IT is not to be denied , that Priests are executed for affirming the Popes primacy , and reconciling to the pretended Church of Rome , &c. which are points of their supposed religion : But yet they are not executed for these ( or like ) points or partes as they be religious , but as they be trayterous , or dangerous to the state , in ciuill consideration .

1 For , if Priests were executed for these , or like points , as they be religious , then the Church would proceed against them in Ecclesiasticall maner , before the secular power execute ciuill punishment . As against Anabaptistes , and other in this Queenes raigne , hath bene performed . So that Priests their case differeth from Hackets only Secundum magis & minus , the one being more dangerous in ciuill consideration then the other .

2 Secondly , they should be executed as wel for affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. ( as Story for his misdemeanure , though ) beyond seas . For such affirming the primacie and reconciling , &c. are as damnable in religious consideration on one side of the seas , as on the other , but not so dangerous to our state in ciuill consideration .

3 Thirdly , they should be executed as well for other points of popery : as giuing the glory of the Creator ( to wit prayer and praise ) to creatures , Angels , Saints , stockes , and stones , &c. being no lesse damnable then such affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. in religious consideration , but not so dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration . As may appeare by a like case propounded .

If Anabaptistes , denying magistracy , and that Christ tooke flesh of the Virgen Mary , should swarme in England , and if Magistrates should punish in a more ciuill manner of proceeding , not the latter ( though no lesse damnable , as it is religious ) but the former , being more dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration , who would say , that Anabaptistes did suffer for religion , and not for treason or felony ?

4 That affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. may appeare directly to be dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration , and therefore trayterous ; it is to be knowne and considered , that Pope Pius Quintus ( by his bull declaratory ) pronounced our gracious and Christian Queene an hereticke , and excommunicated all such as yeeld obedience to her . If then the Popes authority be perswaded as as a matter of conscience , & if by reconciliation her Maiesties subiects become vowed members of such an head as is her capitall enemy , we may be assured that so many as are so perswaded and reconciled , are prepared to obey the Pope , and disobey the Prince . Is not then such affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. dangerous to the state , in ciuill consideration , and therefore trayterous ?

5 In that I say ( prepared ) it is yet further to be knowne and considered : that whereas the Earles had ill successe in executing the said bull , other deuises were frustrated , and the hope of Papists their present preuailing much failed , Parsons and Campion ( English Priests ) being to come into England to vrge the sayd bull , and doubting that ( in the rigour thereof ) it would not be readily obeyed , did craue and obtaine of Pope Gregory the thirteenth , this exposition more plausible to Papists , but more dangerous to the state : That the said bull may alway bind the Queene and heretickes : but Catholikes ( that is Papists ) in no sort , things standing as they do , but then onely , when there may be publike execution thereof .

Philopater a louer of his country ( as he pretendeth by that fained name ) no Englishman ( if ye will beleeue him ) yet descended of the English nation ( as he saith himselfe ) in a poysonfull and trayterous booke , often printed in diuerse places beyond the seas ( such liking find such books with such subiects as Papists be ) graunteth that Priests are sent , with authority from the Pope , Sect. 3. to pardon , excommunicate , reconcile , and teach ( according to the bul expounded ) that subiects are not to obey the Queene in spirituall matters , but in ciuill , and that for the present-state of things .

7 What is implied in this last clause , Philopater himselfe discouereth when he saith , Sect. 3. that it is agreed among diuerse Lawyers and schoolemen , that if a Prince faile from the Romane faith , and endeuour to withdraw other , subiects may and ought oppose themselues , & depose their Princes , if they haue force . Which prouiso , he inculcateth and vrgeth with this reason : Least religion should be indammaged , and aduanced , attempts not preuailing .

8 The same Philopater doth peremtorily pronounce as tyrannicall , this question moued to Priests , fugitiues , recusants , and such like : If the Pope , or other in his behalfe and cause of religion , should inuade the land , what part would you take , the Popes or the Princes ? His reason of mislike is , because a rich Papist cannot answere freely thereunto , without offence to God or Caesar . As if God were offended , if Caesar defended against the Pope .

By which exposition of the bull , doctrine of the Priests , and mislike of a question so necessary , it doth clearely appeare , that the end of affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. is to prepare her Maiesties subiects to be ready ( vpon paine of excommunication ) to ioyne with such forces as shall be imploied against our Queene and state , in a pretended cause of religion . Is not this dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration , and therefore trayterous ?

Let the affects and effects of such teachers and schollers be obserued , and the truth of this assertion will be so euident , as that nothing can be more manifest . To let passe their broad speeches , when and where they dare : their concealing and abetting traytours , and trayterous designes , as they may ( possibly ) without danger , their reioycing at , and spreading abroad newes , importing successe to the Pope , though danger to the Prince , &c. To omit ( I say ) these and many such arguments of their trayterous affection , the shamefull practises of many , bewray the Popish preparation of most , if opportunity once serue . Many haue bene the conspiracies against her Maiesties person , to take away her life . But ô Lord haue mercy vpon vs , to perserue her . Many haue bene the treasons against the land to destroy it . But ô holy one of Israel defend this thine inheritance . Who haue bene the authors and actors of all these tragicall attempts , but such teachers and schollers ? What were the rebels in the North ? And were they not prouoked to rebellion by Nicholas Morton Priest , sent from Pope Pius , to vrge the execution of his bull ? What were the rebels in Ireland ? And was not Nicholas Sanders a Iudas ( that is ) a leader to the Popes army , that came in pretence to relieue them ? Parry & Sommeruile went about to murther her Maiesty . The one was encouraged in his diuellish enterprise , by Cardinal Como , in the name of the Pope : and shall we thinke that the other wanted the holy counsell of Hall the Priest arraigned ? Babington and his complices , conspired against Prince and countrey . Was not Ballard Priest a chiefe counsellour to them ? and did not Bost ● Priest keepe counsell ( at least ) as he lately ●onfessed ? If then teachers and scholers , Priests and Papists , concurre in seeking and following all oportunities to subuert our state , can any other end be imagined of Priests , their perswading , and reconciling , but to prepare their schollers to ioyne together against Prince and countrey , when force shall answere their affection .

10 That the multitude of resolued Papists , be thus poysoned and prepared , let this be your last consideration for this time , and not the least at any time . That as the king of Ashur purposing to besiege Ierusalem , 2. Chron. 32.9.12.13 . sent from Lacish Rabshaketh and others , to weaken the hands of the people , by disgracing their king Hezechiah , as one without religion , in that he had taken away altars , and defaced high places ; and by aduancing Saneherib , as one that preuailed against all gods . So these locusts , which haue faces of men , and haire of women , Reuel. 9.3.78.10.11 . but the stings of scorpions in their tailes , to wit , Priests , who pretend a tender care of sauing soules in the beginning , but intend a cruell destruction of life and land in the end , are sent into this realme by their king ( the Angell of the bottomlesse pit , Esa. 7.4 . out of the smoke thereof , namely , by the Pope in his fume , but without flame I trust ) before inuasion intended , to weaken the hands , and withdraw the harts of the people , from our gracious Queene , by disgracing her Maiesty , as one without religion , in that she hath taken away sacrificing altars , and defaced religious houses ; and by aduancing their king , as one that preuaileth against all gods , all states , all religions . The like practise of sending Priests to prepare people against the comming in of Spaniards , is to be perceiued in Scotland .

11 What successe this deuise hath , is also to be considered . The Pope is certified by Cardinall Allen , and the king of Spaine by Parsons the Priests , that there shall be found ( ready secretly within her Maiesties dominions ) many thousands of able people , that will be ready to assist such power as shall be set on land . Of whose names they haue deliuered bead-roles , especially of such as dwell in port Townes , and on the sea coast , with assurance that Priests shall continue their reconciled people , in their lewd constancy . So hath her Maiesty published in her Declaration , Anno 1591. But Philopater denieth it . Sect. 4. How impudently and barely without any reason . But if Ballard Priest sent such a bead-role into Spaine , and Throgmorton had gathered the names of popish Noblemen and Gentlemen , to the same purpose : It may be ( in reason ) supposed , that to Priests intelligence is sent by Priests , what schollers they haue perswaded and prepared for treason and rebellion .

To conclude , 1. If the Church proceed not against Priests in Ecclesiasticall maner , before the secular power execute them . 2. If Priests suffer not for affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. beyond seas . 3. If Priests be not executed for other points of popery , no lesse damnable then these , as they be religious . 4. But if the Pope by his bull , hath vpon paine of excommunication discharged her Maiesties subiects of their allegiance . 5. If Papists be dispensed with , for obeying her Maiesty til time serue to the contrary . 6. If Priests come of purpose to reconcile and teach according to the bull expounded . 7. If it be a catholike doctrine , that subiects hauing force , ought to depose their Prince , maintaining religion contrary to the Church of Rome : & 8. In that case to ioyne with forreigne power . 9. If maisters and schollers haue from time to time attempted to put the sayd bull in execution . 10. If Priests be sent before inuasion to prepare the people : and 11. If thousands be notified euen by Priests prepared : then it may be auouched , that Priests are not executed for affirming the Popes primacy and reconciling , &c. as they be religious , but as they be trayterous , or dangerous to the state in ciuill consideration .