The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of state 1
Reaſon of State. I 1. REASON OF STATE.
THe world knoweth that there are three kinds of ſubiects in the Realme,aA malicious calumniation of our Christian ſtate. the Proteſtant, the Puritane, & thebNote the Petitioners policie in this tearme: they ſay not Catholikes, but Catholikly affected, to the in…ent that to make their partie the ſtronger, they might challendge, vponupon exception, all ſuch as be not zealous Proteſtant, children, neutrals, & ſuch as be ready to embrace any Religiō; theſe the Petitioners tearme Catholikly affected. Catholikely affected: and by general report, the ſubiect Catholikely affected is not inferior to the Proteſtāt of Puritane, either incIf you m…ane plainly Papiſts, the world knoweth that, in compariſon of the Proteſtants, they are but as it were a handfull of theeues amōgst honeſt ſubiects howſoever you are bold to bragge that at this preſent there are within the Realme more Catho ikes and Catholike Prieſtes thē there were forty yeeres ſince. Matth. Kelliſon in his Survey, in the Epiſt. Dedic. almoſt at the latter end. number, or alliāce, or generoſity of ſpitite and reſolution. Which multitude or thirde kinde of ſubiects, would through the benefite ot the diſpenall vſe or toleration of their religion, holde themſelues infinitely obliged to your Mai…ſtie, and be ready in all occurrences very willingly to ſacrifice their liues and laſt drop of blood in any ſervice ſoeuer belonging to the defence of your Maieſties perſon, crowne, or dignitie: whereas being debarred of the ſaide fauor and freedome of conſcience (in which conſiſteth the true comfort of ſoule, and all Chriſtian courage) they muſt be forcibly drivē todTheſe be faire ſhews; but their third Petition, even in the very beginning, by the example of the Jſraelites Petition vntounto Rehoboam, and the effect thereof, which they alleadge, declareth what loyall harts the Papiſts beare vntounto his Maieſty, in caſe of deniall of their requeſt. But his Highneſſe is wiſe enough (God be praiſed) ti prevent ſuch revoults. lament their hard fortunes to lie groaning vnderunder their croſſes, and conſequently without ſpirite or forwardneſſe in action, vnapt for any imployment, as perſons overwhelmed with griefe and deſolation of their moſt piteous & miſerable ſtate.
Reſolution of the 1. Reaſon.
The Papiſtes, through the benefite of the diſpenall vſe, or toleration of their religion, would holde themſelues infinitely obliged vntounto his Maieſtie, and be readie in all occurrences verie willingly to ſacrifice their lives and laſt drop of blood in any ſervice ſoever belonging to the defence of his Maieſties Perſon, Crowne, or dignity.
Ergo.
Toleration of their religion is to be graunted vntounto them.
ANSWERE.
THIS reaſon the Papiſtes hauehave vrged heretofore in three ſeverall ſupplications exhibited by them at ſeverall times vntounto his roiall Maieſtie; and is refuted in the Anſwere vntounto their firſt ſupplication, pag. 20. Yet foraſmuch as the Petitioner hath newe furbiſhed them ſame over againe, and heere even in the forefront of this fourth Supplication placed it to be firſt conſidered, as the maine and principall motive, wherevpon his whole requeſt is grounded: I will not be a ggrieved to take the paines to refute it once againe. I anſwere therefore.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 If the Papiſtes doe not holde themſelues obliged vntounto his Maieſtie, except he graunt thē Toleration, thē what cauſe hauehave they to reioyce ſo much at his acceſſe into this kingdome; as they pretend they do, in the beginning of this ſupplication?
2 Their allegeance heere promiſed, is vponupon condition, that his Maieſtie will grant them free exerciſe of their Idolatrie and ſuperſtition, but promiſe nothing in caſe of deniall. Yea they bluſh not to ſay expreſſely, that then they will bee without ſpirit or forwardnes in action, vnapt for any employment &c. and yet not without generoſity of spirite and reſolution, to practiſe treacherie againſt his roiall Perſō, and the State; as they were accuſtomed to doe in our late. Soveraines daies.
3 If the Papiſts had promiſed abſolute loyalty & ſervice vntounto his Highnes; yet could they not hauehave performed the ſame: all their ſubiection and obedience being anticipated and foreſtalled by the Pope of Rome.
4 Mercenary ſervice, and obedience not performed of conſcience, is like the loyalty of Iudas, who diligentlie attended his Maſter whileſt he kept the bagge: & afterwards, when he had no more hope to gaine that way, perfidiouſly and traiterouſly betraied him.
5 If the Pap…ſts were tolerated to exerciſe their religion freely, without moleſtation; their obedience & loyalty vntounto the King would be much leſſe then now it is: becauſe their Religion, in the Articles thereof, being treaſon againſt the lawfull auctority and State of Kings; they would profeſſe and practiſe the ſame, with more boldnes & impudency thē now they dare. And that the Articles of their Religion be flatt Treaſon, I have proued alreadie in the Anſwere vntounto their firſt Supplication; which becauſe they be but ſhort. I will heere againe inſert.
I The Papiſtes hould; That the Pope may excommunicate Kinges.
II That the Pope hath power to abſolue ſubiects from their faith and allegeance.
III That the Pope may depoſe Princes from their ſcepter and crowne.
IV That any private man may bee made executioner to murther, or to poiſon the excommunicated King.
V That it is lawfull to kill a Tyrant.
VI That a King breaking and contemning the cōmon lawes of the l…nd, may be deprived of his crowne by the people.
VII That there be other cauſes for the which Princes, and great perſonages may be ſlaine.
VIII That faith muſt not be kept with Heretikes.
IX That whoſoever is not within the communion of the Popiſh Church is an Heretike; and conſequently, that his Maieſtie of England is ſuch a one.
X That no Cleargie-mā can cōmit treaſō againſt any tēporall King, becauſe he is not the kings ſubiect, but the Popes. Vide Orat. ad Reg. Galliae de Reſtit. Ieſuit. Et Eman. Sà in Aphoriſm. Et Bellarm. lib. de Exempt. Clericorum. Et Catechiſ. Ieſuit. lib 3. cap. 26. pag. 235.
6 Againe, ſeeing the Papiſts bragge, evē in the time of their reſtrainte, that they are not inferiour to the Proteſtant or Puritane, either in number, alliance, or generoſity of spirit and reſolution. What will they not dare to attempt whē their number is increaſed, by immunity of profeſſion?
7 By vertue of Popiſh Religion the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate, or Cleargie of their Church, are not the Kings ſubiects; but challenge immunity and exemption from his Highneſſe power, from his indiciall Courtes, & in caſe of ordinary cōtributions. Wherfore toleration would make theſe men yet more inſolent in with-drawing their allegeance from his Maieſtie.
8 Put caſe, Papiſtrie were not Treaſon againſt the Kinges lawfull power: and alſo that the Cleargie of that Church would become very dutifull and obſequious vntounto his Maieſtie: yet were not toleration to be admitted. Becauſe it would breede innumerable troubles, and vproares in the ſtate Eccleſiaſticall of this land: which being diſquieted and vnſetled, the civill regiment cannot bee long in peace.
II To the Conſequence.
1 Howſoever his Maieſtie might wiſh, in policy, that all Papiſtes might thinke themſelues infinitely obliged vntounto his Highneſſe, and be ready in all occurrences to performe all ſerviceable duty, and awfall obedience in any ſervice ſoever belonging to the defence of his Maieſties perſon, crowne, or dignity: Yet cannot his Highneſſe allowe, or practiſe the meanes leading therevnto, if they be ſimplie vnlawfull, and prohibited by the law of God; ſuch as toleration of Idolatrie and falſe worſhip is notoriouſly knowne to be.
2 The malice of Papiſtes againſt the Goſpell being vnplacable, their treacherous hearts againſt men of contrary Religion experienced and ſufficiently knowne, and their practiſes againſt his Maieſties perſon and the State vncertaine: it fits not the deepe reach of a Prince ſo long experienced in government, to cure the head-ach by knocking out the braines, to remedy vncertaine and leſſer accidents, by opening free paſſage to moſt certaine & greater perilles.
3 The Papiſts may be compelled to become obedient and dutifull ſubiects, without toleration of their religion: By abating their multitudes and leſſening their nū bers, by baniſhing their Prieſts, by planting a learned miniſtrie for their converſion to true religion, & by the making, and due execution of penall lawes againſt the obſtinate and ſtubborne▪ Recuſant, &c.