are become dennes of theeues and serpents The names of Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-deanes Deanes and such be Dyabolicall No signe of the Crosse or memory of mans Redemption may be vsed Assoc pag. 39. and whatsoeuer religeth a man to God must not be remembred vnder their curse for superstition If we put these people into ballance with the idolatrous Gentiles Turkes Iewes and Brachmans it is euident by al writers that although those Infidels doe erre in true Religion yet they maintayne forged Priesthoods Sacrifices and other tokens of Reuerence to keepe in seare of a diuine Maiesty all which thinges be wanting in this Puritane hauing no one positiue or affirmatiue opinion concerning worshippe And so for Religion and binding of men to God haue brought in a plaine priuation of those duties irreligion and a freedome to all liberty and vndutifulnesse both to God and man THE VI. VNTRVTH IN THE sixt worde established IT is euident by the whole discourse of this Religious Associator and so hee rearmeth himselfe in diuers places that he is a Puritane and laboureth to settle that same profession as he bewrayeth in plaine tearmes Pag. 19 And yet who knoweth not but Puritanes be condemned at the least as before in 32. questions by that Religion which is setled in England Admonit Purit Com. B Parl. 5. et 13. Elizab. as their owne Admonition the Communion booke and Parlaments themselues are witnesse against them Therefore this Innouator seeketh not to associate to maintayne any Religion setled but to settle his own vnsetled sect THE VII VNTRVTH THE seauenth foule and flattering Vntruth is two leaues longe as though Puritanes were the most loyall louing and obedient subiects which her Majestie hath and in respect of them neither Councell Nobility Bishops or any other were dutifully carefull of her preseruation But Sr because you pretend you selfe so dutifull a Subiect to our Soueraigue and regardfull of reuerence to the English Protestant Clergy and that Religion which they professe you will giue me licence to vtter in a fewe wordes the true allegeance and loue which your reformed Seignorie and eldership beareth vnto them For except this affection be knowne to bee excellent in your Society you will not bee worthy to be admitted to such exempted fauour with our Queene and her Bishops to whome you write Then I will condemne you by your owne sentences to be vndutifull to her Maiesty our Queeene moste malitious to her Clergy and deuoted Aduersaries to their Religion for whose maintenance you counterfeite desire of Assoctations And to exemplifie what forreigne Religion is so gratious in your eies as that of Geneua Admonit parl in fin Repl. Admon Parl. tract 20. and other Churches there abouts which you call for that reason resormed your Admonition to the Parlament approoueth the Presbitery of Scotland and the French Puritanes so farre that you propose them for example of imitation to England your owne writings I hope you will not deny And if you forsake Caluin and Beza your Fathers and dearest friends you are discredited for euer Then to begin with them first which I named last let the Reader iudge vvhether our Soueraigne her Arch-bishops Bishops with the rest of the Parlament Ministery and their Religion so contrary vnto Puritanes liue in security be honoured by this people Concerning Princes which be not of Caluins purity he vseth these wordes Caluin in Da. c. 6. v. 22.25 c. They spoile themselues of all authority yea they are vnworthy to bee accounted in the number of men and therefore we must rather spit vpon their heades then obey them And touching the English Communion booke which is the rule of Parlament Religion hee calleth it fooleries Stat. 1. Eliz Surn of hol disc Beza epist ded nou test an 1564. et epist ad Episcop Ebor Beza euen in his Epistle to her Maiestie of England defendeth Rebellion against Princes of a different Religion and honoureth such as bee slaine in such quarrels with the glory of Martyrs And in his Epistle to a Protestant Bishop of England condemneth the exercise of their Religion The reformed Churches of France holde the same sentence both concerning King and worship in their 39. Article Congreg artic 39. Articul Puri Scon Two of the chiefest Articles of the Scottish Puritanes be these 1. Bishops and Archbishops haue no authority their very names and titles be Antichristian and Diabolicall 2. It is heresie for any Prince to call himselfe heade of the Church But he may be excommunicate and deposed of his ministers And to come to English Puritanes and the Consistory of your Eldership and reformed Scignorie the chiefest Patron thereof T. C. is knowne to be an ancient and mortall enemy to the present Arch-bishoppe of Canterbury and is farre from allowing the Titles names dignities and authority of him or any Bishop Deane high Commissionor or other by her Maiesties proceedings that as the same Arch-bishoppe hath gathered to my handes T. C. in repl to the ans of the Admonit I. whitgift prefat to the ans to the Reply of T. C. T. C. in Repl. in fin Confes c. 18. T. C. repl pag. 5. T. C. pag. 144. he wil not allowe him the dignity of a Doctor but Ironice and scoffingly after your manner calleth him M. Doctor 370. times at the least in one litle book And telleth vs that the equality of Ministers is consirmed by the sentence of the Puritanes of Heluctia Tygurine Berne Geneua Polmia Hungary and Scotland with others And although you to slatter the Protestant Arch-bishops and Bishops of England woulde bring your disagreement from thē toceremonies yet he desendeth that the doctrine of the English Protestants is such that Puritanes are bound to deny it with losse of as many liues as they haue haires on their heades And for reuerence and duty to our Soueraigne denounceth by his Euangelicall preeminence against all Protestant Princes which will not be Puritanes and embrace their Presbitery that to vse his own wordes They must submit their Scepters and throwe downe their Crownes before the Church of their Eldership and licke the dust of their feete The highest cathedrated sentence of your Admonition written in all your names rayleth at the Protestants affirming your contentions to be but Ceremonies But I will alleadge the wordes of that holy worke both for your confusion in this and all other your wicked practises in this Association These they be Lordy Lordes Arch-bishops Bishoppes Prefat Admon Parl. Admonit tra 2.3 c Suffraganes Deanes Doctors Arch-deacons Chauncellors and the rest of that prowde generation whose Kingdome must downe Titles liuings and offices of Metrapolitane Arch-bishop Lordes grace Lordshippe Suffrragane Deane Arch-deacon were denised by Antichrist and are plainely in Christs worde forbidden and are vtterly with speede to be remooued Prefat Admonit supp But in a few wordes to say what we meane either must wee haue a right ministerte of God and a right
gouernment of his Church according to the Scriptures set vp both which we lacke or else there can bee no right Religion nor yet for contempt thereof can Gods plagues be from vs any while deserred Wee in England are so farre from hauing a Churche rightly reformed according to the prescript of Gods word that as yet we are not come to the outward face of the same Admonit tract 10. Tract 11. In the booke of Common prayer a great number of thinges contrary to the worde of God are conteyned Except they yeeld not onely Gods instice shall be powred forth but also Gods Church in this Realme shall neuer bee builded The way therefore to auoide these inconueniences and to reforme these deformities is this to remooue Aduousons Patronages Impropriations Bishops authority You must plucke downe without hope of restitution the Court of Faculties remooue Homilies Articles Con. Lon. anno 1562. Parl 5 Eli. Booke of articles c. Tract 17. admonit this is the Book where the summe of Englishe Protestant doctrine is allowed Iniunctiōs the Queenes spirituall laws a prescript order of scruice the Communion booke take away the Lordship the loytering the pompe the idlenesse and liuings of Bishops c. In steede of Chauncellors Arch-deacons Officials Commissaries Proctors Doctors Admonit tract 18. Sumners Church-wardens and such like you haue to place in euery congregation a lawfull and godly Seignorie The Lord Bishops their Suffraganes Arch-deacons Chauncellors Officials Proctors Doctors Sumners Tract 18. sup and such rauening Rablers take vpon them which is most horrible the rule of Gods Church The Archbishops Court is the filthy Quauemire and poysoned Plashe of all the abbominations that doe infect the whole Realme Neither is the Controuersie betweene them and vs as they would beare the worlde in hand as for a Cap a Typpet Addit Admonit Admonit Parl. Tract 20. or a Surplesse but for greater matters concerning a true Ministery and Regiment of the Church according to the worde To these three ioyntly that is the Ministers Seniors Deacons is the whole Regiment of the Church to be cōmitted Hitherto be the wordes of that holy Puritane sentence And that it may be manifest what their loyalty and loue is to our Soueraigne her Bishops and their proceedings both in temporall and Religious affaires making no exception at all Tract 23 either of Queene councell Bishoppe or whatsoeuer except poore ignoraunt soules they bestowe their holy blessing vpon all which will not allowe of their Admonition and holy Eldershippe in these tearmes following God confound them that his peace may be vpon Israell his saumg health vpon this Natiō Now let the Reader iudge whether these men seeke Associations to preserue her Maiesty her State and Religion or no or whether they intende so great loue and duety to the Protestant Bishops as is glosed in this Pamphlet or that no kinde of Subiect is so carefull as they to preserue the honour and quiet of our Kingdome Let vs now see whether this be true or no. Philosophers and Diuines teach that to loue is velle alicui bonum to wishe good to the beloued then by how much more good is wished by so much the loue is greater lesse when lesse good is desired and where no good but euil is wished Pa. 1 lin 4. it is hatred This Pamphletor himselfe acknowledgeth in the fourth line of his worke that 3. things in duety are to be exhibited by the Subiects to the Magistrates that is Honor Obedience and Defence Then who hath performed these duties to our Soueraigne none but Putitaine call honour is temporal or spirituall the first is most dutifully yeelded of all both Protestants and Catholicks of spirituall honour the Catholicks make distinction and are disliked chiefly for that opinion But this Puritane friend absolutely denyeth the secōd and speaketh doubtfully of the first As for spiritual honor the case is euident in al their assertions And towching the terrene honour of a Princesse Goodm li. demonstr Regim muher was not Goodman in the time of Q. Mary a Geneuean Puritane and yet he tearmed the temporall regency of a woman Monstrosum Regimen A Monstrous Regiment And this was the doctrine of his consorts and practises of their Disciples Stowe hist in Q. Mary Groft c. For who were they which laboured so much to depose not onely that Catholicke Queene but our present Soueraigne No man will say that they were Catholickes therfore I say and prooue that they were Geneuean Puritanes our English Parlament Protestancie then not being established or knowne but diuers yeares after in these dayes Iacob Rex Scot. in li. Regin ad fil Are not the Ministers of Scotland Puritanes then aske the King himself if the booke of Regiment published in his name did come from him how full of honour obedience and defence this people is in that country he complaineth of them aboue all others in desect of these duties Petr. frar or cont sectar Staphil apolog fixe to 2. Mon. test tr ordin Burg in remonst sup edict Reg Gal. pare 2. Defens Reg. Relig. Were not Caluin Beza Spiphanius Othomanus the Swizerland French Hugonites Puritaines yes and be so accounted in England And yet what Councels Consistories did they keepe to depose Kings Princes what base and tyranicall Vsurpers did they erect what lawfull Magistrate in Fraunce was not deputed by them to death Who haue more turbulently behaued them selues in these times then this deceitfull and lying Sect. What Libels Admonitions threatnings chalendges hath this people made againste Queene and all kinde of magistrates especiallie the Protestant Bishops and ministerie with whom they would now in words be associated Demande an hundred sooleries of Martin Marprelate this Writer and his companions This is the honor and obedience they vse and defence whiche I feare they would exercise if it came to tryall Let them examine Catholiks by theyr owne Rule of rendring dutie of honor obedience and defence They were Catholickes which first crowned her with honor they were Catholiks which obeyed her when they were powerable to be disobedient Then by all presumption Catholickes will euer defend her And I trust with our prudent Princesse and Councell the malitious inuentions falsehoods of Puritans to aduance them selues nor the lewde slander of any Apostata to excuse his impietye will be admitted against the consciences of so many Religious Priests and Iesuites renouned in al parts of the christiā world protesting euen with daylie dangers and death it selfe theyr Innocencie in these affaires THE VIII VNTRVTH THIS Pamphletor affirmeth that the estate of our Soueraigne is dangerouslye impeached with the Perill of her Person by the indeuour of Papists to bring in the Superiority Supremacie of a Forraigne Prelat c. I meruaile where this man learned his consequences Is the Superioritie and Supremacy of Pope or any forraigne Prelate only exercised in
spirituall and ecclesiasticall causes dangerous to the Temporall estate of any Ciuill Ruler or Magistrate or perilous to their Person Be not those Regiments diuers and distinct euen in the iudgement of Puritanes themselues then the one is not perilous to the other How many hundreds of yeares were they thus deuided among the Israelites without confusion or perill one to another That Nation came to moste calamities Li. 1. Mach Li. 2. Mach. Iosephlib antiq bell Genebr Cronol Bellon Tox to 1.2 bill turrie Petr. Mass lib 1.2.3 hist indie when these Regiments were vnited togither about the time of the Machabees and after In the Turkishe Regiment the Caliphes Rule in Religious causes and yet without perill to the Imperiall State Among the Indian Pagans the Brachmans ouer-rule their Princes in like cases yet without preiudice to their Persons or Temporall dignities Among the ancient Gentiles the Flēmens and Archflēmens had that charge yet no Temporall Regency endangered And now in Italy Spame France Polonia the Empire and so manye Catholicke Countries the Romaine Iurisdiction ruleth in spirituall affaires And yet what State of these countries What Person of those Princes is by that in peril And in Englād when that Superiority reigned in it so many hundred yeares and in the daies of almost 200. Fox tom 1. Mon in Catal Reg. Stowe hist Kinges of this Nation which of their estates or persons vvas endangered by that Regiment then it is not the doctrine of Catholickes in this point any plot or practise by thē which palyeth at hazard with the persons of Princes or draweth kingdomes to ruine But it is the presumptuous factious opinions of Puritanes vvhose priuat spirit in euery meane and vnlearned man doth not only condemne the sentence of Queene and Parlament and her Superiority by that title in spirituall busines but may by their Profession doth by open Pamphlets Inuectiues controle all Princes and Magistrates both in Ecclefiasticall and Temporall causes and dispose of Kingdomes cuntreis and Cities at their high will and pleasure as they did at Geneua Collin in France and other places as I haue recited before THE IX VNTRVTH BVt if we will beleeue this Puritane her Maresties Person shall still remaine in peril except his coufaile be admitted for her deliuery by which shee shal be enfranchised from such dangers His presernatine and Antidote to vse his phrase followeth in these words It would be enacted that all Gentlemen Magistrates and Possessioners within this Realme shall take the oath of Assmiation for the defence and perpetuation of Religion now publickely professed within this Realme And the oath of Supremacy be mimstred with like addition to all men generally within this Realine from the age of sixteene yeares vpwardes twice euery yeare by the Mayors and Couernours of Cities Townes and Corporations and by Stewards and other Officers in Mannors and Lordshippes in their Cuntreis and their Leetes and Law-daies And if they refuse to enter into such league or oath that eucry such person shall be holden and reputed as suspected and shall be thereby disabled to beare any office or authority in Common wealth and shall also be bound to his good behauiour sequestred from all his aronour and weapons and if hee bee possessed of lands within this Realme shall yearly pay vnto your Maieflie the fourth part thereof c. This is the sentence of this Solon In vvhich how many vntruthes and fooleries there be it is not an easie account But because I deale in liberality with this Doctor I will put thē togither in one First then I conclude by this high Authority that Puritanes bee most wicked lying and dangerous members in this Kingdome and moste worthy by their owne iudgment to incurre these penalties which they practise against Catholickes For if this inuention were put in execution Catholickes shoulde become so impious as Puritanes be to make no account of oathes This stratagemme coulde take no effecte but the Queene would be more endangered both in regard of the perils pretended more vnknowne and the offendors coulde not be distinguished friends coulde not bee decyphered from enemies But by this mans confession all Puritanes be manifest aduersaries to her Maiestie in this matter for they both deny the Religion now publickly professed in the Realme as also her Maiesties Supremacy in most vncharitable tearmes Then when Puritanes as this man assureth will take these oathes both concerning the Religion established in England and her supreame Ecclesiastical power which they so much condemne they be condemned to be the most impious irreligious and disloyall people vtterly vnworthy any office credit or confidence in common wealth but by their owne lawe to bee bounde to these disablements penalties and payments which they inuent for Catholickes whose fidelities wordes oathes may be admitted for security of the greatest perill as these men acknowledge by this Inuention THE X. VNTRVTH BVT to manifest farther the folly falschood of this dreame deuice If any coulde be so mad to imagine that so wise a Princesse Councell Nobility Protestant Clergy and Commons for he desireth that his law may be presently enacted would immediatly after the dissolution of a Parlament wherein these toyes were reiected summon the whole kingdome againe to please such people Yet his intent against Catholicks would not be obtayned I will not examine the particulers of his fooleries therein but experience shall pleade against him for either the same or more grieuous haue beene enacted and are daily executed against vs yet he maketh these complaints of perilles by encrease of Catholickes within this kingdome For first concerning his oathes of the Reltgion now established and her Maiesties Supremacy are they not tendered to all Magistrates at their admittance The first Parlament it selfe only excepteth the Nobles of this Realme Parl. 1. Eliz 5. Eliz. to whom this man likewise seemeth to allowe that exemption And How often haue such oathes and interrogatories beene ministred to the Catholickes of this Nation Gentlemen and other Possessioners not Possessioners whome this lawe-maker includeth not Stat. 1. Eliz. c. 1. the Satute of Supremacy giueth the same authority for ministring the oath of that Superiority in as ample manner as he prescribeth only he aduiseth it to bee taken twise in the yeare which limitation imployeth no other vse or end but to make men dissolute in swearing forswearing as these Puritanes be for who wil hope for truth in him vvhich is accustomed to forsweare which by all lawes be reiected for witnesses And this great Politician himself calleth al Parlament persons which applauded not their deuises Papistes and yet most of them had taken the oathes which hee prescribeth But harken vnto his penalties The denyers of these oathes shall only be disabled to beare office bounde to the good behauiour sequestred from their armour weapous Pag. 23. Stat. 1. 5. Eliz. and pay yearely the fourth part of their landes to
sworne they may be discharged from your Inuectiues slanders and other hazardes And because you change opinions so often if any newe eonceite of scruple shall make you newly perplexed that they will not deale sincerely Let them be put to secure this with a seconde vvarrant of known and sufficient sureties And I do not doubt but both Iesuites Priests will as willingly accept and truely performe that oath and with as great contentment to all finde as ample and able pledges as Puritanes can doe either for their duties to Soueraigne or debts to Subiects which we trust the innocency of our behauiour and creditte in that cause with such as wil be taken for greater matters shall procure if the danger and disgrace to giue assurance for such persons in such a case be taken away And to put a perpetuall barre betweene you and all future feare of our forreigne Seminaries and dealings for other Princes if a man of your direction could and would procure vnto vs so much grace with our most gratious Queene to tollerate in this Kingdome but a fevve Schooles for the education of Students and to allowe but the least number of Catholicke Bishops to sacre the Priests of our Nation I am out of doubt you shall see that we will most willingly resigne all pensions stipends and allowances from strange Princes although out of so many hundreds of religious houses and thousands of spirituall liuings our ancient patrimony your beneuolence giueth vs nothing at all And if you haue confidence in your cause that your Religion is true let our Colledges be in your Vniuersities whose ancient constitutions we will obserue triall will sooner be made whether Puritanes or Papists defend the better wor shippe And if you dare not deale in that as I am secured you will not which we wil grant to you in Catholicke Schooles but you neuer durst grant the one or accept the other allotte our aboade to meaner and obscurer places By this meanes and such oathes as you maye tender and security offered all our traficke and suspecte of concourse with Spaine Spanish or any enemy will bee taken away And to put you in some hope of indeēpnity by such proceedings looke into Saxony and other countries where this is vsed and you shall perceaue a long continued vnity for many yeares past no suspicion at this present or danger for times to come O Sr doe you thinke any English Catholicke can beso vnnaturall or foolish if he hath but common wit which I hope you will allowe to our labours learning and trauailes to desire to liue vnder a forraigne Regimēt if he may liue at home though in dishonour our daily returning into England to your tortures from security abroad is testimony vnto our sincerity I take the whole court of heauen to witnesse I am and euer was farre from wishing and I thinke there is neither Iesuite nor Priest in England which desireth it It was an olde saying and prayer of my father when I was a childe that we might speake English still and shall euer bee the opinion of his sonne And if your Puritane factions be not greater hazard against it then any practise of Papist I trust we shall enioy it I haue bin more bolde to acquaint you with these things first because a great number of our English Priests Iesuites haue vndertaken those holy functions by occasion of your Puritane most vnholy dealings and persecutions against them euen to their exilement into those Nations Secondly because I loue to answere you with your owne Arguments in respect you graunt it a thing vniust Pag. 35. that Priests shoulde bee put to death or persecuted for affirming the Popes Supremacy recōciling to the Church of Rome which are parts of their Priestly function for if this security which is all you demande were giuen they coulde not bee dangerous to the State in ciuill consideration though wee appeale to your iudgement Thirdly because if wee shoulde graunt all your vntruthes and slanders againste Priests and Iesuites to be the highest verity yet in your whole Pamphlet you neuer charge any one Priest or Iesuite in particuler which is in England to bee guilty of any such conspiracy Pag. 33. Proclam 5. Nouemb. 1562. excepte perhaps Doctor Bagshawe whome with many others the late Proclamation of her Maiesty her selfe excuseth but you loade the shoulders of such as conuersed in other Nations Pag. 33. Pag. 27. 30. 33. as the late Cardinall Allen D. Bristowe D. Sanders Father Parsons and Father Walpoole to be the Agents in such busines neither can I or any man of equal sentence perceaue how a priuate Priest in Englande lining vnder such watchfull cies can carry the least suspicion to conspire with externe Princes Or what priuate Priest durst broach such an enterprise to any Iesuite Priest or Catholike in this Kingdome or who woulde harken vnto him if hee wereso desperate to attempt it And if you can name that Iesuite or Priest the Arch-priest Prouinciall of the Iesuites or any Priest of their obedience which haue delt in such conspiracies why are you silent only in that and so prodigall in all other kindes of accusall Good Sir vtter your owne name and that Iesuite or Priest in England whome you haue most confidence to accuse set downe the fact and offence against this present state in ciuil consideratiō and I doubt not but he wil acquit himself to your confusion shame Therefore if this lawe coulde bee enacted by yoru intercession our gratious Queene Councell and whole State might sleepe in securitie by your own sentence except the ruffling windes of your Puritane spirit should awake theē And if you should be yet perplexed that so small a number of Iesuites and Priests liuing in so disgraced conditions by their learning and example of regular life woulde win people from your great multitude of ten Puritanes to one Protestant and from your pleasant and libertine Religion to so Austere and penitentiall profession with so many dishonours as Catholicke worship should be in such tearmes Then Sir you may be secured by all rules of Religion and reason that Puritanisme is false and Catholicke Reuerence most holy And if the whole state of England it selfe her Maiestie our successor shoulde be moued by so many forcible and vndeniable true Motyues as this worshippe hath yet such common wealth men as you neede not to doubt but Englande then would be as mighty and able to defende it selfe against Spaine and all forreigners as England Puritanes would be Reckon all hundreds of yeares since the conquest examine the state of those dayes before the reuolt of Henry the eight and see whether I am deceaued or no. Your sect hath offended many but not defended or exalted any kingdome THE XXI VNTRVTH BVT howsoeuer obedient and dutifull Catholickes are this man proceedeth in his vsuall vaine and like astone descending by how much nearer center so much more violent And beginneth his Heralds
within siue lines after both forgetting himselfe and vnmindfull of the doctrine of his Masters Plato and Aristotle and all reason which deny a regradation in causes he acknowledgeth that Papists of Religiō be Parents to al the rest The fourth father to the third this to the second the second of the first Which in his former assertion gaue existence to al. This is the ridle of Oedipus Mater me genuit eadem mox gignitur ex me But his only intent being to encrease the power of his people of which hee considered before seeketh by all meanes true or contrary to make Puritanisme the first and last Alpha and Omega of all As Philosophers teache that which is first by order of intention is last by execution And in this sence his sentence is true for they wholie intend the setling of theyr Puritane sect which is their first and chiefest intention But the setling and execution thereof by necessitie must be last For both Protestants and Catholikes must be taken out of theyt waye before sufficient scope and place be made for the Regiment of theyr spiritte which as it ouer-turneth all thinges except it may rule the whole world as the natural propension thereof enclineth will euer be vnrulie still seeking Innouations THE XIIII VNTRVTH AFter he hath ended his Diuisions in such learned manner as I haue declared he giueth censure of the propertyes of the parts diuided His definitiue sentence is this The first Puritanes are constant and faithfull vnto your Highnes The second Protestants wauerenge The third Pag. 23. Papists of estate For such he chargeth the Lordes Bishoppes and others of the last Parlament perilous The fourth Papists of Religion Pernitious Than the which nothinge can be more corrupt I thinke this man should meane that Papists of Religion be pernitious in respect of a temporall Regiment for which he so much in words contendeth Otherwise a false Religion If we should graunt our most holye Catholike Reuerence to be such being vsed of those professors only for cause of Religion as his distinction is cannot be offensive or perilous to anye Ciuill Regiment against which it teacheth no repugnant thinge Secondlye he desineth the inconuenience of these Papists of Religion that to vse his wordes they bee in Darknes False-hoode Error and Superstition Then seeing this member of his diuision Pag. 11. 12. 13. by his owne graunt hath no reference to busines of estate they cannot be ofensiue or pernitious to that which they haue no relation But if hee coulde disburthen themselues which will bee an heauye loade to doe if he will charge any of this guiltienes the second and thirde Protestants of estate and Papists of estate which often he confoundeth because he allotteth them to State affaires must enter into combat against him Which they will easilye performe being such by his owne acknowledgment as bee neareste to her Maiesties Person Pag. 23. by Office by Parlament by Councell And those which haue not intermedling in such matters by the voice of so great an enemy may not bee condemned as pernitious Aduersaries That mouth which denounceth them innocent in the first cannot be admitted for Accuser in the second Where no cause is precedent or concommitant no effecte can be or followe except an effect can bee caused without a cause Thirdly we are enfranchised by an other sentence of this Censurer for as he highly commendeth Protestants of Religion or Puritanes as constant and saithfull to our Queene Pag. 11. so he confesseth that these be engendred of Protestants of estate these of Papists of estate which be ofspring to Papists of Religion Then if there is any constancy or faithfulnesse in the first Puritanes as it must be doubled in the second Protestants of estate tripled in the third so it must by that rule of proportion be somtimes as constant and faithfull in Papists of Religion and by no meanes if this mans gradation be true can be lesse in them then in the other which proceede from them My reason is which this man may reade in his Authors Plato and Aristotle there be two kinde of causes the one vniuocall the other equiuocall the first although it is not that which is now in question yet it must needes conteine so much vertue as the effect which it produceth otherwise some vertue in that which is caused should bee effected without cause which is a deceasance in nature Of this sort be all inferiour naturall agents as men beastes fowles fishes c. which produce the like in their kinde The second of which condition this Pamphletors discent and progeny is to be esteemed is called Equiuocall which euer contayneth more vertue and ability then that which is effected in which sence the Sunne Heauens and God himselfe are termed such equiuocall and vniuersall or generall causes because their power so much excelleth the faculties of their particuler effects and are able to bring forth many and not only one or few operations Fourthly by an other free charter of this Gentleman Papists of Religion are freed from al suspect to bee pernitious or any wayes dangerous in this busines because they want all those helpes by which he affirmeth Power and strength of any people is to bee augmented Pag. 10. 1. addition or number 2. supply of Necessaries 3. aduantage of place 4. order of gouernment All which be wanting in that people as is before demonstrated and Puritanes be possessed of them all And touching his addition number which hee nameth for the chiefest supplie himself acknowledgeth that in the beginning of her Maiesties raigne Pag. 40. when we were many and mighty we were so farre from contriuing against her that we honoured her with her greatest dignity and Diademe it selfe Then there can be no daunger hereafter For seing our doctrine is one there is no such perill of diuersity in dealings in that case And to auoide vs from all ielousie for suture and present times he maketh this threatning calculation Pag. 41. howe in diuers respects Puritanes are ten times more and mightier then Protestants Howe farre this sorte exceedeth all kindes of Papists there is no doubt And yet it pleaseth this man to acknowledge this sentence Pag. 15. It is not vnprobahle that of the Papists in this Land the fourth part are not Papists of Religion Then it cannot be truly said that such people be pernitious or perilous in this Common wealth which besides all their positions agreeable to an honourable and ciuill Regiment their orderly dutifull quiet conditions in Saxonye Denmarke some cantons of Switzerland Greece Hungary Turkic Persia and other places where they liue vnder Prin ces enemies to their Religion will be an eternall euidence When contrariewise these Puritanes Protestants of Religion So constant and faithfull to her Maiestye if this mans word be Gospell Mart Mar Prel not only be their priuate seditious Libels without ende in England but factious Admonitions by their generall
acclamation to our Prince and Parlament by publickly defended posiitions that the lawes of Princes doe not binde in conscience Andrew Will. Sinop c. lawes Calu. inst Foxe to 2. sup obed Tind art 18. Claud. de Sanct. lib. 5. accad egl that eucrie man is Lord of other mens goods the children of faith which bee onely Puritanes in their opinion are vnder no lawe all humane lawes must be taken away the nature of the Gospell is to raise wars among Christians there is no Magistrate no Superiour and whose practise in action hath euer beene answerable to this doctrine manifeste by all monuments of theyr proceedings or rather to be reprooued for such pernitious and perilous people THE XV. VNTRVTH BVT to shewe how high a pitch of impiety he can mount to make a malitious stoope vpon men in misery he vttereth this most foule and vntrue sentence The Papists of Religion at this present Pag. 25. stand furnished 1. with credit and authority 2. wealth and ability 3 weapons and furniture So that they may drawe followers by the one wage them by the other and arme them by the third Whould any man thinke that so holy wise and well affected friend as this man woulde see me to her Maiesty durst present so monstrous and palpable an vntruth to the viewe of of so prudent a Priucesse but that I haue alleadged his owne wordes For the first of credit authority I thinke it a difficult thing for this Puritane to find one Cathohcke in England which hath any authority at all Let him name any Presedent of Wales or the North Warden of Ports Gouernour of Ilandes Captaine of Castle Lieuetenant of Tower Lieuetenant Deputy-Lieuetenant Sheriffe Iustice of peace or poore Constable or Tythingman which is a Papist of Religion I thinke it will be a dissicult thing for him to sinde in our whole kingdome tenne of the meanest authority which I haue named Of the chiefest no man can be singled sorth What the wealth and ability of them can be except God doth miraculouslie blesse them then let not Puritanes repine at his benediction who can imagine if he see the due payments of 260. poundes yearely paide to her Maicsties Checker by the chiefest and by other the two partes of their Reuenewes moste truely answered their goods seaxed and besides these so many extraordinary oppressions by Puritanes in authority As for weapons and surniture to arme so many as would sight against so many thousands of Puritanes of action Pag. 41. and resolution of London and good Towner most Lords Gentlemen and Captaines which be for them is a thing so ridiculouslie vntrue that none or sewe Catholickes be possessed of any at all Doth he not remember when they were dispoyled of them And to this day are scarcely where such Muster Masters liue admitted to haue vse of their owne to serue her Maiesty And at the time of the comming of the Earle of Essex out of Ireland when somewhat more was in hand then Catholickes imagined were they not generally in the West cuntries so dispoiled by puritane Iustices of their ordinary Armes weapons that they were in danger to be spoyled of the basest Robbers for want of sufficient defence against them but if these three thinges be those that bee so perilous in people apt for Innouations let him look into Puritanes and howe many thoufands he may finde furnished with those complements Pag. 41. His owne sentence London and good Townes most Lordes Gentlemen and Captames of action and resolution will be sufficient censure against him THE XVI VNTRVTH AT the last this Associator commeth to issue and somewhat vnmasketh himselfe to giue testimony to his spirit to dispose of the Crowne make his Queene a Pupill expell Catholickes roote out Protestantes wholly to aduance his Puritane Gospell to bring the Scepter and Regality of this Kingdome Pag. 18. to the sacred disposition of their spirit His wordes are these The mightiest in succession as your Maiestie knoweth are they speaking in the plurall number whose alliance kindred and confederacies are for the most part with Papists Who is ignorant this to be a notorious Vntruth except hee will aduance any Title from Spaine and then his plurall number wil except against him otherwise if al those which be next in succession must be esteemed as Papists and worthy of disinheritance from all Title of a Kingdome by the supreame sentence of their spirit because they be not Puritanes either a Puritane whether hee hath any Title or no must raigne Or which is more probably to be coniectured where these desires should be effected of depriuing true Titlers from their inheritance and Puritanisme shall haue superiority England shall haue no King Queene or Regent at all And if her Maiesty should attend to such treacherous and tyrannicall suggestions as this spirit enspireth and their purpose of planting their impiety be performed shee were like to be rewarded with the same payment of their common doctrine which I cited before that the children of faith are vnder no lawe That there is no Magistrate no Superiour among Christians All humane lawes must bee taken away Eueryman is Lorde of other mens goods and the like must bee put in practise The presbitery which they would haue planted in Scotland to the deposing of their King Kinge of Scots in his Booke of Reg. to Henry his Sonne Suru of holy disciple The practise of Geneua and such places for a fewe Ministers and yearly elected Artizans to gouerne and the Flemmish fashion must be erected And none but Puritanes and their vile deuises haue allowance which this seditious libeller doth plainly insinuate in the nexte page following Pag. 19. where he giueth this for a lawe to our gratious Queene to vse both Puritanes and Protestants for the planting of his platforme of Resormation and that being effected her Maiestie muste to vse his owne wordes by scuere discipline mightely encrease the first Puritanes daylie to deminish the second and third Protestants and Papists and to propulse the relapses of either So that the affections of these fellowes as themselues giue sentence tende to the ouerthrowe of Protestant as well as Papist And the number of the one equally as of the other must be diminished and propulsed So that whatsoeuer they are Queene Councell Nobility Lawes Parlament Authority or any proceeding not resined by the spirit of Puritanes must be thus diminished and ouerthrowne This as I saide besore was their first intention and nowe is their finall end THE XVII VNTRVTH ANd that these Pretendors of persection in Religion as this Associator calleth Puritanes might pretend a perfect and absolute neglect and reiectment of al order Pag. 24. Magistracy and Regiment in this Kingdome After they had so much distasted their sugred mouthes with the vnpleasing sauors of the State and Gouernment as they complained both in their so much dishked Bill of Reformation and this Author consesseth in his Associotion They first