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
holding that euen priuate men may destroy Kings P. R. yeeldeth vnto the point of the Kings Supremacie in that sence as we doe accept the same P. R. driuen to fall from that which he had yeelded The Pope and Bellarmine will dislike as much of P. R. for yeelding to the Kings Supremacie of preseruation as they do of M. Blackwell for taking the Oath of Allegeance P. R. thought to be the author of the Letter which replyeth to the Apologie of the Oath He cannot yeeld Supremacie in all causes in his owne sense and yet main aine the Popes power of deposing The maintaining of the Popes temporall power and the denying of the Oath of Allegeance is all one He ought to haue shewed particular matter to be disliked in the seuerall parts of the Oath the true cause why he doth not His foure reasons whereby he would proue matter of Religion in the Oath be examined and refuted All limitting of the Popes power is not matter of Faith The allowing to the Pope a power to depose the King cannot stand with Allegeance A short answer consisting of two parts to the whole Booke Written against Sir Edw. Coke concerning the Popes Authoritie in this Kingdome Difference in the case of subiects vnder Catholike Kings the subiects of this kingdome between the now subiects those of former times vnder 〈◊〉 Kings of England The distinction of the Popes Authoritie direct and indirect 〈◊〉 Reasons to induce the Catholike subiects not to refuse the Oath That sundry Papists haue taken the Oath willingly and that the Gent. Wrongeth them in making a doubt thereof vpon any allegation of constraint by feare That the Law containeth not any compelling or vnlawfull meanes to make any to sweare vnwillingly That they haue also sworne faithfully and that the equiuocating sence which the Gent. deuiseth was not vsed by them nor ought to be vsed by any being sencelesse and against the Oath directly The Gent. rage and threats for enforcing of the Oath His Theologie controlled concerning the ministring of an Oath vnto such as hee that ministreth the same suspecteth will forsweare himselfe That amongst the Papists there be greater enforcements to make men abiure Opinions yea vnder paine of death as is confessed And that the answer to maintaine the same by the title of Ius acquisitum is idle and friuolous A wish for eternizing the memorie of the Gunpowder Treason in answer of their anger for our so often iterating or vpbraiding to them that most abhorred Conspiracie FINIS AN EXAMINATION OF a Position published by P. R. in the preface of his treatise tending to mitigation concerning the lawfullnesse of the Popes Power ouer Princes with a defence of the oath of Allegiance IT pleased the Right Honorable the Earle of Salisbury in his exactly written and necessary published answer to certaine scandalous Papists prouoking him by occasion and in fashion vnsufferable to protest against the insolency and malignity of the Romish Church out of the bosome whereof so many Treacheries Conspirases and Immanities of the foulest kind haue bin vented into the world tending to ouerule or ruinate whatsoeuer authority not submitting the necke to the yoake of that vsurping power in the very first passage of that his Appologetticall declaration which enuie it selfe could not passe ouer without attribution of highest praise hee was carried by the contemplation of so many dangerous designes and complotting practises dayly pretended and contriued against the safetie and dignitie of temporall Potentates to a more vehement expressing of himselfe in the zeale of words following I haue been a long time sorry that those which imploy so many seditious spirits dayly to instruct the vnlearned Catholikes in these mysteries of deposing Princes haue not by some publike definitiue sentence Orthodoxall in which it is supposed the Pope cannot erre made some cleere explication of their assumed power ouer Soueraigne Princes as not onely those which acknowledge his superioritie might bee secured from feares and iealousies of continuall treasons and bloody assassinates against their persons but those kings which doe not approoue the same and yet would faine reserue a charitable opinion of her subiects might know how far to repose themselues in their fidelitie in ciuill obedience howsoeuer they seem to be deuided from them in point of conscience To which his Lordsh. so honourable desire this good father offereth and endeauoureth to giue satisfaction Aman if we mistake not his sheepemarke of some fame and note of that side placed in a degree of preheminence graced with more then ordinary gifts confidently conceited of himselfe and daring to vndertake matters of highest nature not withstanding obseruation is made of him that his boldnes much ouerbalanceth any other his best worth His said preface of the importune exasperations vsed by diuers to increase our diuision and disagreement about matters of Religion is very presumptuous and altogether censorious wholly spent in taxing and traducing not onely the particular speeches or writings of some especiall men of excellent desert in this state as if whatsoeuer they haue vttered out of the abundance of iust griefe in detestation of the late execrable treason did wholly proceede from exasperation exulceration aggrauation exaggeration and calumniation for in those high sounding tearmes he beareth his stile aloft but also the administration of iustice the vprightnes of our regiment the newly enacted penall lawes as making the state of English Catholikes vnder Protestant gouernement more miserable and intolerable than that of the Iewes vnder any sort of Christian Princes that of the Grecians or Christians vnder the Turke or Persian or that of bond Subiects vnder the Polonians Suetians and Muscouites onely he confesseth that in two mens writings he findeth more moderation The one is his Maiestie in his speeches both in Parliament in Proclamations whereunto yet he giueth some dash or wipe of exception The other is my Lord of Salisbury in his said answer to that fond menacing letter or rather franticke commination which yet hee saith wanteth not his sting piercing euen to the quicke After hee hath thus throughout his many licentious leaues braued it with exorbitant and exulting phrases at the last he falleth in hand with this piece of doctrine occasionally drawne thereunto by the consideration of his Lordships said desire and forsooth he is the man that must instruct and settle my Lords iudgment by his profound resolues seeming to be moued with pitty that his Honour in a matter not appertaining properly to his facultie or profession hath beene misled or misinformed by his diuine Before he lancheth into the maine of the matter he disposeth himselfe malepertly to make a crosse or quaere of the truth of such threatnings and scandalls expressed in the said leters For ◠he pauseth vpon the matter with his parenthesis if any such were and after infinuateth his suspition that the same came from the forge of some such as altogether with a blowe to be thereby giuen to all
A DEFENCE OF THE RIGHT OF KINGS WHEREIN THE POWER OF the Papacie ouer Princes is refuted and the Oath of Allegeance iustified WRITTEN FOR THE VSE OF ALL English Romanists more especially for the Information of those Priests or Iesuits which are by Proclamation commanded to conforme themselues or depart the Kingdome By EDWARD FORSIT Esquire LONDON Printed by B. A. for Nathaniel Butter and are to be sold at his shop at the Pyed Bull neere Saint Austens Gate 1624. TO THE MOST HIGH AND POTENT MONARCH IAMES OF GREAT BRITAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND KING DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER in God GEORGE by the Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of LONDON my singular good Lord. THE whole Church and Kingdome of England Right Reuerend Prelate hath a long time together taken notice of that continuall neerenesse into which it hath pleased his Maiestie who does all things vpon Iudgement to admit your wisedome and faithfulnesse in matters of aduice especially which be most proper to your sacred Function Which Grace of your Lordships with so wise and learned a Prince hath perswaded me that as you were the fittest so you would be the willingest to doe our Great Master this seruice for so I hope this Office will proue if your Lordship wil be pleased that this Boke may by your hands haue accesse vnto his Maiestie It treats of a Royall Argument and therefore euen of dutie to be dedicated to a King as a thing due vnto Caesar And due vnto our King especially whom God hath raysed vp in Brittaine as the Fort Royall of Princes to amate that Tower of Babel that prowd Castle of S. Angelo And therefore as his Maiestie himselfe hath first of all and best of all written in this kind and giuen the ablest directions vnto others to prosecute the Argument so it might seeme presumption if any thing of this subiect should come abroad without his Royall assent His Maiesties example together with this Gentleman 's owne zeale to the Cause did at first no doubt encourage this learned Author to vndertake this present Worke who as he still is by his place a Iustice of Peace so hath he here done Iustice vpon that sawcie Medler with the Rights of Princes Parsons the Iesuit and those two seditious Bookes of his one comming our vnder the name of P. R. the other of a Catholike Gentleman both which he hath here made to keepe the Kings peace The Title will I hope find gracious acceptance and the Booke honourable approbation with his sacred Maiestie Which hope of mine hath emboldened me to offer it vnto your good Lordship as a testimonie of my most hearty and humble thankfulnesse for those fauors which I haue receiued from your goodnesse the remembrance of which shall euer bind me to be at your Lordships seruice most faithfully Nathaniell Butter TO THE READER OCTAVIVS the Emperour did rather chuse to violate the will of Virgil then to consume those laborious AEneids of his in the flames of Obliuion Why then should not this example of his excuse me from blame of the Author of this following Worke for attempting to commit to the Presse and commending that to others in publike which he but lent to me in priuate since good things are best knowne by their vse and well considering how acceptable it may prooue to our hopefull times The end of his 〈◊〉 when hee first began this Treatise I am well assured was onely to satisfie his owne priuate Iudgement esteeming it through his too much Modestie so farre vnfit for the publike view as for the space of tenne or twelue yeeres since the finishing of it hee suffered it to rest obscure amongst his other priuate Labours wherein his industrie and abilitie may appeare to be made yet more transparent in his owne vnder-valuing of what hee hath so exactly performed Which comming thus accidentally to my hands and viewing the matter it treated of and the malicious slanders it retreated I could not chuse but euen blame the vnkind Author that would haue made the very Wombe of this his seasonable Off-spring the Tombe and giuen it at one and the same time both life and dissolution together I haue therefore aduentured my Endeuors without his knowledge beyond his expectation and I am afraid against his desire for the publishing of that which I knew might prooue so vsefull which remaining obscure and in silence neither should the Cause nor the Parsons be vindicated nor yet the soueraigntie of this Antidote against that dispersed Poyson haue beene discernable or serued for publike benefit And though the man opposed be as I conceiue vncapable of defence yet there remaine many of his Labors that like the Vipers brood haue suckt a stronger Poyson from his death Nor want there many of his Iesuited Disciples who may yet doe him right if they thinke him iniuried though it be true Vni Caesari multi insunt Marii All I desire is pardon from the Author vpon whose Worth so well knowne and Loue so often tryed by me I haue thus farre presumed not doubting but the publike good that may ensue his owne Labour will ouer-sway his resolued retyrednesse As for thy acceptance I doubt it not because the benefit is thine owne and accounting it reward enough to my selfe that I am but the Instrument of communicating this to others Farewell F. B. PARTICVLAR MATTERS discussed in this Treatise THe occasion of this Question concerning the Popes power The mitigations of P. R. touching the Powder-treason His mangling and omitting of my Lords words Whether the Pope cannot erre with the manifold distinctions of the Papists therein How the true estate of the Question concerning the Popes power is hidden by a cunning forme of words Whether this point be generally agreed vpon amongst Catholikes and how dangerous the same is to the State How he minceth and mitigateth the matter in question The true Question and how largely it extendeth The reasons made for the position and the same answered and that there neither is nor euer was any standing Authoritie to depriue Kings No reason for the Popes power in nature Whether the vniuersall Pastorship be instituted by Christ and what points must be prooued before that come to be made good The Iesuites busie entermedling in State-affaires The proofe from the word Pasce Oues examined and Baronius his expositions and inferences in this matter Other strange arguments for the Popes temporall power The Pope no rightfull successor of S. Peter but wrongfully pretendeth his Authoritie or Primacie The Pope no successor or imitator of Christ. Their distinction of Authoritie direct and vndirect examined What necessitie there is of this Pastorall power and how it is qualified Politike reaches in Poperie to aduance the Authoritie aforesaid The Pope may reduce all causes to his Cognizance and how farre he may extend the power of Seculare Brachium the Sccular Arme. The Doctrine of the Iesuits concerning the deposing of Princes
soldiers than by any ordinary censure or proceeding of Law or Iustice much lesse is hee to alleadge or propound any 〈◊〉 wherein priuate or Phanaticall spirits out of humor 〈◊〉 reuenge reward or glory haue attempted or 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Hostile bloudy assault vpon the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of Soueraignes Hee must for very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mention of such left the may by naming vnto vs either the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 K. Henry of France was by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 and Acclamations or the English 〈◊〉 who of a deuotion to the Pop 〈◊〉 faction poysoned King Iohn of England yea he might so bring in diuers Popes Cardinals that haue in such good zeale destroyed and made away Princes and Emperors I am yet to 〈◊〉 him a little shorter I must take from him his discoursing vaine of mitigating and blanching the matter in a disguise of some selected phrases whereby hee intendeth to aduantage himselfe For example when we are at this issue whether there hath euer beene in any Common-wealth any sufficient Authoritie left by God and Nature for the lawfull and orderly deposing of Princes hee inserteth the repressing of euils euen in the highest persons so that when hee shall bee put to it and the weight of his vndertakings is likely to breake his backe or his braine then will hee take the benefite of this shift of repressing of euills euen in the higeest and rather then faile of matter tell vs a stale tale of the Ephori or Tribuni and such like politike Constitutions tendering the liberties or safety of the people against the cruell oppressions or encrochments of the mightie placed in Authoritie neither is it yet my mind at this time against the vniuersall affirmatiue of all Countries all Philosophers c. or the Decrees of Law-makers or the sage sayings of Senatoricall States-men or the Reports and Obseruations of Historiographers Poets and Orators 〈◊〉 and proouing the trueth of our contradiction All the worthy Sentences and examples in 〈◊〉 of best acccount either expressing the excelencie and Maiestie of Soueraigntie or the 〈◊〉 and submissiue demeanour of Subiects are aplyable to this Theame and would easily bee wrought and as it were embroydered into the contexture of a Treatise vpon this Subiect To that which resteth in this Assertion auouching that GOD and Nature hath left sufficient Authoritie in euery Common-wealth c. I pleade ignorance of his meaning not vnderstanding except hee meaneth the Creation in which sense hee should haue said God in Nature or by Nature how God should leaue or institute any such authoritie but by his reuealed word I trust hee will not obtrude vnto vs any long concealed or closited Tradition or any iuggling tricke of Reuelation and vnwritten Veritie wherewith the Christian world hath beene so notoriously 〈◊〉 and I am sure that in the written Law of God there is not any sillable sounding so harshly or rather horribly as to giue any order or rule to dispoyle Princes of their Diadems or to depose the Anoynted of God Now for Nature if shee haue any part in the frame and workemanship of the publique body of the State as shee hath in the particular and naturall bodies of men certainely shee hath allowed the like right to the Head of the Common-wealth as shee hath done to the head of this fleshly Fabrifacture Doeth not the inferiour members patiently and without repugnance beare all the offences and surcharges descending vpon them from the head Is there in Nature any so much as desire much lesse meanes of remoouing or repressing of the Head I acknowledge that Medicines are often applyed for the curing of the griefes and diseases of the Head but what more ready course is either deuised in 〈◊〉 or assented vnto by Nature for the cure of the infirmities and faults of the head then to vnload the annoyances thereof vpon the subiected parts of the body Will you examine another degree of the opperation of Nature Next vnto the body it selfe is the issue and off-spring of the bodie what bounds of dutie hath nature made of the children towards the Father Hath shee left any such Law or libertie that in any respects the childe may renounce or disclaime his parents yea though the father should as oft as out of iudgement hee doth cast off or disinherite his sonne Let vs now but applyingly remember that the Prince is Pater Patriae the Father of the Countrey then will our cogitations aptly accommodate this similitude in Nature vnto the dutious dependancy of the Subiect vpon the person of the Soueraigne with a true naturall relation and recognition of all loue and obedience hauing from nature out of the resemblance of these two paternes no other Law then parendi patiendi Where shall we find more representatiue obedience of Natures intentions and operations then in these originals and fountaines of Loue Then from what stepdames milke hath hee sucked this impuritie of opinion That Nature hath left some sufficient authoritie in euery Common-wealth for the repressing c. I will not deny but that there be some axioms of Reason ingrauen in our nature which perhaps being not rightly vnderstood hath occasioned this imputation and slander against Nature Omnis natura est conseruatrix sui quisque sibi melius vult quam alteri fâ—â—â—e nequimus eum qui infert iniuriam and the like which as they argue a sense and sting in Nature to vpholde our owne welfare to feede our owne humour to further our owne desires to hate our enemies and wrong doers so they must admit the brideling limitation and exposition of reason which also Nature hath giuen to rule the rest that all the foresayd priuate and indiuiduall respeets must haue no place in the question of our naturall obligation to Superiours as Fathers and of our naturall vnion in the communitie of humane Societie for the preseruation whereof Nature hath ordeined Gouernment and the Soueraigntie thereof to bee sacred and inuiolable The want of vpright consideration heercof hath oftentimes been cause of precipitation in vntempered and ill gouerned natures when seeking to serue their owne purposes in matters of affection or faction they will easily make pretences of wrong to become auengers thereof against whatsoeuer lawfull authoritie There bee too many such combinations in all Countreys wherein euery Sect or side with intention to aduaunce that part whereunto it is 〈◊〉 doth dreame of these redresses and repressings of their opposites extending their strength and endeauour euen to the highest persons Such actions or pretences haue no more ground in 〈◊〉 then if any adulterer should maintaine his 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 pronenesse of appetite The Thiefe by the naturall instinct of prouiding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Murtherer by the naturall 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of reuenge But we stand assured that whatsoeuer nature by her vncorrupted rules doth induce or perswade vs vnto touching our duties in Morall actions the same as it was written by the finger of God in
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