Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
act_n law_n parliament_n repeal_v 2,928 5 12.0628 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A56144 Canterburies doome, or, The first part of a compleat history of the commitment, charge, tryall, condemnation, execution of William Laud, late Arch-bishop of Canterbury containing the severall orders, articles, proceedings in Parliament against him, from his first accusation therein, till his tryall : together with the various evidences and proofs produced against him at the Lords Bar ... : wherein this Arch-prelates manifold trayterous artifices to usher in popery by degrees, are cleerly detected, and the ecclesiasticall history of our church-affaires, during his pontificall domination, faithfully presented to the publike view of the world / by William Prynne, of Lincolns Inne, Esquire ... Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1646 (1646) Wing P3917; ESTC R19620 792,548 593

There are 11 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

had separated from Rome ever since the time of Reformatior An evill therefore which hath issued not so much from the personall disposition of the Prelates themselves as from the innate quality and nature of their Office and Prelaticall Hierarchie which did bring forth the Pope in Ancient times and never ceaseth till it bringeth forth popish Doctrine and worship where it is once rooted and the Principles thereof somented and constantly followed And from that antipathy and inconsistency of the two formes of Ecclesiasticall Government which they conceived and not without cause that one Island united also under one head and Monarch was not able to beare the one being the same in all the parts and powers which it was in times of Popery and now is in the Roman Church The other being the forme of Government received maintained and practised by all the Reformed Kirks wherein by their owne testimonies and confessions the Kirks of Scotland had amongst them no small eminencie This also we represent to Your Lordships most serious consideration that not only the fire-brands may be removed but that the fire may be provided against that there be no more combustion after this This charge of the Scots against the Arch-Bishop was usherd in with this Introduction in the Scotish Treatie which clearely manifests him to be excepted by name out of the Act of Pacification and Oblivion by the fourth clause thereof An Introduction to the accusation against Canterbury and the Leiutenant of IRELAND SEeing His Majestie hath beene Gratiously pleased concerning out fourth demand to declare that all his subjects shall be lyable to the tryall and sentence of the Parhament respective And seeing the Incendiaries are of two sorts either of the English or Scottish Nation to bee tryed here or there of the Scottish wee shall speake afterward And for the present we shall deliver to your Lordships the grounds of our complaint against the Prelate of Canterbury and the Leiutenant of Ireland whom the Kingdome of Scotland have conceived and expressed to have beene prime Incendiaries that they may be fully presented to your Lordshipps to the Kings Majesty and to the Parliament without prejudice alwayes unto us to adde hereafter what we shall find necessarie And although we do not presently verefie every point therein yet our present proofs of some principall points our probable presumptions of the rest which are annexed therewith are sufficient ground cum constat de incendio to one Nation to desire another to put them per viam transitionis to a tryall and to examine all the Councellors and others here who may be conceived to have beene eye or eare witnesses of any of the Councells speeches or Actions lyable to the Charge and for saving unnecessarie charges and travell to the subjects to direct Commissions and all other Warrants requisite to such as his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit for examining all such persons as may be apprehended to have knowledge of any of these Councells Speeches or Actions which are alleadged to have beene in Ireland and that upon such Interrogatories as we shall give unto the Parliament shall be pleased to adde for triall All which we earnestly crave of his Majesty and the Parliament as we desire that his Majesty may be pleased to send Warrant to the Committee of at Esr like or to the Sheriffes of Shires for examining witnesse anent the oath pressed upon any of our Country men and other wrongs contained in the complaint if they be not sufficiently proved here 14. December 1640. After these Originall Articles exhibited against the Archbishop both by the Scottish Commissioners and House of Commons to the House of Peeres the Archbishop delaying to plead unto them and the Parliament being taken up with many emergent weighty affaires for their owne and the Kingdomes necessary preservation by reason of the unnaturall bloody Rebellion in Ireland and Warres in England so reploted and raised by the popish party the proceedings against him were respited neare two yeares space And then the Commons intending to bring him to a speedy triall exhibited these ensuing Additionall Articles against him not much different from the Originall except in some particulars Further Articles of Impeachment by the Commons assembled in Parliament against William Laud Archbishop of CANTERBVRY of high Treason and divers high Crimes and Misdemeanours as followeth 1. THat the said Archbishop of Canterbury to introduce an Arbitrary Government within this Realme and to destroy Parliaments in the third and fourth yeares of his Majesties reigne that now is a Parliament being then called and sitting at Westminster traiterously and maliciously caused the said Parliament to be dissolved to the great grievance of his Majesties subjects and prejudice of this Commonwealth And soone after the dissolution thereof gave divers Propositions under his hand to George then Duke of Buckingham casting therein many false aspersions upon the said Parliament calling it a factious Parliament and falsly affirming that it had cast many scandalls upon his Majesty and had used him like a child in his minority stiling them Puritans and commending the Papists for harmlesse and peaceable subjects 2. That within the space of ten yeares last past the said Archbishop hath treacherously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of this Realme and to that end hath in like manner endeavoured to advance the power of the Councell Table the Canons of the Church and the Kings Prerogative above the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme And for manifestation thereof about six yeares last past being then a Privy Councellor to his Majesty and sitting at the Councell Table he said that as long as he sate there they should know that an Order of that Board should be of equall force with a law or Act of Parliament And at another time used these words That he hoped ere long that the Canons of the Church and the Kings Prerogative should be of as great power as an Act of Parliament And at another time said that those that would not yeeld to the Kings power hee would crush them to peeces 3. That the said Archbishop to advance the Canons of the Church and power Ecclesiasticall above the law of the Land and to pervert and hinder the course of Iustice hath at divers times within the said time by his letters and other undue meanes and solicitations used to Iudges opposed and stopped the granting of his Majesties Writs of Prohibition where the same ought to have beene granted for stay ef proceedings in the Ecclesiasticall Court whereby justice hath beene delayed and hindered and the Iudges diverted from doing their duties 4. That for the end and purpose aforesaid about seaven yeares last past a Iudgment being given in his Majesties Court of Kings Bench against one Burley a Person being a man of bad life and conversation in an Information upon the Statute of 21. Hen. 8. for wilfull Non-residency the said Archbishop by solicitations and other undue meanes used to the Iudges
principells of Error and Darknesse how can it be expected better then that the people should be even ready to stone him as they did him that did but Act the part of Bellerophon in Rome But to avoyde this danger he conveyes in this poyson in a guilded Pill with baites and pretences of Reconciliation a pleasing snare Laqueus Diaboli ad miserorum animas ad infernum detrudendas A beade Roll of particulars might be recited wherein this Reconcilement was to be wrought in points of Free-will Merits Justification Vniversall grace Purgatory and in effect all the rest To draw on these there must be an introducing of Popish Ceremonies in all the particulars contained in the Masse-Bookes and Pontificalls themselves and to make way for these the Booke of Sports must bee published and pressed beyond the Kings intention or Declaration which was but a civill Command but hee subjoynes Ecclesiasticall penalties even the sharpest suspention deprivation and the like these executed on diverse good and godly men with a high hand Thus a liberty proclaimed not to Captives but to profane Caitifes this day set a part by God ab eterno exposed and prostituted to all loosenesse and irreligion and that by a Law This Lambe taken out of his bosome Iehosaphat sends Priests Levites into all the Cities Tribes to instruct them This Prelate sends Declarations and Injunctions to corrupt them and to extinguish the Lamp and light of Religion in the former Acts he destroyes the Protestant in this Religion it selfe In the one he leaves Superstition in the other nothing but Atheisme and Profanenesse in the one he destroyes Presbyteros as did Dioclesian in the other Presbyterium as did the Apostate Julian Yet to shew his love to Religion the Popes only he holds correspondency with those of Rome Cardinall Barbarino Panzani Con Rosetti the Popes Nuntioes Sir Toby Mathewes Saint Clara Saint Gyles the most dangerous and desperate Jesuites and many others ejusdem farina And by all these steps and rounds he makes a Ladder for himselfe to clime up to the Papall dignity in example of Anselme whom though famous for his Contumacy and Rebellion yet he calls him His worthy Predecessor as was Becket also and is contented to take upon him the Plenitude of power the title of holinesse of Arch-Angell of this Church the lineall Successor of Gregory the first rather of Gregory the seventh and for all this was well worthy to have those two great offers made him recorded in his owne Memorialls by these that had ability to performe it viz. A Cardinalls Capp but such was his modesty to forbeare it because though Rome be a true visible Church in his opinion yet something dwelt with him that hindered it for a time to wit I suppose his dwelling here For his attempts against the Laws the Subjects birth-right and the rights of Parliaments their chiefe support and refuge how little regard he had to them how much he did dispise and abhor them making it his Ambition to preferre the contemners and abusers of them and to set up his own Canons and Constitutions above them imposing of unjust and unlawful Oathes Exactions Monopolies all sorts of oppressions stopping of Prohibitions course of Justice rescinding of Acts of Parliament advancing of Proclamations and all kinde of Arbitrary power above the Lawes of God or man is fully expressed in the Articles and will more fully appeare in the evidence To conclude Naaman was a great man but he was a Leaper This mans Leaprosy hath so infectted all as there remaines no other cure but the sword of Justice which we doubt not but your Lordship will so apply that the Common-wealth shall yet live againe and florish When Serjeant Wilde had concluded his speech the Archbishop humbly desired the Lords that he might have liberty to speake a few words to wipe of that dirt which had injuriously bin cast upon him that so he might not depart thence so foule a person as he had been rendered to their Lordships by the Articles Which liberty being granted he made a long premeditated Oration which hee held written in his hand A true extract whereof communicated by him in writing to divers of his freinds you have heere subjoyned My Lords MY being in this place in this condition recalls to my memory that which I long since read in Seneca Tormentum est etiamsi absolutus quis fuerit causam dixisse 6 de Benef. c. 28. T is not a griefe only no t is no lesse than a torment for an ingenuous man to plead Capitally or Criminally though it should so fall out that he be absolved The great truth of this I finde at present in my selfe and so much the more because I am a Christian and not that onely but in Holy-orders and not so only but by Gods Grace and goodnes preferred to the greatest place this Church affords and yet brought Causam dicere to plead for my selfe at this great Barre And whatsoever the world think of me and they have bin taught to think much more ill of me then I humbly thank Christ for it I was ever acquainted with yet my Lords this I finde Tormentum est t is no lesse than a torment to me to appeare in this place Nay my Lords give me leave to speake plain truth No senrence that can justly passe upon me and other I will never feare from your Lordships can go so neere me as Causam dicere to plead for my selfe upon this occasion and in this place For as for the Sentence be it what it shall I thanke God for it I am for it at Saint Pauls ward Acts 25. 11. If I have committed any thing worthy of death I refuse not to dye For I thanke God I have so lived as that I am neither afraid to dye not ashamed to live But seeing the Malignity which hath been raised against me by some men I have carried my very life in my hands these divers yeares past But yet my Lords if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me though I may not in this Case and from this Barre appeale unto Caesar yet to your Lordships Iustice and Integrity I both may and do not doubting but that God of his goodnesse will preserve my innocency And as Iob in the midst of his affliction said to his mistaken Friends so shall I to my Accusers God forbid I should justifie you till I die I will not remove my Integrity from me I will hold it fast and not let it go my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live Iob 22. 5. My Lords the Charge against me is brought up in ten Articles but the maine heads are two An endeavour to subvert the Lawes of the Land and the Religion established Six Articles the five first and the last concerne the Lawes and the other 4. Religion For the Lawes first I thinke I may safely say I have beene to my understanding as strict an observer of
to infuse feares and jealousies of the increase of Popery into the peoples mindes and casting aspersions upon the Governours of the Church For Master Bernards prosecution it was upon the Complaint of Doctor Cumber Vice-Chancellour of Cambridge Fiftly for other Ministers that were questioned or fled from hence to New-England they were Non-conformists questioned upon just complaints and most of them fled hence out of a consciousnesse of guilt or of a panick feare before they were questioned or pursued To this was replyed first that we must not follow a multitude to doe evill and injustice done by a whole Court is a greater crime in every particular person who votes or concurres in it then if he had done an act of Injustice alone because more dangerous more inexcusable a greater perverting of Justice framing of mischiefe by a Law and making the very throne of Justice a throne of wickednesse Yea since the injustice of the whole Court flowes from the injustice of each particular Members vote and is the Act of each particular man who concurres in or consents to it he may no doubt be justly censured for it and others concurrence with him will be no excuse If twenty men joyne in a Treason Felony or Trespasse any one of them may by Law be severally arraigned and condemned for it as well as all of them together We have a notable President to prove this in the Judges censured and condemned in Parliament in King Richard the seconds time for delivering their opinions contrary to Law against the Members of Parliament and in the Judges questioned impeached this present Parliament for their false Judgement given in the case of Ship-money who might have pleaded as well as the Archbishop each for himselfe the judgement we gave in these cases was the Act and Judgement of the whole Bench therefore we ought not to be severally impeached for it but none of them were so inconsiderate as to make such a childish plea which himselfe refused to admit in the High-Commission in the case of the men of Gloucester censured for granting an Annuity to Master Workman their Minister under the City Seale an Act of the whole Corporation yet they were there Sentenced for it in their naturall capacities as single men And if this Plea should be admitted no corrupt Judges in any Court of Justice should be severally proceeded against for any illegall Judgement or proceedings of the Court which would be the very bane of publicke Justice and encourage ill Judges to doe what they list Secondly the objected Act of Parliament leaves the Judgments of both Courts as it found them neither better nor worse and the Judges that gave them in the same condition as before not in a better If the Judgment be unjust it leaves both them and the Judges as far forth liable to examination repeal censure as formerly as appeares by divers of them now questioned in Parliament for unjust Sentences therein given Thirdly the Proceedings Sentences against these persons were certainly most unjust being onely for Preaching necessary Truths and that which is but a Misdemeanour in others simply considerated as a single offence may prove high-treason in him being conjoynedwith and done in pursuit of his other Treasonable practises to subvert Religion Lawes Liberties introduce popery an arbitrary tyrannicall government which we have fully manifested Fourthly the passages for which they were censured were neither scismatical nor seditious nor scandalous but necessary for those secure times to mind the people of the dangerous covert encrease of popery Arminianisme and undermining of our Religion which all now visibly discerne but few then observed and to ruine godly Ministers for discharging their consciences duties in warning men of those dangers and speaking for the safety of that endangered Religion which we all professe was a most unjust and monstrous misdemeanour especially in an Arch-prelat who should have encouraged rewarded advanced them for this their faithfulnesse as for the aspersions pretended to be cast upon the Governours of the Church therein they were in truth meer generall censures without particularizing of such who justly deserved them And it is no calumny but a necessary duty for Ministers to tell negligent or unfaithfull Prelates of their duties and reprehend them for their supinesse when they are faulty as well as other men For Master Bernard and the rest they were prosecuted onely by this Archbishops own instigation for all the passages and proceedings against them were found in his study endorsed with his own hand he was the person to whom they made their humble addresses though without relief and the only inexorable enemy they met with their unjust censures therfore must rest principally on him who though he voted last in their condemnation yet appeared first in their prosecution and pre-directed their censures in private before they were given in open Court Fiftly all the forementioned godly Ministers were unjusty molested by him and few fled from hence but such who were actually prosecuted or threatned with ruine ere they left the Kingdom most of them being then conformable to all Rites and Ceremonies by Law established in our Church though not to his popish Innovations Ceremonies and Book of Sports against our Lawes and their consciences too This charge therefore still rests entirely upon him notwithstanding his evasions The fifteenth charge objected against me is my endeavours practises proceedings to suppresse preaching Lecturers Lectures on Lords-dayes and week-days and that first by a paper of Considerations which I tendred to the King Secondly by Instructions extracted out of them and sent as the Kings in his name and authority to both the Archishops and all Bishops of the Realm to be put in strict execution by colour whereof many Lectures Lecturers were suppressed in my owne Diocesse of London and in other Diocesses especially by Bishop Mountague Bishop Wren and Bishop Peice as appeares by their Articles and proceedings Thirdly orders for Combination Lectures Fourthly the Kings Letters that none should be ordained without a Title Fiftly the silencing of Master Leigh and others by my own direction and Letters signed by me Sixtly by suppressing the Feoffees for Impropriations alledged to be my act and project To this I answer first that these Considerations were originally drawne by Bishop Harsnet not me who onely transcribed them out of his Copy Secondly that these Instructions of the King were before I was made Archbishop and were sent unto me by my Predecessour in the Kings name to be put in execution in my Diocesse whereupon I was bound in duty to see them executed being good and necessary the intent of them being principally to bring all Lecturers to conformity to suppresse single Lecturers where there were Preaching Ministers to preserve peace between the Minister and people betwixt whom Lecturers in many places made great contentions alienating the peoples affections from their Ministers person Ministry and raising divers Schismes to the disturbance of the Churches
pro altera Ad 〈…〉 vel exer cendos potentes Laicos si quid fortè ex seculari potentia minus poterat Apostolic● id ipsum potestatis censura supplebat Si autem ex Clero forte quispiam voluntati ejus obsisteret hunc procul dubio frustra pro se secundum Canones 〈…〉 oppressund p●centia 〈◊〉 Non ●● at qu● se absconderet à calore ejus cum et secularis in eo virgam vel gladium Apostolicae potestatis timeret ecclesiasticus nulla se 〈◊〉 vel auctoritate 〈…〉 regiam tueri valeat Denique ipsum ille tempore in Anglia ET PLVSQVAM REGEM experti sunt LAICI PLVS QV AM SV M●VM PONTIFICE MCLE●ICI utrique vero TYR ANNVM INTOLERABILEM Quippe DVPLICIS OCCASIONE POTEST 〈…〉 ANNVM solis complicibus et cooperatoribus suis innoxius ceteris indifferenter non tantum pecuniarum ambitu verum etiam dominandi voluptate 〈…〉 Regius erat c. This Archbishop having 〈…〉 into his hands as Primat Metropolitan of 〈…〉 but likewise all temporall jurisdiction as a Privy Councellor an Assistant in the Star-Chamber a Commissioner for the Treasury for all kindes of Monopolies projects to raise monies without a Parliament and as the chiefe Royall Favourite at Court having most preferments officers Judges and by consequence most Courts of Justice Civill or Ecclesiasticall at his devotion did extreamly ●e● persecute and trample upon both the Laity Clergie that opposed any of his Innovations or Projects at his pleasure and those whom he could not conquer by his Episcopall hee would bee sure to overtop and crush by his temporall Authority So as the Laity upon all occasions found him more then a King and the Clergie more then a Pope both of them except his owne Creatures and Confederates only an into ●●eiable yea double Tyrant by reason of his duplicated 〈…〉 by thousands of Godly Christians and Ministers were enforced to 〈…〉 in avoyd his ●●●ry and hundreds in the Starre-Chamber High Commission and Councell-Chamber oppressed close imprisoned fined banished pillored stigmatized spoyled of their eares freeholds callings liberties deprived degraded and quite undone by his oppreson hee being commonly more excessive extravagant violent in his publike Censures and Speeches then any other whatsoever having quite forgotten these Divine qualifications which the Apostle requireth in an EVANGELICALL BISHOP A Bishop must bee blamelesse as the Steward of God not selfe-willed not soone angry no striker not a brawler not lifted up with pride but a lover of good men sober just holy temperate gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in m●●kenesse instructing those that oppose themselves And utterly abhorred that memorable precept of our most milde Saviour as Apocryphan or unmeer for his imitation Luke 6. 36. Bee you therefore mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull This ambitious Phaeton having thus mounted himselfe aloft in Phebus Chariot did drive it on with such fury and violence for sundry years that at last he set all our Churches and Realmes in a flaming fire which could not bee quenched by any other meanes but by wresting the reines of Government out of his usurping hand through the power and justice of our present Parliament which he held fast for sundry yeares in despite of all former Parliamentary or popular oppositions and precipitating him from his Chariot with a breake-neck blow by that Axe of publike Justice which lately severed his head from his shoulders in the view of thousands with which spectacle of justice Phebus himselfe was so well pleased that his clouded rayes immediately brake out most gloriously upon the place of execution and his radiant smiles expressed his well-pleasednes with this laudable Act of his execution for the severall high Treasons and capitall Crimes not onely objected but proved against him at his Tryall the History whereof and all proceedings relating thereunto I shall here represent unto the world with as much brevity and sincerity as possible not in the selfe same manner and method according to the order of the Articles as the Commons proceeded against him at the bar being more 〈…〉 intricare but in that more methodicall way as the first Breviate of the proofes against him was contrived and his evidence repeated and summed up at last both in the Lords and Commons House by Master Samuell Brown under those distinct generall heads to which all his charge and the proofes thereof were reduced I shall begin ab ovo with the very first proceedings against him in Parliament next proceed in order to his Tryall then to his Iudgment and Execution On the 16. of Decem. 1640. Vpon the condemnation of the New Canons in the House of Commons as being against the Kings Prerogative the fundamentall Laws of the Realme the liberty and property of the Subject and conteining diverse things tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence The Arch-bishop of Canterbury was there accused to be the Author of the chiefe Actor in them impeached likewise of High Treason whereupon a speciall Committee was appointed to inquire into all his actions and prepare a charge against him which I finde thus expressed in the Commons Journall 16. December 1640. THis Committee is to prepare the severall Votes concerning the New-Canons and to make them ready for this House to present the same to the Lords and to consider and examine who were the promoters of these new Canons and who the principle Actors and what execution hath been made upon them and by whom and to consider how farre the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury hath beene an Actor in all the proceedings of them and further to examine how farre he hath beene an Actor in the great designe of the subvertion of the Lawes of the Realme and of the Religion and to prepare and draw up a charge against him and such others as shall appeare offendors in these particulars and have power to send for parties witnesses Papers Bookes Records and to doe any other act which they in their judgements shall thinke fit to conduce to the businesse and are to meete at foure a Clocke this afternoone in the Star-Chamber The very same morning in the Lords House Hee was accused by the Scottish Commissioners for an Incendiary betweene both Kingdomes who promised to draw up and exhibite a complaint in writing against him the next morning which they accordingly performed Whereupon at a Conference of both Houses the Scots charge against him hereafter registred was the same morning read by the Lord Paget and after that reported to the Commons House On Friday the 18. of the same December the Arch-Bishop was impeached in the house of Commons of high Treason and Voted by the whole house to be a Traytor thus entred in their Iournall 18. December 1640. REsolved upon the Question that a Message shall be sent from this House to the Lords to accuse William Land Arch-Bishop of Canterbury of High-Treason in name of this House and of all the
sacred function of the Ministry which was ordained for instruction of mens soules in the wayes of God should be so abused that the Ministers are become the Trumpets of Sedition the promoters and defenders of violence and oppression 3. In the third Article my Lords you have the Judges who under his Majesty are the dispersers and distributers of Justice frequently corrupted by feare and solicitation you have the course of Justice in the execution of it shamefully obstructed And if a wilfull Act of in justice in a Iudge be so high a crime in the estimate of the Law as to deserve death under what burthen of guilt doth this man lye who hath been the cause of great numbers of such voluntary and wilfull acts of injustice 4. In the fourth Article hee will be found in his owne person to have sold justice in Causes depending before him And by his wicked councell endeavouring to make his Majesty a Merchant of the same commodity only with this difference that the King by taking money for places of judicature should sell it in grosse whereas the Archbishop sold it by retaile 5. In the fift Article there appeares a power usurped of making Canons of laying obligations on the Subjects in the nature of Law and this power abused to the making of such Canons as are in the matter of them very pernitious being directly contrary to the prerogative of the King and the liberty of the people In the manner of pressing of them may be found fraud and shuffling in the conclusion violence and constraint men being forced by terrour and threatning to subscribe to all which power thus wickedly gotten they labour to establish by perjury injoyning such an Oath for the maintenance of it as can neither be taken nor kept with a good conscience 6. In the sixth Article you have the King robbed of his Supremacy you have a Papall power exercised over his Majesties Subjects in their consciences and in their persons You have Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction claimed by an Incident right which the Law declares to proceed from the Crowne And herein your Lordships may observe that those who labour in civill matters to set up the King above the Lawes of the Kingdome doe yet in Ecclesiasticall matters endeavour to set up themselves above the King This was first procured by the Arch-bishop to be extrajudicially declared by the Judges and then to be published in a Proclamation In doing whereof he hath made the Kings Throne but a footstoole for his owne and their pride 7. You have my Lords in the seventh Article Religion undermined and subverted you have Popery cherished and defended you have this seconded with power and violence by severe punishment upon those which have opposed this mischievous intention and by the subtile and eager prosecution of these men hath the power of Ecclesiasticall Commissioners of the Starre-Chamber and Councell Table beene often made subservient to his wicked designe My Lords 8. You may observe in the eighth Article great care taken to get into his owne hand the power of nominating to Ecclesiasticall Livings and promotions you have as much mischeivous as much wicked care taken in the disposing of these preferments to the hinderance and corruption of Religion And by this meanes my Lords the Kings sacred Majestie instead of Sermons fit for spirituall instructours hath often had invectives against his people incouragement to injustice or to the overthrow of the Lawes Such Chaplaines have beene brought into his service as have as much as may be laboured to corrupt his owne houshold and beene eminent examples of corruption to others which hath so farre prevailed as that it hath exceedingly tainted the Vniversities and beene generally disperst to all the chiefe Cities the greatest Townes and Auditories of the Kingdome The grievous effects whereof is most manifest to the Commons House there being diverse hundred complaints there depending in the House against scandalous Ministers and yet I believe the hundred part of them is not yet brought in 9. The ninth Article sets out the like care to have Chaplaines of his owne that might bee promoters of this wicked and trayterous designe Men of corrupt judgments of corrupt practice extreamely addicted to superstition and to such mens cares hath been committed the Licencing of Bookes to the Presse by meanes whereof many have beene published that are full of falshood of scandals such as have beene more worthy to be burnt by the hand of the Hangman in Smithfield as I thinke one of them was than to be admitted to come into the hands of the Kings people 10. In the tenth Article it will appeare how he having made these approaches to Popery comes now to close and joyne more neerely with it he confederates with Priests and Jesuites He by his instruments negotiates with the Pope at Rome and hath correspondence with them that he authorized from Rome here He hath permitted a Roman Hierachie to be set up in this Kingdome And though he hath bin so carefull that a poore man could not goe to the neighbour Parish to heare a Sermon when he had none at home could not have a Sermon repeated nor prayer used in his own Family but he was a fit subject for the High Commission Court yet the other hath beene done in all parts of the Realme and no notice taken of it by any Ecclesiasticall Judges or Courts My Lords 11. You may perceive preaching suppressed in the eleventh divers godly and Orthodox Ministers oppressed in their persons and Estates you have the Kings loyall subjects banished out of the Kingdome not as Elimelecke to seeke for bread in forraigne Countries by reason of the great scarcity which was in Jsrael but travelling abroad for the bread of life because they could not have it at home by reason of the spirituall Famine of Gods Word caused by this man and his partakers And by this meanes you have had the trade the Manufactury the industry of many thousands of his Majesties subjects carried out of the Land It is a miserable abuse of the spirituall Keyes to shut up the doores of heaven and to open the gates of Hell to let in prophanenesse ignorance superstition and errour I shall neede say no more These things are evident and abundantly knowne to all 12. In the twelfth Article my Lords you have a division endeavoured betweene this and the forraine reformed Churches The Church of Christ is one body and the Members of Christ have a mutuall relation as members of the same body Vnity with Gods true Church every where is not only the beauty but the strength of Religion of which beauty and strength he hath sought to deprive this Church by his manifold attempts to breake this union To which purpose hee hath suppressed the priviledges granted to the Dutch and French Churches He hath denyed them to be of the same Faith and Religion with us and many other wayes hath he declared his malice to those Churches 13. In the thirteenth Article
REVERENTIA which they by words and practise interpreted to be a lowly bowing to or towards it OBLATIONES FACIANT Quod si quis I Precibus sole nuibus OBLATIONIBVS absens fuerit aut praesens CUM DEBIT A REUERENTIA AD MENS AM EUCHARISTIAAE SACRAM accedere recusaverit puniatur pro arbitrio Vice-Cancellarij ac insuper mulctetur 5s Here we have bowing to the Table or Altar prescribed by a Law as a REVERENC DVE VNTO IT AND OBLATIONS at it enjoyned to all Graduates whatsoever of any kind of faculty to be acted solemnly in the Vniversity Church of St. Maries in the Act time under pain of such arbittary punishments as the Vice-Chancellour should inflict 5. s. Fine upon such who refused or neglected this solemne oblation at or bowing to the Altar both which they were bound by Oath to perform and observe being one of the Statutes of the Vniversity to which all Graduates swore obedience Yea this their ceremony of bowing to and prostration before the Altar was so well pleasing well known to the Archbishop himselfe that in one of his letters sent to the Vniversity of Oxford Dated at Lambheth 28. Ianuary 1639. recorded in their Publique Register f. 166. he importunes them to pray for him as oft as they should prostrate themselves before the Altar in these very termes Quoties CORAM ALTARE DEI Christi ejus PROCIDATIS videte sitis inter orandum memores mei Peccatoris sed Amici Cancellarij vestri W. Cant. Whence the Archbishop took his Patterne for enjoyning Graduates thus by new Vniversity Statutes and the Fellowes Schollers of Merton Colledge by his Visiters to bow and yeeld due Reverence to the Altar is worthy speciall observation doubtlesse it was from none other but his owne Popish Predecessor Cardinall Poole Archbishop of Canterbury in Queene Maries dayes who reduced reconciled our Kingdomes of England and Ireland to the Popes obedience and superstitions which they had formerly cast off in King Edwards dayes For this Cardinall Archbishop Visiting the Vniversity of Cambridg by his substitutes whereof Ormanet the Popes Datary was one among other Lawes and Injunctions as Mr. Jo. Fox Records prescribed every Scholler there AFTER WHAT SORT HE SHOVLD BOW HIMSELFE TO THE ALTAR there being no other ancient president extant in any of our owne Vniversities Statutes nor for ought I finde in forraign Academies prescribing bowing to the Altar unto any Academians but this of Cardinal Poole alone And must not he be a meere Popish Prelat and Chancellor in good earnest who thus makes his Popish Cardinall Predecessors Injunctions in Queen Maries bloody Reigne the sole Rule whereby to reform the Vniversity of Oxford in King Charles his dayes Finally this Archbishop in hope that solemne Popish Processions might in short time creepe up into use againe in our Vniversities as well as Crucifixes Copes Latine service and bowing to Altars among other his new Oxford Statutes continued and revived this whereby all Regent Masters were bound to read and sing in solemne Processions as the Proctors should assigne them be it right or wrong witnesse this Clause in the large Leger Parchment Booke of this Vniversities new Statutes Tit. 9. Sect. 1. paragr 5. Iurabis quod Leges Cantabis IN SOLENNIBVS PROCESSIONIBVS secundum assignationem dispositionem Procuratorum vel si recusaveris solves Vs. in usum Vniversitatis per Procuratores exigendos Resp Iuro which was read Now thus to oblige men by Oath to read and Chaunt in Processions what the Proctors should appoint be it the very Masse it selfe or a Popish hymme or prayer taken out of the Roman Missall Caeremoniall or Pontificall how farre it trencheth upon the liberty of mens consciences extends to the Alteration of Religion and conduced to corrupt the Vniversitie was humbly submitted to the serious considerations of the Lords and all others We have thus given you a briefe account of this Arch-Prelates Popish Innovations in the Vniversity of Oxford where he was then a reall Chancellor and ought in duty to have suppressed them the summe whereof is this that in most Churches Colledges Chappell 's both in this Vniversity and City during the time of his Government Communion Tables were turned railed in Altarwise changed into Altars schollers of all sorts and degrees injoyned by Statutes and Oathes especically in the puplique Act solemnities to bow themselves downe and yeeld due reverence to the Altar to present their oblations thereat which they must neither refuse nor neglect under paine of 5. s. fine and other Arbitrary punishments Latine service with the Chaunting of it and solemne Precessions introduced enjoyned Copes used Crucifixes repaired beautified where formerly defaced and new erected where none were before a New Statue of the Virgin Mary with Christ a babe in her Armes set up in the most publike noted place of all the Vniversity where all passengers might behold it yea publike adoration Capping bowing kneeling yeelded to it without the least checke dislike yea with the highest approbation of this pretended zealous Protestant Chauncellor to the poysoning of many Graduates Students in this most famous Academy What Romish Alterations Innovations of like nature hee by his Instruments Favorites Chaplins brought into the Vniversity of Cambridge of which he was more then halfe Chauncellor in reality though the Earle of Holland had the Title and afterwards sole Visitor by a Decree at Councell Table as meere Archbishop of Canterbury we shall in the next place evidence by substantiall Proofes In the Vniversity of Cambridge the Archbishop since his greatnesse by his extraordinary power brought in divers of his Creatures Chaplaines to be heads of houses and Vice-Chauncellors as Dr. Martin Dr. Cosins Dr. Beale Dr. Laney with others Popishly affected who within the space of ten yeares introduced the severall Popish Innovations Ceremonies specified in the following depositions Mr. Wallis a Scholler and Graduate of this Vniversity deposed That Altars Pictures Crucifixes were there of late set up in most Colledge Chappell 's and in some Churches particularly that in Peter house Chappel there was a glorious new Altar set up mounted on steps to which the Master Fellowes Schollers bowed were enjoyned to bow by Doctor Cosens the Master who set it up that there were Basons Candlestickes Tapers standing on it and a great Crucifix hanging over it That in the Vniversity Church of St. Maries there was an Altar raised in to which the Doctors Schollers and others usually bowed That these Altars Crucifixes Candlestickes Tapers and bowing to Altars continued till after this Parliament and were brought in since the Archbishops time by meanes of Bishop Wren Doctor Cosens Dr. Martin and others all Canterburies great fauorites Master Nicholas le Greise late Student in Cambridge witnessed upon Oath● that in St Iohns Colledge Kings Colledge Trinity Colledge and Peter house there were Altars Candlestickes Tapers and Crucifixes newly set up That in St. Iohns and Peter House Chappell 's there
Dedicated to the Archbishop and Licensed by Heywood his Chaplain August 26. 1634. cap. 16. p. 45. 46. determines thus Quaenam sit Romana Ecclesia Cum constet Romanam Ecclesiam in primariis temporibuss velut inter ignes Luna Minores caeteris Ecclesiis praeluxisse caeterisque Maechantibus castam pudicam veritatis conservatricem extitisse nec in pessimis usque eo degenerasse censemus ut in primariis fundamentalibus Religionis capitibus aberrasse videatur quidniquamvis in caeteris forsan vitiatam temeratam Ecclesiae tamen nomine honestandam censeam c. This passage Doctor Bastwick taking exception against at his censure in the High-Commission read it openly in Court where the Arch-bishop publikely justified it in his speech affirming That the Church of Rome was a true Church and that it never erred in fundamentalls in which we differ not but onely circa fundamentalia This distinction of his was afterwards thus justified in Print by Christopher Dome in his Innovations unjustly charged pag. 48. Nor is it an absurd distinction as he unreverendly and absurdly termed it that a great Prelate used in the High-Commission at the censure of Doctor Bastwick when he said That we and the Church of Rome differ not in fundamentalibus but circa fundamentalia pag. 49. The distinction is not absurd but it may most truely and fitly be said that we may and do differ about and not in fundamentals which Doctor Heylin likewise seconds in his Moderate Answer to Henry Burton p. 6. 124. 125. No difference between the Church of Rome and England in fundamentalls Suppose a great Prelate in the High-Commission 〈…〉 had said openly that we and the Church of Rome differ not in ●●●●amentalibus yet how comes this to be an Innovation c. The Church of Rome hath done more against the Heretickes of this age than you or any of your Divines be he whom he will But for the Church of Rome it is a true Church and that we differ not from them in fundamentalls see the Reconciler Doctor Potter in his booke which he submitted to the Arch-bishops censure concludes thus pag. 62. 77. The most necessary and fundamentall truths which constitute a Church are on both sides unquestioned We hope well of those holy souls who in former ages lived and dyed in the Church of Rome c. Nay our charity reacheth further to all those this day who in simplicity of heart beleeve the Roman Religion and professe it Doctor Pocklingtons Altare Christianum pag. 114. Termes Rome by the name of Holy Church and applauds her canonized Popish Saints stiling them The Holy Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Christ whose names are written in heaven And our Protestant Martyrs Traytors Murderers Rebels and Hereticks The Archbishop himselfe was a professed maintainer of the truth and visibility of the faith and Church of Rome not only in his Speech in the high Commission at Doctor Bastwicks censure there and in his Speech in Star-chamber pag. 36. but likewise in his late Reply to Fisher Epist Ded. p. 16. And were not this so we should never be troubled with that idle and impertinent question of theirs Where was your Church before Luther For it was just there where theirs is now One and the same Church still no doubt of that one in substance but not one in condition of State and purity Their part of the same Church remaining in corruption and our part of the same Church under Reformation In the Reply it selfe pag. 370. 371. Rome but with all particular Churches and no more than other Patriarchall Churches was and is radix existentiae the roote of the Churches existence The Church of Rome and every other particular Church c. Indeed Apostolike she is as being the See of one and he a prime Apostle but not the onely Apostolike Visible I may not deny God hath hitherto preserved her And p. 376. Secondly if the Religion of the Protestants be in conscience a known false Religion then the Romanists Religion is so too for their Religion is the same Nor do the Church of Rome and the Protestants set up a different Religion for the Christian Religion is the same to both but they differ in the same Religion and their difference is in certain grosse corruptions I shall close up this with a publike Recantation drawn up and prescribed by Godfry Goodman Bishop of Glocester to one Mr. Ridler Minister of Little Deane about 7. miles from that City who having many Papists in his Parish and preaching in a Sermon there That Papists as Papists were damned and that the true Protestant Religion was the onely true and safe way to Salvation he was upon the complaint of some Papists convicted before this Bishop and by him enjoyned to make this following Recantation prescribed to him in writing in the Cathedrall Church at Glocester on Jan. 2. 1636. and for refusing to make it he was afterwards on the 5. of March next following suspended from his living IHS IN the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Whereas I did deliver in a Sermon lately preacht in this Diocesse That if we are saved the Papists are damned I am right heartily sorry that I should deliver any such doctrine wherein I must acknowledge mine owne errour and my great fault and offence First against his Majesties Instructions thus rashly and unadvisedly to affirme That Papists are damned Secondly it is an offence against the laws of the Kingdome For in the eye of the Law we are still one with the same Catholike Church for were we of a distinct or severall Church Then our Church could claim no right or Title to those Priviledges Charters Foundations and Revenues which it enjoyes at this day for these were granted to Papists and for many hundred yeares possessed by them and since there hath beene no new Law for transferring them upon a different or contrary Church But this is made much more manifest by the expresse words of the Statute as it appeares by the Act of Parliament which was made upon the first breach with the Papists the words are these That they do not thereby intend to seperate themselves from Gods Catholike Church but onely for some politicall respects to preserve the Kingdome from Ruine This was made the 25. of Hen. 8. and it is in force at this day so that to make such a difference between these two Churches as is between damnation and salvation certainly is against the Common Lawes and the Statute Law of this Kingdome besides many acts of State which being above my element I will not presume to touch upon Thirdly against the Church of England It is imposible there should be any greater offence in regard of the affinity that is between both Churches for we have the same Holy Orders the same Church Service the same Ceremonies the same Fasts the same Festivals and we have generally the same Canon Lawes and therefore
passage is not only seconded by Doctor Pocklingtons forecited clause who brands our Martyrs suffering in Queen Maries dayes for Rebels Traytors Hereticks but by Doctor Heylyn in his Moderate Answer to Master Burton penned and published by the Archbishops command who thus disparageth King Edwards applauds Queene Maries lawes and actions pag. 100. 101. 102. Now for King Edward the sixth the case stands thus King Edward being a Minor about nine yeers old at his first comming to the Crowne there was much heaving at the Church by some great men that were about him who purposed to enrich themselves with the spoyles thereof For the effecting of which purpose it was thought expedient to lessen the number of those Bishops which were then in place and to make all those that were to come the more obedient to the Crowne Vpon this ground there passed a Statute 1. of this King consisting of four principall Branches whereof the first cut off all Elections and Writs of Conge dislier formerly in use the other did if not take off yet very much abate the edge of Ecclesiasticall censures Then he recites the words of the Statute and concludes which Act with every branch and clause thereof was afterwards repealed 1. of Queen Mary c. 2. and hath stood so repealed to this very day c. This magnifying then of Queen Maries dayes and depressing King Edwards implyes a grand designe in this Arch-prelate to rvevie those Marian times as happy and desirable From these few generall we shall next descend to some more particular instances to prove that there was a serious designe and endeavour of the Pope and his Instruments in forraigne parts to reduce us back to Rome that the Archbishop had exact notice of it and yet was so far from resisting opposing this their designe according to his place trust duty that he complied with them to the utmost of his wit and power therein It cannot be expected that in a Plot of this nature being a hidden work of darknesse and abstruce mystery of iniquity carried on with all the artifice and cunning that Rome or Hell could suggest disguised concealed under divers charactaristicall Letters which we cannot as yet unriddle though we have some of them in our custody sealed up under oaths promises of secresie and acted by such Jesuiticall spirits as will rather obstinately die then disclose the secrets of their hellish conspiracies which we cannot possibly manifest to the full unlesse we had been so happy as to have seized the Arch-bishops most secret papers which he conveyed away or burned before his closet dores were sealed up and the Popes Nuncioes Cabinet or might have liberty to search the Popes own Closet or Cardi. Barbarino his secret papers and the private intelligences of the Roman Conclave yet we presume we shall produce so many cleer demonstrations and circumstantial proofs as shall abundantly satisfie your Lordships judgements consciences and the world both of the reality of this plot and the Arch-bishops guiltinesle in concurring in it We know it is usuall for Juries to convict for Judges to condemne and execute Traitors felons as well upon violent presumptions circumstances as upon eye witnesses and punctuall testimonies of the facts for which they are indicted and we doubt not but our evidence in this kind will be so cleer as it will surmount a violent presumption yea amount to an infallible demonstration conviction of his guiltinesse if not severally considered yet at least conjoyned The first particular Evidence to prove a designe at Rome to reduce us to our ancient vassalage under it is a very notable paper printed at Rome Superiorum permissu in two large folio sheets pasted together An. 1636. In the first uppermost sheet there is a coper Peece cut with Anticks wherein there are two Scutchions the one hanging just in the middest neere the upper end of the sheet wherein the Popes and Cardinall Barbarino his Nephewe's Armes are engraven the other hanging a little lower then the former on the right side of the sheet containing the King of Englands Armes The Author of this paper was an English Fryar who stiles himselfe Frater Franciscus a Sauctâ Mariâ Sacra Theologiae Lector Generalis Primario Jubilato ac Provinciae Sanctae Elizabethae Custos The substance of it he stiles Conclusiones Theologiae which are thirteen in number but that which is most observable therein is this dedication of it to Cardinall Barbarino Eminentissimo Reverendissimo Principi Francisco Cardinali Barbarino Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Vice-Cancellari● R. R. ANGLIAE SCOTIAE necuon Seraphicae Religionis PROTECTORI VIGILANTISSIMO Frater Ludovicus à Sancta Maria Anglus D. D. D. MAGNAE BRITANIAE PATRONO MAXIMO ET BRITANICAE NATIONIS Minorum Familiae minimus Theologiam devovet su●m By this paper it is evident that this Cardinall was publikly deputed and stiled even in print at Rome The most vigilant Protector of England Scotland and of the Seraphicall Religion there the greatest Patron of great Brittaine designed to this charge for this very purpose to reduce it againe to the bosome of the Roman Church the onely use end of this his office and Title Of this designe this Arch-bishop had most certaine intelligence from Master Middleton Chaplaine to the English Agent at Venice to whom this paper was sent from Rome and by him conveyed to the Arch-bishop who thus indorsed it with his owne hand-writing 1636. Fra. Ludovici â Sa. Maria Angli Theses c. and reserved it in his Study at Lambeth where Master Prynne attested it was seized This Fryar's right name as appears by a paper under Secretary Windcbanks owne hand was Kerton alias Morton who soon after repaired into England to help reduce it Where he lived so wickedly in drawing Maids Women and others to sinne carnally and committed such horrible acts in prosecuting his lusts that be was enforced to returne to Paris in France Secretary Windebank giving his son Tom speciall instructions when he went over thither to negotiate the Palsgraves release To advise those of his Order there to prevent his returne bither because he would be assuredly publikely punished according to the laws to the great seandall of his Religion which manifests a correspondency in Windebank and his sonne this Arch-bishops creatures even with the Franciscan Fryars beyond the seas and a care in them to prevent this Fryars with his Religious publike disgrace and scandall The second Evidence which backs the former is a discovery of a most desperate Plot of this Cardinall Barbarim and his four sorts of English and Scottish Jesuits residing in and about Drury-lane and Long-acre where they had built a Colledge and had their constant meeting of which society this Cardinall was the immadiate head next under the Pope to whom they bad their immediate addresses and directed their weekly intelligence The plot was to subvert the Protestant Religion set up Popery and reconcile us unto Rome by
meere art to deterre others from opposing his Graces Popish Innovasions the only prosecutor appearing against him And his shaking up or menacing of his advocate an unlawfull act to discourage him from making any defence and subject his Client to a censure Therefore inexcusable 3ly The main Article against Mr. Burkit was only for his and the Church-wardens removing of the Table when the Sacrament was administred into the body of the Church without the rayles according to the Rubrick Queene Elizabeths Injunctions and the 28. Canon the other Articles being but frivilous not insisted on And for this he was molested in the High Commission yea a traditio Satana a turning over of him to Sir John Lamb pronounced against him who used him like a Lyon a Wolfe in a Lambes Skin 4ly For the Churchwardens of Beckingtons most severe illegall harbarous prosecution we have proved by the deposition of Mr. Iohn Ash a Member of the Commons House that the Archbishop himselfe since his Imprisonment in the Tower confessed that Bishop P●●res their Dioces●n did do nothing herein but by his direction If therefore the rule in Law bee true Plus peccat Author 〈◊〉 Actor he must be far more guilty both of their prosecution Excommunication and heart-breaking submission then Bishop Peirce his Instrument 5ly For Ferdinando Adams he was excommunicated in the Archbishops name by Mr. Dade his Surrogate and this Excommunication pleaded in Barre of his Bill in Starchamber The processe Pursivants sent out to apprehend him and the imprisonment of his Attorney till he withdrew his 〈◊〉 were all by the Archbishops procurement His shutting Bishop VVrens Visitors out of the Church at Jpsmich unlesse they derived their Authority by Letters Patens from the King was warranted by the Statut of 1 Eliz. c. 1. Therefore his prosecution only for his duty and allegeance to the King against the Bishops disloyall incroachments was most unjust and disloyall 6ly Iohn Premly was not prosecuted by Sir Nathaniell Brent but by the Archbishop himselfe for opposing his order in the Metropoliticall Visitation in removing the Lords Table placed Altarwise to the place and posture wherein it formerly stood for which he was fined censured imprisoned in the High Commission where the Archbishop sate chiefe Iudge against all Law and Iustice his act being no contempt nor offence in Law but the Archbishops order by Sir Nathaniell Brent his Visitor and Dr. Nevells act a contempt against Law and Canon 7ly Mr. Sherfield was prosecuted principally by the Archbishops procurement for demolishing according to Law an Idolatrous blasphemous false Image of God the Father which was openly Idolized Hee was then a Justice of Peace Recorder of Sarum and had the Warrant of the whole Vestry wherein were six or seaven Iustices of Peace at that time to demolish this Image and take downe the whole Window which all the Kings Subjects and Iustices of Peace especially have authority to demolish by the Statutes of 3. Ed. 6. c. 10. 3. Iac. c. 5. The Book of Homilies and Queene Elizabeths Injunctions n. 23. within their severall Parishes without any speciall order from King or Bishop yea God himselfe gives speciall Commands not only to the supreame Majestrate but to the Common People also to destroy Idolls 〈◊〉 Jmages and Altars Exod. 34 13. 14. Deut. 7. 5. c. 12. 1. 2. ● Isay 17. 78. In pursuance of which commands not only King Asa 2 Chron. 14. 3. King Hezechiah 2 Kings 18. 4. King Manass●h 2. Chron. 33. 15. King Josiah and his people a Chron. 34. to ● demolished and brake in peeces Idolatrous Altars and Jmages but likewise ALL THE PEOPLE of the Land went into the House of Baal and brake it downe Altars and Jmages brake they in peeces and ●low Mat●an the Priest of Baal before the Altars 2 Kings 11. 1● without any speciall Warrant or command from King Ieho●sh or Ieho●ada which the Holy Ghost records for their honour yet were they never questioned or fined in Starchamber for it because they had no warrant from either of them ●● after King Hezechiah his Passeover the Scripture expresly records 2 Chron. 30 13. 14. c. 31. 1. That ALL ISRAEL that were present went out to the Cities of Iudah and brake the Images in peeces and cut downe the groves and threw downe the High places and Altars out of all Iudah and Benjamin in Ephraim also and Manassith untill they had utterly distroyed them all which is recorded to their Eternall honour by God himselfe nor were they ever questioned or fined for a Riot in any Starchamber or High Commission or for going out of their owne limits or doing this without a speciall Commission from the King Therefore Mr. Sherfield being a publike Majestrate both as a Iustice or Peace and Recorder of Sarum might much more by the whole Vestries Order demolish this Idolatrous Picture in his owne Parish Church in such a privat manner as he did without blame or censure having sufficient authority from these Texts and Presidents of Scripture and from the forecited Statutes and Injunctions to warrant it every man in such a case being a lawfull Majestrate without any speciall warrant Thus the common people in Girmany and else where in the beginning of Reformation brake downe the Popish Images and Altars without any speciall Order from the Superior or Inferior Magistrates as Mr. Fox and others record And therefore his Doctrine of the Archbishops that it is unlawfull to break downe the very Image and Temple of Iupiter and Esculapius where the Divell himselfe was worshiped without the speciall command of the supreame Magistrate is a most impious Paradox for if the supreame Magistrate will give no such command these Idols Devills shall still be to erated worshiped to Gods dishonour and Religions slander in despite of all the people and inferior Magistrates As for the place of Eusebius it only proves that Idolatrous Statues Images Temples were demolished by the Emperor Constantines speciall command but that the Christians under him might not lawfully have defaced them without such a speciall command especially after a Generall Statute and Edicts published by him for their demolishing without being lyable to a seveer censure the only thing in question is no wayes warranted by nor deducible from Eusebius nor Saint Augustine Yea had Mr Sherfields zeale out-run his discretion in this act it deserved rather applause then censure from a Protestant Prelate yet this Bishop was so far from excusing extenuating that hee aggravated his pretended offence beyond all bounds of Law Iustice Conscience pleaded as zealously for the lawfullnesse of Images in Churches and of this abominable Idoll of God the Father as the Pope himselfe could have dont yea he abused Master Sherfeild in his speech and censured him with the highest though a Bishop when some temporall Lords excused yea acquitted him And though this censure was not his alone but carried by the Major voyce yet his voyce Speech violence occasioned and aggravated it For his
and High Commission was a transcendent crime of which this Arch-prelat and his Confederates not the whole Court of Star-chamber were onely culpable Yea the Stationers were so farre from being well pleased with or returning him thanks for this that they complained to the chiefe Justice and groaned under the pressure thereof Secondly the English Bible with the Geneva Notes was not onely tolerated but printed and reprinted among us in England Cum Privilegio during Queen Elizabeths and King James Reignes and in 15. Jacobi there was an Impression of them printed here by the Kings own Printer since which time the new Translation without Notes being most vendible the Kings Printers forbearing to print them for their private lucre not by vertue of any publike restraint they were usually imported from beyond the Seas and publickly sold without any inhibition or punishment till this Archbishops time who made it no lesse then an High Commission crime to vend bind or import them For the Notes they are generally approved by all our Protestant Divines which fled hence for Religion in Queen Maries dayes who dedicated the same to Queen Elizabeth For the Note on Exodus 1. it is both sound and Orthodox condemning onely obedience to the arbitrary tyranicall unjunst not lawfull commands of Kings contrary to the Lawes of God nature men being warranted by the example of the Midwives who disobeyed King Pharaohs bloody Mandate in not murdering all the male Children of the Israelites by sundry other Scripture Texts yea warranted by the Fathers and Canonists themselves who speake as much or more then this Annotation doth For King James his censure of this Translation and Notes upon it no doubt it proceeded from some Prelats mis-information However we are certain that his own inserting of popish Pictures of the Birth Life Passion Resurrection and Ascention of Christ the Holy Ghost the Apostles yea the very Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the like into our English and of a Popish Index into our Latin Bibles was farre worse more dangerous then any Geneva Notes and the prohibition of inserting Marginall Notes into the Bible a policy learned from our English Prelats in King HRNRY the eighth his Reigne who when they could not hinder the printing of the Bible it selfe in English of Master Tyndals Translation yet procured an Act of Parliament for the Obliterating of his Notes thereon as the Statute of 35. Hen. VIII cap. 1. and Master Fox informes us And his endeavour to hinder the importation of Bibles with Notes from Holland of which he had information by two Letters sent from thence discovers his vigilance yea spite against this Translation and the Notes upon it Thirdly for Master Gellibrands Almanacke set forth by his servant it was agreeable to Master Foz his Calender onely inserting our English Martyrs in the place of popish Saints no High Commission crime by any knowne Law That it differed from other Almanacks herein is no greater offence then for one Almanack-maker to vary from another in calculating the Weather or other Astronomicall Observations who better deserve an High Commission censure for retaining the names of sundry Popish Saints yea arrant Traytors as Becket Anselme with sundry others omitted in the Calender of the Common-Prayer Book and agreeing Verbatim with the Calender in the Roman Missall then he for omitting the names of Romish Saints whom God never Canonized but the Pope alone for their zeale or sufferings for the Papall Cause and Romish Superstitions The Queens sending to him about this Almanack shewes that the Papists took it to be a great blow to their Religion and though he could not hinder the message yet certainly he might have surceased all prosecution of Mr Gellibrand upon the Queens and Papists complaints for this act of his where as he pursued him with al violence to gratifie them For the words he remembers not our Witnesse swears them precisely and his threatning Master Gellibrand upon a meere groundlesse supposition that he had raised a faction in the Court because they acquitted him full sore against his will argues both his violence and injustice That the Papists burnt it when he could not attaine the burning of it in the High Commission argues their malice and his owne readinesse to comply with them against so good a work in honour of our owne English Protestant Martyrs For his omission of some Saints viz. the Epiphany and Anunciation no man knew them to be Saints till now but onely Festivals which other Almanacks mentioned and it is onely alleaged not proved that he omitted them For Doctor Pocklingtons Altare Christianum it was licensed by his owne Chaplaine Doctor Bray yea published by his owne command without the Authors privity if we beleeve his Petition to the Lords and their two punishments censures in the Lords House for this Book adjudged to the fire and burnt is no extenuation but aggravation of his guilt the most culpable of all three Himselfe confesseth that his Chaplaines act is his owne in Law if he command it and this Doctor himselfe affirmes that he did command its printing therefore the act is his more then the Authors or his Chaplains who did but obey his superiour command That Doctor Pocklington did present him with both the printed Impressions of this Book curiously gilt he cannot deny they being found in his Study endorsed with his owne hand That he knew not of this passage in it against our Martyrs and in honour of Popish Saints is not probable yea impossible since generally complained of in print and particularly by Master Prynne at the Pillory who desired all to take notice of it of which the Archbishop had present information yet neither recalled the book nor obliterated the passage Fourthly the calling in of Mr Beacons book against the Masse upon the complaint of a Priest or Jesuit with his words and threats to Mistris Griffin for reprinting it at such a time as this reflect as fouly upon him as possible yet he puts it off with this impudent common shift It is nothing to me For the reprinting and his calling of it in it is directly sworne to be before the Star-chamber Decree therefore not done in pursuance of it and were it done after yet not justifiable without highest impudency by any true Protestant Prelate Fiftly for the Palsgraves Religion it is proved to be called in by him who hath the happinesse to forget all the evil deeds which he cannot justifie though others sweare them And it was not contrary to the Kings Declaration which himselfe originally contrived in the Kings intention but in his owne perverting of it to suppresse the truth Sixtly the hindering of the reprinting of Master Fox Bishop Jewel and Doctor Willets Works was certainly his owne act because done by colour of this Star-chamber Decree procured by himselfe for this very purpose and the reprinting of them was stopped by his owne Officers creatures meanes who knew his mind if not received his command
though it stood in most Parish Churches the other way yet whither there be not more reason the Parish should be made conformable to the Cathedrall and Mother Churches then the Cathedralls to them I leave to any reasonable man to judge So as his Innovations begun in Cathedralls were purposely introduced there first of all to draw on Parish Churches to Popish conformity with them in these Innovations Next in particular we reply that the alteration of the standing of the Lords Table and rayling it in Altarwise was no wayes warranted by the Queens Injunctions but contrary to them as wee have largely manifested That though this was not done immediately by himselfe but by the Deane and Chapter of Paules yet he was the Originall author of it and justified it when complained of That he publikely checked the Councell Parishioners and sir Henry Martin before the King and Lords for opposing this Innovation and alleadging Bishop Iewill and Mr. Fox against it desiring his Majesty to take these Bookes out of the Church if they made no better use of them then to oppose this Novelty That he carried himselfe more like an Advocate then Judge in this Cause and when the King himselfe was satisfied and would have it stand as formerly his violence was such that he over-ruled both King and Councell and drew up the Order forecited in their names for establishing this Innovation which favours of his stile and spirit the guilt whereof must rest principally on him 2ly The comming up to the Rayles was pressed by his Visitors Agents authority and those excommunicated who refused to come up and receive at the New Rayle to which certainly it was never the minde of the Common Prayer Book the Communicants should draw neare since there were no Rayles to draw neare and kneele at till this Archbishop enjoyned them to be set up in imitation of the Papists as we have proved but this drawing neare is rather a drawing neare to Christ by faith with our hearts and affections or else a drawing neare to the body of the Church of Chancell where the Lords Table is to be placed to the Minister officiating as it is expounded by the Q●eens Jujunctions 28 Canon The Table when the holy Communion shal be administred shal be placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancel as thereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and administration and the Communicants also may more conveniently and in more number communicate with the Minister 3ly We answer that the Lords Table was ordained only to administer the Sacrament thereat not to read second service at it for which the Reading Pew is appointed as the Common-prayer Book the Homilies of the worthy receiving the Sacrament and reparing Churches Queen Elizabeths Injunctions the Canous made 1571. p. 18. and the 82. 83. Canons Anno 1603. resolve Now this Archbishop enjoyned second service now to bee read at the Lords Table when there was no Communion and where it was rayled in at the upper end of the Quite not brought downe into the body of the Church or Chancell contrary to the Rubrick in the Common Prayer Booke which expresly determines That the Epistle and Gospel chiefe parts of this second service shall be read where the two Lessons are with a loud voice that the people may heare the Minister that readeth them the Minister standing and turning himselfe as he may best be heard of ALL such as be present which he cannot be if he read them at the upper end of the Chancell remote from the people where the Churches are great or the Ministers voyce low This innovation then which was never practised in any Parish Church till of late though used in some Cathedralls wherein the Rubrick enjoynes the Communion every Sunday in the yeare at least to be administred which was wholly omitted and the second service at the Table left to supply it is directly contrary to the Rubricke Homilies Injunctions Canon 4ly It is evident that Crucifixes were set up in many Parish Churches Chapells of the Kingdome which though we cannot prove to be done by his expresse particular Command yet certainly it was by his example or incouragement who repaired and set up Crucifixes in his owne Chappell 's at Lambeth Croyden and one over the Altar in Passion week in the Kings owne Chappell at White-Hall Besides those who erected them were either his owne Chaplaines or Faverites who knew his minde and did it for to imitate and please his Grace to gaine some further preferments For the Images set up in the New b Chappell in Tuttle fields we b have proved that the Arch-bishop promised to bestow a new Window on it that thereupon the old was taken downe the Kings Armes removed and those Images with the Archbishops owne Armes as the Donor of it set up that his Chaplaine gave directions about the VVindow and Mr. Sutton sweares that the money for new glasing it was paid since the Archbishops commitment to the Tower by his direction as he believeth A cleare evidence that he was the Author and director of this worke notwithstanding all his shifts to elude it 5ly Though the Archbishop made not these Bishops Visitation Oathes and Articles yet he made all of them Bishops who durst do nothing in their Diocesse or Visitations but by his direction to whom they gave an Annuall Accompt of their proceedings in writing as we have manifested Besides its apparent that all these Visitation Articles were made in pursuance of his owne Archiepiscopall Injunctions Instructions and himselfe approved of these their Oathes Articles never checking nor questioning them for them though their Metropolitan yea himselfe prescribed the selfe same things in his Metropoliticall Visitations by printed Articles written Injunctions or private Jnstructions as these Bishops did in imitation of him Therefore hee must Answer for these their Articles Oathes proceedings as farre forth as they who were but his Instruments Sixtly For his Answer to the particular Cases wee shall returne these Replyes 1. That though Mr. Smart was censured by the High Commission at Yorke yet he was first imprisoned here at London and transmitted from the High Commission here to York by this Archbishops meanes who complyed with Dr. Cosin in his prosecution and disposed of his livings after his deprivation as we can prove by sundry Letters found in his Study As for Mr. Smarts Sermon it was neither scandalous nor factions but Orthodox and Iuditious against the Popish Jnnovations introduced in the Cathedrall of Durham where he was the ancientest Prehend deserving rather applause then any censure as both Lords and Commons have resolved upon a full hearing and awarded him reparations and Damages for his unjust censure 2ly Mr. Chancy spake no contemptuous words at all against the Rayle nor of setting it up in his Garden His suspention was illegall not only without but against Law and Canon As for his submission it was forced and a