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.

Your Oratorie in this Preface is plausible a, and God grant you prooue as faithfull in deeds, as you are a wilie Humiliate in words. The three grounds of Loyaltie and Allegiance to our Soueraigne, related by your selfe; and his Princely Clemen∣cie, which hath superabounded, euen towards his enemies, are bonds of Adamant, to tye euery honest heart, to a constant re∣solution [ B] of thankfulnesse and fidelitie. And although experi∣ence hath raught that, which is the generall voyce of the world, Fides Iesuitica, fides punica, and their pretensions of loue to all those which are aduerse to them in Faith, (as his Sacred Maiestie is, and euer must bee) are but semblances, and perso∣nations of Truth: yet high transcendent Charitie may some∣times suggest Hope, that it is possible, euen for enemies, to be ouercome with goodnesse, Rom. 12.21. And therefore I will suspend odious presages and coniectures.

But it must also be obserued, that Iesuits are zealous propug∣ners [ C] of certaine dangerous Positions, most aduerse to the soue∣raigne right of Princes, to wit, Of the absolute immunitie of the Clergie, from their Iurisdiction; The temporall dominion of Romane Popes, ouer absolute Kings and States; Papall power of dispensing with oathes, which may open a wide sea of mischiefe, and frustrate all pretended Rules and Constitu∣tions of Orders, so as no securitie can thereby accrue to Prin∣ces or temporall States, because the grand Lord Paramount may at his pleasure cancell and release them, or interprete them agreeably to the present occasion. Lastly, their perfidious Do∣ctrine [ D] of Equiuocation, and Mentall reseruation, playeth fast and loose, and iuggleth vnder board, nay aboue board, when∣soeuer aduantage may be thereby made against vs.

But to view a little neerer the flourishes which the Iesuite makes to get entertainement. Whatsoeuer he pretendeth with his Protestations and Complements, of admitting his Maiesties commands, into the secret closet of his inmost brest: Yet in the very Allegations and Proofes, brought for his and his fellowes sin∣ceritie, towards his Maiestie, hee layeth open that polt-foote, which he indeauoureth to hide; persuading in this manner: [ E]

1. A priori, thus,

No Iesuit obseruing the Constitutions of his Order, can inter∣meddle in State matters, or Princes affaires.

Euery Iesuit obserueth and obeyeth the constitutions of his [ A] order, &c. Ergo:

No Iesuit medleth with state matters.

Touching the Maior, we haue learned out of your owne Schoole, how easie it is for you to euade. For State matters (according to your Tenet) In ordine ad Deum, and Ad bonum spi∣rituale, become spirituall matters, and so may belong to the Ie∣suits proper cognisance. Also, Princes affaires, when the Pope pleaseth to declare them no Princes; are not Princes affaires, but Papall and Ecclesiasticall affaires; and then the Iesuits, stati∣sing, [ B] are still in their owne Element.

Secondly, a man must be of strong faith to beleeue your Mi∣nor to be Defide, or of morall certitude, if such constitutions be vnderstood as the words sound. At least he must be a stranger to the world, and haue liued an Anchoret, or Recluse in some Caue, who neuer heard of Campian, Parsons, Creswell, Garnet, Suares, Bellarmine, &c. Did F. Parsons obserue these constitutions of his Order, when he wrot his Dolman against his Maiesties ti∣tle, &c? Did Creswell the same, when he published his Philopa∣ter? [ C] Or, Bellarmine, and Suares, when the one wrote his Apo∣logie, and the other, his Contra sectam Anglicanam? Did Mari∣ana and Garnet this, when the one instructeth how to cure State mischiefes, by applying a dispatching Antidote to the head; and when the other put his annointed finger into the Powder? Now, what further assurance haue we, That this fawning per∣suader holdeth himselfe more bound than his fellowes, to such constitutions as he pretendeth, doe oblige the whole Or∣der? But the truth is, the Iesuiticall constitutions are of two sorts: Either Open and diuulged precepts, blased ad faciendum [ D] populum; [Mens bona, fama, fides, haec clarè, & vt audiat Hospes.

We Iesuits may not vnder pretence of Religion, attempt or consent to any enterprise, that may disturbe the quiet of Kings and King∣domes.]

Or else, priuate and secret instructions, to be put in vre as ad∣uantage for promoting the Papacie and Catholike cause, shall be offered. These, as higher and more sacred Principles, ouer∣rule the former: and so a Iesuit Breaking his rule, obserueth his rule. This distinction seemeth to be implyed in the very title [ E] of instructions here set downe by the Iesuit, being in the mar∣gent stiled, Monita generalia, prohibiting them to interrmed∣dle with affaires, Quae adrationem status pertinent, there specify∣ing, Principum foedera, regnorum iura & successiones. And besides,

nay against these, Generalia monita, they may haue speciall coun∣termanding [ A] instructions, inabling them to thrust their sickle in∣to the haruest of Kings: or at least, dispensing, pardoning, and accepting such seruices of theirs, if prosperously performed. Neither haue we heard that euer any of that brood was puni∣shed by his Superiour, or by the Popes holy Fatherhood, for attempting in this kind, though without successe. In which case, the endeauours of their fierie zeale, are accounted accep∣table sacrifice to the Roman deitie, as may appeare by the in∣dulgence vsed towards such of that Order, as haue in England, [ B] France, and other countries, either by seditious bookes distur∣bed the successions of Kingdomes, or by traiterous proiects en∣deauoured the shaking and subuerting of them.

Your other argument of persuasion, is, à posteriori, from an example of the Renowned French King, Henry the fourth, to whom you wish his Maiestie to bee a parrallell. Your refe∣rence looketh this way:

Henry the fourth (a wise King) was prosperous in reentertai∣ning the Iesuits: for he receiued thanks and presents from Peru, [ C] China, &c. Also, hee purchased two thousand learned pennes for his fame, &c. Hee found assurance, and safetic followed his confidence in them: hee loued them, and they him. Ergo:

The King of great Brittaine shall doe well to be better enfor∣med of the Iesuits fidelitie, and to entertaine them.

Verily, either this Iesuit preuaricateth and pleadeth against his owne Order, or else he by mistake and forgetfulnesse in∣farceth [ D] here a rapsodie of some discourse, written in defence and praise of the French Iesuits before Aprill 1610, which euer since that time, hath beene out of date and cassated. An in∣stance more vncouth and preposterous, in regard of the issue, he could not haue light vpon. This he saw well enough, when he presumed thus to write to his Maiestie, but he had his aime another way. And what though he paralogize in the seeming direct proposing of his argument, yet he hath his end in men∣tioning an instance knowne to the world, Direfull and Tragicall. And so, That troope may hope to intrude by terror, if they cannot creepe [ E] in by fauour. But alas, What poore flashes of proofe doth hee point at? That King bad thanks from the vttermost parts of the world, &c. a deepe deuise for Iesuits farre dispersed to write or procure letters grat ulatorie for the nesting of birds of their

owne feather. I thinke if Iesuits might haue Colledges in Eng∣land, [ A] Their remote brethren would thanke vs more than we should doe them: ô, but if the Iesuits were admitted into our bosome, wee should haue (as that King had) presents sent of some Singularities, &c. Rare trinckets, no doubt, for which wee could not pay too deare, though wee sold our Religion and Libertie for them. But in the Example cited, that which sur∣passeth, is, The Armie of learned Pennes, which by thousands will march vpon the Plaine of Paper Monuments, for extolling those which nurse vp that brood. But would to God these men did not write sometimes with blood: How they requited that Kings [ B] loue, and what securitie hee enioyed by them, the dolefull Catastrophe shewed.

Male ominatis Parcite verbis.

Notes

• a

  Cyril. Chat. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Ireneus, li. 3. ca. 15. Suaso∣rius & verisimilis est, exquirens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Error, sine fu∣co autem, est 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Pers. Sat. 2.