Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 22
Advises upon the present state of English Catholicks▪ as well of the Queenes House, as of his Majesties Dominions.
THe constant report approved by Father Philips the Queenes Confessor is,Note. That the Pope upon the Treaty of Marriage reserved to his owne or Delegates Iurisdiction the Queen of Englands whole family, principally the institution and destitution of her Ecelesiastiques. Testifie the confession of the Bishop of Menda, who contrary to his opinion and certaine knowledge was forced to advance and defend joynt with the pretended Bishop of England, the pernitious Paradox, for the deposition of Princes, saying to A. B. for his justification, that although upon that subject hee had written against Baronius and Bellarmine for the contrary, neverthelesse for the present his hands were bound. Tes…ifie the unitie of maxims, councels and daily practices which he held with the foresaid pretended Bishop. Testifie the negotiations held at this present in Rome and England for the procuring of Excommunications and suspension against all those Catholiques, Note.Priests, or others which shall stand for the Kings authoritie against that damnable doctrine brought already into his Majesties, Kingdomes, as their favourites boast, and to bee executed by the Bishops agents; particularly, by Mr. Musket a Priest living in London. Testifie the Popes Letters to the King of France, now in the Catholiques hands, wherein hee complaines to have beene abused,Note. in that (contrary to the King of France his promise) neither Toleration was granted in England, nor the oath of Allegiance suspended.
All which duly considered directly tends to a manifest sedition, and division of the Kings authoritie and state, and that not in qualitie or proprietie of Religion, but in particular manner and condition of dutie, obedience, and naturall Allegiance, withdrawne from their true Prince and Soveraigne.
In remedy of which pernitious opinions and practises, pleaseth his Majestie, in imitation of his predecessors, as well to continue the reall defence of his owne right and authority, as the Pope doth his pretended and usurped, which two wayes may easily bee done.
The first, by lively pressing his naturall subjects to take the oath of Allegiance, in as much as it concernes the abjuration of the Popes authoritie for the deposition of Princes, as of late the State of France hath proceeded against the Jesuites without any respect to matter of Religion or Priesthood: for the obligation of a Subject to his lawfull Prince being founded in the Law of Nations, Nature and God, the deniall thereof is crimen laesae Majestatis, and so may bee ordained by act of Parliament or otherwise, and so those who shall bee punished by death for refusing thereof, cannot pretend cause of Religion, the oath being propounded in forme as it is now stiled, or the forme altered in substance onelyonly reserved, as prudent men shall define.
The second by constrayning all French servants to King or Queene, to disavow or detest (according to the late ordinances of State Parliaments, Universities of France, namely of Sorbon, that damnable and erronious doctrine for the deposition of Princes) against the Iesuites.
And that it may please his Majestie not to admit any Catholique servant which shall refuse either of the foresaid manners of oathes or detestations.
Besides, that diligent search and punishment bee used against all Agents and Negotiators, which in these Realmes advance the contrary errour to the prejudice of his Majesties authoritie and peace of his State.
For the reservation of the Queenes house to the Pope, it is evident in all antiquity, and now practised in all Christian Nations, that the institution and destitution of Ecclesiastiques (in regard of their persons and as members of the State) depends of the Prince, or of his Subjects by his consent, although their spirituall faculties or internall jurisdiction may bee derived from a superiour Prelate, Patriarck, or Pope, but all by equitie, justice and Canon, whereby the King of England propounding such his Subjects Ecclesiastiques as hee thinkes fit for the Queenes service, cannot bee refused by the Pope or other, untill they have shewed and proved sufficient cause of refuse.
Finally, how dangerous, prejudiciall and dishonorable such reservation is to the Kings authoritie,Note. State and posteritie, upon what end or colour soever, every man of smaller judgement cannot but see.