and take his patterne from the Protestant Princes who haue resumed their ancient and originall rights and not from them whom he calleth Catholikes that honoreth the best and dishonoreth themselues wherefore the Gent. may hold his hand from the booke his kind offer of swearing vnto his Majesty as much loyalty as euer any Catholike Subject of England did vnto the lawfull King in former times and ages before the Change of King H. 8. will not be accepted as a suffring seruice or duty Then was both King and people made drunke with the Popish cup of spirituall Fornications the Kings then were but halfe Kings and the Subiects but halfe Subjects his Holinesse had pared away so much from the one and gayned so much vppon the other the one could not be absolute in commanding for feare that his Superior should enterpose the other could not be absolute in obeying because there might come a stronger countermaund then what hath this offer more then thus We haue beene filthy and will be filthy still And why should not his Maiesty require of his Subiects such obedience as by the rules of the true reformed Religion which hee professeth he lawfully may doe Or is there any reason that he should still be held to the former wrongs and disaduantages which ignorance hypocrisie pride and other manifold corruptions did beget and produce against his Crowne and Soveraignity Is it to be reckoned a poynt of Fayth and Saluation to lay forth a limitation of that power which hath beene heretofore so infinitly extended and so vniustly claymed and what is this limitation Forsooth that the Pope cannot make Kings no Kings or Subiects no Subiects that his spirituall Sheephooke may not subdue the Princely Scepter nor order and dispose of temporall rights why may not the Pope be limited with some clauses Of what he may do and what he may not doe The Gent. dogeth me with P. R. his distinction of directly and indirectly which importeth thus much that in plaine true and in direct course to his Pastorall office there be fixed bounds which he cannot passe but in an vndue vnproper and indirect course he may goe where he listeth neyther hedge nor ditch can hold him neyther can there any matter of cause be conceiued wherevnto this indirect and outstretched power may not be carried we reckon in the Common acceptation of speech vndirect dealing to bee fraudulent and vniust dealing and why shold it not likewise be vnderstood that this indirect authority is a wrong vsurping and mis-begotten authority The temporall is subordinate to the spiritual therefore in ordine ad Spiritualia he that hath all spirituallity may in that regard as occasions be ministred rule and order any temporall thing or businesse whatsoever this is the reach strayne of their indirectly which can be no lesse then a direct and shamelesse illuding shift for maintayning whereof and iustifying of that infinity of doing and determining so many English Subiects must forsake and abandon their obedyence breaking a sunder all the chaynes of loue and allegiance which Nature Lawes Diuine and humane and necessity it selfe doeth tye them with alas that vppon so slender proofe not contayning so much as a shadow of any probability our deare Country-men enjoying the benefits of the same soyle and pertaking the protection of so gracious a Prince whereby their liues and estates are preserued in peace and good repose should bee bewitched to their owne woe and seduced to the stirring of sedition Yet it is not vnknowne that diuers of them moued more with the true zeale of rendring to his Maiesty their dutious respects then carried with that head-strong and blind zeale of attending the pleasure and commands of their great Dragon haue willingly and as wee are to judge faithfully taken the oath aforesayd to the exceeding comfort and as he entertayneth the same with an acceptable construction to the assuring of his Maiesty of their vnfeined fidellity But this cauilling Gent. taketh exception vnto and maketh considerations vppon the words willingly and faithfully First for shew and proofe that they haue not done it willingly or freely hee alledgeth that the statute imposing such a paine vppon the refusors doth make a kinde of restraynt through feare and so depriueth them both of liberty and freedome I appeale to the parties themselues that haue taken the oath who speaketh more truely and honestly of then he or I when I finde it a branch of their oath that they doe sweare willingly I doe beleeue them not taking them to be so Reprobate as in any such 〈◊〉 rate manner forsweare themselues Neither doe I 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 of them as that the passion of feare could so farre transport them as to make them sweare 〈…〉 He belike knowing them better then I 〈◊〉 against them that they haue not taken the oath willingly and therefore they be directly 〈◊〉 yet he thinketh he hath pleased them againe and falued the matter by laying the fault vpon the enforcement of feare wrought in their hearts by the rigiour of the Law In the meane time hee maketh them in their Religion to be very faint and of little faith if worldly respects and dread of Calamities can so farre stagger them or preuaile ouer their infirmities as to make them feare man more then God and so in an vnbeleefe and prophannesse hazard saluation by forswearing but because he so carpeth at the carriage and composure of that oath and the enterlacing of those words I would aske his opinion whither it be not lawfull and reasonable that any Magistrate may yea ought to charge the conscience of him that sweareth that he shall doe the same willingly and faithfully Or doth he know any oath wherein the same are equall thereunto to expresse the trueth and sincerity of the heart be not eyther directly vsed or necessarily imployed His supposall of feares troubles or losses is as applyable to the taking of any other oath and by any other persons aswell as to this by them taken seeing that there is no oath prescribed to be required or exacted of any subiect but the refusall thereof doth occasionally and consequently draw dangers and losses to the partie so refusing And doth hee thinke it fit to infert thereof that all the oathes that are propounded with such condition or likely to breed such inconvenience to the refuser are not taken freely and heartily I wish his wits more freedome and his heart more loyalty then so to judge If the oath had stayed at the recognition of his Majesties right vnto the Crowne and had not mentioned the Popes Authority or any restrictions concerning the same the heauinesse and extreamitye of the penaltye appoynted against the refusors and so much aggrivated by this Gent. had not beene charged as a compulsarie cause or any privation or impediment to the freedome of the Catholikes consciences whereby it is made evident that not the manner but the matter of the said oath it is that stingeth and offendeth them
the heart of man at the Creation so was it also reduced and comprised by the Wisedome of God into the Tables of the Morall Law in the which for as much as we haue an expresse commandement of honor and obedience to gouernors that must remaine fixed in our hearts to hold vs firme in the Bond of allegiance Then let P. R. and all his conjoyned Catholikes as hee vaunteth make it plaine vnto vs that eyther Nature hath implanted or the Commandements of God haue enioyned therepressing or deposing of such Princes vppon any exceptions surmizes or accusations whatsoeuer As for the Law of Nations because that is but secundary and derivatiue from the other what hath beene averred of the one holdeth the same respect and certainty as doth the roote it selfe from whence it issueth yet before wee depart from this Argument of Natures working I haue to note that this cunning and curious Composer of Bookes and Contriuer of cases doth in this his chiefe proposition worke himselfe quite out of the question and putteth the Pope cleane out of the doores for the question being of the power of the Pope that is of the power authority and iurisdiction of a Forraine Commander and Iudge he telleth vs that God and Nature hath left some sufficient authority in euery Common-wealth c. which directly maketh the Popes preheminency with vs altogether needelesse and a very nullity sith by his owne sayings and that more agreeable to reason there is sufficient authority within the Land not requiring any his 〈◊〉 or vsurpations to the gouerning of that body which is of it selfe compleate and liueth by the vigor spirit and powerfull opperation of his owne soule his lawfull Soueraigne Thus is the Pope as touching the first reason drawne from the Law or Right of Nature or Nations either left out by him or cast out by me from repressing of Princes or 〈◊〉 himselfe within these our Countries or Territories The second reason bringeth a better Commission that will make way through all repugnances it is inforced in the name and authority of Christ himselfe and it is thus chayned together for impregnable strength Christ was to found is Common-wealth of Christians the farre more perfection then other states had before been establishe subjecting temporall things to spirituall and appointing a Supreame Vniuersall gouernour in the same with a generall charge to looke to all his sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates Therefore hee inferreth that the Supreame care iudgement direction and censure of the matter in question was left by Christ vnto the sayd Supreame 〈◊〉 or Pastor of his Church and Common-wealth But it was doubted whether this power was committed to the supreame Pastor directly and immediatly or indirectly and by consequence The Canonists out of the Commission vnto St. Peter Pose ones meas do hold the direct and immediate authority charge and ouersight in temporallities The Catholike Diuines vpon whom the brunt and pressure by 〈◊〉 must bee sayed haue thought it safer to chuse the indirect and consequentiall which they expresse in this manner When the gouernment of spirituall affaires is impugned by any temporall Gouernors so as the sayd spirituall Commission cannot be executed without redresse or remedy 〈◊〉 and in such cases the said Supreame Pastor is to haue authority to proceede against the temporall gouernors Also for the defence and preseruation of his spirituall charge but both parts fully are agreed that there is such authority left by Christ in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessity thereof Here is goodly building of Castles in the ayre Castles did I say Nay of the Tower of Babell in the steede of the City of God Christ sayth hee was to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection then other states c. why Christs intentions erections and perfections were all to saue sinners and to bring them vnto Heauen what proofe is this that hee was to found the Popish Hyerarchy or the Antichristian Monarchy and what is this farre more perfection c. Is it an outward pompe or power to chayne and fetter Princes vnder a temporall obedience of a Spirituall Vsurper What is this same subjecting of temporall things to spirituall is it to make a Minister or Bishop of Heauenly matters tyrannous and rampant ouer the temperall states setting their imperiall feete vppon the neckes of Lyons and Dragons what is the nature end and eminency of the spirituall Kingdome of Christ is it any other then the Preaching of the Gospell the way of salvation and the possessing of euerlasting life Then what straightnesse what extractions doth the Limbeckes of their braines bewitched with temporall vanities make of a worldly rule and Dominion He was to appoint one Supreame and 〈◊〉 Gouernor c. we on the other side constantly denying this their principle doe easily bring them to the end of their wits yet wee will pocket vp one confession in this place which hee is likely to forsake and not acknowledge another time In more perfection sayth hee then other states had before beene established acknowledging thereby that vnder the Law and in the old Testament the temporall was not subject to the spirituall Hath hee not well collected and conected his propositions to bring out this grand conclusion of superiority ouer Princes doth he not neede a distinction of proofe to make these parts that cleaue like sand to hold together against the breach which wee are to make vppon him His distinction of direct or indirect shal be directly anoyded and his great Mace which hee beareth vp in his March of state of Ordine ad Deum must bee directed and ordered to a better sence and his commission of pasce shall bee examined how farre it can authorize him to assume the pretented power If hee will but thanke me for it I will befriend him a little with my directions I will chalke him out his way with a straight line by the which hee must be brought and passe along if he desireth to come right vppon the conclusion I will distribute his journey into seuerall baytings or reposes otherwise called common places I doubt it will prooue a long labour and very troub esome to carry his commission along with him hee is like to venture himselfe in many straights and hazardable passages and will be often stayed by the Kings Watch but more often foundred by the rubs and roughnesse of the way which hee is to walke through He must begin and set forth at this poynt 1 That Christ purposing to found his Common-wealth of Christians in farre more perfection c. hath appoynted the same to be an absolute Monarchy vnder one supreame and vniversall Governour visible eminent and knowne as the head on earth in all causes of Christs kingdome 2 Next who that individuall person is whom Christ appointed to be such a Monarche and by what commission is he assigned thereunto and
a geminall vnderstanding thereof yet such charge is not thereby more appropriate to Peter then to other Apostles but if they so far tender out the same to make them beget vnto vs a Pastor of Pastors a Bishop of Bishops a supreame and soveraigne governor of the whole Church I may not yeeld their logick such libertie as to conclude so vnconsequently Againe allow that in this commission and charge every Pastor were required not only to instruct the sheepe of his fold with wholesome doctrine of faith but also to have an eye to their life and conversation to reprove them admonish them and censure them with ecclesiasticall discipline what is that to the governing in secular affaires or to the claime of such an vnlimmited power by the Popes intrusion I may not yeelde to their Rhetoricke such a preuayling or perswading power as that where they cannot shape so much as a shadow there they shall erect and create the true substance of a more then Monarchiall principallity It is heere auouched that Catholike exposition includeth within this worde Pasce the commission of gouerning also Therefore many Catholikes that will rather hazard the exclusion of his if they bee Catholikes then they will condiscend to this interpretation A graue and profound Catholike one of the pillers of papacy Cardinall Baronius being to animate and confirme his Holinesse proceedings against the Venetians for their great sinne of executing Iustice against men of clericall habit in causes criminall and ciuilly punishable passed ouer this Text of Pasce as not sufficiently seruing the turne to prooue the Popes right of jurisdiction in such t̄eporall affaires and thereuppon interpreting and applying the same restrictiuely to the teaching function made choyce of a fitter peece of Scripture to accommodate vnto that case and to put into the Popes hand for the justification of that excesse of his authority Hee maketh the office of St. Peter to be two-fold the first of feeding and teaching comprised in the word Pasce the other of correcting and chastifing contayned in the words of Christ vsed in the vision of the beasts presented to Peter occide et manduca kill and eate You see that hee was content to leaue that leane and pining application of Pasce and to finde out a more stinging Text that might pierce to the very quicke of the cause doth not this same occide et manduca giue authority to draw blood putting the Sword into his Holinesse hand to execute at his will and pleasure such as hee shall recon Beasts without exception of great and small people or potentates Is it not made evident thereby that all sorts of people whatsoever cleane or vncleane high or low friend or foe are as it were tyed and bundled vp together and so subiected and abiected at his feete to feed vpon and satiate his devouring appetites It maketh no matter for the proper sense of the text figuring and signifying Iew or Gentile the wrest and streine thereof serveth best to his purpose cutting even to the core of this question Old Father Barronius in his dreame espied more then young S. Peter could apprehend by vision He hath found and inferred out of that place that which St. Peter if hee lived to this day except his successors did teach him could never have gessed at the Excommunication and further degradation of States and Soueraignes In the same his encoraging advice to his Holinesse which I rather recount because it so evenly matcheth with their moderne divinity hee stirreth vp the fainting spirit of the Pope with a Memento te positum esse in Petram Remember that thou art placed for Rocke whosever rusheth against thee shall be crushed all to peeces Therefore where his Holinesse layeth a heavie hand to his fulminating censures there no resistance rescue or reliefe can availe to defend from destruction For this Prophesie is as fitly appliable to the Viear of Christ as it was directly and properly referred to Christ himselfe Thus this learned Cardinall bestowed vpon his Holinesse as he were the very image and character of Christ vpon earth the self-same attribute and exaggeration vsed in scripture to set forth the might and dignity of our redeemer Nay further hee will needs comfort the Pope with the application of that to his person in perticuler which Christ assured to his whole Church in generall that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against him and will earthly Princes then persume to shut his Holinesse out of dores Hee that hath a power over Hell it selfe shall not he commaund and over-rule the earth These beeing the proude and prophane conceits which they have of that Idoll of Rome their imagined Lieutenant of Christ they draw not only from the Spouse of Christ the rich ornaments of her glory to deck that bewitching Harlot with but also hold it no robberie to enrobe the man of sinne with the gracefull and blessed titles of the Sonne of God for which so Luciferian and blasphemous arrogatings I doubt it will not be made good and verified that the gates of hell shall not be shut against him I must confesse that I like better of the simplicitie of our mitigator in misliking vpon the poore probability of reason picked out of the word Pasce and that rather by a consequence then by any direct induction then I doe of the affected and vnserchable subtilty of this Cardinall and some others who studying for vnwonted straynes and forcings doe cast beyond the Moone to magnifie or dignifie his Holinesse aboue the Sunne I will be bold to set downe some more of these deepe digged and far-fetched argum̄ets not with any purpose to vouchsafe them any time or paines for answere but euen to admire if not exclaime at the impious and presump tuous absurdity of such their so frivolous and most strange inferences Pope Bonifacius the eight that layd the first stone of this Babilonian building out of the words of Christ vnto his Disciples in the twenty two of St. Luke they sayd vnto him behold here are two Swords Christ answered it is sufficient By these two Swords sayth Boniface Christ meaneth the spirituall and temporall both the which are left by our Sauiour for the defence and preseruation of his Church and because there would be no order but mutiny tumult and confusion if these swords should not well agree therefore there must needes be employed and intended by Christ a subjection and subalteration of the one sword vnto the other and both depending vpon one Supreame Command From this supposed authority of Christs leauing and recommending both Swords vnto his Church Boniface tooke vppon him the power of both Swords and caused to be passed as an Article of Faith that the Pope is supreame ouer both estates spirituall and temporall and shortly after in a Iubile publikly shewed himselfe with a key in one hand and a sword in the other And that hee may the better maintaine the taking of the sword hee further argueth that one
of the swords was his prodecessors St. Peters sword it being well knowne that Peter had a sword because Christ sayd vnto him put vp thy sword shall I neede to make any refutation of this collection or assertion being declared not as positiue out of the word but expository by a sence which the Pope assumeth Let me yet gather vp this note by the way that it was good fortune that Christ did command St. Peter to put vp his sword else perhaps the sharpenesse and weight thereof had long since light vppon the heads and neckes of Princes as well as it cut off the eare of Malchas for the same pretence which occasioned him to draw vppon Malchas in rescue and maintainance of his Maister Christ might incite the high courages of his supposed successors to bee as actiue with their blades and forces for the support and furtherance as they alledge of the Christian faith and religion impugned or impeached by temporall Potentates I would now know of Maister P. R. whether hee accounteth the exposition and decree of Bonifacius the Pope to bee Catholike and Orthodoxall if hee doe not wee also will take by his example the like liberty of acceptance or dislike in any the Articles of Faith concluded and adiudged by his Holinesse If hee doe then what neede hee bee so slye and mistrustfull in affirming the same Doctrine absolueth also without any distinctions and cooling quallifications as if hee were either ashamed of confession or afraid of conviction when hee hath such an argument ab authoritate to a rest him to stand vnto it Why should hee I say runne about the bush with a Commission direct and indirect when hee cannot but know that Bonifacius was resolute in opinion that his power ouer Princes and in temporallities was absolute without any oblique consequence or respectiue dependency jumping therein plainly and fully with the Canonists Papa est Dominus totius orbis directe in temporalibus How would this so well tempered and timorous mitigator bee brought to iustifie the hautinesse of Pope Clament the fifth successor to Bonifacius who not satisfied with the rule and command ouer temporall and earthly states did brauely adventure by his papall Bull expressely to enioyne and command Angels to execute his will Me thinketh I should aske him also whether hee will hold consonancy of iudgement with his owne Country-man and good friend the renowned Cardinall Allen who in his Appology for the English Catholikes out of the miraculous working of St. Peter mentioned in the fifth of the Acts of sentencing to suddaine death Ananias and Saphira doth no lesse miraculously wring out this great Ministery of excommunicating censuring and other proceedings against Princes There is no parcell of Scripture wherein any mention is made of St. Peter but if it can be racked to affoord them any patterne or patronship for either their deedes or decrees it is miserably torne and tormented to vndergoe that seruice Not so much as the power of Keyes but it must needes bee made a picke locke to possesse prisons Castles and Towers The Key of knowledge for the sauing of soules is turned to a Key of powre to deprive Princes the binding and loosing of sinnes is but a very legerdemaine of fast and loose at the Popes pleasure the fishing for men to bring them to eternall life is made a pretence for spreading his nets to catch and conquer whole States and Dominions The Pastorall Sheep-hooke subdueth Kingly Scepters Saint Peters Aurum argentum non habeo doth now glitter in all the pompious and copious varietye of riches and the promise of Christ Dabo tibi claues regni caelorum is not so much esteemed as the offer of the Devill Dabo tibi c. All these things will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship mee If the Pope will needs enioy a right of succession of all that Christ sayd vnto Saint Peter let him not refuse also Get thee behinde mee Sathan and O thou of little faith Nay the denying of Christ so expressely imitated in the declining degenerating and sliding away from the sinceritye of the Gospell is apparently branded vpon this Antichristian iniquity where Saint Peters either example or precept fitteth not their turnes there they will not vse or rather cannot relieve it and could be well pleased that it were put over to their Ezponctorius his charge and admonition that they subiect themselves vnto all manner of ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the King as vnto the Superior or vnto Governours as sent of him for the punishment of evill doers and for the prayse of them that doe well And likewise his beseeching of the Elders as his fellow Pastors that they feede the flocke not as Lords over Gods Heritage will not fashion to or cohere with their owne proude doctrines of exemption from Temporall Authoritye of opugning and repressing Princes of their Lordlinesse over their fellow-Ministers of their desisting from Teaching and Preaching and of Saint Peters Primacy to reare vp the Romane Papacy And therefore must be censured interpreted distinguished abridged and limited by such curtelings and consterings as the glosser or goulfe of the Sea of Rome shall devise for the best advantage In the like manner doe they all so deale with Christ himselfe whom whence they fetch and found the originall of theyr lineally derived Popedome Christ professed himselfe and so instructed his Disciples to bee humble and meeke but how doth the Pope tread that path not so much in the exercise of his owne Lowlinesse or in the abstinence from high state and loftye cariage as in the depressing of the mightynesse and power of Lawfull Soveraignes reducing or enforcing them to be meeke indeede in a degree of base and contemptible humiliation Christ refused to be made a Iudge in a Civill or Temporall cause the Pope maketh himselfe Iudge of any debates that by any pretext can be conceived to be fit for his cognizance Christ bad Giue vnto Caesar that which was Caesars The Pope robbeth Cesar of his treasure of his honor of his power of his rights and of his subiects Christ declareth his kingdome not to be of this world the Pope besides his owne Temporall Soveraignity will haue an Oare and commaund in all the States of Christendome In which part of the Temporall kingdome of Christ in this life P. R. is much cumbered and put to his shift to finde out an even cutting distinction to saue the repugnancye of Christs sayings The Canonists and some other Catholikes out of these words All power is given vnto mee in Heaven and in Earth doe conclude that besides his Spirituall government of our Soules he hath a kingly Dominion also vppon our bodies and goods and vppon all the Kingdomes of the earth and might iustly haue exercised all actions of temporall iurisdictions as casting into prison appoynting new Offices Kings and great Monarckes Marke how they compell our Sauiour Iesus Christ to
sallogize against himselfe All power is giuen to mee in Heauen and in Earth but my Kingdome to bee of this World is such a power Ergo my Kingdome is of this same World Now obserue also his witty and substantiall reconcilement hee had a Kingly temporall power in this life but hee renounced the vse and priuiledge of the same Or thus hee had no direct Dominion vppon temporall things yet indirectly for preseruation of his spirituall Dominion hee had and might haue vsed the same and in that sence left it to his successour Is not this most shamelesse and direct abusing of Christ and his most Sacred Word When hee sayd at another time that the Foxes had holes and the Birds of the Ayre had nests but the Sonne of man had no place to hide his head If these expositors had then beene knowne to his Apostles they would haue replyed Sir you haue places of refuge but you renounce the vse and priviledge thereof or albeit you haue not any place directly yet indirectly for the necessity of your function you haue all palces at your Command or if you haue not in your owne indiuiduall person yet in your Successors you must needes haue else how should they maintayne the hauing and inhabiting of such Royall and Magnificent edifices wherein they keepe such stately and more then imperiall Courts What is this else then to tell Christ hee wotteth not what hee sayth and to enter him like a Novice in their new Schooles of equiuocation to learne their falatious mentall preseruations But admit it to be incident into their Offices to interpret Christ as themselues listeth How doth it happen that the rightfull successors of Christ doth not also succeede him in his modestye humilitye povertye and meekenesse especially beeing commaunded to learne of him and so in like sort as Christ did renounce the vse and priviledge of Temporall Power or whence haue these successors their so plenarye and direct preheminence when from Christ they could convey it but indirectlye and by consequence Or can they make any demonstration or playne proofe of the stint and circuite of time at the periode or expiration whereof that Temporall Dominion which in Christ was Indirect and Potenticall should become vnto the Pope Direct and Ordinarye Or was there not as vrgent cause that Christ in respect of the many letts impeachments and impediments which he met withall should for the preservation of his Spirituall Dominion directly or indirectly in some sort or other betake himselfe to his Temporall Authoritye Except they will say that hee was in his owne person militant and suffering but in these his successors triumphant and glorious Let mee then bee answered Whether such a Succession hath any image or representation of that first type or patterne which sayde Learne of mee To manifest yet more discerningly the idlenesse the fraude and vnfit applying of this distinction let them know that is not to be trusted vnto because it will serue their adversaries as well as themselues for where the question may be propounded and disputed whether temporall Princes may suppresse or remooue Popes if the authorities alleadged out of Gods Word and the Histories of the Church shall not suffice to giue in evidence for any such direct and vndoubted preheminence in Princes then we may make bold of this their make-shift distinction that Princes haue euer had such a power annexed and proper to their governing charge though they haue forborne the vse and preuiledge thereof or that indirectly and by consequence for the vpholding of their states and keeping of their people in obedience which by so many Popish practises is dayly perverted they may and ought to exercise and execute the same Moreouer let it be examined how and from what originall this distinction draweth his pedigree what bosome or heate did first hatch it and what causes of weight doth still nourish and continue the same Mr. P. R. hath fully acquainted vs with the certainty thereof For if Christ sayth he should not haue left such an authority in his Church for remedy of vrgent causes hee should not haue sufficiently provided for the necessity thereof It is maruaile that this our Moderator and mollifying Mittigator did not vse the word of conveniency in the stead of necessity to haue avoyded the disadvantage of the stricktnesse of that word can there concerning the subsistance and stability of the Church any more vrgent causes to be imagined for the vpholding thereof then there was in the first times of the primitiue purity or is the vsurping power of the supreame Pastor his ouer awing or over peering of Princes his correcting and repressing of them by alienating subiects and egging enemies against them any constitutiue causes or essentiall necessities of the Church I will not deny but that the height and eminency wherevnto the Bishops of Rome haue aspired by encroching vpon the rights and vndermining the states of temporall Gouernors as indeede to be provided for and maintayned by this presupposed necessity But the purity the poverty the simplicity the feruency of the first fathers and propagators of the faith and Church of Christ needed none of these humaine and worldly additaments none of these temporall encountrings or conflicting with Potentates no such foreseeing perpecations to affront all occurting causes nor any such politiciall circumventings and fortifications for defence and offence against Princes They conquered powers and principalities but with the spirituall Armor of God they beate vppon them with the hammer of the word they cut deeply into the secrets of their soules with the sword of the spirit they prayed for their peace and prosperity they embrased the very persecutions with obedience and for the countenancing fauours by giuing them respit from affliction and the sunne shine of liberty they honoured them as the nursing fathers of the Church when I contemplate the composute and frame of the Popish Monatchy and the linking together of so many cunningly contrived positions tending all of them to the encrease of gaine and advance of Honor to the Sea of Rome I wish that some excellent Scholler extraordinarily endued would out of his many obseruations collected exhibite vnto the world in imitation of Matchauell who made the shames and vices of the house of Florence the patterne of a perfite Prince this Antichrist of Rome as a true president of Tyranny and Vsurpation by publishing with an apt resemblance as well the vilde and vnchristian practises as also the false and pernicious articles whereby he hath atchived so strange matters and attained vnto so vnmeasurable greatnesse which my desire is the more increased the more I consider how the webs of that worke hath ensuared if not enthralled Christian people euen in the carriage of this controversie I haue traced the foot-steps of many politicke reaches and now in the closing vp of the matter a faire traine is layd to catch and lay hold vpon an easie follower which we must not so suddenly passe by as
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
great Bishop or rather Patriarke of Rome how did hee inuey against that tytle of vniuersall Bishop as an arrogant stile calling Iohn Patriarke of Constantinople the fore-runner of Antichrist for assuming of such a title or authority may it not stagger this stout Champion of Popery to heare from the mouth of a successor of St. Peter such a detestation of that stile as Antichristian which is auouched to haue beene the ordinance of Christ yet did Bonifacius that succeeded him ambitiously affect nd accept the very same appellation giuen to him from Phocas the Emperour 600 yeares after Christ as is sayd before 21 Here if I should let in vpon him a sea of proofes that the Pope is clearely convicted to be not a fore-runner as Gregory speakes but the very same Antichrist described by so many particularities in Daniel the Appocalips in St. Paul and other places of the Holy Scripture he would neuer be able to scape drowning but would be so over-whelmed in those depthes that hee could neuer more get forth yea or stirre either hand or foote for his swimming to any shore and the great disputant could then hold his breath no longer in this question euen sinking downe to the bottome after all his strength spent in vaine by striuing to hold vp his head 22 Now to draw to the issue in hand wee must trouble him to make manifest vnto vs what is the true extent of this so high power and vniuersall charge in St. Peter or any other his successors and whether the same do include any temporall iurisdiction and entermedling in civill causes to the deciding iudging or ordering thereof 23 Lastly to bring him home to his rest and to the ground whereupon hee must reare his foundation hee must euict by proofe that the Supreame Vniuersall Romane Bishop by force or tenor of any Commission giuen by Christ and transferred vnto St. Peter and so diriuatiuely and successiuely conueyed ouer to him may censure iudge or depose Princes taking vppon him the decision of Regall rights assayling of Subiects from obedience animating at home rebellion are from abroad invasion and that vnder protext of aduancing of the Ecclesiasticall regiment of soules and the good of Catholike Religion This is the highest ladder of the Popes eminency to the which exaltation hee cannot otherwise assend then by these stayres and steps before rehearsed which must lead him vp to his lofty consistoriall Chayre If any of these stayres bee loose and faile him hee falleth vnrecouerably and shall neuer bee able to assume the power which hee pretendeth himselfe to bee lawfully possessed of But when of all these exceptions and interruptions cast in his way hee can cleare or assure not any one his presumption in taking so much vppon him will but argue his all daring boldnesse and his striking close to the conclnsion when the premises runne another way will make euen Children to scoffe at the want of judgement in his so great vndertakings By these few indissoluable questions amongst infinite others for all the world knoweth what a world of doubts and what a sea of controuersies is encompassed in this cause This P. R. or rather R. P. if hee would be better knowne that would seeme to bee so iudicious in his resolues and so modest and moderate in his assertions might haue beene put in minde to stay his confidence in concluding so Magistraliter that case with his peremptory est amen which hath so many stopps windings and euen breake necke passages as hath hetherto perplexed and plunged the whole Alphabet of their owne Authors By that time that he hath runne through the explication and proofe of the particuler difficulties before propounded hee will somewhat slacke the heate of his audacious affirmations and to let him know that this poynt as wee now propound it and debate it is not amongst the Catholike wrighters themselues so clearely and generally agreed vppon as hee avoucheth for hee sayth that in this there is no difference of opinion or beleefe in any sort of Catholikes whatsoeuer so they bee Catholikes I must remember him if hee forget not his owne name yea and his nick-names too that in the bitter contentions and fiery conflicts betweene the Priests and the Iesuites a principall matter of their variance was this That the Priests vtterly condemned this Turbulent and Sedicious opinion of the Iesuites That the Pope might and ought to intermeddle in the temporall rights and preheminencies of Princes and that he had a powre to depose and deiect them at his pleasure Doth not William Watson the Priest in his booke of quidlibets bestow a whole Chapter with much earnestnes of spirit and variety of arguments vpon this very subiect making in the same this R. P. the obiect of his scornings and revilings Doth he not in many places of that worke impute all the causes of the many troubles and extremities which they vndergoe in England to the violent spirits and treacherous practizings of the Iesuites who neglecting or despising the Ministeriall function are become meere Statists and negotiating factors of the Sea of Rome disturbing the quiet of all Countryes where they be entertained and working wicked stratagems and damnable devices against Soveraigne Princes Hath hee so soone forgotten or can hee so bold'y dissemble in what sort the said Priests vncased and discovered him for his many notorious and scandalous intermedlings in 〈◊〉 Perhaps he will say that they be no Catholikes for so he enterposeth if they be Catholikes he dareth not to lop away at once so many chiefe lims so many strong armes yea such stocks and plants of the popish religion though the said Priests doe not feare or spare to affirme that the Iesuites are not any certaine order or vocation in the Church being rather to be reckoned as their vse and imployment is to be Lay-men States-men busie-bodies pragmaticall agents beyond all limits of any spirituall calling yet it is necessary if he will constare sibi to stand to it that seeing they vary from him in this part of doctrine they be no Catholikes because in this refusing and refuting of his Majesties distinction of the difference of Papists he expresly affirmeth that he that holdeth not all and every Article assented vnto and established in the Church he is not to be accounted Catholike acording to St. Augustine Catholicum is constered to be secundum totam and not secundum partem I will leaue the Priests to defend that they be better Catholikes then he notwithstanding this discrepance and my selfe will revert to the parting place where occasion was taken to make this digression There is offered for plea the words of the institution and the very authenticall enstallment made by Christ himselfe Pasce oues me as which words include say they acording to Catholike exposition not only authority to feede but to governe also direct restraine cure represse and correct when neede is Allow that these words doe appoint and institute a pastorall charge which is
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
to appertayne to the Crowne Imperiall of this Land doth after in another set Treatise published purposedly or rather maliciously to traduce and discredit our gouernment and to vphold the Popes and Cardinall Bellarmines censures concerning the Oath of Allegiance like a very Changling fall quite away from this his former so earnestly pro ferred and promised conformity declareth himselfe to be so farre from affoording his Majesty by oath his supremacy of preseruation in causes Ecclefiasticall as that he holdeth it vnlawfull for a Catholike conscience to take the oath of Temporall Allegiance as repugnant to the Religion of the Church of Rome will not euery man of vnderstanding admire how the same person can refuse to sweare Allegiance Temporall that hath so readily and hotly granted a Supremacy Spirituail To induce me to beleeue that it is all one person that hath so vndertaken to act vnto vs two so repugnant parts I haue besides fame and report and a kind of idempnity in the phrase and stile some very approveable probabilities his mencioning of the powder-treason in these weake and tender tearmes of that headlong action of a few Catholike Gentlemen and such other lamenting speeches for the euill cariage or miscarying of the enterprise without any one apt or right expressing word to denotate or condemne the foulenesse thereof is certainely moulded with the soft hand of this our countersetting kind-hearted mitigator his shaping and propounding of the generall question concerning the Popes authority over Princes is conceaved even in the same words which this P. R. hath vsed in delivering and expressing the same and then acquainteth vs with his supposall That it was never the meaning of such Catholikes as tooke the Oath of allegiance to deny simply and absolutely That the Pope as supreme Pastor of the Catholike Church hath any authority left him by Christ either directly or indirectly with cause or without cause in neuer so great a necessitie or for neuer so great and publike vtilitie of Christian religion to proceede against any Prince whatsoever temporally for his restraint or amendment Is not this the very same water of the same Cesterne He yet goeth further for better proofe and confirmacion of his said supposall by the selfe-same reasons set forth Verbatim for that they should thereby contradict the generall consent of all Catholike Divines and confesse that Gods providence for the conservacion and preservacion of his Church and kingdome vpon earth hath beene defectuous for that hee should haue left no lawfull remedy for so great and excessive an evill as that way might fall out I had set the print of my fingers vpon all and every of these words before so that by that brand they were presently knowne vnto mee and their Author or owner apparantly discovered howsoever as a Iesuite he stileth himselfe Gent. who bound to no order may assume any shape Then presupposing vpon these likelyhoods that in the pursute of this my slippery adversary Iesuite or Gent. I haue met with him againe as at a new turning I must not let him escape vntill hee make mee a good answere how he can affirme for the King a Supremacy Ecclesiasticall for preserving of the Church and yet alledge against the oath of allegiance a more supreame power in the Pope to suppresse and annihilate that Supremacy and that in a course of Temporall Supereminency I ever tooke Supremacy to be such a superlative as admitteth no superior I never heard of any subalternate supremacy it hath too harsh and absurd a sound but that any temporall Prince absolute of himselfe vndependent vppon any higher on earth immediate to God Almighty should be over-awed or over-topped by the pretended primacy of a Luciferian Prelate and that by the brandishing of a temporall sword and imploying forces coercians temporall what can be more vnsensible to be conceaved more vnreasonable to be maintayned or more impious to be practized Yet the only cause and couler why the Pope commandeth and the Cardinall adviseth the Catholikes of England to forbeare and refuse to take the oath of allegiance is this That in the said oath is couched and included the derogation and renunciation of the sufficiency and absolutenesse of the Popes authority over or against his Majestie claymed by vertue of his high office of supreame Pastor whereby he is enabled to proceed against any Prince whatsoever temporally for his restraint and amendement or to permit other Princes to do the same So that the question of the lawfulnesse of this oath and the question argued in these few leaves of my labor concerning the Popes arrogant Vsurpation hath not any threed of difference sorting both alike to one and the same purpose Therefore if vnto my former refutation of the Mittigators immoderate attribution of power vnto the Pope I shall ioyne some few animadvercions vpon the epistoling Gentlemen also an alter idem of P. R. for the better observing and discovering of his deceitfull and disloyall cariage in the reproving of that oath it will be a continuance of the same skirmish and the like battering of the same bulwarke which the pride of Rome hath erected and endeavoreth to fortifie against the dignity of Kings and the truth of God First I observe that howsoever he vndertaketh in generall tearmes to make good the Popes desision touching the refusall of that oath on the part of his Maiesties Catholikes subiects yet in his perticuler arguing thereupon as if he were also another Pope whom as a iudge it becommeth not to dispute he discusseth not the severall parts to be disliked in the oath or setteth forth plainly and contradictorily the words which hee will hold or maintaine to be vnlawfull or cumbersome to the squemish conscience of their pretended Catholikes whereby a true state or issue of the matter in question might be taken in consideration but in stead of such expresse and positiue mentioning of the disliked parts of that oath glideth away in his glosing fashion wiht bare affirmation of dangerous doctrinall clauses conteining matter of faith craftely conioyned together with the exacting of civill duty preiudiciall to the integritie and purity of Catholike religion This kind of handling a controuersie is rather resoluing then reasoning and more Pope like in determining as a Iudge then Scholler like in demonstrating as a Disputer Why doth hee not to euery branch of the sayd oath affixe and oppose his negatiue without any such faynt plea or fumbling and broken speeches cut of with c. Will the distinction of direct and indirect as he maketh it to serue the Pope for actions and authorities so serue his turne also in speaking and argumenting standeth it with any Logicall rules to induce or inforce conclusions indirectly by conception and application which ought to be produced directly in a full opposition to the questioned proposition Then where the oath hath these plaine words that the Pope hath not any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose any his Maiesties