A POSITION MAINTAINED BY I.B. BEFORE THE LATE Earl of Huntingdon:  
viz. Priests are executed not for Religion, but for treason.   printer's device of a griffin with a winged orb suspended from a stone or book (McKerrow, no. 246), copied from Sebastianus Gryphius, 1493-1556, and possibly passed to Richard Field in 1588-9 
Newly imprinted. 1600.   

A POSITION MAINTAINED BY I.B. BEFORE THE LATE EARL OF HUNTINDON, viz. Priests are executed, not for religion, but for treason.  
IT is not to be denied, that Priests are executed for affirming the Pope's primacy, and reconciling to the pretended Church of Rome, etc. which are points of their supposed religion: But yet they are not executed for these (or like) points or parts as they be religious, but as they be traitorous, or dangerous to the state, in civil consideration.  
1 For, if Priests were executed for these, or like points, as they be religious, than the Church would proceed against them in Ecclesiastical manner, before the secular power execute civil punishment. As against anabaptists, and other in this Queen's reign, hath been performed. So that Priests their case differeth from Hackets only Secundum magis & minus, the one being more dangerous in civil consideration than the other.  
2 Secondly, they should be executed as well for affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. (as Story for his misdemeanour, though) beyond seas. For such affirming the primacy and reconciling, etc. are as damnable in religious consideration on one side of the seas, as on the other, but not so dangerous to our state in civil consideration.  
3 Thirdly, they should be executed as well for other points of popery: as giving the glory of the Creator (to wit prayer and praise) to creatures, Angels, Saints, stocks, and stones, etc. being no less damnable than such affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. in religious consideration, but not so dangerous to the state in civil consideration. As may appear by a like case propounded.  
If anabaptists, denying magistracy, and that Christ took flesh of the Virgin Mary, should swarm in England, and if Magistrates should punish in a more civil manner of proceeding, not the latter (though no less damnable, as it is religious) but the former, being more dangerous to the state in civil consideration, who would say, that anabaptists did suffer for religion, and not for treason or felony?  
4 That affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. may appear directly to be dangerous to the state in civil consideration, and therefore traitorous; it is to be known and considered, that Pope Pius Quintus (by his bull declaratory) pronounced our gracious and Christian Queen an heretic, and excommunicated all such as yield obedience to her. If then the Pope's authority be persuaded as as a matter of conscience, & if by reconciliation her majesties subjects become vowed members of such an head as is her capital enemy, we may be assured that so many as are so persuaded and reconciled, are prepared to obey the Pope, and disobey the Prince. Is not then such affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. dangerous to the state, in civil consideration, and therefore traitorous?  
5 In that I say (prepared) it is yet further to be known and considered: that whereas the Earls had ill success in executing the said bull, other devices were frustrated, and the hope of Papists their present prevailing much failed, Parsons and Campion (English Priests) being to come into England to urge the said bull, and doubting that (in the rigour thereof) it would not be readily obeyed, did crave and obtain of Pope Gregory the thirteenth, this exposition more plausible to Papists, but more dangerous to the state: That the said bull may alway bind the Queen and heretics: but Catholics (that is Papists) in no sort, things standing as they do, but then only, when there may be public execution thereof.  
Philopater a lover of his country (as he pretendeth by that feigned name) no Englishman (if ye will believe him) yet descended of the English nation (as he saith himself) in a poisonful and traitorous book, often printed in diverse places beyond the seas (such liking find such books with such subjects as Papists be) granteth that Priests are sent, with authority from the Pope, 
Sect. 3.  to pardon, excommunicate, reconcile, and teach (according to the bull expounded) that subjects are not to obey the Queen in spiritual matters, but in civil, and that for the present-state of things.  
7 What is implied in this last clause, Philopater himself discovereth when he saith, 
Sect. 3.  that it is agreed among diverse Lawyers and schoolmen, that if a Prince fail from the Roman faith, and endeavour to withdraw other, subjects may and ought oppose themselves, & depose their Princes, if they have force. Which proviso, he inculcateth and urgeth with this reason: Lest religion should be endamaged, and advanced, attempts not prevailing.  
8 The same Philopater doth peremptorily pronounce as tyrannical, this question moved to Priests, fugitives, recusants, and such like: If the Pope, or other in his behalf and cause of religion, should invade the land, what part would you take, the Popes or the Princes? His reason of mislike is, because a rich Papist cannot answer freely thereunto, without offence to God or Caesar. As if God were offended, if Caesar defended against the Pope.  
By which exposition of the bull, doctrine of the Priests, and mislike of a question so necessary, it doth clearly appear, that the end of affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. is to prepare her majesties subjects to be ready (upon pain of excommunication) to join with such forces as shall be employed against our Queen and state, in a pretended cause of religion. Is not this dangerous to the state in civil consideration, and therefore traitorous?  
Let the affects and effects of such teachers and scholars be observed, and the truth of this assertion will be so evident, as that nothing can be more manifest. To let pass their broad speeches, when and where they dare: their concealing and abetting traitors, and traitorous designs, as they may (possibly) without danger, their rejoicing at, and spreading abroad news, importing success to the Pope, though danger to the Prince, etc. To omit (I say) these and many such arguments of their traitorous affection, the shameful practices of many, bewray the Popish preparation of most, if opportunity once serve. Many have been the conspiracies against her majesties person, to take away her life. But o Lord have mercy upon us, to preserve her. Many have been the treasons against the land to destroy it. But o holy one of Israel defend this thine inheritance. Who have been the authors and actors of all these tragical attempts, but such teachers and scholars? What were the rebels in the North? And were they not provoked to rebellion by Nicholas Morton Priest, sent from Pope Pius, to urge the execution of his bull? What were the rebels in Ireland? And was not Nicholas Sanders a judas (that is) a leader to the Pope's army, that came in pretence to relieve them? Parry & Sommeruile went about to murder her Majesty. The one was encouraged in his devilish enterprise, by Cardinal Como, in the name of the Pope: and shall we think that the other wanted the holy counsel of Hall the Priest arraigned? Babington and his complices, conspired against Prince and country. Was not Ballard Priest a chief counsellor to them? and did not boast ● Priest keep counsel (at least) as he lately confessed? If then teachers and scholars, Priests and Papists, concur in seeking and following all opportunities to subvert our state, can any other end be imagined of Priests, their persuading, and reconciling, but to prepare their scholars to join together against Prince and country, when force shall answer their affection.  
10 That the multitude of resolved Papists, be thus poisoned and prepared, let this be your last consideration for this time, and not the least at any time. That as the king of Ashur purposing to besiege jerusalem, 
2. Chron. 32.9.12.13.  sent from Lacish Rabshaketh and others, to weaken the hands of the people, by disgracing their king Hezechiah, as one without religion, in that he had taken away altars, and defaced high places; and by advancing Saneherib, as one that prevailed against all gods. So these locusts, which have faces of men, and hair of women, 
Revel. 9.3.78.10.11.  but the stings of scorpions in their tails, to wit, Priests, who pretend a tender care of saving souls in the beginning, but intent a cruel destruction of life and land in the end, are sent into this realm by their king (the Angel of the bottomless pit, 
Esa. 7.4.  out of the smoke thereof, namely, by the Pope in his fume, but without flame I trust) before invasion intended, to weaken the hands, and withdraw the hearts of the people, from our gracious Queen, by disgracing her Majesty, as one without religion, in that she hath taken away sacrificing altars, and defaced religious houses; and by advancing their king, as one that prevaileth against all gods, all states, all religions. The like practice of sending Priests to prepare people against the coming in of Spaniards, is to be perceived in Scotland.  
11 What success this devise hath, is also to be considered. The Pope is certified by Cardinal Allen, and the king of Spain by Parsons the Priests, that there shall be found (ready secretly within her majesties dominions) many thousands of able people, that will be ready to assist such power as shall be set on land. Of whose names they have delivered beadroles, especially of such as dwell in port Towns, and on the sea coast, with assurance that Priests shall continue their reconciled people, in their lewd constancy. So hath her Majesty published in her Declaration, Anno 1591. But Philopater denieth it. 
Sect. 4.  How impudently and barely without any reason. But if Ballard Priest sent such a bead-role into Spain, and Throgmorton had gathered the names of popish Noblemen and Gentlemen, to the same purpose: It may be (in reason) supposed, that to Priest's intelligence is sent by Priests, what scholars they have persuaded and prepared for treason and rebellion.  
To conclude, 1. If the Church proceed not against Priests in Ecclesiastical manner, before the secular power execute them. 2. If Priests suffer not for affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. beyond seas. 3. If Priests be not executed for other points of popery, no less damnable than these, as they be religious. 4. But if the Pope by his bull, hath upon pain of excommunication discharged her majesties subjects of their allegiance. 5. If Papists be dispensed with, for obeying her Majesty till time serve to the contrary. 6. If Priests come of purpose to reconcile and teach according to the bull expounded. 7. If it be a catholic doctrine, that subjects having force, aught to depose their Prince, maintaining religion contrary to the Church of Rome: & 8. In that case to join with foreign power. 9 If masters and scholars have from time to time attempted to put the said bull in execution. 10. If Priests be sent before invasion to prepare the people: and 11. If thousands be notified even by Priests prepared: than it may be avouched, that Priests are not executed for affirming the Pope's primacy and reconciling, etc. as they be religious, but as they be traitorous, or dangerous to the state in civil consideration.  
FINIS.