The Baiting of the Pope_s Bull, Dedication 2
TO THE LORD DVKE OF BVCKINGHAM his Grace.
Right Honorable
THE Dutifull zeale I beare to the ſafety of my dread Soueraigne, and deare Country, inforceth mee, (otherwiſe loth to put my finger into the fire) in the ſecond place to ſollicite Your Grace, to bee the more carefull to preuent the danger. When King Saul and Abner, with the whole guard were in a dead ſleepe, ſo that Dauid had the opportunity to take away the Kings ſpeare, and Pot of water by him, onelyonly to teſtifie his fidelity to the King, hee called alowd to Abner, and awakening him ſaid, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Iſraell? wherefore haſt thou not kept thy Lord the King? ſurely yee are worthy to dye, &c. But neither can I ſay ſo altogether, nor neede I cry ſo loud to your Grace, vnleſſe theſe many buſineſſes, which will ſcarce ſuffer you to ſleepe ſo ſoundly as did Abner, will neither ſuffer ſuch a dwarfe as my ſelfe duplicate page duplicate page eaſily to bee heard. But speaking for the King, I hope I ſhall not be denied Audience. Nor are they good ſubiects, perſecuted as Dauid, of whom the King is in danger: but ſuch, as though they hauehave ſmall cauſe to complaine of perſecution, yet are inſtigated to deny vntounto their Soueraigne that loyalty and Allegiance, which all true ſubiects owe vntounto their lawfull Prince. Doth not your Grace erect your moſt earneſt attention to this? But who dare thus inſtigate the Kings ſubiects againſt him? No leſse then the Pope, and that by a Breeue or Bull lately ſent ouer into England, wherein he ſtraitly chargeth his Catholique Sonnes (as hee termes them) vponupon no termes to take the Oath of fidelity to the King, inciting and animating them, as againſt their Enemy, as the Breeue can teſtify. Nor had I, I confeſſe, beene thus bold to meddle in ſuch a matter, if I had ſeene but ſome publique Edict for the burning of the Breeue, as alſo for the effectuall baniſhing of all Ieſuites, the onelyonly Factors for the Pope in ſuch Adventures, for Treaſon and Rebellion. But be like notice hath, not as yet beene giuen thereof to your Grace. And that you may bee not the leſſe ſenſible of the danger of a Papall Breeue, You may be pleaſed to know, that ſuch neuer appeareth, but as ſome prodigious Comet, not ſignifying only, but deſigning and producing ſome ſad fatality. Thus did the Pope in 88; thus at the Gunpowder plott: Thus, now. This Romiſh Lightning may warne vsus of a Crack not farre off: God keepe vsus from the Thunderbolt. If it were only a bare prognoſticating ſigne, it were the leſſe; Sapiens dominabitur Aſtris: but being an operatiue Inſtrument, wherein the Ieſuites are Agents, to improue it to the vtmoſt of their Maſters aduantage, it is not ſo to be ſlited. Ieſuits? why are not all Ieſuits packed away long ſince by Proclamation? Alas Sir, you may be pleaſed to know, they are like cunning Iugglars, that can paſſe and repaſſe at pleaſure. They ſay, England is fuller of them at this day then euer. And now while the Popes yron is in the fire, how doe they ſweat, in beating it to perfection? But if they be catcht, they are put in priſon. Alas, they are there, but as a bird tyed to the nett, to call in other birds, which ſeeming to come to releiue the priſoner, they are more intangled themſelues. But thence they are quickly diſmiſt to bee gone, and voyd the Land. Alas; they doe but play the cunning Duck, which ſent out, doth by her wily inſinuation, tolle and traine hundreds, and thouſands into her Maſters Nett. Thus cunningly can they play at faſt and looſe. How then ſhall theſe Proteus-like Foxes be taken? Certainly there is no other way, but to hunt them out with the Kings owne doggs. Your Grace is the great Iuſticiarius Foreſtae. And anciently Iuſtices in Eyre were ſent with Commisſion into ſundry Counties, to heare ſuch cauſes especially, as were termed Plees of the Crowne. Lo here a great plee of the Crowne, yea ſuch, as wher in the title of the Kings Crowne is not onelyonly queſtioned, but ſtrongly vſurped by the Claime of a forraigne Power. What Engliſh eares can with patience heare ſuch an inſolencie? When King Ahaſhuerus did but vnderſtand of the deſperate eſtate of the Iewes, wherein that wicked Haman (as Heſter told the King) had brought them: the good King by and by ſent forth his Edicts by Poſt into eueryevery Prouince, to incourage and arme the poore people of God, to ſtand vponupon their guard, and ſo they preuented and ouercame the perill. Now who ſtand more deeply charged with the care, of the Kings Crowne, then your Grace? So that I neede not (I trow) in ſuch a caſe, vſe ſpurres to your agility and readines, for the putting of all dull courſes in speedy execution, for not onelyonly the apprehenſion, but the condigne puniſhment of ſuch kinde of Malefactors. Why, what Malefactors? ſuch, as Ieſuits are: not onelyonly of factious, treacherous, traiterous spirits, as they are men, poſſeſsed with the ſpirit of Ieſuitiſme: but euen by vertue and force of their Order and Profesſion, Traitors ex profeſſo. They muſt be ſo, they are bound to bee ſo, elſe they are no Ieſuits, elſe must they renounce their Holy Order of the ſociety of Ieſu. And is it posſible that ſuch ſhould rouſt in England? Nay reuell and riot? Nay, not onelyonly bee profeſt traitors themſelues; but drawing Parties to their ſide continually, euen to the diuiding of the limmes, the armes, and ſhoulders, legges and feete from the Head of this goodly Politicke body? It is the faſhion indeed, in other neighbour Popiſh States publickely to allow and auow ſuch kinde of Creatures in the State. But none hauehave more reaſon to vphold them then, the Spaniard, their good Master. For certainly in time, if they be ſuffered to goe on, they will bring all Chriſtendome vnderunder the Spaniſh yoake, God forbid. Yet if they ſhould ſo do, I make a queſtion, whether the Spaniard would ſuffer ſuch pragmatical ſpirits any longer in Chriſtendome, leſt, as the reſtles ſea, hauing wrought as far as it can one way, it worke as far as faſt the contrary way. It is likly then; that he would ſend them into the Turks Dominions; into Perſia, & all thoſe Eaſterne Empires to make compleat the Monarchy of Spaine, that ioyning the two Indies together, and circling in whole globe of the earth, his Motto may then be, Ne plus vltra. But why doe I roue ſo farre, when our home is in ſuch danger? What is to bee done? ſhall I ſhoot a fooles bolt. Shall I bee bold with your Grace? Why not? I hauehave heard men ſay, you are of a noble diſpoſition, which will eaſily pardon a fooles bluntneſſe. In briefe then: Your Grace knowes, the King wants money extreamely. You know againe, that Treaſon is vnſufferable; to wink at it, to conceale it, brings a man within Miſpriſion of treaſon. You may be pleaſed all to know, that all Ieſuites, as by their profeſsion, ſo in their practiſe, are high Traitors to Kings and States. You know againe, that all Iudges and Iuſtices of peace in this land, are ſworne to the King, to ſee the lawes duly executed, but eſpecially vponupon fellons and traitors. You know, that all ſuch, as ſhall bee found guilty of ſuch Periury, or Miſpriſion of treaſon. are puniſhable, not onelyonly in their perſons, but in their purſes and eſtates. Can the King then lacke money, ſo long as there are (as they ſay) ſo many Ieſuits in the land, which paſſe eueryevery where vnpuniſhed? O that your Grace would finde out the Delinquents in this kinde? Nay let your Grace be aſsured, if you will but take a round courſe with the Ieſuites, in rooting them out, according to their demerits, as it would bring ſafety & ſecurity to the Kings Perſon and State, ſo being the faithfull diſcharge of that truſt repoſed in you, what a comfort will it be to your conſcience, what a bleſsing from God might you expect, yea, what louelove alſo from all the Kings louing ſubiects? Then would all things proceed, ſucceed happily: whereas on the contrary, ſo long as Ieſuits with their factions and treaſons are ſuffered in this land, what can wee expect, but that eueryevery thing we take in hand, ſhould proue very vnprosperous & croſſe? For God is highly displeaſed with vsus, for ſuffering ſuch miſcreants to practiſe their impieties on this his Church, to the great diſhonour of his Name, and Religion. And how ſhall we be worthy to inioy ſuch a King, ſuch a Country, ſuch a Church, ſo many bleſsings of God, if we be ſo prodigall of them? All the world admires the wonderfull truſt, that the King hath repoſed in you: I pray God your Grace may anſwer it, in your faithfull, prudent, and vigilant care. I remember a ſpeech, which his Highneſſe, when he was Prince, vttered among vsus, that were his ſeruants: that when he had once committed any buſineſse of truſt, though of the higheſt nature, to a ſeruant, he would neuer conceiue the leaſt ſuspicion of his fidelity: adding, hee had rather run the hazard of his loyalty, then imbitter his generous truſt with mixture of feare. A ſtrong obligation ſure to a ſeruant ſo intruſted. But ſome of his ſeruants trembling replyed: what if he proue treacherous? hath hee not the more free and ſecure opportunity to worke his wicked ends? But (quoth his Highneſſe) my care ſhall be ſuch in the Choyce, as my truſt ſhall bee built vponupon a ſure ground. Pray God it bee, ſo, ſaid his ſeruants. Now this wee ſee verefied on the Kings part towards your Grace. What a liberall truſt hath he repoſed in you? ſuch, as not all the gold of Iudai ſhould euer ouer ballance. But we all beſeech the Lord, that his Maieſty may not bee deceiued. And hauehave we not cawſe? Doth not the ſafty of the Kings Perſon & Crowne, of this Church & State, of three goodly Kingdoms, yea of the Goſpell of Chriſt, and of true religion at home and abroad, euen ouer Chriſtendome, & throughout the world, depend in a maner vponupon this truſt, committed to your Grace? King Achiſh would hauehave made Dauid keper of his Head for euer. But his Nobles thought it not ſafe leaſt all their own heads ſhould hauehave payd for it. But the truſt committed to your Grace, is not only of the Kings head but of all our heads, & of many millions more, that neuer, ſaw your face. HaueHave you not neede then not only of Davids true heart toward his King but of Argus his 100 eyes, in watching over Io, committed to his truſt? Yet Argus for all his eyes, was ſo inchaunted with Mercuries pipe, whom Iupiter had ſent to ſteale her away: that falling all a ſleep, Io was taken away, and Argus had all his eyes puld out, and put into the peacocks traine. But where are any ſuch Mercuries to inchaunt your Grace? Where? Alas, where are they not, ſpecially where reatnes dwelleth, at ourt? HaueHave we any need of madd men, ſaid the King of Gath? And may not the Court ſay, hauehave we any need of flatterers? Theſe be the inchanting Mercuries. And of all other, none more to be feared, then the Ieſuites, whom the Iupiter of Rome ſends into England, to inchaunt and impoſe vponupon our moſt prudent, and vigilant Arguſes, as the learned Biſhop hath well obſerued in his Tortura Torti. Ieſuites, a generation, who as they are the moſt exquiſite Artiſts in the ſcience of flattery, ſo none hath more cauſe to beware & abhor them, then your Grace. But you know no Ieſuites. The greater is your danger, and ours. For they cōe in ſheeps clothing, in diſguiſed habits, ſo bold, as they can no more bluſh then their viſards, lowly lowting, charming thechiefeſt with a counterfet adoration, & admiration of their I wot not what excellency. And were it not miraculous, if the Court it ſelfe, eſpecially your Graces houſe, ſhould be free even from many of ſuch flyes, which fliblowe the pureſt fleſh with their flatteries? The croaking Froggs of Aegypt crawled up into the very Kings chambers: and are not theſe cōpared by the Holy Ghoſt to Froggs, which goe vntounto the Kings of the earth, and by their crouching and croaking, and their Sardonian ſmiles, would allure them to warre againſt Chriſt and his goſpell? It is good therefore your Grace ſhould make a ſpeedy & diligent ſearch in the Court, in your owne howſe, and in all the skirts of it round about, and ſo alſo throught the whole land, what Ieſuites are lurking any where, and to giuegive them the reward of Traitors. Shall wee dally with ſuch ſhall wee thinke to winne them with complements? Wee know the fable of the ſnake foſtered in the mans boſome: it is but the Morall of a Ieſuite, intertained with a Court-like Curteſy. Jeſuites are nettles, if gently handled, they ſting: but if hard graſped, they hurt not. Contrary to the Baſil (the Embleme of the Throne eſtabliſhed by mercy) which being gently ſtroked on the hand, yeelds a pleaſant ſmell, but cruſhed hard vponupon it, vnſauory. Your Grace takeing this courſe, Parcere ſubjectis, et debellare ſuperbos, therein you truly diſcharge the truſt committed vntounto you. Whereas if the execution of good lawes ſhould bee ſuſpended, if treaſon & traitors ſuffered, & Yf in this perillous ſeaſon, our potent & profeſt enemies ſhould thus be armed againſt vsus, what can wee expect, but confuſion of all? And how ſhall your Grace, in the ruine of this goodly ſtate, eſcape ſcotfree? ſhall your houſe ſtand notwithſtanding? Nay, aſſure your ſelfe, if at this time you doe not beſtirre your ſelfe, to reforme things amiſſe, but that they bee ſuffered to runne on headlong to deſtruction, I may apply that ſpeech of Mordecai to Heſter, vponupon the like occaſion: Thinke not with thy ſelfe, that thou ſhalt eſcape in the Kings howſe: for yf thou altogether holdeſt thy peace at this time, then ſhall inlargement and deliuerance ariſe to Gods people from another place: but thou and thy fathers howſe ſhall be deſtroyed. Nor let this my boldneſſe ſeeme ſtrange to your Grace, though perhaps you bee not much acquainted with ſuch, as will ſpeake the downe right truth. Of all Iobs friends, hee found but one Elihu, who ſayd, Let me not, I pray you, accept any mans perſon: neyther let me giuegive flattering titles vntounto men: For I know not to giuegive flattering titles; in ſo doing, my Maker would ſoone take me away. If Iob in his Miſery found but one ſuch: no maruaile if your Grace find ſcarce one. As for mee, I am an Engliſh-man, a free borne ſubiect, a true louer of my King & Countrey; yea I am alſo an vnworthy Miniſter of Chriſt, a poore watch-man of Iſraell: and when I ſee my ſoueraine King, my Mother Country, the Glory of God, the Goſpell of Chriſt, the Church of England, yea the Church of Chriſt ouer the world, in danger to bee deſtroyed, and all brought vnderunder the tyranny of Antichriſt, and the Spaniſh yoake: ſhall I bee ſilent? ſhall I not ſpeake? ſhall I not lift vp my voice like a trumpet? ſhall I not thus free my ſoule, whatſoever ſhall become of my body? Yea, for Sions ſake I will not hold my tongue, and for Ieruſalems ſake I cannot reſt, vntill the righteouſneſſe thereof goe forth as brightneſſe, and the ſalvation thereof as a Burning Lampe. I feare neither priſon, nor death it ſelfe, that I may diſcharge a good conſcience both towards my God, & my King, & Countrey. Nor feare I to be cenſured as a Polypragmaticke. What hauehave Miniſters to doe to meddle in State-myſteries? Sir, let mee ſpeake boldly, it were happy, if, as in the apoſtatized Kingdomes of Chriſtendome, the Prieſts of Baals counſels, I mene, Ieſuites, & Prieſts (which muſt needs bring ruine to them) are followed: So in this Kingdome of Iuda, onelyonly the truth-telling Micaia's were heard. Good King Dauid could ſay, I am wiſer then my teachers, then the aged, then mine Enemies; for thy teſtimonies are my delight, and my Counſellors? Hee that will bee a wiſe ſtates-man, & politician indeed, let him take Gods word for his card & compaſſe. For euen the fooliſhneſſe of God (as ſayth the Apoſtle, as the world accounteth fooliſhneſſe) is wiſer then men. But you want not thoſe, that are able to performe the office of good Chapleins. Yet if any, inſtead thereof, ſhall not onelyonly bee ſilent, & negligent, but on the other ſide, bee too officious to ſow pillowes vnderunder your Elbowes, to applaud and approue you in all your doings, yea to perſwade and counſell you, wherein perhaps theyr conſcience tells them, it ought not to bee ſo: woe be vntounto them. Only wee hope better things. But if any ſhall goe about to find a knot in a Bullruſh, by picking ſome quarrell with this booke, where hee hath noiuſt cawſe (bee his pretence neuer ſo faire guilded ouer, or ſeeme his reaſons neuer ſo farre fetcht, yea from his abſtruſe ſpeculations in ſtate-pollicy) & ſhall by hooke or crooke labour the ſuppreſsing of it, or hinder your Grace from reading of it, though ſo neceſſarie to imploy your ſaddeſt thoughts in, it ſo neerely concerning the ſafety of your gratious Maſter our dread Soueraine, & of our ſweet Countrey, & euen of your ſelfe and whole family: no doubt but your Grace will take that man for no other, but a peſtilent Traitour, & if hee be not a Ieſuite, yet certainly poſſeſſed with a Ieſuiticall ſpirit, as ſeeking to ſmoother ſuch an important Ouerture, as this. Now the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who ſitts in his throne of Maieſty, the great Protector of his Church, the moſt potent and terrible auenger of all his aduerſaries, eſpecially of Antichriſt, with all his Adherents & confederates to cruſh them with a rod of yron, and to breake them in pieces like a Potters veſſell; who in heauen ſitts, & ſees, & laughes all his Enemies to ſcorne; who therefore admoniſheth Princes and Potentates, ſaying, Be wiſe now therefore ô yee Kings, bee inſtructed yee Iudges of the earth; ſerue the Lord with feare, and rejoyce with trembling; kiſſe the Sonne, leaſt hee be angry, and yee periſh from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little: Bleſſed are all they that put their truſt in him: the ſame Lord make your Grace ſo wiſe, ſo well inſtructed, as ſetting your ſelfe to bee a noble inſtrument of his glory, of the Kings ſafety, of your Countries welfare, in ſeeing Gods truth maintained, the lawes duely executed, hereſies ſuppreſſed, and their authors cenſured, Idolatries caſhered, treaſons and treacheries diſcouered, and diſcumfited, Jeſuites and Prieſts abandoned, the Kings Liege ſubiects countenanced: your Grace may not only ſhow your ſelfe to all the world to be worthy of that high opinion, which ſo gratious a Maſter hath conceiued of you, but may alſo procure to your ſelfe and your numerous family the fauour and bleſsing of the great King of heauen and earth, and may merit alſo the hearty louelove and good will of this whole ſtate, when in theſe times of danger threatned to this land, and haſtened by the Popes Breeue, they ſhall behold your faithfull vigilancy, moſt honorably & generouſly to acquit it ſelfe, in ſo faire an occaſion offered once for all.
Your Grace's poore Oratour HENRY BVRTON.