A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

IESVIT.

But they will perchance say, that they do not so much [ C] dislike set formes of prayer vnto Saints, as some phrases and speeches in our praying bookes, that seeme to giue too much vnto creatures; as our calling the blessed Virgin, Mo∣ther of Grace, Mother of Mercie, saying to her, Ladie protect vs from the Diuell, receiue vs in the houre of death, giue light to the blind, pardon the guiltie, re∣mooue from vs all euill, &c. A answer, These speeches cannot iustly bee disliked, because they are vnderstood in a [ D] pious sence, knowne to a Catholicke, a sence obuious and plaine, according to the phrase of Scripture, and which the words may well beare, euen according to the common cu∣stome of speech. The nature of things being various, and the answerable conceits of men copious, but words to ex∣presse such conceits scant, and in great paucitie, Necessitie doth inforce to vse words applicable to diuers senses: For example, one man may deliuer another from death, either [ E] by authoritie, pardoning him as do Kings; or by iustice de∣fending him, as do Aduocates; by force taking him out of his enemies hands, as do Souldiors; or paying his ransome to them that keepe him captiue, as Almoners; finally, by

begging his life of them that haue power to take it away, [ A] as Intercessors. These be verie different wayes of reliefe, yet haue we but one word to expresse them all, to wit, to saue a mans life; which therefore is to be vnderstood, ac∣cording to the subiect it is applied: and if men want vn∣derstanding, or will, to take our wordes, according to the matter they are applied vnto, there can neuer want cauills, vnlesse we either speake not at all, or when we speake, euer vse long circumlocutions, which were ridiculous, and in [ B] verse impossible, the meeter not permitting it. And yet the aforesaid misliked phrases in the office of the blessed vir∣gin, are taken out of the hymnes and verses thereof. If they that by begging obtaine of the King the life of one condemned to death, may be, and are commonly said to saue his life, though they saued him by intercession, not by their proper authoritie, Why may not Saints bee said to giue vs the things which by their prayers they obtaine for [ C] vs? Why may not the Church speake in hymnes and in verse, as the learnedest Fathers speake euen in prose, neuer ima∣gining that any would mistake their meaning.