BEcause some are easily inclined to be­lieve, that Papists orderly demeaning themselves, may bee capable of any place of trust or command in the Common­wealth, and may, as other subjects, doe their countrey service in the discharge of such of­fices as are or shall be committed or designed unto them in peace or war, it shall hereby ap­peare by many good convincing reasons drawn from divers politike & civill grounds, that the negative of this affirmation is onely true by severall arguments, demonstrating that Papists ought not to be intrusted with a­ny government or command in the Church, State, or Wars of England, proved from the [Page 2]effects and evill consequences thereof, and al­so by an induction of diverse pernicious de­signes which have been wrought, plotted and contrived by divers Seminary Priests, Friers and Papists.

The first argument is drawne from their adhering to the Pope: for the Papists do de­pend on the Pope for their faith, and give the Pope preheminency and supremacy before the King in all ecclesiasticall matters; and also authority to excommunicate: and ther­fore they cannot bee good subjects to the Kings Highnesse. And whereas good sub­jects are known by yeelding a willing obedi­ence to the Lawes of the Land, and strive to maintaine them in their essence and liberties, (the cause of the distractions of these times) Papists in many matters controverted and dubitable, or of weighty consequence, do al­low appeales to be made to Some, which is evidently contrary to the Laws of this Land. And whereas the King is as incompatible of any other equall, much lesse superiour, in all matters whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill, be­ing supreme Head and Governour, they de­rogate from the Kings Royall office, in attri­buting to the Pope a supremacy in all spiri­tuall causes. And besides they both count all such to be martyrs, who have beene exe­cuted for treason, which is a slander to the [Page 3]State, and they give aid and maintenance to Seminaries and Jesuites, and thereby cherish and foster enemies to their countrey. Thus if the common-wealth had no better shield to defend it selfe, then by suffering Papists to command or govern in the Church or State, it would be like Brusidas the Lacedemonian, who being wounded through his shield, cried out, prodente me clypeo vulneratus, my buck­ler is the traytor through which I am woun­ded.

The question moved by the Popish Priests of consimilitude and likenesse between them and Puritans, inust be resolved by distincti­on; for if they be taken largely, for dange­rous wits, that courteously seeke the destru­ction of the Church, they may in some sort resemble Martin Marre-Prelate, and Hatchet, the l tter leaping o [...]t of a Paritans skin into a Papists hide; but if they scandaloussy call many worthy Ministers of the Gospell Pu­ritans, as Calv [...]n, and Beza, and the Preachers of Scotland, and the pious and true Profes­sours of the reformed Religion amongst us, very profitable Labourers and loyall Sub­jects, between those and the best learned of the Papists for true Religion, sound Divini­ty, and faithfull obedience to their Prince, there is no comparison at all.

Hereby it appeares that the faithfull Mini­sters that hold the orthodox articles of the Protestant Religion, excepting externall mat­ters of discipline & ceremony, never attempt any thing against the life of their Prince, or the destruction of the Kingdome, as Priests and Jesuites have done, but maintaine the au­thority of the King, and the purity of Religi­on; not seducing in corners, but communicate with the Assembly in the Word and Sacra­ment, who publikely and privately pray for the King and State, detecting the conspiracies of common adversaries, not denying the oath of supremacie, but acknowledge the English Church to be a true Church, whereof them­selves are members.

But because contraries set forth each other mutually in a cleere and illustrious manner, behold how dangerous the Popes Champi­ons have been and are in the English Church or State. First Morton was the instrument or fire-brand of the commotion in the North. Allen, Hall, and Arden were continuall practi­sers against the State. Babington and his fel­low-conspirators, incited by Bullard, were the plotters of the horri [...]le gun-powder-treason. Gefford, Sanadge, Williams and York were other conspirators. Segnior Georgio the Popes Nun­tio here was a turbulent politike agent that did much harm in England, and likewise Caca [Page 5]Fugo. Father Philips, the Queens Confessor, it is well knowne how dangerous hee hath been, for which he was sent to the Tower, Brown the Priest in the Gate-house, Canon the Bishop of Calcedon, who having liberty to walk abroad, was afterward found to say Masse, for which he now lieth condemned in New-gate. Coleman and Norton two Friers in New-gate condemned also, with Father Tho­mas and three other Friers, with many other Priests, Friers, and Papists in the Gate-house, New-gate, and the Kings Bench, &c. who have always, and daily do labour to work division and mischief in the Church and State. Ther­fore a toleration of Popery would be dange­rous to the name of the Protestant Religion, the dishonour of the Kingdom, to the offence of other Protestant Princes, and all reformed Churches, to the overthrowing of good laws made against Popish practises and the Masse, to the dishonour of God in permitting idola­try, and contrary to the Popes own resoluti­on, who wil rather grant a toleration to Jews and Turks, then Protestants; and contrary to the example of the good Kings of Judah, and of King Edward VI. who though requested thereunto by Charles the Emperour, B. Cran­ [...]er and B. Ridley, would not grant his sister the Lady Mar [...] to have Masse in her house.

Besides an induction of the Papists particu­lar [Page 6]cruelty may make us afraid & cautious to prevent their bloudy practices: they hang'd a good Minister in German [...]e in his own house, others they drowned, as Peter Spengler at En­siglein, &c. Nicolas Paul they beheaded at Gaunt; some they buried alive, as two women at Lovain, An. 1543. they have put out the eys of others, as a Priest in Germany; others they pul'd asunder by peece-meale, as John Clark at Melden: they hung up protestants by the hands with a great weight at their feet, some they poysoned, others burnt with oyle, as Stephen Brown at Poitiers; some burnt with brimstone, as Martius Alba, and Petrus Scriba at Lions; some burnt with pitch and tar drop­ing on them, as George Marsh and others; some broyled, as John Whiteman at Ostend: others had their tongues cut out, as Peter Roscan at Bloys; and it was generally decreed at Paris An. 1546. that Protestants should have their tongues cut out, others had their tongues bo­red through, as Henry Cowboron in Calabria: 10000 were slain in Paris in ten days; within four years 300 Protestants were burnt in En­gland: Vitesio Proconsul of Asia in one day beheaded 300, saying, Rem verè regiam perfe­ci, I have done a royall deed. This is the pra­ctice of the Church of Rome; God root them out of this Kingdome, that they may have no power in Church or State.