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*

ANSWER. [ C]

Sir Declamator, you vsurpe Radamanthus his office ouer his head, and being a delinquent, make your selfe a Iudge. Wee vnderstand your vttermost strength, in propugning the absolute Soueraignitie of the Roman Church. The essence of your Creede, in this and other points, consisteth in suppo∣sall and conceit. For our selues, wee are assured, by that which cannot deceiue vs (The vndoubted Word of the eter∣nall God) that our Faith and Religion is according to Ve∣ritie; and wee shall bee iudged at the latter Day, not by [ D] the conceit of our Enemies, but by the Word and Gospell of Christ, Rom. 2. 16. Now the lappe of your Romane Church, since the dayes of Hildebrand and his faction, is in∣larged to a vast sise a 1.1, and wee are departed from the filthi∣nesse, which is the skirts of that lap, but not from any branch of the Catholicke Faith. Disprooue vs if you bee able, by Diuine authoritie, and then make ostentation at your pleasure. But in the meane time, iudge charitably of vs, who are more readie to entertaine Truth, than you to per∣suade vs. [ E]

As for glorious fuccession, about which your triumph, if

you want the life and soule thereof, to wit, Apostolicall [ A] Doctrine: and if (according to the relation of your bosome friends) the same, in the verie externall face thereof, hath beene miserably blasted a 1.2, pardon vs, if we make not our finall and absolute dependence vpon it.

And to proceede to the last part of your Declamation, wherein you sollicite his Maiestie to aduance your Supersti∣tion, putting him in remembrance of his preseruation in his Mothers wombe, and of the vniting of the two renowned Roses: You must vnderstand, that his Maiesties royall Per∣son was preserued in his Mothers wombe (and at the Pow∣der [ C] Treason) by the God of Truth, and hee flourisheth as a Cedar of Libanus, with all honour, happinesse, and safe∣tie, and with enioying the vnfained loue of all his Loyall Subiects, by the Faith, Profession, and Protection of that Veritie, which is taught of God, and which will make him blessed at his latter end. But if hee should (which is impossible) bee persuaded to giue eare to such Betuefeus, as many of your Crue are, the White Rose you speake of, by your malice, might againe turne Red: for wheresoeuer the soales of your feet take fast footing, your manner is [ D] to die all things in blood, either by Ciuill Warre, or by Fire and Faggot.

But I wonder vpon what surmise Romists can build their vaine hope, of surprising his Maiestie by plausible Blandish∣ments and Insinuations b 1.3. These Inchantments are fit for lapsing Ladies, and other mutable Camelions. But our Lord the King c 1.4, is as an Angell of God, discerning Good and Euill. The Aduersarie himselfe hath felt the force of the Wise∣dome of this Solomon, and one may sooner with a twined thread plucke vp a tall Cedar by the roote, or with a Fishers [ E] line, hale the greatest rocke from the bottome of the Sea, than

transplant this great and religious Constantine a 1.5, out of the Pa∣radise [ A] b 1.6 of Sacred Scripture, into the darke Thicket of hu∣mane Traditions c 1.7, and night-sprung weedes. Nec dicere ali∣quid, nec facere contra Christum potest, cuius & spes, & fides, & virtus, & gloria omnis, in Christo est (Cyprian. lib. d. Lapsis) It is impossible, that (our most gracious King) should speake, or doe any thing for Antichrist, against Christ, whose Hope, and Vertue, and Honour, is all in Christ.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Gestis Concil. Basil. lib. 1. Nec conside∣rant miseri, quia quae praedicant tantopere verba, aut ipsorum sum∣morum Pontifi∣cum sunt, suas fimbrias extendentium, aut illorum qui eis adulantur.
• a 1.2

  Platina. in Syl∣uest. 2. Gilbertus ambitione Diabo∣lica dominandi cupiditate impulsus largitione, &c. Idem. in Syluest. 3. Eo tum Pontificatus deuenerat, vt qui plus largitione & ambitione valeret, is tantummodo dignitatis gradum bonis oppressis & reiectis obtineret, quem morem vtinam aliquando non retinuissent nostra tempora. Idem. in Benedict. 4. Peperit nobis tanta licentia peccandi nullo Principe flagitia hominum tum coercente haec monstra, haec portenta, à quibus ambitione & largitione sanctissima Petri sedes occupata est, potius quam posessa. Sabellic. AEnead. 9. lib. 2. Mos inoleuerat Apostolicae sedis, per vim & Dolum occupand. &c. Boter. Comment. lib. 12. pa. 407. [ B] Iulius 2. cum pecunia & largitionibus pontificatum adeptus esset, apud familiares iactare, hunc a∣picem, pluris aestimandum, qnam quae vendi aut emi à curiosis consueuisset. Math. Paris. Chron. in Henr. 3. pa. 702. Cum Papa qui forma & exemplum totius tenetur esse Religionis, vsurarius sit manifestus, fomes Symoniae, pecuniae sititor acraptor, ipsiusque curia forum institorum, imò potius meretricale prostibulum.
• b 1.3

  Russin. Hist. Eccles. lib. 1. cap. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dolis apud ignorantes iocus est, scientibus ve∣ro dolum inten∣dere, non aliud est quam risum mo∣uere.
• c 1.4

  Cyprian. d. Disciplin. Flos ille Ecclesiastici germinis, decus atque ornamentum gratiae spiritualis, Illustrior portio Dominicigregis.
• a 1.5

  Cyprian. Ep. 52. Graues viros & semel super Pe∣tram solida sta∣bilitate fundatos non dico aura leui sed nec vento aut turbine commo∣ueri. Idem. d. vnit. Eccles. Triticum non rapit ventus nec arborem solida radice fundatam procella subuertit. Inanes paleae tempestate iactantur, inualidae arbo∣res turbinis incursione euertuntur.
• b 1.6

  Ireneus lib. 5. cap. 20. Ab omni ligno Paradisi escas manduca∣bis ait spiritus Dei, id est, ab omni Scriptura Dominica manducate.
• c 1.7

  Cyprian. Ep. 40. Qui mandatum [ B] Dei reijciunt & Traditionem suam statuere conantur fortiter à vobis & firmiter respuantur. Idem. Serm. d. lapsis, Nec Ecclesiae iungitur qui ab Euangelio seperatur.