His Majesties Commissioners to this strict authority that J cannot say but sure J am that till that time the Lords day never had attained such credit as to be thought an Article of the faith though of some mens fancies Nor was it like to be of long continuance it was so violently followed THE WHOLE BOOKE BEING NOW CALLED IN and in the place thereof the Articles of the Church of England confirmed by Parliament in that Kingdome Anno 1634. Vniformity with the Church of England was the pretence for revoking these Articles but the reall cause was because they defined in terminis The Pope to be Antichrist the Church of Rome to be no true Church the Lords day to be totally sanctfied and all the Arminian Tenets to be erronious contrary to the established Doctrine both of the Church of England and Ireland Grand obstacles to this Arch-Preltats Popish designes and therefore necessary to bee sette aside These Articles being thus repealed the Archbishop soon after sent over Master Chapple the most notorius seducing Arminian in the whole Vniversity of Cambridge into Jreland to be President of the Colledge of Dublin there to poyson that Vniversity with his Arminian Drugs which he there publikely vented as Dr. Hoyle Divinity Reader in that Vniversity attested upon Oath who had frequent contestations with him concerning the same This Chapple joyning with Dr. Bramhall Chaplaine to the Lord Deputy Wentworth a professed Arminian who managed all the Ecclesiastical affaires of that Church under the Archbishop and Lord Deputy raised a great party there to oppose and suppresse the truth What influence this Arch-Prelate likewise had upon the Prelates and Clergy of Scotland and how farre he proceeded in introducing Arminianisme by it Popery into the Church of Scotland is so largely demonstrated by M. Baily in his Canterburians selfe-conviction the last Edition that we shall not here insist upon it And thus we have given you a true and Copious Evidence of this Arch-Prelates endeavours to undermine our established Religion by introducing fomenting dangerous Arminian Errors in all our three Kingdomes of purpose to Vsher Popery into them by insensible degrees through this Iesuiticall devise We shall now proceed to his varius attemps and endeavours to undermine the established Protestant and advance the Romish Religion in our Churches by introducing broaching maintaining printing publishing all kind of Doctrinall points of Popery by suppressing Bookes and purging out Passages against them in old and new writers by promoting protecting the Propugners discouraging persecuting the oppugners of Popish Assertions Sermons Pamphlets and sundry other practises The Authorizing Printing dispersing Popish Bookes Doctrines and prohibiting contrary Impressions to refute them being the most pernitious destructiue prevalent project of all others to undermine Religion seduce corrupt both the present and future Generations with Popish Errors and set up Popery in its full vigor we shall begin with this Archbishops various practises concerning the Authorising printing dispersing of Popish prohibiting suppressing purging corrupting Orthodox Bookes against Popery wherein he directly traced the Popish Prelates Jesuites footsteps The Pope with Popish Prelates and Jesuites being Masters of the printing Presses in most parts had foure principall wayes to advance Popery and suppresse the Protestant Religion in relation only to printing The first was to License and print sundry Books and Discourses from time to time upon al occasions in defence of their Erronious Popish Tenets against the Protestants The second to prohibit sundry speciall Treatises against Popery to bee printed reprinted dispersed or read and to seize on and suppresse them in all places with greatest diligence when printed The third to purge out the principall Passages Motives Invectives against Popery and its abuses in all old printed Books ere they should bee reprinted and out of all new Bookes tendred to the Presse before they could gaine License to passe it The fourth to punish the Authors Printers dispersers of any prohibited or unlicensed Books against Popery with the severest censures all which is abundantly evident by their severall Indices Librorum Prohibitorum and Librorum Expurgandorum by the Provinciall Councell of Sennes Anno 1528. Apud Surium Concil Tom. 4. p. 718. to 723. Laurentius Bochellius Decreta Ecclesia Gall lib. 1. Tit. 10. De Libris vetitis cap. 1. to 29. The Statute of 34 and 35. H. 8. c. 1. Master Fox his Acts and Monuments the old Edition pag. 536. 573. 680. 450. 1335. c. Dr. Iames his Index Generalis Librorum prohibitorum a Pontifieijs c. Oxon 1627. Antonij Posseâ—ini Bibliothesa selecta with sundry others The Arch-bishop in imitation of this their policy first of all ingrossed the sole power of licensing all new Bookes of Divinity into his owne his Chaplaines and Creatures hands so as nothing could passe the Presse with publique approbation but by his or their precedent approbation without danger of ruine to the Authors Printers Stationers Venders Dispersers And because he feared and experimentally discerned that when Stationers or Printers were restrained to print new Bookes against Popery they would presently fall to reprint old ones formerly licenced by Authority to prevent this inconvenience to the Popish party he procured this ensuing Decree of his owne contriving to be ratified by the Lords in the Starre-Chamber then sent it to the Stationers to print and commanded them punctually to observe it whereby he Monopolized the sole power of authorizing Divinity Bookes for the Presse to himselfe and his Agents and restrained the reprinting of all Books though formerly printed by Authority without a speciall review and relicencing of them by him and his Chaplaines This Decree was intituled A Decree of Star-Chamber concerning Printing made the first day of July 1637. Imprinted at LONDON by Robert Barker c. 1637. This Decree in the Printed Order of Star-chamber prefixed thereunto is Expresly alleaged to be drawne and Penned by the advice of the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London Lord High Treasurer of ENGLAND and of the Lord Keeper the Lord chiefe Justices and Lord chiefe Barron when it was the Archbishops project only who sent it to the Presse the others names being used only for conformity as M. Walley others attested upon Oath We shall rehearse only such clauses thereof as are most observable pertinent to our purpose 2. Jtem That no person or persons whatsoever shall at any time print or cause to be imprinted any Booke or Pamphlet whatsoever unlesse the same Booke or Pamphlet and also all and every the Titles Epistles Prefaces Proems Preambles Introductions Tables Dedications and other matters or things whatsoever thereunto annexed or therewith imprinted shall be first lawfully licenced and authorized only by such person and persons as are hereafter expressed and by no other and shall be also first entred into the Registers Booke of the Company
them all the dayes of my life so farre as they concerne me as any man hath and since I came into place I have followed them and byn as much guided by them as any man that sate where I had the honour to sitte And of this I am sory I have lost the testimony of the Lord Keeper Coventry and other Persons of Honour since dead And the Councell which attended at the Councell Board can witnesse some of them here present that in all references to the Board or debates arising at the Board I was for that part of the cause where I found Law to be and if the Councell desired to have the cause left to the Law well I might move in some cases Charity or Conscience to them but I left them to the Law if thither they would goe And how such a carriage as this through the whole course of my life in private and publique can stand with an intention to overthrow the Lawes I cannot yet see Nay more I have ever beene of opinion That Lawes binde the conscience and have accordingly made conscience of observing them and this doctrine I have constantly preached as occasion hath beene offered me and how is it possible I should seek to overthrow those Lawes which I held my selfe bound in conscience to keep and observe As for Religion I was borne and bred up in and under the Church of England as it stands established by Law I have by Gods blessing growne up in it to the yeares which are now upon me and to the place of preferment which I now beare I have ever since I have understood ought in my profession kept one constant tenor in this my profession with out variation or shifting from one opinion to another for any worldly ends And if my conscience would have suffered me to doe so I could easely have slid through all the difficulties which I have prest upon me in this kinde But of all diseases I have ever held a Palsey in Religion most dangerous well knowing and remembring that disease often ends in a dead Palsie Ever since I came in place I have laboured nothing more then that the externall publique worship of God so much slighted in divers parts of this Kingdome might be preserved that with as much decency uniformity as might be for I evidently saw that the publique neglect of Gods service in the outward face of it and the nasty lyeing of many places dedicated to that service had almost cast a dampe upon the true and inward worship of God which while we live in the body needs exteriall helps and all little enough to keepe it in any vigor And this I did to the uttermost of my knowledge according both to Law and Canon and with the consent and likeing of the people nor did any command issue out from mee against the one or without the other Further my Lords give me leave I beseech you to acquaint you with this also that I have as little acquaintance with Recusants as I beleeve any man of my place of England hath or ever had sithence the Reformation and for my kindred no one of them was ever a Recusant but Sir William Web grandchild to my Vnkle Sir VVilliam VVeb sometimes Lord Major of London and since which some of his Children I reduced back againe to the Church of England On this one thing more I humbly desire may be thought on That I am fallen into a great deale of obloquie in matter of Religion and that so farre as appeares by the Articles against me that I have indeavored to advance and bring in Popery Perhaps my Lords I am not ignorant what party of men have raised these scandalls upon me nor for what end nor perhapps by whom set on but howsoever I would faine have a good reason given me if my conscience stood that way and that with my conscience I could subscribe to the Church of Rome what should have kept me heere before my imprisonment to indure the libelling and the slaunder and the base usage that hath beene put upon me and these to end in this question for my life I say I would know a good reason for this First my Lords is it because of any pledges I have in the world to sway me against my conscience No sure for I have neither Wife nor Children to cry out upon me to stay with them And if I had I hope the calling of my conscience should be heard above them Is it because I was loth to leave the honour and profit of the place I was risen too Surely no for I desire your Lordships and all the world should know I do much scorn the one and the other in comparison of my conscience Besides it cannot be imagined by any man but that if I should have gone over to them I should not have wanted both honour and profit and suppose not so great as this I have here yet sure would my conscience have served my self of either lesse with my conscience would have prevailed with me more than greater against my conscience Is it because I lived here at ease and was loth to venture the losse of that not so neither for whatsoever the world may be pleased to think of me I have led a very painfull life and such as I would have been content to change had I well known how and would my conscience have served me that way I am sure I might have lived at far more ease and either have avoyded the barbarous Libelling and other bitter grievous scornes which have been put upon me or at least been out of the hearing of them Not to trouble your Lordships too long I am so innocent in the businesse of Religion so free from all practise or so much as thought of practise for any alteration unto Popery or any blemishing the true Protestant Religion established in England as I was when my mother first bore me into the world And let nothing be spoken but truth and I do here challenge whatsoever is between Heaven or Hell that can be said against me in point of my Religion in which I have ever hated dissimulation And had I not hated it perhaps I might have been better for worldly safety then now I am but it can no way become a Christian Bishop to halt with God Lastly if I had any purpose to blast the true Religion established in the Church of England and to introduce Popery sure I took a wrong way to it for my Lords I have staid more going to Rome and reduced more that were already gone then I believe any Bishop or Divine in this Kingdome hath done and some of them men of great abilities and some persons of great place and is this the way to introduce Popery My Lords if I had blemished the true Protestant Religion how could I have brought these men to it And if I had promised to introduce Popery I would never have reduced
be said unto every particular member of hers in the Communion The Body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee c. if any one of them were absolutely reprobated 1. c. from all eternity unconditionally decreed to bee damned in Hell fire everlastingly The Booke intituled Gods love to mankind and Doctor Jack sons Divine Essence and Attributes part 1. are professedly written to justifie universall Grace and Redemption 23. That the Personall succession of Bishops is a true note of the Church and necessary That Peters Chaire was at Rome and he sate Bishop there and that it is the honour and happinesse of our Church that this Archbishop of Cant. that now is with our other Bishops and Ministers can derive them personall succession and Ordination from the Sea and Popes of Rome Dr. Pocklingtons Sunday no Sabbath P. 2. Ouâ— Diocesan can derive himselfe the successor of an Apostle it is Saint Austins resolution Successio Episcoporum ab ipsa sede Petri is that which among other things by him named keepes us in gremio Ecclesiae and Subjects us to our Bishops Jurisdiction Page 47. Their vanity may appeare that against all Antiquity make fooles beleeve Saint Peter was never at Rome making the succession of Bishops and truth of the Latin Churches as questionable as the Centurists orders Page 48. Reckon up your Priests who succeded one another after Saint Peter in his Chaire if you will bee esteemed Members of the Church Hereby we may by Gods mercy make good the truth of our Church For wee are able lineally to set downe the succession of our Bishops from Saint Peter to Saint Gregory and from him to our first Archbishop Saint Austin our English Apostle as Bishop Goodwin calls him downeward to his Grace NOW that sits in his Chaire Primate of all England and Metropolitan Which hee thus seconds in his Altare Christianum Page 45. Saint Peters Chaire in Rome succession of Bishops in the Church of England c. Page 47. Though saith Saint Austin you slanderously call the Chaire in other Churches Cathedram Pestilentiâ—ae what cause hath the Church of Rome giuen you to say so of it In qua Petrus sedet et in quâ hodie Anastasius sedet The very note whereby Heritickes were knowne from Catholikes was that Catholikes could shew their Churches and the very Chaires in them wherein there was not only a morrall succession in purity of Faith and manners but a locall succession of Bishops continued even from the Apostles times which Heretickes could not shew and therefore were hereby convinced to bee such and so put to shame and confounded Page 48. Hee recons up those that had succeded the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Church of Rome Page 49. Novatian is neither Bishop nor Member of the Church saith Saint Cyprian because hee cannot prove his succession according to Apostolicall Tradition If in all this time there were no materiall Churches then there could be no materiall Chaire wherein their Bishops were enthronized and if no Chaire then no reall Inthronization then no personall succession from the Apostles whereby the right faith was derived from God the Father to his Son nor from the Sonne to his Apostles nor from the Apostles to succeding Bishops Those that deprive us of the benefit of this Apostolicall Tradition pluck one speciall staffe out of our hands whereby we stay our selves from falling from the true Catholicke Church and beat all Heretickes out of our Communion Miserable were we if hee that NOW sitteth Arch Bishop of CANTERBVRY could not derive his succession from Saint Augustine St. Augustine from Saint Gregory Saint Gregory from Saint Peter for hee that remembreth whom he succeeds will doubtlesse endeavour and pray to be heire to their vertues as well as possessor to their places What a comfort is this to his Grace and to all those that receive consecration from him and to all those that they shall ordaine Page 51. Tell us when and from whence you come and what you make your selves to do in the Church that are no Sons of the Church We can with Saint Iraeneus point you to the time of your comming in You Cartwright and your brood came in as most Sabbatarians did under Archbishop Whitgift and your Ames and Brightman with your Laodiceans came in under Archbishop Bancroft and you Vicars and our Cotton with his fugitives came in or rather went out under Archbishop Abbot Page 144. I shall begin with my selfe I had my Ordination from Bishop Dove he had his Consecration from Archbishop Whitgift and the Archbishop his from the undoubted successours of Saint Peter Doctor Heylin his Moderat Answer to Mr. Burton Page 72. Write If you have any other Pedegree as perhaps you have from Wickliffe Hus the Albigâ—enses and the rest which you use to boast of keepe it to your selfe non tali auxilio the Church of England hath not need of so poore a shift Page 68. The next thing that offends you and you clamour as if that they claime a visible and perpetuall succession down from St. Peter to Pope Gregory from him by Austin the Monk first Archbishop of Cant. unto his Grace now being and sic de caeteris That Gregory sent Austin into England to convert the Saxons and made him first Archbishop of the English is generally delivered by all our writers Finally that my Lord the Archbishop that now is is lineally descended in a most faire and constant tenor of succession you shall easily finde if you consult the learned labours of Master Francis Mason de Ministerio Anglicano The Papists would extreamely thank you and think you borne into the World for their speciall comfort could you but tell him how to disprove that lineall succession of our Prelates which is there laid dowe By Mountague his Gagge page 49. The Church hath ever beene visibe In England especially how can this fellow impute invisibility to us who claime and prove a succession 25. That Sunday is no Sabbath nor of divine institution that the strict sanctification of it is Iewish superstitious and Rabbinicall That May-games Wakes Revells Dancing Interludes with other sports and pastimes are not only lawfull but convenient and necessary thereon not to be restrained but incouraged and the Kings Declaration to that purpose most pious and Religious That two houres only of it viz. The time of publik service and sermons are to be kept holy and that the residue may be spent in Recreations or ordinary workes of our calling That the Lords day Sabbath was never heard of in the world till Dr. Bounds daies That the Sabbath is not morrall THis is the subject matter of many whole late printed Books against the morallity and strict observation of the Lords-day Sabbath wee shall instance only in some few beginning with Doctor Pocklington in his Sunday no Sabbath where thus he most scandalously and prophanely writes page 6. What shall wee think then of Knox and Whittingham and their
written copy f. 231. Book f. 272. The King that is the breath of our nostrils must once dye It seems Kings in this age must be so flattered and their power so elevated that they must be reputed Gods and not put in mind of their mortality no nor other men else what meanes the crossing out of this sentence in the same Author pag. 380. Ye live banisht here in Aegypt ye were ready to starve for hunger where ye came first ye are now seated in Goshen entreated curteously yet remember ye must depart and it will be a heavy departing unto you we are wedded to the world as to a spirituall Aegypt we have need to be put in mind of our departure from it Thus the Lord Jesus shewed to Peter that the time was at hand he should lay downe his tabernacle Luke 9. 31. so Philip had his Usher who daily said to him Memento Philippe te esse mortalem Did these popish Inquisitors judge you ever thinke of death or their departure hence who obliterated such clauses as these 13. Passages deleted against Popish Blind Obedience THe Licenser expunged this clause out of Doctor Iones his Comentary on the Hebrewes in the written copy pag. 352. Some bold Papists take occasion from hence to extort caecam obedientiam blind obedience Abraham followed God not knowing whether he went so you must follow your teachers though you know not whether they call you There is no consequence in that we must follow God though we know not whether must we therefore follow men God is wise men are foolish God is truth men are deceitfull therefore saith the holy Ghost try the spirits whether they be of God the Bereans would examine Pauls doctrine by the Scrirtures before they would follow him so must we doe the chicken followes the hen must it therefore follow the Kite too if God call us let us goe though we know not whether he is our Shepheard he will not lead us into ditches or deliver us into the hands of the Wolfe he is our Father he will not carry his children where they shall be hurt he is the Eagle we are his birds let him carry us whether it pleaseth him 14. Passages expunged against the Papists that Baptisme onely binds us to observe Gods Will and Commandements and that it absolves not men from all sinnes IN Master Wards Comentary upon Matthew chapter 18. verse 20. this clause is obliterated Whether doth Baptisme onely bind us to the observance of the will and Commandements of God First Bellarm. l. b. 1. de Baptis cap. 16. answears hereunto That although Christians are bound by solemne Vow in Baptisme to walk in obedience before God and to keep his Commandements yet are they not therefore freed and exempted from the observance of the Lawes and Ordinances of men which they are bound in conscience to keep and that under paine of damnation Secondly we answer that Baptisme onely bindeth us to keep the Commandements of God and so farre forth onely to obey men as they command things lawfull but we must not be brought in bondage to mens traditions and observations seeing we are the Lords free men and by baptisme are consecrated to his service and this we confirme from this place Goe and teach baptizing them c and teaching them to observe all that I command you therfore baptisme bindeth in only to the observation of Gods precepts 1 Cor. 7. 23. ye are bought with a price be not the servants of men Baptisme is a signe of the death of Christ the price of our redemption therefore we are freed from all meere humane service in the receiving of Baptisme and for this cause it is called the baptisme of Christ Augustin Contr. Petil. lib. 3. 55. saith Legimus Paulim dixisse Evangelium meum Baptismum autem meum nunquam dixit c. i. e. We read Paul to have said my Gospell but my Baptisme never for never any of the Apostles durst call the Baptisme of Christ their baptisme therefore seeing it is the Baptisme of Christ and that we are onely baptized in his name not in our owne names or the names of men we must onely hope to be saved by saith in him and become his servants wholly If the studious Reader would see how this answer of ours is both maintained and opposed I referre him to Doctor Willets Synopsis fol. 582 and Amesius Bellarm Enervat tom 1 page 251 252. And in the same Author page 18. this sentence is expunged Quest 3. Wherein doth Baptisme excell circumcision that those who were circumcised run thus unto John to be baptized Answ 1. Pererius the Jesuit saith there is a three-fold pre-eminence of Baptisme above Circumcision viz. first in the facility and easinesse of it it not being so painfull secondly in the universality of it it being free for both sexes and all Nations professing Christ and thirdly in the efficacy thereof because Baptisme absolveth a man from all sinne and the punishment thereof Secondly we willingly acknowledge the two first poynts of preheminence but reject justly the third because neither Circumcision then nor Baptisme now hath any such efficacy actually to give remission of sinnes for if it were so then it would follow that every one who is baptized it surely saved his sinnes being remitted or else that his sinnes being remitted returne againe But God useth not where he hath once forgiven sinnes to remember them any more Ezek. 18. 22. Thirdly Baptisme we confesse in signification and representation is more rich then circumcision was washing being a more lively resemblance of our eleansing in the blood of Christ and besides it is a commemoration of a benefit performed whereas Circumcision was a type of the same to be exhibited But for the efficacy there is no difference seeing they both are seales and confirmations of faith for the remission of sinnes and not actuall conferrers and bestowers of grace although they are by the instituti on of Christ meanes and instruments of conveying grace upon the elect 15. Passages deleted against Becket Gardener with other Popish Saints Prelats Writers and in defence of Calvin and Luther IN Doctor Jones his Comentary upon the Hebrewes written copy page 323. this clause is totally obliterated I pray God there be no such that knowing the Scriptures and Fathers sinne against their owne knowledge and that of malice to the truth among them Papists What did Gardener Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancelour of England in Queen Maries dayes that burnt Cranmer and Hooper who when Doctor Day Bishop of Chichester came unto him lying on his death-bed in desperation and comforted him with the sweet mercies of God in Christ he brake forth into this speech My Lord you may say so to a man in my case but open this window once to the people and farewell all Did he not despise the spirit of grace and sinne against the holy Ghost Yet I define nothing I leave him to the supreame Judge In Doctor
Imprisonment by them voted Illegall there being all this while no proceedings against him nor any crime objected to him in any Court of Justice By means of which Imprisonment he was much prejudiced and undone in his Estate and his wife with four small children exposed to Pennury and Beggery Such a spite did He bear this witnesse for his Activity in the businesse of Impropriations Mr William Kendall Mr Iohn Lane and Mr Tempest Miller severally deposed at the Lords Bar that the Archbishop in the presence of them and divers others speaking of the Feoffees of Impropriations said that they were the bane of the Church and then uttered these words in a vaunting manner I was the man that did set my self against them and then clapping his hand upon his brest said I thank God I have destroyed this work So as he did not only subvert this pious project to propagate the preaching of the Gospell but boasted of it and had so much shamelesse Impiety as to thanke God himselfe for effecting it who hath now in justice brought him into judgement for it and made it one part of that Charge and Evidence which we conceive will most justly destroy him The seventh and next stratagem he used to subvert the Protestant Religion which he had almost totally suppressed corrupted with Popish Errours Superstitions Innovations in our English Churches was his endeavours to undermine and suppresse it in these few Duth and French Churches planted here among us who enjoyed their owne Government Priviledges Discipline without any interruption by any of his Predecessors or other English Prelates in all our Protestant Princes reignes from King Edward the sixth his reigne till this Archprelates molestation of and attempts against them thus laid down in the twelfth Originall Article of his Impeachment He hath Traiterously endeavoured to cause division and discord between the Church of England and other Reformed Churches and to that end hath supprest and abrogated the Priviledges and Immunities which have been by his Majesty and his Royall Ancestors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdom And divers other wayes hath expressed his malice and disaffection to these Churches that so by such dis-union the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both To make good this Article we could produce many Letters Papers Instructions Orders under the Archbishops own hand or indorsed by him found in his own study here ready at the Barre but for brevity sake we shall instance only in some few particulars of more speciall note The first is that this Arch-prelate though he beares so good an affection and honourable respect to the Church of Rome as to justifie her to be a true visible Apostolike Church which never erred in fundamentals and wherein men may be saved and that we and she are one and the same Church still no doubt of that both one as we have formerly proved Yet he is so maliciously despitefull to the Protestant Churches in forraign parts and at home that he reputes them not only no true Churches but even no Churches at all because they have no Lord-bishops different in Order and Degree from ordinary Ministers This opinion of his we shall manifest not only by his Divinity Questions when he was to proceed Batchelor and Doctor of Divinity for which Dr Holland publickly checkt and turned him out of the Schools with disgrace as a sower of discord between Brethren to wit the Church of England and other reformed Churches but by his own late reprinted Book An 1639. entituled A Relation of the Conference between William Laud then Lord Bishop of St. Davids now Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr Fisher the Jesuite c. p. 175 176. where thus he writes in justification of his former Theses in the Divinity Schools For the calling and Authority of Bishops over the inferiour Clergy that was a thing of known use and benefit for preservation of Truth and Peace in the Church And so much St Ierom tels us though being none himselfe he was no great friend to Bishops And this was so setled in the mindes of men from the very infancy of the Christian Church as that it had not been till that time contradicted by any So that then there was no controversie about the calling all agreed upon it Then citing Jeroms words in the margin he thus comments upon them So even according to St. Ierom Bishops had a very ancient and honourable descent in the Church from St. Mark the Evangelist And about the end of the same Epistle he acknowledgeth it Traditionem esse Apostolicam Nay more then so he affirmes plainly That ubi non est Sacerdos NON EST ECCLESIA St. Ierom advers Luciferianos And in that place most manifest it is that St. Ierom by Sacerdos meanes a Bishop for he speaks de Sacerdote qui potestatem habet Ordinandi which in St. Ieroms owne judgement no meere Priest had but a Bishop only St. Ierom Epist. ad Evagrium so even with him NO BISHOP NO CHURCH Which being his own positive judgement the Dutch and French Protestant Churches both at home and abroad must needs be no Church at all in his opinion because they have no such Bishops and so are in farre worse condition then the Church of Rome in his repute To make this more apparent we shall desire you to take notice that in Decemb. 1639. there was a plot between this Archbishop and others of our Prelates to obtrude upon all our Ministers this subscription as the received Doctrine of the Church of England to wit that there could be no Church of Christ without Diocesan Lord Bishops which clearly appeares by the forementioned propositions of Bishop Hall which the Archbishop thought fit for the subscription of others but especially by the 1. 12. and 13. propositions viz. God had never any Church on earth that was ruled by a Parity There was NO CHVRCH OF CHRIST VPON EARTH ever since the times of the Apostles governed any otherwise then by Bishops This course of government thus set by the Apostles in their life time by the speciall direction of the holy Spirit is unalterable by any humane Authority but OVGHT to be perpetuated in the Church to the end of the world From whence it inevitably followes that the reformed forraign Churches having no such imparity of Governours nor Lordly Bishops in them are in this Arch-Prelates and his Confederates judgements No Churches of God or Christ at all and if the designe of subscribing these Propositions had succeeded as it did in the Etcetera Oath for a time he would have engaged the whole Church of England with all our Ministers by a publike subscription in this most unchristian and uncharitable opinion which not prevailing was yet soone after thus seconded in print by his grand Favourite Bishop Mountague whom he advanced to two Bishopricks in his Originum Ecclesiasticarum Tomi prioris Pars posterior p. 464 published with his approbation
been allowed to them in the time of Queen Elizabeth or since The Order of King James under his signet the 13 of Iune These are therefore to will and command all our Courts of Iustice and other our loving Subjects to permit and suffer the said strangers members of the Out-landish Churches and their children to enjoy the continuance of our favours before declared in this behalfe Considering the loving kindenesse and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive and finde beyond the Seas The Order of the Privy Councell for the Walloones of Norwich the 10 of October Those of Norwich although borne in the Kingdome shall continue to be of the said Church and Society and shall be subject to such Discipline as hath been by all the time of fifty five yeares practised among them And if any shall be refractory they shall be bound to appeare at this Board The gracious Answer of King Charles to the Deputies of the Forraigne Churches the 30 of April I thank you for this and I assure you that I will continue unto you the same favour which the King my father did shew unto you And I hope that my marriage shall not be any dammage unto you but rather an occasion of much good to your Countrey men The Order of King Charles for all strangers the 13 of Novemb. We will and command our Iudges c. to permit and suffer the said strangers members of the Out-landish Churches and their children quietly to enjoy all and singular such Priviledges and Immunities as have been formerly granted unto them without any troubles arrests or proceedings by way of information or otherwise considering the faire usage and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive beyond the Seas The Order of the Privy Councell for the Dutch of Norwich the 7 of Ianuary That all those that are now or hereafter shall be members of the Dutch Congregation although borne within this Kingdome shall continue to be of the said Church and Society so long as his Majesty shall be pleased without any prejudice to their Priviledges and Birth-right and shall be subject to all such Discipline as hath beene all the time aforesaid usually practised amongst them and from time to time contribute to the maintenance of the Ministry and poore and the defraying of all other necessaries charges of the same Congregation as they shall be assessed and occasion shall in that behalfe require By vertue of this Patent Orders Grants the Dutch and French Churches in London and other Diocesse enjoyed the free exercise of their Religion Discipline exempt from all Archiepiscopall and Episcopall Iurisdiction from Edward the sixths time till Ann. 1634. without any interruption But no sooner was this Prelate warme in his Archiepiscopall chaire but he begins to disturb their peace and threaten their totall subvertion throughout his Province as in Canterbury Sandwich Maidstone Norwich Colchester London Southampton and likewise in Yorkeshire Axholme and elsewhere which he had formerly projected in this manner On March 22. Ann. 1632. this Bishop upon his own motion procured a reference to himselfe from the Lords of the Councell concerning the English living in forraigne parts and the forraigne Protestant Churches in England concerning which he drew up and presented two severall Papers to the Lords found in his study under Mr Dells hand thus endorsed with his owne Concerning the Dutch and French Churches in England c. here necessary to be inserted though not read at large VVHereas I was commanded by your Lordships upon Friday March 22. 1632. First to represent to His Gracious Majesty the great and Honourable care you had to preserve the unity and Government of the Church of England as it stands now established by Law Which care was very great and pious and according to my duty in the Name of the Church I humbly thank your Lordships for it And have in pursuance of your Commands faithfully acquainted His Majesty with as many particulars as I could carry away safe in my memory Secondly I was commanded by your Lordships to take into farther consideration such Heads as might best conduce to the rectifying of such his Majesties Subjects as reside at Hamborough or elsewhere beyond the Seas but especially in the Low-Countreys either in Merchandize or in use and exercise of Armes under the Colonells there As also what might be thought fit to be done concerning the French and Dutch Churches as they now stand and are used at this present within this Realme but at such time as your Lordships in your wisdome shall best approve Concerning the first of these viz. the English living in Forraigne parts I humbly recommend to your Lordships Wise dome as followeth 1. Whether it be not fit I had almost said necessary that the severall Colonels in the Low-Countreys should entertaine no Minister as Preacher to their Regiments but such as shall conforme in all things to the Church of England established And be commended unto them from your Lordships by advise of the Lords Archbishops of Canterbury or York for the time being 2. That the Company of Merchants residing there or in any other Forraigne Parts shall admit no Minister as Preacher to them but such as are so qualified and so commended as aforesaid 3. That if any Minister having by feigned carriage gotten to be so recommended either to any of the severall Colonells or to the Deputy Governour and Body of the Merchants there shall after be found unconformable and will not mend upon warning given him by the Colonell or Deputy Governour of the Merchants shall within three months after such warning given and refused be dismissed from his service that a more orderly and peaceable man may be sent unto them 4. That every Minister or Preacher with any Regiment of souldiers that are his Majesties borne Subjects or with the Company of Merchants there or elsewhere shall read Divine Service Christen children Administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper marry instruct the younger or more ignorant sort in the Catechisme visit the sick bury the Dead and doe all other Duties according as they are prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer maintained in the Chuch of England and not otherwise And that he which will not conforme himselfe so to doe shall not continue Preacher either to any Regiment of English or Scottish or to the Merchants 5. That if any Minister or Preacher being the Kings Subject shall with any bitter words or writings in print or otherwise defame the Government of the Church of England established His Majesties Embassador or Agent in those parts for the time being is to be informed of it and upon notice given from him to the State he or they so offending shall be commanded over by Privy Seale or otherwise to answer their offence or offences here 6. That no Colonell of any severall Regiment or Deputy Governour of the Merchants shall give way that their Minister or
shall pretermit for brevity sake only we shall insert the Copy of his owne Letter to the Merchants at Delfe found in his study dated Iune 17. 1634. AFter our hearty Commendations c. We are commanded by his Majesty to signifie unto you that this Bearer Mr Beaumont chosen by joynt consent of your Company to be your Preacher at Delfe or where else you shall at any time reside is a man learned sober and conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline established in the Church of England And that you are to receive him with all decent and curteous usage fitting his Person and Calling and to allow him the usuall ancient stipend which Mr Forbes lately or any other before him hath received And farther we are to let you know that it is his Majesties expresse Command that both you the Deputy and all and every other Merchant that is or shall bee residing in those parts beyond the Seas doe conforme themselves to the Doctrine and Discipline setled in the Church of England And that they frequent the Common Prayers with all religious Duty and Reverence at all times required as well as they doe Sermons And that out of your Company you doe yearly about Easter as the Canons prescribe name two Church Wardens and two Sidesmen which may look to the Orders of the Church and give an Accompt according to their Office And Mr Beaumont himselfe is hereby to take notice that his Majesties expresse pleasure and Command to him is that he doe punctually keep and observe all the Orders of the Church of England as they are prescribed in the Canons and the Rubricks of the Liturgy And that if any of your Company shall shew themselves refractory to this Ordinance of his Majesty which we hope will not be he is to certifie the name of any such Offender and his offence to the Lord Bishop of London for the time being who is to take order and give remedy accordingly And these Letters you are to register and keep by you that they which come after may understand what care his Majesty hath taken for the well ordering of your Company in Church affaires And you are likewise to deliver a Copy of these Letters to Mr Beaumont and to every Successor of his respectively that he and they may know what his Majesty expects from them and be the more inexcusable if they disobey Thus not doubting but that you will shew your selves very respectfull of these his Majesties Commands we leave you to the Grace of God and rest Your very loving friend W. Cant. By all which premises compared with his forementioned judgement of the Forraign Churches that they were no true Churches of Christ because they had no Bishops their Ministers no Ministers and their Religion not the same with ours it is infallibly evident that his designe was to suppresse and subvert the Dutch and French Churches by degrees at home and to embroyle them and our English Congregations abroad for the better advancement of the Roman Catholike Church and Religion both at home and in Forraign parts And so we have fully made good the twelfth Originall Article against him in all particulars Our eigth and last Evidence to prove his trayterous design to subvert the Protestant Religion and bring in Popery is comprised in the 13 Originall Article That he hath trayterously and trecherously plotted and endeavoured to stirre up warre and enmity betwixt his Majesties two Kingdoms of England and Scotland and to that purpose hath laboured to introduce into the Kingdom of Scotland divers Innovations both in Religion and Government all or the most part of them tending to Popery and Superstition to the great grievance and discontent of his Majesties Subjects of that Nation and for their refusing to submit to these Innovations he did trayterously advise his Majesty to subdue them by force of Arms c. Nay joyned in confederacy with the Papists Priests Iesuites and employed Popish Captains and Commanders to make warre against them all which we can abundently prove by sundry Papers under his own hand by Originall Letters found in his study and sundry Additions Alterations in the New Scottish Liturgy elsewhere recorded the Originall Copy whereof we have ready to produce under his own hand But because he hath pleaded the Act of Pacification and Oblivion made since his Impeachment in barre of this Article and the Scottish Liturgy which doubtlesse it extends not to and thereby hath tacitely acknowledged the truth of this Article of which he dares not abide the triall we shall forbeare to give any evidence thereon till his plea be over-ruld which the Commons did not presse the Lords to do because they would avoyd expence of time and conceived their forementioned evidence very full to convict him guilty of the first branch of his first generall Charge abundantly proved by all the premises That he hath trayterously endeavoured to subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realm and instead thereof to set up Popery Superstition and Idolatry The second BRANCH of the first generall CHARGE concerning the arch-ARCH-BISHOPS endeavours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of ROME WEE shall now passe on to the second Branch of the Arch-bishops first generall impeachment touching Religion thus expressed in the tenth originall Article That he hath traiterously and wickedly endeavoured to reconcile the Church of England with the Church of Rome and for the effecting thereof hath confederated with divers popish Priests and Jesuits and hath kept secret intelligence with the Pope of Rome and by himselfe his Agents and Instruments treated with such as have from thence received authority and instructions he hath permitted and countenanced a popish Hierarchy or Ecclesiasticall government to be established in this Kingdome by all which traiterous and malicious practises the Church and Kingdome hath been exceedingly endangered and hath been like to fall under the tyranny of the Roman Sea Which is somewhat amplified in the seventh additional Article which we shall conuex thereto To prove this Article we shall lay downe and make good two ground-workes which the precedent Evidence hath sufficiently cleered First that this Arch-bishop hath beene generally reputed a Person popishly affected and a Papist in heart both whiles he was resident in the University of Oxford and ever since and that he was beleeved reported to be such a one by the popish party both at Rome and elswhere beyond the Seas No wonder therefore if he endeavoured to reconcile and reduce the Church of England to the Church of Rome To prove the Arch bishop a reputed Papist whiles he was resident in Oxford we shall produce two Witnesses of credit who knew him very well there and have had some neere relation to him since The first is Doctor Danel Featly who deposed viva voce at the Barre That the Arch-bishop whiles he was remaining in Oxford was generally reputed to be popishly affected and one addicted to the popish party and that he
Innovation it hath bin ever since my rememberance constantly practised in Cathedralls and is warranted by the Rubrick 4ly I gave no order for setting up Images or Pictures in any parish Church nor yet in the new Chappell at Westminster and Mr. Browne sweares it was Dr. Nowel that directed and paid him for his work there not I. 5ly I made neither Bishop Wrens nor Mountagues Visitation Articles nor Oathes they were their owne and if they have ostended in making them they must answer it themselves some of them having bin particularly questioned for them already 6ly For those particular persons cases objected I shall answer them in order 1. For Mr. Smart he was censured by the high Commissioners of Yorke for a Schismaticall and Scandalous Sermon not by me who had no hand in his censure Secondly For Mr. Chancy he spake contemptuous 〈…〉 against the raile that he would set it up in his Garden He was suspended only till he did submit after which he did submit and confesse his fault and then was absolved As for the words I used to his Advocate witnessed by Mr. â—â—â—â—brand it was when he was over bold and it is usuall with Courts to checke Counsell in this kinde when they oftend in such nature Thirdly For Mr. Burkit There were 5. Articles against him besides that which was read and he was prosecutest censured for them al not that only which is objected Fourthly Ferdinando Adams extreamly interrupted my Visitors and Bishop Wrens Visitors too in their Visitation at Ipswich by locking up the Church Doores against them for which high astront Processe was awarded against him Fifthly Iohn Premly his prosecution was the Act of Sir Nathaniel Brent and it was for an high contempt Sixtly For Mr. Sherfield he was censured by the Major voyce of the Court not by me alone and Mr. Caryll deposed that the Picture he brake was only conceived to be the Picture of God the Father not that it was so But admit it were yet it was not lawfull for him of his owne Authority to pull it downe and break it no not though it had bin the Picture of Iupiter himselfe This I did then affirme for which I had the Authority of St. Augustine and Bishop Davenant Yea in Constantine the Great his time as Eusebius writes in the third Booke De vita Constantini c. 52. 53. 54. No priuate Christians of their owne heads durst destroy the Jdols that were then worshipped nor the temple of Aesculapius wherein the Divel himselfe was adored til Constantine the Emperour gave expresse command and appointed certaine men whom he particularly imployed to demolish them It is true he pleaded that he demolished it by the Authority of the Vestry but the Vestry had no authority themselves to do it therefore they could not derive it unto him But it was Idolized and adored by some True but this appeared not till the hearing of the cause and was unknowne before Seaventhly The purging out of a Passage against Images in Dr. Featlyes Sermons taken out of our Homilies was no act of mine but my Chaplaines who must answer for it yet there are other passages therein left which are smartenough against Images and their adoration And Dr. Featly never complained hereofto mee Eightly The Bibles wherein these Pictures are shewed were Secretary Windebanks and Dr. Ducks which is nothing to me yea one of them is a Latine Bible printed beyond the seas at Amsterdam a place free from superstition not here Indeed I first saw one of these Bibles in Mistresse Kirkes hands whereupon I sent for one of them my selfe and then acquainted the Lords of the Councell with it who resolved they should not be sold publickly nor laid upon stalls for feare of giving scandall but privatly whereupon I told Mr. Wally as much which he hath testified But yet this is no Innovation for the old English prin-Bibells are full of Pictures Ninthly Mr. Workman was justly suspected for inconformity he was censured for other things as well as for passages against Images as appeares by his sentence As first for his words against Dancing 2ly For saying Images in Churches were Idolls though they are not Idolls till they are worshipped and that they were no better then stewes an unfitting expression 3ly For saying that Drunkards were preferred 4ly That the Election of Ministers was in the People 5ly For praying for the King of Sweden before our King 6ly For preaching against the Government of the Church established by Law 7ly For speaking against Pictures in privat houses as wel as in Churches For those of Gloucester questioned for granting him an Annuity then sued in the High Commission they were not many but only the principall Offendors it was lawful to cal them into the High Commission because their grant to him was in affront of authority their Fine was but small 10. â— a peece and that was pardoned As for Mr. Workman himselfe being put from his Ministry by sentence he was unfit to teach Schoole or practise Phisick for of leavening others with his dangerous opinions 10ly For Mr. Pryn Mr. Burton and Dr. Bastwick I answer 1. That the Prosecution against them in Starchamber was in a legall way for seditious Schismaticall and libellous Books 2ly That the rejecting of their answers under their owne hands and taking them pro confesso was no act of mine but of the whole Court 3ly That the expunging of Mr. Burtons Answer was not done by mee but by the two chiefe Iustices to whom it was referred by the Court who must answer for it if unjust and that the Copy of his answer found in my Study interlined with black-lead so far as it should stand was not intersined by me 4ly J gave no sentence against them at all but only Iustified my selfe and my proceedings against their calumnies But it hath bin objected that Mr. Cockeshut gave an accompt of the proceedings against them to me from time to time therefore I was the cause thereof I confesse he gave me such an account and it was just and fit he should do it because the cause concerned not only myselfe in some sort in particular but the Church of England in generall of which I ought to take care according as my place and duty required But I was no cause of any irregular proceedings Yea but I gave thankes to the Lords in the close of my Speech for their sentence and Iustice on them though I censured them not my selfe True and it was no more then I ought to do in behalfe of the Church But yet after the sentence given in my Epistle to his Majesty I excited him to put it in execution No I only left it to his Majesties consideration to forbeare or execute it as he in his justice and wisdome should deeme meet To this was replyed 1. in generall that the Archbishop in his speech in Star-chamber p. 53. hath this expression concerning rayling in Communion Tables Altarwise in parish Churches And
so he deserved to be censured for it That the Papists burnt it I could not help that Neither did it agree with Master Fox his Calender but he abused it in leaving out divers Saints allowed by the Church of England as the Epiphany and Annunciation of our Lady For Doctor Pocklingtons Book wherein he abused our Martyrs it was licensed by his Chaplain Doctor Bray who was censured for it as was Doctor Pocklington too in the Lords House But it is objected that my Chaplaines act is in law mine owne I answer not unlesse I command it But the Book it selfe was found in my Study and I preferred Doctor Pocklington for it I know no such thing and though I had the Book yet I knew not of this passage in it Fourthly for the calling in of Beacons Book printed by Mistris Griffin it is nothing to me what a Jesuit said of it and if called in it was because she reprinted it contrary to the Star-chamber Decree Fiftly for the Palsgraves Religion I remember it not and if called in it was because it was contrary to the Kings Declaration and touched upon some points of controversie prohibited by it Sixtly the hindring of the reprinting of Master Fox Bishop Jewell and Doctor Willet was no act of mine Seventhly I hindered the printing of no new Books against Popery Eightly the questioning of Master Prynne Master Burton and the rest in the High Commission was no act of mine but the Courts nor were they censured but got off without censure Master Burton said he was questioned before the Counsell Table for one of his Books as a Libell If it were a Libell there was cause to doe it He added he could not be quiet for being troubled in the high Commission nor could the Church be quiet for him which was the cause of his trouble He affirmed I committed him to the Fleet and denied him the benefit of the Petition of Right I answer there was cause enough for his commitment for printing of Books without license and for disturbing the peace of the Church and he had the benefit of the Petition of Right because the reason of his commitment was expressed in the Warrant Ninthly I licensed none of the particular books forecited my selfe nor any of my Chaplains to my knowledge I am certaine not by my command and if any of them have transgressed herein themselves must answer for it not I who having many other weighty publike affaires to look after had no time to peruse or license Books my selfe and was enforced to commit this trust to their care Tenthly to the particular books I answer First that though Sales his book was licensed by my Chaplaine yet he was abused therein by the Translator Printer who was punished for it in Star-chamber The book it self was called in and burnt by Proclamation and I dismissed the Doctor for licensing it out of my house and service For Christs Epistle to a devout Soule it was licensed at London House by Doctor Weeks the Bishop of Londons Chaplain not mine and so nothing to me besides it was suppressed before it was published For Doctor Heylins Books they are nothing to me I had no hand in them nor yet in Doctor Pocklingtons who hath been censured for them himselfe For Bishop Mountagues Impressions they concerne not me I did neitheir advise nor authorize them For the Lives of the Emperours which commend the Councell of Trent the Book was not licensed and I know not of it For the Popish Index Biblicus printed in England it is nothing to me it was without my privity and direction For the severall popish passages objected out of some newbooks the Authors themselvs must answer them at their perill they concerne not me For the rejecting of Master Prynnes Crosse Bill in Star-chamber complaining of these popish Books and Doctrines it was none of my act but the Courts and Lord Keeper Coventries and so was Mr. Burtons censure for his Book in which I gave no Vote For Master Croxtons Letter to me with a Crosse enjoyning Auricular confession I could not hinder it nor his practise of confession being in Ireland And for the passages objected out of mine owne Speech in Star-chamber that they imply and necessarily inferre the popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation and the giving of divine worship to the Altar even the same that is given to God I answer that neither of these can be inferred from thence for my words onely imply that Christs body is truly and really present in the Sacrament yet not corporally but in a spirituall manner and so is received by us which is no more then Master Calvin himselfe affirmes on the 1 Cor. 11. 24. where thus he writes Neque enim mortis tantum Resurrectionis suae beneficium nobis offert Christus sed corpus suum in quo passus est Resurrexit Concludo REALITER ut vulgo loquuntur id est VERE Nobis in Coena datur Christi corpus ut sic Aâ—imis Nostris in Cibum salutarem and Master Perkins himselfe faith as much For my words that we should bow DEO ET ALTARI which are coupled both together with a Conjunction Copulative yea both bowed to at the self-same time in one and the same act and the worship directed to and terminated in both alike Ergo divine worship is given to the Altar herein as well as to God which is flat Idolatry or but such civill reverence given to God as is rendred to the Altar which is to dishonour God and gives him no greater worship in his house then is due unto a creature I answer that though the act of bowing be the same to both yet the object mind and intention being different the worship must be so too There is a double worship and bowing one of the body the other of the heart as Master Perkins himselfe distinguisheth which is properly called Veneration when done but to a creature in a civill respect and worship onely when given to God himself To this was replied Ferst that this Decree of Star-chamber concerning printing was onely his owne act originally who projected and put that Court upon it whereof he was an over-potent Member theirs onely Ministerially to satisfie his importunity therein as the forecited Passages in the Decreee it selfe and our Witnesses attest Yea the printing of it was by his own command to enlarge his Jurisdiction which it much advanced We grant that some things in the Decree were good approved of by the Stationers who desired the same of which we complain not and some particulars very usefull had a right use been made of them But the prohibiting reprinting of all Orthodox Books formerly printed by authority unlesse re-licensed by him or his Agents the deniall of any old book to be reprinted even against Popery it selfe with the suppressing or purging most new Books against Popery under pretext of this Decree and the arbitrary punishing such who transgressed herein both in the Star-chamber
Commons of England and to desire that hee may bee forthwith sequestred from Parliament and be committed and that within some convenient time this House will resort to their Lordships with particular acsations and Articles against him Mr. Hollis is appointed to goe up to the Lords with this Message Vpon this his accusation diverse notable Speeches were made against him in the Commons House among others one by Master Grymstone published soone after in print which I shall here subjoyne Master Grymstones Speech IN PARLIAMENT Vpon the Accusation and Impeachment of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury of High TREASON Mr. Speaker THere hath beene presented to the House a most faithfull and exact Report of the conference wee had with the Lords Yesterday together with the opinion of the Committees that were imployed in that service That they conceived it fit the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury should hee sequestred I must second the motion and with the favour of the House I shall bee hold to offer my reasons why I conceive it most necessary wee should proceed a little further than the desire of above sequestration Master Speaker long introductions are not sutable to weighty businesses we are falne upon the great man the Archbishop of Canterbury Looke upon him as hee is in his Highnesse and hee is the stye of all pestilent filth that hath infected the State and Government of the Church and Common Wealth looke upon him in his dependanties and hee is the man the onely man that hath raised and advanced all those that together with himselfe have beene the Authors and causers of all the raines miseries and calemities we now groane under Who is it but he onely that hath brought the Earle of Strafford to all his great place and imployments a fit instrument and spirit to act and execute all his blouay designes in these Kingdomes Who is it but he onely that brought in Secretary Windebanke into the place of Secretary and trust the very Broker and Pander to the Whore of Babylon VVho is it Master Speaker but hee onely that hath advanced all Popish Bishops I shall name some of them Bishop Manwaring the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Bishop of Oxford and Bishop Wren the least of all but the most uncleane one These are men that should have sed Christs Flocke but they are the Wolves that devoured them the Sheepe should have fed upon the Mountaines but the Mountaines have eaten up the Sheepe It was the happinesse of the Church when the zeale of Gods House did eate up the Bishops glorious and brave Martyrs that went to the flaks in defence of the Protestant Religion but the zeale of these Bishops hath beene to eate up and persecute the Church VVho is it Master Speaker but the great Archbishop of Canterbury that hath set at the Helme to guide and steere them to all the managing of their Projects that have beene sit on foote in this Kingdome these tenne yeares last past and rather than hee would stand out hee hath most unworthily trucked and chaffered in the meanest of them As for instance that of Tobacco wherein thousands of poore people have beene stripped and turned out of their Trades for which they have served as Apprentises wee all know hee was the Compounder and contractor with them for the Licences putting them to pay Fines and Fee-Farme rents to use their Trades Certainely Master Speaker hee might have spent his time better and more for his Grace in the Pulpit then thus sharking and raking in the Tobacco shoppe Mr. Speaker we all know what he hath beene charged withall heere in this House Crimes of a dangerous consequence and of transcendent nature no lesse than the subversion of the Government of this Kingdome and the alteration of the Protestant Religion and this not upon bare information onely but much of it comes before us already upon cleare and manifest proofes and there is scarce any businesse Grievance or Complaint come before us in this place wherein we doe not finde him intermingled and as it were twisted into it like a busie and angry Waspe his sting is in the taile of every thing VVe have this day heard the report of the Conference yesterday and in it the Accusations which the Scottish Nation hath charged him with all And we doe all know he is guilty of the same if not more in this Kingdome Mr. Speaker he hath beene and is the common enemy to all goodnes and good men and it is not safe that such a Viper shall be neere to his Majesties person to distill his poyson into his sacred eares nor is it safe for the Common-wealth that hee should sit in so eminent place of government being thus accused We know what we did in the Earle of Straffords case This man is the corrupt Fountaine that hath infected all the streames and till the Fountaine be purged we cannot expect to have any cleare Channels I shall be bold therefore to offer my opinion and if I erre it is the error of my Iudgment and not my want of zeale and affection to the publicke good I conceive it most necessary and fit that we should now take up a Resolution to doe somewhat to strike whilst the Iron is hot And goe up to the Lords in the name of this House and in the name of the Commons of England and to accuse him of high Treason and to desire their Lordships his person may be sequestred and that in convenient time we may bring up the Charge After the House had this day voted the Arch Bishop a Traitor Mr. Hollis the same day was sent up to the Lords to accuse him of High Treason which he did immediatly in the generall without any particular charge assuring the Lords that in convenient time there should be a particular charge exhibited against him by the Commons to make good the accusation Wherefore he desired the Lords that the Arch Bishop might be sequestred from the House and committed hereupon he was forthwith committed to the Gentleman Vsher but yet permitted to goe in his company to Lambeth for some books to read in and such Papers as pertained to his defence against the Scotts charge And what papers of greatest consequence he then conveyed away thence burned or defaced is worthy inquiry Master Hollis his report from the Lords I finde thus entred in the Commons Iournall 18. December 1640. Master Hollis reported that according to the command of this House hee had delivered to their Lordships the Message that my Lord Keeper said Their Lordships had considered of the Message and accordingly they had sequestred the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury from Parliament and had committed him in safe custody to the Gentleman Vsher of their House The Lords Order for his commitment is thus entered in their Journall 18. December 1640. It is this day Ordered that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury being accused of high Treason by the house of Commons in their owne names and in the name of
have beene by His Majestie and his Royall Ancesters granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this kingdome And divers other wayes hath expressed his malice and disaffection to these Churches that so by such disunion the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both 13. Hee hath malitiously and traiterously plotted and endeavoured to stirre up warre and enmity betwixt his Majesties two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and to that purpose hath laboured to introduce into the Kingdome of Scotland divers Innovations both in Religion and Government all or the most part of them tending to Popery and superstition to the great grievance and discontent of his Majesties Subjects of that Nation and for their refusing to submit to such Innovations hee did trayterously advise his Majesty to subdue them by force of Armes and by his owne Authority and Power contrary to Law did procure sundry of his Majestyes Subjects inforced the Clergie of this Kingdome to contribute towards the maintenance of that war And when his Majesty with much wisdom Justice had made a Pacification betwixt the two Kingdomes the said Archbishop did presumptuously censure that pacification as dishonourable to his Majesty and by his councells and endeavours so incensed his Majesty against his said Subjects of Scotland that he did thereupon by advice of the said Archbishop enter into an offensive warre against them to the great hazard of his Majesties person and his Subjects of both Kingdomes 14. That to preserve himselfe from being questioned for these and other his trayterous courses he hath laboured to subvert the rights of Parliament and the ancient course of Parliamentary proceeding and by false and malitious slanders to incense his Majesty against Parliaments By which words counsels and actions he hath traiterously and contrary to his allegiance laboured to alienate the hearts of the Kings liege people from his Majesty and to set a devision betweene them and to ruine and destroy his Majesties Kingdomes for which they doe impeach him of High Treason against our Soveraigne Lord the King his Crowne and Dignity The said Commons do further averre that the said William Archbishop of Canterbury during the times that the crimes aforementioned were done and committed hath beene a Bishop or Archbishop of this Realme of England one of the Kings Commissioners for Ecclesiasticall matters and one of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell and hath taken an oath for his faithfull discharge of the said Office of Councellor and hath likewise taken an oath of supremacy and Allegeance And the said Commons by protestation saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the said Archbishop and also of replying to the Answers that the said Archbishop shall make unto the said Articles or to any of them and of offering further proofe also of the Premises or any of them or of any other impeachment or accusation that shall be exhibited by them as the cause shall according to the course of Parliament require do pray that the said Archbishop may be put to answer to all and every the premises and that such proceedings examination tryall and Judgment may be upon every of them had and used as is agreeable to Law and Justice The Articles being read Mr. PYMME proceeded in his Specch as followeth My Lords THere is an expression in the Scripture which I will not presume either to understand or to interpret yet to a vulgar eye it seemes to have an aspect something sutable to the Person and Cause before you It is a description of the evill Spirits wherein they are said to be spirituall wickednesses in high places Crimes acted by the spirituall faculties of the Soule the Will and the Vnderstanding exercised about spirituall matters concerning Gods Worship and the Salvation of Man seconded with power authority learning and many other advantages do make the party who commits them very sutable to that description Spirituall wickednesses in high places These crimes My Lords are various in their Nature heynous in their quality and universall in their extent If you examine them Theologically as they stand in opposition to the truth of God they will be found to be against the rule of Faith against the power of godlinesse against the meanes of Salvation If you examine them Morally as they stand in opposition to the light of Nature to right reason and the principles of humane society you will then perceive pride without any moderation such a Pride as that is which exalts it selfe above all that is called God Malice without any provocation Malice against vertue against innocencie against piety injustice without any meanes of restitution even such injustice as doth robbe the present times of their possessions the future of their possibilities If they be examined My Lords by Legall Rules in a Civill way as they stand in opposition to the Publique Good and to the Lawes of the Land Hee will be found to be a Traytor against his Majesties Crown an Incendiary against the Peace of the State he will be found to be the highest the boldest the most impudent Oppressour that ever was an Oppressor both of King and People This Charge my Lords is distributed and conveyed into 14. severall Articles as you have heard and those Articles are only generall It being the intention of the House of Commons which they have commanded me to declare to make them more certaine and particuler by preparatory Examinations to be taken with the helpe of your Lordships house as in the Case of my Lord of Strafford I shall now runne through them with a light touch only marking in every of them some speciall point of venome virulency and malignity 1. The first Article my Lords doth containe his endeavour to introduce into this Kingdome an Arbitrary power of Government without any limitations or Rules of Law This my Lords is against the safety of the Kings Person the honour of his Crowne and most destructive to his people Those Causes which are most perfect have not only a power to produce effects but to conserve and cherish them The Seminary vertue and the Nutritive vertue in vegetables do produce from the same principles It was the defect of justice the restraining of oppression and violence that first brought Government into the World and set up Kings the most excellent way of Government And by the maintenance of justice all kinds of Government receive a sure foundation and establishment It is this that hath in it an ability to preserve and secure the Royall power of Kings yea to adorne and encrease it 2. In the second Article your Lordships may observe absolute and unlimited power defended by Preaching by Sermons and other discourses printed and published upon that subject And truly my Lords it seemes to be a prodigious crime that the truth of God and his holy Law should be perverted to defend the lawlesnesse of men That the holy and
proof of the fifth and sixth Originall and ninth Additionall Articles and in the Answers and replyes upon them The third part touching Religion contained in the 7 8 9 10 11 12 Originall and 6 and 7 Additionall Articles was carried on and managed by Iohn Wilde Serjeant at Law of the Commons House for 4 whole dayes to wit May 20 27. Iune 6. 11. and then by reason of Mr. Serjeants sicknesse and infirmity pursued by Master Nicholas 5 intire dayes more viz. Iune 17. 20 27. Iuly 20 24. The fourth and last part of the evidence in proof of the 14 Originall and 1 and 10 Additionall Articles was given in by Master Nicholas on the 29 of Iuly and concluded the same day So as the very evidence it self which was excellently well pressed by these learned Gentlemen took up seventeen whole days morning and evening besides 12 dayes attendance more whereon other pressing publike affaires enforced the Lords to adjorn the tryall when both the Committee of Commons were ready with their witnesses and the Arch-bishop present with his Councell ready to receive his charge After all the evidence answers and replyes thereto fully given the Arch-bishop had liberty granted to make a Recapitulation of his whol defence before the Lords which accordingly performed on the second of September 1644. To which Samuel Brown Esquire a member of the House of Commons replyed on the 11 of September summing up the principall parts of the evidence given against him at the Lords Bar. On the 11 of Octob. 1644. the Arch-Bishops Councell were heard at the Lords Bar on this point of Law to which they were formerly directed to speak Whether in all or any of the Articles charged against him there were any Treason contained Which Mr. Iohn Hern onely argued as the mouth of the rest of his Councell Soon after the Commons having drawn an Ordnance of Attainder of high Treason against the Archbishop upon the Evidence given in against him on the second of Novemb. following the Arch-bishop after its second reading was brought to the Commons Bar where Mr. Sam. Brown in his presence summed up the evidence given in against him before the Lords to which the Archbishop by order gave his answer Vivâ voce at the Commons Bar Nov. 11th whereunto Mr Brown replyed the 13th of the same Novemb. after which the very same day the Ordinance for his attainder of High Treason passed the Commons House without any dissenting voyce but one and that not upon the matter of his charge High Treason of which all Voted him guilty but manner of proceeding onely This Ordinance being transmitted to the House of Peeres because some of the Lords were not present at all the evidence given in against him during his long Tryall thereupon Decemb. 4. 1644. they Ordered That all Books Writings Docquets and evidences concerning the Arch-bishop of Canterbury his tryall before the Lords in Parliament should be brought in to the Clerk of the Parliament by 9 of the Clock in the morning on Saturday next which being done accordingly the Lords among themselves seriously re-examined all the heads and principall parts of the evidence formerly urged against him at the Bar debating weighing and then voting each particular as they went after this most serious review their Lordships upon most mature deliberation voted him guilty of all the Articles and matters of fact charged against him and also that of High Treason to notwithstanding the argument of the Archbishops Councel upon a conference with the House of Commons which satisfied them in the point of Law Whereupon they passed the Ordinance for his Attainder of high Treason by vertue whereof he was soon after executed whereof more fully in its due place Thus you have the summe of the Lords and Commons most deliberate fair moderate just though tedious proceedings against this Arch-Traytor not to be presidented in any preceding Age nor fit to be imitated for the future in regard of length and expence of time against which calumny and malice it selfe can take no just exceptions on his behalfe the rather because himselfe would have tried condemned executed above an hundred Paritans in halfe the time wherein he was but trying without the least mercy or moderation had they beene brought before his Tribunall for farre more pettie Treasons then those of which hee was attainted and voted guilty upon most full and pregnant evidence Having given the world this briefe account of the fairenes and deliberatenesse of his Tryall so long delayed partly by his own neglect in not pleading to his Articles of impeachment and not once petitioning to be brought to Tryall during all the time of his restraine partly by his owne forementioned Petitions to the Lords for longer time when the Commons pressed to expedite his hearing partly by the death of Mr John Pym and some other Members of the Commons House who were trusted to prepare and mannage the evidence against him part whereof miscarryed by their decease but principally by reason of the great intervening urgent affaires distractions and bloody Wars in the Kingdomes of Ireland and England occasioned by his Majesties deserting the Parliament and this Arch-Prelates plots to set up Popery not through any neglect or default in the Lords or Commons We shall next endeavour to yeeld you a full satisfactory true account of the proceedings and evidence given in against him at his Tryall which will really render him the Archest Traytor the most pestilent Malefactor in all kindes of Villany Tyranny Oppression Mischiefe that was ever arraigned condemned in any Parliament Pierce Gravestons Archbishop Arundles Cardinall Wolses Empsons Dudlies and the Earle of Straffords Treasons Conspiracies Oppressions and grand Misdemeanours layd together being far inferiour to his both in he inousnesse multiplicity and variety as shall be undeniably demonstrated to all the world by substantiall proofes On Thursday the 12. of March 1643. the day designed for the comencement of this great Tryall about three of the Clocke in the afternoon the Arch-bishop was brought Prisoner by the Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Usher of the blacke Rod to the Bar in the Lords House where after he had kneeled down on his knees for a litle space the Lord Gray of Warke then Speaker of that honourable House commanded him to rise up which done the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to mannage the evidence at his Tryall demanded that the severall Articles of their Impeachment against him might be read whereupon one of the Clerkes of the Lords House read both the Originall and Additionall Articles fore-mentioned and after that his Answer Plea and Demurrer to them All which being read the Archbishop then desired the Lords that the House of Commons might give in all their Charge and Evidence to all the Articles against him together before he should be put to give his Answer to any particular Charge because he was ancient his memory very short and the Articles Generall and that he might
these men from it And that it may appear unto Your Lordships how many and of what condition the persons are which by Gods blessing upon my labours I have setled in the true Protestant Religion established in England I shall briefely name some of them though I cannot do it in order of time as I converted them Henry Berkinstead of Trinity Colledge Oxon seduced by a Jesuite and brought to London The Lords and others conceiving him to be Berchinhead the Author of all the Libellous Popish Oxford Aulicusses against the Parliament at the naming of him smiled which the Archbishop perceiving said My Lords I mean not Berchinhead the Author of Oxford Aulicus but another Two Daughters of Sir Richard Lechford in Surry sent towards a NVNNERIE Two Schollers of Saint Johns Colledge Cambridge Toppin and Ashton who had got the French Ambassadors passe and after this I allowed means to Toppin and then procured him a fellowship in Saint Johns And he is at this present as hopefull a young man as any of his time and a Divine Sir William Webbe my kinsman and two of his Daughters And his son I took from him and his Father being utterly decayed I bred him at my own charge and he is a very good Protestant A Gentleman brought to me by Master Chesford his Majesties servant but I cannot recall his name The Lord Mayo of Ireland brought to me also by Master Chesford The Right Honourable the Lord. Duke of Buckingham almost quite gone between the Lady his Mother and Sister The Lady Marquesse Hamilton was setled by my direction and shee dyed very religiously and a Protestant Master Digby who was a Priest Master James a Gentleman brought to mee by a Minister in Buckinghamshire as I remember Doctor Heart the Civilian my neighbours sonne at Fulham Master Christopher Seaburne a Gentleman of an ancient family in Herefordshire The Right Honourable the Countesse of Buckingham Sir William Spencer of Parnton Master Shillingworth The sonnes and heires of Master Winchcombe and Master Wollescott whom I sent with their friends liking to Wadham Colledge Oxford and received a Certificate Anno 1638. of their continuing in conformity to the Church of England Nor did ever any one of these named relapse againe but only the Countesse of Buckingham and Sir William Spencer it being only in Gods power not mine to preserve them from relapse And now let any Clergy man of England come forth and give a better accompt of his zeale to the Church This speech being ended all were commanded to withdraw In the withdrawing Master Hugh Peters who stood near the Archbishop demanded of him whether he was not ashamed to make such a bold challenge in so honourable an Auditory as he had made in the close of his Speech In bidding any Clergy man of the Church of England to come forth and give a better account of his zeal to the Church and conversion of Papists to our Religion then he had done Adding that himself the unworthiest of many hundred Ministers in England was there ready to answer his challenge and to produce a Catalogue not of 22. but of above 120. Papists which he through Gods blessing had converted to our Religion and brought home to God besides making them other manner of Converts then any in his recited Bead-Rol who were made neither good Protestants nor good Christians by him Adding that he and many other Ministers in England were able to produce hundreds of reall Converts to Christ for every of his pretended ones some wherof by his own confession soon turned Apostates and the rest but litle better At which speech of his the Archbishop seemed much offended and some of his friends there present taxing Master Peters as an unmannerly sawcy fellow for using such language to him in this his afflicted condition desired him to trouble his Grace no further with such rude discourse whereupon they parted without more words If we survey this Oration of the Arch-bishop with an impartiall eye we may discover abundance of shamelesse Impudency and Pharisaicall selfe-justification beyond all bounds of Modesty or Verity broached in it so apparently contradicted by his manifold unjust oppressive violent actions and Popish Innovations of all sorts visible to the eyes of all men and so diametrally refuted by the subsequent evidence produced against him during his seventeen dayes tryall that had not his brow been made of brasse and his face of Adamant he could not have justified so many grosse untruths of him selfe before such an honourable publike Auditory and the supreame Judicatory of the Realme with so much shamelesse impudency as hee did But t is the common practise of obdurate sinners and cauterized Delinquents Fortem animum praestant rebus quas turpitèr audent Like the adulterous woman Pro. 30. 20. Who eateth and wipeth her mouth and saith I HAVE DONE NO WICKEDNES This Evening the Lords Ordered the Arch-bishop to appear at their Bar the next morning by 9 of the Clocke at which time they would proceed in his Tryall Whereupon all departing for that time appeared the next day at the appointed houre in the Lords House where the Commons entring upon their evidence proved the Articles in their Order I shall present you with the summe and severall branches of his charge and then prosecute them in the ensuing method The Generall Charge against the Archbishop with the severall branches thereof THe Charge against this Arch-Malefactor consisting of many various particular Crimes of high nature is reducible to one generall head to wit High Treason against the King and Kingdome thus expressed in the 1. Originall and 2. Additionall Articles That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and Government of the Kingdome of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government This Generall is distributed into foure Speciall branches in the Articles of his Impeachment under which all the particular Capitall Offences and grand Misdemenours given in evidence against him at his Tryall are comprehensible 1. His Trayterous endeavours and practises to alter and subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realme and instead thereof to set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry and reconcile us to the Church of Rome the particulars whereof are specified in the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Originall and 6. 7. 8. 9. Additionall Articles 2. His Trayterous usurpation of a Papall and Tyranicall power in the Church of England in all Ecclesiasticall affaires in prejudice and derogation of his Majesties Royall Prerogative and the Subjects liberties comprised in the sixt originall Article 3. His Trayterous attempts and endeavours to subvert the fundamentall temporall Lawes Government and Liberties of the Realme and Subjects of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government against the Law and Subjects liberties expressed in the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 13 Originall and 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. Additionall Articles 4. His Trayterous
and the Silver extrasted put into the Treasurie of the Church 14. The Kings Schollers being 40. usually coming tumultuously into the Chore ordered to come in bimatim and to doe reverence towards the Altar Moreover the Archbishop in his Injunctions to the Dean Chapter of the Cathedrall Church of Chicester made in his Metropoliticall Visitation there An. 1635. orders thus in his 6. Injunction Item That you provide Copes fitting for the service of your Cathedrall by one a year untill you be sufficiently furnished with them as was proved by the Injunctions found in his own Study attested by Mr. Prynne an Altar with all its furniture and adorations towards it being there likewise provided and used The like Innovations were introduced and prescribed by his Injunctions and new statutes in all or most Cathedralls in England and Wales to the great rejoycing of the Popish Party and scandall of all true zealous Protestants and any default in them was reputed a crime presentable as appeared by this Passage of an Abstract of the Abuses in the Diocesse of Lincolne 1634. in my Metropoliticall visitation endorsed with the Archbishops hand and found in his study Lincolne August 9. 1634. The Communion Table is not very decent and the Raile before it is worse the Organs old and naught The Copes and Vestments are embeselled and none remaine c. And in another Abstract concerning his Metropoliticall Visitation in other Diocesses particulars concerning the same indorsed likewise with his own hand there are these passages Norwich the hangings of the Quire are naught the Copes are fair but want mending In the Cathedrall as Worcester they have no Copes but are ordered to buy some before the feast of the Annuntiation In the Cathedrall at Gloucester many things amisse No Copes c. in Winchester Cathedrall they have no Copes some do not bow when they come into the Quire nor at the blessed name of Iesus Litchfield the furniture of the Altar c. very meane Therefore care must be taken for more costly furniture Whence this Archbishop took his Commission and president for adorning our Cathedrall and Collegeat Churches thus above others with these Romish Ornaments superstitious Innovations which in truth defiled them is worthy our speciall observation it being in taken from the very Roman Ceremoniall set forth reformed by the Command of Pope Clement the 8. lib. 1. cap. 12. De ornatu Ecclesiae p. 64. which prescribes thus Sic MAJOR ETIAM â—VRA adhibenda erit IN ORNATV ECCLESIAE CATHEDRALJS AVT COLLEGJATAE quae numerosum clerum habeat supellectilem amplam que congrué situata suis partibus apté distincta COMMODJOREM ORNANDI PRAEâ—EAT FACVLTATEM after which it prescribes Altars Altar-clothes Candlestickes Tapers Crucifixes Jmages Copes Rich hangings for the Altar and Quire with Jmages of Christ our Lady and Saints bowing to the Altar and Crucifix and that all Altars should have at least two Candlestickes with Tapers and a Crosse of Silver or of some other mettall placed on the midst of the Altar with the Image of Christ crucified on it as you may there read at large This Arch Prelate not content to propagate these Innovations in England like an Vniversall Patriarch over all his Majesties Realms endeavoured the introducing of them with an high hand into all the Cathedralls Churches and Chappell 's in Ireland by the then Lord Deputy Wentworthes power his great Creature of which we shall give you this briefe accompt Dr. Bramhall Chaplaine to this Lord Deputy by his Command August 10. 1633. sent over an Account of the state of the Church of Jreland to this Prelate as he found it and what Alterations hee had already made in it seized in the Archbishops study by Mr. Prynne wherein are these observable clauses RIght Reverend Father My most honoured Lord presuming partly upon your licence but especially directed by my Lord Deputies commandes I am to give your Father-hood a briefe account of the present state of the poore Church of Ireland such as our short Intelligence here and your Lordship weightier imployments there will permit c. In Christ Church the principall Church in Ireland withor the Lord Deputy and Councell repaire every Sunday the Table used for administration of the blessed Sacrament in the MIDST OF THE QVIRE is made an ordinary seat for Maidons and Apprentices J cannot omitte the glorious Tombe in the other Cathedrall Church of saint Patrike in the proper place of the Altar just opposite to his Majesties seat having his Fathers name subscribed upon it as if it were contrived on purpose to gaine that worship and reverence which the Chapter and whole Church are bound by speciall statute to give towards the East and either the soyle it selfe or a Licence to build and bury and make a Vault in the place of the Altar under Sealetant which is tantamount is passed to the Earle and his heires Credimus esse Deos. This being the case in Dublin your Lordship will Judge what we may expect in the Country The Earle of Corke holdes the whole Bishopricke of Lismore at the Rate of fortie shillings or five markes by the yeare For the remedying of these evills next to God and his sacred Majesty I know my Lord depends upon your Fatherhoods wisedom and zeale for the Church my duty binds me to pray for a blessing upon both your good endeavours for the present my Lord hath pulled down the Deputies seat in his owne Chapell and restored the Altar 〈◊〉 ancient place which was thrust out of dores the like is done in Christs Church This testimony I must give of his care that it is not possible for the intentions of a mortall man to be more serious and sincere then his in those things that concerne the good of this poore Church Your Lordships daily â—â—â—dsman and devoted servant Iohn Bramhall Dublin Castle Aug. 10. 1643. Vpon this Information the Archbishop signifyed his dislike of erecting this Monument by the Earle of Corke in the place where the High Altar as was misinformed anciently stood and gave some directions for removing it Whereupon the Earle of Corks and Archbishop of Dublin writ these ensuing Letters to satisfie his Grace in this particular which were seconded with other Letters from Archbishop Vsher and the Deane and Prebends of Saint Patrickes Church to like effect over-tedious to recite My Gracious Lord. I Vnderstand that upon suggestions made unto your Grace you conceive that a Tombe which I have lately caused to be erected in Saint Patrickes Church neere Dublin is prejuditiall to the lights of the Chancell and seated in the place where the High Altar stood And as I have alwayes by my best desires and actions endeavored to invest my selfe in your Graces good opinion and have not willingly done any act that might prejudice me therein So in this particular I make humbly bold to deliver my justification to your Grace as followeth which I
beseech you take into your Religious consideration and vouchsafe me such a favourable resolution as the meritts of the cause requireth It is so that Doctor Robert Weston sometimes one of the Lords Justices for the Government of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of the same Realme Grandfather to my deceased Wife and great Vncle to the now Lord Treasurer of England whose memory yet lives by being stiled the good Lord Chancellor of Ireland was buried in the upper end of the Chancell in Saint Patrickes Church whose Daughter Sir Iefferey Fenton maried he having beene principall Secretary of State to Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for many yeares and lived and died in great honour whose onely Daughter I tooke to Wife and hee was buryed in the same grave My Wife drawing towards her end made her last request unto me that her Grandfather her Father and her selfe might be buried together and that I would be at the charge to erect some Monument in memoriall of them all Whereupon in accomplishment of her dying desire who was the Mother of my fifteene Children I propounded unto the Lord Archbishop of Dublin and to the Deane and Chapter of Saint Patricks to purchase a place where I might erect a Tombe over them And they assigned me the ground under an Arch to make a Seller or Vault in to receive dead bodies and three foote of the Chancell adjoyning to the Grave where the Lord Chancellor and Sir Iefferey Fenton had beene buried for which I payd them a Fyne with Rent and other reservations towards the reparation of the Church and by their unanimous consent have a Deed in due forme of Law perfected under their Chapter Seale and so being by generall consent legally interested therein I made a Vault of hewed stone under ground with conveighances therein to free the Church from the waters with which floods and great raynes it was before often anoyed withall and where there was then but an earthen flower at the upper end of the Chancell which was often overflowne I raysed the same three steps higher making the Staires of hewen stone and paving the same through out of the same whereon the Communion Table now stands very dry and gracefully In that Seller I have placed the Corps of my Wives Grandfather her Father and her selfe with a Daughter of mine since deceased that was married to the Lord Digbie and over the Vault I have caused a Tombe of foure storyes to be erected which reacheth two and thirtie foot from the ground which hath cost me a thousand pounds at the least and is the greatest ornament and beautie to that Church that ever was placed therein that being seated under an Arch that in former time was only a passage into the Saint Mary Chappell at the East end of which Chappell the high Altar stood and when that Chappell which hath two other wayes into it the one on the right hand the other on the left fell into ruine that Arch wherein the Tombe is placed to keepe the winde and weather out of the Chancell was made up with slight timber and lathes and plaistred with Clay white lymed over whereon the Commandements were lately written It is three yeares since this my worke was finished and neither during the time of the worke nor since till now of late did I ever heare of any mouth opened against it but many in commendations of it as a great beautie and ornament to that Chancell neither doth it take away or hide any of the lights of the Chancell for they are all above this Fabricke Neither is there any remembrance nor can the oldest man living say that there ever was any Altar placed neere this passage Yet of late it hath pleased my honourable Lord the Lord Deputy to command me to give Your Grace satisfaction herein or else to declare that the Tombe must be defaced which to have done would bee the greatest dishonour and affliction that could bee layed upon me And the more for that before I heard any thing of Your Graces distant thereof I had in the presence of the Lord Prymate given order to the Deane at my ovvne charges for a stately Skrene to be erected within the Quire and upon the pavement raised by my selfe upon which the tenne Commandements are to bee engraven to the great beautifying of Gods House Vpon that notice from the Lord Deputy I made suite to the Lord Prymate and the Lord Archbishop of Dublin to view the place which they vouchsafed together with the Deane and Chapter to doe And doe humbly offer to your Grace their opinions herein which I beseech Your pious consideration of and that you will be pleased to returne me such an answer as may encourage me to proceed herein and in other like building and charitable workes wherein I spend a great part of my estate and time as all that know me and my actions â—an testifie The great God of Heaven blesse Your Grace with a long and happie life in this world and everlasting glory in the world to come vvhich is and ever shall be the prayer of Your Graces most humble and faithfull Servant R. Caâ—he Dublin 20. Febr. 1633. May is please Your Grace VNderstanding from the Earle of Corke that Your Grace hath intimated unto the Right Honourable the Lord Deputie your offence taken against a Tombe lately built by his Lordship in the quire of Saint Patrikes Church neere this Citie of Dublin being informed that it should be situate in the place where the High-Altar anciently stood and that it should darken the East Window of the Quire upon his Lordships earnest request unto mee I have made bold to declare unto your Grace my knowledge thereabouts which is that the place where the Tombe is erected is a spatious Arch which in former times as I conceive served for a passage into the Marie Chappell adjoyning at the East end vvhereof the High Altar stood This Arch was closed up and plastered to keepe the winde as I imagine out of the Quire Saint Marie Chapell being somevvhat decaied upon the plaistering the Declalogue was fairely painted these vvere done before my promotion to this See or comming into this Kingdome The windovves which were of old somevvhat high over the Arch are no way darkened by his Lordships monument but remaine as they were formerly and the monument is so wrought and contrived what in the Arch and the Wall that vvith the grate before it it doth not much diminish the length of the Quire The Earle hath raised that end of the Quire three-steppes higher then it vvas and hath paved it with faire hevven stones being formerly a floore of earth many times upon a fresh drovvned vvith water where novv the Communion Table iâ— placed vvith more decency then in former times And his Lordship is in hand to set up a faire skrine of timber somewhat distant from the monument so that it may take in some other monuments heretofore erected on either side in the which
among the Archbishops Papers To the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitan one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell My very good Lord. May it please Your Grace I Have according to Your Graces direction survayed the Churches of Your Graces Arch-Deaconry in the Citie of Canterbury In some of which I find Galleries and seates raised from the ground three or foure ascents as likewise monuments with diverse Inscriptions erected without authority at the East-end of the Chancells And in Saint Gregories Church of the same City one other Monument in which is described the Gunpowder Treason with this Motto or Inscription in Capitall letters IN PERPETVAM PAPISTARVM INFAMIAM This he held him selfe in all humility bound to acquaint Your Grace withall who is ready to execute what Your Grace shall Command for the ordering of these particulars or any other thing Your Grace shall be pleased to enjoyne him and never ceaseth to pray for Your Graces prosperitie and welfare Resting Your Graces most humble Servant VVilliam Kingsley April 13. 1636. To which Letter the Archbishop returned this answer sound in his study thus endorsed The Copy of my Letters to the Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Aprill 29. 1636. concerning the taking downe of Galleries and Monuments in some Churches of Canterbury c. S. in Christo SIR YOur Letters of Aprill 13. I have received and I thanke you for your care and paines in Visiting the Churches of your Arch-Deaconry within the City of Canterbury in which I have often heard there are some things amisse and finde by your report that the Information given me was true And because you certifie me of some things of greater moment then ordinary I thought it very fit to acquaint His Majestie with all the contents of your Letter and did so By which meanes I shall with more freedome give you the fuller answer to the three particulars mentioned by you For the first which is the raising of Galleries and Seates from the ground three or foure ascents His Majestie hath commanded mee to write unto you that they be taken down and the Seates left orderly in the Church But you are to take care to acquaint the Minister and Church-wardens with it and to see it done in a faire and peaceable manner The like Course you are to take with the second for it is no way fit that any Monument whatsoever should be set up at the East end of the Chancell thereby standing equall at least if not above the Communion Table and fit for nothing but to cast it out of its proper place Therefore if any such be in any Church within your jurisdiction you are to speake with them that are next of Kinne or whom such Monuments may most concerne And if they will remove them and set them up in any other place on the sides of the Church you are to give them leave so to do but if they will not you are then to take them downe in an orderly way and not to suffer any to stand at the East end of the Chancell Your third businesse is of greater consequence it is that there is another Monument in Saint Georges Church in which there is described in Capitall Letters the GUN-POUDER TREASON with this motto In perpetuam Papistarum infamiam c. I hope this stands not at the East end of the Chancell for if it doe you must see it removed to some other place but if it stand upon any side of either Chancell or Church then you are with the knowledge of the Minister and the Church-Wardens or any other whom that Monument may concerne to take some Painter to you and cause him to put out of the Monument all that concernes the Fleet in 88. because that belongs to a Forreigne Nation And though your Letters make no mention of 88. yet the Picture of the Monument which you sent me up doth which I shewed His Majestie as well as Your Letter So having here given you a cleare direction in all your three particulars I shall expect your care in the execution of them according to it So I leave you to the grace of God and rest Your very loving Friend Will Cant By these two Letters it is apparent that the Archbishop gave speciall directions not only to Sir Nathaniell Brent but to the Arch-Deacon of Canterbury to take down Galleries and Monuments at the East end of Chancells neare the Communeon-Tables and to place the Tables there at in their proper place as likewise to obliterate the memoriall of our happy deliverance from the Spanish Armado in 88. out of that Church where it had long continued Finally it was proved by the testimony of Master Sutton Master Browne and others that in the yeare 1640. in the new Chappell at WEST MINSTER the Kings Armes were set up in the East Window which was first glased with white Glasse afterward the Archbishop promising to bestow a new window instead of it the Kings Armes were thereupon taken downe by direction of Doctor Haywood the Archbishops Chaplaine and Browne this Joyner and placed in another obscure window and the Archbishops Arms supported by Seraphins put up in its place to signifie that hee was the sole donor of this new Window where instead of the white Glasse there was set up in coloured glasse the Picture of the Holy Ghost in form of a Dove with the Images of the Virgin Mary Christ Angells and Ceraphins for which the Glasier was payd since the Archbishops commitment to the Tower by the Archbishops direction as the Glasier verily believed this new painted Window being set up about the beginning of this Parliament but since demolished by order of Parliament which manifests the Archbishops perseverance in his Popish Innovations notwithstanding the Scotish troubles and the many late complaints against them in the last dissolved and present Parliament When this Arch-Prelate had in his Metropoliticall Visitation by private instructions only to his Vicar Generall and other Agents set on these Innovations and introduced them into many Parish-Churches in most Diocesse hee then by his subordinate Suffragans and Creatures began to enforce them universally upon all Ministers Church-Wardens Parishes by Visitation Oaths and Articles upon which such Ministers Church-Wardens and others who opposed them were presented yea prosecuted as Delinquents Among others Dr. Pierce Bish of Bath and Wells Mathew Wren Bish of Norwich Bish Lindsy of Peterborough Bish Mountague of Chichester and Skinner Bishop of Bristall were the chiefe promoters of his Innovations especially of rayling in Communion Tables Altarwise bowing to and towards them saying second service at them and comming up to the new rayles to receive the Sacrament prescribing these particulars in their severall Visitation Articles Witnesse Rich Mountague Bishop of Chichester his printed Visitation Articles there 1635. which after his translation to Norwich he enlarged with some printed additions for that Diocesse Anno 1638. of which
distraction in the Parish of Ware being a great and populous parish by their opposition of the laudable gesture of receiving the holy Communion kneeling and their envying against the Rayle and bench set up by sufficient authority for that purpose about the Communion Table in the Chancel for maintaining of good order and conformity in the Church there as may well appear by M. Chaunceys inveighing against the same and his refusing to administer the holy Communion there whilest he continued Vicar of Ware for the which the said M. Chauncey in partem pâ—nae was by the Court suspended from the execution of his Ministeriall function and every part thereof and ordered so to stand untill by his submission and acknowledgement of his error in broaching the said opinions tending to schisme and faction this Court shall see cause to release him which his submission and his acknowledgement is to be set down prescriptis verbis by the Commissioners at Informations and to be delivered unto him under the Registers hand of this Court and to be by him read and performed here in open Court and then to be intimated and made known in the parish Church of Ware where he hath given such cause of scandall and offence He was further condemned in expences or costs of fuit which are to be moderately taxed by the Commissioners at Informations And the said Humphry Parker was likewise condemned in moderate charges or expences and to make his submission in like manner conceptis verbis as this Court shall appoint Lastly they were both ordered to stand committed till they shall give sufficient bond in a 100 li. a piece to his Majesties use for the performance of the order of the Court. And because it was alleaged and pretended on M. Chauncies behalfe that since his comming to be Person of Marsten-Lawrence in Northamptonshire he had in testofocation of his conformity set up or caused to be set up such a Rayle about the Communion Table in the Chancell of his parish Church there the Court decreed Letters to be sent from this Court to the Lord Bishop of Peterborough to desire his Lordship to enquire of the truth of this allegation and to certifie this Court of the truth thereof the second Session of the next Tearm As also how the said Master Chauncey hath otherwise conformed himselfe there to the orders of the Church of England here by law established The manner and form of M. Chauncies recantation the next court-day for speaking against the rayle is thus recorded in the High Commission Register This day the said Mr. Chauncey appeared personally and with bended knees read his submission in Court which followes Whereas I Charles Chauncey Clerk late Vicar of Ware in the County of Hertford stand by sentence of this honourable Court legally convicted for opposing the setting of a rayle about the Communion Table in the Chancell of the Parish-church of Ware with a bench thereunto affixed for the Communicants to resort unto and to receive the blessed Sacrament there kneeling upon their knees and for using invective speeches against the said rayle and bench saying it was an Innovation â— snare to mens consciences and a breach of the second Commandement an addition to the Lords worship and that which hath driven me out of Towne I the said Charles Chauncey do here before this honourable Court acknowledge my great offence in using the said invective words and am heartily sorry for the same I protest and am ready to declare by vertue of mine Oath that I now hold and am perswaded in my conscience that kneeling at the receiving of the holy Communion is a lawfull and commendable gesture and that a rayle set up in the Chancell of any Church by the authority of the Ordinary with a bench thereunto affixed for the communicants to repaire unto to receive the holy Communion kneeling is a decent and convenient ornament for that purpose and this Court conceiveth that the rayle set up lately in the Parish-church of Ware with the bench affixed is such an one And I do further confesse that I was much to blame for opposing the same and do promise from henceforth never by word or deed to oppose either that or any other the laudable rites and ceremonies prescribed and commanded to be used in the Church of England Charles Chauncey Which submission being thus as aforesaid read and subscribed by the said Master Chauncey his Counsell moved that he might be dismissed but the Counsell for the Office desired that the said M. Chauncey might here receive w judiciall admonition which the Court conceiving very fit and requisite the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in the name of the whole Court did now judicially admonish the said Charles Chauncey from henceforth to carry himself peaceably and conformably to the doctrine and discipline rites and ceremonies established and commanded to be used in the Church of England and neither by word nor deed to oppose or bring into disesteem any of them with this intimation That in case he were convented againe for any opposition or refractorinesse touching the premises that the Court intended to proceed against him with all severity and with this admonition the Court dismissed him the said M. Chauncey from any further attendance touching this cause he first paying the charges of suit taxed against him and the fees of his dismission These two leading cases and censures in the High-commissions at York and Lambeth seconded with this enforced submission struck such a terror into most Ministers and Churchwardens in those parts that few or none durst oppose those Innovations and gave such encouragement to the Prelates and popish Clergie that they proceeded vigorously in the pressing introducing of them every where and if any man durst oppose or vary from their injunctions they were presently brought into the High-commission and there proceeded against with utmost rigour This was manifested by the case of Mr. Miles Burkitt one of the Vicars of Pateshall in Northamptonshire who for delivering the Sacrament only to some who refused out of conscience to come up to the new Rayle and removing the Communion Table at the Sacrament time into the midst of the Chancell without the rayle according to the very Letter of Queen Elizabeths Injunctions and the 82 Canon was apprehended by a Pursevant in the Year 1638 and thus Articled against in the High-commission at Lambeth by Sir John Lambes and the Archbishops meanes among whose papers his Articles were found and read at the Lords Barre being attested by Master Prynne Inprimis we Article and object to you the said Miles Burkitt that you doe not bow at the Name of JESUS in time of Divine Service Item we Article and object that you the said Miles Burkitt being enjoyned by the Ordinary or his Surrogates officiate for him to keep within the rayles at the ministring of the Sacrament and to give the Sacrament to none that will not come up to the rayles he the
and Metropolitan of all England concerning Orders to be observed by all the Bishops of that Province To the severall Articles of which Jnstructions I Matthew Lord Bishop of Norwich thus humbly make Answer and in Order VVe finde this observable Answer given To the 12. Article That upon enquiry at my Visitation whether the Kings Majesties Declaration for lawfull sports had beene published I found it had not beene done in very many places of the Diocesse having therefore about 60. Bookes at hand I caused them to bee proposed to such persons as I had most doubt of but many of them refused to publish the same and were suspended for their refusall yet divers of them presently promised conformity and so were absolved So that now in the whole Diocesse consisting of about 1500. Clergie men there are not passing twice 15. Excommunicated or suspended whereof some so stand for contumacie in not appearing at the Visitation and Synod and still refuse to submit some for obstinate denying to publish the Kings Declaration By the Title and answer of which it is most evident That the Archbish sent severall Articles of Instructions in his Majesties name though made by himselfe to all the Bishops of his Province who were to return an Annuall account of them unto him in writing whereof this was one That they should inquire whether the Declaration for sports had beene published in every parish Church by the Minister and directed them to excommunicate or suspend all such who refused to read it Which how barbarously and unchristianly it was executed in most places needs no further evidence then that already produced and what all men know Now wee appeale to all Ecclesiasticall Histories from Christs Nativity till this instant whether there was ever such a monstrous impiety or persecution as this heard of in the Christian world that Archbishops and Bishops who professe themselves the very Fathers of the Church and Pillars of Religion should thus impiously First of all abuse a Christian Prince so farre as to publish a Declaration for the free use and encouragement of such sports and Pastimes on the Lords-Day as are some of them unlawfull on any day and constantly prohibited condemned by Fathers Councells Imperiall Lawes Edicts of most Christian Emperors Kings Princes States and the whole torrent of Christian Writers as altogether unsufferable on the Lords Day Secondly to injoyne Bookes expresly tending to the prophanation of the Lords day by sports and pastimes to be publikely read in Churches by the Ministers to their Congregations on this very day to encourage authorize them though over-prone thereto without any such instigation to prophane it 3. To suspend sequester excommunicate censure persecute deprive even hundreds of Godly Ministers as capitall Offenders for refusing meerely out of Conscience towards God and love to their owne and peoples soules to contribute their voyces or personal assistances to such a publication and against all Law Justice Piety to silence Ministers three or foure yeares together from preaching Gods Word to their people for the salvation of their soules according to their duties because they durst not publish this Declaration for Lords-Day sports unto them to further the damnation of their soules both against their duties and consciences Such a Monster of most desperate unparalled impiety profanenesse persecution as this was never borne in the Christian world till this Ghostly Father Archbishop Laud begot and nourished it in our Church for which how well hee demerited the Popes Titles of YOUR HOLINES and MOST HOLY FATHER let the Vniversity of Oxford and Mr. Croxton seriously consider who bestowed them on him severall times Doubtlesse his more then Popish superstition in Consecrating Churches Church-Yards Chappell 's and prohibiting all prophannations of them by Enterludes Dancing Musters Leets teaching of Schollers and the like might have lessoned him to have beene as zealous against prophaning Sacred dayes as places with unholie Pastimes or secular Negotiations But because the Lords-Day Sabbath was not hallowed by Bishops themselves as Churches Chappell 's or Church-Yards were according to the Modell of the Roman Pontificall but by Christ and his Apostles who never authorized Bishops or any else to Consecrate Churches or other places in this sort they presume to authorize men thus openly to prophane the one without check or punishment but not the other under the severest Anathema Maranatha Enough eternally to stigmatize this Arch-Prelate with the blackest brand of Arrogancy and Impiety who made but a meere sport of prophaning Gods owne day with sports and silencing Godly Ministers for not being so prophane in this kinde as himselfe was who used to play at bowles on this very day a pretty Archipiscopall Sabbath Recreation or so prophane as he would have them to be against the dictate of their owne Consciences We have given you in a very full and copious evidence of the Archbishops endeavours practises to subvert our established Protestant Religion and usher in Popery among us by introducing severall Popish Innovations superstitious Ceremonies Idolatrous impieties practises and prophanations into our Church being all meere matters of fact notoriously visible to the world and eyes of all men We shal now proceed in the second place to discover his atempts and manifest his proceedings in this kinde by bringing in Popish Tenents and doctrines by degrees wherein we shall so fully uncase this Romish Fox as notwithstanding all his shifts and subterfuges to evidence him the most Pestilent Jesuiticall underminer subverter of the established doctrines of the Church of England the Archest advancer of the Erroneous Positions of the Church of Rome that ever breathed in our English Ayre And here we meet not onely with a Narrow Episcopall See but vast boundlesse Ocean of evidence to saile in That there hath bin for many yeares last past a secret plotted Conspiracy and serious endeavour between sundry pretended members of the Church of England and reall Sonnes of the Church of Rome to extirpate the Protestant Religion and instead therof to set up Popish superstition and Idolatry hath beene already abundantly manifested to the World in A necessary Introduction to the History of the Archbishop of Canterbury his Tryall by sundry forraigne and domestick evidences how farre this Archbishop was an Arch-agent in promoting this conspiracie in point of Doctrinall Popery and by what Jesuiticall Policies and degrees he proceeded in it comes now in Order to bee proved wherein wee shall steare the course of our evidence according to the compasse and method of his proceedings It is the common Policy of all wise experienced Commanders when they intend to undermine any strong well-fortified defensible Fortresse not desperately to begin their Mines at the very foundation of the Workes at first for feare of discovery danger prevention but at a competent distance and then to make their approaches by insensible degrees till at last they have undermined or blowne up the very Walls and Workes themselves The selfe-same Policy was used by
this Arch-Roman Ingineer to undermine and blow up our established Religion Hee had learnt from Abbot Bernard A minimis incipiunt qui in maxima proruunt and from Chrysostome Id certè moris est apud haereticos ut adumbrant seipsos occultent in principijs quousque majorem fiduciam capeant quodam favore multitudinis juventur tunc contagiosa sua venena intrepide effundunt Wherefore he began his mines at some seeming distance and set blindes before them to prevent discovery To this purpose combining with the Jesuites prosecuting their very method to ruine our Religion he first bent all his force industry to introduce Arminianisme the most plausible lesse discernible Doctrinall part of Popery yet a ready Jesuiticall Posterne to let in all the rest and that under a specious pretence of opposing Puritanisme and Puritans onely against whom he laboured to engage some Prelates and the Duke of Buckingham first then next His Majestie This practise of his he began in Oxford in a Sermon preached by him on Shrove-Sunday Anno 1614. for which he was then publikely though not by name taxed by Learned Dr. Robert Abbot Dr. of the Chaire in Oxford in his Sermon all Saint Peters on Easter day 1615. as appeares by a †Letter and Notes of this Sermon under his own hand sent by him to the then Bishop of Lincoln his great Patron viz. That men under pretence of truth preaching against the Puritans strike at the heart and root of Faith and Religion now established among us That this preaching against the Puritans was but the practise of Persons and Campions Councell when they came into England to seduce young Students And when many of them were afraid to loose their places if they should professedly be thus the councell they then gave them was that they should speake freely against the Puritans and that should suffice And they cannot intend that they are accounted Papists because they speak against the Puritans but because THEY INDEED ARE PAPISTS they speake nothing against them If they do at any time speake against the Papists they do beat a little upon the bush that softly too for feare of troubling or disquieting the Birds which are in it They speake of nothing but that in which one Papist will speake against another as against Aequivocation the Popes temporall Authority and the like and perhaps against some of their Blasphemous speeches But in the point of Free-will Justification Concupiscens being sinne after Baptisme Inhaerent Righteousnesse and certainty of Salvation c. wherein Papists and Arminians concurre the Papists beyond the Seas can say They ARE WHOLLY THEIRS and the Recusants at home make their braggs of them And in all things they keepe themselves so neare the brinke that upon any occasion they may step over to them c. From this Passage of Doctor Abbot which Laud then confessed in his Letter the whole Vniversity applyed unto him as himselfe did too you may readily guesse both at his Popish Innovations and practises in the Vniversity of Oxf. in those dayes which he hath continued ever since After this we find him taking special notice of Dr. Prideaux his questions against the Arminiaus found in his Study thus endorsed with his own hand An. 1617. Questions given to be disputed of at Exeter Colledge of Oxon by Doctor Prideaux Rector and at that time appointed to Answer Barkleyes Parenesis Questiones Arminianae An. 1 1. Paulus ad Rom. cap. 7. loquatur in sua Persona de serenato Af. 2. Analysis Arminij 9. cap ad Rom. sit probanda Neg. 2. 1. Praevisio fidelitatis infidelitatis praecedat aeternum decretum praedestinationis N. 2. Objectum Electionis sit fidelis ad finem perseveraturus N. 3. 1. Justicia originalis Adamo fuerit ante lapsum naturalis A. 2. Lapsus Adami diverso respectu dici possit necessarius contingens A. 4. 1. Peccatum Originale infantes sine actualibus peccatis morientes condemnet A. 2. Homo post lapsum retinuer it liberum arbitrium ad bonum N. 5. 1. Ponenda sit in Deo scientia media de futuris conditionatis ascientia simplicis intelligentiae visionis distincta N. 2. Facienti quod in se est ex naturae viribus dentur infallibiter auxilia ad salutem necessaria N. 6. 1. Gratia sufficiens ad salutem concedatur omnibus N. 2. Gratia regenerationis sit resistibilis N. 7. 1. To Credere sine meritorum Christi imputatione nos justificet N. 2. Aliquis possit à fide penitus excidere N. 8. 1. Renatus possit debeat esse certus de sua salute A. 2. Fideles possint in hac vita vivere sine peccato N. 9. 1. Deus author peccati statuatur ex sententia Orthodoxorum de praedestinatione 2. Arminianismus sit merè Semi-Pelagianismus A These questione it seemes did much displease him as crossing his Jesuiticall design of propagating Arminianisme Besides we find in his own Diary these Passages under his own hand in pursuance of this designe Dec. 23. 1624. The same day I delivered my L. Duke of Bucking a little tract ABOVT DOCTRINALL PVRJTANISME in some ten Heades which his Grace had spoken to me that I would draw for him that he might be acquainted with them in which he branded the Anti-Arminian Tenets for Doctrinall Puritanisme that so the Arminian might be imbraced as Orthodox Immediatly after King Iames his death a bitter Eenemy to the Arminians whom he branded with the titles of Atheisticall Sectaries and pestilent Heriticks who dare take upon them that Licentious Liberty to fetch againe from Hell the ancient Heresies long since condemned or else to invent new of their owne braine contrary to the beliefe of the true Catholick Church Bishop Laud to ingage the King and Duke against the Anti-Arminians under the title of Putitans and ingratiate the Arminians in their favour under the Title of Orkthodox Divines presented the Duke with a Catalogne of the names of Clergy men who were Orthodox to wit Arminians and who Putitans which he thus expresseth in his Diary Aprill 5. 1625. Die Martis Schedulam exhibui Duci Buckinghamiae in qua Nomina er ant omnium Ecclesiasticorum sub literis O. P. that is Orthodox and Puritans Nomina ut sic digererem jussit ipse Dux Buckinghamiae traditurus ea ut dixit Regi Carolo. Within foure dayes after the Duke of Buckingham sent this Prelate to Bishop Andrews to consult about the 5. Arminian Articles condemned in the Synod of Dort to promote and propagate them in our Church and to returne his Answer to him as is cleare by these Passages in his Diary written with his owne hand April 9. 1625. Eodem die in mandatis accepiut Rever Episc Winton adirem quid velit in causa Ecclesiae sciscitarem Responsum referem PRAECIPVE IN 5. ARTICVLIS c. April 10. die Solis post concionem finitam adij Episcopum que tum
conteine The Coppy of an Answer unto a certaine Letter wherein the Answerer purgeth himselfe and others from Pelagius Errors and from the Error of Free-will or Justification of Workes wherewith he seemed to bee charged by the said Letter And further hee sheweth wherein he differeth in judgment from certaine English Writers and Preachers whom hee chargeth with teaching false doctrine under the name of Predestination This Treatise writes he was published about the second or third yeare of Queene Elizabeth by a Protestant Divine who florished both in the time of King Edward and Queene Elizabeth and in the time of Queene Mary for his Conscience endured voluntary exil but he names not the Author in particular nor produceth any warrant for this Encomium of him The residue of the Booke are some mistaken perverted fragments called out of Bishop Hoopers Preface upon the Commandements and Father Latymers Sermons concerning which Booke Master Prynne gave in this evidence upon his Oath That it was the greatest affront and imposture ever offered to or put upon the Church of England in any age deserving the highest Censure of the first discovery whereof God made him the only Instrument For as soone as this Book was printed one Coppy of it was brought him by a Friend who informed him that it was licensed by Master Martin the Bishops Arminian Chaplaine that the Bishop himselfe had given order the Booke should not be published till he had presented one of them to the King and gained his Royall approbation thereunto That a day or two after the Booke was published by the Bishops direction One Copy whereof comming to the late learned Sir Humfrey Linds hands he was very much troubled thereat upon its perusall whereupon hee repaired to Master Prynne at Lincolnes-Iaue with the Booke desiring him to take some paines to give a speedy answer to it being as he averred a most dangerous Book making more for the spreading and justifying of Arminianisme then any Booke formerly published To which Master Prynne replyed that he had no leisure and lesse encouragement to answer it being then just before vexed in the High Commission for his Perpetuity and other of his Bookes written against Arminians Wherefore Sir Humfrey himselfe who had more leisure friends and abilities then himselfe might doe well to returne an answer to it Who thereupon replyed to Master Prynne that none was so fit to answer it as himselfe who had perused more ancient English Writers and was better versed in them then any man he knew Whereunto Master Prynne rejoyned That he conceaved there was no need at all for himselfe or any man else to answer this booke for that there were two answers to it already in print To which Sir Humfrey replyed it was impossible for that this Book came forth but that morning unto which Mr. Pryn answered that the greatest part and maine substance of this Narration was answered Verbatim in two printed Books long before either of them was born and to give him fall satisfaction therein hee shewed him two printed answers thereunto and discovered the whole Imposture to him in that manner as he related it at the Lords Barre First he produced to him now to the Lords the Originall printed Copy of the foresaid answer made unto a certaine Letter c. which had all the symptoms of an unlicensed Pamphlet there being neither Authors nor Printers name nor place where nor yeare when it was printed to be found in the Title or any other part of the Book nor the least mention where or by whom it was to be sold Therefore it was doubtlesse printed by stealth in a Corner and not by any publike allowance its entry not being extant in the Stationers-Hall Next he produced two ancient answers in print to this pernicious Pamphlet The first of them written by Iohn Veron a very learned man Chaplaine to Queene Elizabeth and Divinity Lecturer in the Cathedrall of Pauls in the beginning of her Raigne to whom he Dedicated his answer to this Pamphlet Imprinted at London by John Tysdale by publike authority In which answer intituled An Apologie or Defence of the Doctrine of Predestination set fort by the Queens Highnesse her most humble and obedient servant John Veron and Dedicated to her Majestie wee have the name of the namelesse Author of this Arminian Pamphlet the occasion of compiling it and the quality of the Author expressed to the full together with a compleat answer therunto The Authors name is therein averred to be one Champeneyes f. 20. 31. 37. 40. 41. 42. His condition and quality is therein thus expressed f. 16. But in this I comfort my selfe that his tongue is known to be no slander For the like did hee most proudly attempt in your most Gratious Brother good King Edward the sixths dayes AGAINST ALL THE GODLY PREACHERS OF THAT TIME calling them marked Monsters of Anti-Christ and men voyd of the Spirit of God for none be they never so Godly never so earnest and faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard have the Spirit of God or doe know the efficacy of it but he only as many godly persons be able to testifie to his face that he did therefore and for MANT OTHER ABOMINABLE ERRORS which he then stoutly maintained BEARE AT THAT TIME A FAGGOT AT PAVLS CROSSE Father Coverdale making then the Sermon there Belike fearing now the like punishment and that he should be compelled to revoke his Pelagian-like opinion hee durst not for all his proud boast set his owne name to his rayling and venemous bookes nor yet suffer them to be sold openly or publikly in the Booke-binders shops but cowardously suppressing both his owne name and the name of the unwise and foolish Printer got the whole Impression into his hands that so he might in hugger-mugger send them unto his privie friends abroad whom be like he suspected to be of his Affinity and damnable opinion How be it this could not be wrought so privily but that within a while some of his bookes came into my hands whereby shortly after the Printer was knowne and brought to his Answer whom this stout Champion of Pelagius hath left in the bryars and least he himselfe should be faine to shew a reason of his Doctrine doth keepe himselfe out of the way still and dares not once shew his face If he be able to maintaine his Doctrine against my booke to let him come forth and play the man I am ready at all times to yeeld unto the truth and unto the sincere teachers thereof After this f. 20. he stiles Champenyes The blinde guide of the freewill men f. 37. Champenyes a very Pelagian and consequently a ranke Papist p. 40. hee suffereth the Divell by such Sectaries as Champenyes is to sow his lyes abroad c. And f. 41. Champenyes is the Standard-bearer of the freewill men What an abominable Imposture was it then for this new Pamphleter to stile him A Protestant Divine who flourished
in the time of K. Edward and Q. Elizabeth and in the time of Q. Mary for his conscience endured voluntary exile And to place him in the front of the most learned and Godly English Bishops holy Martyrs and others that suffered Martyrdome in the daies of Q. Mary for the truth and Gospell of Christ Jesus in which number he is Registred in the Title Page and placed before Bishop Hooper and Father Latymer in the Book it selfe The occasion of writing this unlicenced obscure Pamphlet was as followeth Iohn Veron being Divinity Lecturer in Paules Cathedrall in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth handled the Doctrine of Predestination and other incident Points thereto belonging in direct opposition the Popish Pelagian and now Arminian Tenets which Lectures he soone after published in Print and dedicated to Q. Elizabeth in a booke intituled A Fruitfull Treatise of Predestination c. Printed at London for JOHN TYLDALE about the second yeare of Queene Elizabeths Raigne against which Lectures this Champnyes taking some exceptions published this Anonimous Answer by way of a Letter which Veron soone after answered almost verbatim in his authorized Apology dedicated to the Queen whereto Champeneys never replyed After which this Letter was largly answered word for word from the very Title page to the end thereof in a Book Intituled An Apology or Defence of the English Writers and Preachers with Cerberus the Three-Headed Dogge of Hell chargeth with false Doctrine under the name of Predestination written by Robert Crowley Clerke a fugitive for Religion in Queene Maries dayes and an eminent laborious Preacher in those times Vicar of Saint Giles without Criplegate in London Imprinted at London in Pater-Noster-Rowe at the signe of the Starre by Henry Denham Anno 1566. Octob. 14. Seene and allowed according to the order appointed In which booke this Pamphlet which the Bishop and his Agents now obtrude upon us as the received Doctrine of our prime Martyrs and of the Church of England in King Edward the 6th and Queene Elizabeths Reignes was by publique Authority in the name of all the Orthodox Writers and Preachers of England refuted as directly contrary to the received Doctrine of our Martyres Writers Preachers Church and censured as Pelagiau and Popish in both these ancient printed Answers It must needs therefore be an inexpiable insufferable abuse in this Archbishop and his Instruments thus to revive reprint this exploded Erronious Arminian Treatise in the yeare 1631 and obtrude it on us as the received Doctrine of our Martyrs and Church of England in the beginning of Reformation whereas there was nothing lesse on purpose to propagate his Arminian Errors and strengthen that lesuiticall faction After this Mr. Prynne produced Bishop Hoopers Confession and Protestation of his faith made to the whole Parliament An. 1550. in King Edwards dayes His comfortable Exposition upon the Psalmes London 1580. his Articles upon the Creed London 1584. Artic. 3. to 15. 17. 21. 25. 29. 30. 33. 36. 38. to 56 62. 67. 68. 91. to 99. wherein he expresly in terminis refutes those Arminian opinions which this our Author wold wrest out of the words of his Preface to the Commandements contrary to his intention together with divers Passages in Father Latimers Sermons expresly against the Arminian Tenets which explicate his other misapplyed Clauses in the Hystoricall Naration All which Mr. Pryn then shewed to Sir Humfry Lynde to his great satisfaction then desired him to repaire to Bishop Laud in his name to acquaint him with the premises and this desperate Imposture he had obtruded on our Church to his eternall Infamie and thereupon to advise him speedily to call in and burne this dangerous seducing booke or else he would prosecute him to the uttermost for this abuse Sir Humfry accordingly acquainted the Bishop his Chaplin Martin herewith but yet they took no course to suppresse the Booke whereupon Mr Prynne repaired to Lambheth to Archbishop Abbot acquainted him with the execrablenesse of this imposture shewed him the severall old Answers to this new printed Pamphlet with the expresse positions of Bishop Hooper and Bishop Latymer contrary to those imputed to them in this Narration desiring him to call in this dangerous Historicall Narration with all severity and to cause it to be publikely burnt to reprint the old Answers to it and withall to give him leave to prosecute Bishop Laud his Chaplaine Martin with the publisher of this book in the high Commission for this insufferable abuse To which Archb. Abbot gave this answer that this booke did very much trouble him that he had sent to Bishop Laud about it who at first denied that his Chaplain licensed it but afterwards acknowledged it that he gave order to call it in but it was in a privat manner after most of the bookes vâ—nded that he never saw nor knew of these 2. old Answers to it therefore desired Mr. Pryn to leave them with him for a time promising faithfully to restore them and to give him an accompt of this businesse on the Saturday following In the meane time Mr. Prynne because this booke had done much harme in both the Vniversities sent downe some of these Answers of Veron and Crowly with some of Bishop Hoopers books to Oxf. Cambridg to some of his acquaintance there and to the Vniversity Lybrary at Oxford whither many resorted to peruse them to their great satisfaction and the Bishops dishonour by discovering this imposture to them On Saturday being Easter Eve Master Prynne repayred to Archbishop Ahbot for an Answer who told him that he had called in this offencive book seized on som of the copies which were caried into Stationers-hall that Bishop Laud had since been with him that he had shewed him the bookes there left who confessed his Chaplin Martÿn had licenced this Narration in which he had done very ill but he had given him such a ratling for his paines that hee would warrant His Grace hee should never meddle with Arminian Bookes or Opinions more To which Mr. Prynne replyed that indeed he had ratled him to very great purpose for no longer then yesterday in the afternoone his Chapline Martin Preaching the Passion Sermon at Paules Crosse publikly broached maintained Vniversall grace and Redemption with all the Arminian Errors contained in this Book and condemned in the Synol of Dort to the great offence of the Auditors as his owne Chaplains Dr. Buckner Master Austen and Dr. Featley could at large informe him and therefore the Bishop did most grosly abuse his Grace herein who should doe well to proceed against both of them and publikly censure them in the High-Commission or this grosse practise to the end the whole Kingdome might take notice of it and the Arminian party be thereby discouraged That the Bookes they had seized were but few the greatest part of the Impression being vented they were called in so slighty and in so private a manner that few or none took notice thereof and
therefore some publike censure ought to passe upon them the Books thus seized to be openly burnt else they would in a few monthes be sold openly againe to corrupt the people and no satisfaction at all given for this foule offence to the Church of England which Archbishop Abbot confessed to be true and said he would take some Order in it but by this Bishops power there was nothing more done against the Licenser Compiler or Booke which soone after was as publikely sold as if it had neverbeene called in to the perverting of many in their judgments who knew not of this grand Imposture now publikly discovered at the Lords Barre by all the forementioned books themselves there produced and the testimony of Master Prynne upon Oath seconded by the Stationers booke of entries and the testimonies of Master Sparke and Master Walley Doctor Martin for this good service was presently after by this Bishop advanced to a great living and likewise to the headship of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge instead of other punishment Master Prynne for his paines in derecting this fraudulent dealing of the Bishop and his Chaplaine by way of revenge was soone after by this Bishops meanes imprisoned in the Tower and most severely censured in the Starre-Chamber for his Booke called Histrianastix though Licensed by Authority in which he made some mention of this imposture concealed from the most so fatall was it in those times for any man out of Conscience or publike ends to oppose the Bishops Arminian designes such a Stirrop to mount up to preferments to advance them After this the Archbishops Chaplaine Doctor Haywood on the 26. of August 1634 licensed Booke intituled Collectiones Theologica writ by Thomas Chune and Dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury himselfe in which hee justified the Arminian Errors and the Church of Rome to be a true Church whereof there were two Impressions in one yeare yet neither the Author nor Booke once questioned though publikely complained of by Doctor Bastwicke at his Censure in the High-Commission where the Archb. openly justified it In the yeares 1636. and 1639. the Arminian Errors were defended by Bishop Mountague in print in his Pars. 1. 2. Originum Ecclesiasticarum Gods Love to mankinde and by sundry others without controle On the contrary Doctor Twisse his Booke in answer of Arminius though writ in Latine was refused License by the Bishop and his Arminian Chaplaines Bray and Baker and his answers to Doctor Jackson and the Arminian Pamphlet intituled Gods love to Mankind suppressed some Lectures of Bish Davenant and Sermons of Doctor Clerke against the Arminians were likewise stopped at the Presse and not suffered to be printed with their other Lectures and Sermons What Bookes against Mountague and the Arminians were called in suppressed and the Authors Printers Dispersers of them severely prosecuted in the High-Commission in the Yeares 1628. and 1629 Wee have already evidenced Only wee shall informe you or one or two Presidents more of later date Doctor George Downham Bishop of Derry in Ireland publishing a Booke in that Kingdome against the Arminians and the Totall and finall Apostacie of the Saints from Grace about the Yeare 1630. Some of them comming over into England Bishop Laud caused a strict Letter to be written in his Majesties name to Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury for the calling in and suppressing it within the Realme of England where it was accordingly seized on and another Letter to Doctor Vsher Archbishop of Armagh for the suppressing and seizing thereof in the Realme of Ireland Which was manifested by the Docket Booke in the signet Office where entreyes of those Letters are made in Aug. 1631. and by this Letter of Bishop Vsher to Bishop Laud found in his study at Lambheth indorsed with his owne hand and arrested by Master Prynne which fully discovers that hee was the sole or principall occasion of his Majestices Letters for calling in this Booke which hee seconded with his owne Letter to Bishop Vsher for that purpose who returned this answer to him My most honoured Lord THe 8th of October I received your Letters of the 22. of August c. The last part of your Lordships Letter concerneth the Bishop of Derryes Book for the calling in whereof the 15th day of October I received His Majesties Letters dated at Woodstocke the 24. of August whereupon I presently sent out warrants and caused all the Bookes that were left unsent into England to be seized upon What did passe heretofore in the Presse at Dublin I had no eye unto because it was out of my province and the care J supposed did more properly belong unto my brother of Dublin But seeing His Majestic hath been pleased to impose that charge upon me I will God willing take order that nothing hereafter shall be published contrary unto His Majesties sacred direction It seemeth Your Lordship did conceive that my Lord of Derryes booke came out since the Historie of Gotteschalchus whereas it was published above halfe a yeare before whereby it came to passe that all the Coppies almost both in Ireland and England were dispersed before the Prohibition came forth The matter is not new as Your Lordship hath rightly observed but was long since preached in Saint Pauls Church when Doctor Bancroft was your Lordships Predecessour in that See at which time the Treatise of Perseverance was to have beene published with Doctor Downams Lectures upon the 15th Psalme at as the very end of that Booke is partly intimated And in the History of Gotteschalchus Your Lordship may see your owne observation fully verefied that after Prelates had written against Prelates and Synods against Synods these things could have no end untill both sides became weary of contending But sure I am I have made Your Lordship weary longere this and therefore it is high time now to end Therefore craving pardon for that prolixitie I humbly take leave and rest Your Honours faithfull Servant Iace Armachanus Droghe da Novemb. 8. 1631. By this Letter it is apparent that this Prelate whiles Bishop of London exercised a kind of Patriarchicall Jurisdiction for suppressing all Orthodox Bookes against the Arminians both in England and Ireland and that his commands in this kinde were punctually executed by those Archbishops in both Kingdomes who should have most stoutly opposed his Arminian Innovations About the Palsgraves first comming into Engl. An. 1635. there was a Book printed intituled the Palsgraves Religion containing the sum of the Religion professed in the Palatinate Churches translated out of a printed Latine Coppy which Archbishop Laud caused to bee strictly called in and suppressed only because it glanced at the Arminian Errors and bowing at the Name of JESUS as not warranted by Phil. 29. 10. which was proved by the testimonies of Master Prynne Michaell Sparke Senior and others What policies besides the forementioned Royall Declaration and Proclamation this Arch-Prelate contrived and practised to suppresse all preaching against Armianisme in the
Lord Bishop of Exeter signifying His Majesties pleasure that in case the said Thomas Foard should be elected to the said Lectureship or procure the said Advowson he doe not give any approbation thereof procured ut supra dated 12. Septem 1631. These Letters were drawne by the Bishops owne direction not by the Secretary of State or Clarkes of the Signet being not entred at large in the Letter Signet Booke but only this note of them entred in the Docquet Booke by which his implacable transcendent malice appeared against the opposites to Arminianisme that not satisfied with their unjust banishment out of Oxford he endeavoured by indirect means to hinder them from Ecclesiasticall preferments in the Church whereas hee advanced those of the Arminian faction to places of highest eminency in the Church as wee shall manifest in due season After these severe proceedings against these Anti-Arminians in the Vniversitie the Arminians there grew very numerous insolent few or none dating to oppose them but Doctor Prideaux with two or three more in some passages in their Sermons for which they were presently questioned by the Arminian Faction and enjoyned publike Recantations witnesse the Recantation of William Hobbes Fellow of Trinitio Colledge the 25. of January 1632. for preaching against falling from Grace contrary to the intent and purpose of His Majesties Declaration in a Sermon on a Tuesday at St. Maries Recorded in the Oxford Register f. 54 The Recantation of Master Thomas Cooke of Brase-Nose the 19th of July 1634. for using some passages in a Latine Sermon in Saint Maries which by consequence might imply connivency and partiality in the Vice-Chancellour Doctor Duppa towards some of the Arminian party that had violated the Kings Edicts concerning such points of controversie as are forbidden Registred in the Vniversity Register pag. 90. with the convention and submission of Master Kichard Kilby of Lincolne Colledge before Doctor Bayley Vice-Chancellour and others March 13. 1637. for reviving some controversies concerning Arminianisme contrary to His Majesties Declaration entred in the Vniversitie Register fol. 152. About September 1632. there were some Satyricall Verses scattered abroad in Oxford against the Arminians thus intituled The Academicall Army of Epidemicall Arminians To the tune of the Souldieur wherein Doctor Corbet Doctor Duppa Doctor Iackeson Doctor Marsh Doctor Turner with others of the Arminian faction were mentioned and Bishop Laud as their Generall who receiving a Coppie of them December 19. 1632. writ this endorsment on it Oxford Libell against such as they will needs call Arminians Who were all backed by Bishop Laud their grand Patron and preferred to the highest Ecclesiasticall preferments How the Arminian party prevailed in the Vniversitie of Cambridge by this Arch-Prelates abetment so farre as to procure Barrets Recantation of the Arminian Tenets solemnly made in that Vniversity in 37. of Q. Elizabeths Raigne and then printed to be rased out of the Vniversity Register where it was Recorded and to prosecute Mr. Bernard whom he caused to be censured ruined in the High-Commission for preaching against the increase of Popery and Arminianisme of which hereafter is so well knowne to most that wee shall not insist upon it most of the heads of Houses there as Doctor Brookes Doctor Beale Doctor Martin Doctor Paske Doctor Cosens Doctor Lany c being professed Arminians and this Archbishops Creatures to prosecute his designes How diligent the Bishops were by colour of His Majesties Declarations and Instructions to suppresse all preaching against all Arminianisme in their Diocesse by this Arch-Prelates instigation will appeare by their printed Visitation Articles for this purpose particularly by the Articles of enquiry and direction for the Diocesse of Norwich in the first Visitation of Rich. Mountague Bishop of that Diocesse An. Dom. 1638 Tit. 5. Artic. 22. in Church-Wardens Doth your Minister commonly or of set purpose in his populer Sermons full upon those much disputed and little understood doctrines of Gods eternall Predestination of Election antecedaneous of Reprobation irrespective without sinne foreseene of Freewill of Perseverance and not falling from Grace points obscure unfoldable unfoordable untractable at which that great Apostle stood at gaze with Oh the height and depth of the riches of the Wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11. 33. By the Archbishops Injunctions prescribed to them in His Majesties Name whereof this was one That they should take speciall care that no Minister nor Lecturer in their Diocesse should preach upon the prohibited controverted points contrary to His Majesties Declarations and Instructions and that they should give an yearely account to the Archbishop of their proceedings herein which they did accordingly By meanes whereof the Arminian Errors were freely vented in all Diocesses without any publike opposition and those who out of zeale to truth durst open their mouthes to refuse them were silenced suspended and brought into the High Commission by this Archbishops practise to their undoing whiles the Arminians on the contrary had free liberty to broach their Erronious Tenets without controle and were advanced to the greatest benefices and Ecclesiasticall Dignities Besides this Arch-prelate not satisfied with propagating these dangerous Arminian Novelties throughout the Realme of England endeavoured to infect by degrees the whole Church of Irel therewith To which end he not only caused Bishop Downehams book of perseverance there printed against the Arminians to be suppressed as you heard before but the very Articles of the Church of Ireland made in a full Nationall Synod and Convocation held at Dubline 1615. and ratified by King Iames wherein all the Arminian Errors are terminis terminantibus condemned as Erronious to be repealed the L. Deputy Wentworth by high hand being but the Archbishops instrument herein enforcing the Convocation at Dublin An 1634. by sundry threatning Messages full fore against their wills to condescend to the repealing of them under pretext of establishing the 39. Articles of the Church of England comprised in the former for the only Articles of that Church for Vnity and Vniformity sake as was attested by Dr. Hoyle a Member of that Irish Convocation at the Lords Ear long since published in print with the Archbishops privity if not command by Dr. Heylin in his History of the Sabbath Part. 2. chap. 8. sect 9. pag. 259. in these very tearmes And here unto they were encouraged a great deale the rather because in Ireland what time his Majesties Commissioners were employed about the settling of that Church Anno 1615. there passed an Article which much confirmed them in their courses and hath been often since alleaged to justifie both them and their proceedings the Article is this The first day of the weeke which is the Lords Day is wholy to be dedicated to the service of God and therefore we are bound therein to rest from our common and daily businesse and to bestow that leasure upon holy exercises both private publique What moved
acquitted by the Court. 3ly That when he could not have his will of this innocent Gentleman one way he meditared present revenge another way proclamed it in open Court charging him with raising a Faction in the High-Commission Court when as his fellow Commissioners would not concur with him in his Factious prosecution to gratifie the Papists 4ly That hee bare an extraordinary affection to Popish but an extreame inveterate malice to true Protestant Saints and Martyers because hee was so farre incensed against Mr. Gillibrand and his Almanacke onely for omitting the names of false Popish Saints and Martyres and placing the names of our reall Protestant Martyres in their stead the truth whereof was then further manifested at the Bar by a memorable Passage in Doctor John Pocklingtons Altare Christianum licenced by Doctor Bray the Archbishops owne houshold Chaplaine as appeares by the printed Approbation prefixed to it and perused by the Archbishop himselfe who ordered it to be printed of which booke there being two editions Mr Pryn found both of them curiously guilded and bound up in the Archbishops Study at Lambheth in both of which this Passage remained uncorrected unexpunged wherein the Calender before the Booke of Martyres which Mr. Gellibrand imitated with our Godly Martyres are most grosly railed against censured traduced as Traytors Murderers Rebells Heretickes and the Popish Saints in whose places they were inserted proclaimed to be the holy Martyres and Confessors of Iesus Christ whose names are written in heaven in these very tearmes which you may find in the first Edition Pag. 92. and Edit 2. Pag. 114. This was the holy and profitable use of these Diptickes much like the List of persons CENSVRED BY HOLY CHVRCH called WITH SOME REPROACH OF TRVTH AND CHRISTIAN RELIGION Catalogus testium Veritatis collected into one volume by Flacius Illericus and enlarged since by others And as unlike a KALENDER that I have seene to wit that before Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments wherein THE HOLY MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS OF JESVS CHRJST who had not only place sometimes in these Dipticks but WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN ARE RASED OVT AND TRAITORS MVRDERERS REBELS AND HERETICKS SET IN THEIR ROOMES so as if Penry Hacket or Legat had come in time they might have challenged as orient and scarlet a dye as some of them Certainly more venome and malice could never have beene couched or Vented in fewer words against Mr. Fox his authorized Kalender to his Acts Monuments against our own English Martyres the Professors of the Protestant Religion in all ages so by consequence against our Religion it selfe then is comprised vented in these lines twice published in print in these Editions by this Arch-Prelates his Chaplaines speciall approbation without the least retractation of purpose to please the Popish party offended with Mr. Gellebrands Almanacke which this Bishop would have Martyred and burned for an Hereticke as our Martyres were to gratifie the Popish party much offended at it by which the whole World may clearely discerne his strong inclination his cordiall affection to them and their his palpable disaffection to us and our Religion We shall now proceed to other evidence About the latter end of the yeare 1636. Master Prynne being certainly informed of the Archbishops intention to procure a Decree in Starchamber prohibiting the reprinting of all old Bookes of Divinity unlesse they were first reviewed purged new Licenced by his Chaplaines or Agents before this Decree was ratified sent for Michael Spark Senior and perswaded him to reprint some three or foure old Bookes of speciall use against Popery ere this Decree should passe by name Thomas Beacons Display of the Popish Masse and his Reliques of Rome as being then most seasonable opposite to the Archbishops Romish designes formerly printed cum privilegio in Queen Elizabeths Reigne An. 1560. yea dedicated to all the Bishops of England and highly approved by them Hereupon he caused Mistresse Anne Griffin to begge leave of the Company of Stationers who were owners of those Coppies to reprint these Bookes which being granted she printed off his Display of the Popish Masse and began to Print his Reliques of Rome No sooner was the first of them published abroad but a Papist seeing one of them newly printed lying to be sold in a Book-sellers shop in Paules Church-yeard reading the Title thereof grew very angry at the Booke being a very solid learned Treatise against the Popish Masse with the Ceremonies accompaning it and said hee wondered much that the Archbishop would suffer such Bookes to be Printed in this Age adding that perchance he knew not of it and therefore he would goe over to Lambheth and informe him thereof to the end it might be suddainly called in ere it were dispersed which it seemes he performed accordingly for the very next morning the Archbishop called in this Booke very strictly sending his Pursevants and Officers to seize on all of them they could meete with and understanding that Mistresse Griffin printed it he sent for her to Lambheth where he in a very angry manner demanded of her why she did reprint this book against the Masse NOW above all other times whether she could find no other time but this to print it To which she answered she did it for want of other work to imploy her servants who else must sit still seeing they could get no good New bookes Licenced Then he demanded of her how shee durst reprint it without a new License she answered She did it by leave of the Company of Stationers and knew of no order to the contrary After which he threatned her with the high Commission and told her that if she printed any more old Books though formerly licensed without a review and new licensing of them by his Chaplaines he would put downe her printing House and she should never print againe though there was then no Order to the contrary whereupon she durst not proceed to print his Reliques of Rome but gave it over All which was fully proved by the severall Oathes of Mr. Prynne Michaell Spark senior Anne Griffin such an Arch-favourer of Popery was this Prelate then grown that he would not permit this Treatise against the verry Popish Masse it selfe to be reprinted though formerly oft printed cum Privilegio growes angry at the printing of it causeth it presently to be suppressed upon a Papiste Information and thus checks the Printer Was not Popery grown to a strong head among us when not so much as one small old Booke against the Masse and Idolatry of it might passe the Presse but it must presently be suppressed by this Arch bishops speciall command and the Printer thus threatned for it Yet he forsooth if wee dare believe his Protestations was then as averse from as great an Enemy to Popery as any mortall breathing About the same time a Booke intituled The Palsegraves Religion containing the Faith and Confession of the Churches of the Palatinate formerly
at the Communion and in the Visitation of the sicke and in the second part in the Homily of Repentance As therefore in generall I doe acknowledge in the words of the aforesaid Homily that it is most evident and plaine that this Auricular Confession hath not his warrant of Gods Word that therefore being not led with the conscience thereof if we with feare and trembling and with a tru contrite heart use that kind of confession which God doth command in his word namely an unfeighned confession unto Almighty God himselfe then doubtlesse as he is faithfull and true hee will forgive us our sinnes and make us cleane from all our wickednesse so in the case of a troubled or doubtfull conscience I do conforme my opinion unto the direction of our Church which in her Liturgie doth exhort and require those whose Consciences are troubled with any weighty matter to a speciall confession so that they who cannot quiet their owne Consciences are to repaire to their owne or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods word to open to them their griefe that so they may receive such ghostly Counsell advise and comsort as their consciences may be relieved and by the ministery of Gods word they may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of their Conscience and the avoyding of all scruple and doubtfullnesse But it is against true Christian liberty that any man should be bound to the numbring of his Sinnes as it hath beene used heretofore in times of Ignorance and blindnesse This I do acknowledge to be the Doctrine of the Church of England concerning Confession and to it I do ex animo subscribe and am heartily sory for what ever I have de-livered to the contrary Mr. Adams being backedby the Popish Heads refused to make this Recantation though just and faire professing he was not conscious to himselfe of any thing he had said in his Sermon contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England Whereupon at a full meeting of the Doctors it was put to the Vote Whether this Recantation should be enjoyned him or no Dr. Ward Dr. Bambridge Dr. Bacheroft Dr. Love Dr. Holdsworth and the Vicechancellor voted he should make this Recantation but Dr. Collins Dr. Smith Dr. Cumber Dr. Cosin Dr. Lany Dr. Martin Dr. Sterne and Dr. EDEN Voted that hee should not make it justifying even the use and necessity of Confession to a Priest necessitate medij to obtaine absolution and affirming that they would not Vote Master Adams had delivered any thing contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England in this point of Confession and thereupon acquitted him But the Vice-chancellor adjourning the businesse till another day when 12. Doctors only were present and Dr. Smith Dr. Cumber Dr. Martin and Dr. Eden who formerly acquited him absent by the helpe of Dr. Paske his voyce with much opposition voted that Mr. Adams should make the forementioned Recantation to which hee and those who Voted with him subscribed their hands Dr. Cosin Dr. Lany Dr. Beale Dr. Sterne and one more subscribed likewise their dissents thereunto When this was done all was done and Mr. Adams without making any submission or Recantation at all was dismissed and so encouraged that he resolved to maintain this his opinion in his Act questions The whole proceedings in this businesse together with the Copy of Mr. Adams his Sermon and the Recantation forementioned were sent up to London by Dr. Cosin and found by Mr. Prynne in the Archbishops Study endorsed with his owne hand thus Received Mach 16. 1637. Doctor Cosins his Letter about the proceedings of Brownrig Vicechancellor of Cambridge against Mr. Adams for his Sermon about Confession Ianuary 25. 1637. c. Who instead of censuring concurred with Dr. Cosins and the other Popish Doctors in protecting and justifying Mr. Adams in his grosse Popish Doctrines of Auricular Confession and Absolution which he endeavoured with all his might to introduce And no wonder for in his owne Diary he writ this memoriall with his owne hand June 15. 1622 I became CONFESSOR to the Lord of Buckingham and Iune 16. being Trinity Sunday he received the Sacrament at Greenwitch And all Courtiers know that hee was since for many yeares not only a privy Councellor but Confessor to his Majesty at least Commonly so reputed which made him so earnest to bring all others under the yoak of Confession since he had brought these Grandees under it Yea so farre had this Popish Tenet of the necessity of Confession and absolution by Priests prevailed among us by these authorized Bookes and Sermons generally preached for them that Bishop Mountague in his Printed Visitation Articles for the Diocesse of Norwich Anno 1638. made it a crime presentable in Ministers not to presse the Doctrine and practise of it upon the people at least-wise in the holy time of Lent as appeares by this memorable Article of his Tit. 7. Artic. 4. Doth the Minister especially exhort the Parishoners TO MAKE CONFESSJON OF THEIR SINNES TO HIMSELFE or some other learned grave and discreet Minister ESPECIALLY IN LENT against the holy time of Easter that they may receive comfort and ABSOLVTION so to become worthy receivers of such holy misteries How farre the Archbishops Agents and Emissaries urged exercised Popish Auricular Confession not only in England but Jreland too we shall instance but in one memorable example The Archbishop in his Paper of Remembrances to the Lord Deputie of Ireland when he first went over thither a Copy whereof Master Prynne met with in his Study made this speciall request to him in behalfe of one Mr. Croxton a young Minister and Creature of his I heartily pray your Lordship to take notice of one Mr. Croxton whom J send over with your letters to my Lord Mount Norris I hope he will prove so honest and so able a man as may do good service in those parts if God blesse him with life And I doubt not but as it shall fall in your way Your Lordship will bestow some preferment upon him for his maintenance for which I shall thanke you This Croxton arriving in Ireland the Lord Deputy upon this recommendation of the Archbishop received him with all due respect and promoted him to severall Ecclesiasticall preferments there as appeares by his Letters of thankes to the Archbishop wherein he gives him the Popes Titles Holinesse and most holy Father as if he were a Pope This Croxton being thus advanced to promote the Archbishops designes at Easter in the Yeare 1638. caused all his Parishioners to come up to the High-Altar at Goran where hee was Incumbent and there Sacramentally to make their Confessions to him which the Protestants in those parts deemed a most strang and scandalous act declaming much against it Yet this audacious Popel in knowing how acceptable this Popish Innovation was to the Archbishop the more to ingratiate himselfe in his favour in a vaunting manner certified His Grace by a
non a loramus Tantummodo taxamus in imaginibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usum utilitatem non sollicitamus ullo pacto Christiani omnes adoramus Christum Imagine Simulacro An verò ad intuitum Invitationem constituerentur in lccis Sacris Sacratis conventibus destinatis sunt qui negant ex Origine Arnobio Minutio Faelice sed non persuadent Sir Tho. Ridley in his View of the Civill Law printed at Oxf. with Annotations 1634 p. 52. and 192. Hath these passages added in the Margin concerning the erecting of Crucifixes in Churches That which followeth in the Euchologe discovereth the forme manner of setting up the Crucifix which the Law called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then the Crucifix must bee sent to the place where the Church is to be erected and there the Bishop by whom it is conveied saith the forenamed service and when he maketh the Consecration the Crosse must be set up behinde the holy Altar c. Doctor John Pocklington in his Altare Christianum licensed by the Archbishops Chaplaine by his owne speciall direction hath these passages justifying the placing of Crucifixes upon the Altar and against demolishing Images pag. 143. The Crosse of Christ alwayes used to stand upon the Altar Christians had no other Images in their Churches Preter quam Crucis signum super Aram ad Ortentem versum erigerent ut mentem oculosque in caelum ubi Pater est omnium expinsis manibus but only the Crosse of Christ which stood upon the Altar And it is not also said that the Altar which stood in former Princes times continued in Q. Elizabeths Chapell with the Crosse upon it Pag. 87. Besides the Altar so furnished there are to be seene many goodly Pictures which cannot but strike the beholders with thoughts of Piety and devotion at their entrance into so holy a place as the Picture of the Passion and likewise of the holy Apostles together with a faire Crucifix and our blessed Lady and St. Iohn set up in painted Glasse in the East Window just over the holy Table or sacred Altar so that I must needs say as I think all good men besides will that who so lives in his Lordships Diocesse must be condemned of great impiety that wil desert his Lord and not follow him usque ad Aras Pag. 139. The Magistrate may proceed against Delinquents that Violate the Lords Table standing Altarwise or breake or deface the Picture of Christ or of the Saints in Church-Windowes or Crosses and the like upon the Statute if any should so offend which God forbid I shall close up this with Francis Sales his Introduction to a devout life where he intimates to us what use we ought to make of Pictures and Crucifixes P. 158. Sometimes kisse reverently his blessed Image and say unto him these words of Jacob I will not leave thee untill thou give me thy blessing Pag. 159. Stirre up thy heart with corporall gestures of outward devotion and prostrating thy selfe upon the ground laying thy Armes a Crosse before thy brest Imbracing his Image c. 8. That the Pope or Papacy is not Anti-Christ nor Anti-Christ yet come BIshop Mountague in his Appello Caesarem determines thus Page 140. 141. That hee the Pope is Magnus ille Antichristus is neither determined by the publique Doctrine of the Church nor proceed by any good Argument of private men I professe ingeniously I am not of opinion that the Bishop of Rome personally is that Anti-christ nor yet the Bishops of Rome successively are that Anti-christ Doctor Heylyn in his Moderat answer to Henry Burton thus seconds him page 126. The Pope not Antichrist for any thing resolved by the Church of England Page 127. 128. 129. You tell us that by the Doctrine of our Church in the Homilies and else where it is resolved that the Pope is Antichrist Your elsewhere I am sure is no where Saint Iohn hath given it for a Rule that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard c. So that unlesse you can make it good as I thinke you cannot that the Pope of Rome confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh you have no reason to conclude that hee is Antichrist Christopher Dowe in his Jnnovations unjustly charged writes thus Page 53. To the third That the Pope is not Antichrist I answere that though many of the learned of our Church especially at the beginning of our Reformation when the greatest heat was stricken betweene us and Rome have affirmed the Pope to be Antichrist and his whole Religion to be Antichristian and that some Bookes exceeding the bounds of Moderation in this point have passed a broad that with the license of Authority yet to them that calmely and seriously consider it it may not without good reason be disputed as doubtfull whether the Popes or any of them in his Person or the Papall Hierarchy be that great Antichrist which is so much spoken of Robert Shelford in his five Treatises resolves thus Page 284. That Rome at this day is not the Beast is manifest because the Pope there now sheddeth no bloud Page 293. That the Pope is not to beheld for Antichrist I prove from Saint Iohns description Who soever is not of Antichrists spirit cannot bee Anti-christ But the Pope is not of Anti-Christs Spirit therefore he cannot bee Anti-Christ Page 297. The Church hitherto hath neither declared the Pope nor any other to be the great Antichrist Therefore as yet he is to come 299. And were there no other Argument to free the Pope from being the Antichrist among the Fathers this is sufficient for that he maintaineth Images Yea the very subject matter of his largest Treatise is this and thus intituled That the Pope is not Antichrist and that Antichrist is not yet come One of his Bookes of this Subject he presented to the Archhishop who received yea reserved it in his Study without check or contradiction and was so farre from disliking this Opinion that he gave speciall Command to purge all passages out of old and new printed Bookes which either directly J tearmed or intimated the Pope to be Antichrist or that man of sinne and repealed the Articles of Reland for defining him to be so as we shall hereafter manifest 9. That there is a Purgatory and Limbus Patrum CHrists Epistle to a Devout Soule P. 130. But when thou art come to perfection and prayest lying prostrate at the feete of my Majesty thou shalt desire to satisfie my Justice with that small ability which resteth in thee and shalt offer thy selfe for my Glory unto PVRGATORY and to suffer for the fulfilling of my will whatsoever it shall be my will to lay upon thee and the fulfilling of my will shall please thee more then the escape of Pudgatory Mountague his Gagge Page 176. They Quarter out Hell into foure Regions Hell of
thus page 44. Some Traditions I deny not true and firme and of great both Authority and use in the Church as being Apostolicall Doctor Heylins Antid Lincolniense page 86. Sect. 2. Many things came into our mind by a successionall Tradition for which we cannot find an expresse command which yet we ought to entertaine ex vi Catholicae consuetudinis of which Traditions there are many which still retaine their force among us in England This Church the Lord bethanked for it hath stood more firme for Apostolicall Traditions then any other whatsoever of the Reformation 19. That Ave Maries are to be now said to the Virgin Mary That shee and other Saints and our Angells Gardians are to be invoked and prayed to as our Patrons Popish Saints to be imitated and the Virgin Mary extolled deisied by Protestants as she is by Papists CHrists Epistle to a devout Soule Page 237. Say with the same intention the prayer at least which I taught my Disciples and the Salutation of the Angell to my blessed Mother and offer me up to my Father in thy heart and with me all those good workes which I and my servants either do or have done for thee and the vniversall Church pag. 252. Doe not omit every night to intreat my glorious Mother to pray unto me to pardon thee at her request all such negligences as thou hast ignorantly committed and which thou dost not remember She hath performed the office of a tender Mother to mee I have received nourishment from her blessed Duggs and therefore I cannot nor will not my love to Her is so great deny any Petition that she presents and therefore entreat me daily by her intercession for the amendment of thy life perseverance in vertue and obtaining of my grace pag. 253. Thou shalt further intreat me by her Intercession that the worshiping and honouring of me may be daily amplified inlarged augmented and increased either by this rule and instruction which I have now prescribed and commended to thee or by what other meanes soever that shall seeme best unto thee p. 262. By the compassion of thy Mother c. What can be more Popish then this Francis Sales in his Introduction to a devout life writes thus page 19. Saint Lydia and Saint Chrispian were perfectly devout in their open shopps Saint Anne Saint Martha Saint Monicha amongst their families c. page 89. Thou being placed upon thy knees before thy good Angell Consider that God desireth thou wouldst make choise of Paradice and thy good Angell also urgeth expresly thee with all his power offering thee on Gods behalfe a thousand succours page 91. In like manner accept the favours which all the blessed Saints present unto thee promise them that thou wilt make towards them and give thy hand to the good Angell that he may guide thee thither and encourage thy soule to make this choyce page 97. O sacred Virgin and all you blessed Saints of Heaven I chuse you for my guides and Patrons I render my selfe under your colours O my Guide and Gardian in heaven unite me unto this glorious and sacred assembly Page 194. We must pray for the whole Church of God employing and imploring to that end the intercession of our blessed Lady Page 165. O Father of Goodnesse c. Then think upon our blessed Lady upon the good Angells and the Saints that are gone before thee to the end that thou maist insist in their steps and be partaker of their happy intercessions page 197. The holy Soules of the Saints in Heaven in company of the blessed Angells they likewise doe good Oshces and helpe to assistus by their sacred intercession Honour Reverence and respect the sacred and glorious Virgin Mary with an especiall Love she is the Mother of our Soveraigne Lord and heavenly Father Christ Iesus and consequently our Grand-Mother page 198. Chuse some particular Saints amongst the rest whose lives thou maist more particularly read tast and imitate page 200. Read also the lives of the Saints in which as in a mirror thou maist see the ponâ—traiture of Christian perfectison The solitarinesse of Saint Paul the first Hermit is imitated in some sorts by the spirituall retreates of which we have spoken and the extreme poverty of Saint Francis may be imitated c. There be some Saints which more directly serve to guide and order our lives then others doe as that of Saint Gregory our Apostle of England as the life of the blessed Martyer Teressa the lives of Saint Thomas of Aquine Saint Francis Saint Benuet and such like page 201. Other Saints lives there are which containe more matter of admiration then of imitation as the life of Saint Mary of Egypt of Saint Simeon Stilites of the two St. Katherins of Sienna and of Genua and Saint Angla and which never the lesse do minister unto us great occasions to tast the sweetnesse of the love of God Bishop Mountague his Amid page 20. Non abnuerim Sanctos esse Orationis Intercessionis ut loqui soletis Mediatores sed universim universos praecibus suis apud Deum interveniunt orationibus mediantur page 22. Meminerunt amicorum suorum et rerum a si quondam in terris gestarum quocirca ad Christum in caelo recollecti poterint de viae ordinaria per Jesum Christum apud deum Patrem amicos familiares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praecibus commendare et adjuvare Which hee thus further prosecutes in his Gagge page 203. Now the case of Angell keepers in point of advocation and invocation is much different from other Angells not Guardians as being continually attendant always at hand though invisible and therefore though we might say Sancte Angele Custes Ora pro me it followeth not we may say Sancte Gabriell ora pro mâ— page 207. Angels are to bee beseeched who are deputed our Gardians therefore not all Angells but onely Guardian Page 214. The Saints pray for us in particular some particular Saint for some particular man in some speciall case some time And to come more particularly to it The question is not whether Saints departed doe pray unto God that is confessed on both sides c. Anthony Stafford in his Femall Glory in the Front whereof there is the Picture of the Virgin Mary encompassed with a Glory holding Christ a little Infant in her Armes thus extolls nay justifies the Invocation of the Virgin and saying Aves to her Med Poetica Ave Maria. Tu gaudi verbum peperisti dicit Avete Omnibus atque omnis terra revibrat Ave. He proceedes thus in the Reverse The House of Gold the gate of heavens power great Queene of Queenes most milde most meeke most wise most venerable cause of all our joy c. In the Panegyrick of her he addes To whom doe bow The Soules of all the just whose place is next to God Pag. 2. 3. He stiles her Most Excellent Princesse The Virgin Mother of God Empresse of
shall hisse them out of countenance neither can they shelter themselves under the examples of other Churches in France and Netherlands c. Since necessity hath long agoe cast them into that condition which these men after establishment in the right forme have wilfully drawn upon themselves with an impetuous exclusion of a setled government And certainly my Lord me thinkes there should be a kinde of necessity in this course since not some few but the whole Church of Scotland hath thus broken out into Schisme and shamed both it selfe and the Gospell and without some timely prevention the mischiefe may yet grow further whereas this way it may be at the least choakingly convinced and seasonably checked Neither neede the charge hereof be great to his Majesties coffers since the burthen of the Commissioners may be layd upon the severall Diocesse from whence they are sent Your Grace sees whither my zeal hath carried me If I have been to bold and forward in thus presuming I humbly crave the pardon of your Grace which hath been extended to greater errours I hope a good heart will excuse all the best wishes whereof are truely vowed and duly paid to your Grace By your Graces in all faithfull Observance to Command JOS. EXON Exon. Pal. Sept. 28. Which Letter was thus directed To the most Reverend and most Honourable my singular good Lord My Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitan Chancellor of Oxford and one of the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy Councell present these And thus endorsed by the Arch-Bishops own hand Dat. Sept. 28. Received Octob. 1629. B. of Exon. Dr. Hall To move for a Generall Councell of all his Majesties Dominions to settle the Scottish Schisme What was done upon this Letter and how the Arch-Bishop tooke occasion from it to engage Bishop Hall to write in defence of Episcopall Superiority by Divine Right and Institution will appear by the Bishops next Letter to this Arch-Prelate the Originall whereof we have under Bishop Halls own hand and Seale May it please your Grace I Was not only glad but almost proud of your Graces acceptance of my poor but bold motion which that it found favour in his Majesties eyes upon your Graces recommendation was as much above my hope as above the possibility of my thankfulnesse I do most humbly rest in the grounds of his Majesties most wise and just resolution although that which I propounded was not in any ayme at the Reclamation of those stiffe Spirits but at their conviction and shaming together with the satisfaction and setling of any distempered or wavering minds of any contentious person at home or abroad But since it hath pleased his Majestie to lay aside that thought I am most submissively silent As for that motion which comming from your Graces hand is no lesse in my construction then a command of my undertaking this great taske of writing a satisfactory discourse in this subject I beseech your Grace to give me leave to say it doth too much overvalue me If your Grace did but know my great weakenesse so well as I know my little strength your Grace would not have singled me out for so high and noble an undertaking I confesse in an holy zeale to the cause no man shall outstrip me in abilities too many yet since it hath pleased your Grace to honour me so farre as to thinke mee capable and worthy of such an imployment I shall most gladly without prejudice to any more able paines endeavour my best this way But would your Grace bee pleased to give mee leave to suggest another Motion I thinke I should intimate that which would not a little advance the successe of this great service Single labours will be easily passed over with neglect what will the Vulgar bee more apt to say then This is but one Doctors judgement Vis unita fortior Might it therefore please your Grace to single out and Empannell a whole Jury of learned Bishops and Divines to joyne together in this subject it could not choose but sway much with the world And since I have taken the boldnesse to move so farre will your Grace give mee leave out of the zealous intention of my thoughts upon the speede of this notable service to propound some further specialty If therefore in Ireland the Lord Primate the Bishop of Kilmore the Bishop of Downe and Conner men as your Grace best knowes of singular note in the Church Heere at home my Lord Bishop of Durham and Bishop of Salisbury and if your Grace shall thinke mee worthy to come in the arreare of these great and famous Prelates I shall not faile of my best With them the Professors and some other eminent Doctors in the name of both Universities and three or foure of the Bishops and Doctors of Scotland shall be enjoyned by your Grace to expresse their judgements fully concerning these two Heads of Episcopacy and Lay Prebytery and to Print them together It will bee a worke that will carry in it such authority and satisfaction as will give great contentment to the world and carry in it a strong rebuke of the Aversaries And if your Graces reason and resolution should so lead you as to bee seene in the head of this Learned Squadron the worke would beare not much lesse sway then if it were a Synodicall Act Neither would I wish that each of these should write a Volume of this matter but succinctly though fully and clearly declare themselves in these particulars with such evidence of Scripture Antiquity and Reasons as may most convince But whether these be done in Thesi or Hypothesi whether in way of Paroenesis or Apology or reproofe I humbly submit to your Graces judgement and direction I beseech your Grace pardon this well-meant presumption and make account of the dayly Devotions of Your Graces in all faithfull observance to Command Jos. Exon. Exon. Pal. Oct. 12. 1639. After I had sent away my Letters of complaint concerning Coxe the man came to me and upon our second and third conference began to relent and finding that I had sent up his Sermon to your Grace resolved to wait voluntarily upon your Grace so as I hope your Grace shall at once heare of his offence and submission If so a free and publike recantation would doe more good here then his exorbitance hath done hurt he hath been usque ad invidiam conformable and is a sufficient Scholler and of unblameable conversation otherwise I humbly leave him to your Graces either justice or mercy or both J. E. This Letter was thus Superscribed To the most Reverend Father in God my ever most honoured Lord my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitane Chancellor of Oxford and one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Counsell present these And thus Endorsed with the Archbishops owne hand Rec. Oct. 16. 1639. The Bishop of Exeter That more then one
Nov. 11. 1639. This Letter was thus endorsed with the Archbishops owne hand My Answer of Novemb. 11. 1639. to the Heads of the Bishop of Exons Bookes intended for Episcopacie What Reply Bishop Hall returned to this his Graces Letter these following Lines of his will disclose My most Reverend and most Honourable good Lord. I Should be unthankefull if I did not acknowledge every one of these Lines of so long a Letter written with your Graces owne hand a new obligation to me who know the price of your time yet the matter of them binds mee more those Animadversions were so just that I had amended those passages divers of them voluntarily ere I received this Gracious Admonition for I did onely send your Grace the rude draught of what I meant to polish in the Expression your Grace observes truely some mitigation in stating the Cause which I confesse to have purposely used out of a desire to hold as good Termes with our neighbour Churches abroad as I safely might your Grace knowes well how Doctor Field and Doctor Downam have handled that point if we may make the Case sure for us with the least aspersion cast upon them who honour our Government and cannot obtaine it I conceived it the better especially since the Scottish case so palpably differs yet I would so determine it as that nothing but necessity can either excuse them or hold up the truth of their being In the Presbyterie I must fall foule with them howsoever That Clause of abdication was inserted with respect to the present occasion I shall willingly abdicate it Those many scruples which may arise and must be met with in this cause will bee avoyded if we doe plainly and shortly state the Question thus Whether the Majority of Bishops above Presbyters be by Divine Institution which if we make good I suppose is as much as can be reasonably desired for what Christian can thinke it life or lawfull to depart from that which Christ and his Apostles have set in his Church with an intent of perpetuall continuance I have noted in my discourse those two sorts of Adversaries and with respect to them put in these two words Lawfull against the first and against the second Divine though the latter in the tractation comprehendeth both We shall not much neede I hope in this way to come within the Ken of that Roman Rock of jus Divinum mediatum although it must fall into our mention Shortly I shall take carefull heede to those points which you Grace adviseth and when I have laid my last hand upon the first part whereof each clause must Bis ad Limam semel ad linguam I shall transcribe and send it to your Grace for your full and free Censure In the meane time with my best prayers I take leave and vow my selfe Your Graces in all faithfull observance to command Jos. Exon. Exon. Pal. Nov. 16. The Archbishop with his owne hand thus endorsed this Letter Received Nov. 18 1639. L. Exon. his Answer to those Animadversions I made upon the heads of his intended Booke for Episcopacie The Archbishop returning an Answer to this Letter thereupon Bishop Hall sent up his Treatise of Episcopacy by Divine Right accompanied with this Epistle and the ensuing Propositions which together with his Booke he wholly submitted to his Graces judgement and disposall Most Reverend and my ever most Honourable good Lord I Have received your Graces speedy and full answer to my last And now according to my promise I present to your Graces hands this Worke of mine the bulk whereof swelled under my hand beyond my purpose whiles I could think no passage of it unnecessary I humbly submit it to your Graces free Censure not personall for I could not be so weake as to thinke your Grace could lose so much time in perusall of it but Deputative The more and the more judicious eyes passe upon it the better Whether for haste or delay for impression or suppression or suppression I am altogether indifferent for my owne judgement I doe not think it werthy or capable of the attestation of others especially my betters for that I do both take my rise from a particular occasion and do often intersperse polemicall dissertations as with M. Parker Anti-Tilenus Vedelius and others without which me thought I could not satisfactorily clear those points which passages I have no reason to think others should take upon them either to own or justifie It was my second bold motion to your Grace That divers select Bishops and Divines should shortly and fully expresse their judgements in this subject Your Grace thought fitter to which I subscribed that it-should be done by one or two and allowed and seconded by more such a discourse should be only positive and short As for this I suppose the judicious perusers will thinke it may be of good use to settle and prepare the mindes of men towards an unanimity of Judgement in this point which perhaps may be otherwise varying And if I may have leave to shoot my bolt I should conceive if an attestation to our just Tenent be thought requisite from many and the best hands it would sort best that the substance of it should be drawn up into some short and full Propositions such as these which I have taken the boldnesse to inclose and sent or tendred to them for their subscription wherein I should hold a generality of expression the safest I beseech your Grace pardon this presumption of mine and for this my Labour if it be found that it may be of any profitable use in these way ward times let it flye otherwise it may this festivall be imployed in Thuris Piperisue Cucullos I shall be well content with either the light or the fire Your Grace will soon finde that I have been plain enough with our Genevians for the Forraign Churches I have taken the same course with our learned Bishop Andrews as pittying their alleadging necessity not approving their form in the mean time not thinking it best to make Enemies where we may have friends I do finde and shew the Scottish case utterly unlike theirs for our greater advantage I have driven the point further than some worthy Divines before me and especially have laboured in that part where the cause beares most viz. in matter of Scripture and the next following Antiquity What it is is wholly and absolutely at your Graces disposing to what ever purpose your Grace will think fit And so with the apprecation of an happy New year to your Grace and to this whole Church I take my humble leave and am Your Graces in all faithfull Observance to Command JOS. EXON Exon. Pal. S. Tho. Day This Letter was thus superscribed To the most Reverend and most honourable my singular good Lord my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitan Chancellor of Oxford and one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell present these And thus indorsed
Majesties warrant to each of them so that herein I averre I did not offend unlesse that I gave not these men notice of it or asked them leave to obey the King To which it was answered First that the Arch-bishop confeseth clearly in his Speech and publisheth it to all the world in print That he made the alterations in this prayer which neither of his Predecessors Bancroft or Abbot durst once to think of or attempt Secondly That he esteemed Master Burtons and Master Prynnes dislike of him for making these alterations in extentation of the horrid Gunpowder-plot and favour of trairerous Jesuits Priests Romanists and the popish Religion a most transcendent crime worthy the severest bloodiest censure that ever was inflicted on any person in the Star-chamber as appeared by their herbarous Sentence there for which he heartily thanked the Lords in the close of his speech whereas his offence was certainly ten thousand times greater in making these alterations then theirs in charging him with them when himselfe confesseth and just fieth them or disliking them when made for such sinister popish ends Thirdly that his reasons to justifie these alterations to be fit and necessary were very absurd discovering the rottennesle of his heart with his extraordinary affection to popery and Papists His first reason that it was fit and necessary to make these Alterations to avoyd scandall and offence to Papists in calling their religion Rebellion c. was very unreasonable and absurd For since this clause had continued un-altered un-excepted against neer thirty yeers space together and was never deemed scandalous by K. James K. Charle's our subsequent Parliaments or Church which approved and confirmed it no solid reason can be given why it should grow unseasonable or scandalous only now so an as to call for a necessary alteration but that the Arch bishop and his confederates had now a new resolved plot to reconcile us to Rome and her Religion which former ages never had to which designethis clause might happily prove seandalous and obstructive Besides he could not but conclude the alteration of it after so many yeers continuance of purpose to gratifie Papists priests and Jesuits the sole contrivers of that marchlesse excerable Gunpowder-plot would give extraordinary seandall offence to all the whole Church State and cordiall protestants of Engl. and lay a secret tax if not a publike censure on them and on K. James for injuring the papists and their Religion even in these publike prayers neer thirty yeers spice together yet this zealous Romish Agent would rather scandalize censure injure our whole Church State parliaments King Iames with all true-hearted English protestants then give the lest scandall to the papists or suffer this just imputatation of Rehellion to continue upon their religion Moreover the whole parliament of 3. Iacobs in the Oath of Alleagiance then enjoyned with all our parliaments prelats Peers who since have approved it The second part of our authorized Homilies for Whit-sunday with our Homilies against wilful rebellion Bishop B â—â—on in his True difference between Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion Bishop Iewel in his Defence of the Apology of the Church of England part 4. p. 439. to 470. Doctor Iohn White in his Sermon at Pauls-Crosse and in his Defence of the Way ch 6. 11. Doctor Crakenthorp's Treatise of the Popes temporall Monarchy Deus Rex Haddon contra Osorium and generally all our Writers against the Popes supremacy at home and in the reformed Churches abroad resolve unanimously in their writings the Romanists Religion and Faith in the poynts of deposing excommunicating murthering Christian Princes Kings Emperours of absolving subjects from their alleagiance arming them against their Soveraigns by the Popes authority and command for not submitting to his tyrannicall or Antichristian Edicts it is meere Rebellion and Faction For this Arch-prelate then thus publikely to averre it a scandalous imputation to them and their religion and upon this ground to make these alterations in this prayer and not in all those Statutes Homilies Authors too is a most false absurd scandalous suggestion and in truth a meer evasion to colour his affection to papists their Antichristian Religion His second reason that it wil be of dangerous conquence sadly to avow that the Papists Religion is Rebelion because it is Christian religion and the same with ours is both fals fallacious for popish religion as popish is not Christian but Antichristian and though papists hold many points of Christian Religion as they are Christians yet not one point of it as Papists popery truly so called being no part of Christian Religion but deviations from or paradoxes against it Yea himselfe confessing That some opinions of theirs teach rebelion That 's apparently true which opinions of theirs are that part of their Religion which this prayer cals Rebellion refutes his owne Objection His third reason that if you make their religion to be rebelion then you make their religion and rebelion to be all one and that is against the ground both of State and Law c. which never put any man to death for Religion but for Treason and Rebellion onely is a meere childish fallacy For their Religion is not any actuall treason or rebellion for which only they suffered death but doctrinall and habituall rebelion prone to produce actuall rebellions and the mother of them in which sense onely this prayer stiles it Rebellion yet such for which no Romanist ever dyed unlesse he reduced it into some treasonable and rebellious action and then he suffered onely for the act not the Religion or opinion which induced him thereunto he might well then have spared these three irrationall reasons for this Alteration with this assertion of his p. 39. I took it my duty to lay it before you that the King had not onely Power but Reason to command it which onely aggravate not extenuate or justifie his fact his justification then rests solely upon the Kings command and warrant but this will not excuse his guilt For we have nothing but his own bare word in his own case to which no faith can be given having so often bin taken tardy in this kind to prove first that himselfe did not move the King to command these alterations to be made which is more than probable by his aleaging the reasons whereupon they were made and his activity in other changes of this nature Secondly that himself did not procure the Warrant for these Alterations after they were made and printed being written with his own hand and having no witnesse but himself to prove the date as he hath done in other cases Thirdly admit the command and warrant proceeded originally from the King himselfe not him yet he being by his place and office principally entrusted with the care honour safety of our Religion and Church so much concerned in these alterations it had been his duty to have disobeyed this command and disswaded his Majesty from such a
the hands of my Lord the Bishop of Ely and this thrice reading over hath been the cause why I did not give you a more speedy account of it And now my Lord according to the freedome which you have given one I must tell you that I have here and there in my reading of it over made bold to alter or leave out a phrase or two but have as yet varied nothing that is materiall and indeed I should think it very uncivill and unjust too to vary any thing that is substantiall without first acquainting you with it that so it may be done either by your owne pen or at the least not without your owne consent The particulars which I chiefly insist upon are these First you doe extreamly well to distinguish the Scottish businesse from the state of the forraigne Churches but yet to those Churches and their Authors you are a little more favourable then our case will now beare But this I conceive will be easily helpt and that without pressing too much upon them The second is the first touch which you have concerning the Sabatarians where you let their strict superstition passe without any touch at all I think one little one will doo no harme The third which you seeme to passe by as not much materiall in the Question is in our judgement here the very Maine of the cause and it is whether Episcopacy be an Order or Degree an Order certainly if it be of Divine and Apostolicall institution For that which is but different by degree and circumstantially cannot be other then Iuris positivi and the ancient word in the Fathers is Ordinatio Episcopi and our ordinary phrase is of any of our Brethren the Bishops he is one of our Order and why does the Church of England ordaine or consecrate every one that is made a Bishop if it be but a Degree of the same Order For when a Bishop is translated or made an Arch-bishop theras then no consecration because they are Iuris positivi and onely degrees Your Lordship is very neere a whole leafe upon this transition I beseech you weigh it well and then let me have it altered by your owne pen and the sooner sent the better The last with which I durst not but acquaint the King is about Antichrist which title in three or four places of your booke you bestow upon the Pope positively and determinately whereas King James of blessed memory having brought strong proofe in a Worke of his as you well know to prove the Pope to be Antichrist yet being ofterwards challenged about it he made this answer when the King that now is went into Spaine and acquainted him with it that he writ that not concludingly but by way of Argument onely that the Pope and his Adherent might see there were as good and better Arguments to prove him Antichrist then for the Pope to challenge temporall jurisdiction over Kings This whole passage being knowne to me I could not but speak with the King about it who commanded me to write unto you that you might quallifie your expression in these particulars and so not differ from the knowne judgment of his pious and learned Father This is easily done by your owne pen and the rather because all Protestants joyne not in this opinion of Antichrist I have no more to trouble your Lordship with but to pray you to have your answer to these with as much speed as much speed as may be so to Gods blessed protection I leave you and rest Your Lordships very loving friend and brother W. CANT Lambeth Jan. 14. 1639. I had not leizure to toke a copy of these Letters therefore I pray let me have them back againe when you give me your answer This Letter was thus indorsed To the right reverend Father in God my very good Lord and Brother the Lord Bishop of Exeter these And after the receit againe thus indorsed by the Arch-bishop himselfe My Letters of Jan. 14. 1639. to L. B. Exon. about his book for Episcopacy To which Letter Bishop Hall returned this Answer found together with it in the Arch-bishops study MOst Reverend and my ever most Honourable Lord I doe first humbly thanke your Grace for those houres and paines you have been pleased to bestow both upon my papers and me and yet more for that noble freedome your Grace hath been pleased according to my earnest request to use in making knowne your Graces Judgement in those few Animadversions which I have now received and the gracious respect shewed to me that after so full power put into your Graces hands to dispose of those papers at your owne pleasure yet your Grace hath been pleased to take my unworthinesse along with you in the altering of my passages therein wherein I hope I have satisfied your Graces expectation accordingly As for my favourablenesse to foraigne Authors and Churches I foretold your Grace that I held it best not to be sparing of good words though in the reality of the Tenet I have gone further then the most others Those Authors whom I mention with so faire respect are in those things for which I cite them our friends but if your Grace find any phrase too high or unseasonable it is but a dash of your Chaplaines pen to whom I beseech your Grace to give an absolute freedome in this behalfe For that of the Sabatarians I have put a drop or two of vinegar more into my inke in two severall places For that passage concerning Antichrist I have turned it upon themselves without a declaration of my owne judgement however I find our learned patterne Bishop Andrewes more then once punctuall this way For that poynt of the Degree or Order of Episcopacy although I well knew the weight of it yet I did purposely intend to wave it here because both it fetcheth a great and learned part of the Schoole upon us and because I found it to be out of my way since these factions with whom we deale deny both a severall Order and a severall Degree allowing onely a priority of Order in the same degree but our Tenet is doubtlesse most defensible and I have accordingly so stated it in this review which together with all my best services I doe humbly recommend to your Graces acceptation vowing my hearty prayers for your Graces happy proceedings as duly merited from Your Graces most humble and faithfully devoted in all observance JOS. EXON Exom Pal. Jan. 18. I have sent back your Graces Letter according to your Graces pleasure and withall have been bold upon the humble suit of one of my worthy Clergy Master Bury to recommend a pious Petition of his to your Grace the least touch of answer in your Graces Letter will abundantly satisfie him Two Râ—negadoes have in two severall parts of my Diocesse been received into the Church under that solemne forme of Penance which your Grace was pleased to appoint This Letter was thus superscribed To the most Reverend
and most Honourable my singular good Lord the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitane Chancelour of Oxford and one of the Lords of his Mijesties most honourable Privy Counsell present these And after the receit thereof thus indorsed with the Arch-bishops owne hand Rec. Jan. 22. 1639. L. B. Exon. concerning some amendments in his book for Episcopacy In this Letter of the Arch-bishops and the answer to it besides the grand designe of asserting Episcopacy of divine Right and Institution we may observe these considerable particulars First that he blames Bishop Hall for being a little too favourable to the forraigne Protestant Churches and their authors Secondly for passing by the Sabatarians or strict observers of the Lords day without any touch at all which he desires him to rectifie and help by some touches of shapnesse against them this is his charity to the Protestants and Sabatarians or Puritans of you please they were too candidly handled and therefore must be more harshly dealt withall but now on the other hand mark his extraordinary affection to and care of the Popes honour and reputation He doth in the third place tax the Bishop for bestowing the title of ANTICHRIST on him three or four times in his Book positively determinately This was such a transcendent crime that he must needs acquaint the King himselfe with it of his owne native disposition without any other Monitor and procures a speciall royall command to him from his Majesty to expunge those scandalous and dishonourable clauses against his Holinesse out of his Treatise Fourthly in the reason which he renders for acquainting his Majesty herewith and desiring him to make this change there are these considerable things to be taken notice of First that King James himselfe did in his printed Works at large prove and declare the Pope to be Antichrist by very strong proofes Secondly that when the Spanish match was in agitation and the Popes Dispensation required for the facilitating of it being one of the first Articles in the Marriage Treaty he was challenged by the Pope and his agents for it but not before Thirdly that King James hereupon to satisfie the Pope and gaine his favour was put to a hard shift and enforced to coyne a new distinction which he never thought of till then to excuse the matter That he writ thou not concludingly but by way of Argument onely c. Fourthly that he made this answer and distinction when King Charles went into Spaine and acquainted him with it by word of mouth that he thereby might satisfie the Pope and his party Fifthly that this whole passage was knowne to him and he privy to this secret not knowne formerly to others therefore he was certainly one of the Cabinet-counsell who was privy to the Kings going into Spaine and to the private instructions given him by King James before his departure hence yea very likely one who suggested this distinction to King James to please the Pope and promote the Match and therefore HE COULD NOT BUT SPEAKE WITH THE KING ABOUT IT who hereupon commanded this Bishop to qualifie his expressions in these particulars and so not differ from the knowne judgement of his pious and learned Father from whose orthodox judgement notwithstanding the Arminians might freely dissent both with his Majesties and this Arch-prelats approbation Whereupon we find that these passages were qualified according to his desire although Bishop Andrewes positive opinon in sundry passages was that the Pope was Antichrist All which considered we may infallibly conclude from his owne pen that all the forementioned purgations of passages against the Papacy Pope and his being Antichrist were made by this Arch-bishops owne speciall direction without any other suggestion but his owne Romish Genius and good affection to the Pope to induce a more easie reconciliation with him and this in direct opposition First to the severall Statutes of 16 R. 2. c. 5. 25 H. 8. c. 19. 20. 21. 28 H. 8. c. 10. 37 H. 8. c. 17. which tacitely define the Pope to be the Antichrist who did obfuscate and wrest Gods word Testament a long season from the spirituall and true meaning thereof to his worldly and carnall affections as pompe glory avarice ambition and tyranny covering and shadowing the same with his humane and politick devices traditions and inventions set forth to promote and stablish his onely dominion both upon the soules and also the bodies and goods of all Christian people excluding Christ out of his Kingdome and rule of mans soule as much as he may and all other temporall Kings and Princes out of their Dominions which they ought to have by Gods law upon the bodies and goods of their subjects whereby he did not onely rob the Kings Majesty being onely the supreame head of this his Realme of England immediately under God of his honour right and pre-eminence due unto him by the law of God but spoyled this his Realme yeerly of innumerable treasure and with the losse of the same deeemed the Kings loving and obedient Subjects perswading to them by his lawes buls and other his deceivable meanes such dreames vanities and fantisies as by the same many of them were seduced and conveyed unto superstitious and erronious openions Secondly to the book of Homilies in the second part of the Sermon for Whit-Sunday page 316. and the 6. Sermon against wilfull Rebellion page 316. which determines the Pope to be Antichrist in these tearmes Wheresoever you find the spirit of envy hatred contention robbery murther extortion witchcraft neeromancy c. assure your selves that there is the spirit of the devil and not of God albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holinesse c. such were all the Popes and Prelates of Rome for the most part as doth well appeare by the story of their lives and therefore they are worthily accounted among the number of the false Prophets and false Christs which deluded the world a long while The Lord of heaven and earch defend us from their tyranny and pride that they never enter into his Vine-yard againe c. and he of his great mercy so work in all mens hearts by the mighty power of the holy Ghost that the comfortable Gospel of his Sonne Christ may be truly preached truly received and truly followed in all places to the beating downe of sinne death the Pope the devil and ALL THE KINGDOME OF ANTICHRIST c. The Bishop of Rome understanding the bruit blindnesse ignorance of Gods Word and superstition of English men ond how much they were inclined to worship the BABYLONISH BEAST OF ROME Thirdly to the 80. Article of the Church of Ireland defining the Bishop of Rome to be THE MAN OF SINNE foretold in the holy Scripture Fourthly to the Book of Common-prayer appointed for the fifth of Novemb. stiling the Pope Papists and Jesuits A Babylonish and Antichristian sect and to the Kings Letters Patents forementioned defining
Popery to be an Antichristian Yoake Fifthly to the Hymne printed in the end of all our Psalmes and Common-prayer books From Turke and Pope defend us Lord which both would thrust out of his throne our Lord Jesus Christ thy deare Sonne and the prayer for private families bound up with our Bibles and Common-prayer-books confound Satan and Antichrist c. Sixthly to the whole torrent of our Protestant Martyrs Writers who define the Pope to be Antichrist yea the great Antichrist prophesied of in Scripture This was the direct position of our godly learned Martyr Walter Brute who maintained it in a large discourse recorded by Master Fox in his Acts and Monuments edit 1641. vol. I. p. 622. to 632. of our English Apostle Iohn Wickliffe Fox ibid. p. 594. justified by John Hus and Joan Wicklif Dialog l. 4. c. 15. Rich. Wimbledon in his Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse anno 1389. Fox vol. 1. p. 718. Sir Geofry Chaucer in his Plough-mans Tale Lucifers letters to the Prelats of England supposed to be written by William Swinderly Martyr Fox Acts and Monuments edit 1610. p. 482. 483. Sir Iohn Oldeastle that famous Knight and Martyr Fox ibid. p. 417. 418. Pierce Ploughman his complaint of the abuses of the World Fox ibid. 1. edit 1641. p. 520. to 532. Mr. Wil. Tyndall a godly learned Martyr in his Obedience of a Christian man p. 214. 215 c. in his Revelation of Antichrist and Practice of Popish Prelats The Author of the image of a very christian Bishop and of a counterfeit Bishop printed about the yeere 1538. Rodericke Mors his complaint to the Parliament of England about 37 of King Henry 8. c. 23 24. William Wraughter his Hunting and resening of the Romish Fox dedicated to King Henry the eighth Henry Stalbridge his Exhortatory Epistle to his dearly beloved Country of England in King Henry the eighth his Reigne Iohn Bale Bishop of Osyris in his Image of both Churches and Scriptorum Illustrium Brittaâ—dae p. 33. 116. 117. 161. 286. 287. 471. 481. 633. to 640. 647. 702. de Vitis Ponrificum Romanorum Father Latymer Master Bilney Master Rogers Shetterdon and other of our Martyrs William Alley Bishop of Exeter in his Poore mans Library part 1. sol 56. Bishop Iewell in his Defence of the Apology of the Church of England p. 593. 449. 480. to 497. 508. and Reply to Harding p. 220. to 230. Master Thomas Beacon his Acts of Christ and Antichrist his Supplication unto Christ his Reports of Certaine men Reliques of Rome Master Iohn Fox in his Meditations upon the Apocalips Bishop Bilson in his book of Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion Doctor Whitaker Doctor Robert Abbot Bishop of Sarum Doctor George Downham Bishop of Derry Doctor Beard Master Powel Doctor Willet Doctor Fulke Doctor Sutcliffe Doctor Sharp Master Squire in their severall Treatises and discourses concerning Antichrist Doctor Iohn White in his way to the true Church Sect. 61. Num. 4. Master Brightman upon the Revelation Doctor Crakenthorpe his defence of Constantine and of the Popes temporall Monarchy and generally all other our eminentest English Writers of any note till this Arch-bishops reigne have positively defined the Pope and Papacy to be the great Antichrist and proved the same at large We shall close up this with two of the Arch-bishops predecessors resolutions in this point The first is Arch-bishop Cranmer who as he refused to move or stirre his cap to the Popes Commissioners when he was converted before them for his Religion so he likewise professedly averred the Pope to be the Artichrist in these very termes recorded by Master Fox in his Acts and Monuments Vol. 3. Edit 1641. p. 653. 660. 661. The Bishop of Rome unlesse he be Antichrist I cannot tell what to make of him wherefore if I should obey him I cannot obey Christ he is like the Devill in his doings for the Devill said to Christ If thou wilt fall downe and worship me I will give thee all the Kingdomes of the world thus he tooke upon him to give that which was not his owne even so the Bishop of Rome giveth Princes their Crownes being none of his owne for where Princes either by election either by succession either by inheritance obtaine their Crowne he saith that they should have it from him Christ saith that Antichrist shall be and who shall he be forsooth he that advanceth himselfe above all other creatures Now if there be none already that hath advanced himselfe after such sort besides the Pope then in the mean time let him be Antichrist c. After which he desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the traditions and Religion of that usurping Prelat to be most erronious false and against the doctrine of the whole Scripture which he had often times wel proved by writing and the author of the same to be very Antichrist so often preached of by the Apostles Prophets in whom did most evidently concur al signes and tokens whereby he was painted out to the world to be known for it was most evident that he had advanced himselfe above all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmed to hold their estates and Empires of him as of their chiefe c. He hath brought in gods of his owne framing and invented a new Religion full of gaine and lucre quite contrary to the holy Scriptures onely for the maintaining of his Kingdome displacing Christ from his glory and holding his people in a miserable servitude of blindnesse to the losse of a great number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hand boasting many times in his canons and decrees that he can dispence contra Petrum contra Paulum contra vetus novum testamentum and that he plenitudine potestatis tantum prtesi quantum Deus that is against Peter against Paul against the old and new Testament and of the fulnesse of power may doe as much as God O Lord who ever heard such blasphemy if there be any man that can advance himselfe above him let him be judged Antichrist This enemy of God and our Redemption is so evidently painted out of the Scriptures by such manifest signes and tokens which all so cleerly appeare in him that except a man will shut up his eyes and heart against the light he cannot but know him and therefore for my part I will never give my consent to the receiving of him into this Church of England thus Cranmer resigned at his death This Arch-prelat therefore hath shut his eyes and heart against this shining truth in his godly Predecessors judgement who not onely doubts but denies the Pope to be the Antichrist The second is Arch-bishop Whitguift who when he commenced Doctor and answered the Divinity act at Cambridge anno 1569. publikely maintained this assertion in the Schooles Papa est ille Ancichristus as Sir George Paul records in his life p. 5. which this Arch-bishops immediate Predecessor Abbot
to which we shall onely adde That the Arch-bishop having stopt the English Presses to all Orthodox Books against his Popish Innovations at home endeavoured to hinder the Printing of them abroad in Forraign parts to which end by Sir William Boswels means then Leager Ambassador at the Hague and the assistance of one Iohn le Maire preacher in Amsterdam his constant Spie and Intelligencer to give notice of all English and Scottish Books there printing as appears by sundry Originall Letters under his hand and seal found in the Arch-bishops studdy he procured the States of the United Provinces in the Low Countries to make a generall Proclamation in Aprill 1639. against the Printers and spreaders of Libellous and Seditious Books against the Church and Prelates of England and obtained a Proclamation or Order from the Townes of Amsterdam and Roterdam for the apprehending and punishing of Master Can and other English men who Printed such English and Scottish Books which is evident by divers coppies thereof and Letters from Sir William Boswell and others to the Arch-bishop By meanes whereof the Presses both in England and the Netherlands were all closed up against Orthodox English Books under the notion of Libellous and Seditious Pamphlets and could neither be Printed nor imported without great danger and censure On the contrary divers Popish books of all sorts as well in English as Latin French and other Languages were Printed and dispersed in London by Priests Jesuits Papists and their Agents without any restaint or search made after them or punishment inflicted on the Printers or dispersers of them yea many thousands of them were dayly imported by help of the Queens Priests and Capucins who dispersed them and if the searchers or others seized them at the Custome house according to the Statute of 3. Iacobi c. 5. which Enacts That no person or persons shall bring from beyond the seas nor shall print buy or sell any Popish Primers Ladies Psalters Manuels Rosaries Popish Catechismes Missals Breviaries Portals Legends and Lives of Saints conteining any superstitious matter Printed or Written in any Language whatsoever nor any other superstitious Books Printed or Written in the English tongue upon pain of forfiture of 40. s. for every such Booke c. The Arch-bishop or his Chaplains would presently send to the Searchers and enjoyn them to restore these Books to the owners that claimed them or else command them to bring them in to the High Commission Office upon pretence to proceed against the Importers and to have the Books themselves publikely adjudged to be burnt where after a little space they were delivered out from thence to the Importers without any penalty or confiscation and then freely dispersed among the Roman Priests and English Catholiques to foment them in their Idolatry Superstition and seduce others unto Popery as one Iohn Egerton a searcher deposed and others attested of which more hereafter Which compared with the premised Licensing of Popish and purging Orthodox Books against Popery will most perspicuously discover his impious designes to advance and set up Popery among us by degrees The fifth particular branch of the Evidence to prove the first Generall Charge against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury WEE shall in the next place proceed to the eighth and ninth Originall Article which we shall addresse our selves to prove and make a fifth Generall Proof of his Trayterous Endeavours to subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in our Church and to set up Popish superstition and Idolatry in its steed and that is His countenancing commending fomenting and preferring of divers Clergy-men who were most addicted to and greatest Writers sticklers for Arminian Errors and Superstious Popish Doctrines Ceremonies Innovations to the best Ecclesiasticall Dignities Promotions Benefices and making some of them Chaplaines to his Majesty to the Princes Highnesse and Heads of Colledges in our Vniversities to poyson those Fountaines of Religion Seconded with his contrary discountenancing suppressing suspending censuring imprisoning persecuting and driving forth of this Kingdome such zealous Orthodox Preaching Ministers who were most bold and resolute to oppose them For pregnant proof of the former Branch of this particular First it is clear and undenyable not onely by known experience and divers Letters found in his study but by the Docquet Bookes and privy Signets on record that this Archbishop contrary to the use of his Predecestors incroached usurped to himselfe from the year of our Lord 1627. when he first grew potent at Court and became Bishop of Bath Wells afterwards of London before he was Archbishop and ever since he mounted to the See of Canterbury the disposition and donation of all or most Bishopricks Deaneries Prebendaries and Benefices of note in his Majesties gift or in the gift of the Lord Keeper and Master of the Court of Wards not onely within the Kingdomes of England but of Scotland and Ireland too and that he usurped the power of nominating Chaplaines in ordinary to his Majesties and the Princes Highnesse contrary to all former Presidents belonging time out of mind to the Lord High Chamberlaines Office who had the nomination of these Chaplaines and swore and invested them in their office as Master Oldesworth a Member of the House of Commons Secretary to the late High Chamberlaine the Honourable Earle of Pembrooke attested upon Oath and the Noble Earle himselfe averred upon his Honour a thing so notorious to all old Courtiers and Chaplaines in ordinary to the King as to doubt of it were a Solecisme To make this apparent by punctuall proofes we shall instance in such particular persons which were advanced by him to Bishopricks even for their erronious Arminian opinions or dangerous Popish Tenets and Practises We have formerly proved that Richard Mountague was questioned and voted against in the Commons House in Parliament April 13. 1626. for his Arminian and Popish Tenets published in his Gagge and Appeale and endeavouring as much as in him lay to reconcile us to Popery which complaint was revived against him in the ensuing Parliament An. 1627. No sooner was that Parliament dissolved but this Prelate then Bishop of London who fomented protected him against the Parliament all he could in stead of discountenancing punishing advanced him to the Bishoprick of Chichester in the place of Bishop Carlton who writ against him This was evidenced by the Docquet Book it selfe wherein this entry of the Privy Signet and Election is recorded Iuly 18. 1628. His Majesties Royall assent for Richard Mountague Batchelour in Divinity to bee Bishop of Chichester signified By order of the LORD BISHOP OF LONDON Laud And by the Record it selfe of the Kings Royall Assent produced at the Bat by Master Prynne and there Read in these Words CHARLES R. REX c. Reverendissimo in Christo Patri perdilecto perquam fideli Nostro Domino Georgio providentia divina Cantuar Archiepiscopo ac totius Angliae Primati Metropolitano ac aliis quibuscunque Episcopis quorum in hac
the Church of England was ready to ring the Changes and insinuating unto his Auditory that there was cause to fear an Alteration of Religion saying that Religion and the Gospel stood on tiptoes ready to be gone that divers good Ministers were silenced and that they should beware of a relapse unto Popery In this censure the Archbishop had the chiefest hand as was proved by the High Commission Bookes and Mr Wardes Submission which was drawn up by Sir Iohn Lambe and sent to this Archbishop who endorsed it with his owne hand This severe sentence utterly ruined this famous painfull preacher who lay long in prison and soone after ended his dayes in great grief and sorrow In April 1630. Articles were exhibited against Mr Charles Chancy a Reverend learned painfull Minister living at Ware for preaching against the Bacchanales and disorders used by many in the Christmas holy-dayes the increase of Popery Arminianisme and using these expressions in a Sermon of his charged against him in his Articles in Ianuary before That Idolatry was admitted into the Church and that not only the prophets of Baal but Baal himselfe is received and houses multiplyed for the entertainment of them and with all saying that the preaching of the Gospel would be suppressed That there wanted men of courage to tell the Superiours in the Church of their neglect for that there was increase of much Atheisme Popery Arminianisme and Heresie in our Church since the reformation of it as at this time wherein Heresies were not onely broached but maintained whereby he raised a fear among the people and insinuated to them that some alteration of Religion would ensue and be brought in and scandalized the whole Church of England and Government thereof To these Articles Mr Chancy gave in his answer upon Oath in the High Commission the 21 of the same April and the very next day by Order of that Court the whole cause was referred to this Bishop then of London being his ordinary provided that if Mr Chancy did not submit himselfe to performe his Lordships order therein that then his Lordship if it seemed good unto him might transferre the cause backe again to be censured in this Court Whereupon Mr Chancy made a Submission to his Lordship in Latin and soon after was enforced to desert the Kingdome and set sayle for New England to avoyd further persecution All which is manifest by the Originall Articles and Mr Chancyes answer to them found among Sir John Lambes sequestred Writings by Mr Prynne and by the Order of Reference and M. Chancyes Submission endorsed with the Bishops own hand the chiefe Prosecutor of this cause To these we could add M. Cotton M. Hooker M. Davenport M. Wells M. Peters M. Glover and sundry other Ministers driven into New England and other Plantations those that fled over into Holland to avoyd his prosecution with some hundreds of Ministers questioned in the High Commission and else-where by his meanes and there suspended silenced for not publishing the Booke of Sports or not submitting to his Popish Innovations M. Salisbury was questioned and troubled by this Prelate for these passages in his Sermon on Math. 24. 6. How many thousands have made shipwrack of faith a good conscience renounced our true Church stepp'd aside to Arminianisme and from thence as it is the widest gate that opens towards Rome relapsed to Popery Thus are wee scattered in our Jacob and divided in our Israel The Low Countryes not long since if not still sighed as deeply and mourned as strongly to finde herselfe as imperceivably to be overgrowne with Arminianisme And what a faction is like to be in our deplorable England between Popery and Arminianisme together except God be more mercifull and our State the more vigilant and mindfull We shall see sooner then tell and feel sooner then see Doctor Staughton D. Sibbes D. Taylor D. Gouge M. White of Dorchester M. Rogers of Dodham with sundry more of our most eminent preaching orthodox Divines were brought into the High Commission and troubled or silenced for a time by his procurement upon frivilous pretences But in truth because they were principle Props of our Protestant Religion against his Popish and Arminian Innovations But omitting these we shall conclude this head with one memorable instance more which comes very home Mr Nathaniel Bernard Lecturer at Sepulchers in London preaching at Antholins Church in May 3. 1629. used this expression in his prayer before his Sermon Oh Lord open the eyes of the Queenes Majestie that shee may see Iesus Christ whom shee hath peirced with her Infidelity Superstition and Idolatry This Archbishop then of London was presently informed of this passage attested by Walter Kirby an Atturney of Bernards Inne Iohn Browne of Durham Minister and some others Whereupon the Bishop brought him into the High Commission where after long attendance upon his Submission this ensuing Order was framed Die Jovis viz. xxviii die mensis Januarii Anno Domini juxta c 1629. Coram Commissionariis Regiis apud Lambeth Judicialiter sedentibus presente Thoma Mottershed Registrarij Regij Deputat Officum Dominorum contra Nathanielem Bernard Clericum Prima Sessio Termini Hillarij HIS appearance by bond was respited untill this day at which day and place the said Nathaniel Bernard appeared personally and then it being objected unto him by the Court that he had in a Sermon lately by him preached or otherwise delivered some Scandalous and undutiful speeches derogatory to some particular person of most eminent place which the Court desired not to have there repeated and for that the said Mr Bernard had acknowledged his error in that kinde as some of the Commissioners there unto whom he had submitted himself reported and himselfe confessed the Court was inclined upon his submission being a young scholler and a student in Divinity to accept his submission and enclined to deal mercifully and favourably with him yet considering that his scandalous and undutifull speeches were of such high nature as could not be well remitted or pardoned by this Court without the approbation and the good liking of his most Excellent Majestie the Court desired the Lord Bishop of London to acquaint his Majestie therewith and if his Majestie upon understanding of the Cause would be graciously pleased to pardon him and leave it to the Court that then this Court would take such further order for his dismission as they should think meet Mottershed The Copy of this Order with another Paper conteining the words were both endorsed with the Bishops own hand and found among his Papers by Mr Prynne who produced them Mr Bernard not long after upon his submission was dismissed the Court After which repairing to the University of Cambridge to visit his friends he fortuned to preach at Saint Maries Church there on the 6. of May 1632. in the afternoon wherein he let fall divers Passages concerning preaching the purity of Gods Ordinances worship and against the Introducers of
worshipping them whereby they Symbolize with the Church of Rome very shamefully to the irreparable Shipwracke of many soules who split upon this rocke The Papists teach that it is impossible to be saved in our Church and our Religion Some of ours at least in outward profession teach that it is possible to be saved in the Romish Religion and Church hence an unsettled judgement concludes if we may agree in Heaven why do we not agree and meet each other halfe way on earth And hence we have many Cassanders among us who meditate and wish a reconciliation between the Church of Rome and ours and to be sure say the unsettled it is the safest way to be members of that Church wherein both sides agree that salvation is to be had then of that Church in which one side onely affirmes it and that a party And this fills Rome with English proselites What can we thinke lesse of those men who by their Symbolizing with the Church of Rome in Doctrine and Worship give occasion thereunto then that they are enemies to this Church and Nation I say they are enemies and therefore let us take up armes against them But what armes Preces Ecclesiae sunt arma Ecclesiae let us pray these men either to conversion if it be Gods blessed will or to their destruction fiat justitia pereant illi And let us use that prayer against them which David used against Achitophell with which I will conclude all O Lord turne the councell of all these crafty Achitophells into folly who go about to lay the honour of this Church and Nation in the dust by depriving us of the purity of any of thy Ordinances for thy publique Worship which are the glory of this our Israel For these clauses Mr Bernard was most severely sentenced in the High Commission by this Bishops violent Prosecution Suspended his Ministry excommunicated fined a thousand pounds imprisoned condemned in costs of suite committed prisonet to the new Prison where he lay sundry moneths being most barbarously used and almost starved for want of necessaries of which he complained to the Bishop by sundry Letters and Petitions found in his study with Mr Bernards Sermon and the informations against him endorsed with the Bishops own hand and produced at the Barre but could find no reliefe unlesse he would make this ensuing Recantation sent to him by the Bishop and thus endorsed with his own pen Septem 11. 1632 A Copy of a Recantation tendered to Mr Bernard Lecturer of Sepulchers about a Sermon that he preached at Cambridge He refused this Recantation Mr. Bernards RECANTATION WHereas in a Sermon made by me in this place the sixt of May last upon this Text. The glory is departed from Israel because the Arke of God was taken 1 Sam. 4. 21. I had this Passage And the Apostle Rom. 1. 16. affirmeth of the preaching of the Gospel that it is the power of God to salvation Idest it is that meanes by which God manifesteth his omnipotent and irresistable power in the conversion and salvation of all those who from Eternity were ordained thereunto by Gods absolute and immutable Decree And I do here publikely acknowledge that hereby contrary to his Majesties command in his Declaration lately published and printed with the Articles of Religion I did go beyond the generall meaning of that place of Scripture and of the said Articles And draw the same to maintaine the one side of some of these ill raised differences which his Majesties said Declaration mentioneth And this I did rather out of a desire to thrust in some-what into my said Sermon in affirmation of one side of the said differences then any wayes occasioned by the Text I then preached of For which I here publikely professe my hearty sorrow and do humbly crave pardon of God Almighty of his Majestie and of this Congregation And whereas in the same Sermon I had this passage If Gods Ordinances for his publique Worship in their purity are the glory of a Nation then it followes that they who go about to deprive a Nation of any of Gods Ordinances for his publique Worship either in whole or in the best part of them id est in their purity and integrity they go about to make that Nation base and inglorious and if so then are they Enemies to that Nation and Traytors to it if it bee their own Nation for Treason is not limited to the royall blood as if he only could be a Traytor who plotteth and attempteth the dishonour or shedding thereof but may be and is too oft committed against the whole Church and Nation which last is by so much the worst of them two by how much the end is better then the meanes and the whole of greater consequence then any one part alone Whereby we may learne what to account of those among our selves if any such bee which is better knowne to you then to mee who endeavour to quench the light and abase the glory of our Israel by bringing in their Pelagian Errours into the Doctrine of our Church established by Law and the Superstitions of the Church of Rome into our Worship of God as high Altars Crucifixes and bowing to them id est in plain English Worshipping them whereby they symbolize with the Church of Rome very shamefully to the irreparable Shipwracke of many soules who split upon this rocke I doe now upon better information finde that mary erronious and daungerous assertions and consequences unfitting to bee here expressed may bee collected and inferred out of the said Wordes And I doe therefore hereby publiquely recant all the said wordes as they are an use or inference and application used by me to be very rashly and inconsiderately uttered and to be very undutifull towards his Majestie I doe humbly referre and submitt my selfe to his Majesties Clemency and gracious acceptance for the interpretation of my meaning of the same And I am heartily sorry and doe humbly crave pardon that wordes and applications so scandalous to the present state of the Church of England and so dangerous proceeded from mee Thirdly whereas in the same Sermon I had this passage By Gods Ordinances here I understand chiefely the word Sacraments and Prayer in that purity and integrity wherein the Lord Christ left them not blended and adulterated with any Superstitious Inventions of man for then they cease to be Gods Ordinances and hee ownes them us longer I desire that this passage may be taken and understood as I spake and meant it and not otherwise That is not that I hold all humane Inventions added to Gods Ordinances to be Superstiticus for I account that tenet not onely false but palpably absurd and foolish But to exclude all those humane Inventions which may hinder the preservation of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church of England in that Purity and Integrity wherein through Gods gracious goodnesse by his Majesties Lawes Ecclesiasticall we doe enjoy them Fourthly and lastly whereas by
Petitioning upon these hard conditions which he returned and certified to this Archbishop from whom they originally proceeded in these ensueing termes as appears by the Originall under his own hand found in the Archbishops study and attested by Mr Prynne Decemb. 7. 1636. IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN AN Account touching the Royall Instructions given by the Kings most Excellent Majestie to the most Reverend Father in God William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate and Metropolitan of all England concerning Orders to be observed by all the Bishops of that Province To the severall Articles of which Instructions I Mathew Lord Bishop of Norwich thus humbly make answer and in Order Viz. To the 5º Article and the four branches thereof I scarce found any Catechising used in the whole Diocesse some fewe places excepted but I have very strictly enforced it and I presume it is now faithfully performed in most Churches of the Diocesse Especially in the City of Norwich there were not above 4 Sermons on Sunday mornings in 34 Churches only in the Afternoon they had them But I caused Sermons or Homilies to be had in every Church in the forenoon and Catechizing in the afternoon according to the Canon Lectures abounded especially in Suffolke Not a Market or a bowling greene or an Ordinary could stand without one and many of them were set up by private Gentlemen at their pleasures At St. Edmunds Bury there were three Two single Lectures on Wednesday and Friday in either of their Churches one and one by Combination of neighbouring Divines on Munday the Market day The Combination ending at Christmas last of themselves they forbeare to begin it again till they had fought to me for leave and order therein I gave my consent and allowed fifty choice Divines inhabiting within that Archdeaconry upon these two Conditions First that the Divine Service being began duly by the Curate of the Church at nine of the Clocke the Preacher for that day should be ready in his Surplisse and Hood to begin the second Service at the Communion Table and so should assend into the Pulpit after the Nicene Creede and there using no other prayer then is prescribed in the 55. Canon nor preaching above one hour should not give the Blessing out of the Pulpit but should dessend again to the Table and read the Prayer for the universull Church and so dismisse the congregation with the Peace of God c. Secondly that the people of the Town should duly resort to the Church to the beginning of Divine Service and there deport themselves with all Humility Reverence and Devotion in kneeling standing bowing being uncovered and answering audibly Both which conditions are joyfully and duly performed as well by the Preachers for their part as the people for theirs respectively The two single Lectures are likewise continued and performed upon the same conditions Only during the time of this Fast I appointed the Friday Lecture to be held on the Fast day also At Ipswich there hath been no Lecture since Mr Wards censure It was not unknowne to some of them that if they had sought to have one I would have granted it but they are resolved to have him or none and him they make account to have in despite of all censures At Yarmouth there hath beene no Lecturer these two yeares ever since which time more Peace hath been in the Town and good Order in Ecclesiasticall things much increased At Lyme their Lecturer dyed in February They presently sought to have the Curate of the place allowed to be Lecturer I gave leave that he should supply the place till I might further enquire of him but about Whitsuntide he voluntarily relinquished and not without some contempt whereupon I would not suffer him afterward to return though some desired it At Norwich one Lecture is still held by Mr Cock an honest conformable man of whom they make no great regard Other two have voluntarily relinquished because they will observe no Order whereof one Mr Bridge hath left two Cures and is runne into Holland The other Lectures in the Country Towns were at this passe First they observed no Order at all in reading of the Divine Service or in abstaining from points of controversie or in their habits Secondly Laymen had taken upon them to put in and put out some Lecturers at their pleasure Thirdly the people also knowing before hand who was to preach when any factious fellow came would throng and hang upon the Windowes but if they did not phansie the man the Church was halfe empty to the great discouragement of many who complained thereof to me Fourthly they never sought to me to obtaine any allowances or to receive any order about them whereupon after more then halfe a years expectation some of them were inhibited untill they sought leave of their ordinary Since they in Suffolk Petition was made to me 1 From Debenham and I was ready to allow them a Lecture on the same conditions with St. Edmunds Bury which they went to consider of but I never heard since from them 2 From Bergholt vulgo Baifeld which is a Mile of Dedham in Essex But it being no Market Town and I not finding a sufficient number of grave and orthodox Divines neer that part and Dr. Jones an eminent man their late Lecturer having often complained to me of their factious dispositions I took time to consider of it 3 From Haverill no Market Town also where a young fellow had thrust up himself without leave Sede vacanie to be their Lecturer yet in regard of his want of means I yeelded upon condition that he should behave himselfe orderly and the Towne should assure fourty Markes per annum for a Stipend which they have not yet done In Norfolk from Wimendam and Eastharling suite was made to me but it was since the Fast began whereupon I respited them till it pleased God that it might cease and then I would be ready to do to them as I had done at Bury Besides these places afore named I remember but three in Northfolke as yet inhibited Viz. at Diss new Buckenham and Northwalsham and three in Suffolk viz. at Ixmom a Lecture started up by Sir William Spring within these four years at Cockefield a private town where the said Knight bound his Clerk when he presented him to read a Lecture there every Thursday because Mr Knewstubs had for many years before done it And at Wickham where the Lecturer is no Graduate and hath been a common Stage player a man of small abilities and of whom many complaints were brought to me This Bishop Wren likewise prohibited all ringing of Bells to give notice of a Sermon to the Parishioners or others Suppressed all Preparation Sermons to fit men for the worthy receiving of the Sacrament all Prayers before Sermons but that enjoyned by the 55. Canon forbidding Ministers to use any Prayers after their Sermons Enjoyned there should be no Catechisms used on the Lordsday instead of the
Afternoon Sermon but only such Questions and Answers as are conteined in the Common Prayer book not allowing Ministers to expound or open the points of the same to the people he and his Officers affirming in publike places that such an Exposition might be as ill as a Sermon And by colour of these Instructions and the Declaration for Sports he silenced suspended at least fifty Ministers forcing many of them and above three thousand people besides to desert the Kingdome and fly into Holland and new-New-England as appears by the Articles of his impeachment presented to the Lords by the house of Commons and by sundry witnesses before severall Committees All which Exorbitancies issued from these Instructions and must be put on this Archbishops score the Author of them to whom Bishop Wren and other Bishops gave an annuall Account of their due execution Bishop Mountague succeeding Bishop Wren in the Bishoprick of Norwich in pursuance of these Instructions exceeded him in his Visitation Articles concerning Lectures and Lecturers as appeares by these ensuing printed both at London and Cambridge Anno. 1638. 4. Concerning Lecturers and Lectures Forasmuch as of late years the course and humor of Lecturing and the frequenting and hearing such exercises is of great resent in the State and Church of England from which course as much good may ensue and be procured if well and discreetly managed so if otherwise great hurt danger and scandall may and often doth result the cure and care whereof properly and immediately belongs to the Bishop of the Diocesse where such exercises are the Church-Wardens and Sidesmen are given to understand that there be amongst us three sorts of Lecturers 1 The first most hugged followed admired and maintained is a super-inducted Lecturer in another mans cure and pastorall charge who hath some resemblance to the ancient Catharist in the Primitive Church but is up and down the same with the Doctor in the New Discipline which I take it is the motive of his so great approbation and good entertainment above the Incumbent of the Cure though never so learned and painfull 2 Concerning him it is to be enquired of what degrees in Schools he is and of how long standing and studying in Divinity whether he be a graduate in Divinity a Doctor or at least a Batchelor and not a young Student or Preacher 3 Are his Lectures popular Afternoon Sermons or be they Catechisticall and readings upon some common place of Divinity or the four parts of the English authorized Catechisme or some of the 39 Articles of our Confession 4 Is he there admitted with the consent of the Incumbent or against his will with warrant and authority from the Bishop under his Episcopall seal Is the Minister and Incumbent of that place where he Lectureth a Preacher or not and if a Benefice be offered the Lecturer do you suppose he would take it 5 Doth he often and at times appointed read Divine Service and administer the Communion in his Surplisse and Hood of his degree 6 Of what length are his Lectures and how is his Prayer at beginning and end is he there in conforme unto the Appointment and Order of the Canon Can. 55. 7 Doth he in his popular Lectures ordinarily fall upon points of misticall darke and abstruse Divinity as Praedestination c. Doth he intermeddle with matters of State Government forrein from his profession above his understanding 8 Doth he oppose or traduce openly the Doctrine of his Brethren and neighbouring Ministers or obliquely underhand or upon the by gird at them the Doctrine Discipline of the Church any Parishioner c. so designing him them or that that a man may take notice of his meaning 9 The second sort of Lecturers be those of Combination when many neighbouring Ministers do voluntarily agree and consent with the Ordinaries approbation not otherwise to preach a Sermon every man in his course at some adjoyning market town upon the market day for instructing of such who repair together to sell and buy in their duty to God and commerce with man Have you any such Lecturers 10 Who be the Combiners be they beneficed men of the Diocesse and not strangers or Curates who are not to be admitted because if they offend in their Sermons the Diocesan cannot reach them they are gone 11 Doth this Lecturer any way abridge hinder or cut off Divine Service which is compleatly to be finished before the Lecture begin 12 Do any resorting thereto walke aloofe or in the Church-yard on stay at some house purposely and not repair to the Church till Lecture begin If any such misdemeanour be present it and without amendment the Lecture shall cease 13 A third sort be running Lecturers who point upon such a day to meete at such a Church most an end in some Country Town or Village and then after Sermon and dinner at some house of their disciples repeat censure and explain the Sermon discourse of points proposed at their last meeting by the head of that Classis or Assembly ever to the promoting of their owne fancies and derogation from the doctrine and discipline of the Church after all they do again condicere and appoint to meet next at such a Church in like sort to like purpose Such I found in Sussex at my comming thither If you have any such or know any such present them as far as you can learn who they be where they do meet whither any of your Parish run after them By these we may discerne the spirit of this Prelate and his Malignity against Lecturers and Lectures which he carefully suppressed in Chichester Diocesse where he published the like Articles and would have done the like in Norwich but that his predecessour Bishop Wren had left no Lectures for him to suppresse Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wells a great creature of this Arch-Prelates to please his Grace the better by colour of these Instructions which he rigorously observed suppressed all Lectures within his Diocesse both in Market Townes and elsewhere as well combination Lectures as those maintained by Ministers or Lecturers upon stipends or the peoples benevolence some of which Lectures had continued 40 or 50 years without interruption and were countenanced by some of his Predecessors actuall preaching at them in their turnes which when he had effected he publikely gloryed in this wicked act using this most execrable speech I thank God I have not one Lecture lest in my Diocesse professing before that he hated the very name of Lectures and would not leave so much as one Lecture in his Diocesse and requiring the Ministers upon their canonicall obedience not to preach any Lecture alleaging that there was no such need of preaching no was there was in the Apostles dayes Yea he suspended Mr Devenish the Minister of Bridgewater for preaching a Lecture there in his own Church on the Market day which Lecture had continued from Queen Elizabeth time till then and refused to absolve him till he hath
faithfully promised to preach it no more And when he absolved him on this promise he most prophanely used to him these words of our Saviour spoken to the Woman taken in Adultery Iohn 8. 14. Go thy way sinne no more that is preach this Lecture no more as if preaching was as heinous a sinne as Adultery lest a worse thing happen to thee Furthermore in pursuit of these Instructions he put down all Sermons on the Lords dayes in the Afternoon throughout his Diocesse strictly charging the Ministers in his Visitations not to preach on Lords dayes in the Afternoon upon any occasion under pain of Suspension After which hee suspended one Mr Cornish only for preaching a Funerall Sermon on a Lordsday Evening Furthermore he convented the Minister of Beercoockham before him for having two Sermons on that parish Revellday alleadging that it was a hinderance to the Revel and utterance of the Church-all provided to be spent ' on that day belike he had more care of the Church wardens Ale then the peoples Soules and he questioned one Mr Thomas Erford a Minister as a Delinquent for preaching at the parish of Mountague on their Revellday upon the Prophet Joels exhortation to Fasting weeping and mourning charging him that not only his Sermon but his every text too was scandalous to the Revel and gave offence to the meeting And whereas divers godly Ministers of his Diocesse being restrained from preaching did take great paine thereupon to catechise their Parishioners in the principles of Religion on Lordsdayes in the Afternoon according to the Letter of these Instructions enlarging themselves upon the Questions and Answers in the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer-Booke for the peoples better Instruction and using a short prayer before and after that exercise this Bishop being informed of it corrected and sharply reproved these Ministers for their pains threatning to punish them severely if they Persisted therein saying Thus it was a Catechizing Sermon-wise and AS BAD AS PREACHING Charging them that they should aske no other Questions nor receive any other Answers from the people but such as were conteined in the Book of Common prayer which one Mr Bâ—â—rett Rector of Barwick not observing was enjoyned penance for it and one Humfrey Blake Churchwarden of Bridgewater was likewise put to penance for not presenting Mr Devenish the Minister there as a Delinquent for expounding the Church-Cateckisme and making a short prayer of his own before he began his exercise All which particulars were proved by substantiall witnesses before a Committee of the House of Commons drawn up into an Impeachment against this Bishop and being in verity the Impious fruites of this Arch-Prelates project who encouraged him herein must be justly and principally charged upon his score Quia plus peccat Author quà m Actor The like Suppressions of Sermons and Catechizing on the Lords day in the Afternoon were common in all or most other Diocesse neither could any Combination Lectures be obtained in them but with very great suite and upon very hard conditions which the Bishops tooke advantage to prescribe by colour of these Instructions all strictly observed till this present Parliament This we could prove by many Instances we shall produce but one instead of all the rest found among Sir Iohn Lambes Papers the Archbishops grand Instrument herein by Mr Prynns endorsed with Sir Iohns own fift Orders given by the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN Lord Bishop of PFTERBOROVGH for and concerning the Sermon weekly on Wednesday in Saint JAMES Chappell in BRACKLEY September the 14. 1639. 1. IT is ordered that the fifteen Divines whose names are here under written shall be appointed to their severall dayes by Dr Hâ—ath Chancellor of the said Dioces or his permission by Doctor Sybthorpe one of his Surrogates in a Catalogue to be signed by him annexed to these orders II. That no other Divine shall be admitted to Preach there upon any Wednesday but one of these fifteene except the Curate of that place upon any pretence whatsoever And if one of these shall dye or depart or refuse to preach none other shall be Substituted but by expresse allowance of the Bishop III. That the Bell shall begin to toll a quarter of an houre before nine of the Clocke in the morning and shall continue so toleing till nine of the Clocke and no longer IIII. That immediatly upon ceasing of the Bell the Divine Service of the Church of England for morning prayer shall begin and shall be said together with the Letanie either by the Preacher for that day or else in case of necessity only by the Minister of the place of his assistant in his Surplice and Hood according to his degree in Schooles V. The Preacher for that day shall be ready at the Communion Table in his Surplice and Hood while a Psalme is in singing after the Morning prayer and the Letanie to begin the Communion Service commonly called the second Service and that there be no Hiatus or stopp at all after the end of the Psalmes If he be not there He who did reade the Morning prayer that day shall presently goe thither and proceede to the second Service and no Sermon shall be had that day VI. The Preacher assoone as he hath repeated the Nicen Creede shall goe up into the Pulpet in his Surplice and hood VII No other forme of prayer before the Sermon shall be vsed then is set downe in the LV. Canon to move the people to pray in the words and manner there perscribed interposing only if he so desire the names of the Vniversities and of his Colledge or of his Patron he being one quallified by Law to have a Chaplaine VIII The Sermon at the utmost shall be within the compasse of an howre and shall be ended with Glory be to God c. without any other prayers in the Pulpit VIIII The Preacher shall after is Sermon come presently from the Pulpit and so goe to the Communion table and reade the prayer for the whole estate of Christs Church c. and one or two of the Collects which stands after the Communion Service and so shall dismisse the people with that blessing there The peace of God c. X. A Surplice and Hood are to be provided for the Preacher at the charge of the Towne XI The people to be admonished by the Preacher as neede shall require to be diligent and of reverend behaviour at the divine service both before the Sermon and also after it All men to be uncovered during all the time both of Service and Sermon all persons to do Reverence at the blessed name of Iesus to stand at the Creedes Hymnes and Gospells to kneele at the confession and prayers and practise all other parts of conformity to the Church Government or otherwise it shall be sufficient cause to have the combination for the said weekely Sermon forthwith inhibited if the Divine Service be neglected or deserted Or if these Orders above
the year 1626. some godly Persons in and about London to promote the preaching of the Gospel and set up a Preaching Ministry to instruct the people in divers great Towns and Parishes impropriate where they wanted means to maintain Preaching of which they had long been destitute in former times resolved to lay their purses together and chuse out of themselves four Divines four Common Lawyers and four Citizens of note who should be Feoffees in trust to purchase in these Impropriations and with the profits of them to set up and maintain a constant preaching Ministery in places of greatest need and eminency whereupon they made choice of Dr W. Gouge Dr R. Sibbs C. Ofspring I. Davenport Divines Ralph Eyre S. Brown of Lincolas Inne C. Sherland of Greyes Inne J. White of middle Temple Esquires Common Lawyers Iohn Geering Richard Davis George Harwood and Francis Bridges Citizens to be Feoffees for this purpose who with their own monyes and the contributions of other well-affected persons in 2 or 3 years space purchased in the Impropriations of Hartford Dunstable Cirencester with others and set up able preaching conformable Ministers authorized by the Bishops of the Diocesse there in many other places where they had never any before as likewise at Bridgenorth Clarely and had they not been interrupted in this good work would in very few years in all probability have purchased in most of the great Towns noted Parishes Impropriations of England in Lay-mens hands where Preaching was most wanting and meanes to maintain it No sooner had this Malignant Prelate notice of this pious religious work but out of his enmity to Preaching and the good of ignorant peoples souls whom he would rather have still keept in blindnesse and the chaines of Sathan then instructed with the Gospels light and brought under the Scepter of Jesus Christ he presently projects not only the obstruction but utter subvertion of this pious designe which none but a Devill incarnate or Enemy of all goodnesse could dislike many even of the worser sort of Bishops yea Courtiers applauding it as a very necessary and godly work That he himself projected the overthrow of these Feoffees was proved out of his own Diary where thus he writes in the close of it Things which I have projected to do if Godblesse me in them the third whereof is this To overthrow the Feofment dangerous both to Church and State going under the specious pretence of buying in Impropriations Over against which he writes in the Margin DONE which fights point-blanke with his very next project of a quite contrary nature justifying these Feoffees acts namely To procure King CHARLES to give all the Impropriations yet remaining in the Crown within the Realme of Ireland to that poor Church Against which he writes in the Margin Done and settled there though to the impairing of that Crownes revenues and that by power of the Councell Table in an arbitrary forcible and illegall way to the undoing of many as appears by sundry Originall Letters thence whereas the Feoffees buying in Impropriations did no wayes lessen the Kings revenues and was done in a just and legall way To overthrow this pious work he caused Mr Noy the Kings Atturney Generall by the Kings command to exhibit a Bill against these Feoffees in the Eschequer Chamber to confiscate their purchased Impropriations to the King by a Decree of that Court and so dissolve all they had done which Bill was prosecuted with all violence To set on the prosecution with more edge he suborned his flattering creatures to declaime against these Feoffees and their design in the Pulpit both at Court and elsewhere Among others his great Minion Peter Heylin preaching at Saint Maryes in Oxford before the whole Vniversity at the publike Act there on Sunday in the afternoon the 11th of July 1630. discharged his venome against Lecturers and these Feoffees in these bitter Invectives p. 38 39 Planting of Pensionary Lectures in so many places where it needs not and upon dayes of common labour will at the last bringing forth of fruites appear to be a tare indeed though now no wheat be counted fairer c. Wee will proceed a little further in the proposall of some things to be considered The Corporation of Feoffees for buying in Impropriations to the Church Doth it not seeme in the appearance to be an excellent peece of Wheat A noble and gracious point of Piety Is not this Templum Domini Templum Domini But blessed God that men should thus draw near unto thee with their mouths yet be far from thee in their hearts For what are those intrusted in the managing of this great businesse Are they not the most of them the most active and the best affected men in the whole cause et magna partis momenta chiefe Patrons of the faction And what are those whom they prefer Are they not most of them such as must be serviceable to their dangerous Innovations And will they not in time have more preferments to bestow and therefore more dependances then all the Prelates in the Kingdome c. Yet all this while we sleep and slumber and fold our hands in sloath and see perhaps but dare not note it This Sermon he presented to this Bishop in writing bound up in Velome who thus endorsed it with his own hand S. Mat. 13 25. Master Peter Heylin and reserved it as a monument in his study where it was seised by Mr Pryn and Mr Bendy who produced and attested it Feb. 13. 1632. this cause came to hearing and sentence in the Exchequer Chamber where the Feoffees and their good designe were utterly overthrowne of which the Bishop made this speciall Memento in his Diary in these termes Feb. 13. 1632. Wednesday the Feoffees that pretended to buy in Impropriations were dissolved in the Chequer Chamber They were the main Instruments for the Puritane faction to undoe the Church The Criminall part reserved John White of the Middle Temple Esquire a member of the House of Commons deposed at the Lords Barre that he attending this Archbishop then of London at London House as a Councellour about a right of Patronage to Chingford in Essex after the hearing of the businesse the Bishop demanded of him Whether he were not one of the Feoffees for buying in Impropriations to which he answered he was whereupon the Bishop fell upon him with much bitternesse of spirit calling him An enemy of the Church an underminer of Religion and vehemently affirmed that this worke of his and his fellow-Feoffees was mischeivous to the Church and destructive to Religion and that he would see him and his fellows shortly called to an Account for it and stop them from proceeding in that work That some few dayes after he attended this Bishop again at Fulham upon the former cause where he took occasion to discourse with him at large about the Feoffees proceedings enforming him that their onely ayme and end in purchasing in Impropriations was for the
authorized by his Chaplain Dr Bray presented to and accepted by himselfe when published as appears by two faire gilded printed copies thereof with his Archiepiscopall Armes engraven on the Covers found in his study by Mr Pryune printed An. 1640. since these Propositions of Bishop Hall were sent him resolving that there can be not only no Church but no Ministers at all without Bishops to ordain them in these terms Non est Sacerdotium nisi in Ecclesia non est Ecclesia sine Sacerdotio Illud autem intelligo per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Episcopalem ordinariam Neque euim admittenda consneus extraordinariam aliquam sen vocationem seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi miraculosam Oportet omnino miraculis agant suam confirment functionem signo aliquo qui non ab Episcopis derivata ab Apostolis per successionem institutione in Ecclesiam inducuntur sed velorti à sese vel nescio unde intrusi sese ingeruâ—t Nâ—m quod pretendunt ordinariam vocationem retinendam adhibendam eique adherescondum nisi in casu necessitatis absurdum est suppositione innititur impossibilitatis Neque enim talis casus an t extitit aliquando aut contingere potest nisi fallat not Dominus qui promisit Porta inferorum non pravalebunt Ecce sum vobiscum ad consummationem mundi By which Position the forraigne Protestant Churches are resolved concluded to be no Churches their Ministers no Ministers their Sacraments no Sacraments their Ordinances no Ordinances of Christ which perchance made Mr John Dury ordained in one of those Churches to be re-ordained a Minister here by the Bishop of Exeter Dr Hall before he was admitted to his Benefice as appeares by their severall Original Letters found in the Archbishops study And then what are they but meere Pagan Conventicles farre worse then Papists and the Church of Rome We shall only adde to this that whereas Bishop Hall in his Treatise of Episcopacy pag. 18. excused the forraign Protestant Churches from being unchurched by these Positions only in this regard that the reason why they renounced Bishops was meerly out of necessity because their Bishops would not suffer them to enjoy the Gospel Adding pag. 19. That it is very considerable whether the condition they were in doth absolutely warrant such a proceeding which is somewhat too hard a censure of them yet the Archbishop in his forecited Letter to Bishop Hall taxeth him for this his overmuch lenity towards them in these termes You are a little more favourable to the forraigne Churches and their Authors then our cause will beare and yet in the very same Letter he mislikes and blames this Bishop for his overmuch sharpnesse towards the Pope in his second Book for bestowing the Title of Antichrist upon him wherewith he was so highly offended that out of a zeal to his Holinesse he presently complaines to the King himselfe of this indignity offered to the Pope and procures a speciall Mandate from his Majesty to Bishop Hall to qualifie his expressions in this particular with his owne pen which he did accordingly Notwithstanding the Generall confessions of all forraign Protestant Churches The authorized Impressions of all their eminentest Writers Our own Homâ—lies Writers of all sorts and the very Act of Parliament for the Confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergy 3. Iac. penned by all the Prelates and Clergy of England in full Convocation give the Pope this Title and stile the Iesuites and their Adberents THE UNSHAMEFACT BROOD OF ANTICHRIST This his indulgence therefore to the Pope Priests and Church of Rome and professed emnity against the forraigne Reformed Churches in unchurching them in making their Ministers no Ministers at all and them no Christians nor Christian Assemblies discovers his very Intrals and inward bent of his soule to Popery to the Church of Rome yea his inveterate hatred to these Protestant Churches and their Religion too The next thing wee shall fully evidence 2. Though this Archbishop was so zealous an Advocate for the Church of Rome as both in his publick Speeches Writings to maintaine That her Religion is the same with ours as we have formerly proved yet he could by no meanes endure that the Religion of the forraign Protestant Churches and Ours should be termed one and the same Whereupon he presumed to countermand alter and purge his Majesties Letters Patents under the Great Seale for a Collection for the poore distressed Ministers of the Palatinate Ann. 1634. because it termed their Religion The true Religion which we together with them professe to maintain This wee shall make good by two substantiall witnesses and the printed Letters Patents themselves The witnesses are Mr Wakerly then Secretary to Mr Secretary Cook and Mr Hartlib who deposed at the Lords Barre upon Oath That in the yeare 1634. the Queen of Bohemia sent over one Mr Ruly a Palatinate Minister into England with Letters of recommendation to the Archbishop to desire his mediation and assistance to the King to grant Letters Patents under the great seale for a generall Collection towards the reliefe of the exiled Ministers of the Palatinate and their families who were then in great distresse which Letter Mr Ruly presenting to the Archbishop among whose Papers Mr Prynne found the very Originall after the reading thereof the Archbishop promised out of respect to the Queen of Bohemia who writ to him with her own hand to move the King in it which he did and then informed him that it was the Kings pleasure there should be Letters Patents drawn for a generall collection for those Ministers as was desired Wherupon Mr Ruly requested the Archbishop in regard he was a stranger and knew not our proceedings to give him some directions how to get the Letters Patents drawn and sealed who answered that he needed no instructions herein for it was a thing of usuall course and willed him to repaire to the Officers of the King his Secretaries and Attorney generall who would draw and procure them to be sealed Whereupon he repaired to Mr Wakerly who went with him to the other Officers and procured Letters Patents to be drawn according to former Presidents both in King James and King Charles reignes and namely verbatim according to Letters Patents for a like Collection dated 29 Ian. 3. Caroli which being drawn engrossed and passed the Great Seal of England without any scruple the Lord Keeper both reading and approving the same before the sealing Mr Ruly carried the Patent over to Lambeth to desire the Archbishops assistance for the printing dispersing and promoting therof where meeting with Mr Dell his Secretary he acquainted him with his businesse and shewed him the Patent who casting his eye thereon took some exceptions thereat because it made our and their Religion to be both one saying Are your Church and Religion and ours one which done he carried the Patent to the Archbishop who after he had perused it calling for Mr Ruly demanded
told him he was the most odious man at Rome of any or of any that had sate in that Sea The Arch-bishop then averred that he used these speeches to him at dinner at Lambeth at a time when Auditor Phillips was there who demanded of Sir Henry whether he saw the Pope when he was at Rome and what manner of man he was Who replied that he saw him in his Garden out of a window riding a great horse in a morning and that he was very like the Auditor Sir Henry confessed this discourse with the Auditor but absolutely denied he ever said he was the most odious man at Rome of any c. and desired him to prove it Wherupon the Archbishop asked of his Secretary Dell whether he did not heare Sir Henry tell him so much at dinner Who answered that he did not heare him say so but that his Grace told him after dinner that he said so which Sir Henry peremptorily denied After which Sir Henry being demanded by Master Serjeant Wild who they were that spake against the Arch-bishop who for him and what he conceived to be the cause why some spake thus against him others in his behalf He answered that there were two factions in Rome one of the Jesuits some of these disliked the Arch-bishop and spake against him because they conceived he aimed at too great an Ecclesiasticall power in these Kingdomes for himself The other was of the Secular Priests who all spake very well of him and commended him because he carried himselfe in such sort in the government of our Church as to draw it neerer unto the Church of Rome and shewed himselfe favourable to their party Whereupon the Arch-bishop said that Sir Henry never told him this before Who answered it was true and the reason was because he never demanded of him any such Question but now he was demanded the Question upon his Oath and therefore he must speak the truth At which passage most of the Auditory smiled and the Committee of Commons who managed the Evidence thanked the Arch-bishop for this good testimony on his behalfe desiring him to furnish them with some more such witnesses Adding that seeing Sir Henry was but a single witnesse in this case and so perhaps the Arch-bishop would evade his testimony though produced by himselfe and since he had given them this occasion to examine what opinion the Priests and Jesuits had of him at Rome they therefore humbly desired that they might now produce the testimonies of some other Gentlemen of note who had been at Rome as well as S. Hen. could give as good or better an account of his credit there as he had done Whereupon they poduced Captain Authony Mildmay brother to Sir Henry to testifie his knowledge in this particular who deposed at the Bar upon oath That he was at Rome at the time when Con the Popes Nuncio was to come over into Eng. as Nuncio who then enquired of him concerning the infirmities and age of Arch-bishop Abbot and thereupon said Bishop Laud who is to succeed him will be more favourable to us then he hath been That there were two great factions in Rome one of the Jesuits another of the Secular Priests that the Jesuits faction did not like the Archb. because he usurped too much Ecclesiasticall power to himself and endeavoured to make himselfe a Patriarke over all his Majesties Kingdomes but the Secular Priests and their faction loved and spake very well of him because they said they knew him to be their friend and that he had a designe to bring the Popish Religion into England That Father Fitton and Father John told him that there was a designe to reconcile England to the Church of Rome that Bishop Laud was the chiefe instrument in it that other English Bishops did joyne with him in the designe and that he should find that there should be none preferred in the Court but such as were Papists or affected to popery That Father Fitton being the generall agent for the Secular Priests had extraordinary good intelligence from England and that Master Walter Mountague when he was at Rome lay at his house that Father John was the generall agent at Rome for the Benedictines and that Father Talbot a Jesuit had told him as much as these two had done concerning Bishop Laud who yet spake somewhat ill of him because said he he intends to make himselfe a Patriark of all the Kings Dominions out of his pride which he said would eclipse the Popes authority and therefore he said he was condemned at Rome by their party the Jesuits for this particular although otherwise he was a great favourer of their Religion This testimony even from Rome it selfe is very full and punctuall to our purpose that there was no difference at all between the Secular Priests and the Archbishop nor yet between the Jesuits and him but only this that he out of his ambition would like his Predecessor Anselme be Papa alterius orbis the Pope or Patriark of our other world and of the Kings Dominions which the titles of Sanctitatis Vestrae Sanctissime Pater attributed to him by the University of Oxford and Master Croxton made them jealous of which the Jesuits could not well brook at Rome But to make this more cleer we shall adde one witnesse more who hath been often times at Rome and spent divers yeers among papists in foraigne parts and that is one Master Thomas Challoner a Gentleman of quality who thereupon being sworn gave in this following testimony viva voce upon oath which he set downe under his owne hand MY LORDS TOuching the Arch-bishop of Canterbury I can say little in particular but in generall thus First that for these fourteen or fifteen yeers last past it hath been my fortune divers and sundry times to be in France Flanders Holland and Italy where very often happening into the company of Lawyers priests and men of the long Robe I found them alwayes very forward in their discourse of England and of the great hopes they had to see it suddenly reduced to the catholike faith that they had many great parsons in England who were secretly of their religion and in particular the Arch-bishop whom they avowed to be wholly theirs a good Roman Catholike a politike propagator of the Roman faith by minutes and degrees wherein he used great subtilty and craft which they called wisdom and that both he and others would openly declare themselves so to be in time convenient beseeching God the blessed Virgin to prosper his designes And this is so notorious as I beleeve no man of any experience in foraigne parts who hath had an eare to hear or a tongue and heart to speak the truth but hath heard the same often re-iterated and will attest it Yet upon what foundation these opinions should be built I am not precisely able to determine Secondly that eleven or twelve yeers since I being at Bruxels in Brabant
and there discoursing with an English Gentleman who had been an ancient traveller touching the then late rooting out of sundry English able and orthodox Ministers for not complying with the Bishops in divers new idolatrous ceremonies this Gentleman assured me that he had often heard of strange reports of matters likely to befall England both from English and Irish papists which he gave no heed unto supposing them to speake rather as they would have it then as it was in verity But now that he had heard so much from me he did much suspect that there was some plot in hand to change the Religion in Eng. wherof he would diligently enquire assuring me that he had as good means to know it as any man of our Nation that lived on that side of the Seas At our next meeting he told me that he had dived into the plot That ere long we must all of necessity be papists in Eng. that the best wits both in Eng. and on that side of the Seas were interested therein That it was so politickly laid that he did not see how in the judgment of man it could possibly be prevented That the Archb. and some other Bishops were of the plot and that the rest of the Bishops and Clergy partly for feare of losing what they had partly for hopes of geting more would undoubtedly comply That the refusers if they could not be corrupted were to be turned out of their livings banished imprisoned or forced to live in obscurity That it was to be done by gradations to bring in this point of Popery in one quarter of a yeer and the rest in another and if not direct popery yet so neer thereunto as the common people themselves would slide into it unawares that nothing but the King of Sweden's prosperity did hinder the sudden effecting of it Lastly that if we resisted not we should be cheated and cozened of our Religion and if we resisted we should be compelled thereto perforce I replied that I thought the Papists in England were not of any considerable number to effect their ends by force and that they were also dis-armed He told me the Papists were more in number and better armed then I conceived them to be many going now to Church who would then declare themselves papists besides a world of Newters who for hopes of preferment would be easily drawne to their party that they vvere all united and besides armed with authority He affirming that for many yeers vve had vvholly been governed by Papists most men in highest authority being either vvholly so or at least as serviceable unto them for private ends as if they vvere so indeed I replied that if we should be compelled to defend our Religion by force their authority would not be regarded He told me the Irish vvould be brought in I answered that I had spent some yeers in Ireland and knew them to want both courage and meanes to effect so great a businesse so that unlesse they were backed by the King of Spaine in a better manner then I conceived he was able at that time to doe they durst not undertake it He told me they should have a better back and more encouragement then the King of Spaine could give them and that both France and Spain should assist therein I replied that I thought France and Spaine were likely to disagree and therefore unfit for such a businesse He told me that since J vvould needs have it the greatest introducers of popery should be the Protestants themselves Whereat vvhen J vvondred as seeming to me a paradox he told me that the vvar should be so disguised under false notions and pretences as the Protestants should ignorantly become the Jesuits servants and by the effusion of their ovvne blood set up popery by force Thirdly that being in Rome seven or eight yeers since one Father John of the Order of Saint Benet was very tnquisitive of me to knovv vvho bestovved the livings in England and vvhether the Arch bishop did not doe it I answered that the livings were in the donation of such as had the Advousons of them whether it were the King Arch bishops Bishops Deanes and Chapters Colledges Corporations Noble men Gentlemen or others He asked me if the Arch-bishop did not bestow the Kings livings I said no but the Lord Keeper if they were under such a value if above the King himselfe He seemed very much agrieved that the Arch-bishop did not bestow them and told me that he did not despaire of seeing England to be very suddenly Catholike And though be were by reason of his Order tyed more strictly to the Pope then others were yet he was carefull to have both Kings and Kingdomes priviledges preserved and more particularly that the Benefices in England might not be bestowed upon Italians as formerly but that the Arch-bishop should have the ordering thereof All this I have oft related some yeers since to divers persons of quality for which I incurred some trouble by the Jesuits and this Arch-bishops meanes This Testimony is so home and punctuall that we shall adde no more thereto it informs us of a long since plotted and actuated confederacy between this Archbishop and other English Prelats and the Popes Instruments at Rome and in other forraigne parts to introduce popery and reduce us back to Rome It chalks out to us the manner and method of their proceedings in all particulars and the politick contrivances of all sorts to effect their intended designe all which we have by wofull experience seen punctually acted pursued accordingly to this very moment in which pursuit this Archbishop hath been the Archinstrument since then we visibly behold these reports of theirs verefied to the view of all the world we must no longer look upon them is empty rumours or discourses but as reall Evidences beyond all exceptions The second groundwork we shall lay and prove is this That there hath been for many yeers last past a dangerous damnable Plot and serious endeavour of the Pope and his Instruments to reduce and reconcile the Church of England to the Church and Sea of Rome and that this Arch-bishop was privy to and had notice of it This Plot was first laid about the yeer 1617. when the Spanish Match was set on foot and King Charles then Prince of Wales fent into Spaine of purpose to reconcile him and in him our Kingdomes to the Church of Rome the prime end the Pope and Catholikes intended in that Match and Treaty as appeares by the severall Articles passages and proceedings in it well knowne to this Prelate by the Popes Letter to the Prince whiles in Spaine to reconcile him to Rome and make him a dutifull Sonne of that Church by the Popes Letter to his Nuncio the Bishop of Conchen when the Prince was in Spaine to endeavour his conversion to their Church upon this occasion by a Jesuits Oration to induce his Highnesse to that Religion and by the
engaging the King in a bloody warre against the Scots and working him to their party and in case they could not doe it then to give him a poysoned sigge as his Father was poysoned and seize upon the Prince whom they would educate in the Romish Religion This Plot was discovered meerly out of remorse of conscionce by one who was a chiefe actor in it sent from Rome to assist Con the Popes Lagat in his Negotiations in England to one Andreas ab Habernfield Physitian to the Queen of Bohemia who disclosed it to Sir William Boswell the Kings leager at the Hague who from thence by sundry Letters revealed it to this Arch-bishop in whose chamber at the Tower the whole plot and originall Letters concerning it were seized on by Master Prynne who attested and produced them at the Barre and published them at large to the world by order of Parliament in Romes Master-piece where the principall Agents in this plot and their proceedings therein are particularly related many of them as Secr Windebank the Earle and Countesse of Arundell Mr. Porter of the Bed-chamber and Sir Toby Matthew being the Arch-bishops intimate friends and familiars Of this Plot the Arch-bishop took such speciall notice that he acquainted the King himselfe with it as appeares by his owne Letter to the King and his Majesties Answer to it with his owne royall hand to it in the margin sent from York to Lambeth Yet for all this he was so far from crossing this their Jesuiticall designe that he confederated and joyned with the Jesuits and popish party in fomenting maintaining the war against the Scots and revived it when it was ceased by perswading the King to break the first pacification and denounce a second war against them The third particular we shall produce to prove an endeavour of the Pope and Cardinall Barbarino at Rome to reconcile reduce us back to them and that this Arch-bishop had notice of it is a Letter found in his Study attested by Master Prynne written to him by one Master John Greaves from Ligonne March 3. 1639. indorsed with his owne hand thus Rece Mar. 27. 1640. Fastidius printed at Rome Wherein Master Greaves hath this clause I humbly beseech your Grace to pardon my presumptions and this other Information which I shall give your Grace They have printed at Rome a Book of Fastidius a Britaine Bishop De Vitâ Christianâ WHICH THE CARDINALL FRANCISCO BARBARINO INTENDS TO DEDICATE TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY a Book of singulan devotion and piety and of great Antiquity the Author being a Bishop in England about three hundred yeers after our Saviour Lucas Holstenius a very learned man hath the care oft the Edition but hath not I thinke as yet finished the Annotations upon it For the Text he and I compared the Manuscript which was also very ancient with the printed Copy and I find it exactly to agree Now what other meaning could there be for this Cardinall to print this book at Rome to dedicate it publikely to our King and to use Master Greaves himselfe in comparing the printed Copy with the Manuscript but to insinuate himself into the Kings affections thereby to reduce both him and his Dominions unto the bosome of the Church of Rome which the forementioned discovery of this and the Jesuits Plot by Andreas ab Habernfield more largely demonstrates this Cardinall sending over sundry Statues Pictures Antiquities and other vanities from Rome to his Majesty to incline him to the Roman party as we have elsewhere manifested The fourth particular Evidence we shall insist on which addes luster and vigor to all the former is the Book intituled Deus Natura Gratia Vbi ad trutinam Fidei Catholicae examinatur Confessio Anglicana ad singula puncta quid teneat qualiter differat execuitur Accessit Paraphrastica Exposit to reliquorum Articulorum Confessionis Anglicae per Fr. Franciscum â Sancta Clara olim apud Duacenses in Collegio B. Bon aventurae Provinciae ANGLIAE F. F Minorum S. Theolog. Lectorem primarium Printed Lugduni 1634. Cum Privilegio Regis approbatione Doctorum This Book was dedicated to our King Charles with a Dedicatory Epistle to seduce his Majesty in his Religion and induce him to establish the Romish Religion amongst us by his Royall authority as this close of the Epistle manifests Periculosum nobis admodum atquè etiam miserabile est tot nunc fides existere quot voluntates c. Contremiscunt ossa mea dum hoc recogito Morbus ubi spiritus vitales opprimuntur nempè ut fides radix vitae corrumpitur difficilime sanatur Hic morbus noster Remedium tamen illud efficax à Samaritano nostro designatum reperimus nec aliud nisi illud DIC ECCLESIAE Dico Ecclesiae definitiones Majestati Vestrae propono Sanctorum Patrum Venerabilium Doctorum expositiones Novorum ineptijs praepono quas dum modestè retego in Christo â—ego saniem non-scalpendo sed suavitèr lambendo lavo ut abluam SACRO VESTRO IMPERIO OPUS QUIPPE UT EXECUTIONI MANDETUR quod ab Ecclesia Sanctis Patribus sancitum est secundum illud Justiniani Constit 42. Haec decrevimus Sanctorum Patrum canones secuti HOC TUA MAJESTATE DIGNUM hoc dignitati causae consonum HOC SALUTI ANIMARUM PRORSUS NECESSARIUM ET OMNIS POPULUS DICET AMEN Sacrae suae Majestatis Devotissimus Subditus Fr. Fran. â S. Clara. The scope of the whole Book in the composing and publishing was to reconcile reduce both our King Church and the Articles of our Religion which iâ— coments upon to the Church of Rome This we shall evidence First by the Authors owne expresse confession pag. 338. Instudui ut vides pie Lector RECONCILIARE Articulos Confessionis Anglicae DETERMINATION IBUS ECCLESIAE CATHOLICAE NON ECCLESIAM IPSIS ex quâ collapsi sunt SED IPSOS ECCLESIAE in qua Dei opitulante Gratia salvandi sunt DUCENDOS CENSUI Corticem verborum subinde censurâ graviori dignum censebis sensum ocrò latitantem quem elicui non adeò veritati dissonum nisi alio detorquere malint recte judicabis his tamen verborum Novitatibus Christum lacerum inspexi tunicam inconsuâ—ilem dissutam dissectam reperi quis non condoleret quis non REDINTEGRATIONEM SUADERET omnibus modis si posset PERSUADERET HIC UNICUS SCOPUS MEUS c. Omnia Ecclesiae ejus sub Christo capiti the Pope quâ del eo reverentiâ submitto Vltro obtestor Deum Sanctos ejus me in hoc qualicunque Opello nostro animarum salutem PER FIDEI REDINTIGRATIONEM intendere Quod Deus per viscera Domini Nostri Jesu Christi ad intercessionem omnium beatorum opportunè efficiat ET SERENISSIMUM REGEM NOSTRUM PRO OMNIUM CATHOLICORUM VOTIS AD UTRAMQUE FAELICITATEM PERDVCAT Secondly by the censures and judgements of the Doctors and Divines who are twelve in number prefixed by way of
Protestantium Doctores Sacerdotes sacrificia agnoscere In the 25. Article concerning Homilies pag. 321. he thus shakes off our Homilies in our Bishops owne tearmes Nec tenentur Protestantes ob haec verba in Articulo statim in singula verba vel sententias Homiliarum jurare c. Prudenter igitur quae sanam Doctrinam sapiunt populo legenda alia neglectui habenda Pape 332. in the 37. Article concerning the power of the civill Magistrates against the Popes Jurisdiction he writes thus D. Montacutius contr Heighum alij eorum doctissimi quibuscum de hoc egi nullam utique Jurisdictionem spiritualem Regibus nosiris concedunt sed gubernium civile temporale indirectè per accidens ob pacem Reipubl in personas causas Ecclesiasticas extensum Gavisus sum etiam valdà de illo quod etiam his diebus factum est Cantabrigiae in Comitijs pro actu Doctoroli ubi SUMMO PONTIFICI UT MAXIMO PATRI sic enim eum appellabant designata est cura spiritualium Regi temporalium licet sub fine subjiciebatur Regum esse omnes regere quod intelligi debet civiliter non spiritualiter modò â nobis explicato After which pag. 334 335 336. he handles these three Questions First Whether any have power to withdraw themselves from subjection and obedience to the Sea and Church of Rome upon any occasion Secondly Whether we of this Realme had sufficient causes to doe it Thirdly Whether we did well in it and did not exceed measure therein And he resolves the two latter thus Vtraque quaestio siâ—e dubio gravissima est maximum meretur discussionem Quod si causa sufficiens non fuerit vel terminus justae substractionis excesserint quanta pericula in tà m diuturno scismate Hinc utique omnia quantacunque mala sunt originaliter ebullierunt Catholici veriori tutiori parti adhaerere volentes cum insufficientiasm causae quam moderaminis excessum agnoverunt ponderant utique gravissimum illud Augustini praecidendae unitatis nulla est justa necessitas Lib. 2. cont Epist Parm. Utinam DENVO AUTHORITATE PUBLICA pro dignitane PURITANIS NON INTERMIXTIS EX AFFECTU READUNITIONIS PERPENDERETUR ad hoc singuli evoluant Augustinum contra Donatum Scio illos hoc abhorrere de quibus dicit Cassander licet haud satis affectus Romanae Ecclesiae Plerique ex eis qui sibi ab Evangelio nomen sumpserunt cum partem qua vetus Catholicorum Ecclesiae Romanae nomen retinet prorsus aspernantur omnem que ejus communionem defugiunt nec ut membra ejusdem corporis amore misericordia prosequuntur quod nos a Puritanis hic experimur sed ut Satanae Antichristi corpus abominatur Scio id equidem doles qui ejusmodi sunt quomodo â schismatis rectius dixisset Haereseos nota eximi possunt non video From all these remarkable passages of this book it is most evident that it was purposely penned published dedicated and presented to the King to reconcile him and reunite our Church and Articles to the Church of Rome that this union and accommodation was already accomplished by Bishop Andrewes Bishop Muntague and others of our most eminent moderate Divines in many points of greatest moment and would soon be effected in the residue by a publike Assembly or Synod of our Prelates and divines if no Puritans were intermixed among them But you will object What is all this or this Book to the Archbishop Did he know any thing of this Plot Book or had any hand therein Yes verily First he know of this book before it was published Doctor Lindsey his great favourite whom he advanced to a Deanary and two Bishopricks as we have formerly proved acquainting him therewith and bringing the Author of it to his Grace who had recourse to him severall times after This we shall prove by a paper writen with his own hand by way of extenuation of this charge even since his commitment to the Tower and there seiâ—ed on by Master Pryme which was read as followeth MY Intelligence with the Pope by S. Clara. I never saw that Franciscan Fryar in my life to the utmost of my memory above four times or five at most He was first brought to me by Doctor Linsey it was when he was setting out his booke about the Articles of the Church of England and I then told Doctor Linsey I did feare he would never expound them so as the Church of England might have cause to thanke him for it He never came to me after till he was almost ready to print another booke to prove that Episcopacy was authorized in the Church by divine right and these was after this vnhappy stirres began His desire was to have this book printed here but at his severall addresses to me for this I still gave him this answer That I did not like the way which the Church of Rome went concerning Episcopacy And howsoever I would never give way that any such book from the pen of any Romanist should be printed here And the Bishops of England are very well able to defend their owne cause and calling without calling in any ayd from Rome and would so doe when they saw cause And this is all the conference that ever I had with him This excuse of his though partiall acknowledgeth that he was acquainted with the book and Author before its printing and that Doctor Linsey his favourite was a great promoter of it privy to the plot of Reconciliation and very intimate with the Fryar that compiled it Secondly when the book was printed this Author presented not onely the King but Archbishop himself with one of them bound up in Vellam with the Kings Armes on the cover and blew silk strings which he thus endorsed with his owne hand Fron. â Sanctâ Clara Problemata 37. Expositio paraphrastica Confessionis Anglicanae Which book he reserved in his Study at Lambeth where Master Prynne seized and produced it at the Barre Thirdly he not onely received but permitted it to be publikely sold and dispersed amongst us without any seizure or restaint and to be twice or thrice reprinted in London notwithstanding many exceptions and complaints against it when as he most strictly suppressed orthodox books Fourthly if Fryar Saint Giles were the true Author of this book as he was reputed by the Fryars in forraigne parts the Archbishop not onely knew but maintained him in the University of Oxford to seduce poyson the Schollers there and reconcile them to Rome and gave him an annuall pension of one hundred Markes the blame of which action for his owne excuse he would transferre upon the King without any proofe at all but onely this surreptitious warrant without any date at all writ with his owne hand not by any Secretary of State which will no wayes extenuate but aggravate his crime the warrant being no doubt fraudulently procured to serve a turne at
a dead lift since his troubles Charles R. CAnterbury Master Saint Giles by serving Vs and this State hath lost all his hopes in France and desires to spend his time here at his private studies I would have you think upon some way for his maintainance and to place him in Oxford that he may have use of that Library which he much desires And he may so order it that his profession in Religion may doe no harme What the service was that this Fryar had done for the King and State for which he lost his hopes in France we could never learne unlesse it were the penning and publishing of this book which some Jesuits and their faction onely disliked What it was that this Archbishop did for him upon this warrant as he pretends is thus expressed in a paper written with his own hand by way of excuse seized by Master Prynne in the Tower and by him produced at the Lords Barre where it was read as followeth MAster Saint Giles was a man well reputed of in France and placed about the Queens Majesty at her Majesties first comming hither After upon some services and those in a very faire way done to this State he lost ground in France and when some other French men were sent away from the Queens service he durst not goe thither but chose to live here in a very low condition for safeties sake rather then adventure thither All this while the man was unknowne to me but comming one day to wait upon his Majesty at Saint Jamses his Majesty was pleased to ask me Whether I knew Master Saint Giles I answered I did not Hereupon his Majesty tooke occasion to tell me the condition of the man and his wants and withall told me which way he conceived some reliefe might be given to his necessities and prescribed me a way how to order it that he might receive for his maintainance a hundred Marks a yeere This in obedience to his Majesty I did and I have his Majesties Warrant for it But I never allowed or gave him one penny of my owne Not long after this partly that the poore man being a stranger might live the cheaper and partly that he might have the use of the publike Library resolving as he pretended to follow metaphisicall learning and not engage himselfe in the controversies of the times His Majesty moved me againe that he might live in Oxford and in some Colledge or Hall there In this I humbly besought his Majesty to pardon me because it would be dangerous to the youth bred in that Colledge and scandalous to his Majesty this Church and the Vniversity and bring danger upon my selfe being Chancellour there After much importunity used by me his Majesty was gnaciously pleased to be satisfied that he should not be admitted to live in any Colledge or Hall among the Students but required me not to hinder his going to Oxford and the making use of the Library provided that he kept no company with any young Schollers that he lived privately in some Towne-house and that he did not presume to exercise his Priestly function or doe any thing against the lawes This he undertook to performe and I could never find by any the spies which I put upon him that he brake this in any particular but lived there without offence given to any In all times of his recourse to me for his pension I never spent one houre with him nor had I ever any discourse with him at all but once onely and that was about a dangerous opinion of Pompanatius At that time he told me he had a desire to labour in that Argument and to confute him I told him I could not approve any medling with that question in these times for that I thought few would be able to understand the subtilty of that dispute and that the stirring of it in these times would doe a great deale of mischiefe and this is all that ever past between him and me all my life This Saint Giles by this Prelats meanes continued in the University of Oxford sundry yeers and had the use of the Libraries there where he did much mischiefe Master Broad of Oxford deposed that Saint Giles continued in Oxford foure yeers or more that he was a very dangerous insinuating person that Doctor Turner Doctor Johnson and others of the Vniversity usually resorted to him and familiarly conversed with him though he were there knowne to be a popish Priest that when Master Prynne Master Burton and Doctor Bastwick suffered at Westminster on the Pillory this Saint Giles speaking of their sufferings told this Deponent in whose Kinswomans house he lay that though the Archbishop and other Bishops WERE CORDIALL FOR THE ROMISH RELIGION yet he doubted their cruelty would rather hurt then further their cause because it lost them much in the affections of the people Now what a capitall offence it was for this Archprelat to harbour such a dangerous seducing Priest reputed one of the greatest Schollers among the Papists in this famous University to seduce the Students there and as the Queens Apothecary a great Papist reported of purpose to instruct the Doctors there as Master Godfrey a quondam converted popish Priest averred and to lay the blame of it thus wholly on his Majesty to excuse himselfe we humbly submit to your Lordships consideration To prove this Saint Giles now Priest to the Venetian Ambassadour resident in London where he doth much mischiefe the Author of Deus Natura Gratia c. what repute it had among Papists abroad how the Archbishops Agents applauded made use of it and certified him from time to time how it was entertained by Papists in forraigne parts what they thought of him and other great persons in England how they stood affected to popery we shall produce two Originall Letters from Master William Middleton then Chaplaine to the Lord Fielding Ambassadour at Venice sent thence to the Archbishop in whose Study they were found by Master Prynne endorsed by Master Dell and the Archbishop the first of them beares date in Septemb. 1635. and was received by the Archbishop Octob. 9. wherein he thus writes Right Honourable and most Reverend I Thought it no little happinesse I had performed that duty of writing it pleased your grace â—o lay upon me c. While I was writing there came a Franciscan Fryar to my selfe his businesse was this A mind he told me he had to leave these parts and with them the Religion here in use that I should doe him a great favour would I procure him a passage to England either by Sea or Land that there he had formerly beene and was in love with place persons and Church as there ordered and established Vpon which words how I dealt with him I will relate to your Grace I asked him how long he had been of this resolution and what moved him to it He answered the time since he had taken this resolution was two monethes and
a halfe the motives the same that first moved us at the first to leave Rome I answered him it could not be resolve I did that I might the more deeply dive into the sincerity of his intentions as strongly as my poore ability would suffer me to plead for Rome because she had reformed Missals Monasteries sundry Corruptions in conferring of Orders and Benefices that all had not received the Councell of Trent that of those who had some did mitigate harder expressions and were upon courses of Conciliation of both harts as appeared by a Booke of Franc. â Sancta Clara c. I fell then to question him Whether and when he had been at Rome He told me in June and July last I askt him how the affaires went there He told me their opinion of us was that his Majesty was favourable to the Catholikes that some great ones about him were so too or in heart were ONE HE NAMED concerning whom as at home so abroad as of old of the best of men there was much murmuring among the people for some said he was a good man others said nay he deceiveth the people Now if some might interpose their judgements they would pronounce a good man he is because he deceiveth both here and there but both to their own good Concerning the Fryars he told me some were very good but most otherwise and that in excesse especially for Sinnes of uncleannesse which generally raigne in Italy Three severall times I had discourse with him in the last of which falling into discourse of Fran. â Sancta Clara he told me he was HOMO NEQUISSIMUS by whose meanes yeerly there was sent to the Catholikes in Flanders ten thousand pounds The Author of that Booke which goes under his name was Father Giles PADRE AEGIDIO who lives at the Venetian Ambassadours c. Since I came to Venice I have procured the acquaintance of Padre Fulgentio who is Teologo de Stato called by the Colledge to Counsell when there is any businesse between them and the Pope c. I sent to him Fran. â Sancta Clara after discoursing with him he told me it was impossible to concile Trent and England and yet men sooner then Articles He likt his intention in the generall his judgement and temper in most of the Problems before he came to the Articles There is as I am informed by a discreet Gentleman at Florence a Jesuit lately returned from England to Rome who pretends to have made a strict discovery of the state of England as it stands for Religion how King is disposed how Queene what Lords are of the Puritan faction what not but by name his Honour of Dorset and Pembroke are strong for Precisians He sayes That the Puritanes are shrewd fellowes but those that are counted good Protestants are faire conditioned honest men and think they may be saved in any Religion I am promished the the Relation written if it come to my hands and there be any thing in it worthy your Graces view I shall hereafter humbly present it to you as now my selfe Your Graces most humble and most obedient servant WILL. MIDLETON The second Letter is dated December 21. 1635. in which there are these observable clauses Right Honourable and most Reverend c. WHen I was in France I fell acquainted with one Father Talbot a Jesuit with whom I had many discourses but among others this about the Book of Franciscus â Sancta Clara. I askt his judgement of it and the rest of the Catholiks He answered it relisht not with them I fell presently into a comendation partly of the book but more of the intention of him who writ it He seconded what I said but withall told me there was a certaine Consultation held what they should doe with it some exrema suadebant and cried ad ignem but himselfe talking with the Popes Nuncio at Paris thought the best course was to let it dye of it selfe to which the Nuncio a very moderate man so he told him was very inclinable From which I did gather that though they did pretend a dislike the Booke was not disallowed by them above which collection of mine then is now confirmed for this very day I received a Letter dated from Rome Decemb. 11. and it is in these words Father Francis his book upon the exposition of the Articles contrary to what I have told you is licensed here in Rome and I have it Sent it was from one Master House lodging in the house of one Master Pitton a kind of Agent from the English Priests In Rome there is great talk of an English Cardinall and the man who is already Roman Catholike must be the man Master Mountague Your Lordship I know will smile if not at this yet at that I shall now write A Catholike discoursing with me let a word fall and this it was That within this twelve moneth the Pope did wish that his Sacred Majesty of England were as once his trusty Sonne for then he would not be so used as he is either by French or Spaniard The same party did not ask the question but onely thus I wonder whether my Lord of Canterbury have any hand in sending S. Major Bret to Rome I answered because I saw he was fishing Surely no because as you know it is written he comes from the Queen and in her name ROME IS VERY KIND TO OUR ENGLISH GENTLEMEN I humbly entreat your Graces pardon if in a desire to let nothing I hear scape your knowledge I most lowly offer unto you such things as will make you lose so much time as you shall read the Letter But though your Lordship lose a little time yet not me I beseech you lose that good opinion which I hope you have conceived of Your Graces most really devoted and obedient servant WILL. MIDLETON December 21. 1635. By these Letters it is most apparent that Saint Giles was the Author of Sancta Clara's book that though the Jesuits seemed to dislike it yet it was at last authorized and printed at Rome where they had a good opinion not onely of the Kings favour to the Roman Catholikes but of the Archbishops inclination to their party their Religion and conceived he had a hand in sending Major Bret to Rome to negotiate with the Popes c. This last Letter is thus endorsed with Mr. Dels hand Recep Jan. 10. 1635. from Venice from Master Midleton The allowance of Saint Clara his Book at Rome to which the Archbishop himselfe addes with his owne hand This is not so therefore it seems he had better intelligence here from Rome then Master Midleton had at Venice The English Cardinall The English Agent How farre this Book was approved countenanced here in England by the King and Archbishop will appeare by these Instructions under Secretary Windebankes owne hand to his Sonne when he was at Paris to solicite the Palsgraves enlargement found among his sequestred papers and attested by
Fathers I knowing with what love and care you were pleased to comply your self in this work the which besides the merit of charity hath been most gratefull to his most Christian Majesty who in this doth with great satisfaction acknowledge the good will of his Majesty of great Brittain in the person of his Minister in these Occurrences which he well polisheth If in any occasion I can serve your Excellence you shall find me most ready to render you proofs of my devotion and observance beseeching you to continue the favourable effects of your benignity towards our Fathers And with this I end augurating unto you all compleat felicity Your Excellencies most devout and most humble Servant in Christ Fryar Joseph of Paris Capucine From Paris the 23. of Novemb. 1634. By this Letter it is evident what a Professed Patron this Secretary was of popish Priests and Fryars and what correspondency he held with them The third is a Letter to Secretary Windebank from Father Phillips the Queens Confessor to inform him of Sir William Hamiltons departure from Paris towards Rome where he resides as Our Agent to the Pope and of Con the Popes Nuncioes departure from Rome towards England a pregnant evidence of his privity and compliancy with this Negotiation Right Honourable YEster night after your Honours departing from Hampton-Court I received this inclosed The Gentleman who sent it to me from Paris writeth that Sir William Hamilton departed from thence the third of June that is our 24. of May so that now he must be neer unto Rome He writeth also that Seignior Georgio Gâ—â—es whom the Pope doth send to the Queen was to depart from Rome about the twentieth of May if he have heard of Sir Williams hasty going it may be he will stay till his arrivall which I could wish because he both can and would help him better at the beginning then any other I know I rest ever Your Honours most humble and devoted Servant R. PHILLIPS From Hampton-Court the 9. of June 1636. The fourth is a Letter of Master Thomas Windebank writ to the Secretary his Father from Rome thus endorsed with his own hand 6. Septemb. 1626. Tom from Rome recei 22. our stile SIR MY most humble duty remembred c. In my last of the sixt of this present I have given an account of my arrivall at Rome and of the favour Sir William Hamilton was pleased to doe me to invite me to his house this note that he did it with so much earnestnesse that I could not avoid the receiving of that honour I have been to visit the Cardinal Barbarino who having had notice of my arrivall here sent to visit me first He is so obliging and curteous to all our Nation that I the lesse wonder at the honour he doth me to take notice of me but I hope his favour will stay there I see no reason I should think otherwise c. Your most obedient Son THO. WINDEBANK Rome Sept. 10. stilo novo 1636. The fift is a Letter from his Son Tom from Rome thus endorsed by the Secretary Tom from Rom Rec. 30. Sept. our stile Wherein thus he writes SIR MY most humble duty remembred c. Sir William Hamilton hath been pleased to put so great an Obligation upon me as to invite me to his house for the time that I am in Rome I would very willingly have avoided the putting him to such an inconvenience but he pressed it so far that I could not refuse the receiving of that favour the Cardinal Barbarino I understand HATH LONG EXPECTED ME HERE hauing had notice of my being in Italy and I am afraid THAT OUT OF RESPECT TO YOU he will put some honour upon me but I will avoid all engagements as much as with civility I may Your most obedient Son THO. WINDEBANK Rome Sept. 6. stilo novo 1636. These two Letters cleerly manifest his Son 's being respect and great entertainment at Rome both by Sir William Hamilton our popish Agent there and Cardinal Barbarino The sixt is a Letter of his said Son from Padoa thus endorsed by Master Secretary 16. March 1637. Tom from Padoa Rec. 8. April our stile SIR I Gave advice in some of my former of a Trunk I sent from Livorno into England unto Master Richant to be delivered unto you but have not as yet received any news of the arrivall of it I sent not the keys as not desirous it should be opened untill my comming home because few of the things in it are mine but the CARDINAL BARBARINES TO MASTER CON he told me there was no haste in the delivery of them so that I might doe it my self Your most obedient Son THO. WINDEBANK Padoa 26. March stilo no. 1637. Here his Son becomes an Instrument to convey popish Trinkets from Cardinal Barbarino at Rome to Con the Popes Nuncio then in England The seventh is a Letter from the Lord Scudamore to Secretary Windebank from Paris informing him of a Statue sent from Cardinal Barbarino from Rome to be transported to him into England Right Honourable HEre is come to Paris one Master Chambers with the Statue from Cardinal Barbarino another the servant of him that made the Statue comming along in company to take it forth but no where upon any tearms till it be in England Upon Munday next Master Chambers intends to set forwards for Deepe c. Your Honours to command JOHN SCUDAMORE Paris June 16. 1637. The eighth is a Letter written to him from his Son Christopher Windebank from Rome informing this Secretary how many Friends and Servants he had there who much respected and honoured him for his sake among others Panzani who had been here a Nuncio and Father John agent to the English Benedictines in Rome which he thus endorsed Kit from Rome Most dear Father I Salute you c. especially not being in any place my self where I am not looked upon by all those who professe themselves SERVANTS of your most Illustrious Honour HERE IN ROME your most Illustrious Lordship hath many amongst the which Sir William Hamilton Seignior Gregorio Panzani and Father John kisse your hands c. Your most obedient Son CHRIST WINDEBANK From Rome the 15. of April 1639. If we compare these Letters with the forementioned Instructions of this Secretary to his Son Thomas at Paris concerning Ludovicus â Sancta Maria Franciscus de Sancta Clara his Book and Father Leander it is past all controversie that he held most strict and constant intelligence with the Pope Cardinal Barbarino the Popes Nuncio's Priests Jesuits and contributed all possible assistance to them in their confederacy of reducing us back to Rome The reallity whereof and this Archbishop's cognizance of it was thus attested to the Archbishop himself by Andreas ab Habernfield and Sir William Bosel in the Plot they sent him from the Hague found in his chamber in the Tower endorsed with his own hand SEcretary Windebank a most fierce Papist is the
I took it not out of Missale Romanum nor the Roman Pontifical as is objected but from Bishop Andrews his Form as learned reverend Orthodox Protestant a Prelate as ever the Church of England bred To this was Replied 1. That it is confessed there is neither Canon nor Rubrick enjoyning any to stand up at every rehearsal of gloria patri in time of Divine service a most disorderly unnecessary and confused Ceremony wherein men start up and quat down sodainly again as if they were frighted out of their sleep And we have proved that it is enjoyned only by the Roman Missal no very good Directory for us Protestants as for his pretended antiquity and customary usage of this Ceremony in our own and other Protestant Churches it is meerly fabulous without any Authority to warrant it but his own asseveration 2 That bowing at the name of Iesus was originally introduced prescribed by Popes decrees Popish Councels Canonists Writers of purpose to justifie the adoration of Images and the consecrated Host that it is no where enjoyned by our Common Prayer Book Articles of Religion Homilies or Book of Ordination the only Authentick binding Records of our Church wherein all Rites and Ceremonies to which we are bound by Law are prescribed That the Injunctions and Canons are no binding Lawes and their Authority had they ever any long since expired that some of the best Orthodoxest of our writers have professedly writen against this Ceremony as Thomas Beacon Dr. Whitaker Dr. Willet Dr. Ayry and others which was never pressed on any by our Prelates in their visitation Articles nor generally used till of late and now quite exploded as superstitious and absurd Yea Dr. Featly and Sir Nathaniel Brent directly prove that it was not used in Lambeth Chappel by his predecessor Abbot or his Chaplains servants 3. For Organs there were none in that Chappel before his time since the Reformation Therefore an Innovation there And though generally received and used in Cathedrals yet all Authors agree it was a Pope Vitalian by name first introduced the use of them into Christian Churches and all know they are most in use only in Popish Churches beyond the seas Fourthly for the Antiquity and lawfulnesse of consecrating Churches we have already discussed and shall further resute it in its due place for the consecration of Altars Flagons Altar-clothes and other Altar-furniture the only thing here objected we have proved the original and derivation of it to be meerly from the Roman Missal and Pontifical and from no better nor higher Antiquity He pretends but proves not that he took his immediate president from Bishop Andrews a late deceased superstitious if not Popish Prelate how ever he applauds him Therefore certainly from no Antiquity But from whom did Bishop Andrews take his patern doubtlesse from the Roman Missal and Pontifical since no other sampler can be produced And are these a fit patern for a Protestant Bishops imitation As for his objected reason that Altars Churches Flagons c. could not be called nor reputed Holy unlesse thus solemnly consecrated First It is but a meer Nonsequitur it being not any Bishops formal unwarrantable consecration but the peoples appropriation of them to a sacred use that makes them holy not inherently but relatively only with reference to the holy Ordinances therein administred of which hereafter For the Statute of 5 and 6. E. 6. c. 5. It hath been not one sillable in it in justification of the consecration of Churches much lesse of Altars Flagons Altar-clothes and the like neither doth it ever stile the Church or Churches holy or a holy or consecrated place nor could it well be so in respect of their consecration only they being Hallowed onely by Popish Prelates in times of Popery with such Popish Reliques Ceremonies Chrisms Exorcisms Crossings and washings with holy water and since then exploded as superstitious and ridiculous Therefore to justifie these consecrations from thence is to make a conclusion without any premises to warrant it Finally he discovers a rotten Popish spirit inclination in the highest degree in pleading for and justifying to the utmost such Popish consecrations against the expresse resolutions of our Orthodox forecited Writers Prelates and his own learned predecessour Matthew Parker who have so severely censured them as Popish Iewish and childish tryfles fit to be exploded Secondly having ended with my Chappel at Lambeth they next pursued me to my study there Where first they charge me for having an English Bible with a Crucifix embroidered on the Cover of it To which I Answer That I bought it not but it was sent unto me by a Lady and the Crucifix it self is lawful if there be no adoration of it as appears by the Christians engraving of it on their Chalices in Tertullians dayes To which was replied First that his receiving and reserving of this Bible with a Crucifix on the Cover which was so visible to his eyes and lay upon his study Table was as great an offence as if he had bought it And no Lady durst have sent him such a present had she not been assured of his good affection to such Popish Pictures Secondly whereas he avers the Picture of the Crucifix to be lawful so it be not adored He herein expresly contradicts our Homilies to which he hath subscribed our Statutes Injunctions Authors forecited yea the judgement of all sound Antiquity And if this Picture of Christ hanging still on the Crosse as if he had never been taken down thence be lawful as he avers with the Papists against all Orthodox Protestants then it is lawful to make or reserve it either for a meer civill use to grace his study or please his eye sight only which certainly is an extream dishonour to disparagement of our most blessed Saviour and his passion who is the holy One of God transcending all civil uses being made for holy ends alone or for a religious use to stir up our devotion and put us in remembrance of his death which he hath purposely ordained his word and Sacraments to do which at best is superstition Thirdly the place of Tertullian already quoted proves not at all that the Christians had any Crucifixes or Pictures of Christ engraven on their Chalices there is no such sillable in his writings but only that the Hereticks against whom he writ had the Picture of a lost sheep engraven on some of their Cups And we hope there is a vast difference between Hereticks and Orthodox Christians the Picture of a lost sheep and a Crucifix or Picture of Christ himself hanging on the Crosse The second thing charged against me in my study is a g Book of Popish Pictures printed 1623. containing the Portratures of the Life Passion and Death of our Lord Iesus Christ I Answer that I kept it only as a Scholler to peruse and refute it upon occasion nor to adore or make use of the Pictures
in by the High Commission and attested onely by Master Sparke a single Witnesse Bishop Downhams Book was called in by the Kings speciall command both in England and Ireland because published contrary to the his Royall Proclamation and Declaration For Master Prynnes Perpetuity I doe not know that it was burnt in private if it were it was by the censure of the Court there being some things in it liable to just exceptions Doctor Sutcliffes Book is not proved to be called in by me For Master Prynne Master Burton and those that printed their Books they were not censured in the High Commission but dismissed thence without censure For Doctor Jackson he was a learned discreet man I licensed not his Book nor doe I know he professed himselfe an Arminian True it is the Historicall Narration was licensed by my Chaplaine Doctor Martin without my privity for which I turned him out of my service and the Book it selfe was called in and suppressed Fourthly the Kings Proclamation and Declaration before the Articles were his owne not mine both published to settle peace in the Church by silencing those controversies which disturbed it by printing or preaching which unquiet spirits would not submit to and the Authors of the Books forementioned among others with some other Preachers about the City and University for which they were justly questioned suspended and some that broached Arminian Tenets in Oxford were brought in question and ordered to recant as well as those that preached against it The censure of Master Ford and his complices in Oxford was by the King and Counsell upon a solemne hearing at Woodstock not by me and they well deserved it for kindling such a fire in the University as was like to set all in combustion For the University of Cambridge I medled not with it The considerations was not my paper but Bishop Harsnets who drew them and I did but transcribe them and the end of them was not to supresse preaching against Arminianisme but to preserve peace and order in the Church For the Instructions they were the Kings not mine and they were sent to me in a Letter by my Predecessor Archbishop Abbot and brought to me by his Secretary Master Baker with command to see them put in execution within my Diocesse of London to prove which I have produced the testimony of Master Dobson who affirmed it to be true Fiftly for the purging some passages out of Bishop Hals and Bishop Davenants Letter and imprisoning Master Butter for printing them I answer that the same was done by my Chaplaine as being contrary to his Majesties Proclamation and Declaration and Bishop Hall himselfe at last consented to it and was well satisfied upon the reason given him by my Chaplaine that it was for the quiet of the Church and therefore for the Printer of his owne head to put it in deserved exemplary punishment Sixtly there is no proofe that the Articles of Irreland were reversed by my procurement it was done by the Convocation there where I was not present To this was replied in generall That his endeavours to introduce Arminianisme were so fully cleered by the premised evidence and his protection both of the Authors and fomenters of it that impudency it selfe would blush to deny it That the Jesuits Letter which he had in his custody endorsed with his owne hand did fully discover to him that the planting and introducing Arminianisme here in England was their Plot and chief Engine to subvert our Religion And though it makes no particular mention of him yet it informes their Superiour and others that the Arminians had locked up the Dukes eares already a Periphrasis of himselfe the Dukes Earwig as he was then stiled who had his eare more then any His compliance therefore with the Arminians notwithstanding they were but the Jesuits instruments to drive on their designes as he certainly knew by this Letter much agravates his crime and makes exceedingly against him True it is there are some strange passages concerning Parliaments in this Letter but himselfe hath as bad or worse in his Diary and Answer to the Remonstrance of the Commons Anno 1628. therefore certainly he disliked not these in this Letter Particularly this replication was retorted to these his answers First that he was a professed patriot of the Arminians persons Books Tenens and particularly of Bishop Mountagues of whose cause he was most anxious and inquisitive whom he acquainted with his Majesties speciall favour to him while he lay under the cloud of the Parliaments displeasure his receiving all informations or speeches against his Erronious booke whose proceedings in Parliament when there questioned were daily represented to and reserved carefully by him whose ill book and opinions were in sundry conferences particularly justified by him whose preferments proceeded originally from him and with whom he held most intimate correspondency till his death as the forecited passages in his owne Diary and alleaged evidence proves most fully For his advancement by Sir Dully Carltons meanes it is but a bare surmise contrary to the Dockquet Book to excuse himselfe The Proclamation for calling in his book proceeded from the Parliaments prosecution of him not from this Bishops care who ordered it so that it proved the chiefe instrument of promoting Arminianisme by hindring all writing and preaching against it what in him lay he informing the world in the very Proclamation it selfe that the Author was punished onely with a good Bishoprick for writing this Book highly advanced maugre three severall Parliaments complaints and opposition In briefe the Commons Remonstrance is a sufficient evidence of his guilt and no slander at all as he slanderously tearmes it being verified by so many proofs Secondly his answer to the Remonstrance of the Commons is full of bitternesse sawcinesse scandals against the Parliament charging them with untruths in the highest degree onely for speaking that which was most true That he was commanded to returne this answer to it by the King himselfe without any suit of his owne is very improbable and rests on him to prove which he hath not done However he proves not that he did exceed his Commission And whereas he alleageth by way of excuse that his answer to it was never published truly this was his griefe as appeares by his owne endorsment of it and no act of his who desired to have it printed then Whereas he pretends he durst not have answered it had not the King commanded him certainly he that durst controll the Kings owne Letters Patents under his Seale as he did in the case of the collection for the Palatinate and sundry other particulars given in evidence against him revoke the Kings own pardons and prohibitions to the high Commission saying they should not serve the turn yea deprive the King of his Soveraignty that he should not relieve nor pardon any man censured in the high Commission though never so unjustly that hath presumed so frequently to break off Parliaments yea to
he purged it out because it intimated the Pope to be Antichrist and subjection to him an Antichristian Yoke of bondage both which compared with his Purgations out of Bishop Hals Book of Episcopacy to the same effect proves him a Papist with a witnesse and a speciall friend to the Popes Holinesse of whose honour among us he is extraordinary tender That the Pope is the Antichrist all Forraign Domestick Protestant Divines and some Papists too unanimously agree except Mountague and Shelford his creatures And whereas he pretends no Councill hath so determined We answer that the Synod of Gape in France Anno 1603. the whole Synod and Convocation in Ireland Ann. 1615. in the very Articles of their Religion Num. 80. with the whole Convocation and Parliament of England in the Act for the Subsidy of the Clergy 30 Jacobi to omit others define the Pope to be the Antichrist and Popery Antichristian more fully then those Letters-Patents and why these new Letters-Patents should not determine them to be such as well as the old ones both in King James and in King Charles their Reignes but must now be revoked after they had passed the great Seale of England because this Archbishop would have it so transcends any mans capacity to guesse at any other probable reason except onely this Prelats affection both to the Pope and Popery or enmity against the reformed Churches and their Religion For his incivilities to Master Ruly by reason of this clause our Witnesses testimoniall will outsway his bare deniall of them Fiftly the premises abundantly manifest to all that the Archbishop invaded diminished the ancient Immunities and Priviledges of the Dutch and Walloon Churches in all parts not their pretended encroachments onely upon our Churches Priviledges and that he was so farre from being their friend that they esteemed him then their greatest enemy If they formerly returned him any thanks by way of Court-complement for not taking away all their priviledges as well as some of them after many yeers hot contest we are certaine they justly complained of him ten times more for invading depriving them of sundry of their ancient Immunities which almost brought their Churches to utter ruine In few words his owne forecited Papers and Monsieur Bulteels Booke of the manifold troubles of those Churches by this Arch-Prelats prosecution will abundantly falsifie this his pretended friendship towards them and remaine as a lasting Record against him to Posterity All which considered the whole Bulk and every particle of all the proofs and evidences produced by us to make good the first branch of the Commons first generall Charge of High-treason against him remaine altogether unshaken unavoyded maugre all his sophisticall evasions protestations and shifting answers to them And so much for the first branch of his first generall Charge The Archbishops Defence and Answers to the COMMONS Evidence in the maintenance of the Second Branch of their first Generall Charge touching his Endevours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome and the Commons Reply thereunto I Proceed now to the Archbishops Defence against the Second Branch of the Commons first Generall Charge to wit his Endevours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome To this he gave some general Answers in his Generall Defence at the Lords Barre Septemb. 2. 1644. to this effect My Lords said he I am charged for endevouring to introduce Popery and reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome I shall recite the sum of the Evidence and Arguments given in for to prove it First I have in my first Speech nominated divers persons of Eminency whom I reduced from Popery to our Church And if this be so then the Argument against me is this I converted many from Popery Ergo I went about to bring in Popery and to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome Secondly I am charged to be the Author of the c. Oath in the New Canons parcell of which Oath is to abjure Popery and that I will not subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome A more strict Oath then ever was made against Popery in any age or Church And then the argument against me is this I made and tooke an Oath to abjure Popery and not to subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome Therefore I was inclinable to Popery and endeavoured to subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome Thirdly the third Canon of the late New ones was made by me which is against Popery and then the Argument is I made a Canon against Popery Ergo I was inclinable to and endevoured to introduce it Fourthly I was twice seriously offered a Cardinalship and I refused it because I would not be subject to the Pope and Church of Rome Ergo I was addicted to Popery and endevoured to reduce the Church of England into subjection to the Church of Rome Fiftly I writ a Booke against Popery in Answer to Fisher the Jesuit and then the Argument is this I writ a Book against Popery Ergo I am inclinable to Popery and laboured to introduce it Sixtly it is alledged I concealed and cherished the Plot of the Jesuits discovered by Habernfeild and therefore I intended to bring in Popery and reduce the Church of England to the Church of Rome I amswer either this Plot was not reall and if so then Romes Masterpeece is quite blowne up and published in vaine Or else it was reall then I was really in danger of my life for opposing Popery and this Plot. Then the Argument from it must be this I was in danger of my life for cherishing the Jesuites Plot of reducing the Church of England to the Church of Rome Ergo I cherished and endevoured to effect this Plot. Seventhly I laboured to make a reconciliation between the Lutherans and Calvinists Ergo I laboured to introduce Popery and make a reconciliation between the Church of England and the Church of Rome This generall defence and scoffing answer of his at the Lords Barre seemed very specious to some ignorant Auditors who took these feined objections of his owne forging to be the arguments and maine strength of the Commons Evidence produced to convict him of a serious endeavour to subvert the Protestant Religion introduce popery and reconcile the Church of England unto Rome when as the Commons made no such objections from the Evidence and proofs against him Wherupon they replyed that he did but fight with his owne shadow and absurd arguments of his owne framing as he did in his Sear-chamber Speech instead of repeating and answering their reall Objections and proofs against him transforming his owne defence into their Charge and Evidence a meer sophisticall Jesuiticall practice of which he made use throughout his Tryall to which we shall reply in order First the Commons never objected that ever he reduced any from popery but that many were seduced
Declaration before the 39 Articles wrested to propagate Arminianism and suppresse truth p. 120 to 164. His Proclamation for calling in and suppressing Sales his Popish Book how procured mistaken to abuse the world and justifie Laud and Heywood p. 186 187. His Instructions concerning Lectures and preaching how procured abused p. 370 to 474. 478 to 488 His Letter to the Archbishop and Bishops concerning Ordination penned by Laud how much abused to suppresse preaching and keep out good men from the Ministry p. 382 to 385. 537 538 539 His Voyage into Spain of purpose to seduce him in his Religion which was there attempted by the Pope his Nuncio the Jesuits Buckingham and Digby and King James his Instructions to him before he went concerning his writing that the Pope was Antichrist Lauds privity and assistance to the Voyage Match Instructions and the Match with France plotted by the Popish party to seduce the King p. 416 to 419 547 to 550 His command to judge Richardson to St. revoke his Order against Wakes and Revels p. 151 c. St. Clara his Book Dedicated to him to reconcile him and us to Rome p. 423. Ana Fustidius Dedicated to him by Cardinal Barbarino Ibid. Bishop of Calcedon Lauds intimacy with him and Windebanks use of him p. 454 455. Catechizing in the Afternoon a meer pretence to suppresse Preaching and what form must be used p. 368 369 370 372 374 376 378 Chaplains in private houses suppressed p 369 371 372. Mistris Charnocks testimony p. 69. Christs Epistle to a devout Soul a Popish Book Licensed p. 186 187 195 c. Church maintained to be alwayes visible The Church of Rome to be a true Church to have the same Religion with in not to have erred in Fundamentals the Reformed Protestant Churches to be no Churches if they want Lord Bishops and not to be of our Religion by Laud and his adherents who endeavoared to suppresse the Dutch French and Walloon Churches here and purged out clauses concerning the Church and building Churches East and West p. 27 30 207 293 296 to 300 388 to 409. 441. 530 531 532. High Commission Lauds design to advance its power p. 369. St. Clara his intimacy with Canterbury and Book to reconcile us to Rome p. 39 423 to 432 550 557 to 560. Dr. Clerks Sermons miserably gelded purged by Lauds Chaplains p. 254 to 376 John Cooks testimony against Canteroury p. 452 453. Mr. Cooks recantation in Oxford p. 176 Consecrations of Flagous Altar-clothes Churches Chappels Church-yards meerly Popish introduced used justified by Canterbury whose Arguments for them are examined refuted p. 65 114 to 128 217 218. 497 to 506. Considerations compiled and presented by Laud to the King to suppresse Preaching Lectures Lecturers p. 368 to 376. 536 537 477. Con the Popes Nuncio p. 413 440. Contrition Popish passages against it expunged p. 308. Copes introduced enjoyned by Laud p. 64 71. 76 80 81. 468 469 476 to 490. Mr. Corbets testimony and trouble for not bowing to the Altar by Bishop Laud and his Visitor p. 71. 477. Earl of Corks Tomb in Ireland ordered by Laud to be taken down for standing in the place of the Altar and Letters thence concerning it p. 82 to 88. Dr. J. Cosin a Popish Innovator at Durham Cambridge advanced protected by Laud p. 72 73 78 355 356. 532. Councels Evangelical to perfection justified in new printed Books p. 209 210. Passages against them expunged p. 300. Councellors that are ill passages against them purged out of new Books by Laud and his Agents p. 245 301 302. Creed-Church how consecrated by Laud p. 113 114 598 503. Credentia a Popish Innovation and Vtensil introduced by Laud in his Chappel p. 63 464 468. Crowlyes Answer to Champenyes p. 69 Croxton recommended by Laud to the Lord Deputy Wentworth by him advanced in Ireland his Letter to the Archbishop and practise of auricular confession publiquely there p. 194 195. Crucifixes erected by the Archbishop and his Agents in his own and the Kings Chappels Cathedrals and elsewhere p. 59 to 57. 205 205 216. 462 to 490. Iustified by him p. 464 465. Mr. Culmer suspended by Laud for not reading the Declaration for Sports on the Lords day p. 146. 506. Dr. Cumber his justification of Auricular Confession and Letter to Laud with his Answer thereunto touching Mr. Bernards Sermon p. 193. 363 364. 535. D Dancing and other Pastimes on the Lords day justified in late printed Books condemned by Fathers Councels Calvin others p. 222 to 226 372. 504 505 506. Davis his Petition to Laud concerning Contributions to rail in the Altar p 90. Deans Arminian and Popish preferred by Laud p. 356 532 533. Declaration for Sports enlarged reprinted and pressedon Ministers by Lauds Practise p. 128 156 382. Decree of God passages concerning it deleted p. 333 364 365. Decree of Star-chamber concerning licensing and reprinting Books illegall procured abused by Laud to the prejudice of our Religion and the advancement of Poperty and Arminianisme p. 198 to 210 512. to 516. Barron Denham his Orders against Wakes Revels Churchals p. 126 127 153 154 513 515. Master Dell Lauds Secretary his Letter to silence Master Leigh p. 388. His intimacy with Priests and Jesuits and answer to the Pursevants p. 450 451 453. Master Deuxels testimony of Priests liberty in their prisons p. 450. Master Dow advanced his popish Booke p. 207 357. Bishop Downhams Book against the Arminians and falling from Grace called in by Lauds meanes both in England and Ireland p. 171 172 508 510. His Protestation against toleration of popery in Ireland p. 434. Doctor Duppa an Arminian made Vice-Chancellour of Oxford and promoted by Laud 176 p. 354 359 360. Master Dury his reordination and attempts to reconcile the Calvinists and Lutherans p. 340 539 541 Dutch and French reformed Churches in England prosecuted and deprived of their priviledges by Laud accounted no true Churches nor of our Religion p. 27 33 388 to 409 539 to 543. E King Edward VI. his Patent to the Dutch and French to enjoy Churches of their owne Discipline in England p. 394 395. his times depressed p. 420 421. Election Universall and from foreseen Faith and Works maintained passages against it deleted p. 303 to 307 309 to 312. Egerton his testimony against Laud p. 453. Equivocation clauses against it expunged p. 307. F Faith alone doth not justifie but Charity and Works maintained passages against it the nature of faith and growth in it deleted p. 209 307 314 315 341. Falling from Grace maintained in many late printed Books and passages against it expunged p. 219 279 to 287 314 315 316 425. Fast Booke purged of passages against popery by Laud p. 250. Passages against popish Fasting deleted p. 307. Fastidius his Booke printed and dedicated to the King by Cardinall Barbarino p. 423 Feares carnall passages against them and the feare of God expunged p. 388 341. Dr. Featlies testimony against Laud and the purging of his Sermons
Jan. 10. Les plus Grands du Berray rapporterent au Roy qu'il troubloit le repose du publie qu'il S'emparoit contre toute la Justice de son domaine c. Il depublia la Bulledecernee par le Pape pour faire la guerre aux Albegiois auec tant de zele de fruict que plusieurs a sa parole S'y croâ—serent courageusement La guâ—rre eut une issue houreuse car les Heretiques furent tellement deconfits qu'ils ne purrent depuis seremetter on campagne c. Ribadeniera Flures des Vies des Saincts p. 124. Note Note * Page 14. 15. 25. Note * See the Kings Cabinet opened * Officium Beatae Mariae secundum Vsum Sarum Paristis 1919. p. 12. Bishop Jewels Defence of the Apology part 2. c. 18. Divis 1. p. 295. 296. Object 1. Answ 1. Object 2. Answ 1. Object 3. Answ * See his late Libell intituled Innocency and Truth Justified Answ 2. Note Note Note * See the Irish Cabinet * Note f Jer. 31. 23. c. 50. 7. g Deut. 33. 21. h Psal 82. 3. i Iohn Lilburn in his late Libels Englands Birth-right with others k Isa 59. 4. 9. 14 l I say 5. 7. m Eccl 3. 16. n Isa 1 21. o Ier. 9. 22. Ier. 9. 22. q 2 Sam. 8. 15. r Deut. 16. 18. 19. 20. a Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 10. c. 63. a See the Breviate of his Life p. 1. 2. 3. b Se his Conference with Fisher p. 171. A necessary Introduction to his Tryall p. 148. 149. c Annaliuâ—â— Pars posterior p. 680. b Claudian in Eutropium l. 1. p. 67. c Rerum Ang. licarum l. 4. c. 14. d 1 Tim. 3. â—ir 1. 7 8. * Ovid Metam l. 2. * See the Breviate of his life pag. 22. and Diurnall Occurrences pag. 13. and 14. the Commons Journall NOTE f Clandian in Rufinum I. 2. p. g Pag. 23. 24. Master Pyme Speech See the Charge of the Scottish Commissioners against Canterbury * Which Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wels in his speech to his Clergy to set on this contribution stiled Bellum Episcopale adding that what ever his Majesty had expressed in his Declarations to be the cause of this warre yet in truth this warre is FOR VS Bishops NOTE * NOTE NOTE * Therefore the fitter to make a Popish Priest Prelate Cardinall * He knew he could not have done them half the service by going over from hence to Rome as by staying here to promote their designes and that made him stay * In secular imployments inconsistent with not in preaching and paines in his Calling Note this impudent asseveration here abundantly refuted * In secular imployments inconsistent with not in preaching and paines in his Calling Note this impudent asseveration here abundantly refuted * Belike he was born a Popeling * It was onely by bringing Rome home to them or meeting them more then halfe way in their journey thither * A great Actor in the late Irish Rebellion against the Protestants * All know what a good Protestant he lived and died * Both desperate Apostate Papists Mr Chainels Sermon at his Funerall informe us how good a Protestant he lived and dyed * Cambdens Britannias p. 229. * Artit Orig. 7. Additionall 7. * Artit Orig. 210. 1. His Popish superstitious Innovations in Lambheth Chappell * Bishop Iewels his defence of the Apology of the Church of England 5. Part c. 5. Diuis 1. to 3 p. 551. c. Reply to Harding Artit 14. p. 496. to 518. Thomas Becons Reliques of Rome Catechisme on the second commandement Mr. Fox Acts Monuments vol. 1. p. 167. 168. 255. vol 2. p. 388. 389. 394. 658. 669. 409. 410. vol 3. p. 992. to 993. with infinit others * Bochellus Decreta Ecclesiae Gallicanae lib. 4. Tit. 1. c. 80. p. 556. 557 NOTE * See Ribadeniera Flevers des vies des Sainctes pars â—ap 104. Apres Compline et Matines il visi oit tous les Rutols de 〈…〉 Eglile faisant a chacun vne Prostration et reverence * Apud Bochellum Decreta Eccles Gal. l. 4 Tit. 1. c. 81. p. 558. Salamantinae 1588. 8. 9. 21. * See the Archbishops speech in Star chamber p. 47. 48 49. * De Hey Iyns Cole from the Altar and Antidonum Lincolniense Dr. Pocklington Reeue Shelford and others * See Lame Giles his Haultings Anti-Armianisme p. 191 Appendix and Queeres concerning Bowing at the name of Iesus * Laurentius Surius concil Tom. 3 p. 6. 741. 810. * Platina in vita ejus Volateran Thomas Beacons Reliques of Rome ch Of the Ornaments of the Church Of plain-song Prick-song Organs and singing in Churches Histriomastix p. 283. to 287. * See A Necessary Introduction to his Tryall p. 15â— to 164. * Exod. 20 4 5 Lev. 26. 1. Deut 4. 14. to 25. 1. 5. 8 9. Isay 2. 20 c. 30. 27. c. 31. 7. c. 44. 9. c. Hoses 14. 8. Rom. 1. 23. 24 25. 1 Iohn 5. 21. 2. His Popish Innovations in his Majesties Chapell at White-Hall * Claudian His Popists Innovations at Westminster Abbey at his Majesties Coronation †See the Breviat of his life p. 7. †Page 69. 70. 9. 43. 78. 110. 157 162. 165. 4 His Popish Innovations in the Vniversities of Oxford and Cambridge * Dabis fidem ad observandum statuta istius Vniversitatis c. Statuta selectae Corpore statutum Vniversitatis Oxon Tit. 9. Sect. 6. Paragr 1. p. 114. * Acts and Monuments Edit 16. 40. â— vol. 3. p. 773. Edit 1610. p. 1781. His Popish Innovations in the Vniversity of Cambridge Object Answer * De summo Bono l. 2. c. 20. †Cicero de legibus l. 3. * Gratian distinct 86. * Foutes venero inficere est non tantum contra morem Majorum sed etiam contra fas Deorum Florus Historiae lib. 1. Grotius de Iure Belli lib. 3. c. 4. Sect. 16. p. 444. See 22. H. 8. c. 10. 5. His Popish Innovations and superstitions in Cathedrall Churches NOTE NOTE NOTE * This was then a grosse untruth for it then stood not so in any Cathedralls NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE * See Master Francis Rouse his printed Speech at the Transmission of Master Smarts cause to the Lords Innovations in Canterbury Cathedrall Innovations in VVinchester Cathedrall NOTE Innovations in Litchfield Cathedrall Innovations at Hereford NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE * A notorious untruth of an Arch-Prelate NOTE NOTE * Doctor Heylyns Antidotum Lincolniense pag. 37. 39. 65. c. his Coale from the Altar p. 26 27. with Pocklington Dow Reeve Shelford Bishop Pierce and others Innovations in Parish Churches Chappell 's The case of St. Gregories Church NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE 19. 20. 21. NOTE 22. NOTE 23. 24. 18. 19. 20. 21. 21. 22. 23. NOTE 24. NOTE NOTE Note Note
the hearing And whereas he pretends he was not present at his censure which he proves not we know he was vertually if not personally present thereat yea his unjust suppression of his tendred Answer and defence was the onely cause of his censure which if received were so learned solid satisfactory that prophanenesse and injustice it selfe could not have imposed such a censure on him Thirdly annuall Feasts of Dedication of Churches are not so ancient but that we know their Originall The Feast of Dedication of the Altar instituted by Judas Maccabeus was the first of this kind we read of Indeed Solomon kept a Feast for seven dayes space when the Temple was dedicated And Constantine the great with some others in his dayes when Churches were dedicated made a great Feast but that those Feasts continued annuall in perpetuity I find no mention in any approved Antiquity These annuall Feasts of dedication were first invented by the spurious popish Decrees of Pope Felix and Gregory thus recorded by Gratian Solennitates dedicationum Ecclesiarum Epissoporum Saterdotum per singulos annos sunt celebrandae Solennitates Ecclesiarum dedicationum Sacerdotum per singulos annos solenniter sunt celebrandae ipso Domino exemplum dante qui ad festum dedicationis Templi omnibus id faciendi dans formam cum reliquis populis eandem festevitatem celebraturus venit sicut scriptum est Facta sunt Encoenia in Hieru olymis hyems erat ambulabat Jesus in Temple in porticu Solomonis Quod autem octo diebus encaenia sint celebrando in libro Regum perfecta dedicatione Templi cernas Other Decrees then these of these two Popes the latter whereof is built upon cleer mistakes of Scripture cannot be produced These Bacanalian feasts are thus censured by Aretius Problem 126. Hodie verò Solennitates instituuntur tote die bibitur tote die luditur saltatur lascivi cantus audiuntur quae omnia magis spirant Bacchi quoddam festum à Maenadibus celebrandum quam piam Christianismi antiquitatem And were wholly abolished among us by the Injunctions of King Henry the eighth and Statute of 6 Edw. 6. c. 3. by reason of the idlenesse excesse and great mischiefes they produced to mens soules Yea many Judges riding the Westerne Circuit suppressed the Wakes and Revels kept upon them from time to time for these abuses and other weighty Reasons Yet this prophane Arch-prelate revives re-establisheth them by this DECLARATION causeth those Judges Orders to be reversed with a strong Hand by a Plot and Certificate from Bishop Pierce and others checks nay punisheth Chiefe Justice Richardson removes him from that Circuit and le ts loose the Reines to all Licentiousnesse prophanenesse whereby infinite mischiefs ensued as we have fully proved So that this whole Charge sticks still upon him Ninthly from these ceremoniall and practicall they proceed to doctrinall innovations in matters of Religion wherein I am charged First with an endeavour to introduce and propagate Arminianisme in our Church the rediest inlet to Popery and a part thereof though I knew it to be a plot of the Jesuits to subvert our Religion as appears by the Jesuits Letter and that principally First in being a common Patriot of Arminians together with their Books Tenets and a preferrer of such by name of Bishop Mountague and his Appeale complained of in Parliament Doctor Jackson and others for which I was taxed by a Declaration of the Commons in Parliament Secondly in censuring the Commons Declaration in Parliament against the Arminians and their Vote too Thirdly in calling in and suppressing Books against Arminianisme though licensed and questioning censuring the Authors Printers dispersers of them in the high Commission as Bishop Carltons and Bishop Downames Books Doctor Featlies Doctor Goads Master Rouses Doctor Sutcliffes Master Prynnes Master Burtons Books and others when as the Arminian Authors went unquestioned and their Books printed by authority as Doctor Jacksons Book and the Historicall Narration licensed by my owne Chaplaine Doctor Martin Fourthly In abusing his Majesties Proclamation his Declaration before the 39. Articles of our Church with the subsequent Instructions prohibiting controversies against the Article especially in the controverted points of Arminianisme to suppresse all preaching against Arminian errours and punish such as durst oppose them by silencing suspending censuring them in the high Commission or elswhere and conniving at the Arminians to vent and preach their errours freely under pretext thereof without restraint or opposition both in the University and City Fiftly for purging passages against Arminianisme and Arminians out of Books tendred to the Presse and particularly out of Bishop Hals and Bishop Davenants Letters with some other incident particulars which fall under these heads Sixtly in repealing the Articles of Ireland against Arminianisme which King James declaimed against as damnable heresie To this I answer in generall that I never endeavoured to introduce Arminianisme into our Church nor ever maintained any Arminian opinions For the Jesuits Letter it is nothing at all to me it layes nothing to my charge in particular and it was lawfull for me to read and keep it it containes many strange vile things in it against the Parliament which I approve not but detest To the particulars I answer First that I did neither protect nor countenance the Arminians persons books or tenets for Bishop Mountague I had no hand in his Book I countenanced it not it was suppressed and called in by Proclamation he was preferred by Sir Dudly Carltons meanes not mine who was then a stranger to me True is is I was in a Declaration of the Commons house taxed as a favourer advancer of Arminians and their opinions without any particular proofe at all which was a great slander to me Secondly I answer that being publickly traduced in that Declaration I did returne an answer to vindicate my owne innocency as was necessary for me to doe to free my selfe from that scandall without any derogation to the Parliaments authority Neither did I this till I was expresly commanded by the King himselfe as appeares by the endorsment whose command it was lawfull yea necessary for me to obey and I durst not have done it without such his Royall command After which I penned it with all due respect to the Parliament and it was never published For my answer to the Parliaments Vote it was onely a private paper kept in my Study and communicated to none written for my owne private satisfaction and derogating noting from the power of Parliaments it belonging properly to the Convocation and Church of England by the Lawes and Statutes of the Land to make Canons and settle controversies in Religion as the Statute of 25. Hen. 8. c. 19. 1. Eliz. c. 1. evidence Thirdly the calling in and suppressing of these Books and prosecuting the Authors Printers of them in the High Commission was the Courts act not mine For Bishop Carltons Book it was called