not cleered by the Quilibet it cannot in the case of so notorious a chaunge stand with the policy of this State to allow and imbracâ— it Besides if it were apparant that the say de toleration would bring with it an assured and perpetuall security to her Maiesty and her Kingdomes yet till it appeare to be iustifiable by the lawe of God it ought not from the Scepter of a Christian Prince to receyue allowance Let vs examine therefore what proofe hee hath of this pretended security The Assumption is to acquaint vs herewith First hee sheweth the security her Maiesty reapeth thereby It is saith he a preuention of all daungers to her Royall Person for it will discouer them Therefore it will secure her present interest For answere to the Antecedent and the reason thereof it may please the Reader to allow my remittance of him to the refutation already set downe of the same in the sixt and eyght argument The consequence inferred thereon is no lesse idle and vnworthy then the Antecedent For hee so reasoneth as if her Maiesties royall interest and State did wholy and entirely rest in the safety of her Person whereas in trueth it is in generall extendable to each particular of her Soueraignety so as shee may bee free from daunger in her Royall Person and yet suffer exceeding preiudice by incrochment vppon her Crowne and Supremacy by reconcilement of her Subiects to the obedience of a forrayne potentate by courses held for the ruine of the Gospell established by her authority by practises for discouery of her resolutions and for betraying some parte of her dominions vnto her enemies The Quilibets consequence therefore being the concluding of a generall vppon a particular is to receyue no approbation from vs. Secondly touching the security that is to growe to the State in generall the grounde of his dispute is the same which is set downe in the precedent argument of safety to her Highnesse Person and therefore to receyue the same aunswere Thirdly concerning the Nobility and Bishops hee yeeldeth no proofe of sesecurity growing by toleration vnto them as in deede he cannot it being cleere that they shall receyue thereby speciall preiudice if not presently yet at least in regard of the proceedings likely to bee held for vndermining the Soueraignety of her Maiesty and the State in generall both Ecclasiasticke and Ciuill vnlesse it bee conceyued that they are not to communicate in the publique calamities and miseries of the Common-wealth The Honourable and Reuerend Fathers of our Churche are not I graunt immediatly vpon the admittance of toleration to sustayne any hinderance in they present incumbency and the authority annexed thereto or any abatement in theyr reuenewes But who can warrant and assure theyr continuance in these termes for any tyme Considering they are to haue on the part of the Catholiques sundry concurrents who out of opinion that the honour and present interest of the places Episcopall belongeth vnto them will accordingly prepare the way for theyr future inuestiture For a further inducement of our allowance to toleration hee perswadeth it pag. 271. The thirteenth motiue therefore is this Her Maiestie permitteth Puritans Brownists Barowists Familians Therefore she may with like reason tolerate the free exercise of Popery Concerning the Antecedent such of them as doe scandalously and with schisme withdrawe themselues from our publique congregations refusing there to serue the Lorde with vs in Prayer in hearing the word preached and receyuing the Sacraments her Maiesty permitteth not but punisheth theyr contempt and irreligious cariage according to the lawe prouided in that behalfe The Antecedent therefore contaynes an vntruth The consequence also deduced from it is no lesse exorbitant and out of square For first the Sectaries mentioned in the Antecedent holde not for ought I knowe any opinions directly opposite eyther to the Maiesty of God or her Highnesse Soueraignety as the Romanist doth and they were neuer found as I thinke conuict of treasonable practises agaynst her sacred Person and the State as numbers haue beene of the Romish faction Secondly if they did disloyally offend both in opinion and practise yet could it stand with no policy by admittance of Popery to adde a multitude of Romanists to the sayd Sectaries and so to suffer a multiplication and increase of disloyall Subiects Thirdly the perill from the sayde Sectaries and the English Romanists is not to her Maiesty and the State alike the latter being more daungerous then the former not onely in opinion of doctrine and vndutifull cariage but for theyr number and dependency at home and abroade And this is the iudgement of the State as may appeare by the sundry penall statutes prouided agaynst the one and not agaynst the other So as there is not the like reason for toleration of the Romanist as there is for permission of the Brownist and the rest But the Quilibet fearing the weakenesse of the sayd consequence doth thus strengthen it The consequence deduced by Athenagoras in his Apologie to the Emperor Commodus from the sayde Emperors allowance of other sects to perswade his allowance of the Christians was sounde and warrantable Therefore the consequence from her Maiesties permission of the aboue named sectaries to perswade her toleration of the Romanists and theyr religian is likewise sound If the Brownists and the rest aboue mentioned were as impious in opinion as the Heretiques and Idolaters permitted by the Emperour Commodus and if the English Romanists were in the articles of religion as sound and in the practise of obedience to theyr Soueraigne as loyall as the Christians were in whose fauour Athenagoras tendred his apology humble sute I would then take no exception to the sayd consequence but allow of it for such as were no lesse iustifiable then that of Athenagoras But sith there appeareth a mayne difference betwixt our Romanists and the sayd Christians these being free from iust charge of Idolatry agaynst God and of disloyaltie towards the Emperour whereas the sayd Romanists stand conuinced of both and sith likewise the Barowists and Brownists doe offend in a lesse degree of error and impiety then the Sectaries and Idolaters to whom the sayd Emperor allowed place for the exercise of their superstition we must censure and reiect the Quilibets consequence in the case proposed for an inconsiderate poynt of sophistrie The fourteenth argument The persecuting Emperours in former ages allowed vnto the Christians some places for exercise of their religion and were farre from inflicting such a generall and heauy affliction vpon them as the English Catholikes doe sustayne Therefore her Maiestie being behinde none of them in goodnes of nature should shew the like fauour to the English Romanists The Quilibet being carefull to record and publish to the worlde her Maiesties proceedings agaynst some Papists for such as exceed in barbarousnes and tyranny the acts and courses of the greatest persecuton that euer breathed vnder the Sunne doth not out of his owne conceit and in
Scepter and the Gospell professed amongst vs. The grounds or verifying this assertion we shall finde dispersed and deliuered in seuerall passages of his Quodlibets In his preamble thereto imparting with vs some other collaterall ends of diuulging the same hee doth with solemnitie protest and auerre his intent herein also to bee the giuing vnto the Romish Church her due Now that which he supposeth to be due vnto the said church is a regall and vnlimited power in the Pope the head thereof to guide dispose and reforme all persons and causes Ecclesiastick hauing withall annexed thereto the prerogatiue of superiority aboue the Prince as he doth couertly insinuate pag. 221. where making the Ecclesiasticall state the first and principall of the two members in a body politicall and holding it for an infallible axiom that in the Pope absolutely resideth the supreme headship and soueraignty ouer the sayde State he cannot hereupon deduce other conclusion then that as the state of the Church hath an eminency and precedence aboue the Ciuill so the supreme head of the same state shall hold the like proportion of superiority ouer the soueraigne Commander of the Ciuill which is with vs her acred Maiesty If then this regality ouer both States be the due he would by publication of his Quodlibets restore and reinuest in the head of the Romish Church I wrong him not in charging him with this drift and intendment of exalting in this land that purple pontificall Antichrist of Rome with the fall of her Maiesty and the Gospell If he shall pleade that his giuing vnto the Sea of Rome her due is no more the capitall end propounded to his Decacordon then his freeing of the ignorant from error and his endeauour to make knowne what loyalty ought to bee in euery Subiect towardes his Prince and Countrey we may iustly except against this plea as being of no validity For sith the pamphlets which passed the presse before this Decacordon was tendered vnto vs doe labour to satisfie the Reader partly in the matter of difference betwixt the Secular and the Iesuit partly in the poyntes of duty owing from the Catholique subiect to the Prince the pretences mentioned here by the Quilibet cannot be allowed for sufficient vnlesse both the text in hand for informing herein the Readers â—nowledge and conscience be so obscure and the Reader likewise so dull of conceit as the one and the other require an iteration and supplie of quodlibeticall disputes Besides the question of the Subiects loyaltie to his Prince is so coldly and vnskilfully debated as in regarde of the insufficiency thereof to perswade it cannot be in common sense conceiued that the instruction of the Catholike Subiect in his cariage and affection to her Maiestie was specially intended by the Decacordon Wherein if hee had proceeded with purpose to informe and rectifie the iudgemÌ„et of misguided Catholikes hee should by light of argument out of the holy word of God haue cleered it vnto them that the alleageáce due from a subiect to his prince is of that nature and temper as in the case of any communication thereof with a forraine potentate whether in causes Ecclesiastick or Ciuil it ceaseth to be sincere and vnblemished This course being professedly omitted by him and the contrary inforced it is dotage or delusion to pretend the directing of Catholikes in the way of true and vndiuided obedience to her Maiestie But howsoeuer hee shall with complement and formality of speech colour the intent of his Decacordon yet that it is such as I charge him with may further appeare by calling into consideration not onely his patheticall and often protestations of indisguised obedience to the Pope euen to death accompanied with an humble submittance of all his actions and discourses to the censure of his venerable Holines and with a profession of vowed and most carefull endeauours on his part for conuersion of this Realme to the Sea Apostolique but especially the course he holdeth of winning fauour and reputation to his side by a palpable soothing and admiring of her Maiestie by extolling contrary to all former custome and humor in Romanists her Highnes proceedings by offer vnto her of all duty and seruice on the part of the Catholiques and likewise as well by infaming the Iesuits and discouery of their plots as by purging his fellow Seculars from all imputation of disloyalty and Treason Can hee holde this course and yet propound vnto himselfe no speciall end and employment of the grace and fauour he would obtayne Or can there be in discourse of reason other end and vse thereof then the fortifying and aduauncement of the faction whereof he is And can this aduauncement succeede and take place without the suppression of the Gospell The opposition of it and Popery being such that the one laboreth the subuersion of the other I doâ— therefore vpon his holding of the sayde course inferre that he intends thereby the reuiuing and erection of that forraine and Antichristian soueraynty ouer vs. Moreouer if his deseigne and intent were other then is charged he would not so affectionately meditate and presse the procurement and graunt of such meanes whereby the estate of her Maiesty might bee perilled and the proceedings of the holy Ministery established amongst vs impeached That hee doth insist hereupon and veremently affect the compassing thereof his Decacordon will giue testimony with me For in it he pleadeth for a repeale or mitigation of such penall Statutes as were enacted to secure her Maiesties royall person and the state of Religion against all attempts and practises as well of the Secular Priest as the Iesuit In it he vrgeth a toleration of the publique exercise of Popery as well in some Colledges of the Vniuersities to bee allotted to this seuerall vse and profession as in other partes and diuisions of the Realme And lastly in it vnder that odious name of Puritans hee doth with an extraordinary passion and rhetorique solicit an vtter extirpation of many thousands both as sound professors of the Gospell and as loyall subiects to her Maiesty as euer liued vnder the Sunne As the due execution of the sayde Statutes the suppression of Romish seducements in opinion and affection the multitude and loue of the subiects to her Maiesty with the sole intertainment of the Religion already authorised are capitall and infallible meanes of strength and surety to her Highnesse person and the sacred truth professed in her Kingdomes so vpon the withdrawing and fayling of them both the one and the other must quaile and determine But hee will deny the abolition of these meanes to be of so dangerous a sequell especially to her Maiesty considering that vpon the graunt of the repeale and toleration desired it is intended she should be against all treâ—sâ—nable attempts secured by sufficient caution Were not Romish Catholiques in a dreame or had they any politique sense or in case they did honourably apprehend of her Maiesties wisdome they would neuer propound so silly
any notable hurt or losse vnto themselues withdrawe their obedience from their Prince and doe otherwise finde themselues inabled for the prosecution of this seruice they doe then stand bound to see the say de Bull executed Now whereto is the publication of this seditious and treasonable doctrine addressed Is it not to resolue prepare and direct the hearts of all Catholique Subiects to a most disloyall attempt for displacing her Maiesty from her Imperiall throne with a finall extinction of the light of the Gospell Might he preuayle in his mediation for liberty to reconcile whome he could to obedience vnto the Sea Apostolique and for the ride dance of so many thousands her Highnes most affectionate seruants and Subiects as hee so often brandeth with the odious title of Puritans then would hee no longer dispute this question of expediency but found the alarum to the fielde And whereas now vpon consideration of the punishments iustly inflicted on the Catholiques for enterprising the execution of excommunications against her Maiesty he doth with all bitternes censure and reproue both the procurers and actors therof had their vnnaturall and detestable proceedings forâ—ed to effect then would he haue chaunted io poean and composed Panegyricks in their honour then should you neuer haue receiued from him any Satyres against the Iesuit But sith these Papalb censures haue in issue beene preiudiciall vnto them and occasioned question of their liues liberties and goods now out of pollicy to amusevs and to masque the cariage of their disseignes vnder the credit of the Seculars loyalty they must taxe the Pope himselfe with credulity and indiscretion his Bulls with inualidity the denounciation of them with insufficiency the plotters abetters and actors with treason and rebellion the lesuits who contriued the tragedy must be capitall enemyes to her Maiesty and the Secular Priestes who acted it louing and faythfull subiects I will end the question of the Quilibets mayne ende with an argument drawne from the consideration of the pretended difference betwixt the Iesuit and the Secular If the say'd difference which is â—pilried in shew on the part of this Priest as well with all violence of spleene and detestation towards the Iesuit and with â—â— small preiudice and dishonour to the Pope and Spanyard as with profession of extraordinary duty and alleageance to her Maiesty and the State bee notwithstanding a matter only of colour and disguisement I hope the Seculars themselues will acknowledge considering the correspondence held betwixt them and the heads of their faction in all proceedings of moment and consequence such as this is theyr intent and drift in this Decacordon too bee principally an endeauour of furthering the Pope to a recouery of the interest and tytle hee challengeth in the Soueraignety ouer the Churche of England and consequently of transferring the Crowne Imperiall from that sacred and most Princely head whereon it now resteth For what else can they intend and ayme at in the course taken by them for gayning of fauour and reputation to theyr side in theyr intercession for a repeale of the sayde penall Statutes in theyr mediation for the free exercise of labouring the conuersion of the Realme vnto the Popes obedience in theyr vrging the vtter extirpation of all Protestants vnder the name of Puritans in theyr publishing of doctrines whereby to resolue and direct all Romish subiects in the question of executing those barbarous and Satanicall Bulls Howsoeuer the consecution deduced in this proposition here layd down may happely passe without controulement I doubt not but my assuming that the sayd difference is onely a counterfeyte and politique scolding will receiue speciall opposition This assumption therefore I am to cleere which because it is a question of importance shall bee debated seuerally and by it selfe in the next chapter and so serue to furnish an whole Antiquodlibet CAP. 3. That the contention betwixt the Iesuit and Secular Priest being in such nature and in such degree as is pretended is a colour and pretext only or in case it be vnfeyned on theyr part yet on the part of the Superiors and heads of theyr faction it is interteyned out of a pollicy dangerous to her Maiesty and the State IF I seeme in this question to impugne a knowne and currant trueth it may please the Reader to spare his censure till hee haue perused the whole discourse thereof and then also to make iudgement of the same not by one single argument but out of the ioynt consideration of all the particular presumptions And let not in the meane tyme eyther any detection already perfourmed by the Seculars of practises against the State or theyr present profession of future discoueries moue him to apprehend the sayde contention to bee vnfeyned For there haue beene euer some amongst them in the tyme of theyr best agreement and peace who haue giuen intelligence of the treasonable disseignes and attempts against her Maiesty and therefore this disclosing of them on the part of the Priestes no argument of so peremptory and violent a quarrell betwixt them and the Iesuits Besides what will these Seculars reueale other then such proiects and deuises as are of purpose contryued to delude vs Or if they shall at any tyme detect some secret practizes interteyned really and out of a malicious intent agaynst the State it will bee with purpose onely to winne credit and oportunity to deceiue in matters of like or greater moment And for detections of this nature and seruice they haue vndoubtedly receyued dispensation according to the course held with theyr predecessors with whom it was ordinary and answerably to theyr commission to pretend and performe also the disclosing of Secrets But let vs proceede to cleere the position in hand If the say de contention being such as is pretended would frustrate the plots and courses embraced for the publique interest and good of the Romish Churche And if for that regard there haue beene alwayes had a carefull and vigilant eye on the part of the Pope and his faction to preuent and moderate all accidents that might trouble the common peace of the best Catholiques and empeach theyr disseignements for aduauncing the authoryty of Saint Peters Chayre then eyther the Seculars entertayne not the sayde contention or in case they doe they renounce all respect of giuing furtherance and support to theyr common cause That theyr difference being of the nature and reach as is supposed will disappoynt the proceedings helde for the publique good of the Romish Church may appeare first by this in that it is accompanyed with a profession to reueale all treasonable courses against the State whether open hostilities or secret conspyracies Now all the practises for re-establishing the Soueraygnty of the Pope ouer the Church of this land fall within the compasse of treasons so as if the Seculars doe effectually answere this theyr profession the State may vpon notice giuen of them take sufficient order for theyr preuention Againe as they professe this discouery
fitting an honourable and assured defence they grounding theyr attempt partly vpon our weakenes and defect of preparing partly vpon hope of a faction and all needfull supplyes amongst vs and finding a frustration of their hopes in this behalfe will in all probable discourse lay aside theyr thoughts and intents of proceeding agaynst vs. If it shall bee obiected that the surcease of attempting aboue mentioned is already performed on the part of the Pope and the Spanyard theyr late combination and practise for the conquest of Ireland and Ostend the present courses held for reconciling vnto the Pope the directions giuen and secretly executed for winning a party vnto the infanta or to the King regnaÌ„t wil sufficiently answere and conuince this doubt But for a further inforcement of the Seculars protestation in this particular of theyr alleageance and to win credit thereto it will be anouched that the auncienter sort of them euer misliked this course of restoring religion by treason and inuasion If they alwayes disliked it why did they not detect it and so preuent as much as rested in them the perill intended to her Maiesty and the State They answere That the respect of theyr common cause and the hope they had the politicall Fathers would 〈◊〉 growne more moderate in theyr disseignements against our Soueraigne moued them to bee silent in this behalfe Which is in effect as if they should say the hope conceyued that theyr sayde disseignements would in the meane tyme haue preuayled moued them to this silence VVere they touched with so simple and light a regard of her Maiesties life that they had rather she should in her person receyue a mortall wound thâ—â— themselues vtter a word to preuent it Is it in the imminent daunger of the Church and State which by theyr disclosing might bee diuerted a sufficient iustification of theyr silence herein in that they hoped the contriuers of the perill would haue reclaymed themselues If the issue had answered your desires then would you haue honoured the Machiauillian Fathers with a crowne of glory whome now in shewe you pursue with the greatest infamies and indignities If then in the tyme of so present an hazard you refused notwithstanding your pretended fidelity and mislike of the course in hand to affoord so much as one syllable from your Priestly lips for preseruing the life of your Soueraigne there is no probability that hereafter in the like case of attempt and hope of successe on your side you reteyning the same dutifull respect to the Pope and your common cause rather in an higher degree of affection then heretofore you will fall to a ready performance of the loyall seruice whereof you make so often profession But what is it that drew you to a mislike of the practises interteined by the Iesuiticall Fathers for executing the Popes sentence It cannot be the consideration of any vnlawfulnes in them For howsoeuer you finde it against the reason of expediency that eyther the Pope should excommunicate or the catholique subiect execute the sentence denounced till the proceeding thereto might be without notable hurt and preiudice yet you hold both the one and the other to be lawfull Neyther can it bee the inconuenience and trouble which befell vnto your persons vpon the issue of the sayd practises that moued you to detest them For in the question of aduauncing the honour and good of the Romane Church you hold no account of liberty or life the glory of your supposed martyrdome doth weigh more with you then any worldly respect you are not eyther so vnwise as to esteeme of the resolutions and courses by the euent or so enamoured with your selues as to prefer your particular before the generall Besides the sayd course being not onely warrantable de iure in your opinion but de facto plotted with all politique foresight out of due consideration of the meanes for prosecution and compassing thereof out of the best intelligence that could bee procured and with speciall regard to the good of the Seculars what ground of iust exception can they haue against it If there were imperfection in the cariage of it the blame must rest vpon the Actors and not vpon the plot Agayne whereas the successe of the courses held became also preiudiciall to the Iesuits why doe not those Fathers indite Satyrs agaynst the Seculars Why doe not they who had theyr part in contriuing of them discharge theyr spleene agaynst the Seculars who had a principall hand in acting them Or why doe not both Iesuit and Secular publish theyr detestation of the Pope by whose warrant and authority they proceeded both to the plotting of theyr courses and the execution of them If then the Seculars hatred of Iesuiticall practises cannot probably grow from the ground and cause pretended by them it cannot runne in other account then of forgery and therefore theyr protesting of shewing loyalty to her Maiesty in opposing agaynst the sayd practises must needes receyue the like â—â—and and censure But let vs graunt vnto them that whereof they would haue vs to rest perswaded viz. that the enacting of penall lawes the restraynt of theyr persons and in some the losse of life and goods occasioned by the sayde practises did draw them to a dislike of the same First in this confession they contradict themselues this theyr pretended dislike being a censuring of the sayde courses for detestable treasons and so are they styled by them in sundry passages Now if they partake in nature with treasons how can they be reputed lawfull But you allowe them for lawfull and giue direction when they may bee executed Secondly if the sayde inconuenience to your persons and goods were the principall motiue of your hatred to the sayde courses then did you approue them considered in themselues and so far forth as they intended her Maiesties destruction And this latter would you haue well disgested in that her proceeding agaynst you was adiudged by you to bee a tyrannous persecution and oppression You neuer notified your mislike of those courses till experience acquainted you with the danger of them to your persons you betooke your selâ—es to your beades solicited al your Saints plyed the mumbling of Masses perswaded others to theyr particular deuotions for the happy successe of the same and were ready also to bee imployed personally in some part of the appoynted seruice If then the disseignes in question they being considered in themselues and for such as by warrant from the Pope did intend the aduauncement of the Sea Apostolique with the suppression of her Maiesty were allowed by you and if the supposed persecution onely occasioned by the issue of them moued you to mislike thereof and to an hatred of her Maiesty as may appeare by your infamous discourses and libels what are we to apprehend of your professed allegeance which growes not from conscience of duty nor from perswasion of vnlawfulnes in the sayd disseignes nor yet from consideration of the pretended hurts you haue
of discouery yet can they performe no more herein then is answerable to theyr intelligence so as if they are too short in knowledge of disseignements as needes they must it being certayne that vppon notice of theyr disposition in this behalfe they shall not be made acquainted with any plot or practise of moment what reason hath her Maiesty to allowe toleration in regard of an aduauntage which she shall not receâ—ue thereby The seuenth inducement is of this kinde What course will be a meane to preuent the rebelling of English Romanists vpon promise and hope of preferments vnder a forraine Prince the same her Maiesty may allow and imbrace But toleration will be a meane to preuent the rebelling of English Romanists vpon promise and hope of preferments vnder a forraine Prince Therefore her Maiesty may allow and imbrace it The Proposition hauing the same defect and imperfection that hath beene obserued in others aboue set downe is to receyue the like answere For wee may not for the respect of any good publique or particular attempt ought that is offensiue to the highest Maiesty neyther must we in the case of daungers remedy an vncertayne perill by another that is assured and of equall hurt and mischiefe The Assumption least wee should censure it for an vntruth is thus demonstrated by him A League being made with forraine Princes French and Spanish English Romanists can haue no hope of preferments vnder them within England But vpon the graunt of toleration there will follow a League with the sayd forraine Princes Therefore vpon the graunt of toleration English Romanists can haue no hope of preferments vnder them within England I may iustly dissent from the Quilibet touching the proposition For whereas Popish Princes hold all confederations no further obligatory then may stand with the aduauncement of theyr particular deseignes and doe finde also the violation of them dispensable by the Pope in cases importing the interest of the Romish Church why may not the English Romanists considering withall the variety of occurrents and causes drawing Princes to faction and diuision attend a disunion of the sayde confederats and so bee caried into hopes of preferments vnder them in case they preuayle in theyr attempts Now concerning the Assumption of this latter conclusion how doth it appeare that vpon graunt of toleration there will ensue a League with forraine Princes If hee could make it cleere that the trew ground of theyr hostile proceedings agaynst the State were in that hitherto toleration hath not been condescended vnto I would approue his Assumption But it hath beene already declared that other respects and not this in question haue drawne forrayne potentates to these attempts of hostility and therefore no probability the sayd respects continuing of any confederation to ensue vpon the onely regard of the sayde graunt Further why should wee not rather apprehend that vpon our deniall to yeeld vnto a perfit and entire reformation pretended to bee sought by them in theyr courses of inuasion they will refuse to growe to any capitulation and tearmes of alliance and peace with vs The eyght argument is to this effect If toleration will cut off in English Romanists two bloudie practises the one for her Maiesties death the other for the aduauncement of some Competetor then may her Maiesty with good reason allow the same But toleration will cut off the sayd two bloudie practises Therefore her Maiestie may with good reason allow it Toleration concurring with all other Iesuiticall practises and attempts agaynst her Maiesty in the mayne drift and issue which these Priesting perswaders thereof propound vnto themselues I must giue such answere to the Proposition of this syllogisme as is formerly made to others of the same moulde out of which hee would fashion a speciall poynt of wisdome for preuention of perils it being according to the trayne of his perswasion in this behalfe no meane policy for auoyding our perishing in some other part of the Sea to runne a course ouer the Goodwin Sanâ—s For so should we doe in the admittance of toleration thereby to preuent other practises of daunger To the Assumption hee hath yeelded this proofe What course will frustrate and waste all hopes and thoughts of alteration the same will cut off the sayd two bloudie practises But toleration will frustrate and waste all hopes and thoughts of alteration For the Romanists being freed from trouble all disloyall apprehensions and affections will cease in them Therefore toleration will cut off the said two bloudy practises Hee doth so reason in the first sentence of this syllogisme as if the sayde practises had originally proceeded from the desire of alteration in religion and had reference onely thereto as to theyr mayne ende which being vntrue in sundry of them which had for theyr principall ground in the chiefe authors and contriuers eyther malice and reuenge or the humour of ambition for growing to an higher pitch of greatnes or some respect for securing theyr states by casting this flourishing Realme into confusion and combustion it is likewise vntrew that the sayd practises will determine vppon the expiring and vanishing of the thoughts and hopes that tend to alteration The second sentence also here set downe doth carry with it an euident vntruth For hauing not attayned vnto theyr end by the grant of toleration it is not freedome from trouble that will free theyr minds from thoughts and hopes of compassing it They will no more rest satisfied in this behalfe then a traueller who hauing passed the one halfe of his way wil not lay aside his hope and meanes of gayning the end of his iourney The Quilibet affirmeth pag. 232. that euery man is bound to propagate and establish the religion he is of to the vttermost of his power The Romanists therefore imploying themselues with all care and diligence for the aduancement of the publike cause of theyr Church some in one course of seruice some in another cannot but hope for such successe of theyr indeuours as shal both ruine the State of the Gospell and restore vnto the Pope his vsurped heretofore and now challenged soueraignety amongst vs. And can they hope for this issue of the toleration allowed them and yet not hope for alteration Further he saith pag. 152. that many good Catholikes are loyall subiects who yet will not reueale any vnnaturall and monstrous conspiracies agaynst her Maiestie To omit his treasonable description of a loy all subiect Can the Romanists stand thus affected in the case of a most barbarous conspiracy against her Highnes royal person and scepter and yet not conceiue hopes and thoughts touching a chaunge If they find fauour they will in the opinioÌ„ of the Quilibet renounce all wishes and cogitations of this kind Being then scanted in theyr proportion of grace from her Maiestie they will returne vnto them Further if wee consider the quality of the doctrines and multiplicy of Iesuiticall instructions they are in this seed time of toleration to sow
popish reconcilement such are the courses they holde to intertayne theyr friends in the hopes of perfit reformation and so to fashion and prepare them for all oportunities that shal bee presented to that purpose I cannot compare toleration more aptly then to a protection granted to the Irish rebell For as hee doth vnder the countenance and commodity of this protection repayre vnto the principall townes and places of his acquaintance where hee both giueth and findeth encouragements to obstinate himselfe and others in a rebellious disposition with directions for performance of seruice agaynst the State and where likewise hee receyâ—eth intelligence as well of all resolutions and proceedings on our part as of the meanes and abilities thereto together with a supply of his particular defects and wants of victuall money munitions and being thus furnished in euery respect doth immediatly renounce the benefit of his protection and imploy himselfe and his followers in courses of treason and rebellion So vpon graunt and opportunity of the sayde toleration the Romanists will boldly visit each Prouince City and corner of the Realme where ministring to others and mutually receyuing from them some heate of encouragement they will bestow theyr best endeuours in the seruice of reconcilement vnto the Pope in raising to an higher degree the hatred alreadie conceyued agaynst our profession in cleering the doctrine and obligatory power of Popish buls and censures in procuring intelligence in Court and countrie in giuing and taking directions when and how to proceede in all seruices for the Romish Church in supplying themselues with abilities and furnitures of each sort and nature So as the time of toleration will not prooue other then partly a seede time as well of hopes and desires to haue an entire reestablishment of the Popes soueraignty amongst vs as of sundry proiects tending thereto and partly also a meane of speciall aduantage whereby to fortifie theyr side and to inable it for the execution of the sayd proiects But for that the Assumption may seeme questionable and doubtfull the Quilibet yeeldeth it this light If there be no excommunication against refusall of combining with the Spanyard the English Romanists will not combine with him But vpon graunt of toleration there will not be any new or old excommunication to that purpose Therefore vpon grant of toleration the English Romanists will not combine with him Albeit the proposition be subiect to question yet shall it at this time passe for a probability But the Assumption may not finde the like fauour For who should hinder the procuring of a new and formall excommunication to that effect or an absolute repeale of the old Are the Seculars in greater credit and grace with the Pope then eyther the Iesuite or the King of Spayne who is specially interessed in the cause Will the Pope in so great a likelihood and oportunity of preuailing against our religion and aduancing both his owne and the Spanish title as toleration hath offered vnto him forbeare to vse in furtherance thereof so powerfull a meane as excommunication is held to be The Quilibet speakes in this assumption if he disguise not as if the Pope and Spanyard were at his deuotion and would in regarde of a curtesie done to the Catholikes in the cause of toleration disclayme theyr titles of soueraignty to England and the neerer they approch to the long attended and wished issue of theyr deseignments the more irresolute and backward they would be in seconding the same The tenth argument Vpon graunt of toleration the Iesuits should be disabled to intertaine brokers of their treacheries and slaunders and to winne any to their side Therefore her Maiestie may with good reason graunt the same To iustifie the Antecedent hee telleth vs that the collections of money which now the Iesuites enioy and whereby they stand inabled for the seruices here specified would be otherwise disposed of vpon the admittance of toleration For answere whereto first it is improbable that the Iesuits men of rare giftes of speciall fauour with the Pope and Spanyard of extraordinary care and dexterity for the aduauncement of the Catholique cause should be left vnfurnished of such contributions and meanes as may serue them in that behalfe Secondly though the said contributions should determine or be otherwise imployde yet should they not rest destitute of instruments for broking theyr treacheries and many others that would side and confederate with them For toleration would in a short tyme supply vnto them gratis a generation fitted to theyr humors Thirdly notwithstanding there were a trueth in the Antecedent yet the consequence implying that grosse error in piety and policy which hath been in this dispute so often obserued deserueth checke and reiection The eleuenth motiue is of no more validity then the former Vpon graunt of toleration euery Catholique would be ready to abandon and expell the Iesuits as the authors of theyr former troubles Therefore it may please her Maiestie to admit it The Quilibet so dealeth with vs as if the nature of toleration and the effects accompaning the same were vnknowne to the State When hee telleth vs therefore that toleration will be a meane to rayse in the hearts of Catholiques such a detestation of the Iesuites as that they will labour the extermination of them and theyr confederates wee must apprehend and interpret it as a meere delusion being not ignorant that the doctrine and directions which will during the tyme of toleration bee sowne and dispersed doe require the imployment of Iesuites who in the account of the Commaunders and heads of these factions are reputed men of best sufficiency for managing the aduauncement of the Romish Church And whereas hee alleageth for the grounde of this hatred agaynst the Iesuites that they haue beene the authors of trouble to the Catholiques herein the Catholiques who knew that the plots and practises agaynst her Maiesty and the State haue been intertayned not only by the Iesuits but by the Secular Priests likewise yea by the Pope himselfe and the Spanyard may iustly censure him for calumniation and forgery But it being graunted that the Catholiques would hold such proceeding agaynst the Iesuites yet the regarde thereof cannot bee a sufficient warrant to her Maiesty to commit an impiety and such as is ioyned with dishonour and perill Hitherto of the motiues delyuered by the Quilibet pag. 151. Here hee ceaseth not but soliciteth elsewhere the same cause and namely pag. 229. where hee pleadeth thus by a twelfth argument The twelfth argument If toleration will secure the present interest of her Maiestie of the State in generalls of the Nobility of the Bishoppes her Maiestie may in reason admitte it But toleration will secure the present interest of her Maiestie the State the Nobility the Bishops Therefore her Maiestie may in reason admit it The Proposition presenteth vnto vs an inconsequence For vnlesse the vtility and aduauntage of toleration recommended therein bee euident and of continuance also which poyntes are