The Iesuits antepast conteining, a repy against a pretensed aunswere to the Downe-fall of poperie, lately published by a masked Iesuite Robert Parsons by name, though he hide himselfe couertly vnder the letters of S.R. which may fitly be interpreted (a sawcy rebell.)

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Title
The Iesuits antepast conteining, a repy against a pretensed aunswere to the Downe-fall of poperie, lately published by a masked Iesuite Robert Parsons by name, though he hide himselfe couertly vnder the letters of S.R. which may fitly be interpreted (a sawcy rebell.)
Author
Bell, Thomas, fl. 1593-1610.
Publication
At London :: Printed by VVilliam Iaggard dwelling in Barbican,
1608.
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Subject terms
Smith, Richard, 1566-1655. -- Answer to Thomas Bels late challeng named by him the Downfal of popery.
Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.
Cite this Item
"The Iesuits antepast conteining, a repy against a pretensed aunswere to the Downe-fall of poperie, lately published by a masked Iesuite Robert Parsons by name, though he hide himselfe couertly vnder the letters of S.R. which may fitly be interpreted (a sawcy rebell.)." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A07868.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 5, 2024.

Pages

Aphorisme 1.

MAny reasons might be alledged, why so many at this day, doe so greedily, (though foolishly and vndiscreetly) embrace the late Romish religion; but these few to giue a tast, shall suffice for the present. The first reason is, be∣cause they expect a day as pro∣phane Esau did, when they may kill their true and naturall Soue∣raigne, Gods sacred and annointed Lieutenant (as I haue proued elsewhere at large) and so aspire and be aduaunced to great wealth & dignitie: But let them remember proud Hammons end, least they be hanged on the gallowes, which they intend and prepare for others. The second, because our gratious Soueraigne, (as did his noble predecessors K. Edward and Queene Elizabeth of famous memory) labou∣reth to win Papists with lenity and long sufferance, and by reading & preaching, to bring them to the light of Chri∣stes Gospell: whereas the Pope neuer ceaseth, to burne

Page 2

burne with fire and fagot, whosoeuer holdeth and defen∣deth, any one article, contrary to his late hatched Religi∣on: yea, if one passe by an Image, or their house of Inqui∣sition (which they terme the Holy-house) and do not re∣uerence thereunto, it is enough to cast that man into the sayde disholy prison: Which kind of punishment, if it were vpon iust cause, executed within his Maiesties Dominions, shortly, few or no disloyall subiects would be found with∣in his kingdomes. Which is not my bare opinion onely, but euen Saint Austens in the like subiect; as it doeth and may appeare to the indifferent Reader, in his learned Epi∣stle to Vincentius the third, because for the better successe and more free passage of the late Romish Religion, the lai∣call people are commanded by Popish Canon-law, vnder paine of Excommunication, not to reason at all, in matters of Faith and Religion; and the learned semblably, not to examine or discusse, how farre the Popes power doeth ex∣tend, whatsoeuer or howsoeuer he command them to be∣leeue. For the Popes law hath made it Sacriledge, to dis∣pute of his power, or to call it into question; so writeth their owne deare Doctor and popish Fryer, Franciscus à Victoria, the first man that brought the Popish School-do∣ctrine into Spaine: yea the Popes owne decrees are con∣sonant to the same, these are the expresse wordes: Similiter de iudicio summi pontificis alicui disputare non licet. In like ma∣ner, no man may dispute of the iudgment of the Pope, or high-priest. The fourth, because neyther any of the layty, nor yet of the Cleargy, can vnder paine of Excommunica∣tion, read eyther the olde or the new Testament translated into the vulgar tongue, or any other booke of Controuer∣sie or Diuinity, set forth by any not professed Vassall vnto the Pope; vnlesse such person or persons be especially li∣cenced of the pope so to doe.

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