and proceedings of the other party. On several occasions these parties actually opposed each other publicly. Some years after the defeat of the armada, a very important work was published by the secular priests, with Watson, who was bishop of Lincoln under Queen Mary, at their head, in which many of the proceedings of Elizabeth are justified, though condemned at the time by the Jesuits, and in the present day by all Popish historians, and in which also the Jesuits, and those who acted with them, are censured in the most unmeasured terms.

One passage on the Spanish purpose, that I shall make "But now we come to the

invasion is so much to the no apology for quoting it. year 1588, and to that most bloody attempt, not only against her Majesty and our common enemies, but against ourselves, all Catholics: nay, against this flourishing kingdom, and our own native country. The memory of which attempt will be (as we trust) an everlasting monument of Jesuitical treason and cruelty. For it is apparent in a treatise penned by the advice of Father Parsons altogether (as we do verily think) that the King of Spain was especially moved and drawn to that intended mischief against us by the long and daily solicitations of the Jesuits, and other English Catholics beyond the seas, affected and altogether given to Jesuitism. And whereas it is well known that the Duke of Medina Sidonia had given it out directly, that if once he might land in England, both Catholics and heretics that came in his way should

be all one to him; his sword could not discern them, so he might make way for his master, all was one to him; yet the said Father Parsons (for so we will ever charge him, though another man, by his crafty persuasion, took upon him to be the author of that book) did labour with all the rhetoric he had, to have persua ded us, upon the supposed arrival of the Spaniard, to have joined with him to our own destructions; telling us many fair tales, and alluring us with sundry great promises, all of them mere illusions, falsehoods, and most traitorous instigations and jugglings. He ascribeth

us.

it to error of conscience and want of courage, terming the same an effeminate dastardy; that we had then suffered her Majesty almost thirty years to reign over He threatened us with excommunication and utter ruin, both of ourselves and all our posterity, if we did then any longer obey, abet, or aid, defend or acknowledge her Highness to be our Queen or Superior; and did not forthwith join ourselves with all our forces to the Spaniards. The Jesuit also telleth all Catholics, the better to comfort them, (but indeed to the great scandal for ever of all priesthood) and to show how just and holy the cause was they had in hand, that there were divers priests in the King's army, ready to serve every man's spiritual necessity, by confession, counsel, and all consolations in Christ Jesus."

* Important Considerations, which ought to move all true and sound Catholics, who are not wholly Jesuited, to acknowledge, without

1

The individuals who published the document, from which the above extract is taken, were about thirty in number. They were conscientious men, opposed to the principles of the Jesuits, and to the proceedings of the Papal party on the continent. There always have been, and still are, men of this stamp in the Church of Rome; men, who, though they continued in outward communion with Rome, were actual dissenters from her principles. It is a law of the Roman church, that the decision of a general council is binding on all her members; and the principles entertained by the Jesuits, respecting the deposing of sovereigns and the treatment of heretics, were sanctioned by councils, whose authority was never denied or questioned. The secular priests acted as Englishmen ; but not as Romanists. The Jesuits merely carried out the principles enjoined by the Church. I have, however, adduced the preceding extract as evidence of the practices of the great body of the Papists at the period in question; it proves that they are not slandered by Protestant writers. In the present day it is the policy to deny the facts; but that man who can persist in a denial must be exposed to the charge of dishonesty or of ignorance.

The secular priests, who wrote the Important Considerations, were the men who quitted their livings

all equivocations, ambiguities, or shiftings, that the proceedings of her Majesty and of the State with them, since the beginning of her Highness's reign, have been both mild and merciful. A.D. 1601. Reprinted 1677, p. 73, 74.

on Queen Elizabeth's accession. They were loyal to the Queen, though they were enemies to the Reformation. They formed a very small party; and when these men died off, their places were not supplied by others; for most of the English Romanists of a later date were altogether under the influence of the Jesuits and seminaries. The seculars cautioned the people against the Jesuits: "We desire you, by the mercies of God, to take heed of novelties and Jesuitism; for it is nothing but treachery, dissimulation, ambition, and a very wizard of most deep hypocrisy*." Yet the majority of English Romanists in the next reign, were under the influence of the Jesuits, or as it was termed, completely Jesuited.

While the military preparations were going forward, the Queen and her council were not unmindful of the source whence success and preservation were to be expected. They well knew that unless the Lord should keep the city, the watchmen might wake in vain. In this emergency, therefore, the nation was called upon to humble itself before God. Public prayers were enjoined to be used weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays, for success; and a Form of Prayer was composed for that special purpose. The clergy of London were summoned to meet together, when they were strictly charged to observe the appointed days of fasting and prayer. Undoubtedly the clergy in other parts of the country were charged in a similar

manner. Strype quotes the following words from a manuscript of one of the London clergy of the period : "That being called together, they were required to be zealous in prayers and almsgiving, namely, on Wednesdays and Fridays; and to stir up the people thereunto; and proper homilies to be read for fasting, praying, and almsgiving*." The Form appointed to

* STRYPE'S Annals, III. ii. 15. I subjoin a few extracts from a prayer appointed to be read in the churches at this time. The prayer is entitled, A Prayer to be Delivered from our Enemies. "O Lord God of Hosts, most loving and merciful Father, we thy humble servants prostrate ourselves before thy divine Majesty, most heartily beseeching thee to grant us true repentance for our sins past; namely, for our unthankfulness, contempt of thy word, lack of compassion towards the afflicted, envy, malice, strife, and contention among ourselves, and for all other our iniquities. Give us grace to confess and acknowledge, O Lord, with all humble and hearty thanks, thy wonderful and great benefits which thou hast bestowed on this thy Church and people of England, in giving unto us without all desert on our part, not only peace and quietness, but also in preserving our most gracious Queen, thine handmaid, so miraculously from so many conspiracies, perils, and dangers; and in granting her good success against the attempts of our enemies. We do instantly beseech thee of thy gracious goodness to be merciful to thy Church militant here upon earth, many ways tried and tormented by the malice of Satan and his members; and as at this time, as it were, compassed about with most strong and subtle adversaries. And especially, O Lord, let thine enemies know, and make them confess, that thou hast received England (which they most of all, for thy Gospel's sake, do malign,) into thine own protection. And forasmuch as thy cause now is in hand, we beseech thee to direct and go before our armies, both by sea and land; bless and prosper them; and grant unto them, O Lord, thy good and honourable success and victory. We