4 the doing whereof seemeth a small matter and such as might haue admitted a good excuse so he dealt seuerely with Vzza for an act in shew of small account 2 Sam. 6.4 It is sometime better loyaltie not to yeald then to yeald obedience to the command of Princes though good and religious as appeareth by the example of Ioah before mentioned 2 Sam. 18.3 and by them that would not suffer Dauid to goe out with them to battell against Absolom Cap. 21.17 and by the answer of other vnto him after a great danger Especially by them that would not obey Saul's commandement for putting Ionathan to death 1 Sam. 14.44 euen before Saul had euer bewraied so great wickednesse as afterward he did 1 Sam. 22.17 as well as they that afterward refused his like command for killing the Lords Priests If any shall obiect such examples to disgrace our Christian King as making him like to Saul Theodor. Hist Eccl. L. 2. C. 16. he may well be answered as Liberius sometime a good Bishop of Rome now the Seat of Antichrist answered a flattering Courtier Eusebius that charged the said Liberius for alleadging the example of the three Children in Daniel to purge himselfe of singularitie in defending boldly Athanasius against the Emperour Constantius and many Bishops that he compared the said Emperour to Nebuchadnezzer No said Liberius But thou without reason dost condemne a man that hath not beene brought into Iudgement Euen so I say may all such Flatterers and pickthankes be answered that snatch at euerie aduantage against such as plead for the Innocent whereby to bring them into displeasure with their Soueraignes Neither also can it be iustly charged to be seditiously spoken to the encouragement of other Papists or Atheists not to obey iust and lawfull commands Forasmuch as by many Bookes to subscribe and conforme are shewed not to be lawfull by diuers arguments not answered nor answerable and also because the parties not subscribing and conforming doe in all other things shew all alleageance and teach all other so to doe whereas the contrarie is daily seene in Papists and Atheists as they dare and haue any opportunitie and meanes according to their mindes Do not also the parties pleaded for submit themselues to suffer any thing for their not subscribing and conforming That of Samuel Obedience is better then sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 is spoken of obedience to God and not of obedience vnto men as the Text plainly sheweth and it being sayd to the king himselfe euen to Saul for his transgressing the expresse commandement of God and not for transgressing any commandement of man For he being the king was not subiect to any man The premises are the more to be respected in regard of the tendernesse of conscience The tendernesse of conscience apparant by Dauids heart smiting him for cutting only of a Lap of Saul's garment and by the great griefe of Iohn Hus in remembrance of his finenesse in apparell whiles he was young and of his playing at Chesse 1 Sam. 24 6 Acts and Mon. printed 1596. p. 580. Gen. 42 2â— and also by the accusation of the consciences of the brethren of Ioseph for things done against Ioseph long after the doing of them Oh that the Prelats would seriously consider this in time towards their brethren yea also because to oppresse the conscience being well considered is worse then the demand of Nahash the Ammonite for thrusting out all the right eyes of the Inhabitants of Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.2 For if the conscience be wounded the whole mind is blinded And if Ministers be blinde how shall they giue light to their people If the light that is in them be darkenesse Matt. 6.23 how great is their darkenesse And if Ministers be so wounded in their consciences that themselues haue no comfort Pro. 18.14 for a wounded spirit who can beare how can they comfort other Oh that his excellent Maiestie in the Spirit of the Lord would be pleased and moued to relieue such Ministers vpon consideration hereof as Saul in the same spirit was moued to relieue Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.6 That fayling sometime in greater matters is not sufficient to proue smaller things not to be refrained of conscience A good conscience may fayle in greater matters and yet stick at small appeareth by David who notwithstanding he were in his minde troubled for that small matter before mentioned yet afterward many wayes sinned most grieuously against Vriah both in his adulterie and also afterward The greater also and heauier the burden of other sinnes is the more such as so feele the same haue neede to take heed of increasing their burden by any other thing 1 Thess 5.22 yea to abstaine from all appearance of euill They also that do obiect the former do most offend in greater matters themselues as against Gods Word so also against the Lawes of the Land vsing all meanes daily to hinder the proceeding of the Law against themselues and denying the benefit of the Law vnto others thereby bewraying that themselues would rule and raigne as Lords and Kings subiect to no Law and seeking to haue all other subiect to themselues like to that king that Daniel said should do according to his owne will Dan. 11.36 Neyther also do the Ministers molested plead conscience in respect of themselues only Ministers refraine conformitie in conscience to their Rulers but also in respect of their Rulers and molesters and that because to molest such is a thing more dangerous then to be molested In such things it is worse to be agents then patients Though Dauid at the first would not be disswaded from numbring the people yet how wofully and dolefully afterward did he cry out as a child beaten laying it wholly vpon himselfe 2. Sam. 24.10.17 without imputation thereof to any other Oh that such Rulers of their brethren would not be deceiued herein That which seemeth now a small thing may herafter be great and heauie A Gnat is but a small thing a flea lesse yet eyther of both doth trouble the greatest as well as the least the highest as well as the lowest Great persons haue great meanes for solacing themselues but alas who as I sayd before can beare a wounded spirit Pro. 18.14 spirit I doe further in all humilitie beseech your most Honorable Senate The innocencie of Ministers to be tryed euen by the Lawes of the Land that the innocencie of the Ministers before mentioned may be tryed not only by the Word of God but also by the Lawes of the Land and that the learned Iudges and other Lawyers may freely and at large argue their cause before his Maiestie and your Honorable Court being by an oath of the Lord first charged vpon their alleageance truly plainly and fully to deliuer their iudgements touching the Lawes of the Land in that behalfe as also by his excellent Maiestie being enboldned so
least they should be put out of the Syndgogue or rather the Congregation that is least they should be excommunicated Ioh. 9.22 because the Iewes had made such a generall Canon against any man that should confesse Iesus to be Christ so doe many worthy men consent with the Ministers silenced but feare of some Bishops vnmercifull indeed as some are in signification of their name they dare not bewray their Iudgements for feare of the said danger Yea I am perswaded that some of the most reuerend Bishops themselues doe vnfeignedly desire the reformation of some things that are the causes of the former troubles Yea I say more that I knew a verie learned reuerend and renowmed Bishop not long since deceassed that said to a silenced and depriued Minister of his Diocesse suing vnto him for some enlargement of his Ministerie that he would willingly grant his request but he durst not because he was a man vnder authoritie and must obey But said he I will pray for you that those things may be remooued that doe hinder you that we may all ioyne together against the common Aduersarie for it is high time May it please also your most Honourable Court to consider that your grace craued to further the free passage of the Gospel The remoue of Ceremonies concerneth the whole Land Can. 27. Est 3.2 and to remoue the hindrances thereof doth concerne your selues and yours and the whole Land and not such Ministers onely and that in respect of diuers Canons Such is the Canon of kneeling at the celebration of the Lords Supper in the verie act of receiuing the Bread and Wine not much vnlike the commandement of Ahashuerosh for bowing the knee to Haman whereunto Mordecai would not yeeld though thereby he hazarded his owne state and the state of all the Iewes and though for his yeelding he might haue pleaded that he neither did it religiously according to the manner of the People Exod. 17.14 Deut. 25.17 Est 3.1 10. 9.24 Can. 98. nor in contempt of Gods Commandement for warre and hatred on the part of the Iewes against the Amalekits whereof Haman was one euen an Agagite of the Kings Stocke but only ciuilly in respect of the Kings command still keeping hatred against the Amalekits though he gaue that ciuill outward reuerence vnto Haman The like is the Canon against Appeales to any Iudge ad quem in any case whatsoeuer if the Aduersarie may with any colour plead the other partie to be a Schismatike Such is the Canon touching Diuorcement Can. 4.6.7.8 Such is the Canon for Excommunication ipso facto of euerie one that shall speake any thing against any of the Canons or against any rights and ceremonies established wherby men may be disabled from making their Will or their Wills may be frustrated or at least their Executors much molested Such is the Canon or seueritie vsed for restraining the People from seeking the Word else-where though they haue no preaching at all in their owne Parishes or such only as would grieue any Christian heart to heare it Can. 18. Such is the Canon for the superstitious ridiculous bowing of the knee at the name of Iesus to the disturbance of the whole Congregation and the hinderance both of the Speaker or Reader also of the hearer whereas no such thing is inioined at the name of God the Father or of Christ or of the Lord or of our Sauiour thogh this be all one with the name of Iesus the very meaning therof The like may be said of diuers other canons Many Canons contrarie to our Lawes and although such Canons may be said euen iure humano not to be lawfull and therefore cannot be pleaded in any of his Maiesties Temporall Courts yet herein euerie man is not able to wage Law against their Aduersaries Although also some of the said Canons were not perhaps agreed vpon by the greater part of the Conuocation but onely hatched by some few great Prelats and caried out by strong boisterous hand yet who may make question of these things Much trouble hath been and daily is by such Canons and more will be if by your worthy Senat it be not preuented Many wicked men haue more libertie then ministers of the Gospel Of the restraint also of the before pleaded for Ministers from all benefit of the Law may not vnfitly be said that of Ioel touching the Famine of his time Heare ye this ô Elders and hearken all ye Inhabitants of the Land whether such a thing hath been in your daies or yet in the daies of your forefathers c. Shall all blasphemers contemners of all goodnesse drunkards c. haue the benefit of the Law and shall such Ministers onely be so vile as to be debarred from it The lewdest man that is cannot be so easily dispossessed of a poore Cottage of twentie shillings a yeere as many worthy Ministers haue beene ciected with their Wiues and Children from a Liuing of more then an hundred pound by the yeere and that sometimes for not obseruing a Booke neither established by Law nor inioyned by Canon neither euer tendred vnto them yea also without any presentment in that behalfe The old saying viuat Rex currat Lex importeth the safetie of Kings and Kingdomes to consist much in the execution of Iustice Pro. 20.28 and 29.14.39 the which also agreeth with the wisedome of Salomon Is it not likewise strange that common Players by diuers Acts of Parliament condemned to be Rogues and that are indeed the Lords of much misrule and great wickednesse that these I say should haue libertie to exercise their abominable trade condemned in all well ordered Commonwealths yea with especiall Command to all Officers for their ayd yea further that such base persons should so debacchari against all sorts and disgrace the greatest Peeres in the Land yea sometimes also being bold with his high Maiestie vpon their Stages much more with any Ministers that they shall heare to speake against their roguerie and that such learned and godly Ministers no way scandalous in their life should haue their mouthes stopped Most strange especially is it that his excellent Maiestie should enlarge all Papists and discharge them from Imprisonment and other penalties for any former offences and that without any submission to our Religion and that yet the hearts of the Prelats should be so hardned against their Brethren as not to enlarge them and discharge them from all punishments for their supposed offences but still to continue their seueritie against them Moreouer Examples to moue the Parliament Ier. 26.16 Ier. 38.9 your said most Honourable Court may the more boldly do the more for the enlargement of the Gospel and such Ministers thereof because of many other examples doing the like Of the Princes and People of Juda pleading for Ieremiah against the Clergie of Ierusalem Of Ebedmelech petitioning earnestly for him to the King and preuailing with the King
ritus vestros vel vsum eorum publicum qui suscepta primum Scotiae suscepta dein Angliae corona regia vtrobique solenni ritu deo iusturandum praestitit de conseruanda in statu suo illa colendi Dei formula nec alia quam quae in regnis suis tum publice recepta vtriusque gentis legitus stabilita esset Quarum etiam se tum legum quoque non minus quam religionis sanctissimè in se suscepit defensorem fore Eo autem consilium hoc â—uum tendit vt nouator sit vt periurus vt vterque sit Esset enim vterque si vtroque hoc tam graui crimine vel coronae suae vel etiam vitae securitatem redimeret Hoc vero quam a ratione prorsus alienum tu lector iudica Regi nostro praesertim cui nulla hic apud nos periurij dispensatio speranda cui nulla de Pontifice opinio quòd tam sit omnipotens vt suscepti eum bis iuramenti religione possit exoluere These are the verie Words of the same most worthy Writer the English whereof I leaue to the Learned of your most Honourable Court The premised Testimonie considered What loyall Subiect can so basely or wickedly conceiue of h s Maiestie as that he should euer yeeld to a toleration of that damnable Religion against which he hath so often written protested and sworne So much the lesse are all true Subiects to conceiue any such thing because by a toleration as things now stand not onely the Kings Maiestie himselfe should be guiltie of the crimes mentioned in the former testimonie but also all the Iudges of the Land who are all sworne to the execution of the Lawes alreadie enacted against Poperie and Papists neither so only but also all other Iustices of the Peace in the Countrey all Maiors Bailifes and other chiefe Magistrates in all Cities and other Townes Incorporate The forme also of Iustice in administration of Oathes to Iurors c. should be changed Alas alas What a confusion would this make And what might all the Land feare for such doing If the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that any way taketh his Name in vaine What may be feared when all the Magistrates of an whole Kingdome shall be guiltie of the same in the highest degree Ignorant Papists Touching ignorant Papists oh that some order might be taken for the reclaiming of them by louing kind and diligent instruction by men of discretion and wisedome well fitted so to doe Certainly the neglect hereof hath beene great and somewhat scandalous to the State Many haue beene greedie of their Money and readie to beg the pecuniarie mulct of absence from Church But alas who hath by good instruction laboured to bring them to Church and to the sauing knowledge of the Truth Something likewise might haue beene inserted for disarming of Papists but because somewhat hath beene done in this kind therefore I say the lesse onely order would be taken for renewing thereof yeerely and for better search of their houses in that behalfe without any foreknowledge of any such matter whereby to conuey their Armour to their Farmers or other Friends or hide them in the Ground or put them into Hogsheads or Pipes as if the said Vessels were full of Wine or Beere Against Oathes The abounding of Oathes and Blasphemies in this Land notwithstanding the manifold Commandements and fearfull threatnings of God against these sinnes and also the pride that men take in these sinnes Hos 4.1.2 Zech. 5.2 Ier. 23.10 would require some thing to be spoken of them least we partake of the Iudgements belonging vnto them But hearing some speech to haue been alreadie for some order to be taken for repressing of them I will forbeare all further speech in that behalfe Onely touching the Oath Ex officio The Oathe Ex officio and the Oath tendred to Churchwardens and Sidemen as the first hath been largely declared by diuers learned iudicious Lawyers to be against the Lawes of the Land especially by that renowmed Gentleman Master Morris late Attourney in the Court of Wards and is knowne so to be to many of your Honourable Court as also the same hath been condemned openly in Westminster Hall by the Iudges of his Maiesties most Honourable Bench euen to be against Law Reason Religion and Conscience none but Time-seruers daring to denie the same so touching the other Master Lambert of Kent a learned Lawyer and Iustice of Peace by the authoritie of that ancient Iudge Master Fitz-Harbert in his Natura breui hath in his directions for Iustices of Peace in giuing their Charges at Quarter Sessions set it downe for a speciall Article to be enquired whether any Ordinaries in their Courts doe impose the same viz. Any Oathe to any of the Kings Lay people in any causes saue only in matters Testamentarie and Matrimoniall The same also to be contrarie to Law is further euident by the expresse words of the Register that hath the grounds of our Law and the forme of all Writs for Law The daily imposition notwithstanding of this Oath in all Ecclesiasticall Courts by all Ordinaries being troublesome to many tender consciences if it might please your most Honourable Court to take some order therein it would doubtlesse be a meanes of much peace and great comfort to many good Christian Soules That some obiect Churchwardens Sidemen not to be meere Lay men many Lawyers can easily answer And how can they be but Lay men as things now stand that are neuer accounted of the Clergie that haue no Ecclesiasticall ordination that enioy no benefit of the Clergie but only that which euerie one that can but reade enioyeth in some cases of Felonie The taking of this Oath is the more troublesome because the Articles are so many and variable according to the varietie of Ordinaries of Times of Diocesses For sometime one and the same Ordinaries doe differ in their owne Articles The custome also of mens swearing and forswearing themselues herein maketh them the readier to periure themselues in other matters To this point of the Oath Ex officio especially ministred vnto Churchwardens may be referred all such Articles as concern matters not belonging to Ecclesiasticall Courts Such is the Article for not paying rates to the Poore The which notwithstanding some Ecclesiasticall Iudges haue acknowledged not to belong to their Courts yet some poore men being presented by vertue of that Oath for not paying haue beene much molested and at the last also excommunicated The like may be said of some other Articles throughly examined Against Witches Against those that are called good Witches some order to be taken were the better because by ignorant and irreligious people they are not shunned but rather honoured Those that are accounted euill Witches are punished but these are recompensed as if they were indeed Act. 8.10 as Simon Magus was esteemed to be in Samaria The other by the Deuil bewitch the bodies
can deny you nothing as now the aduersaries of the said Minsters pretend they haue the like power from his Maiestie to deale as they haue done hauing no such power by any Law and yet afterward vpon the petition of one only and he no naturall subiect giuing a counter-commission for the sauing of Ieremiah and fetching him out of prison Ier. 38.10 Exo. 32.10.12 Iudg. 10.13 Exo. 32.11 To conclude this argument hath not God himselfe oft denyed helpe to his people and forbidden men to pray for them or them to pray for themselues and yet for all that holpen them Was this any dishonor to his diuine Maiestie Yea rather As Moses pleaded the honor of God therein and as other being as it were forsaken of the Lord Psal 79.9 craued his helpe and to be deliuered out of their trouble for the glorie of his name And as Samuel assured the Israelits being in great distresse and feare that the Lord would not forsake them for his great names sake c. so the Ministers before silenced 1 Sam. 12.22 and still in great distresse doe hope they may now plead for the free course of the Gospel and for comfort and to be made glad according to all the dayes wherein they haue beene afflicted Psal 90.15 for the greater honor of all the States of Parliament and for the greater glory of his gracious Maiestie it selfe As hitherto in the same priuiledge whereby other subiects preferre their complaints and causes to the High and most Honorable Court of Parliament I haue exhibited the former arguments for the enlargement both of the Gospel it selfe and of the Ministers thereof hitherto molested and like daily so to be vnto the graue and wise consideration of your sayd Court so now I will be bold vpon the same freedome and libertie of other subiects to exhibit also some other things to your sayd Court which much likewise concerne Gods glory and the common good both of Church and Common-wealth within his Maiesties Kingdomes First therefore I will beginne with Papists to shew some reasons for the better suppressing or conuerting of them Reasons for suppressing or conuerting of Papists as hauing mentioned them before Now because they are of diuers stamps some plaine Recusants and some Church Papists some obstinat some ignorant and such as are Papists rather to please some other then of any conscience May is please your Honorable Court to consider of all these accordingly Open Recusants and Church Papists are not much vnlike one to another Psal 55.20 21. Prou. 26.18 23.24.15 2 Sam. 3.27 and 20.10 Mat. 26 49 Luk. 22.47 48. Ier. 41.2 Only as a secret enimie is more dangerous then an open one as is manifest by diuers sentēces and examples of the Scripture Abner and Amasa being both vnawares slaine by a false kisse of Ioab as also our Sauiour by the like of Iudas and Gedaliah with all his companie being put to the sword by the pretended friendship of Ishmael As I say secret enemies are more dangerous then open so are Church Papists more dangerous then open Recusants because vnder colour of comming to Church they are more hardly discerned Notwithstanding they that are wise may know them How secret Papists may be knowne First by being from Recusants suddenly conuerted to come to our Churches and exercises of Religion because the kingdome of God is not like to Ionas his Gourd but to a graine of mustard seed Ionas 4.6 Matth. 13.31 and hauing beene conuerted only by some priuat persuasions or by present or hoped for kindnesses of men c. and not by any publike Ministerie Secondly By their late and slacke comming to the Word and by their loose attention therunto whiles it is preached but spending the time in talking and whispering with other or in reading of prayers or of some Popish Booke For he that is of God heareth Gods Word Ioh. 8.47 1 Pet. 2.2 he that is borne againe desireth the sincere Milke of the Word Thirdly By their priuat speeches eyther for Poperie or against the truth or the louers of it as some of the Ephraimits were knowen not to be Gileadits by their tongues Fourthly Iudg. 12.6 By their Farmers and Seruants and companie For Noscitur ex comite qui non cognoscitur ex se and birds of a feather will flye togeather Fifthly By their coldnesse in speaking or doing any thing publikely for the trueth Luk. 7.47 For as to whom a litle is forgiuen he loueth little so to whom much is forgiuen he loueth much Sixthly and lastly if they be great persons By their preferment of Papists to such preferments as are in their power All Papists dangerous All grounded Papists Recusant and other are so much the more dangerous because as Satan by little sinnes preuayleth with men for greater so do they by insinuation into Princes for small matters oftentymes bring their purposes to passe for greater As no humane Lawes also will reclayme Papists without the libertie of the Word so neyther will any clemencie of Princes do them any good without seueritie They can no more liue without treacherie then without eating drinking and breathing Frendshippe doth rather harden then mollifie them These things are manifest by their continuall treasonable practises against our late most Noble Queene and against our present dread Soueraigne as likewise against other Princes in other Countreys The more fauour hath beene shewed them the more they haue lifted vp their heeles against such their fauourers The more that other are for peace and speake thereof Psal 120.7 the more they are for warre Many good Lawes haue beene already made against them and are yet in force But what difference is there betwixt no Lawes at all and no execution of Lawes Little but this that where there is no Lawe there cannot in Iustice be any punishment but where there are Lawes there may be execution when God shall giue the Magistrates hearts so to doe Some of the Lawes alreadie are for death of some offenders in that kind Other are but pecuniarie whether these also are not to be made capitall I leaue to the wisedome of your Court to consider by the expresse Law of God in that behalfe Deut. 13.1 c. Exo. 21.16 Deu. 14.19 and 20.18 and 24.7 against all intisers to Idolatrie as also by other Lawes for death against lesse transgressions both of the First and also of the Second Table And touching that place Deut. 24.7 against men stealers and makers of merchandize of them who do so highly offend in this kinde as Papists that steale men from God from their Soueraignes and make merchandize of their Soules to the Deuil Do they not also rob men of their temporall goods to enrich their Pope and Iesuits whereby the kingdome of darkenesse may be the stronger against all other kings and kingdomes Are not such Papists murderers oftentimes of Princes euen of their owne Religion As also repentance of
other sinnes punishable with death will not free men from death The Lawes of Denmark and Sweden as also the due execution and good effect thereof are worthy to be considered in this case so it is worthy consideration whether repentance of Popish idolatrie be sufficient to discharge men from the punishment of death Yea there may be question whether they do truely repent of such Idolatrie that do not testifie the same by willing submission of themselues to Gods Lawe for death in that behalfe Yet for the tyme to come death may be preuented and increase of Poperie suppressed if some sharpe Lawe in the meane tyme be made for restreyning both of men and women from going beyond the Seas and there becomming Iesuits and Iesuitesses as also of all here at home from yeelding any mayntenance vnto them in those places If notwithstanding the premises vpon iudicious consideration of them it shall be thought meet to shew them that now are or shall be mercie for life yet being by their fruits knowen to be Papists why should they be admitted into Parliament for making of Lawes who themselues will not obey eyther other good Lawes of men or the Lawes of God that are without all exception Yea why also should they haue any authoritie in the Countrey or offices or places of great worth in any Courts Temporall or Ecclesiasticall Especially it semeth vnfit for them to be of his Maiesties Priuie Countell that haue taken so ill Counsell for their owne saluation and will take no better For how will they or can they do any thing against Papists that are such themselues Touching Recusant Papists only refrayning from Church and hauing no priuat Masses at home if there be any such and being aboue 21 yeares of age may it please your most Honorable Court to consult of the confining them to their owne houses or some other and restreyning them from all talke with any strangers but in the presence of some sound and sufficient Ministers and of some Religious Iustice of Peace as also of stinting them to a certayne number of seruants and of inioyning such seruants of both sexes to some common Badge openly to be alwayes worne whereby to be discerned and shunned of all men so also further of taking their Children of aboue a certeyne age from them to haue Christian education with kind vsage where their Popish parents or otherlike friends may haue no accesse vnto them neyther the children themselues know where their parents are and yet to haue sufficient allowance from their parents according to their state such parents also themselues to haue mayntenance out of their owne demeanes but the ouerplus to be conuerted to the Kings vse till the full age of such children and their open renowncing of Poperie Forasmuch also as all beleeuers are charged not to be vnequallie yoaked with vnbeleeuers Against mariage with Papists 2 Cor. 6.14 Exo. 34.16 Deut. 7.3 Gen. 6.2 c. Ezr. 10.14 Neh. 13.26 1 Kings 16 29.30.31 2 Chr. 21.3 1 Kings 11 1.4 Deu. 22.10 Matth. 7.6 cha 15.26 2. Pet. 2.22 P.M. in 1. King 3.1 and 11.1 and loci com class 2. p. 149. Cal. Epist 103.104.299 and the Israelits were often forbidden to make mariages for themselues or for their children with any of the Heathen Nations bordering vpon them and that all other sinnes for which the Lord drowned the whole world but eyght persons are attributed to the mariages of the sonnes of God that is professors of the worshippe of God with the daughters of men that is of the Heathen and Idolaters Forasmuch further as for this sinne Nehemiah caused such of the Iewes as had made such mariages and had also children by such mariages to put away their wiues as also that some kings of Israel are condemned for marying with Heathen women and so likewise of the kings of Iuda for like mariages with the daughters of the kings of Israel and that the fall of Salomon himselfe is ascribed to the like cause not only by Nehemiah in the place before alleaged but also else-where And againe forasmuch as the Israelits might not plowe with an Oxe and an Asse togeather and therefore much lesse Christians may ioyne themselues in mariage with Idolaters such as all Papists are in the highest degree And yet againe forasmuch as we may not giue holy things vnto Dogs nor cast our pearles before Swine and therfore much lesse giue our selues to such as are called Dogs and Swine And further forasmuch as Peter Martyr and Master Caluin with other sound Diuines and diuers both ancient Fathers and also Councels haue written and determined much against mariages of Protestants with Papists Is it not well beseeming the wisedome of your most Honorable Court by some seuere Law to restreyne such mariages for euer hereafter within this his Maiesties Dominion that so there may be the lesse feare of such increase of Poperie for the times to come as lately hath beene Touching the seueritie before mentioned against Recusants and Church Papists Mungrill Papists may it please your Honorable Court herein also to consider of Mungrill Papists halfe fish halfe flesh neyther fish nor flesh nor as we speake good red herring which sometyme indeed come to Church to auoyd the pennaltie of former Lawes but neuer come to the Supper of the Lord but at such tymes as men are specially inioyned therunto do flutter vp and downe and shuffle from place to place where they may best lurke and so receiue not in seauen yeares togeather if euer at any tyme pretending for themselues being any where called into question some fuites of Law or some other such sleeuelesse excuse Neyther also are the familiar acquaintance of such Papists altogeather to be forgotten what also if it should please your Christian wisedomes to make some Act for the frustrating of the last Wills and Testaments of such as hauing pretended themselues Protestants in their health in their sicknesse vnto death shall professe themselues Romane Catholikes as also make voyd what soeuer former Act they had made for disposing of their states or any part thereof and their sayd states to be eyther confiscate to his Maiestie or translated to their next kindred that had giuen good Testimonie of their being sound Protestants with this Prou so notwithstanding that vpon their reuolting to Poperie euery such Act to be voyd for the bodies also of such so deceassing to be buried in some ignominious manner and in some place of reproach Forasmuch likewise as many Pursiuants sent to search the houses of such Papists seeme at the first much to bluster till they meet with some Siluer drops for calming their tempests were it not meet that this should be preuented In all these things I prouoke not to crueltie but to Iustice such as whereby a King maintayneth his countrie Prou. 29.4 it being a speciall part of a wise King to scatter the wicked and to cause the wheele to go ouer them Prou. 21.3 1
by the name of Quadragesima but wherefore I confesse I know not Secondly I doe refer to your wisedomes whether it were not fit for some mitigation of the vsuall strictnesse thereof and that some libertie might be granted for the eating of Foules as some were wont to eat of Water Foules and of Conies and some greater meats the eating whereof might not be preiudiciall to the State of the Common-wealth Because some not well able to purchase Licence to eat Flesh are of weake bodies not able to feed of Fish neither is Fish wholesome for them Neither would this hinder the preseruation of Calues and Lambes but rather further the same because there being more libertie of other things men would be the better content to forbeare them Thirdly euen touching this thing also were it not better for some libertie to be giuen to some poore men that cannot well bring vp their Calues or keepe them long especially hauing but two or three or foure and them that haue many to be more strictly tied to the bringing vp of a certaine number euerie yeere If it be obiected that the former strict obsernation of Lent is necessarie for the better maintenance of the Nauie to omit other answers that many of your Honourable Court can make to this obiection may it please you to consider whether for helpe hereof the obstinate Papists being suffered still to liue though their life may be our death and mercie shewed to them may be crueltie to the whole Land then forasmuch as they attribute such holinesse to Fish as not hauing perished in the Flood it were not verie fit for such and other Papists so remaining to be restrained all the yeere long from Flesh and to feed only of Fish I doubt not but that the restraint of them all the yeere from Flesh would be as good for maintenance of the Nauie as the restraint of all sorts only for a time And oh how holy would such Papists be by this meanes Especially if also of their owne accord they would forbeare all Fruit and all things made of Fruit Figs c. Marmalads c. Wine and Beere c. as they which also perished in the Flood Moreouer to proceed now to some other 0146 0436 V 2 marters as all in Parliament are in place of Fathers to this Kingdome Choice of Parliament men to be free and as his Maiestie in his late most gracious Proclamation forbad all choise of Knights Burgesses to be made of any Bankrupts and other greatly indebted as likewise of any suspected not to be sound in Religion and as your Parliament hath alreadie taken some order for the present in such things and ye haue most worthily acquited your selues in dismissing of some vnlawfully chosen by Letters or otherwise so all posteritie shall haue cause to blesse God for some certaine Law now to be made for preuenting of such euils for euer hereafter and for making all vncapable of any place in that High Court that shall vse any such meanes for a place None vnder age to be of the Parliament Why also should any Young men whose Sonnes soeuer be admitted into so great a Councell for making of Lawes for the whole Kingdome that cannot well gouerne themselues and that are so young as their Bils or Bonds for paiment of money are not good in Law Is it not a Iudgement threatned by the Lord viz. that be would appoint Children to be their Princes Isai 3.4 and Babes to rule ouer them If none be admitted into your Vpper House but such as are of Age except perhaps to see the order thereof and to be the fitter for future times why should any of young yeeres be otherwise admitted into the Nether House The longer these grieuances haue hitherto been tollerated the more high time it is now for them to be reformed The like may be said for preuenting of confusion in Election of Burgesses especially of Knights for your most Honorable House This euill may easily be auoided if Election be made by a kind of Scrutinie some principall wise graue and religious Knights and Gentlemen for Shieres and other for Townes being appointed to take euerie mans voice in writing and sworne first to deale faithfully therein In the former consideration oh that your Honourable Senat would be pleased to take some order for more libertie for publike priuate Fasts Publike and priuat Fasts as occasion shall require the same By Gods gracious blessing heretofore vpon such Fasts as in the yeere of the Earth-quake this last Easter one and fourtie yeeres and in the yeere 1588 and at other times we may the more desire the same now and hereafter For certainly all Gods Iudgements being well considered the securitie of all sorts in this behalfe may be well thought to be the greatest Iudgement of all other Did not Dauid command all his people to rent their Clothes to gird themselues with Sack-cloth 2 Sam. 3 3â— 38. and to mourne for Abner because a Prince and a great man was that day fallen in Israel Alas therefore that we hauing seene the fall of some of greater worth then Abner and had many other Iudgements besides should thinke of no such thing Nay rather the performance of such exercises hath been accounted as pettie Treason Many may meet and sit daies and nights eating drinking playing and being drunke and committing many outrages and yet be in no danger in no feare But woe is me that I may say so much for some to meet either to fast and pray or to helpe one another by repetition of Sermons or to confer only priuatly of such things as they haue heard publikely taught c. these meetings are accounted and condemned as conuenticles What a strange thing is it also that all other Churches of other Nations both abroad and here in our Kingdome should haue praiers and fasting for the Prince and Princesse Palatine and yet we should neglect the same that in the Bond of loiall loue to his Maiestie should be most forward in such duties Alas also that in these present great distresses and persecutions in France and in the troubles of almost all other Countreys we should neither helpe them otherwise nor in this kind Oh the Lord keepe vs from that curse before spoken of that the Angel of the Lord inioined against Meroz Iudg. 5.23 and the Inhabitants thereof Especially the Lord keepe vs from such Traitors against his Maiestie against his Princely Sonne against the Prince and Princesse Palatine and their Off-spring and against all his Maiesties Kingdomes as shall secretly and vnder-hand perswade any not only to neglect this holy dutie of fasting for them but also condemn the same altogether in these daies of the Gospel as vnlawfull and no way tolerable but to be seditious and dangerous Doubtlesse there are too many such amongst vs as vnder pretext of loialtie are most pernitious and pest ferous Traitours And such are not all they only that
doe vtterly cry down and forbid fasting and thereby that helpe from Heauen as much as in them lyeth that the said Prince and Princesse Palatine need abroad and consequently our King and his most Noble Sonne also and therefore likewise all their Kingdomes the good of the one being the good of the other Such I say are not only all they that so oppugne fasting but they also that doe what they can to with-hold all and of man from them neither so only but that also be Instruments for sending ouer more helpe to their Enemies Num. 33.55 Iudg. 2.3 Spinola and other Thornes in the sides of the Church that bestur their stumps what they can for vp-holding the cursed Kingdome of the Romane Antichrist the Man of Sinne the Child of Perdition now drawing towards his end and therefore gasping striuing and strugling for life and that with all their might oppugne the Kingdome of Christ Iesus and vnder-hand also the Kingdomes of all other Princes aboue whom the said Antichrist exalteth himselfe 2 Thes 2.4 Ps 118.12 Act. 9.5 So they compasse the little Flocke of Christ about like Bees not knowing for all that that they shall all Spinola and his Mates be quenched as the Fire of Thornes because it is as hard for them as before it was for Saul to kick against the prickes Touching Fraies Quarrels Fraies and quarrels Preu 14.28 and Murders within and without the Land I shall not need to say any thing for more seueritie for preuenting the like though the honour of a King consist much in the multitude of the people and by the want of people destruction commeth to a Prince because his Maiestie by publique Proclamation hath signified his Princely indignation against the same since which we haue not heard of so many such things as before yet a Law being more certaine and memorable then a Proclamation it were better to make some more seuere Law against such outrages Hose 6.6 because as mercie is better then sacrifice so crueltie especially sheading of Innocent blood is more odious to God then euer was the neglect of such sacrifices Blood touching blood Hose 4.2 may we not feare a controuersie of the Lord with the whole Land I haue credibly heard of sixe strange Murders tried at one Summer Assizes at Exceter anno 1613. First Of an Husband poisoning his Wife Second Of a Wife murdering her Husband Third Of a Father killing his Sonne Fourth Of a Sonne killing his Father Fifth Of a Master killing his Seruant Sixth Of a Seruant killing his Master How strange also was that threefold Murder at Halsworth in Suffolke committed foure or fiue yeeres since but discouered the last yeere Two of the Murderers were executed the last Summer 1620 and the third repriued for a longer time As by euerie Murder God is bereaued of one of his principall Creatures and the King of a Subiect so also many times a Father looseth his Child the Husband a Wife or the Wife her Husband a Brother and Sister a Brother or Sister many Children their Father or Mother many Friends and Neighbors a Friend and a Neighbor and somtimes the Church a good Minister and the Common wealth a good Magistrate or Officer Can there therefore be too much care for preuenting of such mischiefes All such persons as commit the same doe manifestly bewray themselues to haue no feare of God in them Gen. 20.11 Many times also some wilfull Murders are cleard vnder the name either of chance-medly or at least of man-slaughter All kind of bodily filthinesse euerie where so much abounding Against Adulterie Num. 25.7 8. 1 Cor. 5.6 Heb. 12.15 16. hath not your Honourable Court need to be put in mind of making a Law without further delay for punishing Adulterie with death Who of any zeale can but burne to heare and almost to see as much as Phineas saw If one Incestuous person and one Fornicatour be dangerous for a whole Church oh how much more dangerous are many The more we professe and some of vs boast of the profession of the Gospel and of the glorious state of our Church the more need we haue to purge our Land of such euils As death according to Gods Commandement is the punishment of Adulterie in most other Countreys and so ought to be by the iudgement of most Diuines none almost being so bold as to write to the contrarie so why should it not be in this Kingdome Our Lawes inflict death vpon some transgressions of the eighth Commandement why therefore should Adulterie be so lightly punished By the order of the Commandements and by the testimonie of Salomon Prou. 6.30 Adulterie plainly appeareth to be greater then Theft If the pronenesse of our Nation to Theft doe require the greater punishment of Theft are not the people as prone also to Adulterie and other carnall vncleannesse Oh let vs take need that as now we say that no man shall keepe his goods in safetie were not the punishment of Theft so seuere as it is so the time come not if further seueritie preuent it not when no man shall keepe his Wife or his Daughter or Maid-seruant from the violence of other The Lord that gaue the Morall Law and appointed punishment for euerie transgression 1 Sam. 2.3 being a God of knowledge knew before the inclination of all Nations to one sinne as well as to another And is not our Nation as much inclined to all breaches of the seuenth Commandement as vnto Theft At least to such Theft as by our Law is punishable with death Alas the poore chiefly doe offend in this kind but all sorts especially the greater are most prone to the other Moreouer by the sinne of Adulterie the eighth Commandement is broken in the highest degree Gen. 2.24 For first of all the heart of a mans Wife that is one Flesh with her Husband is stolen Mat. 19.6 Is not the Wife more then any goods Secondly by this sinne the whole state and the name it selfe of a man yea sometimes of Noble Houses is deriued to another euen of most base state and degree Thirdly Are not many Noble Houses and Families ruinated thereby Gen. 34.2 19. The example of Schechem the Sonne of Hamor and Salomon himselfe doe testifie these things Hamor was a chiefe Ruler and the Lord of the Countrey where he dwelt And of what King were there euer so great things spoken as of Salomon Yet the Fornication of Schechem was the ruine of all the Schechemites and the loue of many Wiues by Salomon was the desolation of his Kingdome in his Sonnes daies 1 Kin. 11.1 11.30 31. How many troubles also followed Dauids one Adulterie with Bathsheba Euen to the endangering of the losse of his life and whole Kingdome The Law alreadie made for death as in case of Felonie of any man that shall haue two Wiues liuing togither may the more perswade your Honourable Court to take order for death against