that there would and might be found another way whereas notwithstanding Saint Paul 1 for 16. 1 〈◊〉 speaks of collections for the Saints upon the first day of the week and Christ Mark 12.41 Luke 〈◊〉 1 2. fate over against the creafury and beheld how people cast mony into the creafury it was cast in a chest such a one as 〈◊〉 the Priest caused to be made and lec as one commeth into the house of the Lord where the mony was put in though to another end 2 Kin. 12. 9. and a cartaine lame man lay daily at the gate of the Temple which is called beautifull to aske almes of them that entred into the Temple 〈◊〉 3. 2. for none was to appeare before the Lord empty Exod. 23. 15. these things might have been told my Lord by them but they found it no 〈◊〉 to dispute The Deputies told my Lord that the Injunction would hinder the conversion of Papists strangers who would not come to their Churches seeing that baptisme would be wanting in the Church he said they might come as well as before but they should not be 〈◊〉 for there were English men enough if they came they should be conformable and as or baptisme that was all 〈◊〉 Master 〈◊〉 Minister of the Dutch Church of 〈◊〉 told him that there were many that went to the English Church and Communion he said he would see what they would 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 they would doe so or no Many passages were between my Lord and the Deputies he said 〈◊〉 was not made of sower leaven nor did he this 〈◊〉 envy or 〈◊〉 but upon good consideration and grounds He told the Deputies he had given them respit till the 〈◊〉 of July of his free will and would not have them to 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 in the businesse for he did meane to goe through 〈◊〉 with it 〈◊〉 he did it because they shauld not think they had not time enough given them he would goe a faire way with them if they did as they should And because there had been some mistakings and they might know his 〈◊〉 and have the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he would commit the businesse to no 〈◊〉 but leave it to his Vicar-generals 〈◊〉 John Belteel told him the first day of July did approach he told him for feare of mistakes he would have nothing done till Sir 〈◊〉 Brent's returne were it till the last of August after some discourse he spake to my Lord concerning the first of Iuly againe and againe who answered he was not so 〈◊〉 for a day if Sir Nathaniel came not 〈◊〉 the last of September it should not goe forwards he replyed that that was not 〈◊〉 for if Master Somner had no present order from him he would put the Injunction in execution and durst not doe otherwise and therefore he desired his Grace to commend Master Dell his Secretary to write a Letter to Master Somner about that businesse and respit my Lord commanded his Secretary to doe it so the Deputies taking their leaves of him he said God blesse you The Deputies related unto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon the Company thought it fit that the Deputies should returne to their 〈◊〉 and there 〈◊〉 for the returne of 〈◊〉 Nathaniel Brent the Deputies made a relation of all the passages hereto fore mentioned unto my Lord the Duke of Soubise and my Lord Ambassidour and some other Lords 〈◊〉 and Gentlemen and so departed Our purpose is not to speak of the other forraigne Churches in England 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the Bishop of the 〈◊〉 speaking 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 saying it were 〈◊〉 their Congregations should be 〈◊〉 then the Church of England should 〈◊〉 its glory and for the poore who sent for them nor to speake of the Congregations of London or others but onely of the three forraigne of Kent which my Lord primarily and principally did question and assault and who were like David's three Worthies who endured the greatest 〈◊〉 stood in the gap were in the front received the blowes and bare the reproaches and did what they could to save and deliver the Churches from the 〈◊〉 and thraldome whereunto my Lord intended to subject them whereas the other Churches were but in the reare who although they were honourable worthies and mighty and came to the 〈◊〉 yet 〈◊〉 attained not unto the first three 2 Sam. 23 8 19.23 But to 〈◊〉 to the point the Deputies of Kent took leave of the 〈◊〉 and returned home every one to his Church and house About that time J. 〈◊〉 received divers letters from divers learned men from beyond the seas as from Master de Moulin Master Polyander Master Festus Hommius Master Bugnet and others in French and in Latin Wherein one deplores the condition of the forraigne Churches and 〈◊〉 the rigor wherewith they were troubled and prayed God to remedy it by his holy 〈◊〉 another that God would dispose the heart of my Lord Arch-bishop to follow the wayes of wildnesse a third that mens 〈◊〉 are in God's hand who turneth them as the rivers of waters where and when he will Balaam goeth with an intention to curse but God turneth his words into blessings Saint Paul goeth to Damas with bloody designes but God changeth him and and of a persecutor maketh him an Apostle a Paster and of a Wolfe becomes a Lambe Another writeth thus 〈◊〉 vestrarum nove edicto non tantum pacem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 statum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex animo dolemus Coe erum an nulla affulget spes tanti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nos quidem sperare jubet 〈◊〉 clementia 〈◊〉 as vestra qua non desinet omnem movere lapidem ut Deus optimus 〈◊〉 buic vestro 〈◊〉 clementer benedicat others 〈◊〉 God that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tempestuous winds and dangerous tempest to cause a shipwrack even he who hath appeased in some sort this tempest will if he please let you enjoy an assured calme and will chide the winds that have raised this 〈◊〉 me and such like things and to the said purpose and end So that the persecution was divulged in many parts of Europe and the forraigne Churches had the good wishes and prayers of many beyond the seas for a good and happy issue 〈◊〉 and of many godly Ministers and others zealous persons in England the Deputies telling divers of them that they did what they could not onely for the good of their owne Churches but for the good of the English Churches also theirs being a leading case for if their Churches were blowne up the English would in time sinke and their Pastors persecuted if 〈◊〉 doe 〈◊〉 things in a greene tree what shall be done in the dry if such things be done to the forraine Churches who have patent priviledges and 〈◊〉 and promises from such great Princes for themselves and their posterity in regard of their Discipline exempted from the subjection of 〈◊〉 bishops and Bishops what can the English Churches expect subjected to the power and authority of Prelates nay what can they not expect but
them saving his patience was abused which was conceived by the Major to be said in regard of the Injunction and was thought by him that my Lord had an a king tooth against them In the meane time J. B. wrote to one of the court relating what had happened who speaking to S. C. about it said he knew not what to say of it as for himselfe he 〈◊〉 the worst but hoped the best and in his letters a while after wrote that 〈◊〉 he nor others had heard any thing of the affaires so that he hoped the churches should have a calme and serene Ayre after some stormes and cloudy dayes past or at least should gaine time 〈◊〉 In the moneth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir 〈◊〉 Brent came to Canterbury where he sent for the 〈◊〉 of the severall 〈◊〉 of the City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them if the Injunction was observed and obeyed by the 〈◊〉 English that were of the second descent telling them that my Lord had beene informed that it was not kept as it ought to be most of them or all returned their answer that it was obeyed as farre as they could perceive that they that were of their Parishes came to their Churches He asked one of the Ministers if he would set his hand to that he said he would signe such a writing if he required it but it was not pressed The French Ministers were somewhat moved to see that there were so many misinformations and that my Lord should so easily beleeve every false rumour for except there were some Promoters or pick-thankes in every Church who could know it one man could not be at one time in all the Parishes to see and which is more to know every stranger native to know the number in every Parish and to know whether they were there or no none could better informe my Lord or Sir Nathaniel Brent then the Ministers and Churchwardens of the Parishes and complained to Sir Nathaniel Brent of it who went to London where he caused the stranger Churches of London French Dutch and others to appeare before him at Bowe Church but of that Visitation we intend not to write About the same time the Congregation of Sandwich was troubled by one of the Ministers who went to divers that were in his Parish that were strangers by descent but borne in England and that of the first dedegree and told them about a fortnight before Easter that they were to come to his Communion according to my Lords order and pleasure but Master Gasparus the Minister and the Elders of the Dutch Congregation sent and part of them went to their houses told them 〈◊〉 they were not bound to doe it that there was no such order given by my Lord that those that were of the first degree were to goe to the Dutch Church and to the Communion and not commanded to goe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 English Church and Communion and need not feare his threatnings A while after there were some supercilious and 〈◊〉 Ministers and church-wardens in Canterbury that dealt 〈◊〉 with some of the Natives beyond the Order and commission and did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Natives in their Parishes by menaces and threatnings among others the churchwardens of one of the parishes in an imperious and threatning stile sent a note to the 〈◊〉 Householders and Masters of families of their Parish 1 We hereby signifie that we have 〈◊〉 you of the French and Walloon Congregation and that are strangers inhabiting in our Parish whether lately come over or of the first and second descent for this time to pay for the 〈◊〉 and adorning of our Church and necessary 〈◊〉 thereunto belonging the sum of five pounds ten shillings 〈◊〉 which we desire you to 〈◊〉 among your selves because you best know your owne estates and say to us the churchwardens before next Saturday 〈◊〉 at six of the clocke And if this you neglect to doe then we give you notice to appeare in the north chancell of our church next Lords day immediately after evening prayer to see your selves sessed according to our discretions 2 On saturday night next we desire the names of all married persons in your congregation of the second descent that are inhabitants in our Parish that we may take order for decent seats for them as they shall signifie their estates and qualities to be 3 Then we also entreat the names and ages of those unmarried in our parishes of the second descent and whose children and servants they he to the end we may take care of their due resort to our hurch being 〈◊〉 and communicating there according as their severall age require 4 That those of sixteen yeers and upwards that have not this Easter time already communicated prepare themselves to receive the blessed Sacrament in our Church next Lords day and so thrice in the yeere afterwards as the Canons of our church require as they will avoyd 〈◊〉 to their ordinary for their neglect therein 5 We admonish friendly and entreat you that are Parents and Masters of Families of the first and second descent henceforth duly on the Lord's day halfe an houre before evening prayer to send your men children and 〈◊〉 under sixteen to be catechized according to the order of our Church as you your selves upon presentments will answer for their absences April the 15. 1639. But what the reason was that the first Church-warden or both were more forward and strict then the rest of the Towne is not known whether their blind zeale to uphold the ceremony of the English Church or knew water would come to their Mill by presentments or would curry favour with my Lord or were set on it by some of his followers or shew their power and authority Magistratus indicat virum and to make the parish know what they should expect of them in their office yet vana sine 〈◊〉 ira it is good a curst Cow hath short horns for a few dayes after there was an election of new Church-wardens the one of them hoped to continue in his office but whether the parish perceived he would be a busie body and intended to do some fine design he was outed of his place and another chosen in his stead so 〈◊〉 strangers of that parish though threatned were not pressed to it nor presented but had their 〈◊〉 est and the other strangers also for the time For the Archbishop who had many Irons in the fire did not onely trouble the three forraign Churches of Kent and the other forraign Churches in 〈◊〉 but did vex the English Churches advancing superstitious Ceremonies and innovasions by secret 〈◊〉 and open violent persecutions having a designe to doe the like in the English Churches and Regiments in the united Provinces of the States Generall He had an intention to introduce it in Ireland where he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 totum even when he was Bishop of London having the Lord Deputy Counsell Bishops and Clergy at his owne devotion And as soon as he was Arch-bishop he began to put on his
Master-piece 〈◊〉 Scotland in imposing upon them a popish Service book the Hellena of Greece and cause of all these controversies and fuell of this fire who supposed his authority not surely setled nor fully confirmed untill Scotland were conformed but God raised the 〈◊〉 of that Nation to oppose it with zeale indignation and courage a woman Dux foemina 〈◊〉 leading the dance Whereupon they proclaimed them Rebels and Traytors and an Army speedily raised to enforce them to obedience the 〈◊〉 popish Clergy and Papists instigating the King to this warre and contributing very largely so that it might be called bellum Episcopale and Papale This caused the religious and valiant Scots to raise an Army in their owne defence and when the two Armies were ready for a bloody encounter God who is the Lord of Hosts and God of peace the Stickler and Umpire of both Armies did cast downe his Warder whereupon a friendly pacification ensued to the joy 〈◊〉 both Nations But the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 did mightily 〈◊〉 against it as a dishonorable disgracefull and dis-advantagious peace to King and Kingdome caused the King to break his promise and to renew the warre imitating Julian the Cardinall who 〈◊〉 Ladislaus King of Hungarie to breake the 〈◊〉 with Amurath the Turkish Ottaman fought a battell with that Emperour and lost his Army and life for both the 〈◊〉 King and that Popish Legat Jnlian were slaine The King called a Parliament to have supplies towards the maintainance of that warre which by the jealousies and feares of the Arch-bishop and such 〈◊〉 was dissolved to the amazement and griefe of the Subjects but God who turneth all to the good of his children turned that dissolution to the benefit and safety of the Kingdome so that England might say with Themistocles My children we had been undone if we had not 〈◊〉 undone For had that Parliament continued it had in all appearance afforded twelve Subsidies which would have fomented that unnaturall warre and in 〈◊〉 would have made a 〈◊〉 quarrell though otherwise then the Parliament did intend And that Parliament in all likelihood would have been contented with a superficiall reformation of the Service-book of prayers of the Civill and Commission Court of the exorbitancy of Bishops of the irregularity of the Star-Chamber c. as Luther at the beginning intended onely to cry downe the base sale of indulgences and 〈◊〉 of pardons and goe noe farther Now the Scots seeing the precedent Parliament 〈◊〉 the Kings eare stopped he could he would not heare any Petition from them entred this Kingdome with a strong Army as farre as Newcastle not with a sword and trowall but with a sword and a Petition not pressing on the Army though having opportunity and advantage publishing their Declaration and sending their Petition to his Majesty for justice in their innocent cause against their violent enemies The King whose heart was in the hand of God as the Rivers of water to turne it which way he pleased embraceth and entertaineth good counsell at York where a Treaty was agreed and a cessation of arms and a 〈◊〉 called which may be named a healing Parliament a Parliament which worketh wonders In this Parliament the Archbishop of Canterbury was impeached of high Treason and sent to the Tower to whom might be said that which was spoken to Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester coopt up in the Tower in King Edward the sixth his dayes by the religious Dutchesse of Suffocke It is merry with Lambs when the Wolfe is shut 〈◊〉 The Archbishop had a long time to repent had his grace had the grace to doe it he was not like Sir Thomas Palmer who on the 〈◊〉 on Tower-hill where he suffered in Queene Maries dayes thanked God that he had caused him to learne more in one little darke corner of that Tower then ever he learned by any travell The Archbishop did not confesse his sinne as Achan who troubled all Israel did to 〈◊〉 and gave glory to God he was according to his 〈◊〉 beheaded the axe making a divorce betweene his head and body 〈◊〉 and by the just judgement of God who hath occasioned a divoce betweene the King the head and his faithfull Subjects the body A yong Martyr at the stake 〈◊〉 and said 〈◊〉 of God shine upon me and immediately it shone out of a darke cloud at the 〈◊〉 of this yong 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 was constrained to looke another way but here immediately after the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and death of this old Impostor and Traytor the 〈◊〉 did shine the curtaine of the clouds drawne open and the Sonne of God the Saviour of the world seemed to be pleased with that act of justice but God's justice on offenders goes nor alwayes in the 〈◊〉 path nor the same pace sometimes the Guest in the Inne goes quietly to bed before the reckoning for his supper is brought to him to discharge others pay it before they goe to bed 〈◊〉 who dyed exemplary a strange death his paines saith Austin encreaseth in hell according as his 〈◊〉 encreased on earth sed nolo 〈◊〉 esse we will not enter into Gods private Closet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dive into his Privy Counsell Lackeys that hold their Masten horses before the Pallace of justice are not to dispute of the causes and sentences of judgement Austin saith Misericordia Dei inter pontem 〈◊〉 My friend judge not me I judge not thee betwixt the stirrop and the ground 〈◊〉 I askt 〈◊〉 I found So might the Arch-bishop find 〈◊〉 the Axe and the Block Howsoever he a tumbling and a stumbling block is taken out of the way and removed from troubling the State and the Church and we leave him to his Lord Master and Judge before whom he stands or fals April 15. 1645. Imprimatur JAMES CRANFORD FINIS Errata Page 6 line 9 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 l. 16 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 11 l. 13 Major Bourmouth r. Major and Bourmouth p. 15 l. 27 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 29 l. 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Majesty p. 29 l. 23 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 32l 15 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 36 l. 38 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 39 l. 21 seizing r. 〈◊〉 p. 40 l. 27. 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 E. Registro curiae com Archiepiscopaliscantuar Extract