bolstred up by some great Prelates neare your Majesty As that he hath received two or three great livings for his encouragement since and is now lately advanced to be your Majesties Chaplaine in Ordinary and an head of a Colledge in Cambridge to helpe to poyson that Fountaine of learning and religion with the drugges and dregges of Rome to the great griefe and discontent of thousands Honest Mr. Smart his prosecutour for shewing himselfe a faithfull Subject to your Majesty being in the meane time violently thrust out of his Preberdary of Durham and his Benefice deprived degraded imprisoned fined and utterly ruinated in his Estate by your High Commissioners at Yorke though a man every way conformable to the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England only for opposing these Innovations of his and preaching a Sermon against them in the Cathedrall at Durham That of the Poet being here really verified Dat veniam Corvis vexat Censura Colnmbis These things no doubt have been concealed from your Majesty Which now being discovered I trust you will lay them to heart and learne to distinguish good Subjects from bad in despite of all calumnies cast upon them by these persidious instruments I have the rather given your Majesty this hint of Dr. Cosens his words and practises whom the Papists of Durham now much honour and challeng for their owne because he was one of the first men that brought Altars into our Church and the first I heare off that turned his Communion Table Altar-wise and then into an Altar Mr. Burgin one of his Disciples was the next that imitated him who taking away his Communion-Table erected an Altar in the East-end of the Chancle of his Parish-Church within the Bishopricke of Durham Which Altar made of a Gravestone he layd upon a wall of stone not a frame adorning it with guilded hangings Which done he read Second Service at it though above halfe his Parishioners could neither heare nor see him and fell devoutly to adore it till at last his foot hanging in his gowne he unhappily fell downe against the Altar-steps brake all his nose and face so as he sacrificed his owne blood both upon the steps Altar itselfe in stead of Christs and was not able to walke abroade in many dayes after From these two presidents and beginnings have all those other Innovationâ— of this Nature sprung which now spread themselves farre and neare over all your Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland too So farre more prevalent and powerfull is Dr. Cosens and his party then either your Majesty your Lawes Declarations and loyall Subjects or the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England All which with the Booke of Common-prayer must now be Subject to their correction and controll 2. The second publike Monument of our Church which these Innovatours have corrupted is the Eucharisticall prayer in the Booke of Common-prayer appointed for the 5. of November in perpetuall thankfulnes to God for the deliverance of your Royall Father your Majesty and the whole Realme from that infernall divelish matchlesse Powder-plot of the Papists prescribed and set forth by the expresse Statute of 3. Iacobi â— 1. which corruption nearely concernes your Majesty yea the whole Realme and in my poore understanding deserves as heavy a Censure as any of those Powder-Traytors suffered All the Bookes of this kinde from 3. Iacobi till 1635. rendred the chiefe passages in this prayer in these tearmes Roote out that Antichristian and Babilonish Sect which say of Ierusalem downe with it downe with it even to the ground c. And to that end strengthen the hands of our Gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the Land with Iudgement and Iustice to cut off these workers of Iniquity VVHOSE RELIGION IS REBELLION VVHOSE FAITH IS FACTION VVHOSE PRACTICE IS MURTHERING OF SOULES AND BODIES and to roote them out of the confines of this Kingdome This prayer which some have observed not to have been read but purposely omitted in your Majesties Chapple the two fift of Novembers last past be like by their direction who have since perverted it in the last Edition 1635. is thus treacherously Metamorphosed Roote out that Babilonish and Antichristian Sect OF THEM which say of Ierusalem c And to that end strengthen the hands of our Gracious King c. to cut off THOSE for THESE workers of Iniquity VVHO TURNE RELIGION INTO REBELLION and FAITH INTO FACTION In which strange alteration there are these notorious treacheries yea villanies included not to be stighted over 1. First there is a diverting of the maine edge and substance of this Prayer from the Iesuites Priests Papists and Antichristian Babilonish Sect of Rome particularly designed in the first Prayer-Bookes upon those Loyall Subjects and Religious Christians whom the Papists at first and prophane licentious Romanizing spirits since have slaundered with the name of Puritans On whom as these Hellâ—sh Traytours and their Confederates would have fathered this damnable plot at first had it taken effect as blessed be God it never did to make them more odious to the World Which themselves confessed upon their examinations and our Historians record So they have now turned the whole scope of this prayer and by cousequence the very practise and treason itselfe upon these poore Innocents The only men aymed at in this alteration And the chiefe men declaimed against both at Court Westminster Paules and our Universities in the Sermons there preached of late yeares on the fift of November wherein most have paralleld them with And many affirmed them to be farre worse then any Priests or Iesuites So much wee poore Puritans never yet guilty of the least treason or Rebellion against their Princes in this Iland nor of any such forgeries Jnnovations or Romish practises as I have here discovered beholding to the Iesuites Priests and some English Prelates who have been guilty of many hundred treasons Conspiracies and Rebellions against your Majesties Royall Progenitors as our Historians and writers witnesse And here by the way your Majesty in despite of envy and calumny may take Notice First that those who are now slaundered under the name of Puritans are your best and loyallest Subjects because most hated and slaundered by Iesuites Priests and Traytors who would Father all villanies and treasons on them And hate them most of any people because truest to their Soveraignes 2. Secondly that no kinde of people in the World are So much slaundered and traduced as they though the Innocentest men of all othors This the practise of the Papists to translate this Powder-plot with all their treasons and rebellions from themselves to them and most Sermons preached before your Majesty can witnes VVherein such things are broached such slaunders raysed of Puritans by Poeticall braines and yet vented out in the Pulpit as sacred Oracles which the Divell himselfe would blush to relate and the Auditours know to be meere sigments And
all to make Puritans odious to your Majesty being the only men that keep both your Crowne and Religion safe J shall therefore humblie beseech your Majesty when ever you heare any Legends or Declamations against Puritans hereafter to consider from what kinde of Persons they proceed and to put them that utter them to make proofe of what they say or else to brand them with an hot-iron in the cheekes or forehead with an S for slaunderers And then you will never heare any more fables of Puritans with which your Royall eares are now so oft abused by the Iesuite Contzens Disciples VVho gives this as one chiefe rule how to usher Popery into any Christian State to slaunder and disgrace the Puritans and zelots to make them odious both to Prince and people and then Popery will breake in without any opposition or noyse at all 2. Secondly By this perverting of this Prayer the chiefe Odium against Iesuites Priests and Papists the chiefe Authourâ— of this horrid treason is mittigated and taken off that so they may take roote among us againe to the ruine both of Church State and without Gods speciall protection of your Sacred Majesty to whom they will ever be treacherous as they have alwayes been to all Christian Princes and Republikes that would not be their slaves and Vassals to yeild universall obedience to them in what ever they should commaund 3. Thirdly By this Metamorphosis of whose Religion is Rebellion whose Faith is Faction c. into Those workers of iniquity who turne Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction The Romish Religion is acquitted and purged from that damnable treasonable Rebellious factious Doctrine of the lawfulness of deposing and murthering Christian Kings and Princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or enemies to the Roman Church and Faith Of which the first prayer the Statute of 3. Iacobi c. 4. in the forme of the Oath of Supremacy the Homilies and Writers of our Church and among others Dr. John White in his Defence of the way to the true Church c. 6. c. 10. Sect. 5 6. 7. 8. and Dr. Richard Crakanthrop in his Treatise of the Popes Temporall Monarchie c. 1. and 11. Which Authours chapters I shall humblie desire your Majesty and all that love either your safety or Religion seriously to read over at their best leisure and then let them love Popery Priestes and Iesuites if they can or dare prove them deeply guilty both in pointâ— of Theory and Practise And if all these fayle yet their obstinate refusall of the Oath of Supremacy which only enjoynes them to renounce this Doctrine of King-killing proves them deeply guilty of it and can your Majesty trust such neare about you who will by no meanes sweare they will not murther nor deprive you Now for any thus farre to gratify Traytours and Rebels as to acquit them from that very Doctrine which makes them such even then when they are quilty of it must needs be a danegrous if not a Trayterous Act perillous to your Majesty and the whole Realme 4. Fourthly This Alteration extenuates the greatnes and execrable odiousnes of that horrid Treason both in respect of the Actors and that desperate Doctrine which moved them to committ it And to mince or extenuate such an unparalleld treason as this so execrable to all the world Is nothing else but to turne Traytour and become guilty of the same treason or of another as bad as it Yea it is to be feared that those who wil be so perfidious as after thus many Yeares to goe about to extenuate and lessen such a Treason have a minde to turne Traytours themselves atleast wise to favour Treason and Traytours and have treasonable hearts within them 5. Fiftly This corruption is a large step to the abolishing of the memory of this never to be forgotten Treason and of that solemne Holy-day on the 5. of November instituted by Act of Parliament for this very end that our unfained thankfulnes for our happy deliverance from this Hellish designe might NEVER BE FORGOTTEN but be had in A PERPETUALL REMEMBRANCE that ALL AGES TO COME may yeeld prayses to the Divine Majesty and have in memory THIS IOYFULL DAY OF DELIVERANCE they are the words of the Act. For when such a treason begins once to be blanched slighted and the solemne gratulatory Prayers instituted for its remembrance thus miserablie to be corrupted the next step can be no other but the abrogating both of the Booke itselfe and the solemnity kept in remembrance of the treason And then when this is effected the next newes we shall heare of from Rome will be the deniall of the Fact that there was ever any such treason plotted though sundrie Histories specifie it As they have long since published in print that Henry Garnet the Iesuite and Arch-plotter of it had no hand therein And that there was never any Pope Ione though above 20 ancient Popish Writers record there was such a one and shee a Pope a strumpet a most say an English woman 6. Sixtly It is apparant that this alteration was made only to gratify the Priests the Jesuites Papâ—sts and men Trayterously affected Since all loyall Subjects and true-bred English spirits cannot but abhor it Therefore who-ever were the Authours or occasions of it be they either Arch Prelates Bishops Priests or other for J cannot yet certainly discover the parties neither have I any sufficient meanes or Commission to doe it it being a thing worthy your Majesties owne Royall Discoverie as the Powder-plot itselfe was your Fathers KING JAMES his owne ever-blessed detection if it be not Arch-Traytours and Rebels yet J dare proclaime them no friends to your Majesty nor yet to the Church or State of England or to the Religion we professe but enemies to them all and friends to none but Rome whose iustruments they were in this particular 3. The third corruption and forgery is in the very Articles of Religion of the Church of England at first compiled in King Edward the 6. his raigne Anno 1552. Revised and re-established Anno 1562. in Queen Elizabeths dayes after that Anno 1571. confirmed by Act of Parliament 13. Eliz. c. 12. and printed both in Latine and English the same yeare by the Queens Authority The 20 Article in all these ancient Editions and all others in Queen Elizabeths raigne as likewise in the Articles of Ireland taken verbatim out of the English printed at Dublin Anno 1615. and twice reprinted at London An. 1628. 1629. Artic. 75. of the Authority of the Church runs thus It is not Lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrary to Gods Words c. But the Bishops to advance their owne usurped Authority gaine some colour to arregate to themselves a power of prescribing new rites and Ceremonies have forged a New Article of Religion and added it unto this without either your Majesties or
the Parliaments privity or consent and cuâ—ningly obtruded it on the Church of England Making this Article now to run thus The Church hath power to decree Rues and Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith And yet so farre runnes the Bishops forgery and addition it is not Lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written c. Which whole first clause to yet Is no part of the Article but a meere forgery and imposture of the Bishops Whose glosse is as pernicious as the text or woise For by Church they understand nothing else but Bishops Making the sence of this forgery to be this The Church that is the Bishops in their Visitations Consistories and High Commissions as they now de facto expound it witnes their late new Visitation Articles Rites and Ceremonies which they would hence justify and Authorize and likewise the Cleargie in their Conuocation without the King and Parliaments consent have both power to decree Rites and Ceremonies and Authority in matters of Faith An exposition Doctrine quite contrary to the Statutes of 25. H. 8. 6. 19. 1. Eliz. c. 2. 13. Eliz. c. 12. and all Acts concerning Religion Heresie Bishops and the like yea directly repugnant to your Majesties Declaration before the 39. Articles And quite opposite to the Scriptures and all ancient VVriters who never tooke the word Church for Bishops or Cleargie-men only but for the whole Congregation and as well as much for the common-people as the Bishops and Ministers as the 19. Article next preceeding it and our Writers plentifully witnes This forgery how ill soever glossed is thrust into both the late Editions of the Articles Anno 1628. published by your Majesties speciall commaund and made a part of the 20 Article notwithstanding your Majesty in your Declaration before both these Editions Expressely prohibited The least difference from the Articles of the Church of England allowed and authorized heretofore in Queen Elizabeths dayes or any varying and departing from them in the least degree in which it is not to be found Nor yet in the Articles of Ireland n. 75. taken verbatim out of this 20. Article printed in London the very same yeare or in the Addition of those Articles An. 1629. a yeare after these two last impressions If the Bishops here reply that they found it added in Rogers his Exposition on the Articles printed some yeares before J answer that Coppy was not the Authorized Authenticke Originall by which they should be directed but a bastard Coppy with which your Majesty would not have your poore Subjects cheated or deluded Your Majesty therefore prohibiting any the least difference from the Articles allowed and authorized heretofore in Queen Elizabeths dayes by Parliament Prohibited them to insert this forged addition If they reply that they were ignorant of the Originall true Coppyes and knew not this to be a forgery I answer that this is very improbable that so many great Bishops should be altogether ignorant which were the true genuine Articles of our Church who had read subscribed and given them in charge to others so often But admit it true yet ignorance in this case is no plea at all for any man much lesse for Bishops And if they are so ignorant of the very Articles of our Church J hope your Majesty and others will thinke them very unmeet to be Bishops in our Church and trust lesse to their pretended knowledge judgement and learning in future times giving little credit to any thing they doe or say without examination of it since they are so really or affectedly ignorant of the very Articles of our Church in the which they pretend most skill But if they knew the very Originall Coppyes Articles as no doubt they did and that this clause was not in them but a meere late forgery most fraudelently and corruptly added to them Then they were accessaries wilfull consenters to this forgery to delude both your Majesty and the whole Church of England with it Yea protessed rebels against your Majesties Declaration before these two impressions made by their owne advice prohibiting the least difference from the sayd true Articles and Originals And so are they guilty of forgery treachery and contumacy against your Majesty in the highest degree If a man forge but a private Wil or Deed to cosen any private man of any Inheritance Lease or personal estate he shal be severely punished in the Star-chaÌ„ber fined pyllored if not loose his eares beside What punishments then doe they deserve who have thus corrupted the CommoÌ„-prayer-Booke the Prayers for the Gunpowder-treason and the Articles of Religion all ratified by Parliament so matters of Records to corrupt or rase Records or forge deeds the second time is felony and to forge a new Article of Religion to deceive your Majesty your whole Kingdom and that not only for the present but for all future ages Certainly hanging is to good for them Should a poore Puritane doe but halfe as much the Bishops would have drawen hanged and quartered him long ere this especially if the thing were derogatory to their Hierarchie and Epis. copall Iurisdiction But Bishops and their Agents thinke they may doe any thing in these dayes without check or censure Yet I hope your Majesty will not let them goe scot-free for these their forgeries corruptioÌ„s If not all done by their Commaund and privity yet doubtles by their connivance negligence and subsequent consents And is it not now high time for your Majesty to looke to these persidious Innovatours and to repose no trust in them any longer since they are lately growen so powerfull so insolent as thus to sophisticate to pervert these very Originall Records of the the Church of England to which they have subscribed and to forge new Articles of Religion to cheat your Majesty the whole Church of England with for feare they proceed to further forgeries of an higher nature VVee know that the Bishops of Rome have forged a Donation from Constantine and others with which they have deluded and troubled all the world thrust the Roman Emperours froÌ„ their Throne Territories and usurped a temporall Monarchie over all the world VVe know that the Bishops of England in King Richard the 2. and Henry the 4. his dayes forged two bloody Acts of Parliament against the true Professours of the Gospell to which the Commons never consented though they foisted their assents into them upon which tyrannous forged Acts most of our Martyrs were butchered thousaÌ„ds of godly ChristiaÌ„s loyall Subjects imprisoned martyred ruinated and stript of all their goods or else abjured by blood-sucking tyrannous Prelates Whether they may not in time proceed to the like attempts if not severely punished for those fore-past forgeries and corruptions of our Churches Parliamentary Records I humblie submit to your Majesties and all wise-mens considerations Ambition tyranny pride malice being boundles when
and saith O Mr. Dr. wee little thought to have mett you here The Dr. not seeing them before and knowing that they obserued this his bowing like one deprehended in the very act of spirituall adultery waâ—ed as pale as ashes and was in such a perplexity for the present as if he would have fallen downe dead in the place having not a word to replie Which they perâ—â— lying 〈◊〉 into some other discourse that he might recollect his spirit This I shortly after received by accident from the parties thee 〈◊〉 eye-witnesses of the fact being people of no meane 〈…〉 it to divers What then may we conclude from this 〈◊〉 that we are now in this particular more Idolatrous and Popish then the Papists themselves that we have many a Papist masâ—ed underâ— Protestants hood who are not ashamed to be Papists but only that they are so soone and sodenly discovered to be such at unawares and that it is high time for his most Excellent Majesty our most Gracious Soveraigne Lord King Charles Defender of our faith and Religion with all his faithfull Officers and Subjects to looke about them To prevent these Romish Innovations Relâ—pses and grosse Back slidings to Pâ—perie in time expresly prohibited by his Majesty both in his royall Declaration before the 39. Article and concerning the Dissolution of the last Parliament p. 21. 22. 42. When as his owne advanced Chaplaines and I would he had no more such of them but this one are growen such Popelings as to commit such notorious Idolatrie in his owne royall Court and Chapple to the encouraging and confirming of Papists in their most grosse superstition and Idolatrie and greiving of the Soules of all his true-hearted loyall Subjects whose love will prove his strongest guard against all those treacherous Romish Ianizaries Iesâ—ites Assinates whose faith is faction whose very religion is rebellion whose practise the murthering of mens soules and bodies especially of Christian Princâ—s as many of our Writers and the Booke for the 5. of November miserablie guelded and corrupted in this very particular in the last impression 1635. it were worth the inquiring by whom and whose authority to discover a new nâ—st of Traytours at leastwise to our religion if not our King and State at large relate See Mr. William Tyndall his Practise of Popish Prelates Obedience of a Christiaâ—man Dr. Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. Henry Stalbridge his exhortatiory Epistle Dr. Iohn White his Defence of the. Way c. 6. 9. 10. 11. Since then there is now no maâ—eriall sollid justifiable difference at all between the Pagans Papists and our Romanizing Novellers bowing to Altars Images Crucifixes Lords-Tables as the premises witnesse needs must we now not only passe lentence against it but abandon and abhor it as most groâ—â—e Jdolatrie Yea as that which no doubt among other several particulars of our late backsliding to the Church of Rome hath been one cause of drawing downe that Plague and Pestilence which now spreades it selfe every where among us with these other spirituall temporall judgements which now we languish under and are likely to increase upon us to our utter ruine And have we not all cause to feare the very extremity of Gods wrath to be powred on us of which he hath given us visible prognostickes from heaven I shall name but one of many upon the 23. day of February last past in Sussex and sundrie places of the Kingdome from 8 till 9â— of the Clocke in the morning there was seen by many persons of good quality who have testified it under their hands three Sunnes nâ—are together a thing veâ—y rare and at the same time a Raine-bow such as was never seen the like but once differing from ordinary Raine-bowes in these 7. remarkable particulars 1. First where as all other Raine-bowes are in some watry thick cloud this was in no cloud at all ouâ— in the cleare open ayre 2. Secondly where as other Raine-bowes are ever in direct opposition to the Sunne so as he that turnes his face to the bow turnes his backe on the Sunne this stood directly South-east in the same quarter that the Sunne theâ—â— was 3. Thirdly other Raine-bowes are commonly lower then the Sunne and one end of them seemes almost to touch the earth This vvas farre higher then the Sunne goes in the Sommer-solstice none being ever seen so high by many degrees 4. Other Raine-bovves are seen only at a certaine distance 5. or 6. miles about and that but one vvay vvhethervvards it is reflicted This seemed above 30. miles distance every way 5. Fiftly other Raine-bowes continue but a short space and then vanish This a full houre from 8. till 9. of the clock as long as the 3 Sunnes continued Sixtly other Raine-bovves are flitâ—ing and moue vvith 〈◊〉 cloud vvherein they are This vvas fixed continuing in the same place a full houre Seventhly vvhich is the strangest of all principally to be considered whereas all other Raine-bowes stand with the 〈◊〉 downeward in this maner â— this appeared all the while with the hornes upward thusâ— which makes it the more terrible The bow as all know and we of this Nation especially who have wonne so many battles by it is a Military or warlike instrument Now as long as the backe of their bow is towards the Archer and the hornes from him towards his enemie it is a Signe of peace and safety that he hath no intent at all to shoote hurt or slay him But when once the Archer turâ—es his bow the contrary way with the â—tring and hornes toward himselfe and the backe of the bow towards his enemie then its a signe he is angrie and intends to shoote and slay him The application is obvious God hath a bow a warlike Instrument as well as man which Scriptures often mention See Ps. 7 12. Lam. 2. 4. c. 3 12. This bow immediately after the flood when he out of his infinite goodnes entred into a covenant of mercy and peace with Noah and his posterity placed in the cloud for a token of this Coveuant between him and the Earth See Gen. 9. 13. 14. 15. 16. And becanse it was a token only of love grace and peace he placed it with the hornes downeward and the backe towards Heaven to testify and proclaime peace and mercy to the world Now when God shall thus in aâ—unusuall miraculous maner invert this bow of his turning the hornes of it towards Heaven and the backe upon us in such a visible and notorious fashion that many Counties of the Kingdome at once might did take notice of it though few such serious notice as they should what can we thence in all probability conclude But that we having so long waged warre against Heaven with our prodigious shâ—meles manifold open sinnes See Ier. 3. 8. 9. Ier. 3. 3. and so farre broken our covenant and long continued league with God m the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of his ordinances he hath now a
resolution to breake off his covenant of peace of grace with us and to denounce open warre against us from Heaven And therefore hath bent his bow turned the string of it towards Heaven and the backe of it upon us and made ready his arrowes upon the string to discharge them against the faces of us his on gracioâ—s rebels enemâ—ies who proceed to provoke him dayly more and more Psal. 7. 12. Psal. 11. 2. And hath not God himselfe if I may so speake made this very Comentary on this text and Prodigy Hath he not shot abrode his Psal. 95. 5. 6. Arrows of the Plague and Pestilence among us and made them in Newcastle London and other places where they have wounded thousands to death even Ier 46. 10. almost drunkâ— with our bloud Yet Isay. 5. 25. c. 9. 12. 17. 31. c. 10. 4. for all that his anger this bow and arrow of his is not turned away but still strâ—tâ—hed aut and full bent against us Neither can wee either Imagine or divine when the arrowes of this his pestiferous quiâ—er wil be spent since they fall thicker among us every day and wee have not yet put on the armes of publike fasting prayer humiliation and repentance buâ— rather of feasting dancing masking playing chambring daâ—lying and what not the only armour of proofe that can ward off their deadly stroke But when God hath short out this â—heefe of Plague Arrowes at us with this bow of his Shall we then thinke he haith no other arrowes to let flie against us O! I Cannot but with feare and troubling suspect the contrary Never was there any such Raine-bow as this seene before in any age for ought I can finde in storie but one and that vvas here in England too pertending the heaviest woefull dayes and tidings to it that ever it heard or saw before For thâ—â— Month time of the day forme continuance it was the same with this only differing in the day of the month and â—pparition of two Sunnes then whereas now there were three Which Mr. Fox thus relates See Acts Monuments Edit 1610. p 1333. and Dr. Hackewell out of him See 〈◊〉 for the government of the worldy l. 2. who accounts it one of the strongest prodigies that ever he read off Upon theâ—â— 5. day of February An. 1555. that was seene saith Fox within the City of London where some saw this last sight too about 9. of the clocke in the fore-noone strong sights There was seen two Sunnes both shining at once the one a good pretty way distant from the other as these 3. now seene were it the same time was also seene a Raine-bovv turned contrary and a great deale higher then hath been aâ—customed The common standing of the Raine-bovv is thusâ— But this stood thisâ— with the head dovvneward and the feete as it vvere upvvard Both these sights vvere seen as vvell at West-minster in Cheap-side on the south-side of Paules as in very many other places and that by a great number of honest men Also certaine Aldermen went out of the Guld hall to behold the sight What these prodigies did then protend the subsequent story of Queen Maries bloâ—dy unhappy dayes at large recorded in the Acts Monumentâ— and other histories of our ovvne can vvitnes And Mr. Fox his marginall Note annexed to this passage strong sights seene before the comming in of King Philip Subversion of Religion can testify God forbid J should he so presumptuous as peremptorily to determine that these late Apparitions should bode us any such blacke ominous euents The piety of our most gracious Soveraigne his zeale and care for religion manifested both in his ovvne private practise and in his fore-mentioned Declarations Together vvith his most admirable clemency prohibit me from the very thoughts of any such unluckey Divination But were it not for this confidence and full persuasion of his Majesties incomparable goodnes clemency zeale and love to our Religion for which all succeeding ages will adore his memorie And were it not for those many godly Christians of all sorts and rankes of men which are every where scattered up and downe among us though many by our Bishops tyranny have beene forced to flie the Realme more like to follow through the open desperate designes and practises of some swaging domineâ—ing Prelates who doe what they list on the one hand And the secret â—reacheries of the Iesuites Priests Papists on the other hand to undermine our Religion and ruine both it Church State all else at once are such and our backslidings toward Rome within these 4 yeares past so great and manifold that I should not only feare but expect the selfesame consequents now which then ensued But blessed be our good God our gracious King is safe and for ever may he be so and so our Religion and wee seeme in despite of all the hellish powderplots now prepared to blow up us and it at once Which Plots being here in part discovered and layd more fully open in some other new printed Troatises I doubt not but his most royall Majesty and honourable Lords who hitherto out of State policy and abundant clemency have convinced all these late dangerous Innovations the better to discover and more justly to proceed against the plotters and fomenters of them sufficiently detected by name in the last Parliaments remonstrance to this purpose will now at last when the Romish Priests and Projectors are growen so open insolent and notorious provide a speedy remedy to the eye of all good subjects to wit the extirpation of that generation of Vipers which hath long been gnawing out their owne mothers bowels The prosperity and florishing of our Religion Church State the diversion of all gods inflicted menaced judgments and their owne eternall honour To which blessed worke as I have here contributed my poore 〈◊〉 on deavours so I hope all true English hearts that have 〈◊〉 sparlie of loyalty in them to their Soveraigne love to 〈◊〉 Country or zeale to the established Religion of our 〈◊〉 Which in their breast will now without more delay 〈◊〉 most assistance it being now high time or 〈◊〉 thus to doe 〈◊〉 no man say these things stood now upon are but triuiall 〈◊〉 they either are or make way for that which is the maine 〈◊〉 That which Chrysostome writes in a like rase See 〈…〉 Cor. 3. I may truly apply to this Hoc parum non 〈…〉 Imò vero est fere â—â—tum Ciâ—o eum neglectum sit 〈◊〉 Parva itaquè nunquam despiciamus ne in magna inâ—â—â—â—â— It is a true saying of Pope Gregory the first See Maral 〈◊〉 13. and we have found it experimentally true in these 〈◊〉 here debated Qui modica spernit paulatim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 curare parva negligimus inseusibiliter seducti auâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 majora perpetiamus Esus quippe potusque ad Luâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Lâ—sus as our playing with Popish novelties Ceremonies and royes hath done ad idololatriam traxit Quia sâ—in
A QUENCH-COALE OR A briefe Disquisition and Inquirie in what place of the Church or Chancell the Lords-Table ought to be situated especially when the Sacrament is administred VVherein is evidently proved that the Lords-Table ought to be placed in the MIDST of the Church Chancell or Quire North and South not Altar-wise with one side against the wall That it neither is nor ought to be stiled an Altar That Christians have no other Altar but Christ alone who hath abolished all other Altars which are either Heathenish Iewish or Popish and not tollerable among Christians All the Pretences Authorities Arguments of Mr. Richard Shelford Edmond Reeve Dr. Iohn Pocklington and A late Coale from the Altar to the contrary in defence of Altars calling the Lords-Table an Altar or placing it Altar-wise are here likewise fully answered and proved to be vaine or forged By a well-wisher to the truth of God and the Church of England Hebr. 7. 12. 13. For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to an other Tribe of which no man gave attendance at the Altar Augustinus de verbis Domini secundum Joannem Serm. 42. Christus quotidie pascit Mensa ipsius est illa in MEDIO constituta Printed in the yeare 1637. To the High and Mightie Prince CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOST DREAD SOVERAIGNE THE bleeding and almost desperate Condition of the long established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England of late yeares not only secretly undermined by Popish Priests and Jesuites but openly oppugned affronted by some English Priestes and Prelates in divers Visitation-Articles Sermons and printed Bookes licenced for the Presse to the intollerable contempt of your Majesties late pious Declarations Hath made me so presumptuous as not only to compile but likewise to recommend this unpolished Quench-Coale to your Royall Personage Wherein like a plain-dealing English-man I have according to my poore ability not only defended the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England in the particulars now oppugned against those treacherous rebellious Sonnes of hers who have professedly both in their Sermons practises and printed Bookes oppugned them out of her owne Records and Writers which I have principally made use of but likewise discovered and layd open without flattery or partiallity their desperate practises aymes plots and intentions to suppresse and roote out our syncere Religion and usher in Popery by degrees Together with the method and progresse they have made and prosecuted in this their pernicious designe The reasons inducing me to dedicate this rude incompt Discourse which I had neither time nor opportunity to polish to your Sacred Majesty were these 1. First to acquâ—int your Highnes with the severall dangers wherewith the Religion Doctrine and Discipline by Law establishest in the Church of England are now surrounded and those open affronts and oppositions made of late yeares against it Of which I presume your Majesty who commonly see with other mens eyes and heare with other mens eares as most Princes are forced to doe have not beene yet so fully acquainted as your faithfull Subjects could desire especially by your Prelates 2. Secondly to informe your Majesty how grosly some of your Prelates and Chaplaines have abused your Highnes and your Subjects eares and eyes both in the Pulpit the Counsell-Chamber and in printed Bookes in the point of Altars and their situation of Communion-Tables Altarwise against the East wall of the Quire Which Altars Situs of Lords-Tables they have peremptorily affirmed to be consonant to the practise of approred Antiquity Yea to the Statutes Doctrine Canons and Discipline of the Church of England When as it is most apparant That the primitive Church laand Christians had no Altars but Tables only for aboue 260 teyeares after Christ And that then and ever since till now of late both their Tables and Altars were alwayes placed in the MIDST of their Quires or Churches As J have here plentrifully manifested And that they neither bowed to nor towards their Altars as these new Doctours falsely dogmatize 3. Thirdly To present unto your Majesty the many dangerous Innovations and backslidings to Popery that have crept into our Church of late and now are publikely justifyed in print yea enjoyned by some of your potent Prelates and enforced on your poore Subjects especially godly Ministers under paine of suspension excommunication deprivation yea fining imprisonment and utter ruine in your High Commissions at first erected to suppresse all Poperie Innovations Errours and Episcopall enchroachments upon your Eeclesiasticall Prerogative but now used as the chiefe Instruments to countenance and set them up in professed opposition and rebellion against your Majesties Lawes Proclamations and two late pious Declarations to all your loning Subjects VVherein your Majesty to the unspeakeable joy of all your true-hearted people calling God to record before whom you stand hath made this solemne Protestation That you will never give way to the authorizing of any thing whereby ANY INNOVATION may steale or creep into the Church but preserve that unity of Doctrine Discipline established in the Time of Queen Elizabeth whereby the Church of England hath stood florished ever since That you doe professe to maintaine the true ReligioÌ„ Doctrine established in the Church of England without ADMITTING OR CONNIVING AT ANY BACKSLIDING TO POPERY OR SCHISME That you will not INDVRE ANY VARYING OR DEPARTING JN THE LEAST DEGREE from the seâ—â—d Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established And that you will esteeme those subordinate Officers and Ministers that shal be but negligent in seeing this your Declaration executed much more then those who apparantly oppugne it as culpable both to God and your Majesty And will expect that hereafter they give you a better account Yet notwithstanding both these your royall Declarations Some of your Prelates who were both privies and parties to them with others of your Clergie have since their publication not only suffered many Jnnovations to creep and steale into our Church admitted and connived at many backslidings to Poperie and Romish Schisme and permitted nay licensed in print many varyings and departings in the highest degree from the setled established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England But likewise been the chiefe Authours and fomenters yea the open Abbettours and Commaunders of them both in the Pulpit High Commission their Visitation-Articles Synodes and in printed Bookes Especially in setting up justifying writing and preaching for Images Crucifixes Altars Priests Sacrifices of the Altar bowing to Altars to Communion-Tables and rayling them in Altarwise with other particulars else-where specified in this Discourse In which we have lately backslided not only towards Popery but quite Apostatized to it as the Priestes the Papists glory and cracke in every place justifying in
some late printed Bookes The Church of Rome to be a true Church and never to have erred in any fundamentall points no not in the worst times And publikely maintaining the Pope or Papacy not to be Aâ—tichrist and Antichrist yet not to be come in open affront to our Homilies Articles Authorised Writers of all sorts and the professed position of all the Reformed Churches of the world So much doe some of your Prelates and Priests now dote upon the Whore of Rome and her abominations Yea such hath been the monstruous unparalled presumption of these undutifull persidious Innovatours since these Declarations published by your Majesty that they have dared to purge corrupt sophisticate and Innovate the publike Records and Monuments of the Church of England ratified by sundrie Acts of Parliament without your Majesties privity To such an hight of insolency are they growen I shall instance only in 3. particulars worthy your Majesties yea the whole Kingdomes consideration and the severest Censures that your Royall Justice can inflict First they have purged corrupted the Booke of Common-Prayer in two severall places the first whereof so neerely concernes your Majesty your Royall Confort and Princely Issue that J should be no lesse then an Arch-Traytor to you all should I not discover but conceale it In the ancient Common-prayer-Bookes there was this Collect prescribed for the Queen Prince and Royall Issue O God who art the Father of thine Elect and of their seed we humblie beseeth thee to blesse our most gracious Queen c. These busy Innovatours to testify their loyalty and duty to your Majesty your Queen and Royall Issue have presumed to expung you all out of the Catalogue of Gods Elect and to ranke you all in the number of Reprobates and Castawayes with one dash Blotting this clause who art the Farher of thine Elect and of their seed quite out of this Collect in all the late Common-prayer-Bookes VVhereby they have done as much as in them lies not only to deprive your Majesty and your Princely Jssue of that temporall Crowne of Soveraignty over these your Realmes to which you are Elected by God but also to rob both your Majesty your Noble Queen your Royall Issue your most Illustrious Sister and her Princely Progenie of that eternall Crowne of glory likewise to which both Charity and Loyalty enjoyne us to believe you are Elected through Gods free grace and everlasting decree Elect in the Collect being taken in both these sences VVhether these pragmaticall Refiners of this prayer deserve not a Tiburne-Tippet at the least for this bold attempt I humbly submit to your Royall Majesty 2. The second alteration they have made in the Booke of Common-prayer is in the Epistle for Palme-Sunday small in appearance but great in consequence All the Common Prayer-Bookes before the yeare of our Lord 1629. as likewise Tyndals Couerdales Thomas Mathewes and the Bishops Bibles used in our Churches till Anno 1612. read that text of Phil. 2. 10. according to the original the Fathers all Latine Writers and Translations but two of late to witt the Beza and Castalio who render it Ad nomen not IN nomine as all others doe in this maner That IN the name of Iesus every knee should bow c. But these Innovatours to Jdolize the name Iesus and usher in the Ceremony of Capping and bowing to it thereby to make way for bowing to Images Altars Adoration of the Eucharist and other Romish Innovations in the yeare of our Lord 1629. the very next yeare after your Majesties Declarations turned this IN into AT the Name as one Prelate did the like before in the New Translation of the Bible for the same purpose contrary to the originall the sence and scope of the place the Fathers all former Common-prayer-Bookes the very rules of our English Dialect There being no such phrase in the whole Bible nor in any English Author that ever I yet read as AT the name except only in this mistranslated corrupted text But only IN the name AT the name being pure nonsence As appeares by turning IN into AT in all the texts of Scripture where this phrase IN the name is used As Math. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Iohn 16. 23. Whatsoever yee shall aske the Father IN my name he will give it you Acts 3. 6. IN the name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth stand up and walke Acts 9. 27. 2. 9. He preached boldly at Damascus IN the name of Iesus And Acts 16. 8. 1. Cor. 5. 4. Ephes. 5. 2. 2. Thes. 5. 20. 2. Thes. 3. 6. In all which if we convert IN into AT and read them AT the name it makes both the English and text Nonsence and so it doth in this very text Phil. 2. 10. As some have manifested at large in particular Treatises of this Subject and Ceremonies of bowing at the name of Iesus when it is pronounced brought in by Popes with indulgences for idolatrous ends and not knowne not used in the Primitive Church for above 1200 yeares after Christ What ever some have written or preached to the contrary to abuse your Majesty and Subjects with their Fables Who they were that originally caused these two alterations and Corruptions of the Common-prayer-Booke to omit the changing of Minister into Priest in some places I cannot certainly informe your Majesty But if common same and circumstances may be creditedâ— they were some of your greatest Prelates this day living One of the chiefe instruments imployed in this good service who can discover the parties that sett him about this worke Then a Chaplaine to a great Bishop now to your Majesty was Dr. Iohn Cosens as I was long since informed by your Majesties Printer Mr. Norton upon the first discovery and inquirie after this abuse A fit instrument for such a purpose Who but the yeare before was accused in Parliament for dangerous words against your Majesty and the Reformers of our Religion To witt That your Majesty was no more Supreame Head of the Church of England next and immediately under Christ then the Boy that rubbed his horse heeles That the Reformers of our Church when they tooke away the Masse tooke away all Religion and the whole service of God They called it a Reformation but it was indeed a Deformation That the Masse was a good thing and a good word As also for setting up Images an Altar and no lesse then 220 Tapers 16 Torches on Candlemas-day in the Cathedral Church of Durham coutrary to the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England All which particulars were substantially proved against him both in the Parliament-house and at the Assises at Durham where he was found guilty upon an Indictment Yet in stead of punishments answerable to these his offences some whereof would have been capitall in other men he hath been so
they have once overswolm'd the bankes of due moderation or growen impudent and unrulie especially in Bishops Having thus represented to your Majesties Royall view these 3 grand forgeries and corruptions give me leave I humblie beseech your Highnes to adde to these two other late Jmpostures obtruded on the Church of England 1. The first by Dr. then Mr. Iohn Cosens and his confederates Who Anno 1628. the same yeare your Majesties Declarations were published sett forth a Booke intiteled A collection of private Devotions or the Howers of Prayer Wherein was much Popish Trash and Doctrine comprized and at least 20 several points of Popery maintained to countenance all which in the Title and Epistle of this Booke he writes That these Devotions of his were after this maner published by Queen Elizabeth and were heretofore published among us by her High and Sacred Authority to witt in the Preces of Horary sett forth by her Royall Authority Anno 1573. VVhen as there is no Analogie at all either in matter forme or method between these Devotions of his and those devout Prayers of her Majesty nor any of his points of Popery in them as hath been proved by two particular Answers to his Devotions in print Yet these Devotions of his were never yet suppressed but publikely sold among us approved by a Bishops license and now reprinted to abuse your Majesties poore Subjects encourage Papists and scandalize that ever-blessed pious Queen as the Authour and Patronesse of his grosse Popery An abuse not tollerable in a Christian State 2. The second is as bad or worse Anno 1631. One Iohn Ailward not long before a Popish Priest published a Booke intiteled An Historicall Narration of the judgement of some most learned Bishops concerning Gods Election Affirming the Errours of the Arminians to be the Iudgement and Doctrine of the Church of England and of the Martyrs and Reformers of it both in King Edwards and Queen Elizabeths dayes This Booke though written in professed opposition to your Majesties Declaration before the 39. Articles to Suppresse Arminianisme yet now made the only iustrument to advance it and suppresse the truth was licensed by Mr. Martyn then Chaplaine to the Bishop of London now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The whole Booke except some 3. or 4. leaves containing nothing else but a Coppy ef an Answer to a Letter wherein the Answerer purged himselfe and others from Pelagian Errours c. This Master-peece forsooth is pretended to be sett out by the Bishops and Reformers of our Church in the inception of Queen Elizabeths raigne by publike Authority and the Doctrine then taught and professed When this new Booke was printed no Coppies must come abrode as the Stationer then affirmed before the Bishop of London had presented it to your Majesty and gained your Royall approbation thereof Not long after this it flies abrode ouer all the Realme to the great amazement and disturbance of many of your Subjects One of them comming to that learned Knights hands Sir Humphry Lynde better read in Fathers and Popish Authours then English Antiquities he was so much stumbled and greiued at it that he presently repaired with it to a Gentlemans study of his acquaintance Telling him there was a new Booke freshly published which proued the Martyrs and Reformers of our Church to be professed Arminians and that this was the Doctrine publikely taught and printed by Authority in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths-raigne Saying withall it would doe infinite harme and desiring him to take some paines to answer it The Gentleman no sooner turned ever two or three leaves of the Booke but he presently discovered the grand Imposture Informing the Knight that this Coppy of a Letter c. was written by one Champenies whom Iohn Venon Divinity Lecturer of Paules in the first yeare of Queen Elizabeth expresly affirmed to be then a ranke Papist and a Pelagian and that in answer to this Verons Lectuâ— es of Predestination then publikely preached at Paules dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and printed by Authority in the second yeare of her Highnes raigne He likewise acquainted him that this Coppy of his Letter was printed about the third yeare of her Dominion without any Authours or Printers name thereto or place where or yeare when it was printed or any intimation at all that it was ever licensed All which were plaine evidences that it was printed in a corner without any license at all And whereas sayd he you desire a speedy Answer to it if you will give me but a paire of gloves I will show you two Answers to it already in print above â—0 yeares since by publike Authority and one of the first printed Coppies of this Letter to boote To which the Knight replied J am sure you doe but jest with me No sayd the other I am in good earnest wil you give me or wager a paire of gloves hereupon That answered he I will doe with all my heart Then sayd the Gentleman reach me hither those three Bookes he pointed to He did so The first was a Coppy of the Letter without name of Authour Printer date of time or place Which compared with that in this new Booke proved the same verbatim Now sayd the Gentleman you have seen the Originall I will shew you the Authour of it which he did in Verons Apology f. 37. and likewise two severall Answers in print The first by Iohn Veron himselfe fore-named intitled An Apologie in Defence of the Doctrine of Predestination Dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and imprinted at London by Iohn Tisdale in the fourth yeare of her Raigne Wherein this whole Letter is fully answered The second by that famous Learned Man and exile for Religion in Queen Maries dayes Robert Crowly In his Apologie of those English Preachers and Writers which Cerberus the three-headed Dogg of Hell chargeth with false Doctrine under the name of Predestination Seen and allowed according to Her Majesties Injunctions and printed at London by Henry Denham Anno 1566. Wherein this whole Letter is at large recited in severall Sections and then answered Verbatim This Booke being nothing else but a particular professed Answer to it by publike Authority As directly contrary to the truth and Doctrine of the Church of England then taught and established When the Gentleman had shewed him these two printed ancient Answers to this new Booke He likewise turned to some passages in Bishop Latymer which answered and cleared his words cited in this Booke from any such sence as it would fasten on them And to answer the Passage in it out of Bishop Hoopers Preface before his Exposition on the ten Commaundements He shewed him first the Confession and Protestation of the Bishops Faith dedicated to King Edward the 6. and the whole Parliament and printed at London Cum Privilegio Anno 1550. Secondly A briefe and cleare Confession of the Christian Faith containing 100 Articles London 1584. Thirdly An Exposition upon certaine Psalmes London 1510. Jn all
which this godly Martyr did professedly in exprâ—â—e tearmes oppugne all the Arminian points now controverted and those this new Booke would fasten on him by over straining some of his words VVhich done Now said the Gentleman I have shewed you many full old Answers to your New Booke and proved it to be a meere lie and forgery from the beginning to the end yea the most grosse and greatest Imposture affront and impudent abuse that ever was put upon the Church of England VVherefore Sirâ— since you are acquainted at London-House and Lambeth I pray informe the Bishop and Arch-Bishop what you have seen and desire them to take some speedy course to rectify this most foule abuse He did so Yet the Booke was not called in in a weekes space or more VVhich the Gentleman perceiving went to Lambeth with his Bookes shewed the Arch-Bishop that then was what he had shewed the Knight Desiring his Grace that the Church of England might not have such an impudent strange Imposture thrust upon her VVhere upon he thanked the Gentleman Protesting he had shewed him that he never saw nor heard off before Desiring him to leave his Bookes with him for a weeke after which he would safely restore them VVhereupon these Bookes after they were halfe sold and dispersed over the Kingdome were only called in but not burned nor any publike Act made against them to discover the practise and Imposture Only the Gentleman was at the cost to send some of these old Bookes in answer of this new Pamphlet to the University Library at Oxford and to Cambridge acquainting some of his Friends there with this Decoy But now of late this Booke flies abrode into all parts is publikely sold in all Stationers shops and thousands of your Subjects ignorant of the fraud are meerely cheated and seduced by it the Licenser if not the Authour being since aduanced and the discouerer of this egregious Jmposture detestable both to God man most despitefully rewarded and miserablie traduced for his paines O tempora O mores that men should suffer for their good service in this kinde Now J humblie referre to your Majesties most serious consideration whether all these particular Corruptions Forgeries and Jmpostures the vndoubted verity whereor is soone discouered by the Bookes themselves which wâ—â— attest them doe not crie aloud to your Majesty for speedy redresse and proclaime the authours of them though never so great or powerfull unworthy of your Majesties grace unmeet to be trusted or credited by your Highnes any more for those who are thus treacherous and unfaithfull to their Religion and Mother Church how can they be loyall or trustie to your Majesty and worthy of the highest Censures your Royall Iustice can inflict upon them Your Majesty hath called God to witnes in A Declaration to all your loving Subjects who dare credit you without an Oath That it is and alwâ—yes hath been your hearts desire to be found worthy of that Title which you account the most glorious in all your Crowne DEFENDER OF THE FAITH And how can you better accomplish this desire of your heart or make yourselfe worthy of this most glorious Motto then by rectifying all these most grosse abuses and Jmpostâ—res By rooting out all Innovations and back slâ—dings unto Popery now crept into our Church by reducing all your Subjects to the unanimous profession of the long established Doctrine of the Church of England And by taking vengeance upon all the grand Authours and Executioners of the fore-mentioned Forgeries Impostures Innovations which dishonour your Royall Majesty greive all your Faithfull Subjects betray and scandalize our Religion make us a very derision prey and scorne to our Romish Aduersaries and draw downe the very plagues and vengeance of our offended God upon us whose judgements now call for a speedy redresse of these things at your Majesties hands whom they have most intollerablie and undutifully dishonoured For whereas your Roy all Majesty out of the piety and syncerity of your upright heart hath in your fore-specified Declarations most seriously protested in the very presence of God himselfe your perfect detestation of all Innovations in ` Doctrine or Discipline and backslâ—dings unto Popeâ—y professing and proclaiming that you will by no meanes tolerate or indure them much lesse then favour or enjoyne them Yet since these disloyall Novellers their Clients and Agents forgetting their duty both to God and your Majesty feare not to give out in private speeches and to intimite as much in print that your Majesty doth not only connive at but likewise underhand either countenance or commaund by Letter or Word of mouth all these their Innovations and Apostacies towards Rome with their putting downe of Lectures and preaching of their late silencing excommunicating and persecuting godly Ministers in sundrie Diocesses for not yeelding to these Jnnovations or not reading the late Declaration for Sports in proper person in their Churches which they humblie conceive not to be your Majesties and which requires no such thing that it should be read much lesse by Ministers themselves in proper person and gives no man Authority in case they read it not to suspend or silence them for it to the Jnnocent peoples prejudice only whose soules are starved and murthered by this meanes and that they doe nothing at all but what they are enjoyned by your Majesties Royall Instructions Endeavouring by these false Rumors to make your Subjects believe had they such a miraculous Faith as to credit this impossibilitie that your Majesty is the Originall Authority and under-hand enconrager of all these their execrable practises Ceremonies Novelties proceedings and backsliding Of purpose to draw all the Odium of them on your Highnes and thereby as much as in them lyeth to alienate your Subjects hearts and affections from your Majesty Which intollerable unpardonable scandal were it as true as it is false Yet it were their duty to forbeare such speeches or cast â—uch scruples into your Subjects mindes But since they are most nâ—torious falsehoods and disloyall Iesuiticall practises in the highest degree making your Highnes no better then a notorious Hypocrite or dissembler both towards God and Man as themselves are though all the world will be your Compurgatours to acquit your Highnes from any the least suspition of such dissimulation Your Majesty is now obliged both in point of honour and Iustice to aveng yourselfe of such undutifull Slaunderers and Detractors from your Sacred Fame and by a speedy redresse of all their Innovations Superstitions Ceremonies and Abuses to proclaime to all the world that they are none of yours but their owne spurious issues and that your words and Actions both in publike and private are ever consonant uniforme and the same in every respect without the least shadow of alteration much lesse of doubling either with God or Man If your Majesty now demaund of me who they are who have been the chiefe Authours and instruments of these grosse
abuses forgeries Innovations I answer that although it may prove dangeroos to me to nominate them in particular before your Majesty shall commaund me so to doe by reason of their over-swaying power Yet for your Majestiâ—s satisfaction herein who can judge of the Catt by her Claw I shall give your Highnes a Register of the names of some of the chiefe under-instruments by which you may easily discrie the heades and Grandes of this disloyall crew One of the first and chiefe instruments your Majesty in your Royall Declaration and Proclamation hath pointed out and nominated to my hands To witt Richard Mountague then Bachiâ—er of Divinity since that time punished with the fatt Bishopricke of Chichester for his notorious Schismes and Innovations whose Booke intituled Apello Caesarem published in the yeare 1625. as the words of your Highnes determine did open the way to those Schismes and Divisions which have since ensued in our Church For remedie and redresse whereof and for Satisfaction of the consciences of your good people your Majesty did not only by publike Proclamation call in that Booke of his which ministred matter of offence but to prevent the like danger for hereafter reprinted the Articles of Religion established in the time of Queen Elizabeth of famous memory a plaine resolution that your Majesty intended to establish only the originall Coppy of the Articles confirmed in Parliament by Queen Elizabeth in which there is no such forgery or addition to the 20 Article as is before discovered not any other corrupted Coppy since and by a Declaration before those Articles did tie and restraine all opinions to the sence of those Articles that nothing might be left for private fancies and Innovations Yet notwithstanding this your Rayall care this Booke of his because not burn'd and the Authour rewarded advanced to be a governour in our Church before any publike recantation of his Errours is bought and sold And he not only in a new Latine Booke but likewise in a Court-Sermon at White Hall in Lent last in your Majesties Sacred presense forgetfull both of his duty and your Highnes Declaration hath presumed to plead not only for a Limbus Patrum bowing to Altars and rayling in Lords-Tables Altarwise but likewise for Altars Priests and unbloody Sacrifices offred upon Altars toe in professed defiance to this your Declaration For which some of your Majesties Courtiers who heard his Sermon then openly protested that he deserued to be hanged up in White Hall gate it were a goodly signe the signe of such a Bishops skin and Rochet thus exalted and that they wondred how the Arch-Bishops could sit by and heare such a Sermon and not commaund him out of the Pulpit So insolent is this first grand Agent growen because not punished but preferred for his first offences The next chiefe Fâ—ctor is Dr. Iohn Cosens whom I have formerly nominated a man likewise much honoured enriched aduanced euen to your Majesties service and the next in some mens voyce to be recommended to a Bishopricke if your Majesty reserve not the disposition of Bishoprickes to your selfe but suffer others to have a finger in their disposall and all for the good Seruice he hath done the Church of Rome the affronts he hath offred to the Church of England and using such reproachfull words against your Majesties Supremacy for which another happily might have had his head and quarters aduanced as high as London bridge ere this in Leiw of all â—ther preferments The happy successe of these two leading Instruments hath since encouraged many others to the like attempts as Dr. Lawrence Mr. Robert Shelford Priest Mr. Edmond Reeue Dr. Iohn Pocklington Dr. Peterâ— Heylin the Authour as most conclude of A Coale from the Altar Chownaeus and others in late printed Bookes and Sermons in hope of like preferments to broach many Arminian and Popish Doctrines Ceremonies Innovations coÌ„trary to the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England and in high contempt of your Majesties Declarations Which Bookes were licensed by William Bray and William Harwood Chaplaines to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury that now is by Samuel Baker and Mr. Weekes Chaplains to the now Bishop of London and by Dr. Beale late Vice-Chancellour of the University of Cambridge Yea one of them denying your Majesties Supremacy in causes Ecclesiastiaâ—all and affirming the Church of Rome to be a true Church and not have erred in fundamentals even in the worst times dedicated to the present Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was liceÌ„sed by his Chaplaine William Harwood yea justified publikely by the Arch-Bishop in the High Commission in the Censure of Dr. Bastwicke Quid facient Domini audent cum talia Servi When the Chaplains dare license such Doctrines Bookes and Novelties by their Lords Authority it is much to be feared that their Lords themselves dare doe as much or more then this amounts to If your Majesty will but inquire of these new Authours and Licensers who are the men that cherish and countenance them By whose Privity and Authority they have presumed to attempt the writing and Licensing of such Bookes you may easily by these Rivulets trace out the Fountaines from whence all these Enormities Corruptions Forgeries and Innovations flow And if you shall vouchsafe with all to cast your Royall eye upon the Remonstrance touching the encrease of Popery Arminianisme and the decay of Religion presented to your Majesty by the Commons house the last Parliament it is a thousand to one but you will soone discover the very parties not only by guesse but by name Besides if your Majestie will once more cast your prying eye upon the late Visitation Articles of Bishop Wren Bishop Peirce Bishop Monntague and other your Prelates and Arch-Deacons visiting in their owne names and by their owne Authority Or cause a diligent inquiry to be made in all places where Altars Images Crucifixes bowing to Altars Tapers rayling Communion-Tables Altar-wise reading Second-Service at the Altar Consecrations of Altars Churches Chappels are introduced urged and many godly conformable Ministers excommunicated silenced suspended persecuted for not submitting to these with other such Innovations and New-Doctrines By whose Authority and commaund these things are done and inforced Or by what Authority some Schollers Ministers and Lecturers have been refused to be admitted to holy Orders Benefices and Lectures for not subscribing to certaine New-Doctrines Ceremonies underhand propounded to them And with all take this into your Royall consideration that in three late printed Treatises Arch-Bishops Bishops and Cathedrall Churches are made the Originall Patternes by which all other Persons and Churches must be regulated in these very Innovations Your Majesty without any further helpe or character may infalliblie discover both the roots the fountaines and Seminaries from whence all the premises issue More particular light then this is neither yet safe for me to give nor necessary for your Majesty to require
If any thinke I have gone to farre in this Let him know That it is only the zeale of doing your Majesty my Country and Mother Church of England faithfull service without feare or flattery it being now no time to mince things or dissemble longer which hath thus farre transported me In whose just important cause and quarrell how faint hearted soever others shew themselves I shal be ever ready through Gods assistance not only to spend my Liâ—e my Limbes my Fortunes and Liberty but my very Life and Soule Chusing rather to hazard all or any of these then to behold my God my Soveraigne my Country my Relâ—gion secretly undermined abused betrayed trampled upon or ruined and yet sit mute neither discovering the contrivers the instruments nor close cariages of such Antichristian treacherous disloyall designes for feare of any danger person or Prelate whatsoeverâ— And if J did it not when I had meanes and oportunity I should neither deeme my selfe a faithfull Servant to my God nor a loyall Subject to your Majesty my Soveraigne And now since I have lanched thus farre out into this tempestuous Ocean perchance with hazard of drowning or Pyrats unlesse your Majesty rescue me by a Patent of safe conduct and calme these boysterous Seas when they arise to overflow me give me leave to wade but one step further to acquaint your Highnes with the evill dangerous fruites of these lewd practises Bookes Innovations and then I shall cast anker in the secure Harbour of your Royall Grace and Protection 1. First they have produced aboundance of Schismes Factions â—arres discontents quarrels heart-burnings if not mutuall malice hatred and reproaches among your people in all places of your Realmes and quite rent asunder that ancient unity peace love and mutuall charity which flourished among them before these Innovations crept into the Church 2. Secondly they have not only grieved vexed the righteous soules but even quite dejected the spirits and broken the hearts of many thousand godly Lâ—ts and most faithfull Subjects to your Majesty who even pine away and languish under them for griefe and sorrow of heart 3. Thirdly they have bred a generall feare in the hearts an over-great jealousie in the heades of your Loyall Subjects of an approaching alteration of Religion and totall Apostasie unto the Sea of Rome They having little left to secure or arme them against this feare and jealousie but the syncerity of your Majesties owne Royal heart to our Religion your comfortable pious Declaracions now trampled by these Novellers under feet in open scorne and the zeale of divers of your Nobility to whom Gods truth and our Religion are dearer then their soules Which no doubt they will now declare by their actions in this time of need To your Majesties great joy and ease and the daunting of these strange audacious Innovatours though hitherto many of them have been over-silent 4. Fourthly they have caused many to turne Atheists Skeptickes or Newters in Religion seeing our Church so wavering and unconstant Many to fall off to Popery and hundred thousands of Papists from conversion by encouraging and hardning them in their Antichristian Errours and Superstitions to which they see us running if not flying so fast of late that they say they need not come towards us since wee are posting so fast to them 5. Fiftly they have caused thousands of godly Christians the best Preservatives against Plagues and Iudgments to flie out to forraigne Countries and Plantations Hundreds to seperate from our Church as now quite Romish and Antichristian And made thousands ready for to seperate it being now a common received opinion among many That our Churches especially our Cathedrals are now so farre Popish in all respects Latine Service only excepted which they say is countervayled by their merry all-sung never-wept Service which the people understand no more then Latine that we have now the same or at least as just cause to seperate from them as our godly Martyrs and Church had to seperate from Rome in the beginning of Reformation And though the same reasons hold not alike of all Churches for the present yet that they hold as firme in regard of the future since now wee and all our Churches are taught and commaunded to imitate our Prelates and Cathedrals in all their Romish Rites and Ceremonies as their Mother Churches and true patternes of Imitation So that unlesse a speedy Reformation follow of these late Corruptions and Innovations halfe the Kingdome for ought I can conjecture are like either to turne professed Seperatists or else to leave the Realme To such a passe have your busy Prelates lately brought things by their new Devises Bookes Articles Ceremonies Superstitions and their Suppressing of Lectures Preaching and godly comformable Ministers Sermons of Lords-dayes after-noones Repetition of Sermons and the like 6. Sixtly they give a great occasion to Iesuites Seminarie-Priests and Friers of which there are now swarmes in England there being above 60. Benedictine Monkes only besides other Orders in England Anno 1624. as appeares by the Letter of Rudesindus Barlo President of the English FRIERS of that Order to the Câ—lledge of the Cardinals at Rome dated the 12. of December 1624. and many more no question of that order now Who at this present use few other Arguments to seduce your Majesties Subjects from their alleagiance and Religion to Popery then the fore-named Jnnovations and new printed Popish Bookes which they buy up with greedines Resiâ—dus Barlo in his fore-cited Letter to the Cardinâ—â—s of Rome to institute either Dr. Kellyson or Dr. Smith two of his order or both of them Bishops over the Priests in England writes very confidently That if one of these were made a Romish Bâ—shop here Latioâ—es intra unicum biennium fructus in Anglâ—cana missione aspecturi sitis quà m hactenus in â—adem nullo existente Episcopo per sexaginta jam elapses annos conspexoritis They should see more joyfull fruites in this English mission within one two yeares then before they had seen in three-score when there was no Bishop And I may as truely say that since these Innovations have growen publike and got head among us these new Bookes been licensed and all Confutation of them stopped at our Presses the Priestes Iesuites and Popish Monkes who have now a Bishop or two at least have perverted more by meanes of them alone for they could never hurt or wound us but with our owne men and weapons then in sixtie yeares before As therefore the encrease of Papists was one maine ground and chiefe cause lately alleadged in the Star-chamber of resuming the London-Derry plantation into your Majesties hands So the selfe same reason should now move your Majesty to recall these severall Innovations and burne up these late Novell ridiculous Pamphlets in affront of our best and solidest Writers which withdraw so many from your Alegiance and give the Priests and Iesuites cause to triumph over us yea to
deride and flout us for our follies Apostasies miserable publike contradictions 7. Seventhly they open the mouthes of this Babilonish Crew and of forraigne and domesticke Papists to slaunder both our Church and Arch-Prelates as if shee and they with many other of our Prelates and Cleargie of chiefe note were now returning with the dogge to his vomit and the washed Sow to her wallowing in the mire yea to the very vomit and mire of that VVhore of Rome which we had formerly spned and cast out That this is the common Newes in most forraigne parts not only the reports of Travellers witnes but Sr. Iohn Cooke your Majesties principall Secretary of State some few yeares since in the very infancy of these Innovations and backeslidings affirmed openly in Star-chamber in the now Arch-Bishop of Canterburies case that this newes was spread as farre as the very Wals of Rome itself upon his certaine intelligence thence And therefore it was high time for your Majesty your Prelates and the State to looke more strictly to our Religion and to take away all occasions of such Rumours Since which there have been more occasions of them given then in forty yeares before So as this Rumour is generally believed abroad as a most certaine truthâ— and crept into some of their late printed Bookes This likewise is the common confident discourse and persuasion of most Priests and Papists at home both among themselves and in the Company of Protestants over whom they now seeme to triumph and sticke not openly to affirme and justify that both our Arch-Bishops to omit others are theirs To make this good I shall give your Majesty two late instances of which I have certaine intelligence and witnesses too if need be worthy your Royall consideration A Barkeshire Gentleman of some worth a Popish Recusant was since Easter last 1636. at a publike meeting where were divers prime Gentlemen of the Shire and 3 or 4 Iustices of Peace if not more VVhere entring into Discourse concerning some Controversies of Religion between the Papists and us with some of the Company he used these words in the hearing of them all Well Gentlemen you may talke and discourse of your Religion as long as you please but we have the Queens Majesty and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury firme on our side And so long wee shall make our partie good enough with you Some of the Company questioning him for these words He answered He would justify and make good what he sayd But was never yet for ought I heare required to doe it though intimation hath been given of these speeches to some whom they much concerne When Dr. Cosen 's the last Summer 1636. removed from the Bishopricke of Durham to his Colledge at Cambridge He gave his Friends of New-Castle a farewell Sermon in the Towne at which Sermon preached in the after-noone most of the Papists in that Towne were present Two of them the next morning meeting with two Marchants of the Towne who were Protestants they went all into a Taverne to drinke their mornings draughts The Papists demaunded of the Protestants whether they heard Dr. Cosens his Sermon One replied that he only heard of it but heard it not by reason of some busines that hindred him The other made Answer that he heard it The Papists demaund of him how he liked it He replied That it was but a plaine ordinary Sermon and that he heard nothing extraordinary in it Yea but said the Papists did you marke his garbe his cringes to the Altar and how he bowed himselfe when Iesus was named He hath the right garbe and duckes of our Priests The other answered he did not much observe his gestures Well said the Papists Dr. Cosens is a learned honest Gentleman and to tell you truely He and the Arch-Bishop of Yorke are both ours The other bade them take heed what they said Wee know well enough said they what we say we tell you againe they are both ours Whereupon one of the Protestants merrily replied If you will needs have both of them to be yours pray take them to yourselves we can spare them well enough Many words past to this purpose The Protestants complained of these speeches as scandalous to the Arch-Bishop and acquainted him there-with Whereupon the Papists were Articled against in the High Commission-Court at Durham and cited to appeare there Appearance they made but they have not yet made any full answer the busines being hushed up in a maner and layd asleepe Dr. Cosens in the meane time takes his journy towards Cambridge Most of the Gentlemen Papists in the Bishopricke to prove him theirs brought him a dayes-journy on his way and some of them as farre as Yorke Like speeches have been used by other Papists yet more privately modestly The like report they in print of Dr. Theodor Price Subdeane of West-minster that however he lived like an Atheist yet he died like a professed Papist This J confesse is not only a report but a truth He being a reported Papist long before his death Which made many wonder at the impudency of that great Prelate who knowing him intus in cute durst recommend him to your Majesty as the fittest man he in his conscience could pitch upon to make a Welsh Bishop And so earnestly to stickle for him against your Lord High Chamberlaine and his Chaplaine Dr. Griffirth Williams Especially being a man that never preached all his life but one Sermon as was reported and that in Latine penned as was bruited in Oxford long agoâ— by his Kinsman D. Lewes And he not long after a notorious Sodomite flying the Realme and losing his Provostship in Oxford for this very Sinne Yet now without any purgation or satisfactioÌ„ for so foule a crime is preferred not only to the Mastership of S. Crosses but likewise made your Majesties Chaplaine in Ordinary I will not say by whom and the chiefe man imployed for the now Chancellour of Oxford in his canvase for that dignity against the Earle of Peâ—broke your Lord High Chamberlaine who had most voyces though not the fairest play It may be these Arch-Prelates countenancing and preferring of such persons is one maine ground of these Papists speeches VVho are worthy to be punished for them if they cannot justify and make them good And they unworthy to stay one hower in their places in case they shall not or cannot both by their Actions Doctrines c preceedings disprove them to be true as J hope their Graces wil being Fathers in God highest growen up into Christ in all things and the Eldest in Grace for which cause the word Grace is used unto Arch-Bishops as Mr. Reeve learnedly informes us But how-ever that shall fall out upon tryall yet this certainly is one fruite of these late Jnnovations and Bookes to produce such speeches in these and more mens mouthes then three or foure 8. Eightly these Bookes Innovations and Apostasies both in Doctrines Ceremonies
Churches be consecrated or no And whether there doe burne a lampe or candle before the Sacrament And if there doe not that then it be provided for with expedition As Altars were thus erected bowed to pleaded for and countenaunced in Queen Maries time upon the revivall of Popery Communion Tables removed scoffed at so immediately upon her death the discent of the Crowne to Queen Elizabeth this religious Princes by her Injunctions published in the first yeare of her Raigne commaunded the Altars in Churches to be removed which was done in many Churches in sundrie parts of the Realme before such Injunctions upon the alteration of religion and Tables to be placed for ministration of the Holy Sacrament according to the FOURME OF THE LAW THERFORE PROVIDED to witt the Statute of 1. Eliz. c. 2. ratâ—fying the Common Prayer Booke which prescribes the Sacrament to be administred at a Table not at an Altar By which it is apparant that the ministring of it at an Altar is against not according to the Statute and so punishable thereby And hereupon Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury in his Metropoliticall Visitation Anno 1560. had this Article of Inquirie among others Whether they had a comely and decent Table for the Holy Communion sett in place prescribed by the Queenes Majestyes Injunctions And whether your Altars be taken downe according to the Commaundement in that behalfe given After this Anno 1561. the Booke of Orders published by the Queenes Commissioners and Booke of Advertissements published Anno 1565. enjoyned decent Communion Tables standing on a frame to be made and sett in the place were the steps of the Altar formerly stood stiling them alwayes Communion Tables not once an Altar and putting them in opposition to Altars And the Canons made in the Synode at London Anno 1571. which neither the Epistoler and M. Prynne hath misquoted as the Coale doth falsely accuse them it being p. 18. in the English Copy then printed which they followed though p. 15. in the Latine which the Colier followed who it seemes never saw the English prescribe that Churchwardens shall see there be a faire joyned Table which may serve for the administration of the Holy Communion and a cleane cloth to cover it that they shall see that all Roodeloâ—ts in which wooden Crosses stood all other Reliques of superstition be clane taken away which being executed accordingly thereupon Hierom Osorius the Rhemists Dorman Harding Hart and other Papists complained against Queen Elizabeth and the Church of England in their severall writings that they had cast downe Images Churches Altars removed them out of their Churches and set up prophane unhallowed Tables to administer the Sacrament on in their steed which Act of theirs Bishop Jewell Gualther Haddon M. Fox M. Deane Nowel M. Thomas Bâ—acon D. Fulke and M. Carthwright D. Willet D. Reynolds not only justify as lawfull but as necessary commendable affirming that Queen Elizabeth the Church of England might as lawfully remove and breake downe Popish Altars Images and Crucifixes as Ezekiah and other good Kings of Judah and Israell demolished brake downe Heathenish groves Idolls Images Altars by Gods owne speciall commaund and approbation From all which particular passages we may clearly discerne That one of the first things which our owne other reformed Churches did upon the bringing in of Religion abolishing of Popery was the breaking downe and abandoning of Altars together with their name and placing of Communion Tables in their steed that the first thing againe the Papists did upon the restitution of Popery was the erecting of Altars casheering Communion Tables That the setting up of Altars turning Communion Tables into Altars or Altarwise is to no other end but to usher Masses Popery the inseperable concommitants followers of Altars which cannot subsist without them into our Church againe That our godly Martyrs Princes Prelates writers yea and our Church itselfe have constantly both in their Iudgments practise disputes condemned Altars as Iewish Heathenish Popish unlawfull unto Christians That they are contrary to the Statute of 1. Eliz. 1. 2. The Booke of Common Prayer Homilies Injunctions Canons Orders Advertissements and Articles of the Church of England were never yet written or preached for patronized enjoyned or erected but among and by Papists that to receive the Masse sett up Popery which fall or stand together with them And that the Communion Table is no Altar nor High Altar as our Novellers dreame and teach All this being thus premised I come now to give a particular answer to this 3. reason for placing Communion Tables Altar-wise First therfore I deny that the Communion or Lords Table is either an Altar or High Altar that it ought so to be stiled or reputed or that any Altars ought to be set up in our Churches First because the Scripture never tearmes the Lords Table an Altar but a Table 1. Cor. 10. 21. only prescribes a Table only not an Altar for the administration of the Sacrament 2. Because our Common Prayer Booke Homilies Articles Canons Injunctions writers doe the like distinguishing the Communion Table Altars as opposite contradistinct things inconsistent one with the other abandoning not Altars only themselves but the very name of Altars as Jewish and Heathenish 1. Cor. 9. 13. c. 10. 18. 19. being quite expunged so as it is not to be found in our Booke of Common Prayer Articles Injunctions Homilies Canons which never terme the Lords Table an Altar either properly or improperly 3. Because Altars Lords Tables differ much one from the other 1. In matter the one being made of stone gold brasse or earth for the most part Exod. 20. 24. 25. c. 38. 30. c. 39. 38. 39. c. 40. 5. 16. Jos. 8. 30. 31. the other only of wood 2. In forme the one almost quite square Exod. 7. 12. c. 30. 1. 2. 3. 10. c. 37. 26. c. 38. 2. Rev. 9. 13. the other not so broade as long the one having hornes oft times to which delinquents fled and layd hold the other not 3. In name appellation that in all languages 4. In use the one being only to offer Sacrifices incense burnt offrings on Exod. 31. 128. c. 37. 25. c. 38. 1. Lev. l. 7. 9. being therfore called an Altar Altare Ara from the Sacrifices and fires burning on it as Isiodor Cilepine Holicke and others witnes the other only to eat and drinke at 1. Cor. 10. 21. c. 11. 20. 21. 2. Sam. 9. 7. Lu. 22. 30. 5. In institution the one Legall Iewish Typicall Heatheâ—sh the other Euangelicall Christian of which anon the one instituted before and under the Law the other only under the Gospell 6. In their appendices attendants circumstances For First Altars were usually consecrated both among the Jewes and Gentiles Exod. 40. 10. 11. Numb
of her Commissioners in causes Eclesiasticall or of the Metropolitane of this Realme ordaine or publish such further Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edyfying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs Holy mysteries and Sacraments A power not personal sayth the Coale to the Queen only when shee was alone but such as was to be continued also unto her Successors So that in case the Common-prayer Booke had determined positively that the Table shoule be placed at all times in the vale of the Church or Chauncel which is not determined of or that the Ordinary by his owne oppointment could not have otherwise appointe which yet is not so the Kings most excellent Majesteye on information of the irreverent usage of the holy Table by all sorts of people as it hath been accustomed in these later dayes in sitting on it in time of Sermon otherwise prophanely abusing it in taking Accounts making Rates such like businesses may by the last clause of the side for the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries Sacraments with the advise Counsel of the Metropolitane comaund it to be placed where the Altar stood to be railed about for the greater decency To this I answer first That a possead Esse non valet consequentia The Kingh by virtue of this Act by the advise of the Metropolitanne may commaund the Table to be placed where the Altar stood there rayled in Ergo it ought there to be placed railed in before or without the Kings Commaund is no good Argument yea the contrary holds good The Table ought not so to beplaced or railed in but by his Magesteyes expresse Commaund that by some publike Act and writing under his great Seale as is evident by Queen Elizabeths Injunctions the Booke of Orders Anno 1561. the Booke of Advertissements Anno 1565 with the Statute of 25. H 8. â— 19. the King being to Cammand nothing of this nature to all his Subjects but by matter of Record under his great Seale as all his Proclamations writs doe testify But his Majesteye hath yet given noe such expresse commaund by any publike Act or writing under his great Seale Therfore it ought not to be done 2. This branch of the Statute takes away all power from the Metropolitane Prelates Ordinaries to ordaine or publish any new Rites or Ceremonies what soever oâ— to alter any formerly prescribed or established vesting this power only in the Queens Majesteyes her Commissioners Metrapolitane being only to advise her in cause she require their advise but not to doe any thing them selves in their owne names either with or with our the Queenes advise they being as some say in a Premunire if they doe it by the State of 25. H. 8. c. 19. compared with 27. H. 8. c. 15. 35. H. 8. c 16. 3. 4. Edâ— 6 c. 11. his Majesteyes and the Bishops owne resolution in the Declaration before the 39 Articles of Religion reprinted by his Majesteyes speciall Commaund London 1628. By what right or power then I pray with what great affront to his Majesteyes Prerogrative Royall can or doe our Arch-Bishops Bishops Arch-Deacons Ordinaries officials in their severall visitations take upon them to prescribe new rites Ceremonies of their owne devising to print pubblish them in their owne names without any Commission from his Majesteyes in their visitation Articles to injoyne Ministers Church-wardens Sidemen to submit unto them suspending questioning excommunicating them in case they refuse to doe it when as them selves for making they for submitting to any such Rites Ceremonies or Constitutions are ipso facto excommunicated by the 12. Canon made in Convocation Anno 1603 By what right or authority doe they now set up Altars insteed of Tables order give in charge in printed Articles that Communion Tables shal be changed removed sett Altarwise against the East end of the the Chauncel there rayled in that the Ministers shall bow cring unto them administer the Sacrament yea read the 2. service as they call it at the Table even when there is no Sacrament that all the Communicants shall come up to receive that all men shall stand up at Gloria Patri the Gosple Athanasius the Nicene Creed bow at every naming of Iesus Woemen to be Churched with vayles not without things no wayes prescribed by the Booke of Comon prayer or Commaunded by his Mayestey under the great Seale suspending silencing depriving excommunicating Ministers and vexing his Mayesteyes subjects severall wayes for not submitting to these their Novell Articles Injunctions being all Derogatorie to his Majesteyes Ecclesiasticall Prerogative contrary to this objected clause of the Statute and to the first clause thereof which enacts That no manner of Parson vicar or other Minister what soever shall wilfully or obstinately standing in the same use or by open fact deed or thenreatning compell cause procure or maintaine any person vicar or other Minister in any Cathedrall or parrish Church or Chapple to use ANY OTHER RITE CEREMONY ORDER FORME OR MANNER of celebrating the Lords Supper Mattens Evening song Administration of the Sacraments then is mentioned and sett forth in the Booke of Common Prayer and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England under the penalties therein expressed which Booke neither prescribes nor mentions all or any of these Nouell Rites Ceremonies The Coalier therfore might well have fâ—â—o ne this objection which fals so heavy upon him these Prelates which set him no worke to blow a brode his Coale from the Altar to kindle a combustion in our Church 3. I answer that this clause is meerly personall to the Queen because she and her Commissioners only is named in it not her Heires Successors their Commissioners that for two reasons First for the Parleament then knew her syncerity love to Religion and her desire to aduance it of which she had given good Testimonie all King Edward the 6. time but especially in Queen Maries dayes therfore they would trust her with such a power But they then knew not neither could they divine who might chance to be her Heyre or Successor to the Crowne nor what they might prove in point of Religion Therfore they would not adventure to intrust them with such an authority who might peraduenture overturne the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church with the due use reverence of Christe holy misteries Sacraments formerly setled by this Act the Booke of Common prayer by vertue or coulor of this clause without a Parliament but limited it only to the Queen 2. Because the Booke of Common Prayer administration of the Sacrament other Rites Ceremonies of the Church of England being then but newly corrected published there might there upon as comonly it fals out upon all Alterations grow some questions doubts inconveniences about it or
Statutes of Mort c. In witnesse whereof c. Witnesse the King at Westminster the 1â— day of November in the 31. yeare of the reigne of King Henry the 8 c. Teripsum Regem From which Patent truely transcribed out of the Rolls where it it is in Lattine I observe First that the Arch-Bishops had then no Lawfull right 〈◊〉 power at all to consecrate Churches Chappels or Church-yeards without a speciall License from the King himselfe under his Great Seale Therefore by like reason not to keep Consistories Visitations inflict Ecclesiasticall Censures suspend or silence Ministers and the like without such a speciall grant or Licence And so their Episcopall jurisdiction not â—ure divino but meerly humane by the Kings grant and institution Secondly that after such a License given them by the King under his great Seale they cannot yea ought not by Law to consecrate any Church Chappel or Church-yeard without suing forth a specâ—all Patent out of the Chauncery under the Great Seale particularly and by name authorizing them with sufficient words and clauses to consecrate such such a Church Chappel or Church yeard in speciall much more then must they have the like speciall Patent and Commission to keep Courts Visitations suspend or silence Ministers and the like which Licenses and Commissions now they sue not out but goe on of their owne heads in and by their owne Episcopall authorities for the most part for which a Paemunire lies against them Thirdly that every consecration is and makes a Mortmaniâ— Therefore it is against the Law and must have a speciall License and warrant from the King under his Great Seale as this Patent prescribes Fourthly this Patent allowes neither the Bishops nor their Officers to take any fees at all for any such consecrations Therefore the fees they exact for them are meere extortions for which an Inditement or Bill lyeth in the Sta-chamber Fifthly they cannot inforce any man or Parish to have their Chappels Churches or Church-yeards consecrated unlesse themselves require and desire it may be done as some words in the Patent which for brevity sake I have omitted manifest and the words may nor shall consecrate implieth as much Sixtly that this gives them no power at all to consecrate Altars or Altar-clothes which have a distinct peculiar forme of Consecration but only Churches Chappels Church-yeards After this King Henry the â— in the 37 yeare of his reigne by his Letters Patents to the Bishop of Oxford among other things granted him power to proceed to the Consecration of Churches and Church-yeards within his Diâ—cesse Moreover without speciall grant from the King they had no such power For which cause it was then specially inserâ—eâ— into this and other Bishops Patents And thus long the Consecration of Churches with all other Popish Superstitions and Ceremonies almost continued in use But upon the change and reformation of religion which is worthy of observation iâ— quite vanished away as did many other Popish Superstitions by the abolishing of the Masseâ—Bookes Primers and Ceremonials which prescribed the manner and forme of Consecrating Churches Chapples and Church-yeardes by the Statutes of 2. 3. E. 6. c. 1. 3. 4. E. 6. c. 10. Whence I finde not in all the Patents made to Bishops in King Edwardâ— dayes by the provision of the statutes of 1. E. 6. c. 2 One syllable authorizing them to consecrate Churches Chapples or Church-yeards though all other parts of Ecclesiasticall and Episcopall jurisdiction as keeping of Courts Visitations Probale of Wills granting of Letters of Administration suspending of Ministers upon Legall and just groundes c. be particularly granted them in those Patents Yet how To be executed only NOMINE VICE ET AVTHORITATE NOSTRIS REGIIS in oâ—â— owne Royall Name Stead and Authority not their owne as the Patents of Scory Couerdale 5. Ed. 6. parsf in the Rolls with many others testify Neither have any Bishops since Henry the 8. this clause of Consecrating Churches Chapples 〈◊〉 Church-yards inserted into heir Patents in these latter dayes from the King under his Great Sâ—ale authorizing them to keep Consistories Visitations prove Wills grant Lâ—â—ters of Administration Suspend Silence or deprive Ministers or inflict any Ecclesiasticall Censures upon any Subjâ—ct Therefore they have not authority at all in point of Law to execute any of those particulars aud what ever they doe in any of them is Coram non judice and but a meere Nullity especially their Consecration of Churches Chapples Church-yeards Altars for which they have neither Patentâ— Statute Article Injunction Canon or Orthodox Writer of our Church Or for those long since antiquated Bacchanalian feasts of Dedication which they would now receive But of this enough for this present in which I have been the more prolix because it is a poiet of Law not hitherto discussed fully by any that I have mett with QVESTION IIII. The 4. Question I shall propound is this What Law or Canon there is to enjoyne Ministers to read the Epistle and Gosple or second service at the High-Altar or Lords Table or to suspend them if they refuse to doe it when there is no Communion The reason of this demaund is five-fold 1. Because in truth there is no Statute Law Injunction or Canon extant prescribing any such thing 2. Because the Rubricke before the Communion ordaines that the TABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMMVNION shall stand in the body of the Church or Chancle WHERE MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER BE APPOYNTED TO BE SAID and the Preist standing at the NORTH SIDE of the Table shall say the Lords prayer with thi collect following c. And the Rubricke at the end of the Communion ordaines thus Vpon the Holy-dayes if there be no Communion shall be said all that is appointed at the Communion untill the end of the Homily concluding with the generall prayer c. But it sayth not that it shall then be sayd at the Communion Table Whence I observe 1. That theâ— Rubricke ties not the Minister to say second service at the Lords Table but at such times only as there is a Communion 2. That when he reades service at it the Table ought not to stand Altar-wise against the East-wall of the Church but 〈◊〉 be removed and placed in the body or MIDDLE of the Church or Chappel where Morning and Evening Prayer be appointed to be sayd So as the Prâ—â—st ought not to goe up to the Table or high Altar but they ought to be removed and brought downe to him as is cleare by thâ—s Rubricke and more perspicuous by Queen Elizabeths Injunctions and the 82 Canon forecited if you read Whence I argue thus The Minister ought not to read Second service at the Altar but then only when it is removed and brought downe into the body and middle of the Church or Chancel to celebrate the Communion at as the Rubricke Injunction Canon resolve But the Table is not thus