A decacordon of ten quodlibeticall questions concerning religion and state wherein the authour framing himfelfe [sic] a quilibet to euery quodlibet, decides an hundred crosse interrogatorie doubts, about the generall contentions betwixt the seminarie priests and Iesuits at this present.

THE ANSWERE.

IT is without all question the seculars seeke it more soundly, sincere∣ly, religiously, and Apostlelikely, pʐ. for that the seculars take the very direct course that our Sauior Christ left, for, and to all his apostles to imitate, scil. First, to seeke the conuersion of soules by preaching and teaching, and good example giuing by word and action. Second∣ly, by doing all things gratis, taking onely things necessary for their maintenance and relieuing of their present wants. Thirdly, not fishing after vnlawfull gaines to inrich themselues by couine and hypocrisie or other meanes. Fourthly, in relieuing those that want gratis either with their owne superfluitie (if their patrimonies be great) or with and out of that which is giuen them gratis. Fiftly, to make no exceptions of persons in bestowing of Gods graces vpon them, but as ready to goe barefoote to saue a poore beggars soule, as in a coche of gold to recon∣cile a king. Sixtly, to giue honor to euery one, where, in what sort, and as far as is due: Cui vectigal, vectigal &c. Seuenthly, to keepe an order in charitable respects had of one person more then another: when it comes to a matter of moment to be done: wherein partialitie may be vsed: alwaies respecting the place, woorthines, deserts, and other cir∣cumstances of the person annexed vnto the cause &c. Eightly, to pre∣fer (in all things of importance) the common good either of the Church or common wealth before the priuate good of any particular person or corporation in either state. Ninthly, to liue orderly, warily and friendly in conuersing with euery one Nemini dantes vllam offensionem, and most of all not exasperating the aduersaries. Tenthly, to be ready prepared to doe good to all maximè autem domesticis fidei. Eleuenthly, to respect the publike good of all: not the priuate corporation of any in vsing bitter, sharpe and gauling speeches, by fraternall correction or disco∣uering of the infest vices of any one more then another. Twelfthly, to giue and teach obedience to all superiors in order, as in latricall adora∣tion and honor to God alone: in reuerence to priesthood: in loyaltie

to regall maiestie: in filiall loue: to parents spirituall or temporall: and in all these wherein obedience doth consist, how far it doth extend: in what cases that sentence obediendum est Deo magis quàm hominibus, stands infringible without reply, exception or mitigation: and how obedience in one person may be simul & semel in diuers respects had to two aduersaries or opposite one to the other, without offence iustly giuen to either, alwaies concluding with this admonition giuen to eue∣ry one: reddite quae sunt Caesaris Caesari, & quae sunt Dei, Deo.

In these and many the like, haue the seculars immitated so farre as humane frailtie could, the example of their Lord & master Iesus Christ in labouring for the conuersion of soules in their countrey more apo∣stlelike then the Iesuits haue; who in euery particular are found halting downe right: as in al these Quodlibets doth manifestly appeere. Besides there are yet other particular differences which make the case more apparant. First, for that the Iesuits are a societie and corpotation of themselues apart, sequestred not onely from other particular orders of religion, as Dominicans are from Franciscans, and Franciscans from Au∣gustines, and Augustines from Benedictines, and so one from another by the rules of euery particular order: but also and much more then any other religious company from the whole ecclesiasticall and secular state: whereas the seculars are of the whole, publike and common bo∣dy both of the Church and common-wealth (that is both of the body mysticall of Christ, and the body politicall of their countrey) and as indifferent to a Benedictine, Augustine, Iesuit, &c. as to a Bishop, Deane, Parson, Vicar, &c. I meane that though ingenerall termes for matters of faith and religion, they all both secular and religious, eccle∣siasticall and monasticall, are equally members of the catholike church, the body mysticall of Christ: and as all corporations, companies, and societies in euery common-welth are equally members ingenerall of that same body politicall, common-welth, kingdome, and state where they liue: and yet may some of them be more dangerous or secure, commodious, or inconuenient, partiall, or indifferent to that state ec∣clesiasticall or temporall, church or common-welth where they liue, thē others are or perhaps can be; by reason of more particular respects of propriation or otherwise, then others haue: yet you wil grant, & none will deny any Benedictine to labour lawfully for his owne order sooner & more seriously then for the Carthusians, in obteining of immunities, priuileges, prerogatiues, liuelihoods, mortmaines, and whatsoeuer they may lawfully receiue and keepe, for maintaining themselues and their order to serue there Lord God in that state of life they haue takē themselues vnto. Neither is it to be thought otherwise but that the Archbishop of Yorke would if a commoditie were to be had, and in his gift to bestow it where he list, more respect any particular church,

chapter, or chappell vnder him and within his owne dioces, then an other of like condition vnto it within the dioces of Canterbury. Nor can it be thought otherwise but that the Lord Maior, Aldermen and others of the free companies of London, should haue a more speciall care of augmenting their owne priuileges and the enriching of that ci∣tie then the citie of Couentrie, or any other corporation or towne, though the same were euen also infranchized in their liberties. Of like sort then the Iesuits being a corporation of themselues, possessing nei∣ther lands nor house, nor interest to any one (but in their owne vaine conceits) in England, and being a company or societie gathered togi∣ther of all christian people and nations: and finally this land as well by the fall and suppression of the Abbeyes: as also by sundry other dan∣gers wherein it stands, being now brought by their mischieuous drifts and deuises, and especially by popular doctrine to lie open to the spoile of who that first can catch it: there is no question in it: but that the Ie∣suits seeke their owne priuate gaine, profite, and aduancement, in the conuersion of England more then the seculars doe: who are of no cor∣poration, but as publike or common members of the whole body, la∣bour for all ecclesiasticall, monasticall, secular, religious, spirituall and temporall, and for this and that church, Bishopricke, citie, towne, pa∣rish, corporation, societie, &c. alike: as being free to incorporate themselues to any particular, either ecclesiasticall or monasticall state when they list, and when occasion shall be offred: and hauing no pe∣culiar corporation nor company to leaue that vnto which they get, but in generall to their successors in the church of God, and their haruest to whosoeuer it shall happen: it is plaine in common sense, that they seeke more sincerely the conuersion of their countrey then the Iesuites do. Secondly, they take a right apostolicall course, labouring to stop all occasions of shedding any mans bloud: and if some must be shedde, yet rather exposing themselues with patience to all hazards in suffering their owne bloud, to be shedde for preaching, teaching, and exercising of all other priestly functions, then in seeking to shedde or to haue any others to be shedde, either by inuasions, rebellions, or other treasons or conspiracies, whatsoeuer as the Iesuits do: ergo their intention, action, and proceeding is more Apostolike, religious, and sincere. Thirdly, the very speeches that goe abroad of both togither, with the noted practise and experience had of both their dealings, do manifest it. For who doth not see, what a generall calamitie, and extreme want and mi∣sery all catholikes, as well secular as lay persons liue in, that are not Ie∣suited: what huge summes of money they collect euery yeere (as be∣fore hath beene touched in part) what bankes they haue in other countries, and yet no pittie, no reliefe, no respect had of any that are not of their corporation, or as brokers dependent vpon them to serue

their turnes withall, vsed as bondslaues to inrich themselues with that they haue or can gaine by them. Fourthly, I heere omit their officious enterprises for the conuersion of their countrey: their seeking of supe∣rioritie ouer the seculars: their barres put into all the bloud royall of this land to disinherite them: their diuision made of all, both ecclesi∣asticall, monasticall, and temporall states, corporations and houses of any reckoning within the land: their deuises to preuent as much as they can possibly, that no other religious order, especially no Benedictine nor Dominican shall come within the realme: In fewe looke into their whole course & manner of proceedings for their countries conuersion: and you shall finde nothing but a large exchequer of a charter of poli∣cies, how to bring by exchete the whole church & common-wealth to be vnder their priuate corporation & societie: and so quite altering the course of conuersion of countries, into a profession of a kinde of Lum∣bards: Senselesse be that man or woman holden for euer heereafter: that shall iudge any sinceritie, fidelitie, naturall and humane affection, or other good meaning, to be in them, for reestablishing of religion or planting the catholike faith in their countrey, if they may haue the swing and beare the sway.