The iudgment of a Catholicke English-man, living in banishment for his religion VVritten to his priuate friend in England. Concerninge a late booke set forth, and entituled; Triplici nodo, triplex cuneus, or, An apologie for the oath of allegiance. Against two breves of Pope Paulus V. to the Catholickes of England; & a letter of Cardinall Bellarmine to M. George Blackwell, Arch-priest. VVherein, the said oath is shewed to be vnlawfull vnto a Catholicke conscience; for so much, as it conteyneth sundry clauses repugnant to his religion.

PARTICVLER chiefe poyntes handled in this Letter.

In the first Paragraph.

• 1.WHo is thought to be the true Authour of this Triplex cuneus, or Apology: and vpon what reasons, & arguments. Num. 2. 3. 4. &c.
• 2.The contentes of the Oath; and how the lawfulnes of taking it, was consulted with learned men, both at home, and abroad. num. 14. 15. &c.
• 3.VVhether this Oath do conteyne matters of only meere Ciuill, and Temporall Obedience, and not any of Religion, as is p••••••••••ded. num. 20. 21. &c.
• 4.VVhat full and perfect Obedience, and dutifull Allegianc••, Catho∣licke Subiects do acknowledge themselues to owe, and offer vnto his Ma.^tie in all Temporall affayres, as much as euer any English Sub∣iects from the beginning, vntill K. Henry the eight his time; and as any forrayne Subiect doth to any Catholicke Emperour, King, or Prince at this day. num. 25. 26. &c.
• 5.How contradictory it is in it self. That Catholicks must sweare to take the Oath, freely & without coaction, notwithstanding the penalty of Premunire, if they refuse it. num. 29. &c.
• 6.Concerning a petition to his Ma.^tie for exposition of the said Oath, for auoyding of needles vexations. num. 32. 33. &c.
• 7.That nothing is gayned, but much lost to his Ma.^tie, by ouer-much vrging the said Oath. num. 34. 35. &c.

In the Second Paragraph.

• THe summe of the two Breues of Paulus V. and whe∣ther1. he had reason to complayne of Catholicks sufferance, or no? num. 1. 2. 3. &c.
• VVhether Q. Elizabeth did persecute Catholicks,2. and whether she were so happie in her life, and gouernment, as some do make her. num. 5. 6. 7. &c.
• That it is not height of pryde in Catholicks, to desyre lyberty of3. Conscience, as the Apologer sayth. num. 25. 26. 27. &c.
• That clemency is no cause of desperate attempts, as this Apologer4. insinuateth, but rather the contrary, to wit, cruelty. num. 32. 33. &c.
• In what poyntes, and why this Oath is held to be vnlawfull for5. Catholicke men to take: with the examination of Scriptures, Fathers, and Councels about the same. num. 41. 42. &c.
• How the Apologer wittingly mistaking the State of the Question,6. goeth forward, impugning only his owne deuises. num. 61. 62.

In the third Paragraph.

• CArdinall Bellarmyne is wrongfully charged to mistake1. the State of the Controuersy, and to impugne the Oath of Supremacy, insteed of the Oath of Allegiance. num. 4. 5. &c.
• VVhy the Apologer changeth the old Tytle of Supreme Head2.

• of the Church, established by Statute vnder K. Henry the 8. and K. Edward the 6. vnto Supreme Gouernour. num. 6. 7. &c.
• 3.The ancient Councels of Toledo, how vntruly they are alledged, for prescribing this forme of Oath now exacted. num. 11. 12. 13. &c.
• 4.Clauses of beliefe, or not beliefe proued to be in this Oath, con∣trary to the Apologers assertion. num. 26. 27. &c.
• 5.An eleuen Contradictions obiected out of Cardinall Bellar∣mynes workes, but no one can be verified. num. 35. 36. 37. &c.
• 6.The Authorityes of sundry Fathers examined, whether they make to the purpose, for which Bellarmyne doth alledge them in his Epistle. num. 58. 59.
• 7.Great variety of calum••••ious dealing against the Cardinall, for disgracing him. num. 74. 75. &c.
• 8.How Kings and Princes are truly seruants of their Subiects; and how their Authority is mediatly, and not immediatly from God. num. 78. 79. 83. &c.