On the Suppression of Jesuits Sir Robert Cotton Noah Millstone Principal Investigator MPESE Sebastiaan Verweij Co-Investigator MPESE Richard Bell Research Associate Victoria Anker BRIHC Research Impact Fellow Mike Jones Research Software Engineer Tim Wales Research Assistant Manuscript Pamphleteering in Early Stuart England (MPESE) 2017 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 11600

British Library, Additional MS 11600

 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 22591 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 35 United Kingdom London British Library Lansdowne MS 213 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 1858 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 859 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 354 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 48101 United Kingdom London British Library Egerton MS 3138 British Library, Additional MS 22591, ff. 338r–345v British Library, Additional MS 48101, ff. 215r–249v British Library, Egerton MS 3138, f. 2r British Library, Harley MS 1858, ff. 109r–149x British Library, Harley MS 35, ff. 428r–450r British Library, Harley MS 354, ff. 10r–31v British Library, Harley MS 859, ff. 39r–43v British Library, Lansdowne MS 213, ff. 19r–31v Beinecke Library, Osborn b22, ff. 57r–83v Beinecke Library, Osborn fb178, ff. 210r–229v Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 966, ff. 527–542 Bodleian Library, MS Jones 28, ff56 Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson D 853, ff. 74r–109v Inner Temple Library, Petyt MS 538/27, ff. 1r–37x Nottingham University Library, Me L 5, ff. 1r–28v Queen's College, MS 121, ff. 137–151 Woburn Abbey, MS 4E-60, ff. 17r–19v Robert Cotton Serious Considerations For Repressing of the Increase of Iesvites, Priests, and Papists Without Shedding Blood [London?] 1641 C6497 Robert Cotton Cottoni Posthuma London 1651 C6500 109-157 H7r-L7r Robert Cotton Cottoni Posthuma London 1672 C6486 109-157 H7r-L7r Robert Cotton Cottoni Posthuma London 1679 C6487aA 109-157 H7r-L7r

11 August 1613, although this version dated 1628 English Latin speech discourse recusancy Catholicism confessional conflict Jesuits

Sir Robert Cottons speech 1628./ Against recusants in defence of the oath of alle= giance or execucions of consideration of repressing of the increase of Papists./

I am not ignorant that this latter age hath brought forth a sworme of busy heades which measure the misteryes of states by the rule of theire selfe con= ceyted wisdome but if they would consider that the common wealth gouerned by graue counsellours is like to a shipp directed by a skillfull pilott to whom the necessityes of occasions and ground of reason which steereth the helme to this or that poynt of the compass are better knowne then to those that stand a loofe of they would perhapps be more sparing if not more warye in theire reso= lutions./

For my owne perticular I must confesse that I am naturally naturally to much inclyned to his opinion who once sayd qui bene latuit bene uixit and freshly calling to minde the saying of Funtius to his freind at the howre of his untimely death./

Disce mei exemplo mandato munere fungi et fuge seupestem.

I could easily forbeare to make my hand wrighting the record of my opinion neuerthelesse I protest to maintayne rather deliberale then by way of conclusiue assertion therefore without wasting of pretious tyme any longer with needlesse prolog I will breifely sett downe the question in the termes following /

Whether it be more expedient to suppresse popish practises against the due allegiances to his Majestie by the strict execution of the lawes touching Iesuitts and seminary preists or to retayne them to close prisons during life if noe reformation followe./

The doubt propounded consisting of 2 branches necessarily required to be distinctly handled that by comparing euery parte the conueniency in the question may becleared with more facility./

1 Mercy forerunning the repentance of a malefactor of a Princes person./ In fauour of the first diuision there are not a few who grounding themselues on an auncient prouerbe a deade man bites not. afirme that such are daingerous to be pre= serued aliue who being guilty condemned & full of feare are likely for purchase of life & liberty to engage their vtmost indesperation aduentures against there king & cuntry./

2 A hard hand suddenly remitted is seldome by rude people inter= preted in the best sence. No lesse is it to be feared that while the sword of Iustice is remisse in cutting of haynous offences against the dignity of the crowne the misled papall multitude in the interim may enter into a iealous suspence whether that forbearance proceede from the feare of exasperating theire desperat humors or that it is more become questionable whether the execution of theire preists be simply for matters of state or pretended quarrell of religion./

3 There is noe hope of reformation where there is noe confession of the fault./ And whereas in a remedilus in conueniency it is lawfull to vse extre= mityes of the lawes against some few that may be reformed what hope can there be that clemency may tame there hearts who in= terpret his Majesties grace in transporting there preists out of the realme to be a meere shift to ridd prisons of those whom conscience could not condemne of any capitall cryme./

4 While iustice sleepes the tyme serue to sowe new & rayse factions./ Neither are theire uanting whisperings to be neglected by which they seeke to confirme the fearfull soules of theire party & to inueagle the ignorant doubtfull or discontented persons for if the glorious extolling of theire powerfull freinds & the exspec= tance of a goulden day be suffered to winn creditt with the meaner sort the relapse cannot be small or the meanes easy to re= forme the error without a generall combustion of the state./

let experience

:5: Fearefull sperits by sufferaunce growe inso= lent & cruell./ Let exsperience speake something in this behalfe which hath euidently disceried within the currant of a few yeares that the forbearance of seuerity hath multiplied theire rowle in such manner that it remaynes as a Corasiue to thousands of his Majesty's well affected subiects./

:6: Vnion in a prepared conspi= racie preuaileth more then number./ To what purpose serues it to minister the names of the Protestants or uaunt them to be tenn for one of the Roman faccion as if base figures of numeration could preuaile againt an vnited partey resolued and aduised aforehand how to turne theire faces with assurance vnto all daingers while in the meane tyme the protestants nestling in vaine se curity suffer the weedes to grow up that threaten his bare and mercilesse ruine./

:7: It is hard to perswade those who by reason of theire dependancy on the Pope, are scarse Masters of theire owne sowles./ Some tymes the oath of supremacy cheaked theire presumptions imaginacions and yet could not that infernall smoake be wholly smothered nor the locusts yssuing thereout cleansed from the face of this lande. Now that the temporall power of the kinge conteyned in the oath of allegeance is by the papall sea and many of the orders thereof impudently a vowed to be vn= lawfull shall the branches of such doctrine be suffered to liu yea to liue and to be releiued of vs for whose destruccion they groane daylye./

:8:th Malis bene facere tantan= dem estac bonis malefacere./ To be a right popish preist in true English sence is to beare the Character of a disloyall Renegado of his naturall disobedience towards his soueraigne whom if by conueniency he shall let slip or chastice with a light hand what immunity may not traytour delinquents in lesser degrees expecte or challgence challenge after a sort inequity of Justice./

:9:th Fellowshipp in misery easeth greefe: and by clamor of the multitude iustice is many tymes con dempned./ If there were noe receavours there would be no theeues likewise if there were noe harbourers of the Iesuits it is to be presumed yt they would not troble this Isle with there presence therefore must rigoure be exstended against the receauour that the Iesuit may be kept without doores: were it then indifferent Iustice to hang vp the accessaryes & let the principall goe free, namely to suffer the preist to drawe his breath at length while the intertayner of him vnder his roofe submitts his body to the executioners hande without doubte, if it be fitt to forbeare the cheife, it wilbe necessary to receaue the second offendour into protection. Whereupon a mischeife must ensue of continuall exspence & scandalus restrainte of soe great a number./

:10:th It is not good to sett a price one that which being sould will bring repentance to the seller./ Reputation is one of the principall Arteries of the commonwealth which maxime is soe well knowne to the secritaryes of the papacye that by priuate forgeries & publique impressions of calumniacions they endeauor to wound vs in that uitall parte howsoeuer therefore some few of some few of that stampe beinge better tempered then theire fellowes in defence of this present gouernement have not spared to affirme that Tyranny is vniustly ascribed therevnto for so much as freedom of conscience after a sorte may be redeemed for money, notwithstanding there want not many Pamphlets of theire side who approbriously cast in our teeths the conuerting of the penaltie inflicted on recusantes and refusers of the oath of allegiance from the kinges to a perticuler purse, surely we cannot presume that the libellers may be diswaded from spitting out theire venum maliciously against vs, when they shall see theire preistes mewed vp without Warines is to be vsed with those qui nec totam seruitutem pati possunt nec totam libertatem. further processe of lawe. for either they attribute this calme dealing to the iustice of theire cause, the strength of theire partie or patience or that tract of tymes hath discovered our lawes importing overmuch sharpenes in good pollicie to be thought fitter for abrogation by non vsance then repealed by a publique decree./

11th Most men write good turnes in sand, and bad in marble./ Moreover it is fore thought by somme that if theis seminaries be onely restreyned; that they may proue hereafter like a snake kept in the bosome of such as Bonner, Guardiner, and others of the same liverye showed themselues to be after libertie obteyned in Queene Maryes dayes. and if the loss of theire ghostlye Fathers agreive them, it is probable that they will take armes sooner and with more Courage to free the living then to sett vp a Trophe to the dead./

12th Fugitiues that craue succor vse to lye Much fauor of theire cause and power. Relation de Botero. It is a signe when a faction dare number theire side that there is an opinion con= ceiued of sufficient strength to attempt some innouation./ Howsoever the Iesuits band is knowne in theire native soyle to be defectiue in many respectes which makes them vnderlings to the Protestantes, as in authoritye, armes, and the protection of the lawes which is all in all ne= verthelesse they insinuate themselues to forraigne Princes favoring theire partie with promises of strong assistance at home if they may be welbacked abroad, to which purpose they devided the inhabitantes of this realme into fowre sectes, whereof ranking theire troopes in the first place (as due to the pretended Catholiques) they assumed a full forth part In a common wealth there ought to bee but one head, for which cause a Prince must bee vigilant when diuers facions arise yt by favouring one and neglecting of other in stead of a head of all hee becomme onely a member of one partye./. fourth parte to theire properties: and of that parte againe they made subdivision into two porcions namely of those that openly renounced the established Church of England others whose certen number could not bee asigned because they frequented our service of sacramentes reservinge theire heartes to the Lord God, the Pope The 2.d parte they allotte to the Protestantes whoe retayne yet as they saye some reliques of theire Church, The 3d rancke and largest was lefte vnto the Puritans whom they hate deadly in respect they will hold noe indifferent quarter with papistry. The 4th and last maniple they assigne to the Politicians, Huomini (say they) Senza Dio et senza anima, men without feare of God, or regard of theire soules, whoe busieinge themselues only in matters of state retayne noe sence of religion: noe doubt if the Authours of this peticion haue cast theire accounte Discontented myndes in beginnings of tumultes will agree though th'endes be divers/. arighte wee must confesse that the later broode is to bee ascribed properlie vnto them, for if the vndermyninge of the Parliament houses they scandelizinge the king in print (whoe is Godes annoynted) the refusall of naturall A multitude is neuer vnited but in some few heades which being taken away converteth theire furye against the first movers of the sedition./. obedience bee markes of those that neither stand in feare of God nor conscience well maie the papistes boast that they are assured of theire first number, and may presume like= wise of the laste freindshippe when occacion shalbee offered./.

For the preventing of which Combinacion it is Certein Germans in H. 2des tyme calling themselues Publicans were marked with a hott Iron in the forhead and whipped being thrust out in the wynter with a prohi= bicion that none should receaue them into theire houses they died of hunger & cold/. a sure waie to cutt of the heades that should tye the knott or att least brand them with a marke in the forheadd bee= fore they bee dismissed or after the opinion of other to make them vnwelcome to the Femynyne sexe which now with great fervency embrace them./.

Theise=

Theise are for the most parte Argumentes vented in ordinary discourse by many who suppose a preistes breath to bee contagious in our english aire: Others there are who maintayne the 2d parrte of the question with reasons not vn= worthy of observacions:

Rooted supersticion violently handled groweth more warie but not lesse obstinate./. Death is the ende of temporall woes but it maie in noe waies bee accounted the graue of memorie therefore howsoever it is in the power of the Iustice to suppresse the person of a man, (the opinion for which hee suffered conceived trulye or vntrulie in the heartes of a multitude) is not subiecte to th'edge of any sword how keene soever I confesse that the teeth are soone blunted that byte onlie Yf Conspirators haue once sympathy of mynd the Conspiracy is never wholye suppressed soe long as one of them remayneth./. out of malice of a singuler faction, but when poison is diffused through the veynes of a Common wealth with intermixture of bloodd, good, and badd, sepacion is to bee made rather by patient evacuation then by present incisicion. The greatest biter of State is Envye ioyned with thirst of revenge, which seldome declares it selfe in plaine Cullours vntill a iealousie conceved of personall dangers breath out into desperate resolucions, Hence comes it to passe that when one malecontented member is greived the rest of the boddie is sensible thereof, Neither can a Preist or Iesuite bee cutt of without a generall murmure of theire secretaries which beinge confident in the number secretly arme for opposicion or confirmed without theire martirs Blood (as they are as they are perswaded resolue by patience and sufferance to glorifie there cause and merritt heauen doe not wee dailie see that itt is easier to confronte a pryvate ennemy then a society or a corporacion, and that the hatred of a state, is more mortall then the spleene opinion setled in a multitude is lyke hidras heads which must bee cured by searing but not by letting blood of a Monarchie, Therefore except itt bee demonstrated that the whole Roman Citty which concists not of one broade but of a succession of persons may bee cut of att the first stroake as an entire head, I see noe cause to see owr state secured by sitting on the skirts of somme fewe Semminaries leavinge in the Clemency is a devine instinct & worketh supernaturall efforts meane tyme a multitud of snarlors abroade whoe allreadie shewe there teeth and only want oportunitie to byte fiersly I not deny that where wee feare wee commonly hate provided allwaies that noe merritt hath interceded a reconcilliacion, for there is greate difference betweene hatred conceaved against him that will take away the lyfe and him that may iustly doe itt, And yett in Clemency forbeares to putt itt in effect for the latter breedeth reverend awe wheras the former subiecteth to servile feare, allwaies uccompanied with desyer of innovations, And although itt hath beene affirmed of the Churche of Roeme quod Gartij Axiomatu Politica pontificium genus semper crudele nevertheless owt of charrety lett vs hope that all Devills are not soe blacke are as they are painted. somme or perhapps many of them there are whome conscience or in defalt thereof puer shame of the worlde will constraine to confess that his Majestie most gratiously distinguisheth the Theory of Popery from the actyve parte thereof as beinge naturally inclined Paruis peccatis veniam mangis seueritatem comodare nec poena Tacitus in vita Agricolæ semper sed sepias penitentia contentus esse //

Mistakinge of punishment legally inflicted comonly proceedes from fonde pitty or the interest wee haue in the same cause booth which begett blinde partiallity Admitt then that the Papall syde effectinge when Traitors in Euills will not chase the least It is an argument that they are desperat and breath nothinge but extremities of mischeife/ effecting merritt by compassion maybee neerely touched with the restraint of theire Semminaries, It cannot bee denied I hope except they had the harts of Tygers that in humanitie they will preferr theire ease of durannce before the rygor of death And albeitt that Parsons Bellarmine and the Pope himselfe constraine there spirituall children to thrust there fingers into the fyer by refusinge the oath of alleageannce notwithstandinge wee haue many testimonies in iudiciall Courts and printed bookes that the greater parte of them are of that Theban hunters mynde who would rather haue seene his dogges cruell actes then to haue felt them to his owne costs;

Garnett himselfe allsoe in one of his secrett letters lamented that after It was a precept of Macheuills to putt on the Masque of religion which nowe is become a popish afforisme/ his death hee should not bee inrowlled amongst the Martirs because that noe matter of Religion was obiected against him yett itt plainly soe itt pleased in Parsons to Cauill of whome itt may bee spoken malus malum esse vult et siu similem appeared in his demeanure that hee should gladly suruiue the possebillitie of that glorie, yf any such had had remained neither is itt to bee presumed that beinge in prison hee would euer haue conceiued that wee durst not touche his reverence or that the lawe was remisse which had iustly condemned him and leste his lyfe to the kinges mercy. It is the distannce of place and not of persons that interrpreted the sendinge ouer seas the Preists to bee agreater argument of theire Innocencie then of his majestes forbearannce, for had Father Parsons himselfe beene coram nobis his songe would h rather haue beene of mercy then of iustice./.

gross and bratish errors are soner reformed the easier escapes for so much as the one cannot be defended without inpudencie whereas the other admi= teth some cullor of excuse and pittie./ It is truly said that wee are all instructed better by exsamples then precepts. Therefor yf the lawes printed and Indictmentes cannot controwle the Callumniatione of those that will willingly mistake treason for religion by the execution of twoe or three of that blackbittridge nomber I dowbt not but that the question may bee readely decyded namque immedicabile vulnus ense residendum est ne parss sincera tratiatur:

To bestowe benefitts to the bad maketh them worss and vilifieth the reward of the vertuous./ To dally with Pragmaticall Papists especially with those that by theire exsample and Councell prevente his majesties subiectes, I hould itt a pointe of meere iniustice for what comfort may the good expect when the badd are by connivancye freed to speake and imbold= enned to put there dislyall thoughtes in execution for explaining therefore of my meaninge It is necessarie to haue a regard to the nature of the kings liege people that are to bee reformed by exsample of Iustice and others forraigners whoe will wee nill wee muste bee censurers of our actions./

It hath beene

It hath been truly obserued that the nations of Europe which are most remote from Rome are more super= stitiously inclined to the dreggs of that place then the neerer neighbours of Italy, whether the humor proceede from the complexion of the Northerne bodies which is naturally more attentiue of old customes then hotter regions, or that the vices of the Citty seated on seauen hills are by crafty Ministers of that Sea concealed from the vulgar sort.

I list not now to discusse, but most certaine it is that the people of this Island exceeds the Romans in zeale of their profession; in so much that in Rome itselfe I haue heard the English fugitiues taxed by the name of Pichiapetti Knockbrests hypocrites Inglesi: Now as our Countrimen take surer holdfast of Papall tradicions then others so are they naturally better fortifyed with a courage to endure death for the maintenance of that cause. For this climate is of that temperature out of which Vegetius holdeth it fittest to choose a valiant soldier, where the heart findeth itselfe prouided of plenty of blood to sustaine Valour is often ouer= come by weaknesse, but being too much oppressed it turnes to vnbridled fury. suddaine defects it is not so soone apprehensiue of death or dangers, as where the storehouse of bloud is small, euery hazard makes pale cheekes, & trembling handes. Angli (say ancient writers bello intrepidi, nec mortis sensu deterrentur: and thereupon Botero the Italian beareth witnesse in his Relacions that many strangers therefore comming out of forraigne parts, among the rarities of England desired to see if report had not been too lauish in affirming that our condemned persons yeeld their bodies to death with cheerefulnes. And were it not that by daily experience we can call ourselues to witnesse of this The best lawes are made out of those good Customes whereunto the people is naturally inclined. Fortescue de legibus Anglia. truth, I could produce the Reuerend Iudge Fortescue who in commendacion of our English Lawes made well sutable (as he well obserueth) to the inbred condicions of the Inhabitants of this soyle, avoweth that the English people in triall for criminall causes are not compelled by tortures to confesse the truth as in other Nations Vse to see men dye with resolucion takes away the feare of death, for which purpose the Romans used the fight of Gladiators. it is used forasmuch as the quality of the English is knowne to be lesse fearefull of death then of torments, for which cause, if the torments of the Ciuill Lawe were offered to an to an innocent person in England he would rather yeild himself guilty and suffer death then endure the horrors of lingring paines, Insulani plerumque fures, (saith one) & so true it is that this Country is stained with that imputacion notwithstanding that many are putt to death to the end that others by their fall might learne in time to beware: If then it doth appeare that terror preuailes not to keep men from offenses which are condemned The hereticks calld Publi= cans when they were whipped they tooke their punishment gladly, their Capt. Gerrard being before them a signing, Blessed are you when men doe hate you. by Lawe & conscience, what assurance can there be to secure those who are constantly satisfied in their mindes that their sufferings are either expressely or by implicacion for matter of Religion and : to English= men Quibus nihil interest humine, sublimine putrescant, tis a matter of small consequence; Gallis, Italis aut Andromache cogere sivis vitam imitare. Senac. Trag Hispanis istam imitari, To a settled resolucion it bootes not to shew the dreadfull vizard of death; menaces to prolong a wearisome life preuaile much more in such cases. Wordly desires may be quenced with godly medita= tions, but heauenly hopes cannot be abated by earthly punishments. Rightly did Clement the 8th consider that by burning two Englishmen in Rome for supposed heresie, he rather impaired his cause then bettered it, Insomuch that many present at the resolute death of Mr March, who brought to dust in Campo di Santa Flore spared not to proclaime him a martyr, carryed away of his ashes for a relick, and wished their soules in the same place with his: which newes brought to the Popes eare caused him (as it was printed in Rome) solemnly to protest that none of the English nation should publickly from that time forward be consumed with fire.

On the other side if we reade the volumes written in praise of their Priests constancy, their Martyrologie or Kalender of martyrs, & pathway of Saluation as it were chalked out unto the Papists by sacrificeing their liues for the Pope, we shall find that by takeing away of one we haue con= firmed and inui ted many, whereof I could giue particular instances, if I thought any scruple were made in that point.

It is a point of wisdome to maintaine the truth with as little disputaci as may be least a good cause be marred with il handling. As for forraigne parts which hold with Papall Supremacy it is cleare that they wilbee seuere & partiall Iudges in this Cause for albeit here in England it is well knowne to bell true & loyall & loyall subiects that for matter of Roman doctrine no mans life is directly called into question, but their disobedience in reason of State is the onely motiue of their persecution. Neuerthelesse where a great Canton of Christendome is rooted Truth seldome preuaileth with the partiality of the people, which being ignorant is carryed away with the outward sem= blance of things./ in a contrary opinion, and things in this world are for the most esteemed by the outward appearance, this Land cannot escape malicious scandalls, neither shall there be want of Colledges to supply their factions With Seminaries, Therefore againe & againe I say if the State of the It is hard to make a Rule so generall against which difference of circumstance may not except. question were so sett, That it were possible by a generall execucion of the Papists and their adherents to end the Controuersy I could in some sort with better will subscribe thereunto, but seing I finde but little hope in that Course I hold it safer to be ambitious of the victory which is purchased with a lesse losse of bloud, and to proceed as Tully teacheth his Orator, who when he cannot wholy ouerthrow his aduersary yet ought he to doe it in some Sort, and withall to confirme his owne partie in the best manner that may be.

He that forbeareth to sowe his ground in expectacion of a good winde or a fauorable moone commonly hath a poore cropp, and a leane purse, so shall it fare with this State if priuate He that is calumniated by many is in danger first to be suspected of his freind and shortly to be condem= ned if the slaunder continue. whisperings of discontented persons, that neuer learned to speak well be too nicely regarded, yet ought they nor slightly sett at nought, least our credits grow light euen in the ballance of our dearest freinds.

The Papisticall libells informe against vs, as if wee were desirous to grow fatt with suckeing of their blood. The very walls of their seminarie Colledge at Rome on whom he daubed with their lyeing fancie, & in euery corner the cornerkeepers leaue some badge of their malicious spleene against vs cryeing out of cruelty & persecucion; But if the penalty of death be changed into a simple indurance of prison, what moate can they find in our eyes to pull out, and with what Rhetorick can they defend their obstinate malapertnesse, with whc repayeing vs ill for good, deserues to haue coales of indignacion powred upon their heads. Visne muliebre consilium ? said Liuia to Augustus, Let seuerity That Counsell takes best effect which is fitted to the natures of the times and persons. sleepe a while & what alteracion Clemency may procure his Enemies much stopped, & the fury of their malice abated; Some there are perhaps that will terme this Clemency an Innouacion, & vouch the Precedent of that Citty who permitted none to propound new Lawes, who had not a Coard about their necks ready for vengeance if it were found unprofitable.

But lett such Stoicks know that there is a great difference betweene the penning of a new Lawe and aduice giuen for the manner of executing of it; neither by their leaues are all Those changes of state are safely made which with reser= ueing most part of the auncient forme betters it, and reduces the defects into order. Innouacions to be reiected: for Diuine Plato teacheth us that in all Commonwealths upon iust grounds there ougt to be some changes, & that Statesmen therein must behaue themselues like skillfull Musicians, qui artem Musices non mutant sed Musices modum. That an ill weed groweth fast by example of the new Catholicks encrease is clearely couinced, but he that will ascribe this generacion simply to his Majesties heroicall vertue of Clemency argueth out of the Fallacy which is called The Church is most zealous when persecucion is fresh in minde; when those times are forgotten we grow to loath that which we enioy freely. Ignoracio Elenchi. Was not the zeale of many cooled towards the last end of Queen Elizabeth's raigne? hath not the impertinent heate of some of our owne side bereft vs of part of our strength, & the Papacy with tract of time gotten a hard skinne on their consciences. Pauo met primo mox sere attollit in altum. But if we will with a better insight behold how this great quantity of spawne is multiplyed we must especially ascribe the Cause thereof to the Priests who by their deaths prepare & assure more to their sect, then by their liues they could euer perswade. It were inciuility to distrust a freind or one that carrieth the shew of an honest man if he will franckly giue his word or confirme it with a sacred oath: But when a Protestacion is reade upon the last gaspe of life, it is of great effect and possesseth those that cannot gainesay it upon their owne knowledge.

The number of these Priests which nowadayes come to make a Tragicall confession, is not great; yet as with one seale many Patents are sealed, so with the losse of few liues numbers of wauering spirits may be gained. Sanguis martyrum senen Ecclesia; & though these Preists haueing a disaduantagious In this case the qeustion is not so much of the truth of it, as who shall be Iudgeste & what Censure will be giuen. cause are but in very deed counterfett shadowes of martyrs to a true vnderstanding, yet will they be reputed for such by those that lay their soules in pawne upon their doctrine, with whom if wee list to contend by multitude of voyces, we shall be cryed downe without all peraduenture: for the gate of their Church is wide & many are they that enter thereinto.

By diuers meanes it is possible to come to one & the same end; seing then that the summe of our wellwishings is all one, namely that Popish Priests may haue no power to doe harme, it is not impertiennt to try diuers pathes which may tend to the perfecting of our desires. Politicians distinguish In the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth it was easier to subdue Popery then now, for then they feared to irritate that State not knoweing how farre seuerity might extend, now knoweing the worst they are resolued Agere & Pati. Inter Rempublicam constitutam & Remp. constituendam accor= ding to the seuerall Natures whereof Statists are to dispose of their Counsells & ordinances; were they Romists & Roma= lists new hatched out of the shell, the former course of seuerity might soone bury their opinions with their persons but since the disease is inueterated, variety of medicines in iudicially to be applyed.

The Romans did not punish all crimes of one & the selfe same nature by extremity of death, for some they condemned to perpetuall prison, and others they banisht into an Island or some remote Countrey, euen in the very case of Religion they were very tender to dipp their finger in bloud for when Cato was Consull, it seemed good to the Senate to sup= presse with violence the disordered Ceremony of the Bacchanalls brought by a strange Preist into the City: he withstood that sentence, alleadging that there was nothing so apt to deceiue men as Religion which alwayes pretends the shew of Diuinity: and for that Cause it behooued to be very wary in chastising Vulgus est merosum animal quod facilius duci quam cogi potest. the Professors thereof, least any indignacion should enter into the peoples minds that somewhat was derogated from the Majestie of God: Others more freely haue not spared to place Religion, I meane that Religion which is ignorantly zealous, among the kinds of frenzie, which is not to be cured otherwise then by time giuen to diuert or qualify the fury of the conceit: Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum.

Howsoeuer in valueing the power of a City or strength of Arguments, quality & worth is to be preferred before number. Many partizans incourage the faint hearted, & where an Enemy cannot preuaile a= gainst number, his thoughts are not how to offend, but how to make a safe retraite. Neuerthelesse where the vttermost of our force is not knowne, it importes much to haue it conceiued that the multitude stands for vs, for doubts & suspicions cast in our enemies way euermore makes things seeme greater & more difficult then they are indeed; we haue by Gods mercy the sword of Iustice drawne on our behalfe, which vpon short warning is able to disunite the secret underminers of our quietnes; we haue a King zealous for the house of our Lord; who needeth not feare More Priests may be shutt vp in a yeare then they can make in many. lesse successe in shutting up of Priests, then our late Queene had in restraining them to Wisbich Castle, where least their factious spirits factious spirits should grow rusty they conuerted their canker to frett vpon themselues, and vomitting out their gall in quodlibets shewed that their disease was chiefly predominant in the spleene: what Tempests they haue raised in their Colledge at Rome, their owne bookes, & many can witnesse, The storme thereof was such that Sixtus Quintus complained seriously of the vexacion which he receaued oftener from the English schollers, then all the vassalls of his Triple Crowne, And truly is the Magistrate noted of negligence or ouermuch security that layeth waite to catch the Foxes, & the little foxes that spoile the vineyard, though afterwards without further punishment he reserues them to the day wherein God will take account of their stewardships. For if Aristotles City had been defined to be a society of men assembled to liue well, be the same which in our Lawe hath Peace is alwaies to be wished prouided that vnder color thereof there be not a mischief en= tertained worse then warre itselfe. a reference to the maintaineing of the people in peace, so long as wee taste of the sweet of the peaceable gouernment, wee cannot say but that we liue well, & that the City consisting of men & not of walls, is happily ioyned.

An oath is a weake bond to conteine him that will for pretended Conscience sake hold no faith with hereticks, or by absolucion from a Priest, thinkes himself at liberty to fly from any promise or protestacion whatsoeuer.

Therefore when I remember that Watson the Priest notwithstanding his Inuectiues against the Iesuites gained liberty to forge his Trai= terous inuentions, & had others of his society of the complott, I iudged it safer to make refuses of them then to suffer such to dally with vs by bookes, & some Idle intelligences cast abroad, onely as a mist to bleare our eyes: But how shall we find the meanes to apprehend those disguised Romanists that borrow the shapes of Captaines, Marchants, Gentlemen, Citizens, & all sorts of people, & by Equiuocacion may deny themselues to be themselues? In answer to this question I will first shew the reason why they are not pursued & taken, and hereafter make an answer how they may be bolted out of their hatches. The nature of man howsoeuer in hot bloud it be thirsty of reuenge, in One man in another be= holdeth himself, & thereby groweth compassionate & sensible of that which may fall to himselfe. a cooler temper it, hath a kind of Nausea, as I may call it or loathing of takeing away mens liues euen of the nocent. Insomuch as in all Assises and Sessions, an Offendor can hardly be condemned whom the foolish pitty of many will not after a sort excuse with layeing some Imputacion on the Iudge, part on the Iury, & much on the Accuser, & such is their blind affection, that the prisoner who perhaps was neuer commended for handsome will be esteemed of them for one of the properest men of the Company, from hence it comes that the name of Sergeant or a Purseuant is odious, & the Executioner although he be the hand of Iustice, is esteemed no better then an Enemy of mankinde & one that lost honesty and humanity in his cradle.

Reuerend

Reuerend Mr Fox was wont to say that spies & accusers were necessary members in a Commonwealth, & deserued to be cherished, but for his part he would not be any of that number, nor wish his freinds to affect such imployments: & albeit that the Law permitts & commands euery man to apprehend a fellon What men doe vnwillingly is neuer done effectually. do we not commonly see very many content to stand by & looke on whilest others performe that office, likewise it is euident that such as are tender of their reputacion, be very scrupulous to to arrest a man for even actions of debts, they will be more vnwil= ling instruments of draweing their bodies to the wrack or the gallowes, especially when there is any colour of Religion to be pretended on their defence. The diuersity of mens faces is greate, but the difference of their minds in this case is more variable, wherein the meanest haue thought as free as the highest. Besides this there are too many of the blind Communalty altogether Popish though not reconciled Papists who in their foolish Igno= rance will say it is pitty any should dye for their conscience, though indeed they make honorable amends for their treason: verily I doe not know what misgiueing of the mind it is that maketh men forecast the possibility of alteracion in matters of Religion, & for that respect, they are exceeding backward in discouering & layeing hands on Seminaries, yea & are timorous in enacting sharpe Lawes against them, as those that silently say among themselues, Sors hodierna mihi, cras erit illa tibi. Some also suruiue who know remember that in Queen Maries time the Protestants alleadged a Text, That the tares should not be plucked vp before the haruest; nay should I speake a buggs word there is no small number that doubtfull is whether it be a gratefull worke to crosse Popery, or that it may Vertue neither priased nor rewarded waxeth cold. be done safely, without a foule aspersion of Puritanisme, or a shrewed turne for their labours at some time or other.

By which vnhappy ambiguity it comes to passe that, Animalia Am= phibia, the Priests I mean, that prey on the soules & bodyes of either sexe, vnatached reuell where they list, though they be no more seene then a man dancing in a nett: how much fitter were it for vs couragiously to inuite them to our partie by preaching or confuting them by writeing: & vnto the State wherein we stand, wisely to apply the exhortacion of the Assyrian King to his souldiers, you are fooles (quoth he) if there be any hope in your hearts to redresse sorrow by flight, rather indeauour to make them fly that are the causers of your griefe, assuring your selues that more perish in flight then in battaile, euen as many seeking to meete the Papists half way discomfort our owne partie.

It followes now according to the methode prescribed before that an ouerture be made, how to gett the Iesuits, & their shadowes the Priests into possession. It hath been heretofore recited that the vnwelcome name of bloodsucker, a busy body, or a Puritan haue been shrewd scarcrowes vnto many honest mindes, by abrogating therefore of those or such like imputacions many will be stirred vp to vndertake the Apprehending of the aduersaries vnto the truth, especially when for their paines & time imployed they shall haue & deserue the Titles of good Patriots, dutifull subiects & zealous Christians. How ready is euery Common person to carry a Malefactor rather to the Goale then execucion, and doubtlesse they wilbe no lesse forward to attach a Priest when they are assured the worst of his punishments shalbe a Wise men doe forecast how to doe most with least noise. simple restrainte within the walls of some old castle. A certaine kinde of people there is with whom mony playes a more for= ceable orators part then any persuasion of the dutifull seruice which they owe to their Commonwealth, these men will not be negligent to giue inteligence & also to procure it faithfully prouided that reward may helpe to line their threadbare purse, & exempt them for need to sell Libertie vnto Seminaries, & where assured hope of gaine is propounded for discouery, what master or housekeeper will trust his seruant with keeping of his Priest, or sleep quietly while he is ingaged to the danger of a mercinary. I remember that in Italy it was often told me that the bountifull hand of Sir Francis Walsingham made his Intelligencers so actiue that a Seminary could hardly stirre out of the gates of Rome without his priuity, which successe my mediacion of gold may as readily be obtained from Siuill, W Valadolid, Doway, Lorraine, Paris, & other places, & by forewarning giuen of their approach they may be waited for at the portes, & from thence soone conueyed to a safe lodging; But whence shall the streame flow that must feede this bounty? it is a doubt easily satisfied if some thousands of pounds out of the Recusants penalties be reserued in stock & committed by his Majestie into the disposicion of some zealous distributers who will not be afraid to Particular officer must be appointed, what is commanded to all is commonly per= formed by none. conclude Perdat fiscus ut capiat Christus; neither need we seeke any further succour to repaire decayed castles, & therein to defray e the charge of the Priests with a sure guard to keep them in, then the foresaid forfeitures that by the Iustice of the Lawe may be collected, the seruice done for the Kings proper vse hath his warrant & countenance, but when a priuate man hath the aine, neither reward nor bearing out can be expected, by consequence Recusants ree. which course if euer it come happily to be entertained, & that Recu= sants cease to be an ignominous prey to the subiect, the proceeding for Religion shall be least blamed, & perhaps altogether vniustly accused by any gracelesse Gretzerus or Cacodæmon Iohannes tincting their penns in gall & vineger, for besides occasion of calumniacion giuen by suits of that nature, it is euident that many Recusants that would be that would be indited for the King, & the effecting of the proiect aforesaid, shall escape without punishment & be borne out against the power of a priuate persons begging to no other purpose then hath heretofore been vsed, & albeit the penalty be rated at 20ll a month yet it was neuer the Lawmakers intent that such as were not able to pay so great a summe should goe scottfree, but that according to the proportion of their abilities they should doe penance of their purses for their disobedience; wheeas none (if the voice of the people which is said to be the voice of God) but is slipt ouer as if they owed no soules to God nor duty to their Soueraigne. A poore man (saith one) is to be pittyed if he offend through necessity, but if he doe amisse volun= tarily, he is more seuerely to be chastised, for asmuch as wanting freinds & meanes to beare him out, it sheweth that his fault proceedeth from presumption.

Let vs now suppose that all the whole Regiment of Iesuits & Priests were lodged in safe custody, may we then persuade our selues that Popery will vanish like a dumbe shew, I am clearely resolued that though it receiue a great Ecclipse, not= withstanding without other helpes, the Kingdome of Antichrist will onely lye hidden as a wood that seemes withered in the winter, & is onely ready to sprout out with the spring: Temporall Armes are remedies seruing for a time, but the spirituall sword Medicines that worke in the spiritts of men are of great force, & cure more surely then outward plaisters. is permanent in operacion, & by an inuisible blow workes more then mortall man can Imagine: The word of God carryeth the two edged weapon in his mouth which is to be vsed by faith= full Ministers of the Church, whom pure zeale without respect towards promocion or persons ought to encourage. Of Iudges the Scripture saith Estote fortes; & daily we see that sitting in their Iudiciall seates God inspireth them with greater courage then when as priuate persons they are to giue their opinions. No lesse is the power of the Holy Ghost in his seruants that out .... Speech is the Interpreter of the minde, therefore who so vseth in diuine matters to speake reseruedly, & in adouble sence he would be suspected to haue a double heart, & vnfitt to teach them that trust him. of the Pulpitt are to deliuer his Embassage: Let them there= fore not be dismayed to speake out plainely, & tell the truth without running a middle course betweene heate & cold, vn= profitably descanting vpon the Scripture with an old Postill, or for want of better matter, waste the poore time shutt vp in an houre glasse with skirmishing against the worthy pillars of our owne Profession. Rumor, which is euer ready to take hold of euill hath raised a secrett thought (as I hope) a causelesse suspicion that there should be some combinacion vnder hand by changing the state of questions, to putt vs in our old dayes to learne a new Catechisme, & when they haue brought vs out of conceit with the Reuerend Interpreters of the Word, to vse vs then as then as the Wolues (mencioned in Demosthenes Apology) handled the shepheards when they had deliuered up their doggs. Most sacred was that speech of our Soueraigne concerning Vorstius, He that will speake of Canaan let him speake the language of Canaan, how can wee drawe others to our Church, if we cannot agree where or how to lay our foundacion, or how may we cause the Leprous disease of dissension which the Papists which are best assured to them selues & not doubtfull of their saluation, are not ashamed to ascribe vnto many of vs, I would not haue Ministers indiscreet like doggs to A good Pastor is the Physician of the soule, & ought to apply his doctrine according to the tendernes or hardnesse of the conscience, for want of which discretion some mens zeale hath done hurt. barke against all whether they know or know them not, I like better the opinion of Aristotle who aduised those that stand in guard of a place to be curst onely to such as are about to endamage the Citty. If Purseuants & others that are euill officers would learne to keep this Rule, they might goe about their businesse with much creditt. The imagined feare of inuiting the Romish faction by force to deliuer their Ghostly fathers out of prison moues mee not a whitt, for I cannot beleeue that they esteeme them at so deare a price that they would runne the hazard by freeing them out of hold to putt themselues in their places. Some will say A man of strawe is a head good enough for a discontented multitude; That the Papists are very cholerick it appeares euidently by their writeings, yet it hath pleased God to send those curst Cowes short hornes; That when they should not finde a man of sufficiency to false miracles & lying newes are the food of super= stition which by credulity delu= deth ignorant people. serue their turne, they are faine to doe homage to Garnetts strawe, forgettfull as they are that such stubbl cannot en= dure the triall of fire. But vnto vs that ought to be doers aswell as professors of the Ghospell, let this remaine as a memoriall, The ordaind' Religion is the mother of good order, & good order is the Cause of prosperous fortune & happy suc= cesse in all counsells & Enterprises, wherefore in what State soeuer there wanteth good order, it is an euident Argument that Religion goes backward. X

X God which is the Great Law= maker by his Lawe preuents sinnes, to the end that punishment be inflicted on it Iustly, as to auoyd Idolatrie he forbiddeth making of Images. He that cannot liue chaste let him marry I haue euer held it for a kind of Iniustice to omitt the execucion of meane Lawes made to preuent the effects of idlenesse, and then to apply many extremities of the sword, when the powling habitt gotten by that vice comes to light, no lesse is the course vncharitable (with pardon for the presumption be it spoken) when we spare them that haue no Religion at all, & censure those that can giue account of somewhat tending to that purpose.

He that is in his misery must be borne with if he speake miserably, & when the Child from his mothers breast hath suckt' nothing but Popery, a man had need to be angry with discretion if he heare him speake in the voice of a Papist. God calleth some by miracles, but the ordinary meanes is the word, If that meanes in any place of this Land be wanting of what Religion is it likeliest the people wilbe? I suppose that few men will gainesay my assertion that outward sence will direct them to Popery, which is fuller of Pageants then of Scripture doctrine: & what is And what is the Cause that after so many yeares preaching of the Ghospell that the Common people still retaine a sent of the Roman perfume? The cause is for that the formall obedience of comming to Church hath bin more expected, then the Instruction of priuate families: Publick Catechizeing is of greate vse, but the first Elements thereof are to be learned A man is knowne to know how much he remembreth, & no more, & we remember best what we learned in our youth, there= fore if we will be wise when we are old we must be taught when we are yong. at home, & those which we learne from our Parents stick most surely in our mindes: What was the cause why the Spartans continued their gouernment so many reuolucions of times without mutacion histories record, for learning the Country Customes from their Infancy, they could not be induced to alter them, & in this our Natiue Country we perceiue that the Common Lawes which relye vpon ancient Customes are better obserued then late Statutes of what worth soeuer they be. So fares it with the poore people which being once seasonsed with Out of oeconomicall gouerne= ment the diuersity of states grow, & such as the Princes house is such is the state of the Commons for the most part: by which reason a Prince may by a suruey of his owne house haue an aime how the Commonwealth is affected. the old dreggs of Papisme will hardly be drawne from it till the learning of the true faith be growne to a Custome, I will prescribe no order nor officers to effect this, but I suppose the ancient laudable course by the Bishopps confirmacion will not be sufficient to fullfill so great a taske. The Ministers must & ought to be the Principall & immediate hands to giue assistance to so gracious a worke: & in case any be defectiue in their duty, The Reuerend Bishopps may take notice thereof in their visitacions.

Perhaps it will be thought a hard taske to contraine the people to learne the A B C of their Christian belefe, but how hard soeuer it be, I hold it no inciuility to prepare people of all ages for the Kingdome of heauen. By the order By the Law there were tithing men who gaue account for Lo: housholdes, some such officers might doe good in this case, for I hold the breaking of the Sabbeth to be the ruine of our Religion. contained in the booke of Common prayers, on Sundayes & holidayes, half an houre before Euensong the Curate of the Parish ought to examine children sent vnto him in some points of the Catechisme; & all Fathers, mothers, masters & Dames should cause their children, seruants & prentices to resort vnto the Church at the time appointed there obediently to heare & be ordered by the Curate vntill such time that they haue learn't all that in the same booke is com= manded, & when the Bishop shall appoint the Children to be brought before him for their Confirmacion, the Curate of euery Parish shall send or bring in writeing th names of those children of his parish which can answer to the questions of the Catechisme, & there ought none to be admitted to the holy Communion vntill such time as he can say his Catechisme & be confirmed. Many times I haue stood amaz'd to behold the magnificence to behold the Magnificence of our Ancestors buildings, which their successors at this day are not able to keep up: but when I cast my eyes vpon the excellent foundacion layd' by the graue fathers of the Church, & perceiue their children to neglect to build thereupon which is ixceeding maruell, I rest almost beside myself: for neuer was better ground plott layd' which hath byn seconded with lesse successe. It was not the hanging vp of the He that knowes not the cause of an euill cannot helpe it but by chance which is a dangerous guide of the state. Bull of Pius Quintus on the Bishopp of London's doores, or the forbearing to hang vp Priests that hath cause this Apostasy, but the idlenesse & insufficiency of many Teachers conspiring with the peoples cold zeale that hath byn the contriuer of this vnhappy webb. Vntill the 11th yeare of Queene Elizabeth's raigne a Recusants name was scarcely knowne, the reason was that the zeale begotten in the time of the Mariane persecution was yet fresh in memory, & the late persecutors were so ama= zed at the suddaine alteracion of Religion that they could not choose but say, Digitus Dei hic est.

In those dayes there was a reconciliacion between the Clergie & the Layity, & a strife arose whether of them should shew themselues most affectionate to the Gospell, Ministers hanted Where good are afraid to call a vice by its proper name it is a signe that the vice is common, & the great Persons whom it is not safe to anger, are infected therewith. the houses of the worthiest men, where now Iesuits build their Tabernacles, & poore Country Churches were frequented with the best of the shire. The word of God was precious, prayeing & preaching went hand in hand together, vntill Archbishop Grindalls disgrace, & Hatfeilds hard conceite of preaching brought the floweinge of these good graces to still water. The name of Papist smelt ranke euen in their owne nostrills & for pure shame to be accounted such they resorted daily both to our Churches & exercises: But when they saw their De Schismat. Ang. & de Inuisibili Monarch. Ecclisiasticæ great Coriphaeus Sanders had pinned the name of Puritans vpon the sleeues of the Protestants that encountred them with most courage & perceiuing that the word was pleasing to some of our owne side they tooke heart, of grace, to sett little by the seruice of God & Some thinke that if thse mens zeale had by order byn putt to imploy itself otherwise, &, a taske sett them to doe some good & memorable thing in the Church they might haue byn reformed or made harme= lesse by diuersion. duty to their Soueraigne, Therewith start vp amongst vs some that might haue byn recommended for their zeale, if it had byn tempered with discretion, who forerunning the authoritie of the Magistrate tooke vpon them in sundry places, & publikly to censure whatsoeuer agreed not with their priuate conceits: with Sir Nic. Bacon. such crosse humors vented in Pulpitts, & pamphletts most mn grew to be frozen in zeale, & in such sort benummed that who soeuer (as the worthy Lord Keeper Bacon obserued in those dayes) pretended a little sparke of earnestnes, he seemed no lesse then redd fire hott in comparison of the other.

And as some things fare the worse for an ill neighbours sake Headstrong passions are not easily subdued yet must they not be suffered to grow to a faction. Discretio per legem discernere quid sit res must lay the burthen in the right place. dwelling besides them, so did it betide the Protestants who seeking to curbe the Papists, or reproue an idle drone were incontinently branded with the ignominious name of Precisians, all which winde brought plenty of water to the Popes mill, & there will most men grinde where they see appearance to be well serued.

If without great inconueniency the Children of Papists could Without reformacion in this point Popery will still increase, but, as all vertuous enterprises are difficult, so is this the most intricate. be brought vp out of their company it were a happy turne, but I finde it to be full of difficulty. There is prouision made to avoyde Popish Schoolemasters, but there is no word against Popish Schoolemistresses that infect the silly Infants while they carry them in their armes which moueth me to suppose that the former proposicion to examine how children & seruants are brought vp, & truly to certify the list of the Communicants, & recusants will be the readiest meanes to let his Majestie know the yearely increase or decrease of the Church in euery Diocese, & whosoeuer shall send his children or A wise householder will cast by his reckonings what losse or profitt he hath made in a yeare. his Majesties subiects to be placed in Monasteries or seminary Colledges, or Popishly to be brought vp in forraine parts, I thinke that for punishment both the one & the other worthily be might be disfranchised of priuiledges due to naturall Englishmen so farre forth as any good by the Lawes may descend to them, but not to be exempted from the penalties thereof, or the Regall Iurisdiction of the Crowne. I know well that contradiction is odious & makes a man seeme ambitious to be thought more vnderstanding then others, in which case the Spaniard vseth onely to call pre= sumptious whom he would call fooles if ciuility would beare it: but in my defence I hope it shall suffice to reuiue my former protestacion that I discourse by way of proposicion rather then arrogance of defining of any thing: The Lawe which tooke immediate notice of an offence gaue a quick redresse, & corrected the poore as well as the riche. with pardon therefore may I be permitted to say That the first easy Lawe of xii d inflicted on him that could not giue a reasonable excuse for his absence from Church on Sondayes was one of the best Ordinances that hitherto hath byn The sharp Lawes that stands pon a long processe after a manner seemes to dispense with the vice enacted: but while we sought to make new Lawes & Statuts sauoring of more seuerity we neglected the old & were loth to execute the newe; for it is a certaine Rule that whosouer in Policy will giue Liberty & yet seeme to suppresse a crime, let him procure sharp Lawes to be proclaimed which are necessary onely for sometimes, & rare occasions to be putt in execucion, but not to be an ordinary worke for euery day of the weeke: daily vse likewise teacheth vs that it is lesse grieuous to punish by an old Lawe by an old Lawe then by any new. Forasmuch as truth itselfe seldome getts creditt without proofe, & it is hard to free people from suspicion that new Lawes are not rather inuented against the particular persons & purses of men then against their corrupt manners; by force of which reason I am induced to conceiued that the old vse of The allegiance to God ought to preceed the temporall obedience for if the first may be obtained the second will follow of itself. the Church contained in good nurture & Ecclesiasticall Censure will much more preuaile to muzzle pouerty then any fresh deuices whatsoeuer; neither doe I thinke it blame worthy to affirme that our cause hath taken harme by relying more on the temporall then on the Spirituall armes, for a while wee trusted that capitall punishment would strike the stroke, we haue neglected the meanes which would for the most part haue discharged the needs of such seuerity The oath of Allegiance is not offered generally to seruants & meane people, who if they had taken the oath of absolucion of a Priest might recoyle from it, or change their opinion at leisure without any other ready meanes to discouer their leger= demaine, That oath I feare will not often be pressed, & to them that shift from place to place how can it be tendered. The principall Papists couer themselues now in the coude of the multitude, but if we can discouer the affeccion of the multitude, they easily will be vnmaskt', & being singled out, they rest ashamed of their nakedness, bee which vnder correction of better Iudgements may be effected. If euery new commer to Inhabitt in a Towne, & seruants newly entertained in a weeke or forteeen dayes be caused to repaire to the Minister, there in presence of the Churchwardens & other honest men to subscribe vnto such briefe & substantiall Articles concerning faith & Allegeance as shalbe thought according to Gods word & Iustice ordeined to distinguish the sheep from the goates. In foraigne Countries euery host is bound to bring his guest before an officer there to certify his name with the occasion of his comming, & intended time of abode in those parts, & in case he stay longer he must againe renew his licence: so curious and so vigilant also are they to keep their Cities from infection that without a certificat witnessing their comming from wholesome places, they may not escape the Lazaretto: No lesse ought we to be watchfull So long as houses & lodgings in London are lett to Papists the Priests wilbe receiued & from thence shall the Country be infected. to preuent the contagion of our soules then other nations of their bodies; euery thing is hard & scarcely pleasing in the beginning, but in time some such course may be readily putt in execucion, which I propound rather as matter for better heads to worke vpon, then peremptorily to be insisted vpon the same termes.

But least any charge me with temerity that when I desire to know the multitudes inclinacion by the meanes aforesaid, I satisfy myself with their parrots language pronouncing it knowes not what, I thinke, it not impertinent to putt them in minde that heretofore I haue required instruccion required instruccion precedent & subsequent, & am euer of the minde that thought this cannot be done all at once, yet it is necessary alwayes to be doeing best, knoweing that not to goe forward in Religion is the ready way to goe backward.

It is not the outward obedience of comming to Church that discouers the inward thought of the heart: it is the confession of the tongue that must vtter these secrets, & where the Curates are insufficient, If we can preuent the increase of Papists these that now liue must either be reformed or ni time yeld to nature, & there shall a new age succeed of Christians by educacion made Religious. or parish greate I wish they had Catechists to assist them maintained by the purses of the Recusants which pension being collected for Gods cause, will free vs of scandall, though it grieue them to pay the spirituall armie waged against their owne stratagems. Surely be giueing them way in petty matters they are growne to be very masterfull in their partie. Plato affirmeth that the popular state proceeded from the licence which the people tooke to make immoderate applauses in the Theatres, when as by arrogating that immunitie without controlment in the presence of their Gouernors & perceiuing the Nobility to Ioyne with them in the same Passions, they thought their heads as worthy to gouerne, as any of those that were made out of the self same mould: In like manner while we suffer ignorannce openly to maintaine such pettie glimpses of Popery as are thought to be scarce worthy to be looked at, & in small matters runn an indifferent course, which neither make sure friends nor feeble foes, vnawares they take the bridle from vs, & eate out Religion as it were by an insensible gangrene.

Principijs obsta, sero' medicina parætur Cum mala per longas inualuere moras.

For by sufferance of breakeing smaller lawes people are imbol= dened to sett the greater at nought; To comprehend all things in a Lawe which are necessary to the Reformacion, I neither hold it profitable nor expedient, yet it is discretion to prouide for the most important, the smaller matters whereof the Lawe speakes not are to be commended to the discretion of parents, masters & other Reuerend persons who by example & aduise may prepare yonglings by educacion & custome to obey the Lawes, especially such as are in high places ought in this behalfe to be like Cæsars wife, Non solum crimine sed etiam criminis suspicione vaiare, & with such circumspection to behaue themselues that the world may conceiue in requiring obedience to God, & their Soueraigne that they hold the multitude rather for companions then slaues, If great men take another way they may seduce many by exam= ples though by words they expresse not their conceald opinions, Tace & loquere said God to Moses, it is the speach of the heart which vtters more then the letters or syllables, & in our Common Lawes it is held maintenance when a great Personage onely by his presence contenanceth a cause: neither lett vs secure our selues with this Argument, The Papists are pliable in small matters, Ergo they will yeild in greater, & because they tooke no armes in 88, therefore it is needlesse curiously to suspect them now; for who knowes not knowes not that small baites are vsed to take the greatest fish, vt cum esca vna' & hamum deuoret: warinesse is the sinewes of wisdome, & nothing is more dangerous then to be secure in matters of state. There= fore for the Lawes already made I wish that the most effectuall of Few lawes well executed are better then many. them which least concerne life may be executed, for better it were not to make them, then by neglect to sett them at liberty, seing that many offences there are which men would abstaine from, if they were forbidden, but when a strict commandment is auoyded without punishment, thereout springs an vnbridled licence to be hardly reformed by any rigor.

To conclude I say freely that he that endeth his dayes by a naturall death, he shalbe subiect to receiue many mens doomes for euery particular offence, but when for Religions sake a man triumpheth ouer the sword, that one vertue razeth out the memory of other errors, & placeth him that so doth, in paradise (if common opinion may be lawfully accouched) which glory haueing many followers & admirers, awaketh euer dull spirits to affect their footsteps, to sell their liues for the maintenance of the cause. I need not to enuy the name of a martyrto the Iesuites, for the cause if it be rightly weighed will branch that title: But I desire to haue all these lineaments defaced which may compose the Counterfett Image; In prosecuting of which purpose if I haue failed in any aduise, & by confused handling intricated the question, I humbly request that wisemans verdict may mitigate the heauinesse of the Censure. It is neither good to priase badd He counsells lest that preferes the cause of God & the Commonwealth before any particular. counsells because of their good successe, nor to condemne good Counsells if the euent proue not fortunate, least many be animated to aduise rashly, & others disheartened to counsell grauely./ FINIS.

Illi mors grauis incubat Qui notus nims omnibus Ignotus moritur sibj. seneca Trag.