An answer to Pereat Papa, or, A reply by way of letter from a gentlewoman to a person of quality commending to her consideration a paper entituled Pereat Papa, or, Reasons why popery should not inherit the crown. Gentlewoman. 1681 Approx. 22 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A25565 Wing A3372 ESTC R18359 11938290 ocm 11938290 51223 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A25565) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 51223) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 48:28) An answer to Pereat Papa, or, A reply by way of letter from a gentlewoman to a person of quality commending to her consideration a paper entituled Pereat Papa, or, Reasons why popery should not inherit the crown. Gentlewoman. 4 p. s.n., [London? : 1681] Caption title. At head of page: Answer a fool according to his folly. Place and date of publication from Wing. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Kings and rulers -- Succession. Religion and politics -- England. 2007-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-03 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2007-03 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AN ANSWER TO PEREAT PAPA : OR , A Reply by way of Letter FROM A GENTLEWOMAN to a Person of QUALITY ; Commending to her consideration a Paper Entituled PEREAT PAPA ; Or , REASONS why POPERY should not inherit the CROWN . Answer a Fool according to his Folly. SIR , HAD the Paper you sent me , intituled Pereat Papa , or Reasons why Popery should not usurp the Crown , come accidentally to my hands , and had not been seriously recommended to my observation by you , I should have concluded its Author had jocularly intended , or to , use his own phrase , conceived , and that very candidly , such Reason● proper to Burlesque , a late Design for altering the Succession , on account of that so often baffled a Cause called Popery . But instructed by your Letter from so wild a Reflection , I begin to consider it as the Labours of some Grand Sage — Ignoramus of the Common-Law , which furnishes its Students with Reasons intelligent to none but themselves ; but Reasons , since he is pleased to call them , so let them be ; for should a filly Woman venture to question that Title , she might perhaps anger some terrible Judge that daily deals out Death with the like Logick . Therefore with humble submission to such powerful Disputants , who can destroy by president those they cannot confute , I will give you my Observations thereupon , and first upon his Preamble , in these following words . It is conceiv'd , and that very candidly , without prejudice to others Judgments , or troubling our selves with that so often baffled a Cause called Popery , That a Papist ought not to inherit or succeed to the management of the Crown . ANS . Now as to his candid conceiving , without prejudice to his Judgment , I humbly conceive , That those quaint words , and all the rest so ill put together , are meer Non-sence ; and that without the help of his Title it would be hard to find out his meaning to be , That a Papist ought not to succeed to the Crown : His first pretended Reason is , R. 1. In strictness of Law , because one so qualifyed hath wilfully disabled or rendered himself uncapable of that Benefit which the Common-Law ( after the usual course of descent ) doth positively require , for 't is presumable , That he that succeeds in the Office of the Crown should be legally adopted to execute so great a trust ; and therefore if Minus Idoneus not sufficiently ballasted with the Notions and Intrigues of State , others are to govern in aid of him , as in case of Ideocy , Lunacy , or the like , and the Parliament is bound ( as trusted to redress Grievances and secure the Nation ) to place it where Religion and Propertie shall be adjudged most safe . ANS . Here he would be thought a Lawyer , a Calling I have not profest , because I observe Women are rarely made Judges ; but yet I am not so ignorant of the Common-Law , but that I have heard it defin'd to be right reason , guided by ancient usage : Therefore if this Gentleman had brought but one President where a Papist had been put by the Crown , meerly for being such , he had saved himself and his Readers much trouble in composing and observing so many nothings , as his eight unintelligable Reasons amount to : But in the name of Wonder , how does a Papist Prince incapacitate himself for the Crown by the Common-law , ( after the usual course of descent ) when from the time of the Conquerour there has been one and twenty of that Religion , and but five of the Reformed Church , have worn the Imperial Crown of this Realm ; but to speak to the purpose , it is plain that the Common-law alters not the Succession on account of Religion , nor indeed on any account whatsoever , no not if the King be Minus Idoneus , Infant , Ideot , or Lunatick : for right reason , continual usage , with numberless Presidents in this and other Her●ditary Monarchies , teach us . That such alterations would do more harm to Religion and Property , than any of those Temporary Inconveniences , so that the Common-Law , both by President and right reason , abhors his Reason : and what the Power or duty of Parliaments in this Case is , I am sure is a Theame too high for him or me to define ; therefore I will pass on to his 6 pretended Presidents of that nature , and if any of them proves the least part of his purpose , I will submit my Reason to be the Slave of Incoherency for ever . President the 1st . Edgar Ethling , ( as Stories agree ) was the undoubted Heir , yet VVilliam the Norman , commonly called the Conquerour , was call'd in to oppose Harold , and invested with the Crown , and Ethling for ever an Exile and disinherited . 2dly . After him succeeded his second Son , William Rufus , and not Robert the eldest . ANS . By his leave , Stories do not agree , that William was called in , though Edgar the right Heir 't is true was put by , but 't is as true ( that Stories agree ) that Liberty and Property were thereupon destroyed ; for William divested whom he pleas'd of their Lands , to gratifie his Fellow Conquerours : Nor did the second William deal Kindlier with any whom he suspected had the least Eye to his Brother Robert's Signiority ; nor was the Nation freed from this Tyranny untill the Blood of the right Saxon Heir Edgar was again inocculated into the Crown by the Wife of Henry the First . Would any Man then in his right wits write such Presidents in order to preserve Religion and Property ? 3dly . King John not only laid aside Arthur Plantaginet , his elder Brother's Son , but likewise put him to death . ANS . By this President Ignoramus discovers his Morals ; For that King John usurp'd against his Nephew Arthur none denys ; and that thereupon ensued Bloody Intestine Broyls , with the loss of Normandy &c. with other National Miseries , the constant consequences of such mutations , but that he murther'd his Nephew he ever denyed ; though had our Lawyer been of his Council , he might have boasted it , because 't is two to one , the young Prince stood Popishly affected . 4thly . In Cicily there was lately a great Contest between the two Sons of Charles the Second , Martellus and Robert , and I find the Crown awarded to Robert the youngest , as , Magnus dignus ad Regandum . 5thly . Alexander was demanded to whom he would bequeath his Scepter , he said , To the worthiest , and to him whose Sword hath the sharpest point ; meaning , to him whose Vertues were most Luculent , and of the brightest Integrity , according to the disposition of Jacob , passing by Manasses , and conferring the Blessing on Ephraim the younger , as most deserving and acceptable to God. ANS . Now would I defie your Author , or the most cunning Sophister on Earth , to make these two Presidents , or any part of them , to quadrate in the least with his Title to them : There are several Presidents of this nature , but he is extream lucky in his choice , both of words and matters which are nothing to the purpose , and above all in the next . 6thly . The State of France rejected the King of Navarr , and appointed Henry the Fourth to reign over them , because of another Religion , in leaving God , and complying with their Church , to gain a Crown , with what a Tragical end did they reward him ? ANS . Would not this President give me just cause to believe , That the Gentleman was burlesqueing his Cause ; for who could think a man so ill verst in History , should pretend to quote Presidents from it ; They rejected , says he , the King of Navarr for Henry the Fourth ; and why could he not have said , They rejected again Henry the Fourth for the King of Navarr ; and so it had been a noble President to such as did not know that Henry the 4th , and the King of Navarr , were one and the same Person : But why should I concern my self with so impertinent a Paper ; for indeed all his Presidents are as much to the purpose , as the reply to ones demand , Why the Devil was generally painted with Horns ? how says the other , did you never read in Scripture , that the Devil goes about like a roaring Lyon , seeking whom he may devour . Therefore , not much to combate a Nothing . I will only observe the Gentleman strangely forgot one President , proper indeed to his Principals and Morals , that is , the Deposal and Murther of Charles the First , on pretence , amongst other Falshoods , that he favoured Popery ; This truly , as to his design , is worth a thousand such as he hath quoted . Reas . 2. Can it be thought but that he that succeeds in the Crown , should not succeed Concurrentibus his qui in jure requiserunt , as the Civil Law expresses it , That in all the concerns thereof , which are the Laws , principally those that relate to Religion , and not for one man led away with a purblind perverseness , renouncing the Religion he knows not why , ( and so wilfully attainting himself ) to inthrall the Nation in Superstition and Tyranny ; for regularly in all parts , where Popish Lords are in the Church , there Tyranny of course rages in the State. ANS . Can this be thought to look to any reasonable man like Reason , for , except a scrap of Latine , ( whereby the Gentleman pretends to the Civil Law , of which he understands as much as of the Common , or History ) there is not one word to the purpose ; for , what can purblind perverseness , or wilfully attainting himself mean more than mallice , as the whole Sentence indeed is intended for , concluding with a positive falseness , since it is well known we owe our thanks for Magna Charta , and other Franchises to Popish Princes . Reas . 3. 'T is a Maxime amongst Lawyers , that , Lex facit Regem ; and Maxims must not be denyed ; if so , then to speak out after the true intendment of the Law ; he that comes not to the Crown satiatim , as the Law notifies , and prescribes , 't is no lawful Succession , but down-right usurpation , and without scruple it is in the Devoir of every good Christian to withstand an Usurper , it being undoubtedly more pleasing to God to put one man by who thus wilfully disables himself , and withall most shamefully usurps , than expose Millions of Souls to Damnation , and the Streets to flow with Blood , by suffering that Religion to creep in , whose Reformation ( at the milder rate ) will certainly prove Fire and Faggot . For this very cause Mecha was removed from being Queen , by her Son King Asa , for making an Idol in a Grove , incited thereunto by the Prophet Azariah . ANS . I will believe it is a Maxime , and by it is only meant : That by the Law , the next of blood , is made King ; for as to his inference , 't is malicious , Trayterous , and Ridiculous , setting up in every pretended good Christian , a power to depose any Prince he pleases to call an Usurper ; for his Fire and Faggots they are meerly Wildfire in his own Brains , as his Example of King Asa is , who only took from his Mother the dignity of a Queen : for the Regal Power was before in himself , and sure he had reason to suppress in his first Subject so great an Example of Idolatry . Reas . 4. The succession of the Crown and a common descent much differ , for if an Heir that 's a subject prove loose and debauch'd it little damnifies the Publick , more deserving persons may haply step into his Possession , and be more serviceable to the Publick ; the dammage is still but private to his own Family . But in case of the Crown , there is none so senseless but must needs conceive the dammage most fatal , because universal , the whole Nation must inevitably suffer , Religion be subverted , and Property destroyed , and the whole people in danger of their lives . 'T is well known in the private case , the Heir is usually thrown off and dis-inherited , if an Entail , it may be destroyed , and the Law justifies it . The like in the publick of the Throne ( the Grand Inquisitors of State and Conservators of the Liberties of England ) the Parliament may for weighty Causes refuse the Heir presumptive , and for the safety of the Nation , settle it where they in honour and prudence conceive most proper . ANS . What shall I say more to all this New-Nothing , but that 't is not fit he or I should limit the power of the King in his Parliament ; but 't is to be supposed that they will know best how to obey new Laws , who are not factious against the Old , as your Author most impudently appears to be , notwithstanding his Golden Rule . Reas . 5. We read in Scripture , which is the Golden Rule we must walk by ; That Libnah revolted from Jehoram because he had forsaken the God of his Fathers , and so we had better forsake man and adhere to God in keeping our Religion , than trust to man and lose God , to be unavoidably destroyed here , and hereafter irrecoverably damned in serving Baal , and parting with the Divinity now establisht . ANS . This might have past as well for a President , as a Reason , but that he infers from it a necessity to revolt from the worship of Baall , for the Divinity establisht , which priviledge by my consent no body shall deny him , since he has already made a revolt from Common-sense and Humanity , by so many vain and Chymerical suppositions as are put together in this and his next Reason . Reas . 6. When Rehoboam had prepared a huge Army to reduce the Israelites , he was forbidden by the Prophet , Thus saith the Lord , ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren , for this is for me , mark , he calls them Brethren not Rebels . Passive Obedience therefore is simple and fit for tame Owls that know no better , now God has discover'd the Snare and the Pit of Ruins that the Pope and the Devil has prepar'd for us , if we do not timely countermine it by cautionary Laws to suppress those that dig'd it , we may in a short space be thrown into it head-long and no one pity us . But the Right Line with some shallow pated talkers , is a Noli me tangere , so sacred forsooth , that we must venture Body and Soul in subjecting our selves to all the curses imaginable that Hell it self can inflict on us , rather than in the least alter or controul it , a very frivolous Caveat , and not to be heeded , humane examples , as I shewed before , have voted against it , and the Scripture warrants it , Samuel foretold in the Case of Saul that he would be rejected for his disobedience , though not his Person degraded or Deposed , yet that the Kingdom should both be remov'd from his Line and Tribe , which was done accordingly , and transferred on David . This proves very fully that Heirs , or next in Succession , are not so immoveably placed , but that they may lawfully ( on just Cause ) be displaced , if not legally Quallified , and others put up for Gods glory in their Rooms . God raised Jehu to purge Idolatry against the House of Ahab , all the Sons of Ahab were beheaded , and in a manner his whole Line cut off , for his good Service he had a Promise of a special Blessing for his Issue to continue the Throne to the fourth generation , several other instances I could give , but this may suffice . In brief there is no Reformed Church , from the first Waldenses of Lyons and Languedock to this very day , but have held it lawful . ANS . Through all the railing and no Reason of this long Reason , I will only pick out these Observations ; First , That the Author is no true Son of the Church of England , who has always taught her Children Passive Obedience at least , for which they are by our mannerly Statists branded with the Titles of Tame Owls and shallow pated Talkers . Secondly , That he has cast an Aspersion on all the Reformed Churches , from the first Waldenses , &c. to this day , for holding his Wild Principles and bloody Examples lawful . Thirdly , What greater advantage he could have given the Jesuits , falsly charged with such Principles , to retort them on the Reformers , I cannot tell , but this am sure , if it be true , it is a fair Caveat to all Princes , not subject to such Doctines , to be careful of their spreading in their Dominions , for at worst 't is less dangerous to have one Mad Deposer , called the Pope , at a distance , then to have every Town in ones Dominions crouded with such Soveraign Judges , whose Sentences may be executed according to this Divinity by every desperate hand . Reas . 7. 'T is conceited by half-witted States-men , that Restrictive Laws may prevent all mischief , and secure the Protestants : A very vain Opinion , and most fallacious ; for Laws will never bind , but more enrage , shackle him as you will , and load him with ne're so many Laws , when King , he and his Party will be restless , till they have set themselves at liberty , and to have the Protestants under ; when King he is not Impeachable , and the posse Regni will then be at his disposal . When the Wolf is Shepherd , the Flock is very safe indeed , and like to be well look't to ; after all denounceable at will ; for if his Party now commit such outrages , that no Age can parallel , what will they do then ? now no man safe in his Bed , then none safe at all ; they will adventure to murder people covertly , and in their houses , for they hold it no more sin than to kill a Dog. ANS . The Gent. might have been more mannerly in his Character , if it be considered what States-man has lately in Council , or rather to the Parliament , declared his Opinion for the Restrictive Laws under a right Succession ; whose Declaration ought to have made that matter , A noli me tangere , at least to any private person : But he that dare speak evil of Dignities , and brand Superiours with the Title of half-witted States-men , would , had he but half the courage that he has malice , commit greater outrages , than Fancy can make the others guilty of . Reas . 8. In fine , be sure he and his Party ( which will daily encrease , and the Protestants decline ) will soon get an opportunity , either by Stratagem , or open force , to avoid all Laws , though they are ne're so strong and wary , and so impossible to be safe without a Protestant Successor . ANS . This Prophetical Reason , in fine , is at best but one Doctors Opinion , and , I doubt me , but a meer Mountebank at the Pulse of a Kingdom : of which I will assure you , Sir , I perceive by his Paper he knows so little , that a better Discourse often comes ex tempore from a good Woman at a Gossiping upon the same Subject . For the whole , 't is an unconnext Rapsody of meer words , interlaced with scraps of Latine , brought in to as little purpose as his Presidents ; so that if he be your Acquaintance ( for Friend he cannot be to so worthy a Person ) perswade him to keep his Ignorance out of Paper hereafter ; and his Impudence , to treat of Subjects so much above his comprehension , will pass off well enough in Coffee-Houses , where to rail sufficiently against Popery , is policy to the purpose : To which Crouds of unthinking Praters , I freely bequeath him , as I do my self , to be for ever , Yours . SIR , SInce my Answer to yours , in slight observations , on Pereat Papa , I find the Author so fond of his folly , as to put it in print , though with a little alteration , I suppose by direction from the Printer , for he has chang'd his first President ; not into better sense , nor a jot more to his purpose , but into something that shews he has been told by some body , that Henry the Fourth of France , was the rejected King of Navar ; but his Historian , it seems , could not inform him , that the Crown was setled on his Head , and that he had a long , glorious , and prosperous Reign , till assassinated by a desperate , barbarous , and irreligious Villain , upon a private revenge as was ever believed , and has been since confest by Ravillacks Brother on his Death-bed in Germany . The Printer too had the manners , I suppose , against the Authors will , to leave out the witty Epithet of tame Owls , given to the passive obedience in his sixth Reason ; other material change there is none , and you must pardon this , being printed since : 'T is pity the World should see the Coxcomb uncorrected , and that by the hand of a Woman , the provocation whereof , I suppose , made him appeal to the more Judicious in print , and has forced me to do the same , with this addition to my first Sentence — Bray a Fool in a Mortar , and he will not return from his folly .