclesiasticall causes which are all bosomed vp in the breast of his Holinesse then the same shall serue in a sub-ordination to the advancing and exaltation of that most imperious Romish Hyerarcy Nay their temporall authority also must be kitbed stinted and subjugated by that vntollerable yoake of Popish vsurpation except it should be made plyant ranged and accommodated In ordine ad dominum Papam Then not regarding P. R. his assurance of the voluntary submissions and subscriptions of all Catholikes of England to the Kings Supremacy according to the limitation or interpretation aforesayd we may well assure our selues that no English Papists finding this supremacy of defence and preseruation to tend to the subversion and extirpation of their idolatrous Religion will euer yeelde oath to keepe fayth thereunto Yet hauing closed with him in a full consent vnto this position that euery Prince hath Iure divino the supremacy of outward preseruation of the Church and Ecclesiasticall causes within his Territories and Dominions let it be remembred that he neuer hereafter scandalize the proceedings and execution of Iustice in England against the refractaries and treacherous oppugners of the Religion established in this Realme sith the same is the lawfull and necessary act of a well warranted and acknowledged Supremacy from which our publicke profession of Fayth is to receiue protection and preseruation I cannot but conceiue that this Clearke P. R. wil be shent and receiue some checke for his Doctrine For out of question if his Holinesse and Cardinall Bellarmine haue enkindled their displeasures against Mr. Blackwell the Arch-Priest for allowing the Oath of Alleagiance which contayneth onely an acknowledgment of the hereditary rights of temporall Soueraignity whereunto naturall duty in respect of relation doth bind each subject How much more heynously will it be taken that this Arch-Iesuite as if both their Arches had slipped from them at once should so confidently condiscend to this artickle of Spirituall Supremacy in the sence qualification or moderation before expressed He cannot escape the blame of forgetting or forsaking of his principles neyther can he euer salue his offence by any wily Interpretation or beguiling distinction His direct and indirect his absolute and conditionall his mediate and immediate his simpliciter and secundum quid or quatenus and the like which in all his discoursiue argumenting doth make his way for him through many Obstacles whilst he treadeth out vnto vs his maze of Circuler shifts and manifold euasions can touching this his confession or protestation haue no place or serue him to any stead because knowing aforehand how the case standeth in euery circumstanciall or considerable perticularity he hath to the King of England within his seuerall Dominions adjudged the Supreame gouernment of causes Ecclesiasticall as in the office and care of preseruing the Church with the fayth and Doctrine thereof from all wronges or corruptions Forraigne or Domesticall I encroach not vppon him by inferences and constructions I onely take that which he so fully and clearely gyueth and do challenge him that what he hath deliuered vnto vs for his judgement and resolution and that in high termes and vanting and flaunting of his aduantages therein He will notwithstanding any reprehension or retreite from the Pope or Bellarmine still with the like brauery and constancy mayntaine vnto the end but shall I disclose a secret or rather a wonder vnto the World What if the very same Author who so boldly assumeth and assureth at this time for all Catholikes the Title of Spirituall Supremacy
Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any Forraigne Prince to invade or annoy him in his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects from their allegiance and obedience to his Maiesty or to giue Licence or leaue to any of them to beare Armes rayse Tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royall person state or government why doth not he in justification of the vnlawfulnesse of this oath by as playne full and broade termes tell vs that the Pope by the capacity of his omnipotency is indued with so plenary a power as that he may depose the King dispose his Kingdomes authorize Forraigne invasions discharge his Subjects from allegiance licence them to offer violence to his Royall Person state or gouernment And that for that regard the conscience of the Catholikes may not be obliged by any such prophane oath impyous against the Pope and the amplitude of his Pastorall primacy But doth hee in any-one line of his whole Volume let slippe any word expressely declaring naming or mentioning any power of this nature and that Lawfully may produce these effects to be invested or bestowed vpon his Holinesse I am perswaded that the igniculi of naturall duty the morsus of an acknowledging conscience and the pudor of his face which perhaps yet retayneth some remnants of modesty would not suffer him so far to degenerate from naturall notions so farre to be alienated from his dutious recognicion or so farre to passe all the bonds of shame as directly and roundly to deliuer vnto the World any sentence so monstruous and so full of horror and heynousnesse Neuerthelesse hee hath taken such a taste of the sower grape of Rome and is dipped so deepe into the venome and malice of that imperious and persecuting Church as that yet indirectly and by a subtile conueyance of his meaning hee giueth vs to vnderstand that his inward soule hath pronounced this doome and judgement against his annoynted Soueraigne and therefore that soule must not be entangled stayed or bound by any brideling or restrayning oath to the contrary But how doth his outward man manage these difficulties Iust in the same manner to an hayres breadth as Mr. Mittigator whom hee may call his ille ego doth that is closly dissemblingly timorously and treacherously In the place of the Pope hee vseth the entitleings of Supreame Pastor the deposing and killing of Princes hee compriseth and couereth vnder the words of proceeding against and restrayning of them what is done by inuasion insurrection or force of armes is included in the word temporalty the stirring vp and appoynting of other Potentates to partake in the quarrell is brought in very gently in this good shew of permitting other Princes c. Now fie vppon this blaunching and disguising Oratory If hee could passe away cleanly with these easie and fauouring phrases hee would steale out against vs as not suspecting his harmefull intentions his deadly writ of execution This one word of restrayning would like to a ball of wild-fire disclose it selfe and breake a sunder into censuring depriuing deposing destroying and murthering of Soueraignes and would haue no meane or end of oppression or Tyranny Next admitting him to this liberty as not to single out any speciall or particular clauses of the oath let vs examine how hee prooueth that there bee enwrapped within the sayd oath poynts of religion as well as of 〈◊〉 obedience he maketh reckoning to haue shewed it by foure seuerall distinct wayes I will beare him witnesse that the wayes be seuerall for onely one of them hath shewe of leading vs to the scope and conclusion fore-intended the rest are all straggling pathes quite from the purpose for are not these I pray you good arguments The Pope telleth the Catholikes that hee hath heard that they are compelled to go to the Churches and Assemblies of Heretickes and to be at their Sermons Ergo the oath of Allegiance contayneth matter of Religion as well of ciuill obedience Againe Bellarmine compareth the oath to the crafty composion and commixture of the Images of the Emperor Iulian and the Pomim gods all coupled and combined together in this Imperiall banner Ergo by an argument ab authoritate there be in that oath poynts Spirituall and Temporall conjoyned together Lastly the good Gentleman doth kindly make this reall offer for satisfaction of his Majesty that hee will sweare vnto him as much Loyalty as euer any Catholike Subject of England did vnto the lawfull Kings in former times before the change of King H. 8. Ergo there lurketh articles of sayth in the sayd oath vnder the pretence of ciuill duties The first of the foure seemeth to shute faire and and at the least to sticke in the Butt though farre enough from the marke and thus it speaketh from the plaine expresse words sence and drift of the oath it selfe That besides the acknowledgment of our Soueraigne to be true King and rightfull Lord ouer all his Dominions and that I will be a true loyall Subject vnto him and such other clauses whereat no man sticketh or maketh any difficulty the sayd oath contayneth further that I must sweare in like manner some poynts concerning the limitation of the Popes authority to wit what hee cannot doe towards his Majesty or his Successour in any case whatsoeuer Which question brought vnto the Thesis of all Kings toucheth sayth he a poynt of Doctrine and Catholike beliefe concerning the sufficiency of of Pastorall authority left by our Saviour in his Church vnto St. Peter and his Successours for redressing of all inconueniences that may fall out and this to forsweare hath perill of euerlasting Damnation There must be a monstrous strayne nay hee must breake through and steale before his Holinesse with his predominate power can get into the Creede 〈◊〉 haue before set in his way crosse barres and obstacles â—â— nough which hee will neuer be able to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impeach his assention into any such height as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our consciences The article of Catholica Ecclesia 〈◊〉 be no cloake or conductor for him nor shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canopy over his high estate of ◠〈◊〉 callity The Argument wherewith this Gent. doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pope to so eminent a place of power and reputation that his prerogative is past questioning and that vpon paine of 〈◊〉 is this every oath that conteyneth poynts concerning the limitation of the Popes Authority is an oath belonging to Religion but this oath expressing what the Pope cannot doe towards his Majestie or his successor in any case whatsoever is an oath concerning the limitation of the Popes authority therefore this oath is belonging to Religion If the Maior propofition be vntrue or vncertaine all the rest tottereth and falleth as without foundation I will examine the same by the pondering of the particuler words thereof First belonging to Religion in a generall sence may comprehend all the actions and resolues of men yea ciuill duties also are within the spaciousnes thereof because a true
Christian is governe his whole life and carriage by the rules of his Religion but this Disputor must narrow the signification thereof more precisely tying and applying the same onely to the articles of Payth Secondly the Popes authority must vndergoe the like distinction as themselues haue propounded vnto vs that is to say what he may doe as Pope and what he hath accustomed to doe by other acquiered titles or by meere vsurping intrusion Now then to say that euery limiting of the Popes authority whatsoeuer the same be or howsoeuer obtayned or exercised belongeth to the Articles of beleefe I for my part will neuer beleeue it and I do not thinke that any of their owne Secritaries will be so much besotted I will explayne my meaning by instances and cases of the like condition suppose that the Pope would pretend and pleade that the King doth hold of him the Crowne of this Land and therefore as Superior Lord will require homage or trybute and in default of rendering the same will invade his Dominions with sword and force If in this case the King shall for more security of his Imperiall State aske vppon Allegiance the oathes of all or any his Subjects in detestation of that claime may the Catholikes make scruple of conscience concerning such an oath because the same seemeth to limmit and abridge the Popes pretended right and authority making in the meane time no Religion of the limitting lessening and detracting from the Soveraignes Title and pre-eminence perhaps they will say that this is a question of civill right and that the Subject is cleerely bound to maintaine the Prince But how if the Pope pretend withall his Pastorall care and preservation of matters spirituall then I trust in ordine ad spiritualia his temporall attempts must bee supported by his spirituall Children against the King and Country Againe let it be conceiued that the Pope much mooued with indignation at the execution of Iustice ministred in this Kingdome against the Treacherous Conspirators of the Popish faction should vpon that gnawing grudge towards the Iudges of this Land take vpon him by solemne Censure to depriue and displace them from their Iuridiciall offices wherein though he can assume no ordinary or rightfull power yet in ordine ad spiritualia and for the generall releefe and necessity of the Catholike cause hee adventureth as from his pastorall charge to pronounce them from henceforth to be incompetent Iudges commanding all Catholikes also to reckon of them and the iudgements by them giuen Now the question is whither to make a constant asseueration that the Pope hath no such authority be vnto a Catholike conscience a poynt of Faith or Religion because of such limiting bounds disabling the Pope in his supposed sufficiency of his generall function for the good of the Church If the denying or abating of the popes authority over these inferior minifters of Iustice be not accounted cumbersome to the c̄osciences of Catholikes wherein I thinke they will make no doubt why should the abjuring of this papall power ouer our Supreame Magistrate touching the 〈◊〉 and destroying of him be thought so dangerous and damnable or repugnant to their owne Religion will Religion allow him more liberty against the highest then against the meaner Substitutes or if hee haue such a Rule ouer Princes themselues why not also ouer the Subordinate Officers of the Kingdome to command direct authorize or suppresse them to the best auayle and aduancement of the Catholike side that so hee may become more then Monarchiall by an absolute and vnlimited Dominion This Gent. saith that touching the acknowledgement of our Soveraigne to be true King and rightfull Lord over all his Dominions no man sticketh at that But I aske whether if the Pope haue already enwrapped his Majestie within any of his generall sentences or shall declare by any especiall means that he is not to be acknowledged King will not then the Catholikes sticke at that must not they refuse to sweare vnto that clause of recognition also for feare that his Holinesse be questioned and limited in his owne powre and preeminence I will not feare to affirme That the true allegiance and obedience of a naturall subject cannot dwell together in the corrupted heart of a devoted dissembling Papist and therefore no marvell that the heart preposessed with Papacy doth cast such doubts of offending his dearest love especially having plighted faith and vowed his service by all constant endeavors thereunto This contrariety of Masters must needs breed iealousies on both sides for as the Pope forbiddeth Papists to sweare their allegiance and fidellity to the King fearing lest himselfe should thereby be excluded and renounced So the King can never thinke himselfe secure and assured of those subiects who from their acknowledgement of the Popes superiorship over the King and that in such a degree as may indure no limiting dare not be affianced by oath to the safety of the King against the decrees and designes of their Dominus dominancium Then what will they say or do to free his Majestie from feares and ielousies Doth this supple Gent. thinke to make or bring confidence which I hope in Gods goodnesse that the Pope will never attempt any thing in preiudice of his Majestie Surely Sir your hope is too weake a stay for our state to rest or trust vnto For what if the same great important and vrgent cases concerning Christian religion doe fall out wherein yee averr the Popes authority over Princes Then in that case I perceive the best answere wee shall expect from you will be the fooles proverbe non putarem For here againe you feede and foppe vs one with another of your hopes which wee hope will never be betweene our Soveraigne and the Sea Apostolike Is it not more then strange that this so provident coniecturer of future events should hope that that matter will neuer be which long hath beene continually is and I trust perpetually will be seeing that these same great important and vrgent cases concerning Christian Religion haue done and doe dayly fall out betweene our Soveraigne and the Sea of Rome called by him Apostolike Therefore it appeareth that the man hath lost his wits whilest he would obtrude his hopes The true conclusion is that for as much as these great and important cases are in continuall conflict and question betweene the Pope and his Majestie and that consequently the Authority of the Pope lyeth prest in dayly readinesse to represse and suppresse his Majestie vpon all occasions as it concerneth his Royall person for the preservation of his Life State and Dignity to assure himselfe of the vnviolable faithfulnesse of his Subiects so that must needs be accounted a disloyall and vnnaturall part for any subiect to be so seduced by hipocriticall pretences as to adhere to a forraine and fained clericall Primacy against his alleagiance love and duty towards his true Soveraigne Lord and King The Gent. vseth many glorious and plausible speeehes
of the humble acknowledgment of all temporall dueties to his Majestie and iumpeth with the Mittigator in opinion that it is not vnpossible for the Catholikes to conforme in Subiection to the Civill goverment and yet to reserve their consciences to the religion of Rome if this were affirmed of such Countries only where the Prince is of the Romish faith or of this Nation whilest the Pope had some hold and prevalency in the same then perhaps we might come neere to an agreement in this poynt but where the Prince and Pope are of religion so repugnant and opposite where the Pope is quite secluded and expelled frō any power Eccleslasticall or Civill and where the Prince as in the right of the Crowne is the defender and preserver of the faith within his Kingdome there we are taught by experience and directed by reason that the entertayning and professing of Papacy is the renouncing and repressing of regallity I weigh not the allegation that is made of the long continuance for well-neere a thousand yeares of the admission and permission of the Popes Superioritie in this Realme and how the same for all that space stood vn-offensive vnto this state for whilest there was either subiugaiton or coniugation of the two powerfull commands their contrarietyes and repugnances could not be so apparently discovered as they be now manifested by the distinguishment and finall dissevering of them into their proper natures rights and limitations I haue read diligently that great Volume avouched by this Gent. written with much labour to this poore purpose of declaring the Papal pre-eminēce within this Cuntry ever since the first conversion thereof to Christianity vntill the reigne of King Henry the eight The Authors sedulity and devotion may amongst the Birds of the same feather receiue his reward at the least of commendation but I will vndertake with one short answere consisting but of two parts to runne my pen through every line of that huge Bulke blotting and putting out whatsoeuer he hath painted foorth for the best shewe First forbearing to refute their Fables and taking their owne accompt of time which they make of the entry of the Romish Religion into this Land it is euident that the mystery of iniquity and the Antichristian arrogancy of the Romish prelacy was then reuealed and exalted into worldly pompe So as they then sending of Factors into these parts was but to Conquer the simple people of that vninstructed age to the bondage and yoake of Rome ' And therefore no maruaile if they were still held in the same or the like subjection in the succeeding times wherevnto they were at the first surprized by politicall handling and with much simulation of piety trayned one for intromitting and acceptation thereof and I cannot invent a fitter resemblance whereby to represent the cunning carriage of that plot in those dayes then that which Cardinall Bellarmine hath vsed and applyed in this question Which is the crafty composition and commixture of Images set by Iulian the Emperour of himselfe and the panim gods coupled and combined together in his Imperiall banner for as that Emperour vnder the shew of reuerence due to be performed to himselfe though to haue seduced those good Christians to the honoring of Idols so in those darke and vndiscerning times of our fore-fathers by the tempering and ioyning of the Christian Religion and the Antichristian vsurpation their simplicity was abused and they by subtile practises wrought vnto such a credulity as that together with the sweete comforts of Christ they sucked in at once the poyson of Romish Idolatry and the oppression of papacy The second part of my answere is that notwithstanding such encroachment of the popedome vnto this Kingdome wherein by stealing steppes and sundry Hypocriticall passages that had gotten good footing keeping in the meane while both Prince and people in an ignorant devotion and a dread of damnation Yet did the Kings of England from time to time feele themselues and their Soueraigne state to be enthralled and wronged by the ouer-awing and busie intermedling of that vniversall pastorship and therefore omitted not vppon all occasions to make knowne their dislikes and reluctations to vphold the course and force of the ancient Common Law to defend and put in practise the Imperiall prerogatiues of their Crowne and to restrayne the exorbitant ambition of the sea of Rome by prouiding statutes vnder grieuous penalties against the Subjects of this Land that in derogation of the Iustice gouernment and regall rights of the King did make recourse vnto Rome by way of appeale impetration or other pretences contrary to the naturall obligation of their faith and allegiance But it will be sayd how came it to passe then that the Subjects held on their former orders and no whit refrayned from Rome yeelding still to the pope the same their dependency and acknowledgments That shall I also tell you the pope and Councell of Rome knowing right well how fully they had possessed all sorts of people with a blind zeale carried after idle Ceremonies and well pleasing superstitions and remembring that they had so seazed and fastned vpon their Conscience as that euery one held the saluation or damnation of his soule to consist in his obedience or disobedience to the Church of Rome did crosse and avoyde the execution of such states by decreeing and sending foorth their Ecclesiasticall execution of suspending and excommunicating of all Ministers of Iustice or other ministeriall persecutors whatsoeuer that should attempt to enforce or execute any such 〈◊〉 by this meanes of denouncing such terrors to the soule the mightinesse and authority of the pope grew dreadfull and powerfull vntill it pleased the Almighty God by the revelation of his truth and discouery of Popish falshoods to inspire with courage and magnanimity the heart of that Right Noble King H. 8. who finally without any feare of his thunderbots accomplished that worke of freeing this Realme from the grieuous butthen and heauy yoake of the popish Supremacy which diuers of his prodecessors Kings of England had often and much endeauoured and desired to do if their illightnings with grace and enablings with meanes had serued them thereunto Thus it is made cleare that the Popes authority neither at the first landing thereof vppon the Coast of this Kingdome which was not in the purer times but 600 yeares after Christ as themselues confesse when the Church of Rome was falne from sincerity neyther in the continuance and exercise of the same was lawfull allowable or beneficiall but rather intruded offensiue and prejudiciall vnto this state and for his motion of sampling our proceedings to the practise vsed in other Countries ouer Catholike Subjects in this poynt of excluding the Pope for intermedling temporally against Princes shewing that they will be ready to answere as much duty and allegiance to his Majesty as any such Catholike Subjects in any other Kingdome doth or is bound to doe He must know that he must then make