Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	able_a	defend_v	great_a	112	3	2.1033	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16183	A large examination taken at Lambeth, according to his Maiesties direction, point by point, of M. G. Blakwell, made Arch-priest of England, by Pope Clement 8 Vpon occasion of a certaine answere of his, without the priuitie of the state, to a letter lately sent vnto him from Cardinall Bellarmine, blaming him for taking the oath of Allegeance. Together with the Cardinals letter, and M. Blakwels said answere vnto it. Also M. Blakwels letter to the Romish Catholickes in England, aswell ecclesiasticall, as lay.	Blackwell, George, 1546 or 7-1613.; Bellarmino, Roberto Francesco Romolo, Saint, 1542-1621.	1609 (1609)	STC 3104; ESTC S121306	104,118	220

answering resolutely that he did and that in so affirming hee deliuered his conscience clearely as in the sight of God he was required for the better assurance to be giuen thereof to signifie his iudgement sincerely and truely what hee thinketh of the assertions following which doe thwart directly his iudgement so setled as he hath professed touching the first 300. yeeres after Christ 48 Nos illa non mouent quòd Martyres dicuntur De abdic Hen. 3. lib. 1. cap. 3. mortem tolerâsse vt Tyrannos Ecclesiae infestos deponerent minimè sategisse Quia vt laudabile est cùm resistere nequeas ita vbi possis resistere religionis ac patriae bosti nolle nefarium perniciosum est That is Those things mooue vs not that Martyrs are sayd to haue endured death and not endeuoured any wayes to depose Tyrants being enemies to the Church For as not to resist the enemie of your religion and countrey when you are not able is commendable so when you are able not to do it is wicked and pernicious The holy Bishops might most lawfully haue excommunicated Allen defence against the Iust. of England cap. 5. pag. 107. the Arrian Emperours and haue warranted their Catholick subiects to haue defended themselues by armes against them but they did not so by reason of greater forces of the persecutors Moreouer there is no question but the Emperours Idem ibidem Constantius Valens Iulian and others might haue beene by the Bishops excommunicated deposed and all their people released from their obedience if the Church or Catholickes had had competent forces to haue resisted And to the purpose last mentioned Quòd si Christiani olim non deposuerunt Neronem Diocletianum Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 5. cap. 7. Iulianū Apostatam atque Valentem Arrianum similes id fuit quia deerant vires tēporales Christianis Nam alioqui jure poterant id facere That is If the Christians of ancient times did not depose Nero and Diocletian and Iulian the Apostata and Valens the Arrian and such like it was because temporal forces were then wanting to the Christians for otherwise they might lawfully haue done it 49 To these Assertions being thus pressed vpon him after sundry tergiuersations in respect of the dignitie of the persons whose words were before mentioned and of the discredit and danger he should cast himselfe into by intermedling with their opinions yet in regard of his duetie to God to his Maiestie and to the trueth so farre as he is able to discerne it at the last he answereth that howsoeuer the said assertions may be politicall yet surely in his iudgement they are not Theologicall that hee wondreth how it commeth to passe that these and the like sayings are so frequent of late dayes in many writers considering that neither in the bookes of godly martyrs during the first 300. yeeres after Christ nor in the writings of the most principall ancient fathers for many yeeres after there is so much as a syllable to this Examinates remembrance that tendeth that way 50 Besides hee saith that if these conceits should grow to be in credit the reputation of the Apostles must needes decrease as hauing bene in their times but Temporizers which M. Blackwood a sound Catholicke doth collect out of certaine words of Buchanans tending in effect to the same purpose with the former assertions where shewing that the Christians in Tertullians time notwithstanding they had sufficient forces did not thinke it lawfull to beare armes against their Emperors as aboue this Examinate hath said he the said M. Blackwood writeth in this sort Blackuodei Apolog. pro Regibus pag. 259. Paulus vtendum foro praecepit Larurtam hypocrisn sub personâ religionis latêre voluit Potestatibus obedientiam edixit quia resisti non posset Christianos viribus auctos ad armacessantes ad arma concitat Imperiumque franget That is Did Paul commaund men to temporize Was it his meaning that masked hypocrisie should lurke vnder the semblance of religion Did hee iniayne them obedience to higher powers because they could not resist Did he excite Christians being once increased in strength to take armes and ouerthrow the Empire And a little after he sheweth out of Clemens Peters disciple speaking of the great tumult that Caiphas made in Ierusalem that the Christians etsi numero plures virtute potiores propter Numinis obedientiam occidi maluisse quàm occidere though more in number and mightier in power yet for their obedience to God they chose rather to be killed then to kill and thereupon doth describe the duety of subiects and the armour of Christians which are prayers and teares 51 Moreouer this Examinate doubteth not as he saith but that the Bishops of Rome in Tertullians time and afterwards were as godly and zealous Popes as any haue liued since that they very well knew what authority did belong vnto them and that if the aforesaid assertions had bene good Diuinitie then considering the numbers force and abilitie of Christians in those dayes the said Popes out of question would haue left some monument of their zeale in the execution of their authority and of the Christians readinesse hauing force to resist their Emperors whereas none such indeed are to bee found For these and many other such reasons as might bee brought for this purpose this Examinate saith that he doth wholy disallow the said assertions propounded vnto him as tentations to try him and that therefore he doth rest in the iudgement before by him set downe without all kinde of euasions and equiuocations whatsoeuer professing that if he could set downe his minde more plainely herein he would haue bene very willing thereunto 52 Againe this Examinate being required that because he had formerly inuolued himselfe into sundry difficulties to the distaste of his Maiestie and the State by some his intricate and vncertaine answeres heretofore made he should to the point now propounded vnto him answere directly and vpon his learning credit and reputation he saith that indeede hee doth not remember that euer any Pope vntill Gregorie the seuenth did adde to Excommunication any clause of their authoritie to depose Emperors or kings or to absolue their subiects from their allegeance or to commaund them vnder paine of Excommunication to beare armes against them and D. Thomas handling this point doth onely relie Tho Aquin. 2● 2● quaest 12. art 2. therein vpon Gregorie the seuenth Also he confesseth that when Gregorie so dealt with the Emperour there was great dislike and repining at it as it may appeare by Otho Frisingensis and Sigebertus Otho Frising lib. 6 cap. 35. whom he would not haue named hee saith because Baronius hath laid a touch vpon them of Schisme as rather enclining to the Emperours then to the Popes when there was dissention betwixt Idem de gestu Frid. lib. 1. cap. 1. Sigebert in Anno 1088. them had it not bene that Vincentius in his

sinceritie that therefore he should deliuer the grounds and reasons of his said iudgement why he first aduised the Romish Catholicks to take that oath with an assurance giuen by vertue of his authoritie that it was lawfull for them so to doe for answere hereunto he saith that the effect of the reasons sent by him to Rome as he said in his Examination now published in Print and a briefe abstract whereof he deliuered to certaine of the Lords of his Maiesties most honourable priuse Counsell was grounded vpon the points following 8 It is well knowen saith he to all that be learned and will be graunted without any contradiction that the Pope may not proceede with Princes otherwise then is behoouefull for the Church Forasmuch then as he may be oftētimes ignorant as Alphonsus Mendoza faith whether Alphons Mendoza the order and proportion of temporall things do indeede tend directly and truely in finem spiritualem to a spirituall end and for the good of the Catholicke Church and that he cannot otherwise discerne of such circumstances but secundùm humanum intelligentiaemodū according to the measure of humane intelligence and besides for that he may erre in hijs iudicijs quae ad particularia facta pertinent in those iudgements which concerne particular facts as Couarruuias affirmeth and the rather because the Pope as this Examinate feareth Couarruu tom 1. pag. 184. though hee hath all things at commandement doeth yet stand in these dayes in neede of one thing obserued heretofore by a graue Bishop viz. of a faithfull Counsellor alwayes at hand to tell him the trueth for it may bee doubted lest Rodericus Episcopus Zamorae in speclo humanae vitae lib. 2. cap. 3. now it happen as it did in the sayd Bishoppes dayes that from the highest to the lowest euery one is giuen to soothe him vp they tell him smooth tales but many doe deceiue him in these respects therefore this Examinate is of opinion that the Popes proceedings may oftentimes be iustly misliked and refused 9. And to this purpose this Examinate further Summa Syluest in verbo obedientia num 5. saith that he is fully of Syluesters minde and iudgement where he truely saith and resolutely affirmeth that if the Pope should command any thing that doth sapere peccatum sauour of sin were it but a veniall sinne the Pope supposing his commandement to be iust he were not to be obeyed therein when those that are so commanded by him doe know his commandement to be vniust that if by obeying the Pope it may be vehemently presumed that great trouble will ensue to the state of the Church or that some other euill or future scandall may thereby arise the Pope in that case is not to be obeyed although his commaundement be enioyned to be obserued sub poenâ excommunicationis latae sententiae vnder paine of excommunication ipso facto And againe that if the Pope should commaund a thing vnder paine of Excommunication ex cuius executione praesumitur scandalum animarum vel corporum futurum in ciuitate non est ei obediendum by the execution whereof it is presumed that some detriment will insue in that citie vnto the soules or bodies of men he is not therein to be obeyed 10. Out of which the premisses being well considered this Examinate saith that the State of ENGLAND weighed as now it is if the Pope vpon any instigation should excommunicate his Maiestie depose him from his Crowne release his Subiects from their obedience and command them vnder paine of Excommunication to beare armes against him c. although he the said Pope were perswaded that such his proceedings and commandements were iust yet forasmuch as the Catholickes here in England of any vnderstanding might easily perceiue and discerne that such an Excommunication should sapere peccatum or might vehemently be suspected that it would procure a great perturbation of the state of the Church or produce some other euill or future scandall and that the execution of it would bring with it by presumption a great detriment or scandall to the soules or bodies of Catholickes they were not bound in those cases to regard the said Excommunication or any thing therein contained at the least to put the same in execution it being a generall and a true rule that Peters power was giuen him onely ad aedificationem to edification quod alijs verbes solet dici claue non errante which in other words is vsually said the key not erring as Salmeron hath well obserued for as he further saith if it be vsed in destructionem Salmer tom 4. pag. 416. 420. to destruction non est potestas aut potentia sed impotentia defectus hoc possumus quod iure possumus It is not ability or power but impotencie and defect wee can doe that which we can iustly doe as this Examinate hath written in his Letter to the Cardinall 11 And with relation to the Popes humane intelligence Syluester his positions with the other circumstances and cautions mentioned this Examinate saith that he writ to Cardinall Bellarmine in this sort viz. that the Pope hath no power to depose his Maiestie quia inde perturbatio Ecclesiae euer sio Catholicorum nostrorum in bonis possessionibus detrimenta plurimarum animarum prouenirent because the perturbation of the Church and the ouerthrow of the Catholickes with vs in their goods and possessions and the damage of very many soules would thereby ensue And againe Si Amplitudinis vestrae mitissima dispositio vel minimâ ex parte conciperet ruinas familiarum Catholicarum quas inferret recusatio iuramenti certè non dissentiret à nobis qui ex luctuosissimis spectaculis videmus inde profecturam esse non modò iacturam animarum sed etiam totius status Catholici apud nos lamentabilem extirpationem That is If your Amplitudes most milde disposition did but in the least part conceiue the ruines of Catholick families which the refusall of that oath would bring vpon vs surely you would not dissent from vs who by most wofull spectacles do finde that from thenee were like to proceede not onely the hazard and losse of many soules but the most lamentable extirpation of the whole Cathoplicke state amongst vs. And presently after Deositie Regisnostri non esset in ordine ad spiritualia promouenda sed euertenda That is the deposition of our King would not tend to the order of promoting matters spiritual but of ouerthrowing them Moreouer Qui aequo oculo pericula nostra intueretur facilè aduerteret potestatem summi Pontificis in depositione Regis nostri iam contineri non posse intra fines ordinis ad spiritualia subleuanda sed excurrere ad supprimenda omnia quae hactenus in spiritualibus benè posita fuerunt That is Who so should with an indifferent eye behold the dangers we are in would easily perceiue that the Popes power in deposing our King cannot as the case standeth

non habere Imperialem Ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum That the Pope hath not an Imperiall and Ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite suggesting that the said oath had no other meaning and that this sense was thrice insisted vpon before hee this Examinat tooke the said oath and allowed of by the Magistrate whereas the words of the oath which he this Examinat tooke for ought that appeared to the contrarie without any equiuocation or mentall euasion whatsoeuer are cleare and manifest viz. That the Pope neither of himselfe nor by any authoritie of the Church or See of Rome hath any power or authoritie to depose the King The oath saith that the Pope hath no power by any authoritie of the Church or See of Rome viz neither Imperiall Ciuill nor Ecclesiasticall whereas this Examinat telleth the Cardinall that he onely sware against his Imperiall and Ciuill power whereby he might not so proceede with his Maiestie 17. With these particular exceptions this Examinate being somewhat troubled desired againe that before he came to the answering of them he might a little as by the way bewayle himselfe and his present estate which he did in manner as followeth saying That it was no little griefe vnto him to be apprehended and cast into prison that thereupon he hoped his former troubles and oppositions against him would haue ceased that notwithstanding as matters are prosecuted and his proceedings interpreted hee receiueth nothing but discomfort from each side that his friendes might haue bene content to haue expounded his oath in the best part and the rather because they perceiued hee found thereby that he had giuen some reasonable contentmēt to the State for the ease of his imprisonment being an old man and troubled with many bodily infirmities and for the auoyding of some further extremities that Cardinall Bellarmine might well haue forborne his Letter vnto him as also his sharpe censures of him as if by taking the said oath hee had fallen with Peter in denying his Master and with Marcellinus who offered a false sacrifice and that thereby he this Examinate had brought in question one of the chiefe heads of faith and foundations of Catholicke religion that hee the said Cardinall might easily haue foreseene that albeit there had beene no copies of his Letter taken before it came to him this Examinate yet that such a vigilant eye is had ouer him in prison as that it is almost impossible for him to haue kept it vndiscouered especially there being such bruites of it cast abroad as there were euen by those that should haue concealed it that likewise the said Cardinall might not onely well haue thought that if it happened his Letter to be diuulged more hurt then good was likely thereof to ensue except he thought it fit to bring him this Examinate into greater hatred then he was before which could not auaile the common cause and to prouoke his Maiestie to some greater extremities then of his most milde and temperate disposition he is inclined vnto but likewise that it was his this Examinates part in all duety to answere his Letter which would be also as it hath now fallen out as impossible his case considered for him this Examinate to performe with any secrecie as it was that his the said Cardinals Letter should come vndiscryed vnto this Examinate that as hee greatly suspecteth the Cardinals said Letter was cunningly opened before it came to his this Examinates hands so he is perswaded that his answere vnto it will be vsed in the like sort before it come to the Cardinall and the rather he so thinketh for that he findeth alreadie the copie of it by skill and practise to be as soone published abroad here in England as this Examinate could dispatch it for Rome which doth greatly perplexe him and what may be the issue of it he knoweth not but feareth as he saith the worst at al hands that notwithstanding come what shall come his hopes being past which were neuer great his libertie restrained neuer to be recouered the graue expecting him which he most desireth no ioyes nor comforts but in his blessed Sauiour he is resolued with patience to expect and vndergoe it that these and many other such courses held with him do oftentimes exceedingly grieue and trouble him in that men abroad and at libertie haue no more care of poore men imprisoned for those causes which they would seeme most earnestly to affect and that thus hauing eased a litle his heart and referring himselfe and his cause to God he will now addresse himselfe to answere all the partes of the obiection aboue mentioned syncerely and truely from the bottome of his heart as becommeth a true Catholicke priest and as he is perswaded in his conscience without any equiuocation or euasion and without regard or feare of any mens persons or of any inconuenience or further danger that might thereby ensue vnto him or of any slanderous imputations which he doth easily foresee will be heaped vpon him of purpose to discredite both him and that which he findeth he must needes acknowledge except he should wilfully denie the trueth or shew himselfe obstinate and peruerse against lawfull authority which his present estate and conscience will not permit 18 And therefore now as touching his this Examinats signification vnto Cardinall Bellarmine that the effect of his oath was Summum Pontificem non habere Imperialem ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum That the Pope hath not an Imperiall and ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite he will as he saith answere the same not in grosse but by degrees saying first That amongst diuers prerogatiues attributed to the Pope in temporalibus in temporalties this is one which cannot be well denied by any viz. that the Pope is truely lord of all the temporalties belonging to the Bishopricke of Rome Within the compasse whereof there are some who haue included England and Ireland and one especially whose memorie this Examinate doth greatly honour but yet he must needes acknowledge his ouersight in that point Thus hee writeth Without the approbation of the See Apostolicke none can be lawfull King or Queene Admonit to the Nobilitie by Card. Allen 1588. pag. 8. of England by reason of the ancient accord made betweene Alexander the third the yeere 1171. and Henry the second then King when he was absolued for the death of Saint Thomas of Canterbury that no man might lawfully take that Crowne nor bee accounted as King till hee were confirmed by the Soueraigne Pastor of our soules which for the time should be this accord afterwards being renewed about the yeere 1210 by king Iohn who confirmed the same by oath to Pandulphus the Popes Legate at the special request and procurement of the Lords and Commons as a thing most

praedecessoris nostri quae incipit Vnam Sanctam nullum volumus vel intendimus praeiudicium generari nec quod per illam Rex regnum regnicolae praelibati amplius Ecclesiae sint subiecti Romanae quàm antea existebant Sed omnia intelligantur in eodem esse statu quo erant ante definitionem prafatam That is Wee will not neither is it our purpose that any preiudice come vnto the King or the kingdome by that definitiue sentence and declaration of Pope Boniface the 8. of worthy memorie our predeccssour beginning thus Vnam Sanctam nor that by force thereof the King the kingdome and people aforesaid should be subiect to the Church of Rome more then formerly they were But that all things be vnderstood to be in the very some state as they were before the aforesaid definitiue sentence was giuen 93 Moreouer also this Examinate saith to the same purpose next before spoken of that besides the said Clement diuers other men of meaner calling haue beene bold to refell some of the arguments whereupon the said Constitution was built as Cardinall Bellarmine that of the two swords and diuers moe though this Examinate cannot now set down their words only he saith he is well assured that Huge Cardinalis doeth make a better exposition to this Examinates vnderstanding of the said place of Ieremie then Boniface did So as if it happen that the present Pope doe make any resolution against the said oath of Allegeance besides the exceptions taken before vnto it by this Examinate he further addeth how it may well come to passe that the next Pope will alter it and that in the meane time it may be as lawfull for graue and learned Catholickes to take exceptions vnto it as it hath beene for any other to empeach the said Constitution of Boniface or any part thereof But this Examinate doeth well hope that the present Pope in his great wisedome will preuent this course and approoue the graue iudgement of Petrus de Alliaco Cardinall of Cambray who in his Treatise of the Reformation of the Church of Rome offered to the Councell of Constance begun Anno 1414. doeth write in this sort In hoc non debet Pet. de Alliaco de reform Roma ecclesiae Papa aut eius Curia c. Herein as touching the Reformation of the body of the whole Church and of the particular Church of Rome the Pope or his Consistorie ought not to reiect the deliberation of a generall Councell because as the glosse 19. distinct super cap. Anastasius saith the Pope is bound to require a Councell of Bishops when any point of faith is to be handled quod non solum intelligo c. which I doe not onely vnderstand of the Articles of faith but of difficult matters that touch the vniuersall state of the faithfull Church which Archidiaconus 15. dist c. Sicut noteth where approouing the said glosse he addeth qòod nimis periculosum esset fidem nostram committere arbitrio vnius hominis that it were too dangerous a matter to commit our faith to the arbitrement of one man and that therefore the Pope in new and hard cases was accustomed to haue recourse to the deliberation of a Councell That it is a matter of great difficultie and importance and such as doeth very greatly concerne the whole Church whether the Pope will hold it fit to determine either generally that he hath no authoritie inspiritualibus or particularly that it is not lawfull for Catholickes in England to take the said oath of Allegeance this Examinate is out of doubt and is therefore so farre of the said Cardinals minde that neither of the said points are to be discussed and concluded without some great and mature deliberation 94 This Examinate being here demaunded whether he had seene a Booke lately come forth intituled A Treatise tending to mitigation towards Catholicke Subiects in England and amongst diuers things in it whether hee had considered of certaine words vsed by the Earle of Salisburie as they are set downe in the Preface of the said Treatise and of the Authour of that Booke his answere vnto them he confesseth in euery particular that he hath The Earles words are there cited thus that hee hath beene a long time sorie that some cleare P. R. his treatise tending to mitigation Praefat. pag. 20 explication of the Papall authoritie hath not beene made by some publike and definitiue sentence Orthodoxall c. that not onely those Princes which doe acknowledge this authoritie meaning the Popes might be secured from feares and ielousies of continuall Treasons and bloody assassinates against their persons but those Kings also which doe not approoue the same and yet would faine reserue a charitable opinion of their Subiects might know how farre to repose themselues in their fidelitie in ciuill obedience howsoeuer they seeme diuided from them in point of conscience 95 These words hauing bene in this sort laide before this Examinate after he had well marked both them and the answere vnto them hee was with some difficultie at the last induced to deliuer his iudgement as touching the said answere saying that hee liked very well of the first and third part thereof as touching the Popes authoritie so farre forth as it concerneth his power and charge to looke to all Christs sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates not onely for their instruction and direction in spiritualibus but likewise if neede require for their spirituall castigation by the censures of the Church interdiction and Excommunication not to bee decreed or published without iust cause graue and vrgent motiues and due forme also of proceeding by admonition preuention intercession and other like preambles prescribed by Ecclesiasticall Canons to be obserued 96 But as touching the second part of his answere this Examinate doubteth how it may either satisfie the said Earle or any other that is of sound iudgement For whereas the said authour faith that although there be a question betwixt the Canonists and the Catholicke diuines whether the Pope haue such an authoritie in temporalibus directly or indirectly as by them is disputed of and by this authour is briefly touched yet both parts doe fully agree that there is such an authoritie left by Christ in his Church for remedie of vrgent causes for that otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessitie thereof hee this Examinate doeth see and acknowledge the trueth and importance of the iust exceptions that are alreadie and may hereafter peraduenture be taken to that answere 97 For where the Earle of Salisburie wished some cleare explication of the Popes authoritie by some publicke and definitiue sentence the said authours answere is insufficient when hee saith that both parts viz the one defending the Popes authoritie directly and the other indirectly were fully agreed for the said authoritie c. but onely differed about the manner how and in what sort it was giuen vnto him by Christ which

in their times doe pretend Christ indeed and so also his Apostles went from place to place from citie to citie and from countrey to countrey preaching and planting the true Catholicke faith which containeth the doctrine of obedience to Kings and Soueraigne Magistrates And where there was one Christian then if there had bene a thousand and so proportionably for euery one neither Christ nor any of his Apostles would haue moued them to any armes or disobedience against the ciuill Magistrates although they were at that time very great persecutors and impugners of the Gospel The like may also be said for the ages succeeding when such going from place to place and preaching as doctor Stapleton speaketh of would of a certeintie haue beene vtterly condemned And how glad saith hee this Examinate should I haue beene if these kindes of positions now vrged vpon me had beene left to Buchananus and such of his followers as haue runne that race And therefore he humbly desired that he might be no further troubled with these vncatholicke and bloudie nouelties the same being most repugnant to the duety and office of a true Catholicke priest and the rather because his intermedling so much with them though hee could not wel choose except he should haue spoken against his conscience doeth tend more he feareth to his particular discredite then as many men doe now stand affected to any such religious vse or edification as this Examinate wisheth that all his words and workes might euer effect and attaine vnto 145 Here it being held conuenient to demand of him this Examinate whether he thought that vpon the occasion offered vnto him and charge laid vpon him in his Maiesties name to deliuer his conscience and iudgement as well in these last points propounded vnto him as likewise in all the premisses of this his Examination hee should by the discharging of his duety therein grow to any discredite either with priests or Lay Catholickes and not rather that if all he had deliuered should happen to be published it would procure him more fauour and greater reputation with them he answereth that of the last point the increase of his credite he hath small hope and that he hath alreadie felt some experience of the former in that there being but a suspicion alreadie cast abroad that he continueth in the iustification of the lawfulnesse to take the oath of Allegeance the very conceit of it before they be acquainted with that which hee hath said in this his Examination doeth much offend many as hee hath beene informed and as in his priuate estate he doeth very sensibly feele Neither can he as he saith expect from them any thing else but discontentment and grudging against him whiles the Popes Briefes procured by surreption and false suggestions as hee thinketh in his conscience doe preuaile so much with them or vntill it shall please God to abate the heate of some spirits and replenish all their hearts with true knowledge in these matters and with greater humilitie and patience then now he saith he can well boast of 146 Lastly forasmuch as it is most euident to his Maiestie and the State viz how the Catholickes in England doe now stand affected how they do generally dislike the oath of Allegeance how of late fewe of the Laitie in respect of the multitude will yeeld to take it how since the Popes Breues came ouer the priests all of them almost doe impugne it and disswade all Catholickes from taking of it and how they labour and trauaile hither and thither preaching and teaching that the Pope hath authoritie to depose his Maiestie to absolue his subiects from their oathes of Allegeance to authorize them thereupon to beare armes against him and to machinate all the mischiefe they can against his State and Person that although his Maiestie be not excommunicated by name yet by their doctrine hee standeth excommunicate in generall termes by sundry Bulles in that hee alloweth not of the Popes Supremacie c. and that therefore if opportunitie serue they may set on foote any wicked designement against him And furthermore how when they professe obedience vpon any occasion it is but dissembled and doth bind them no longer but vntill they shall be able by reason of their numbers and strength to encounter his Maiestie without any great daunger to themselues How there are many youthes daily sent ouer beyond the seas to become Priests and being Priests are euery yere sent backe hither of purpose to increase the number and strength of the said Catholickes And how all such Priests by vertue of their office are bound to draw as many as they can from their Allegeance to the King and vpon euery fit occasion to stirre vp his subiects to mutinie and rebellion as is aboue mentioned Forasmuch it was said as these points and many other such like are very euident and manifest it was earnestly demaunded of this Examinate hee being a man of yeeres mature iudgement and good discretion as hee was reputed by the Pope himselfe it seemeth and many others when he was made Archpriest of England and an Apostolicall protonotarie what course in his wisedome and conscience he thinketh fit his Maiestie and the State should holde being resolued in religion as they are to withstand those euils which of necessitie in time must ensue except either by punishments they be out of hand preuented or that the Pope doe himselfe reclaime both Priests and Catholicks from such inordinate tumultuous and traiterous courses giuing them libertie so as they reteine still their opinions of his pretended Supremacie in spirituall causes to take the othe of Allegeance that thereby they may secure his Maiestie and the State of their obedience dutie and fidelitie both towards him in all causes and matters temporall and towards their natiue Countrey 147 Vnto all which particulars this Examinate answereth that this is a matter farre aboue his reach that he knoweth his Maiestie to be a King endowed with many singular vertues amongst the which his mercie and clemencie are very eminent that his Maiestie and the State are exceeding prouident to preuent all dangers that the number of Priestes is nothing if it bee compared to the number of Ministers which are and so will continue here in England that there is no likelihood that so few Priests in respect of the said Ministers should euer bee able to draw so many to the Pope as they haue power and meanes to withhold men from him that hee hopeth if euer the Pope may be truely informed of the State of England hee will inforce all Catholickes to holde a dutifull temper towards their Prince that it may be that in short time the heate of all disordered inuentions will bee quenched that although men of youth and vigour delighting in nouelties are likely enough to continue a while heady yet hee hath some hope that the grauer sort will haue recourse to the ancient practise of the sincerest Catholickes that generally all the Catholickes in