A collection of several treatises concerning the reasons and occasions of the penal laws

REASONS why the Jesuits hope that they should partake of the favor shewed to other Priests, in taking away the Sanguinary Laws.

THE same Reasons, which moved the Peers to take away the Sanguinary Laws from other Priests, may move them also, to take them away in re∣spect of the Jesuits, for the Jesuits are free born Subjects as well as others; they have been as faithful to His Majesty as others; they are of tender Consciences as well as others. The Jesuits all along have been furtherers of the King, and Actors also as far as their Function beareth; that is, they were in the Camp where some of them were killed, others imprisoned, most of them lost their nearest Relations in the War, and in a man∣ner, all had their Friends undone for the King. All those that depended on the Jesuits stood con∣stant for the King, even to death: amongst these were some signal persons, as Sir Henry Gage, Sir John Smith, Sir John Digby, and others, who ha∣ving been formerly Scholars of the Jesuits, were actually, when they dyed, Penitents of the Jesuits,

and Mr. Peter Wright who was executed at Ty∣burn, for a Jesuit, was particularly maligned be∣cause he was Sir Henry Gage his Priest. As for Noble persons who lost great Estates, and endured much hardship for his Majesty, the late Duchess of Buckingham, the late Marquess of Worcester, the late Earl of Shrewsbury, were Penitents of the So∣ciety, as other prime Nobility yet in being.

Now whereas two things are objected against the Jesuits, they are both easily answered; First, it is objected that the Jesuits teach the Doctrine of the Pope deposing Kings. It is answered, That no Community can be less accused of that Doctrine, than the Jesuits. It's true, four or five Jesuits did many years ago teach that Doctrine, as they had found it taught by others, ancienter than their Order. But since the first of January 1616. the General of the Jesuits forbade any of his to teach, preach, or dispute for that Doctrine, or print any thing for it, to take away the aspersion which the Writings of some few have brought upon the Society. And now actually all Jesuits are obliged under pain of damnation, not to teach that Doctrine either in word, writing, or print, which none in the Church but they only are.

Secondly, 'Tis objected that the Jesuits do par∣ticularly depend on the Pope. It is answered, That they are obliged by a particular Vow to be ready to go even to the utmost bounds of the Earth, to preach the Gospel to Infidels, when the Pope shall think it fit to send them; and they have no other Vow, which doth particularly oblige them but this, which can prejudice no Kingdom. On the other

side, speaking of their dependence (which may byass their affections) they have the least dependence of the Pope, of any Church-men, for they are by special Vow excluded from all Benefices, and Dignities, by which the Pope may win the affection of other Church-men.

As for what is said of the Venetians, and French banishing the Jesuits, it is answered that both those Estates have repealed their Acts.

Lastly, That the Jesuits being willing to submit to whatsoever all other Catholick Priests shall agree to, and offering all the security which others offer, they hope they may be partakers of the same favours which shall be granted to others; that so, that mercy may extend to all, and the World may see that the Sanguinary Laws are truly taken away.