in the Afternoone though he hath beene admonished of it and inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to which the Archbishop underwrites this direction to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Visitor Sir I require you that besides your other Instructions you give me an Account of all particulars within named W. Cant. Of which particular concerning Mr Randall Sir Nathaniel after his Visitation gave this account to the Archbishop MAster Randall Curate of Tuddington noted in the paper confesseth that since he was inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to preach in the Afternoones on Sundayes he hath once offended and no more It was to make a farewell Sermon to that exercise as he saith wherein he rather aggravateth his fault then otherwise Hee saith that this Sermon was much beyond the compasse of an hour and I beleeve it continued more then two houres He now seeth and acknowledgeth his fault protesteth he will be most conformable for the future and humbly desireth to be dismissed with a Canonicall Admonition But I keep him in fear still To this we might add his procurement of Dr Ienningson Lecturer at Newcastle to be questioned in the High Commission at York in the year 1639. whose Articles and Answers were both sent up to Lambeth to his Grace-ship and enforcing to quit that place with the Kingdome too to avoyd his fury His prosecution of Mr Iohn Iemmet Lecturer at Barwicke in causing the Bishop of Durham in December 1639. to send for him by a Pursevant silence him from preaching in Barwick and banish him the Town without any Articles or Witnesses examined against him with other instances of this nature but for brevity sake we shall omit these and proceed to his next stratagem to suppresse preaching which was His publishing of a Declaration for Sports in his Majesties name and silencing suspending excommunicating questioning censuring in the High Commission and elsewhere many hundreds of godly conscientious Preaching Ministers whom the Instructions for Lecturers could not reach so farr as to silence being Incumbents and not meer Lecturers for refusing personally to publish it in their Churches to animate their people to profane the Lords day with unhallowed Pastimes which because we have formerly insisted on and proved to be his designe we shall here but mention and passe by only with this one Addition that Mr Thomas Valentine Minister of Chalford Saint Giles in the County of Buckingham being suspended by Sir Iohn Lambe Deane of the Arches for not reading the Book of Sports from which suspention he appealed and procured time to consider whether he would read it or not Mr Valentine not long after to obtain further time and favour writ a Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe dated April 28. 1636. with 5 l. inclosed and a Petition to the Archbishop on which Letter Sir Iohn makes this endorsment with his own hand Master Valentine 28. April 1636. with 5 l. PEECES inclosed which Petition Sir Iohn recommending to Mr Dell procured him a gratious answer and some longer respite for the present but in December and Ianuary following he was again molested and suspended for not publishing this Declaration in proper person though his Curate had formerly read it in the Church as appears by two Petitions to the Archbishop for his absolution His third design to suppresse preaching was by discouraging conscientious young Schollers and Divines from entering into the Ministry by putting divers clogs difficulties upon them under a most specious pretext which was thus effected No sooner was this Prelate setled in his Archbishoprick but he contrived a Letter drawn by Mr Dell his Secretary but interlined corrected with his own hand as appears by the Originall draught found in his study directed as from his Majestie to himself which he afterwards presented to the King who directed and sent it to him under his Privy Signet to be put in Execution in manner following as the very Letter it selfe under the Kings Signet declares thus endorsed with the Archbishops own hand Rec. Sept. 19. 1633. From his Majesty that no Ministers be made sine Titulo To the most Reverend Father in God our Right trusty and Right entirely beloved Councellor William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England CHARLES R. MOst Reverend Father in God Right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellour we greet you well There is nothing more deer to US then the preservation of true Religion as it is now settled and established in this our Kingdome to the honour of God and the great comfort of our selfe and our Loyall people and there can nothing more conduce to the advancement thereof then the strict observation of such Canons of the Church as concern those that are to take orders in their severall times More especially of keeping that particular Canon which injoyns That no man be made a Priest or a Minister without a Title For we finde that many not so qualified do by favour or other means procure themselves to be ordeined and afterwards for want of means wander up and downe to the scandall of their calling or to get maintenance fall upon such courses as are most unfit for them both by humouring their Auditours and other wayes altogether unsufferable Wee have therefore thought fit and Wee doe hereby streightly require and charge you to call such Bishops to you as are now present in or neer our City of London and to acqulint them with this our resolution And further that you faile not in the beginning of the next Terme to give notice of this our will and pleasure openly in our High Commission Court and that you call into our said Court every Bishop respectively that shall presume to give Orders to any man that hath not a Title and there to censure him as the Canon aforesaid doth injoyn which is to maintain the party so ordered till he give him a Title and with what other censure you in Justice shall think sit And our further will is That nothing shall be reputed a Title to enable a man for orders but that which is so by the ancient course of the Church and the Canon Law so far forth as that Law is received in this our Church of England And as you must not fail in these our directions nor in any part of them so we expect that you gives us from time to time a strict accompt of your proceedings in the same Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the nineteenth day of September in the ninth year of our Raigne Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Upon receit hereof this Archbishop whose project it was directs this Letter following to the Bishops of his Province as is evident by the originall draught thereof corrected with his own hand and thus endorsed by him Octob. 18. 1633. The Copy of my Letters upon this of his Majesties to the severall Bishops of this Province S. in Christo My very good Lord HIS Majestie hath been often and much troubled upon
printed in Latine and then reprinted in English was called in and suppressed by this Archbishops order because it over-boldly refuted some points of Popery and Arminianisme as was Attested by the Oathes of Master Pryune and Michaell Sparke Senior Master Walley Clerke of Stationers Hall and Master Downes deposed that after the Decree for printing was made there were divers old Bookes against Popery formerly Licenced as the Booke of Martyres Bishop Jewells Workes some parts of Doctor Willets Workes and others which the Archbishops and Bishop of Londons Chaplaines refused to new License where upon they repaired to Sir Iohn Bramston then Lord chiefe Justice and desired leave from him that good Bookes formerly licenced and printed might be reprinted without new Licence else they should be undone for want of Bookes seeing they could not procure these Chaplaines to License any good Bookes whether old or new Who answered them that he could do nothing in it but they must go and attend the Archbishop who had the chiefe hand in making this Decree Mr. John Vicars Schoole-Master of Christ-Church soone after this Decree repaired to Doctor Baker the Archbishops great Creature House-hold Chaplaine to the Bishop of London for a New license of his History of the Gunpouder Treason formerly printed by License which he had since enlarged with some pertinent Additions But Doctor Baker absolutely refused to Licence it Master Vicars admiring at it demanded of him the reason why he would not license a Booke of such a subject as this against the Gun-pouder Treason an act so odious and detestable who answered him that we were not so angry with the Papists now as we were about 20. yeares since and that there was no need of any such Bookes as these to exasperate them there being now an endeavour to winne them to us by fairenesse and mildnesse By these with sundry other instances of this kinde which we pretermit we conceive it is most apparent that one principall end of the Archbishops usurping the power of Licensing Bookes and publishing this Decree concerning the restraint of reprinting any Old Licensed books against Popery and the grossest errors in it was that Popery might againe creep in among us by degrees without the least opposition or impeachment Secondly As he and his instruments prohibited the reprinting of old Orthodox Bookes so they refused to Licence sundry new ones especially against Popery and Arminianisme suppressing them when printed by Licence of others This was evidenced by the forecited Remonstrance of the Commons in Parliament Anno 1628 by the forementioned Bookes against the Arminians suppressed and called in by this Archbishops means and by these ensuing Depositions Master Prynne deposed that in the Yeare 1627. Doctor Cosen 's published a Booke intituled A Collection of private Devotions Or the houres of Prayer fraught with Popery and Popish Superstitions which gave great offence whereupon at the importunity of diverse well'-affected persons he Writ a Refutation thereof intituled A Briefe Survey and Censure of Master Cosens his Cosening Devotions which by this Bishops meanes and his Confederates was refused License at London House but afterwards licenced at Lambeth House by Doctor Featly and printed sitting the Parliament in the Yeare 1628. for writing which Booke only against Doctor Cosens his Popery hee was immediately after the Parliament ended questioned in the High-Commission by this Bishops procurement and thence delivered by a Prohibition to the Bishops great griefe Master Henry Burton deposed That he writ a Book against Cosens his Devotions which was called in by the Bishops meanes after which he compiled and published another Booke intituled The Bayting of the Popes Bull licensed by Doctor Goade for which hee was called before the Councell Table by this Archbishops instigation who was then present spake much against the Booke and called it a Libell although penned and written only against the Pope and his seditious dangerous Bull. That he printed by lycence a Book called A Plea to an Appeale in refutation of diverse Popish and Arminian Errors broached by Mountague in his Appello Casarem which Book though licensed was yet called in and suppressed by this Bishops procurement After which he writ another Booke against Popery Intituled The pouring out of the 7. Vialls for which hee was called into the High Commission Court by the Bishop and the Booke suppressed That hee likewise writ another Booke called Babell no Bethell wherin he proved the Church of Rome no true visible Church for which book this Prelate being then Bishop of London sent for him by a Pursevant committed him immediately to prison in the Fleet contrary to the Petition of Right then newly passed refusing to accept any bayle which he tendred suspended him from his living prosecuted him in the High Commission and suppressed the Book Michaell Sparke Senior deposed That himselfe together with William Iones Nathantell Butter Mr. Bowler and others were committed to prison and vexed severall times in the High Commission by this Archbishops means only for printing Bookes against the Papists and Arminians that the Bishop and his Chaplaines refused to License diverse Bookes against Popery tendred to them and purged sundry others of the chiefe Passages against Popery as we shal prove anon in so much that the Stationers and Printers generally complained that they could get no good Orthodox Bookes but only Popish and Superstitious ones licensed so as they were like to bee undone for want of trading and that this was the generall complaint of the whole Company which other Stationers likewise affirmed Particularly the Bishop though he pretended much friendship to Sir Humfrey Linde that learned Knight the Author of Via Tuta and Via Deuia which were answered by a Jesuite in a scurrilous rayling manner yet he absolutely refused to license his elaborate Reply thereunto Intituled A Case for the Spectacles upon no other pretence but that Sir Humfrey was a Lay-man but in verity because hee was unwilling to have him vindicate himselfe and the truth against a rayling Jesuite of which Injustice Sir Humfrey oft complained to Mr. Pryn Dr. Featly and others of his friends Yet his Chaplaine could license Chunaeus his Collectiones Theologicae Dedicated to the Archbishop himselfe though compiled by a Layman of much instriot parts and learning to Sir Humfrey in justification of Popery A minianisme and the Church of Rome Thirdly He with his Chaplaines Agents by his instigation or command compiled Authorized imprinted published diverse Bookes Treatises Sermons in defence of Popish Errors Superstitious Ceremonies practises almost to the totall corruption and subversion of our Religion Of which we shall give you a briefe Catalogue and then proceed to the Popish Passages errors broached justified authorized in and propagated by them The BOOKES are these The Archbishops own SPEECH in Star-Chamber Printed at Lond. An 1637. The Book of Common Prayer for the use of the Church of Scotland printed at Edinburgh 1637. Richard Mountague his New Gagge for an old Goose London
1624. His Appello Caesarem London 1625. His Originum Ecclesiasticarum Pars prior Londini 1636. and Pars Posterior Londini 1640. His Anti-Diatribae Londini 1625 and Visitation Articles Printed at Cambridge and London 1638. Master Iohn Cosens his Houres of Prayer London 1627. Edmund Reeves Communion Catechisme expounded London 1635. Henry Cholmly His State of the Now Roman Church London 1629. Master Butterfield His Maschil London 1629. Doctor Iohn Pocklington his Sunday No Sabbath licensed by Doctor Bray the Arch-Bishops Chaplaine 24. Febru 1635. and his Altare Christianum licensed by the same Doctor Bray 7. March 1636. both printed at London Ann 1636. and 1637. Doctor Peter Heylyns History of Saint George London 1630. His Coale from the Altar London 1636. His Antidotum Lincolniense with His Moderate Reply to Henry Burton London 1637. and History of the Sabbath London 1636. Francis Sales A Popish Prelate his Introduction to a devout life licensed by the Archbishops Chaplaine Doctor Haywood 3. Febr. 1636. An Epistle or Exhortatory Letter from Jesus Christ for every faithfull Soule devoutly affected written by a Friar and licensed by Doctor Weekes both his and the Bishop of Londons Chaplain 3. Febr. 1636. The Female Glory by Anthony Stafford London 1635. Master Yates his Tract of the Honour of Gods House London 1637. Sparrowes Sermon of Confession London 1637. The Churches Authority asserted by Samuell Hoard Lond. 1637. Mortification Apostolicall by William Watts London 1637. Doctor Thomas Laurence his Sermon preached before the King at White-Hall London 1637. Iohn Elborow his Evodias and Syntyche London 1637. Robert Shelford his five Treatises Cantabrigiae 1635. Richard Tedder his Sermon preached at Wimondham Anno 1637. Collectiones Theologicae by Chunaus London 1634. Christopher Dow against Master Henry Burton London 1637. Iohn Browning concerning publike Prayer and the Fasts of the Church London 1636. Sir Thomas Ridleys his Review of the Civill Law Oxford 1634. Iohn Swan his Redde debitum London 1640. Bishop Halls Reconciler his Episcopy by Divine Right with infinite other Books Sermons and Treatises of this kinde which we pretermit Before wee proceed any further in this subject we must acquaint Your Lordships with one memorable Passage concerning the Licencing and printing of Francis Sales his Introduction to a devout life and Christs Epistle to a devout Soule The first of these Bookes being written by a Popish Prelate having many Doctrinall and Practicall points of Popery interlarded with good meditations and Devotions comprised in it was translated into English by J. Y. a Priest and Jesuite dedicated by him to Mistres Anne Roper a Popish Recusant and twice printed by Papists in forraigne parts in the yeares 1617. and 1622. with all the Popery in it about which time it was likewise translated into English by a Protestant who lest out all the Popery and superstition couched therein reteining only what was Orthodox and Pious which was licenced for the Presse and printed by Nicholas Oakes On the 3. of February 1636. Doctor Hayward the Archbishops Chaplain at the instigation of some Popish persons licensed the very Popish Translation of this Booke by I Y the Iesuite for the Presse most likely by the Archbishops approbation who had one of these Bookes formerly printed in his Study produced by Master Prynne endorsed with his owne hand which was forthwith entered in Stationers Hall for one W. Brookes a Popish Stationer and presently sent to the Presse to be printed One part of it comming to Nicholas Oakes his House to be printed he perceiving divers dangerous Popish Passages in it and among others one touching the Popes supremacy repaired to Doctor Hayward who licensed it and acquainted him therewith desiring him to purg out these Popish Passages else he durst not proceed to print it Whereupon the Doctor checking him for making such a scruple bid him go on and say nothing and he would beare him out and save him harmlesse from any danger that might befall him for printing it adding that he himself would preach as much as that he complained off before the King and therefore he needed not feare to proceed Whereupon Oakes went on and the Book with the Epistle Dedicatory to Mrs. Anne Roper a Papist was printed published about Easter 1637. neare the time the Archbishop caused an Information to be Exhibited in Star-chamber by Sir John Banks his Majesties Atturney Generall against D. Bastwick Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne one of the Copies whereof comming to Mr. Pryns hands he finding it full of Popery superstition and the very same with the old English Popish Edition and being informed by Oakes others of Dr. Haywards words to Oakes when he complained to him of it he inserted the Licensing and printing of this Popish Booke among others into his Crosse Bill in Starre Chamber against the Archbishop his Chaplaines and others his Popish Confederates which Bill he tendring to the Lord KEEPER Coventry to admit the Archbishop getting possession of it upon view thereof and some complaints at Court against this Popish Booke by the Right honourable Earle of Pembrook and other well-affected Courteours thereupon to colour his owne and his Chaplaines practicall knavery in Licensing and promoting this Booke by laying all the blame and punishment upon others and the poor Printer Ooaks who complained against it and would have stopped it at the Presse to give som shew of satisfaction to the people much offended at the printing of this Popish Booke especially in that nick of time when he had brought Dr. Bastwick Mr. Burton Mr. Pryn into the Star-chamber for charging him with introducing Popish Doctrines and Innovations into our Church caused his Majesty to publish this following Proclamation for calling in and burning the said book wherein he falsly suggested to his Majesty and his Subjects that his Chaplaine purged out diverse Passages therein tending to Popery which the Stationer and Translater afterwards inserted againe when as there was no such thing but his Chaplaine licensed all of them at first and would not purge them out at last when Oakes complained of them The Proclamation was this By the King A Proclamation for calling in a Booke entituled An Introduction to a Devout life and that the same be publikely burnt VVHereas a Booke entituled AN INTRODVCTION TO A DEVOVT LIFE was lately printed by Nicholas Oakes of London and many of them published and dispersed throughout the Realme the Copy of which Booke being brought to the Chaplaine of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for Licence and allowance was by him upon diligens perusall in sundry places expunged and purged of divers passages therein tending to Popery Neverthelesse the same Book after it was so amended and allowed to be printed was corrupted and falsified by the Translater and Stationer who betweene them inserted againe the same Popish and unsound passages And the Stationer is now apprehended and the Translator sought for to be proceeded against according to Justice His Majesty out of His pious and
who if alive could give no reason for not licensing those Books unlesse these passages against popery were expunged but onely this that it was by his Lords owne speciall directions who would suffer no harsh passages against popery or Papists to passe our Presses unexpunged as appeares by those himselfe purged out of Doctor Sibthorps Sermon the Prayer for the Fast Doctor Potters Treatise and that himselfe was every way as Popish as good a friend to Popery as his Grace Secondly for Saint Augustines saying we approve it confessing that every Pamphlet weakly written against Popery is not fit to passe the Presse But this concernes not those two Treatises written by a converted Papist of eminent rank with excellent solidity judgement learning which must not be licensed not upon any pretext of weaknesse or want of solidity in them never so much as once objected but onely because Sir Edward Hungerford would not condiscend that the forecited clauses against the Pope and Popery some of them taken out of Popish Authors themselves should be expunged out of his Fathers Works to martilate them That these Books were since printed without those purgations is no thanks to the Archbishop nor his Chaplaine who would not license them vnlesse first purged and the licensing of them without such purgations by others proves strongly that there was no just grounds of purging them but onely â—â— gratifie the Pope and popery Fourthly we beleeve his answer true that he intruded himselfe out of a polypragmaticall humour into so many secular imployments as he had little time to peruse Books or preach the Gospell but this is only his crime not his excuse However since he could find so much leisure upon all occasions to persecute godly Ministers suppresse Orthodox Books Lectures Prayers advance Arminianisme Popery and popish designes he might by like reason have found out time enough to have perused these small Treatises or at least the clauses excepted against by his Chaplaine upon Sir Edward Hungerford's complaint being a Gentleman of quality and fortune Fiftly the latter part of his answer proves that it was altogether bootlesse for any man to complaine to him of his Chaplaines abuses in purging out passages against Popery and that he was resolved to heare no complaints of this kind much lesse not to redresse them His reasons rendred for it are most absurd The first is because this would discourage his Chaplaines from being Licensers It seemes by this they were so really so realously popish that they must not be checked or controlled in the least kind for purging out ought against Popes Popery Papists for feare of discouragement no not by himselfe or so waspish and self-willed like himselfe that they would fling up their very Office of licensing if they might not have their wils to obliterate what they pleased without any superiour controll But this is but a pretence for Doctor Bray himselfe rendred this as the true reason of hie refusall to license these clauses to Sir Edward That they would offend those of the Roman Religion against whom no harsh phrases must be used we being now in a faire way to win them viz. by reconciling our selves to them not them to us therefore they must be either expladed or the Book left unprinted The second reason is yet more absurd taken from his owne case and quiet that he should have been perpetually troubled with imployments and clamours of this nature c. It seems it was his Chaplaines constant practice by his owne direction to purge out all sharpe passages against the Pope popery and popish Innovations out of new licensed Books os else the reason would not hold for did they it but rarely not usually he should not have been perpetually disturbed with such complaints as this of Sir Edwards But be it so or not yet certainly it was no more then his place and duty required to heare and redresse all just complaints of this kind against his Chaplains when they did amisse else Authors Stationers Printers might be most injuriously handled by them without knowing where to complaine or seek reliefe for to whom else should they complaine but unto him whose Chaplaines they were whose place trust they herein executed by his own appointment Or who else should or durst right them herein if injured but himselfe and if it were no trouble for him to spend whole dayes weeks yeers in advancing unlawfull oppressive Loane Monopolies Projects Impositions Texes to oppresse the Subjects contrary to and inconsistent with his Archiepiscopall function with what face could he deem it any trouble or vexation to spare one hour or two each moneth or yeer in hearing examining such just complaints against his Chaplaines when they so grosly offended This answer therefore plainly remonstrates that he was inflexibly resolved his Chaplaines should purge out all notable passages against the Pope Popery and popish errours no doubt by his owne speciall direction given to them Therefore let who would complaine thereof he must goe without redresse and submit to his Chaplaines pleasure else his whole Volume must goe unlicensed be it never so usefull so necessary for our Religions just defence which manifests the transcendent height of his and his Chaplaines resolutions their arbitrary uncontrolable proceedings to set up popery without opposition by these Purgations The fixt purged Book is Doctor Featlies Sermons ordered by my command after they were printed by an ancient License to be carried to my Chaplain Doctor Bray who gelded out of them divers of the smartest and most masculine passages against Popery Arminianisme toleration of Papists Priests Jesuits and a passage against Adoration of Images by Papists taken out of the very Homily against the perill of Idolatry whereof he complained to Sir Edmond Soot desiring him to acquaint me with it who told him he conceived it would be in vaine because he thought my Chaplaine had directions from me for what he did and that I would not alter any thing in this kind done by my Chaplaines To this I answer First that though it be the place and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury to have a care what Books are Licensed yet Doctor Featly himselfe who hath been a Chaplaine and Licenser of Books under my Predecessor can attest that the Archbishop himselfe did seldome or never use to peruse or license Books in person but onely by his Chaplaines Secondly these purgations were made by my Chaplaine who is dead and cannot answer for himselfe not by me and Doctor Featly never complained to me of them neither did Sir Edmond Scot ever acquaint me with any complaint the Doctor made to him about it Thirdly though some few smart Passages of this kinde are expunged mitigated and left out yet there are in his Sermons yea in those very Pages complained of many sharpe passages against Popery left in two or three whereof he read as one against Prayer to Saints p. 787. where he compares the Papists with the Baalists p. 808. where
after the Triall and above 2 Moneths after the Execution this work was delegated by the Commons unto me at which time most of the Papers Notes Books Evidences used at his tryall were laid aside and dispersed into severall mens hands whereby much time was spent before I could recollect and marshall them into Order to digest this History out of them Secondly since the assignment of this task unto my care I have been almost every day taken up with publike imployments for the State at the Committee of Accounts and elsewhere besides the dayly avocations of my particular calling my onely support since our unhappy Wars so as I have had few vacant hours to compile it but those I have borrowed from my naturall rest whiles others have bin sleeping Thirdly I have since this undertaking been necessitated to write publish sundry other Impressions uncapable of delay in defence of the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of Parliaments Civill Magistrates and concerning Ecclesiasticall Censures and Church-Government against Independents Anabaptists others yea to Vindicate the Parliaments just Proceedings with mine own Innocency against the seditious Anti-parliamentary Libels of that notorious impudent Libeller and Lyat L. Col. Lilburn who still persevers in his trespasses to the dishonour and scandall of publike justice All which considered I suppose Your Honours and others will easily beleeve I wanted no diligence but leisure onely for the speedier accomplishment of this work wherein notwithstanding I have not been negligent witnesse my publication of the Breviate of the Archbishops life and of A necessary Introduction of his Tryall amounting to a large Volume sufficient to assoyle me from the least imputation of idlenesse or negligence in this very subject Fourthly Adde hereunto the voluminousnesse of this First Part of the Archbishops Tryal onely with the variety of the matter charges therein conteined the trouble I had in digesting the Labour in compiling writing reveiwing fitting it for and Correcting Revising it at the Presse with the coldnesse of this last winters Vacation when neither pen nor Presse could worke for sundry weekes together and compare this with the former reasons and the Printers slacknesse which hath delayed it very much and then I doubt not but your Honours and all others will rather wonder how I could possibly compleat this Voluminous Part so speedily then question or quarrell with me why it comes forth so slowly it being work enough to have swallowed up all my time since the Order had I had no other imployments to divert me To the second demand I must returne this Answer First that I published this History thus in parcells for want of time to compleat and print it all together in due season Secondly that the long expectation of this Tryall and mens calling for it every day induced me to satisfie their longing appetites with these First-fruits of it concerning Religion the thing most looked most inquired after both at home and abroad till the full crop be ripened for the harvest which will require some warmer moneths to concoct it ere it can attain to maturity Thirdly The great Charge of the Stationer in Printing this first Part the voluminousnesse and price whereof hath I fear out-swelled most Chapments purses in these Indegent times with the serious consideration of the incertainty of my life and future opportunity in these dayes of War and mortality to finish the remainder of this Worke which God willing I intend to compleat and publish with all convenient speed have induced me rather to gratifie your Honours and the World with these First fruits for the present then to hazard the depriving you of it or the whole History if deferred till all were compleated Having answered these demands I shall now crave liberty and your Noble Patience to raise some profitable Observations from the Subject matter of this History not unworthy your Honours saddest thoughts If you consider the meane obscure Parentage of this Arch-Prelate his grand Preferments the great mischiefes he did in Church State and his Execution after all it may suggest these profitable contemplations to your minds First That God by his power and all-disposing providence can raise up Persons of the lowest place or Parentage to the highest Pinacles of worldly Honour according to that in the 1 Sam. 2. 8. and Psal 118. 7 8. He raiseth up the Poor out of the dust and lifteth up the Beggar from the dunghill to set them among the Princes and make them inherite the Throne of glory 2. That God can make the most vile and despicable persons in the world grand Pests or Punishments to whole Kingdomes Nations when he pleaseth Dan. 11. 21 22. 1 Kings 11. 26. c. 12. 2. c. c. 13. 14. even as he made Frogs Lice Caterpillers the vilest creatures a very sore plague to King Pharaoh and the whole Kingdome of Egypt Exod. c. 7. 8. and 9. 3. That persons sodainly advanced from the lowest degree of men to the highest pitch of honour proove commonly the most insolent violent domineering imperious tyrannicall and mischievous of all such preferments being unable to weld or mannage the greatnesse of their fortune See Mat. 24. 48. to the end 2 Chro. 10. 8. to 16. Eccles 10. 1. 6 7. Psal 73. 6. to 13. Iob. 21. 7. to 20. Fourthly That grand preferments without great grace to mannage improve them to Gods glory and the common good are greater judgements than blessings and for the most part the immediate occasions of mens greatest ruin by their evill Councells or ill managing of their greatnesse to the publike prejudice Ps 73. 3. to 21. Iob 21. 7. c. Psal 37. 1. 2. Ester c. 3. to 8. Fifthly That mischievous Councellours and wicked Instruments in Church State though never so great in power or Favour with their Princes for a season seldome escape condigne exemplary punishment at the last and that no greatnesse whatsoever is able finally to protect mischevous Grandees from the hand of publike justice Ester 7. 1 Kings 2. 28. to 35. Let all great ones then seriously consider this and remember Canterbury lest they dye and fall like him If we again observe his Preferments Actions Proceedings and miserable end as a Clergy man we may raise these profitable observations from this History of his Tryall which all Prelates Clergy men may do well to consider is oft as they thinke of Canterbury First that when Clergy men cast aside or neglect their callings and turne meer Statesmen they commonly prove the very worst and most oppressive Persons of all others Matth. 5. 13. 2. Thess 2. 3. Secondly That one over potent Prelate backed with a Kings Royall power and favour is able to unsetleReligion where it is best established and embroyle ruine the most flourishing Churches Kingdomes in few yeares space 2 Thess 2. 4. 9 10 11 12. Revel 13. 2. to 18. Thirdly That there are no such desperate underminers persecutors suppressors of Gods true Religion Saints people as over potent wicked
goods of the People and for abolishing the whole discipline and government of our Kirke by generall and provinciall Assemblies Presbyteries and Kirke Sessions which was setled by Law and in continuall practise since the time of Reformation that Canterburie was Master of this Worke is manifest By a Book of Canons sent to him written upon the one side only with the other side blank for corrections additions and putting all in better Order at his pleasure which accordingly was done as may appeare by interlinings marginalls and filling up of the blanke page with directions sent to our Prelates and that it was don by no other than Canterbury is evident by his Magisteriall way of prescribing and by a new copy of these Canons all written with Saint Androis owne hand precisely to a Letter according to the former castigations sent backe for procuring the Kings warrant unto it which accordingly was obtained but with an addition of some other Canons and a Paper of some other corrections According to which the Booke of Canons thus composed was published in Print the inspection of the Bookes Instructions and his Letters of joy for the successe of the worke and of others Letters of the Prelate of London and the Lord Sterling to the same purpose all which we are ready to exhibite will put the mater out of all debate Besides this generall there be some things more speciall worthy to be adverted unto for discovering his Spirit 1. The fourth Canon of Cap. 8. Forasmuch as no Reformation in Doctrine or Discipline can be made perfect at once in any Church therefore it shall and may be lawfull for the Church of Scotland at any time to make remonstrance to his Majesty or his successours c. Because this Canon holdeth the doore open to more Innovations he writeth to the Prelate of Rosse his privy Agent in all this Worke of his great gladnesse that this Canon did stand behinde the Curtaine and his great desire that this Canon may be Printed fully as one that was to be most usefull Secondly The title prefixed to these Canons by our Prelates Canons agreed upon to be proponed to the severall Synods of the Kirke of Scotland is thus changed by Canterbury Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiasticall c. ordained to be observed by the Clergy He will not have Canons come from the Authority of Synods but from the power of Prelates or from the Kings Prerogative Thirdly the formidable Canon Cap. 1. 3. threatning no lesse than Excommunication against all such persons whosoever shall open their mouthes against any of these Bookes proceeded not from our Prelates nor is to be found in the Copy sent from them but is a thunder-bolt forged in Canterburies owne fire Our Prelates in divers places witnesse their dislike of Papists A Minister shall be deposed if he be found negligent to convert Papists Chap. 18. 15. The adoration of the Bread is a superstition to be condemned Cap. 6. 6. They call the absolute necessity of Baptisme an errour of Popery Cap. 6. 2. But in Canterburies Edition the name of Papists and Popery is not so much as mentioned 5. Our Prelates have not the boldnesse to trouble us in their Canons with Altars Fonts Chancels reading of a long Liturgy before Sermon c. But Canterbury is punctuall and peremptory in all these Although the words of the tenth Canon Chap. 3. be faire yet the wicked intentions of Canterbury and Rosse may be seene in the poynt of justification of a sinner before God by comparing the Canon as it came from the Prelates and as it was returned from Canterbury and Printed our Prelates say thus Jt is manifest that the superstition of former ages hath turned into a great prophanenesse and that people are growne cold for the most part in doing any good thinking there is no place to good workes because they are excluded from justification Therefore shall all Ministere as their Text giveth occasion urge the necessity of good workes as they would be saved and remember that they are Via Regni the way to the Kingdome of Heaven though not causa regnandi how be it they be not the cause of Salvation Here Rosse giveth his judgment that he would have this Canon simply commanding good workes to be Preached and no mention made what place they have or have not in justification Vpon this motion so agreeable to Canterburies mind the Canon is set downe as it standeth without the distinction of Via Regni or causa Regnandi or any word sounding that way urging only the necessity of good workes 7. By comparing Canterburie 9. Cap. 18. As it was sent in writing from our Prelates and as it is Printed at Canterburies command may be also manifest that he went about to establish Auricular confession and Popish Absolution 8. Our Prelates were not acquainted with Canons for afflicting of Arbritrary penalties But in Canterburies Booke wheresoever there is no penalty expresly set downe it is provided that it shall be arbitrary as the ordinary shall thinke fittest By these and many other the like it is apparent that tyranicall power he went about to establish in the hands of our Prelates over the worship and the soules and goods of men overturning from the foundation the whole order of our Kirke what seeds of Popery he did sow in our Kirke and how large an entry hee did make for the grossest novations afterward which hath beene a maine cause of all their combustion The third and great novation was the Booke of Common Prayer Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of Divine service brought in without warrant from our Kirke to be universally received as the onely forme of divine Service under all highest paines both civill and Ecclesiasticall which is found by our nationall assembly besides the Popish freme and formes in divine worship to containe many Popish errors and ceremonies and the seeds of manifold and grosse superstitions and Idolatries and to be repugnant to the Doctrine Discipline and order of our reformation to the confession of Faith constitutions of generall Assemblies and Acts of Parliament establishing the true Religion that this also was Canterburies worke we make manifest By the memories and instruction sent unto him from our Prelates wherein they gave a speciall account of the diligence they had used to doe all which herein they were enjoyned by the approbation of the Service Booke sent to them and of all the marginall correction wherein it varieth from the English Booke shewing their desire to have some few things changed in it which notwithstanding was not granted This we finde written by Saint Androis owne hand and subscribed by him and nine other of our Prelates By Canterburies owne Letters witnesses of his joy when the Booke was ready for the Presse of his prayers that God would speed the worke of the hope to see that service set up in Scotland of his diligence to send for the Printer and directing him to
prepare a blacke letter and to send it to his servants at Edenburgh for Printing this booke Of his approbation of his proofes sent from the Presse Of his feare of delay in bringing the worke speedily to an end for the great good not of that Church but of the Church Of his encouraging Rosse who was entrusted with the Presse to goe on in this peece of Service without feare of Enemies All which may be seene in the Autographs and by letters sent from the Prelate of London to Rosse wherein as he rejoyceth at the sight of the Scottish Canons which although they should make some noyse at the beginning yet they would be more for the good of the Kirke than the Canons of Edenburgh for the good of the Kingdome So concerning the Liturgy he sheweth that Rosse had sent to him to have an explanation from Canterbury of some passage of the Service Booke and that the Presse behoved to stand till the explanation come to Edenburgh which therefore he had in hast obtained from his Grace and sent the dispatch away by Canterburies owne conueyance But the Booke it selfe as it standeth interlined margined and patcht up is much more than all that is expressed in his Letters and the changes and supplements themselves taken from the Masse Booke and other Romish Ritualls by which he maketh it to vary from the Booke of England and are pregnant testimonies of his Popish spirit and wicked intentions which he would have put in execution upon us then can be denyed The large declaration professeth that all the variation of our Booke from the Booke of England that ever the King understood was in such things as the Scottish humour would better comply with than with that which stood in the English service These Popish innovasions therefore have beene surreptitiously inserted by him without the Kings knowledge and against his purpose Our Scottish Prelates doe petition that something may be abated of the English ceremonies as the Crosse in Baptisme the Ring in marriage and some other things But Canterburie will not only have these kept but a great many more and worse superadded which was nothing else but the adding of fewell to the fire To expresse and discover all would require a whole booke we shall only touch some few in the matter of the Communion This Booke inverteth the order of the Communion in the Booke of England as may be seene by the numbers setting downe the orders of this new Communion 1. 5. 2. 6. 7. 3. 4. 8. 9. 10. 15. Of the divers secret reasons of this change we mention one onely In joyning the spirituall praise and thanksgiving which is in the Booke of England pertinently after the Communion with the Prayer of Consecration before the Communion and that under the name of Memoriall or Oblation for no other end but that the memoriall and Sacrifice of Praise mentioned in it may be understood according to the Popish meaning Bellar. de Missa lib. 2. cap. 21. Not of the spirituall sacrifice but of the oblation of the body of the Lord. It seemeth to be no great matter that without warrant of the Booke of England the Presbyter going from the North-end of the Table shall stand during the time of consecration at such a part of the Table where he may with the more ease and decency use both hands yet being tryed it importeth much as that he must stand with his hinder parts to the People representing saith Durand that which the Lord said of Moses Thou shalt see my hinder parts He must have the use of both his hands not for any thing he hath to doe about the Bread and Wine for that may be done at the North end of the Table and be better seene of the people but as we are taught by the Rationalists that he may by stretching forth his Armes to represent the extension of Christ on the Crosse and that he may the more conveniently lift up the Bread and Wine above his head to be seen and adored of the people who in the Rubricke of the generall confession a little before are directed to kneele humbly on their knees that the Priests elevation so magnified in the Masse and the peoples adoration may goe together That in this posture speaking with a low voyce and muttering for sometimes he is commanded to speake with a loud voyce and distinctly he be not heard by the people which is no lesse a mocking of God and his people then if the words were spoken in an unknowne language As there is no word of all this in the English Service so doth the Booke in King Edwards time give to every Presbyter his liberty of gesture which yet gave such offence to Bucer the censurer of the Booke and even in Cassanders owne judgment a man of great moderation in matters of this kind that he calleth them Nunquam satis execrandos Missa gestus and would have them to be abhorred because they confirme to the simple and superstitious ter impiam exitialem Missae fiduciam The corporall presence of Christs body in the Sacrament is also to be found here for the words of the Masse-booke serving to this purpose which are sharpely censured by Bucer in King Edwards Liturgy and are not to be found in the Booke of England are taken in here Almighty God is in called that of his Almighty Goodnesse he may vouchsafe so to blesse and sanctifie with his Word and Spirit these gifts of Bread and Wine that they may bee unto us the body and blood of Christ The change here is made a worke of Gods Omnipotency the words of the Masse ut fiant nobis are translated in King Edwards Booke That they be unto us which are againe turned into Latine by Alesius Vt fiant nobis On the other part the expressions of the Booke of England at the delivery of the Elements of feeding on Christ by faith and of Eating and drinking in remembrance that Christ dyed for thee are utterly deleared Many evidences there be in this part of the Communion of the bodily Presence of Christ very agreeable to the Doctrines taught by his Sectaries which this paper cannot containe They teach us that Christ is received in the Sacrament Corporaliter both objective and subjective Corpus Christi est objectum quod recipitur corpus nostrum subjectum quo recipitur The Booke of England abolisheth all that may import the oblation of any unbloody Sacrifice but here we have besides the preparatory oblation of the Elements which is neither to be found in the Booke of England now nor in King Edwards Booke of old the oblation of the body and blood of Christ which Bellarmine calleth Sacrificium Laudis quia Deus per illud magnopere laudatur This also agreeth well with their late doctrine We are ready when it shall be judged convenient and we shall be desired to discover much more matters of this kind as grounds laid for missa sicca or the halfe
the said Commons by Protestation saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any further or other accusation or impeachment against the said Wil. Laud Archbishop of Canterburie and also of replying to the answer that he shall make unto the said Articles or any of them Or offering proofe of the premisses or any other impeachments or accusations that shall be exhibited by them as the cause shall according to the course of Parliaments require do pray that he the said Wil. Laud Archbishop of Canterbury may be called to answer the said severall crimes and misdemeanors and receive such condigne punishment as the same shall deserve and that such further proceedings may bee upon every of them had and used against him as is agreeable to Law and Justice These additionall Articles were sent up from the Commons to the Lords House by Master Serjeant Wilde the 23. of October 1643. Whereupon the Lords made this ensuing Order Die Luna 23. Octob. 1643. ORdered c. That the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury shall put in his Answer in writing into this House by the thirtieth day of this instant October unto the particular Articles in maintenance of their former impeachment of High Treason and diverse High Crimes and misdemeanours brought up from the House of Commons against him and remaining now before the Lords in Parliament The Arch-bishop being served with this Order the same day the next morning sent this Petition written with his owne hand to the Lords To the Honourable the Lords assembled in the High Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Humbly Sheweth THat he hath received your Lordships Order of October 23. 1643. with a Coppie of the Articles charged against him and requiring him to make answer Most humbly prayeth that according to an Order of that Honourable House he may have Councell assigned him and that Master Hearne and Master Chute may bee his Councell and have free liberty to come unto him and that he may have some money out of his estate to fee his Councell and defray his other charges he having beene for this last whole yeare very burdensome to his friends And further that he may have all his papers and bookes most of which belong to his defence which Master Prynne tooke from him by Order from the Lords delivered unto him that he may be able to answer for himselfe That also he may have time and means to send for his witnesses which can hardly be done in the time limited And that he may have his servants about him to send about his necessary occasions And lastly that he may have * longer time the Articles being large and many And he shall ever pray c. William Cant. Which Petition being read in the Lords House October 24. 1643. thereupon this Order was framed Die Martis 24. October 1643. VPon the reading of the Petition of the Lord Arch-Bishop of CANTERBURY this day in the House It is Ordered c. That time is given him untill munday the sixth of November next for the putting in his answer in writing into this House unto particular Articles brought up from the House of Commons in maintenance of their former impeachment of High Treason and diverse high Crimes and misdemeanours against him That Master Heron and Master Chute are hereby assigned of Councell for the drawing up of his Answer who are to bee permitted to have free accesse in and out to him That this House doth hereby recommend to the Committee of Sequestrations that the said Lord Arch-Bishop shall have such meanes aforded him out of his estate as will enable him to pay his Councell and defray his other charges That when his Lordship shall set down particularly what papers writings are necessary for his defence that should be restored unto him their Lordships will take it into consideration That upon his Lordships nominating who shall be his Solicitor the Lords will returne their answer And for the witnesses when a day shall be appointed for his Lordships tryall this House will give such directions therein as shall be just * Die Sabbati 28. October 1643. ORdered c. That Master Hales is hereby appointed to be of Councell with the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with his other Councell already appointed for the drawing of his answer to the charge of the House of Commons against him And that Master W. Dell Master Richard Cobb and Master George Smith his Lordships servants shall have liberty to attend the said Archbishops severall affaires and be permitted to come in and out unto him as there shall be occasion After which October 31. hee exhibited this Petition to the Lords To the Right Honourable the Lords Assembled in PARLIAMENT The Humble Petition of William Archbishop of Canterbury Most humbly Seweth THat Your Petitioner having presented against him by the honourable House of Commons to Your Lordships an impeachment Intituled farther Articles of impeachment by the Commons assembled in Parliament of high Treason and divers high crimes and misdeamenours to which by your Honorable Order of the twentie fourth of October annexed he is directed to put in his answer in writing by Munday the sixth of November and hath thereby Councell assigned him to draw up the same That Your Petitioners Councell upon reading of the Articles finding that as well in the frame as the conclusion thereof the matters of Crime and misdemeanours are so interwoven with references to the matters thereby charged as Treason as they cannot take upon them to distinguish them and conceiving it not to have bin your Lordships intention by their assignments they should advise an answer to any part of the impeachment charged against your Petitioner as Treason doe forbeare to advise your Petitioners answer to the said Articles without some declaration first had which of the said Articles are intended to be a charge of high Treason and which of them of Crimes and misdemeanours without which your Petitioner is like to be deprived of the assistance of Councell granted by your Lordships Order Your Petitioner humbly beseecheth Your Lordships in this so heavy a charge upon him from so great and Honourable a body in such a straight of time that it may be declared which of the said Articles are intended to be charges of Crimes and misdemeanours only in which Your Petitioner may have the assistance of His Councell assigned him to advise him in his Answer thereunto And that your Lordships will be further Honourably pleased to inlarge your Petitioner in the time allotted for his Answer And Your Petitioner shall pray c. William Cant. Vpon which Petition this Order was formed Die Martis 31. October Ordered c. That the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury shall have time to put in his answer to the impeachment of the House of Commons untill Munday the thirteenth of October next And that this House doth forbeare to declare any opinion concerning the severall Articles of the said
Altare c. 6ly By the ancient Roman Order published by George Cassander in his Workes p. 118. to 130. where I finde these frequent expressions Pontifex inclinans se paululum AD ALTARE Altari inclinans Adorato Altare pertransit Pontifex in caput Schole in gradu superiore inclinato capite ad Altare salutat Altare Sacerdos quando dicit supplices te rogamus humiliato capite inclinat se ante Altare Subdiaconi ad Altare progredientes simul se inclinant coram eo c. These with the Black Booke of Windfor made in the darkest time of Popish superstition and Idolatry were the severall presidents and Authorities whence this Arch-Prelate borrowed this Idolatrous Ceremony of bowing to his New erected Altar and the Crucifix on or over it in the Glasse windowe never used nor enjoyned before his time in any Protestant Church nor approved by any ancient Protestant Author that can be produced but some late Creatures of his owne whom he set on worke to justifie it in Print though condemned by many as Popish and Idolatrous 7ly He likewise introduced Gaudy Romish Copes into his Chappell never used in any his Protestant Prodecessors times wherein his Chaplins usuall Consecrated and Celebrated the Sacrament there wearing them likewise at the solemne consecration of Bishops as was witnessed upon Oath by Sir Nathaniell Brent Dr. Featley and Master Cordwell Dr. Haywood the Archbishops Chaplin confessing at the Lords Barre that himselfe did usually celebrate the Sacrament in Lambheth Chappell in a Cope Now these Gaudy Copes were directly derived from the Papists Wardrobes as well as his other Chapell furniture witnesse Caeremoniale Romanum l. 1. c. 16. p. 85. 87. Pontificale Romanum p. 357. 358. De Benedictione sacerdotalium Iudumentorum and Thomas Beacons Reliques of Rome 8ly This Archbishop brought in Standing up at every recitall of Glory be to the Father c. after every Psalme and repetition of it together with Very lowly bowing of the head and knee at every recitall of the name of Iesus never there practised in his Predecessors dayes as Dr Featley and Sir Nathaniel Brent deposed The first of these was derived from Ordo Romanus de Officio Missae apud Georgij Cassandri Opera Parisijs 1616. p. 98. The latter of bowing at the name of Iesus from Pope Gregory the tenth who first introduced and prescribed it Sexti Decretalia lib. 2. Tit. 3. c. 2. from the Popish Councils of Basil Sennes Augusta with others which enjoyne the use of it and from Caeremoniale Romanum l. 2. c. 8. p. 206. which directs and prescribes thus Diaconus prosequitur Evangelim cum profert Nomen Iesu vel Mariae INCLINAT SE sed profundius cum dicit Iesus quod ET OMNES FACIVNT 8ly He erected a new beautifull paire of Organs in this Chappell which had none before attested by Dr. Featley and Mr. Pryune now Organs were first brought into Churches by Pope Vitalian and promoted by other Popish Prelates and withall he brought in such chaunting to them as is expresly prescribed is Caeremoniale Episcoporum set forth by Pope Clement the 8. lib. 1. c 28. De Organo Organistis Musicis seu Cantoribus omnia per eos servandain divinis the only Directory by which his Chappell with all our Cathedrall Organ-playing and Chaunting were regulated as those who will peruse that Chapter and compare it with our late Cathedrall Musike will at first acknowledge Finally this Arch Prelate brought in all manner of Popish Consecrations into his Chappell never heard off nor used in his Predecessors dayes as Consecrations of all sorts of Altar-furniture Vestments Flagons Chalices which himselfe arayed in a Gaudy Cope there solemnly Consecrated attested upon Oath by Mr. Samuel Bordman a reverend Minister who deposed at the Bar to this effect That he having privat intelligence of an extraordinary solemne Consecration of some Flagons and Chalices brought from other Churches intended to be Consecrated by the Archbishop at Lambheth Chappell repaired thither to see the manner of it being new and strange to him which was performed in this manner Jn the midest of divine service the Archbishop and his two Chaplines in their Surplices coming out of their seates and bowing very low severall times one after another to the Altar went up unto it where the Archbishop putting on a very gorgeous rich Cope and bowing severall times with his Chaplaines to the Altar read thereat a parcel of scripture used at the Consecration of the Temple which done there were divers Flagons and Cups delivered to the Archbishop who setting them downe upon the Altar used a forme of prayer wherein he desired God to blesse and accept of these Vessells which he severally touched and elevated offering them up to God Now this forme of Consecrating Chalices Flagons Altar-clothes and other furniture of the Altar is expresly prescribed in and taken out of the Missale Paruum pro Sacerdotibus in Anglia Jtinerantibus p. 145. to 152. Pontificale Romanum p. 355. to 376. in both which there are particular Chapters and setformes De Benedictione sacrorum vasorum aliorum Ornamentorum in genere De Patenae Calicis Consecratione with sundry solemne consecration prayers and these two speciall Collects among others for that purpose which it is likely the Archbishop then used at this consecration Exaude Domine Pater clementissime precos nostras haec purificanda vasa Ornamenta sacri Altaris atque Ecclesiae tuae sacri ministerij usui praeparata benedicere sanctificare digneris Per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen Omnipotens sempiterne Deus I quo omnia immunda purgantur in quo omnia purgata clare scunt supplices Omnipotentiam tuam invocamus ut ab his vasis ornamentis quae tibi offerunt famuli tui omnis spiritus immundus confusus longè discedat per tuam benedictionem ad usum ministerium sancti Altaris Ecclesiae tua sanctificata permaneant per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen All these most palpable Idolatrous Romish superstitions Innovations did this Archbishop publikely introduce and practise in his owne Chappell at Lambheth to the great triumphing of the Popish the vexation scandall of the Protestant party though all directly taken out of the Roman Missall Caremoniall Pontificall the Decrees of Popes of Popish Councells and how soon he would have there introduced the very Masse it selfe had not the Scotish troubles interrupted his designes his owne Notes of approbation written in the Masse booke his framing the Scottish new Liturgy by it with the ensuing particulars will abundantly evidence un to all the world to his most just condemnation and eternall infamy At how great cost he was to make these Innovations Alterations in his Chappell will be most clearely evident by the Glasiers Ioyners Painters severall Bills seised in his Study al Lambeth It appearing by Mr. Butler the Glasiers Bil that the mending and new painted Glatte
have seene such a sight that our owne Ministers and Popish Priests should thus repaire one after another into the Kings Chappell and use the selfe-same bowings gestures to the Altar and Crucifix as if they were both agreed Whereunto the Papist presently answered there is no such odds and difference betweene you and us as is conceived which one of the Semenary Priests over-hearing used the like words adding further Gentlewoman you need not wonder at our bowing and kuteling to the Altar and Crucifix for you see that Ministers of your owne Coate and Religion doe the like and so they departed Now what a Capitall Crime Treason this is for an Archbishop intrusted with the care of Religion to bring in such Crucifixes Ceremonies Innovations into his Majesties owne royall Chapell as should invite even his Majesties Chaplaines and Popish Semenary Priests thus openly and promiscously to resort into it to commit Idolatry with them and there to use the very selfe same bowings adorations to the Altar Crucifix as Priests themselves usually exercised and openly upbraid us with to the great offence and scandall of his Majesties Protestant Subjects was humbly submitted to the saddest consideration of his Iudges and all that heard this evidence 3. ly We shall next follow this Romish Fox from White-Hall to Westminster Abby where in Ianuary 1625. he exercised the Office of Doane of Westminster at his Maiesties Coronation putting Bishop Williams then reall Dean thereof from this Royall service incident to his place In this solemnity of high concernment we shall give you a short information what he did with reference only to Popish superstition and Innovation In generall he compiled the forme of his Majesties Coronation different from that of K. Edward the 6th and King Iames inserting some prayers Ceremonies into it out of the Roman Pontificall That himselfe compiled it appeares by his owne Diary and the originall Coppy corrected with his owne hand of which hereafter in its proper place In particular First he caused all the Râ—brickes in this New forme of Coronation to be written in red Letters as they are in the Roman Pontificall para 1. p. 163. c. whereas all formet manuscripts of Coronations found in his Study were written onely with black Inke as appeared by the Bookes themselves writ in times of Popery since and by Master Prynnes attestation who perused them all 2ly He specially inserted this Note into the Margin of the Coronation Booke All this Vnction was performed IN FORMA CRVCIS AND THE OLD CRVCIFIX among the Regalia STOOD ON THE ALTAR of which no mention â—â— made in the Coronation of K. Edward the 6th or King James Which forme of anointing the King after the forme of a Crosse is directly taken out of the Roman Pontificall parts De Benedictione Coronatione Regis p. 167. Post hoc Metropolitanus intinget pollic â—â—â— dextrea manus in 〈…〉 INVNGIT IN MODVM CRVCIS illius brachium dexterum c. And that the old Crosse used only in times of Popery should it this royall solemnity be placed on the high Altar among the Kings Regalia as its usuall in forraigne Popish Cathedralls and Altars if we may credit Ceremoniale Episcoporum and the severall Portraitures in it was a sad Omen at the consecration of a Protestant King to inure if not enamor him with such Popish superstitions in the very begining of his reigne 3ly The Oyle wherewith he was anointed as appeares by the marginall Notes was solemnly consecrated by a Bishop which Consecration of the Oyle is a meere Popish Relique as appeares by Pontificale Romanâ— de Benedictione Coronatione Pegis Thomas Beacons Reliques of Rome Bochellus Decreta Eccles Gal. l. 5. Tit. 2. l. 2. Tit. 6. 4ly He inserted divers Prayers into the forme of the Kings Coronation taken verbatim out of the Roman Pontificall Among others this ensuing Prayer which you shall finde in Latine in the Roman Pontificall p. 171. used at the Kings inthronization after his unction tending to the advancing of the Bishops and Clergy above the Laity Stand and hould fast from henceforth the place to which you have beene heire by the succession of your Forefathers being now delivered unto you by the Authority of the Almighty God and by the hands of us and all the Bishops and servants of God and as you see the Clergy to come nearer to the Altar then others so remember that in places convenient you give them greater Honour That the mediatour of God and man may establish you in the Kingly Throne to be the mediator betwixt the Clergy the Laitie and that you may reigne for ever with Iesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who with the Father the holy Ghost liveth reigneth for ever Amen 4ly Popish Master Iohn Cosens as appeares by the Marginall Notes when the Prayers appointed for the Coronation were there read kneeled behinde the Bishops giving direction to the Quire when to answer acting the Office of the Master of Ecclesiasticall Ceremonies whose Office you may read at large described in Caeremeniale Epescoporum Lib. 1. c. 5. p. 19. De Officio Magistrarum Caremoniarum 5ly After the Coronation ended this Archbishop voluntarily of his own accord offered the Kings Regalia on the Altar in a Popish manne without any Rubricke or direction as appeares by this passage in his Diary written with his owne hand Feb. 2. 1625. Solemnbus fiuitis in â—â—ield magis Westâ—con quum tradidit mihi in manus Regalia quae in Ecclesia B. Petri Westâ—â—on servantur de novo dedis Gladium Cortanam dictum duos alos qui coram Reeâ— eo die deferbantur ut servarâ—utur cum reliquis infignibus in Ecclesiam Redij ET AD ALTARE SOLENNITER Oâ—TVLI NOMINE REGIS cum alijs reposui Certainly had this Archprelate beene inflamed with any such extraordinary reale to the Protestant Religion as he pretended he would not have introduced so many Popish Caeremonies out of the Roman Pontificall into his Majesties solemne Coronation but utterly excluded them out of the form of Coronation he then compiled Ex Cauda Draconem you may take a scanding of this Dragon by his Taile who endeavoured to poyson his Majesty as much as in him lay with Romish superstitions in his very Inauguration to his Crowne the sad effects whereof we have since experimentally discerned to our sorow and greatest griefe 4ly We shall in the next place follow this little Fox in his Romish Procession from Westminster to our two famous Vniversities of Oxford and Cambridge whose Christall Fountaines he extraordinarily poysoned with Popish superstitions Innovations Caeremonies of all 〈◊〉 and in them our Church and State Before this pragmaticall Arch-Prelates advancement to be a Prime Favorite in Court and supreame Comptroller of all Ecclesiasticall affaires in our Church our Universities had neither Crucifixes nor Jmages nor Altars nor bowing to Altars nor Copes nor Latine service nor any
of Lincolne at the Visitation of the Archdeacon there this present year 1637. Printed at London 1637. Artic. 5. Have you adâ—cent Table on a frame for the holy Communion placed at the East end of the Chancell Is it rayled in or inclosed so as Men or Boyes cannot sit upon it or throw their hats upon it Is the said raile or 〈…〉 with sâ—ttles or kneeling hâ—nches at 〈…〉 or bottome thereof no the Communicants way fitly kneele there at the receiving of the holy Communion Artic. 38. Whether any in your Parish have covered his head in time of Divine Service contrary to the â—â— Canon any that do not kneele at the saying of the generall Confession Letany ten Commandements and other prayers read in the said Church â— any that do not stand up at the saying the Beliefe or not how or use reverencâ— when in time of Divine service the name of Iesus is read or 〈◊〉 c. Moreover Dr. Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wels not only prescribes the rayling in of Communion Tables Altarwise under penalties and fines in his Visitation Articles and Courts but likewise appoints Ministers in every Division to see it executed and presents these reasons for it to the Archbishop who endorsed them thus with his own hand Recepi March 9. 1633. L. Bishop of Bath and Wels about placing the Communion Table Reasons why the Communion Table in every Church should be set close under the East-window or wall with the ends North and South and be rayled in 1. It was ordered in Queen Elizabeths Injunctions That the Communion Table should stand where the Altar did 2. There should be some difference between the placing of the Lords Table in the Church and the placing of a mans Table in his house 3. It is not sit the people should sit above Gods Table or he above the Priest when he consecrateth 4. If it stand not thus and he not rayled in it will be subject to many prophanations and abuses Church-wardens will keep their accounts at the Lords Table Parishioners will sit round about it and talk of their Parish businesses whereas the Lords Table is for no other use but only for the Communion and the service and prayers of the Church Schoolmasters will teach their Boyes to write upon this Table and the Boyes will â—ay their Hats Sachels and Books upon it and in their Masters absence sit upon the same and many will sit or learn irreverently against the Lords Table in Sermon time Glasiers will knock it full of mile holes as it is found by experience they have done in many places and Dogs will defile the Lords Table 5. When the Communion Table stands thus the Chancell is the fairer and there â—â— more 〈◊〉 for the Communicants 6. Where the Communion Table stands thus the face of the Priest is seen of all and his voice is 〈◊〉 heard of all which sit on the North side of the Chancel 7. It is sit the Daughters should be like their Mother the Patochiall Churches should be 〈◊〉 the Câ—thedrall Churches that so there may be an uniformity in this respect in every Church At Coventry 〈◊〉 Bishop of that Diocesse by his Chancellour prescribed these Innovations following in the Churches of that City Thursday the 15 of August 1636. at Coventry It is ordered by Mr. Chancellour in the presence of me Henry Archbold principall Register being 〈…〉 by my Lord Bishop to that purpose 1. That the Communion Tables with in S. Michaels and Trinity Churches should be removed up 〈…〉 of the Chancels 2. That the ground at the upper end of the Chancels be handsomely raised by three steps that the 〈…〉 be conspicuous to all the Church 3. That in 〈…〉 which almost stopped up the middle I le be removed according 〈…〉 the Church-wardens in presence 4. That in both Churches all new additions of Seats in the Chancels be taken away 〈…〉 be to the ancient forme 5. 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of Trinity shall hereafter have any Seat to himself within the Church of S. Michael nor any parishioner of S. Michael have any 〈…〉 such no have sufficient interest by Land in the other 〈◊〉 6. 〈…〉 the Churchyard of S. Trinity may be 〈…〉 restored to the Churchyard And the doores opening into the Churchyard be stâ—pped up and the sink and other 〈…〉 7. That the 〈…〉 wives being in both Churches sufficiently accommodated 〈…〉 hence forth content themselves 〈…〉 â—e disposed of to these Gentlemen of quality within 〈…〉 The Church-wardens of both Parishes are admonished to certifie the performance of the precedent Articles to M. Chancelour by the next Court-day at Lichfield being the 27 of September next And that the Desk in the Chancell in Trinity Church whereon the Books lye be removed to the upper end of the North Isle next the Chancell and a Rayle made with a door in the middle thereof to keep out children from tearing the Books Charles Twysden Henry Archbold Registers After which this Bishop in a better mood Ordering the Communion Table only at the time of administring the Sacrament to be brought into the midst of the Chancell being large without the precincts of its impounding rayles thereupon the Archbishops Creatures gave present secret notice thereof by way of complaint to Sir Iohn Lambe and he to the Archbishop in these ensuing Letters found among Sir Iohn Lambs papers by Mr. Prynne endorsed with Mr. Dels the Archbishops Secretaries hand upon the Archbishops perusall of them The first was this Letter from Mr. Bird to Mr. Latham Good Master Latham Being at Mr. Lessons my Lord Bishops accustomed Inne I was there called and sent for to a private room before Mr. Major and some others of the Fraternity the businesse was concerning the removall of the Communion Table fromits ascent of 3 steps unto the body of the Chancel during the administration of that blessed Sacrament and they fearing me and my thwarting it moved my Lord to command me from either troubling them or altering that But how this can be effected without a great deale of inconveniency both to Minister and people I know not the Table and all other ceremonies necessary then to be used being by this means obscured and taken away from the eares and eyes of the people This is all except his Sermon that his Lordship hath done here and so much I thought good to certifie you desiring you to make what use you can of it provided you ever conceale the name of Your assured loving friend Tho. Byrd Covent 21 March juxta compt Aug. 1636. The second this Letter from Mr. Latham to Sir Iohn Lambe Most worthy Sir Our Lord Bishop at his departure from hence left such a terrible noise behind him of threatning against his Chancelour Mr. Ieffraye Archdeacon of Salop and my Selfe as would make men that were any thing obnoxious much afraid but for mine own part I thank God I fear him not but will and shall be ready to justifie my selfe in any thing
I have done and whatsoever hath passed betwixt your worship and my self concerning his Lordship can well prove if need require with much more which upon the least notice I will be ready to wait upon my Lords Grace and yourselfe to perform S. Michaels in Coventry have raysed their steps up to the Altar with curious workmanship and stone and have been at great charge in making a Septum about the Table yet hath his Lordship as you may perceive by this inclosed Letter commanded the Table to be brought down into the middle of the Chancel for this holy time perhaps his Lordship will say the Cancels are not fully finished but they were so much up at his being at Coventry as that they might well come up and receive the holy Communion and are now finished and the Table hath been at the upper end ever since his Majesties commands Mr. Byrd would not be knowne of this if it may be yet he will justifie it and others also if it must be Your Worships to be commanded ever Edward Latham Lichf 27 Martii 1637. By this it appears the Archbishop had his Spies and Informers in all places to certifie him of the very least oppositions against his Innovations by Bishops or others which will be further manifested by three other Letters The first is a Copy of the Bishop of Lincolns Letter to his Surrogate Mr. Burdin about S. Martins Communion Table in Leicester and the placing of it the copie whereof was presently sent to Sir Iohn Lambe and by him conveyed to the Archbishop who endorsed it with his own hand After my very heartiest commendations unto you Whereas I have appointed the parishioners of S. Martins in Leicester to remove their common Library from the Quire of their Church into another room provided by the Major Aldermen and Corporation of Leicester for that purpose and have perswaded them to trim up and prepare their foresaid Quire with Railes and other ornaments to place therein their Communion Table all the which they have accordingly performed And whereas upon a Certificate made unto me by the Vicar the Churchwardens divers of the Aldermen and others the better sort of that Parish That the place where their Table stood before is far more fit by the reason of the more capacity to receive the Communicants the more audiblenesse of the Ministers voice the proximity to that place where Morning and Evening prayer are appointed to be said then this Chancell is I have therefore according to the Lyturgie confirmed by Act of Parliament the severall Injunctions of our Princes heretofore the 82 Canon now in force as I hope I should as rightly understand them as any of my said subordinate Officers can do given the said Vicar Churchwardens and parishioners leave to remove the said Communion Table to the aforesaid place where it formerly stood at such times as they are to receive the Communiō These are to require you not to be troublesome or molestfull to the said parties in any thing concerning the premises untill you shall legally disprove unto me the truth of the aforesaid Certificate and so I commend you to God and am Your very loving friend and Bishop Ioh. Lincolne Buckden this 19 of December 1633. The second is a clause in Dr. Aylets Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe about rayling in Communion Tables Good Sir c. I have caused many of the Communion Tables within my Officiary to be rayled in and the people to come up and kneel and receive at the Rayle though with much opposition especially in great clothing Townes because they see no such thing as they say in the Churches of London but since our Article Books for the Metropoliticall visitation were delivered they have found an Article which as they conceive gives them leave to remove their Table at the time of celebration and place it as it may be most convenient for the parishioners to come about it and receive w th in some places where the Minister is willing to please his people undoes all which I have done and layes on me an imputation as if it were mine own invention crossing that Article delivered by his Graces Visitor in his severall Visitations for this I humbly desire to know his Graces pleasure and your best direction You will be pleased to excuse the length of my seldome Letters and to remember my humble service to his Grace Your ever obliged servant and affectionate Kinsman Robert Aylet Farly 29 June 1636. Here we see the Archbishop made the only common rule and directory of all these Innovations The third is a clause in D. Clerks Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe concerning the removall of the Rayle and Communion Table at Northampton during the plague there Worthy Sir c. They now do what they list in the Church service at All-Saints in Northampton and some very lately have as I am informed cut the Raile or Cancel that was about the Lords Board in Pieces and have brought down the Lords Table into the middle of the Church I long since advised the Mayor and some of his discreet Brethren that the Tuesday Lecture and Sermon on Sundayes in the afternoon should be forborne in these infections and dangerous times they then raised a report of me that I went about to starve their soules you may do well to acquaint my Lords Grace with so much of this as you please The schismaticall Puritans now bring their Appeals from the Audience as namely the Churchwardens of Towcester who are questioned for not presenting some 80 or an hundred of their Parish who refused to receive the blessed Sacrament at the CANCEL at Easter last c. Yours unfeined to love and serve you Sam. Clerke Kingsth 17 June 1638. This Archbishop having thus introduced by successive degrees these severall popish Innovations so far as to inforce them generally upon all Ministers Churchwardens Parishioners Cathedrals Parish-Churches Chappels and to receive Informations against those who were opposite to his designes herein proceeded at last to the highest pitch of tyranny and arbitrary government in this kinde even to question persecute censure ruine Ministers Churchwardens and others in the High-Commission Star-chamber and elsewhere who out of conscience refused to submit or adventured to oppose these his illegall Romish Innovations for proof whereof were produced severall sad and tragicall instances not to be paralleld in any age We shall begin with Presidents in the High Commission The first in this kinde which we shall but name because so publickly knowne and fully proved before both Houses this present Parliament is the case of Master Peter Smart the ancientest Prebend in the Cathedrall at Durham who for preaching a Sermon in that Cathedral against the severall popish Innovations brought into that Church by Dr. Cosens and his confederates as Images Copes Tapers Crucifixes bowing to the Altar praying towards the East turning the Cōmunion Table of wood standing in the middest of the Quire into an
have any Image of any Saint especially of our Saviour in his house is unlawfull and that if any man kept such pictures in his house if it were not flat Idolatry yet it was little better This was the maine charge against him to which was added that he used some harsh expressions against lacivious mixt dancing especially on the Lords day citing only the words of the Waldenses in their censure against Dancing borrowed frō Vincentius Belvacensis Gulielmus Peraldus two Popish Writers of great note and justified by Bishop Babington in his exposition upon the seventh Commandement and that he prayed for the States of Holland the King of Sweden and other Generals beyond the seas in his prayer before he prayed for the King that now is over us which was but according to the usuall course of all or most Ministers who first prayed for the whole Catholick Church in generall next for the Protestant Churches and Princes beyond the seas and then for the Church and King of England and agreeable to the forme of the very Common-prayer-book in the prayer for the whole state of Christs Church c. which runs thus We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings Princes and Governours which comprehends all foreine Princes in the first place and especially thy servant Charles our King c. who is remembred last of all but yet in a more speciall manner But these two last particulars though mentioned in his sentence were no inducements to it but only the first passage against Images which M. Workman justified out of divers of our owne English Authors and the very Homilies against the perill of Idolatry Part. 3. p. 41. to 631. which determine thus That no Jmage of God or the Trinity or of Christ may or ought to be made that such Images are not only defects but lyes and teach nothing of God or Christ but lyes and errours That Images placed publickly in Temples cannot possibly be without danger of worshipping and idolatry wherefore they are not publickly to be or suffered in Temples and Churches c. We infer and say for the Adversative that all our Images of God our Saviour Christ and his Saints publickly set up in Temples and Churches places peculiarly appointed to the true worship of God be not things indifferent nor tolerable but against Gods law commandment taking their own interpretation and exposition of it First for that all Images so set up publickly have bin worshipped of the unlearned and simple sort shortly after they had been publickly so set up and in conclusion of the wise and learned also Secondly for that they are worshipped in sundry places now in our time also And thirdly for that it is impossible that Images of God Christ or his Saints can be suffered especially in Temples and Churches any while or space without worshipping of them and that Idolatry which is most abominable before God cannot possibly be escaped and avoided without the abolishing and destruction of Images and Pictures in Temples and Churches for that Idolatry is to Images specially in Temples and Churches an inseparable accident as they tearm it so that Images in Churches and Idolatry go alwayes both together and that therefore the one cannot be avoided except the other specially in all publick places be destroyed Wherefore to make Images and publickly to set them up in the Temples and Churches places appointed peculiarly to the service of God is to make Images to the use of Religion and not only against this precept Thou shalt make us manner of Images but against this also Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them for they being set up have been be and ever will be worshipped c. That it is not possible if Images be suffered in Churches and Temples either by the preaching of Gods Word or by any other means to keep the people from worshipping of them and so to avoid idolatry c. What can we do I say or bring to passe to the stay of Idolatry or worshipping of Images if they be allowed to stand publickly in Temples and Churches And if so many so mighty Emperours by so severe Lawes and Proclamations so rigorous and extreame punishments and executions could not stay the people from setting up and worshipping of Images what will ensue thinke you when men shall commend them as necessary books of the Laymen Let us therefore of these latter dayes learn this lesson of the experience of ancient Antiquity That Idolatry cannot possibly be separated from Images any long time but that as an unseparable accident or as a shadow followeth the body when the Sunne shineth so Idolatry followeth and cleaveth to the publick having of Images in Temples and Churches And finally as Idolatry is to be abhorred and avoided so are Images which cannot be long without Idolatry to be put away and destroyed Besides the which experiments and proof of time before the very nature and origine of Images themselves draweth to Idolatry most violently and mens nature and inclination also is bent to Idolatry so vehemently that it is not possible to sever or part Images nor keep men from Idolatry if Images he suffered publickly c. For if the origine of Images and worshipping of them as it is recorded in the eight Chap. of the Book of Wisdom began of a blind love of a fond father framing for his comfort an Image of his Sonne being dead and so at the last men fell to the worshipping of him whom they did know to be dead how much more will men and women fall to the worshipping of the Image of God our Saviour Christ and his Saints if they be suffered to stand in Churches and Temples publickly For the greater the opinion is of the majesty and holinesse of the person to whom an Image is made the sooner will the people fall to the worshipping of the said Image Wherefore the Images of God our Saviour Christ the Blessed Virgin Mary the Apostles Martyrs and other of notable holinesse are of all other Images most dangerous for the perill of Idolatry and therefore greatest heed to be taken that none of them be suffered to stand publikely in Churches and Temples For there is no great dread least any should fall to the worshipping of Images of Annas Caiphas Pilate or Judas the Traitor if they were set up But to the other it is already at full proved That Idolatry hath been is and is most like continually to be committed Now as the Nature of mari is none otherwise bent to worshipping of Images if he may have them and see them then it is bent to whordome and Idolatry in the company of an harlot And as a man given to the lust of the flesh seeing a wanton harlot sitting by her and imbracing her it profitteth little for one to say beware of fornication God will condemne fornicators and adulterers for neither will he being overcome with greater intisements of
the strumpet give eare or take heed to such godly admonition and when he is left afterwards alone with the harlot nothing can follow but wickednesse Even so suffer Images to be set in Churches and Temples ye shall in vaine bid them beware of Images as Saint John doth and flee Idolatry as the Scriptures warn us ye shall in vaine preach and teach against Idolatry For a number will notwithstanding fall headlong unto it what by the nature of Images and what by the Inclination of their own corrupt Nature Wherefore as for a man given to lust to sit down by a strumpet is to tempt God So is it likewise to erect an Idoll in this pronesse of mans nature to Idolatry nothing but a tempting Now if any will say that this similitude proveth nothing yet I pray them let the Word of God out of the which the similitude is taken prove something Doth not the Word of God call Idolatry spirituall fornication Doth it not call a gilt or a painted Idoll or Image A strumpet with a painted face Be not the Spirituall wickednesses of an Idols inticing like the flatteries of a wanton Harlot Be not men and women as prone to spirituall fornication I mean Idolatry as to carnall Fornication If this be denyed let all Nations upon the earth which have been Idolaters as by all stories appeareth prove it true Let the Jews and the people of God which were so often and so earnestly warned so dreadfully threatned concerning Images and Idolatry and so extreamly punished therefore and yet fell unto it prove it to be true as in almost all the books of the Old Testament namely the Kings and the Chronicles and the Prophets it appeareth most evidently Let all Ages and times and men of all ages and times of all degrees and conditions Wise-men Learned-men Princes Ideots unlearned and Commonalty prove it to be true If you require Examples for wise men you have the Egyptians and the Indian Gymnosophistes for the wisest men of the world you have Solomon the wisest of all other For learned men the Greeks and namely the Athenians exceeding all other Nations in superstition and Idolatry as in the History of the Acts of the Apostles Saint Paul chargeth them For the Princes and Governours you have the Romans the rulers of the roast as they say you have the same sornamed King Solomon and all the Kings of Israel and Judah after him saving David Ezechias and Josiah and one or two more All these I say and infinite others wise learned Princes and Governours being all Idolaters have you for examples and a proof of mens inclination to Idolatry That I may passe over with silence in the mean time infinite multitudes and millions of Idiots and unlearned the ignorant and grosse people like unto horses and mules in whom is no understanding whose perill and danger to fall on heapes to Idolatry by occasion of Images the Scriptures specially fore-shew and give warning of And indeed how should the unlearned simple and foolish scape the nets and snares of Idols and Images in the which the wisest and best learned have been so entangled trapped and wrapped Wherefore the Argument holdeth this ground sure that men be as inclined of their corrupt nature to spirituall fornication as to carnall which the wisedome of God fore-seeing to the Generall prohibition that none should make to themselves any Image or similitude addeth a cause depending of mans corrupt nature lest saith God thou being deceived with errour honour and worship them And of this ground of mans corrupt inclination as well to spirituall fornication as to carnall it must needs follow that as it is the duty of the godly Magistrate loving honesty and hating whoredome to remove all Strumpets Harlots specially out of places notoriously suspected or resorted unto of naughty persons for the avoiding of carnall fornication so it is the duty of the same godly Magistrate after the example of the godly Kings Ezekias and Josias to drive away all spirituall Harlots I mean Idols and Images especially out of suspected places Churches and Temples dangerous for idolatry to be committed to Images placed there as it were in the appointed place and height of honour and worship as S. Augustine saith where the living God only and no dead stones and stocks is to be worshipped It is I say the office of godly Magistrates likewise to avoid Images and Idols out of Churches and Temples as spirituall Harlots out of suspected places for the avoiding of idolatry which is spirituall fornication And as he were the enemy to all honesty that should bring Strumpets and Harlots out of their secret corners into the publick Market place there freely to dwell and practise their filthy merchandize So is he the enemy of the true worshipping of God that bringeth Idols and Images into the Temple and Church the House of God there openly to be worshipped and to rob the jealous God of his honour who will not give it to any other nor his glory to carved Images who is as much forsaken and the bond of love between man and him as much broken by Idolatry which is spirituall fornication as is the knot and bond of mariage broken by carnall fornication Let all this be taken as a lye if the Word of God enforce it not to be true Cursed be the man saith God in Deuteronomy That maketh a carved or molten Image and placeth it in a secret corner And all the people shall say Amen Thus saith God for at that time no man durst have or worship Images openly but in corners only and the whole World being the great Temple of God he that in any corner thereof robbeth God of his glory and giveth it to stocks and stones is pronounced by Gods Word accursed Now he that will bring these spirituall Harlots out of their lurking corners into publick Churches and Temples that spirituall fornication may there openly of all men and women without shame be committed with them no doubt that person is accursed of God and twice cursed and all good and godly men and women will say Amen and their Amen will take effect also Which is thus seconded in the second part of the Homily of the place and time of prayer p. 130 131. The Jewes in their time provoked justly the vengeance of God for that partly they abused his holy Temple with the detestable idolatry of the Heathen and superstitious vanities of their own inventions contrary to Gods Commandement c. And have not the Christians of late dayes and even in our dayes also in like manner provoked the displeasure and indignation of Almighty God Partly because they have prophaned defiled their Churches with Heathenish and Jewish abuses with Images and Idols with numbers of Altars too too superstitiously and intollerably abused c. Finally Gods vengeance hath been and is daily provoked because much wicked people passe nothing to resort
the parties lay there buried And is it not then a far greater madnesse superstition and ridiculous frenzie for this domineering Arch-Prelate to deem these two Chappels prophane places unfit to administer the Sacraments and celebrate divine Service in because never yet consecrated by a Bishop not onely after three but almost three-score yeares use and practise of divine Service Sermons Sacraments in them When as neither his predecessors Whitgift Bancroft and Abbot men very ceremonious and two of them much addicted to superstition ever so much as moved any such question concerning the necessity of their consecration Especially since there is no such Canon Law to enforce the consecration of them now as was to justifie the re-hallowing of S. Maries Church in Queen Maries time which the Popish Canon Law then approved in the case of Bucer and Fagius We read in the Ecclesiasticall Constitutions of Otho the Popes Legat made in an English Synode in the Raigne of King Henry the third that even in those dark times of Popery there were not only divers Parish Churches but some Cathedrals in England which were used as such for many yeares yet never consecrated by a Bishop as appears by these words of the Constitution it self Multas invenimus Ecclesias aliquas Cathedrales quae licet fuer unt ab antiquo constructae nondum tamen sunt sanctificationis Oleo consecrate Whereupon this Popish Legat for his own lucher Enjoyned all Churches then built or to be built to be consecrated within two years space under pain of interdiction from having Masse said in them unlesse some reasonable cause were shewed to the contrary By colour of which Popish constitution this Prelate it seems urged the consecration of these ancient Chappels there being no other shaddow of reason Canon or authority for it After this Archbishop had thus procured a power to himself to visit the Vniversity of Cambridge Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely Decemb. 1. 1639. Sent him up an account signed with his own hand of some things amisse within his Diocesse and that University which he left to his Graces consideration to amend which account was seized by Master Prynne in his study at Lambeth and thus indorsed with the Arch-bishops own hand My Lord of Elyes Account 1639. In which there were these two Passages concerning consecration of Chappels The first concerning a Chappell in Sir John Cuts house in the town of Childerley which Chappell the Knight said was consecrated by Bishop Heton producing an Instrument under seal purporting that on such a day at Childersly Bishop Heton did consecrate a Chappell by saying Service there himselfe and having a Sermon this was all the Solemnity of its Consecration I questioning the whole matter have required him to waiteupon your Grace to see whether that consecration must be allowed of The second concerning some Chappels in Colledges never yet consecrated which is thus expressed in this Account It was presented unto me That in the Colledges of Emanuel Sidney and Corpus Christi there have been Roomes built within the memory of man which are used for common Chappels wherein they have dayly prayers and do Preach there without any faculty or license granted unto them so to do And wherein also they ordinarily celebrate the holy Communion The said places never having been consecrated thereunto Ma. Elie. The Scottish troubles it seems prevented his consecration of these Chappels which were sufficiently hallowed before by the Divine Duties exercised in them The last Chappell we finde consecrated was that in Covent Garden which was hallowed or rather prophaned with all Popish Ceremonies expressed in the Roman Pontificall and far more than were used at Creed-Church The Arch-bishop having thus far advanced his Popish designes in consecrating Churches Chappels and Church-yards proceeded one step further even to set up the exploded Annuall Baccanalian feasts of Dedication whereon Churches were hallowed prescribed at first onely by the Decrees of Pope Felix Pope Gregory recorded by Gratian De Consecratione Distinct 1. who Decreed thus Solennitates Ecclesiarum dedicationem per singulos annos solemniter sunt celebrandae Those Feasts of Dedication turned by the people into meer Bacchanals were exceedingly declaimed against as necessary to be suppressed by Nicholaus de Clemangiis in his Tract De Novis Celebritatibus non instituendis suppressed by the Injunctions of King Henry the S. An. 1536. As the occasion of much idlenesse excesse riot and pernicious to the Souls of men Whereupon they were all of them restrained to the first Sunday in the moneth of October not to be kept on any other day and afterwards totally abolished by the statute of 5. and 6. E. 6. c. 3. Of holy-dayes Which being revived again by degrees with their Baccanalian disorders in sundry places of this Realm under the names of Wakes or Revels and suppressed by some Judges in their Circuits and Justices of Peace in Sessions this Arch-bishop in the year of our Lord 1633. by a Declaration compiled by himselfe but published in his Majesties Name intituled The Kings Majesties Declaration concerning Lawfull Sports to be used revived and enjoyned the Observation of these Wakes and Feasts of Dedication never formerly established by any Christian Prince together with the use of divers Sports and pastimes on the Lords own Sacred day after Divine Service ended to the great Dishonour of God of his Majesty of our Religion the disturbance of the Civill Government encrease of all Licensiousnesse prophanenesse impiety and great griefe of all godly peoples Souls This Book he enjoyned all Ministers to read and publish openly in the Church in time of Divine Service though not commanded by the King and those who out of conscience refused to read it in this kinde were by his means suspended excommunicated prosecuted in the High-Commission Sequestred from their Livings yea many of them enforced to desert their Cures and depart the Kingdome this book being made a snare onely to entrap or suppresse most of the painfull godly preaching Ministers throughout the Realm who were all more or lesse prosecuted about it Yet such was this Arch-Prelates unparallel'd impiety transcending all examples in former Ages that he not onely caused his Instruments Edmond Reeve Dr. Heylyn Christopher Dowe and others to defend the Lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of this prophane licentious Declaration but also to justifie the persecution silencing suspending depriving of those Godly Ministers who out of Conscience refused to publish it in sundry Printed Books authorized by him and his Chaplaines for the Presse Quis talia fando temperet à Lachrymis at leastwise can refrain from the heaviest censures against this prophane Arch-bishop That this Declaration since ordered to be publikely burnt by the common hangman by Order of both Houses of Parliament was Printed published by the Archbishops procurement and upon what Occasion was thus attested upon Oath by Master Edward Richardson and Master Prynne Sir Thomas Richardson Lord chiefe Justice
he is to appeare this day to heare and receive the finall order and judgement of the Court. at which day and place the said Lawrence Snelling being publiquely called for appeared personally in whose presence the Articles in this cause exhibited against him with his answers made thereunto were publiquely read and then Mr. Doctor Ryues his Majesties Advocate pressed and enforced the proofes against the said Master Snelling according as they appeared confessed out of his answers and after that the said Mr. Snelling was heard what he could say in his owne defence and after a mature and deliberat hearing of this cause it appeared to the Court That the said Mr. Snelling was here charged for that he being a Minister in holy orders of Priesthood constituted by the Authority of the Church for these 20. yeares last past and upwards Rector of Paulscray aforesaid for all that time and upwards was within these foure or five yeares last past made acquainted that a certaine Booke intituled The Kings Majesties Declaration for lawfull recreations after Evening Prayers on Sundayes and Holy dayes was come forth and commanded by his Majesty to be read by all Ministers in their respective Parish Churches and presented to Mr. Doctor Wood Chauncellor of Rochester his Ordinary on the 20th of November 1643. for refusing to read and publish the same in his Parish Church of Paulscray That upon the said presentment he was by his said Ordinary personally monished to read the same within three weekes following That on the eleventh of December 1634. aforesaid he the said Laurence Snelling being againe Convented before his said ordinary was primo secundo tertio personally and Judicially monished in Court to read and publish the said Booke in manner aforesaid which he refusing was suspended ob officio beneficio and hath so continued untill this present and doth so still continue unreleased that on the third of Aprill 1635. the said Laurence Snelling being present in Court before his Ordinary was 10. 20. and 30. Judicially admonished to read and publish the said Booke for Lawfull recreations as aforesaid but did againe utterly refuse to publish or read the same was thereupon then excommunicated by his said Ordinary and hath so continued ever since doth so stil continue excommunicated that within the time articulate the said Mr. Snelling hath divers times omitted to read the Lerany and some other parts of Divine service and to weare the Surplice further that he hath not bowed his body nor made any corporall obeysance at the reading or hearing read the Blessed name of our Saviour Iesus All which the premises appearing to be true in Substance and in effect out of the said Mr. Snellings answers the Court proceeded to the giving of their sentence in this Cause and for the present did order that unlesse the said Mr. Snelling shall conforme himselfe to the aforesaid requisitions of his Ordinary and read and publish the said Booke for lawfull recreations c. and do all due obeysance and Reverence at the blessed name of our Saviour Iesus betwixt this and the second Court day of the next Terme he should be ex nunc pro ut extunc c. deprived of his Rectory of Paulscray aforesaid but pay no costs of suit in case he be deprived and to this end and purpose he the said Mr. Snelling being present in Court was Juditially admonished to read and publish the said Booke and to make corporall reverence at the name of our Saviour Jesus sub pena Iuris deprivationis And to the end that he may safely repaire to his Parish Church to practise certifie of his conformity in the premises in case he shall be willing to conform accordingly it was by the Court referred to the foresaid Ordinary Mr. Doctor Wood to absolve the said Master Snelling from the said sentence of Excommunication under which he now stands in case he shall come and desire it of his said Ordinary and take his oath de parendo Iuri stando mandatis Ecclesia c. according to the forme in this case provided For not doing whereof he was accordingly deprived and continued sequestred excommunicated and deprived of his living divers yeares to his intollerable oppression and prejudice When the Archbishop had thus privily by secret Instructions to his Visitors enjoyned the reading of this Book of sports to Ministers and suspended censured molested divers of them for not reading it he then conspiring together with many other popish Prelates to suppresse all painful preaching Orthodox Ministers by colour of it encouraged directed if not enjoyned them and their Archdeacons to insert this clause into their printed Visitation Articles to be inquired of and presented by Church-wardens upon Oath Whether the Kings Declaration for sports had beene read and published among them by the Minister To prove this we shall instance only in the Visitation Articles of Matthew Wren Bishop of Norwich printed at London 1636. and in Richard Mountague his successors Visitation Articles for the same Diocesse printed at Cambridg 1638. both which prescribe this following Interrogatory to be inquired of upon oath the later clause whereof contradictes the former Sect 7. Do any in your Parishprophane any Sunday or holy-day by any unlawfull gaming drinking or Tipling in Taverns Innes or Ale-houses in the time of Common Prayer or Sermon or by Working or doing the worke of their Trades and occupations Do any in your Parish buy or sell or keepe open their Shops or set out any Wares to be sould on Sundayes or holy dayes by themselves their Servants or Apprentises or have they any other wayes Prophaned the said dayes And hath the Kings Declaration concerning the use of lawfull sports and recreations been published among you yea or no If so when was it don in what manner and by whom The like Interrogatories in effect if not in terminis we find in Bishop Pierces Bishop Curles Bishop Skinners the Arch-Deacons of Middlesex with other Visitation Articles which for brevity we pretermit How many hundred Godly Ministers in these other Bishops Diocesse were suspended from their Ministry sequestred driven from their Livings excommunicated Prosecuted in the High Commission and forced to leave the Kingdome upon these Articles for not publishing this Declaration is so experimentaly known to all that We shal pretermit it without any enumeration of their names or cases Only we shal discover what hand and influence the Archbishop had in their severall suspentions persecutions by these ensuing Accounts given up to him by other Bishops of their proceedings herein found in his Study endorsed with his owne hand and witnessed by Mr. Prynne who seized them In Bishop Wrens account to the Archbishop December 17. 1636. which begin thus In the name of God Amen An account touching the Royall Instructions given by the Kings most Excellent Majesty to the most Reverend Father in God VVilliam Laud Archbishop of Cant. his Grace Primat
Camera sua in Aulâ Regia erat protuli qua accipi in mandatis responsum dedit Aprill 13. die Mercurij Retuli ad Ducem Buck quid responderit Episcopus Winton These Bishops of the Arminian Popish party after serious consultation among themselves concluded that for the better introducing advancing of the Arminian and Popish Errors in our Church Richard Mountague then Batchelor of Divinity having the Repute of a great Scholler being formerly engaged in this Quarrell by the complaints of Mr. Ward and Mr. Yates against him for the Arminian Popish Tenets broached in his Gagge should in a new Book of his intituled Appello Caesarem compiled by all their consents as appeared by their subscriptions to it which they afterwards cunningly with-drew when they had procured Dr. Francis Whites approbation of it leaving him in the sudds alone as he oft complained publikely broach justify maintaine all the Arminian Tenets condemned in the Synod of Dort as the received Doctrines of the Church of England and impaire the Reputation of that Synods determinations as the privat opinions only of some few illiterate Puritans This book of his was disallowed by Dr. Abbot then Archbishop of Canterbury and his Chaplines who stopped it at the Presse but the now Archbishop by his owne and the Dukes power procured it notwithstanding to be printed and dedicated to his Majesty in the very beginning of his Reigne thereby to ingage him in the Actuall Patronage of the Arminian Points and party which Mountague impetrated at his hands in his Epistle Dedicatory This Book giving great and just offence to most men Dr. Prideaux soon after upon a fitte occasion spake somewhat against it in the Scholes at Oxford admonishing young Schollers to be cautelous in reading it of which there was present notice sent to the Prisoner then Bishop of St. Davids by way of complaint as these two letters found in his Study by Mr. Prynne most clearly manifest My very good Lord. I Received your Letter The Coppy of the consecration of the Chappell shall be sent according to your Lordships appointment We had Disputations in Divinity Schooles Wednesday one Mr. Damport a great Preacher in London but no Graduat was Respondent One of his Questions this An Renati possint totaliter finaliter excidere a Gratia His Opponent one Mr. Palmer of Lincoln Colledge urged out of Mr. Mountague his Appeale the Article of our Church The Homilies The Booke of Common-prayer The Doctor of the Chair handled the Appellator so they termed Him very coursly putting it upon Him that he is Merus Grammaticus a Fellow that studies Phrases more then matter That He understands neither the Articles nor Homilies or at least perverts both Jn answering one of the Arguments He had a Digression to this purpose So quoth He He attributes I know not what vertue to the externall sign of the Crosse Dignus cruce qui asserat He concluded with an admonition to the Juniors whereof there come good store to that Exercise and well furnished with Tablebookes and to the Seniors too That they would be cautelous in reading that and the like Bookes That they would begin in the Study of Divinity with some Systematicall Catechisme I suppose he meant Bastingius Fenner c. and not to apply themselves at first to the Fathers c. Thus with my daily prayers for your Lordships health and happinesse I rest Your Lordships in all humblnesse of duty and service Thomas Turner St. Iohn Oxon. May 23. 1625. My Cosen Walker remembers his humble service to your Lordship My very good Lord WHat I wrote to your Lordship concerning Mr. Mountague I have it by me and before I sent it I consulted with my Cosen Walker who was present at the Exercise as well as I and we both agree that I wrote nothing but what is true in the substance the very Termes we cannot recall For my part as I desire not to be produced so I am not afraid of it if it might do Mr. Mountague any pleasure Doctor Radcliffe was present at the Disputations what other Doctors there were I know not Thus wishing your health and happinesse I humbly take my leave and remaine Your Lordships in all dutifull obligement Thomas Turner St. Io. Oxon. May 30. 1625. This last letter intimates an intention to question Dr. Prideaux for these Passages but the Parliament following soone after this Booke was publikly complained of in the Commons House and Mountague himselfe there questioned for it of which this Archbishop tooke speciall notice and thereupon gave all in couragment protection he could to Mountagu as his own Diary manifests in these folowing clauses Iulij 7. 1625. Die Iovis R. Mount inductus est in Domu◠Parliament inferiorem c. Iulij 9. Die Saturni placuit Serenissimo Regi CAROLO intimare domui illi SIBI NON PLACERE que de Montacutio dicta ibi vel statuta fuêre Se inconsulto Iulij 13. Iter mihi eo facienti obviam casu factus est R Montacutius PRIMVS FVI qui cum certiorem fecide REGIS ERGA IPSVM GRATIA c. A pregnant evidence under his owne hand First that himselfe was a principall Patriot of Mountague and his Booke 2. That he was the first that acquainted him of the Kings Royall favour towards him for writing this Book notwithstanding the complaints against it in the Parliament if not a procurer of the King to intimate his dislike to the Commons House of their proceedings against him which being discontinued by the dissolution of that Parliament at Oxford were againe revived in the next Parliament at which time the Bishop procured the Duke to sound his Majesties opinion concerning Mountagues Cause and Booke which to please the Parliament the King then seemed willing to leave to their censure whereat the Bishop was very much troubled as this Passage in his Diary manifests Ianuary 29. 1625. Dies solis erat intellexi quid D. Buck collegit de Causa Libro opinionibus Rich. Montacutij R. C. King Charles apud se statuisset Videor videre nubem surgentem minantem Ecclesia Anglicana Dissipet pro Misericordia sua Deus Soon after there were two Conferences held at York house before the Duke and divers Nobles about Mountagues Bookes and opinions which were there oposed by Dr. Preston and Bishop Morton but defended by Doctor White and Bishop Laud who records this memorial of these Conferences in his Diary Feb. 11. 1625 Die Sabbati ad instantiam Comitis Warwicensis Colloquium fuit in causa R. Mountacutij in adibus Ducis Buckinghamia c. Febr. 17. Die Veueris Colloquium praedictum secundum habitum est non paucis e Proceribus Regni praesentibus loco pradicto On the 18. of Aprill 1626. Mr. Pyne made a Report in the Commons House from the Commitee of Religion concerning Mountagues Appeale and his Arminian and Popish Tenents therein comprised whereupon it was voted in the House
aside any way but that we shall take it in the Litterall and Gramaticall sence This Act tyes to consent of VVrighters which may and perhaps do goe against the Litterall sence for here 's no exception so wee shall bee perplexed and our consent required to things contrary 7. All consent in all Ages as farre as I have observed to an Article or Canon is to it selfe as it is layd downe in the body of it and if it beare more sences then one it is lawfull for any man to choose what sence his judgment directs him to so that it be a sence secundum analogiam fidei and that he hold it peaceably without distracting the Church and this till the Church which made the Article determine a sence And the wisdome of the Church hath beene in all ages or the most to require consent to Articles in generall as much as may be because that 's the way of unity and the Church in high points requiring assent to particulars hath been rent As de Transubstantiatione c. So he in affront of the Commons This Parliament also being soone after broken up in discontent by this Bishops power and policy the Arminian and Popish party grew more bould numerous potent and prevalent every where so as the Pulpits at Whice-hall Paules Crosse Oxford Cambridge and else where ecchoed againe with Arminian Paradoxes without restraint and none could or durst oppose them without exemplary punishment if not all most certaine ruine Bookes in defence of Arminianisme and Semi-plagianisme were published printed with publike allowance and all impressions against them most diligently suppressed the Recantations of Arminian Tenets in former times made in our Vniversities were embesled as Barrets Recantation in Cambridge May 10. 1595. and new Recantations enjoyned to and registred against their opposites of all which we shall produce some remarkable instances The Ministers in and about London being restrained by Colour of His Majesties forementioned Declaration and Proclamation to Preach any thing concerning Election Predestination Perserverance or any thing opposite to the Arminian Errors thereupon framed this ensuing Petition to his Majesty about the end of the Parliament 1628. for liberty to Preach against the Arminian errors in point of Predestination c. which this Bishop being informed off anticipated and frustrated two of the Copies of which Petition were found in his Study by Mr. Pryn thus endorsed with his owne hand The Copy of the intended Petition about liberty of Preaching Predestination c. To the Kings most Excellent Maiesty The humble Petition of divers Ministers of Gods Word in and about the City of London and else where Most Humbly sheweth THat whereas your royall Majesty out of your Religious zeale for the conserving of the Church committed to your Charge in Peace and for the confirming of the Doctrine of the same agreeable to Gods word and conteyned in the Articles established did publish both a Proclamation and a Declaration therein prohibiting all opinions either against or besides the Orthodoxall grounds of Religion expressed in the said Articles as also all raising of doubts and disputatios which may nourish faction in Church and Common wealth And yet your Majesties said edicts are so interpreted and pressed upon us as we are not a little discouraged and deterred from preaching those saving Doctrines of Gods free Grace in Election and predestination which greatly confirme our faith of eternall salvation and fervently kindle our Love to God as the 17th Article expresly mentioneth So as we are brought into a great strayt either of incurring Gods heavy displeasure if we do not faithfully discharge our Embassage in declaring the whole Councell of God or the danger of being censured for violators of your Majesties said Acts if we preach these constant Doctrines of our Church and confute the opposite Pelagian and Arminian Heresies both preached and printed boldly without feare of Censure As if the saving Doctrines of Christ were prohibited and these impious Heresies priviledged which Councells both old and new have condemned and the admired judgement of our late Soveraigne your Royall Father K. Iames of blessed memory hath for ever branded calling the maintainers thereof Arrogant and Atheisticall Sectaries who are not ashamed to lye so grosly as to avow that their Heresies are agreable with the Religion and profession of the Church of England which corrupt seeds of Heresie Faction if not the more speedily rooted out the wise King tell 's the neighbour States will of necessity bring utter ruine to their state by the too bold and frequent Disciples and followers of that enemy of God Arminius Wee therefore your Majesties faithfull obedient peaceable and conformable Subjects to all your Majesties Lawes being most tenderly sensible of the dishonour of Christ and of your Majesty his Vicegerent over us infinitely more deare unto us then our lives most humbly on our bended knees beseech your Gratious Majesty to take into your Princely consideration the forenamed Evills and Greivances under which we groane and as a wise Phisitian to prescribe and apply such speedy Remedies as may both care the present Maladies and secure the Peace of Church and Common-wealth from all those Plagues which our neighbours have not a little felt and more may feare if the Councell of the most juditious King be not the bettter followed And according to our bounden dutie we shall daily pray for the continuance of your Majesties peaceable prosperous and religious Raigne over us About March 1628. Dr. Hall then Bishop of Exceter published a Booke called the Reconciler in the close whereof he inserted two Letters to vindicate himselfe from the imputation of Arminianisme wherewith some had then aspersed him to witt his owne letter to Dr. Davenant then Bishop of Salisbury and his Answer thereunto which Letters comming to be licenced Doctor Thomas Turner the Bishops Chaplain who authorized it no doubt by the Bishops directions and command expunged these two Passages out of the Letters against the Arminian Tenets and in approbation of the Synod of Dort conteining the principle Subject matter of the Letters and the end for which they were written the Copy of which Purgations was seized in the Archbishops Study by Mr. Prynne who attested it thus endorsed with his owne hand That which my Chapline Mr. Turner left out of the letters of the Bishop of Exceter and Sarum ABOVT ARMINIANISME In my Lord Bishop of EXONS Letter to the Lord Bishop os SARVM there was this Passage oblitcrated YEA as if this calumnie were not enough there want not those whose secret whisperings cast upon me the foule aspertions of an other Sect whose name is as much hated as little understood My Lord you know I had a place with you though unworthy in that famous Synod of Dort where however sicknesse â—ereaved me of the honour of a conclusive subscription yet your Lordship heard me with equall vehemency to the rest crying downe the unreasonablenesse of that way I am still the same
man and shall live and die in the suffrage of that Reverend Synod and doe confidently a vow that those other opposed opinions cannot stand with the Doctrine of the Church of England But if for the composing of our differences at home which your Lordship knowes to be far different from the Netherlandish there could have beene tendered any such faire propositons of accordance as might be no prejudice to Gods Truth I should have thought it an holy and happy project wherein if it bee not a fault to have wished a safe peace I am innocent In my Lord Bishops of SARVMS Answer Dated Ianuary 30. 1628. This passage was expunged AS for the aspertions of Arminianisme I can testifie that in our joynt imployment at the Synod of Dort you were as farre from it as my selfe And I know that no man can imbrace it in the Doctrine of Pradestination and Grace but he must first desert the Articles agreed upon by the Church of England nor in the Point of Perseverance but he must vary from the common Tenet and received opinion of our best approved Doctors in the English Church I am assured that you neither have deserted the one nor will vary from the other and therefore be no more troubled with other mens groundlesse suspirions then you would be in like case with their idle Dreames Thus I have c. Nathaniell Butter the Stationer perceiving these two letters not only extreamly mutilated but made altogether uselesse and his Book lesse vendible by these Purgations of the Licencer adventured to print these expunged passages in them whereupon he was apprehended and brought before Bishop Laud by a Pursevant committed Prisoner by him to the Fleet without Baile or maineprize contrary to the Petition of Right though he tendred baile his Bookes seized and afterwards Articled against in the High Commission and there almost ruined only for printing those deleted Passages in two of our owne Bishops Letters as was proved by the Testimony of Master Henry Burton and Michaell Sparkes senior committed to the Fleet by the Bishop at the same time by the Warrant of his commitment under the Bishops owne hand the Articles in the High Commission against Butter Artic. 4. 5. and his Answer thereunto produced in Court About the same time Nathaniell Carpenter Chapline to Archbishop Vsher published a Book intitled Achitophel or the Picture of a wicked Polititian printed at Oxford by Lycence wherein were divers passages against Arminianisme averring it to be planted among us by Iesuiticall Polititians to undermine our Religion by degrees and covertly to introduce Popery it selfe which Booke was presently called in and all the Passages against Arminianisme expunged by this Bishops Agents which done it was reprinted at London without them Anno 1629. to the great injury both of the truth and Author as was attested by Mr. Prynne Michaell Spark Senior and evident to all who will compare these two Editions What other passages against the Arminians and their Tenet have beene expunged in other Authors shall be given in evidence elsewhere We shall next produce some memorable Instances what countenance was given to Arminian Bookes and Sermons notwithstanding his Majesties Declarations and Proclamations to the contrary by this Archbishops meanes Doctor Thomas Jackson Chapline in Ordinary to his Majesty even sitting the Parliament soone after the Kings Declaration and Proclamation published A Treatise of divine Essence and Attributes part first printed at London 1628. for John Clerke Licensed by this Prelates Chaplaine dedicated to the Right honourable William Earle of Pembrooke in the very Epistle Dedicatory to this Noble Peere hee professeth himselfe AN ARMINIAN and Patron of their Tenets And Chap. 8. to 20. he professedly maintaines A mutability in Gods eternall Decrees of Election and Reprobation depending upon the actions and wills of men Universall Grace and Redemption with other Arminian Errors This Book though publikely complained of was never called in by the Bishop but the second part thereof printed by Licence An. 1629. and the Author of it advanced to the Presidentship of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford by this Bishop yea by him designed to bee Doctor of the Chaire though he missed that preferment to poyson the Vniversity of OXFORD with his Arminian Drugges An. 1630. Doctor Brookes of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Writ an Arminian Treatise of Predestination with which he acquainted Bishop Laud who encouraged him in the worke recommending it to the perusall of Doctor Lindsey and Doctor Beale two great Arminians promising to peruse it himselfe as appeares by sundry Letters Whereupon Doctor Brookes returned this answer to him concerning it in Answer of this Bishops Letter to him seized in his Study by Mr. Prynne dated from Cambridge Dece 15. 1630. wherin there is this desperate passage worthy Observation MY LORD c. I Dare say That their doctrine of Predestination is the roote of Paritanisme and Puritanisme the roote of all rebellions and disobedient intractablenesse in Parliament c and of all Schisme and Saucinesse in the Country nay in the Church it selfe this hath made many thousands of our people and to great a part of the Gentlemen of the Land Laytons in their hearts Besides where nothing is done the weeds will over-grow the Corne as they doe For last Parliament they left their word Religion and the cause of Religion and began to use the name of Church and our Articles of the Church of England c. and wounded our Church at the very heart with her owne name And by pretence of putting downe Arminianisme and defence of that Church against which indeed they tooke up Armes so that now they that hold the very opinions of Penry and Wâ—gington of Hacket and Coppinger in their beginning and others of whom some were hangd most imprisoned many deprived and some censured in the Starre-Chamber for seditious persons and Enemies to the Church of England they I say that hold the same opinions cry out now the Church of England and will have the Church of England to be theirs I could justifie this and much more but your Lordship knowes these things to be so better then I c. What grosse aspersions he here casts upon the Parliament and Anti-Arminians is so apparent as needs no explanatory or aggravating Commentary On the 27. of Novem. 1630. Doctor Martin this Bishops houshold Chaplaine a professed Arminian licensed a Booke for the Presse intituled An Historicall Narration of the judgment of some must learned and Godly English Bishops holy Martyrs and others concerning Gods Election and the Merits of Christs death set forth by I. A. of Ailward a late Seminary Priest and printed for Samuell Nealand 1631. The whole scope of this Book was to prove the Martyrs and first Reformers of our Church in K. Ed. the 6. and Q. Maries dayes and the beginning of Q. Elizabeths Raigne to be Arminians and Arminianisme the established Doctrine of our Church The first 66 pages of this Booke
conteine The Coppy of an Answer unto a certaine Letter wherein the Answerer purgeth himselfe and others from Pelagius Errors and from the Error of Free-will or Justification of Workes wherewith he seemed to bee charged by the said Letter And further hee sheweth wherein he differeth in judgment from certaine English Writers and Preachers whom hee chargeth with teaching false doctrine under the name of Predestination This Treatise writes he was published about the second or third yeare of Queene Elizabeth by a Protestant Divine who florished both in the time of King Edward and Queene Elizabeth and in the time of Queene Mary for his Conscience endured voluntary exil but he names not the Author in particular nor produceth any warrant for this Encomium of him The residue of the Booke are some mistaken perverted fragments called out of Bishop Hoopers Preface upon the Commandements and Father Latymers Sermons concerning which Booke Master Prynne gave in this evidence upon his Oath That it was the greatest affront and imposture ever offered to or put upon the Church of England in any age deserving the highest Censure of the first discovery whereof God made him the only Instrument For as soone as this Book was printed one Coppy of it was brought him by a Friend who informed him that it was licensed by Master Martin the Bishops Arminian Chaplaine that the Bishop himselfe had given order the Booke should not be published till he had presented one of them to the King and gained his Royall approbation thereunto That a day or two after the Booke was published by the Bishops direction One Copy whereof comming to the late learned Sir Humfrey Linds hands he was very much troubled thereat upon its perusall whereupon hee repaired to Master Prynne at Lincolnes-Iaue with the Booke desiring him to take some paines to give a speedy answer to it being as he averred a most dangerous Book making more for the spreading and justifying of Arminianisme then any Booke formerly published To which Master Prynne replyed that he had no leisure and lesse encouragement to answer it being then just before vexed in the High Commission for his Perpetuity and other of his Bookes written against Arminians Wherefore Sir Humfrey himselfe who had more leisure friends and abilities then himselfe might doe well to returne an answer to it Who thereupon replyed to Master Prynne that none was so fit to answer it as himselfe who had perused more ancient English Writers and was better versed in them then any man he knew Whereunto Master Prynne rejoyned That he conceaved there was no need at all for himselfe or any man else to answer this booke for that there were two answers to it already in print To which Sir Humfrey replyed it was impossible for that this Book came forth but that morning unto which Mr. Pryn answered that the greatest part and maine substance of this Narration was answered Verbatim in two printed Books long before either of them was born and to give him fall satisfaction therein hee shewed him two printed answers thereunto and discovered the whole Imposture to him in that manner as he related it at the Lords Barre First he produced to him now to the Lords the Originall printed Copy of the foresaid answer made unto a certaine Letter c. which had all the symptoms of an unlicensed Pamphlet there being neither Authors nor Printers name nor place where nor yeare when it was printed to be found in the Title or any other part of the Book nor the least mention where or by whom it was to be sold Therefore it was doubtlesse printed by stealth in a Corner and not by any publike allowance its entry not being extant in the Stationers-Hall Next he produced two ancient answers in print to this pernicious Pamphlet The first of them written by Iohn Veron a very learned man Chaplaine to Queene Elizabeth and Divinity Lecturer in the Cathedrall of Pauls in the beginning of her Raigne to whom he Dedicated his answer to this Pamphlet Imprinted at London by John Tysdale by publike authority In which answer intituled An Apologie or Defence of the Doctrine of Predestination set fort by the Queens Highnesse her most humble and obedient servant John Veron and Dedicated to her Majestie wee have the name of the namelesse Author of this Arminian Pamphlet the occasion of compiling it and the quality of the Author expressed to the full together with a compleat answer therunto The Authors name is therein averred to be one Champeneyes f. 20. 31. 37. 40. 41. 42. His condition and quality is therein thus expressed f. 16. But in this I comfort my selfe that his tongue is known to be no slander For the like did hee most proudly attempt in your most Gratious Brother good King Edward the sixths dayes AGAINST ALL THE GODLY PREACHERS OF THAT TIME calling them marked Monsters of Anti-Christ and men voyd of the Spirit of God for none be they never so Godly never so earnest and faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard have the Spirit of God or doe know the efficacy of it but he only as many godly persons be able to testifie to his face that he did therefore and for MANT OTHER ABOMINABLE ERRORS which he then stoutly maintained BEARE AT THAT TIME A FAGGOT AT PAVLS CROSSE Father Coverdale making then the Sermon there Belike fearing now the like punishment and that he should be compelled to revoke his Pelagian-like opinion hee durst not for all his proud boast set his owne name to his rayling and venemous bookes nor yet suffer them to be sold openly or publikly in the Booke-binders shops but cowardously suppressing both his owne name and the name of the unwise and foolish Printer got the whole Impression into his hands that so he might in hugger-mugger send them unto his privie friends abroad whom be like he suspected to be of his Affinity and damnable opinion How be it this could not be wrought so privily but that within a while some of his bookes came into my hands whereby shortly after the Printer was knowne and brought to his Answer whom this stout Champion of Pelagius hath left in the bryars and least he himselfe should be faine to shew a reason of his Doctrine doth keepe himselfe out of the way still and dares not once shew his face If he be able to maintaine his Doctrine against my booke to let him come forth and play the man I am ready at all times to yeeld unto the truth and unto the sincere teachers thereof After this f. 20. he stiles Champenyes The blinde guide of the freewill men f. 37. Champenyes a very Pelagian and consequently a ranke Papist p. 40. hee suffereth the Divell by such Sectaries as Champenyes is to sow his lyes abroad c. And f. 41. Champenyes is the Standard-bearer of the freewill men What an abominable Imposture was it then for this new Pamphleter to stile him A Protestant Divine who flourished
in the time of K. Edward and Q. Elizabeth and in the time of Q. Mary for his conscience endured voluntary exile And to place him in the front of the most learned and Godly English Bishops holy Martyrs and others that suffered Martyrdome in the daies of Q. Mary for the truth and Gospell of Christ Jesus in which number he is Registred in the Title Page and placed before Bishop Hooper and Father Latymer in the Book it selfe The occasion of writing this unlicenced obscure Pamphlet was as followeth Iohn Veron being Divinity Lecturer in Paules Cathedrall in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth handled the Doctrine of Predestination and other incident Points thereto belonging in direct opposition the Popish Pelagian and now Arminian Tenets which Lectures he soone after published in Print and dedicated to Q. Elizabeth in a booke intituled A Fruitfull Treatise of Predestination c. Printed at London for JOHN TYLDALE about the second yeare of Queene Elizabeths Raigne against which Lectures this Champnyes taking some exceptions published this Anonimous Answer by way of a Letter which Veron soone after answered almost verbatim in his authorized Apology dedicated to the Queen whereto Champeneys never replyed After which this Letter was largly answered word for word from the very Title page to the end thereof in a Book Intituled An Apology or Defence of the English Writers and Preachers with Cerberus the Three-Headed Dogge of Hell chargeth with false Doctrine under the name of Predestination written by Robert Crowley Clerke a fugitive for Religion in Queene Maries dayes and an eminent laborious Preacher in those times Vicar of Saint Giles without Criplegate in London Imprinted at London in Pater-Noster-Rowe at the signe of the Starre by Henry Denham Anno 1566. Octob. 14. Seene and allowed according to the order appointed In which booke this Pamphlet which the Bishop and his Agents now obtrude upon us as the received Doctrine of our prime Martyrs and of the Church of England in King Edward the 6th and Queene Elizabeths Reignes was by publique Authority in the name of all the Orthodox Writers and Preachers of England refuted as directly contrary to the received Doctrine of our Martyres Writers Preachers Church and censured as Pelagiau and Popish in both these ancient printed Answers It must needs therefore be an inexpiable insufferable abuse in this Archbishop and his Instruments thus to revive reprint this exploded Erronious Arminian Treatise in the yeare 1631 and obtrude it on us as the received Doctrine of our Martyrs and Church of England in the beginning of Reformation whereas there was nothing lesse on purpose to propagate his Arminian Errors and strengthen that lesuiticall faction After this Mr. Prynne produced Bishop Hoopers Confession and Protestation of his faith made to the whole Parliament An. 1550. in King Edwards dayes His comfortable Exposition upon the Psalmes London 1580. his Articles upon the Creed London 1584. Artic. 3. to 15. 17. 21. 25. 29. 30. 33. 36. 38. to 56 62. 67. 68. 91. to 99. wherein he expresly in terminis refutes those Arminian opinions which this our Author wold wrest out of the words of his Preface to the Commandements contrary to his intention together with divers Passages in Father Latimers Sermons expresly against the Arminian Tenets which explicate his other misapplyed Clauses in the Hystoricall Naration All which Mr. Pryn then shewed to Sir Humfry Lynde to his great satisfaction then desired him to repaire to Bishop Laud in his name to acquaint him with the premises and this desperate Imposture he had obtruded on our Church to his eternall Infamie and thereupon to advise him speedily to call in and burne this dangerous seducing booke or else he would prosecute him to the uttermost for this abuse Sir Humfry accordingly acquainted the Bishop his Chaplin Martin herewith but yet they took no course to suppresse the Booke whereupon Mr Prynne repaired to Lambheth to Archbishop Abbot acquainted him with the execrablenesse of this imposture shewed him the severall old Answers to this new printed Pamphlet with the expresse positions of Bishop Hooper and Bishop Latymer contrary to those imputed to them in this Narration desiring him to call in this dangerous Historicall Narration with all severity and to cause it to be publikely burnt to reprint the old Answers to it and withall to give him leave to prosecute Bishop Laud his Chaplaine Martin with the publisher of this book in the high Commission for this insufferable abuse To which Archb. Abbot gave this answer that this booke did very much trouble him that he had sent to Bishop Laud about it who at first denied that his Chaplain licensed it but afterwards acknowledged it that he gave order to call it in but it was in a privat manner after most of the bookes vâ—nded that he never saw nor knew of these 2. old Answers to it therefore desired Mr. Pryn to leave them with him for a time promising faithfully to restore them and to give him an accompt of this businesse on the Saturday following In the meane time Mr. Prynne because this booke had done much harme in both the Vniversities sent downe some of these Answers of Veron and Crowly with some of Bishop Hoopers books to Oxf. Cambridg to some of his acquaintance there and to the Vniversity Lybrary at Oxford whither many resorted to peruse them to their great satisfaction and the Bishops dishonour by discovering this imposture to them On Saturday being Easter Eve Master Prynne repayred to Archbishop Ahbot for an Answer who told him that he had called in this offencive book seized on som of the copies which were caried into Stationers-hall that Bishop Laud had since been with him that he had shewed him the bookes there left who confessed his Chaplin Martÿn had licenced this Narration in which he had done very ill but he had given him such a ratling for his paines that hee would warrant His Grace hee should never meddle with Arminian Bookes or Opinions more To which Mr. Prynne replyed that indeed he had ratled him to very great purpose for no longer then yesterday in the afternoone his Chapline Martin Preaching the Passion Sermon at Paules Crosse publikly broached maintained Vniversall grace and Redemption with all the Arminian Errors contained in this Book and condemned in the Synol of Dort to the great offence of the Auditors as his owne Chaplains Dr. Buckner Master Austen and Dr. Featley could at large informe him and therefore the Bishop did most grosly abuse his Grace herein who should doe well to proceed against both of them and publikly censure them in the High-Commission or this grosse practise to the end the whole Kingdome might take notice of it and the Arminian party be thereby discouraged That the Bookes they had seized were but few the greatest part of the Impression being vented they were called in so slighty and in so private a manner that few or none took notice thereof and
therefore some publike censure ought to passe upon them the Books thus seized to be openly burnt else they would in a few monthes be sold openly againe to corrupt the people and no satisfaction at all given for this foule offence to the Church of England which Archbishop Abbot confessed to be true and said he would take some Order in it but by this Bishops power there was nothing more done against the Licenser Compiler or Booke which soone after was as publikely sold as if it had neverbeene called in to the perverting of many in their judgments who knew not of this grand Imposture now publikly discovered at the Lords Barre by all the forementioned books themselves there produced and the testimony of Master Prynne upon Oath seconded by the Stationers booke of entries and the testimonies of Master Sparke and Master Walley Doctor Martin for this good service was presently after by this Bishop advanced to a great living and likewise to the headship of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge instead of other punishment Master Prynne for his paines in derecting this fraudulent dealing of the Bishop and his Chaplaine by way of revenge was soone after by this Bishops meanes imprisoned in the Tower and most severely censured in the Starre-Chamber for his Booke called Histrianastix though Licensed by Authority in which he made some mention of this imposture concealed from the most so fatall was it in those times for any man out of Conscience or publike ends to oppose the Bishops Arminian designes such a Stirrop to mount up to preferments to advance them After this the Archbishops Chaplaine Doctor Haywood on the 26. of August 1634 licensed Booke intituled Collectiones Theologica writ by Thomas Chune and Dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury himselfe in which hee justified the Arminian Errors and the Church of Rome to be a true Church whereof there were two Impressions in one yeare yet neither the Author nor Booke once questioned though publikely complained of by Doctor Bastwicke at his Censure in the High-Commission where the Archb. openly justified it In the yeares 1636. and 1639. the Arminian Errors were defended by Bishop Mountague in print in his Pars. 1. 2. Originum Ecclesiasticarum Gods Love to mankinde and by sundry others without controle On the contrary Doctor Twisse his Booke in answer of Arminius though writ in Latine was refused License by the Bishop and his Arminian Chaplaines Bray and Baker and his answers to Doctor Jackson and the Arminian Pamphlet intituled Gods love to Mankind suppressed some Lectures of Bish Davenant and Sermons of Doctor Clerke against the Arminians were likewise stopped at the Presse and not suffered to be printed with their other Lectures and Sermons What Bookes against Mountague and the Arminians were called in suppressed and the Authors Printers Dispersers of them severely prosecuted in the High-Commission in the Yeares 1628. and 1629 Wee have already evidenced Only wee shall informe you or one or two Presidents more of later date Doctor George Downham Bishop of Derry in Ireland publishing a Booke in that Kingdome against the Arminians and the Totall and finall Apostacie of the Saints from Grace about the Yeare 1630. Some of them comming over into England Bishop Laud caused a strict Letter to be written in his Majesties name to Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury for the calling in and suppressing it within the Realme of England where it was accordingly seized on and another Letter to Doctor Vsher Archbishop of Armagh for the suppressing and seizing thereof in the Realme of Ireland Which was manifested by the Docket Booke in the signet Office where entreyes of those Letters are made in Aug. 1631. and by this Letter of Bishop Vsher to Bishop Laud found in his study at Lambheth indorsed with his owne hand and arrested by Master Prynne which fully discovers that hee was the sole or principall occasion of his Majestices Letters for calling in this Booke which hee seconded with his owne Letter to Bishop Vsher for that purpose who returned this answer to him My most honoured Lord THe 8th of October I received your Letters of the 22. of August c. The last part of your Lordships Letter concerneth the Bishop of Derryes Book for the calling in whereof the 15th day of October I received His Majesties Letters dated at Woodstocke the 24. of August whereupon I presently sent out warrants and caused all the Bookes that were left unsent into England to be seized upon What did passe heretofore in the Presse at Dublin I had no eye unto because it was out of my province and the care J supposed did more properly belong unto my brother of Dublin But seeing His Majestic hath been pleased to impose that charge upon me I will God willing take order that nothing hereafter shall be published contrary unto His Majesties sacred direction It seemeth Your Lordship did conceive that my Lord of Derryes booke came out since the Historie of Gotteschalchus whereas it was published above halfe a yeare before whereby it came to passe that all the Coppies almost both in Ireland and England were dispersed before the Prohibition came forth The matter is not new as Your Lordship hath rightly observed but was long since preached in Saint Pauls Church when Doctor Bancroft was your Lordships Predecessour in that See at which time the Treatise of Perseverance was to have beene published with Doctor Downams Lectures upon the 15th Psalme at as the very end of that Booke is partly intimated And in the History of Gotteschalchus Your Lordship may see your owne observation fully verefied that after Prelates had written against Prelates and Synods against Synods these things could have no end untill both sides became weary of contending But sure I am I have made Your Lordship weary longere this and therefore it is high time now to end Therefore craving pardon for that prolixitie I humbly take leave and rest Your Honours faithfull Servant Iace Armachanus Droghe da Novemb. 8. 1631. By this Letter it is apparent that this Prelate whiles Bishop of London exercised a kind of Patriarchicall Jurisdiction for suppressing all Orthodox Bookes against the Arminians both in England and Ireland and that his commands in this kinde were punctually executed by those Archbishops in both Kingdomes who should have most stoutly opposed his Arminian Innovations About the Palsgraves first comming into Engl. An. 1635. there was a Book printed intituled the Palsgraves Religion containing the sum of the Religion professed in the Palatinate Churches translated out of a printed Latine Coppy which Archbishop Laud caused to bee strictly called in and suppressed only because it glanced at the Arminian Errors and bowing at the Name of JESUS as not warranted by Phil. 29. 10. which was proved by the testimonies of Master Prynne Michaell Sparke Senior and others What policies besides the forementioned Royall Declaration and Proclamation this Arch-Prelate contrived and practised to suppresse all preaching against Armianisme in the
His Majesties Commissioners to this strict authority that J cannot say but sure J am that till that time the Lords day never had attained such credit as to be thought an Article of the faith though of some mens fancies Nor was it like to be of long continuance it was so violently followed THE WHOLE BOOKE BEING NOW CALLED IN and in the place thereof the Articles of the Church of England confirmed by Parliament in that Kingdome Anno 1634. Vniformity with the Church of England was the pretence for revoking these Articles but the reall cause was because they defined in terminis The Pope to be Antichrist the Church of Rome to be no true Church the Lords day to be totally sanctfied and all the Arminian Tenets to be erronious contrary to the established Doctrine both of the Church of England and Ireland Grand obstacles to this Arch-Preltats Popish designes and therefore necessary to bee sette aside These Articles being thus repealed the Archbishop soon after sent over Master Chapple the most notorius seducing Arminian in the whole Vniversity of Cambridge into Jreland to be President of the Colledge of Dublin there to poyson that Vniversity with his Arminian Drugs which he there publikely vented as Dr. Hoyle Divinity Reader in that Vniversity attested upon Oath who had frequent contestations with him concerning the same This Chapple joyning with Dr. Bramhall Chaplaine to the Lord Deputy Wentworth a professed Arminian who managed all the Ecclesiastical affaires of that Church under the Archbishop and Lord Deputy raised a great party there to oppose and suppresse the truth What influence this Arch-Prelate likewise had upon the Prelates and Clergy of Scotland and how farre he proceeded in introducing Arminianisme by it Popery into the Church of Scotland is so largely demonstrated by M. Baily in his Canterburians selfe-conviction the last Edition that we shall not here insist upon it And thus we have given you a true and Copious Evidence of this Arch-Prelates endeavours to undermine our established Religion by introducing fomenting dangerous Arminian Errors in all our three Kingdomes of purpose to Vsher Popery into them by insensible degrees through this Iesuiticall devise We shall now proceed to his varius attemps and endeavours to undermine the established Protestant and advance the Romish Religion in our Churches by introducing broaching maintaining printing publishing all kind of Doctrinall points of Popery by suppressing Bookes and purging out Passages against them in old and new writers by promoting protecting the Propugners discouraging persecuting the oppugners of Popish Assertions Sermons Pamphlets and sundry other practises The Authorizing Printing dispersing Popish Bookes Doctrines and prohibiting contrary Impressions to refute them being the most pernitious destructiue prevalent project of all others to undermine Religion seduce corrupt both the present and future Generations with Popish Errors and set up Popery in its full vigor we shall begin with this Archbishops various practises concerning the Authorising printing dispersing of Popish prohibiting suppressing purging corrupting Orthodox Bookes against Popery wherein he directly traced the Popish Prelates Jesuites footsteps The Pope with Popish Prelates and Jesuites being Masters of the printing Presses in most parts had foure principall wayes to advance Popery and suppresse the Protestant Religion in relation only to printing The first was to License and print sundry Books and Discourses from time to time upon al occasions in defence of their Erronious Popish Tenets against the Protestants The second to prohibit sundry speciall Treatises against Popery to bee printed reprinted dispersed or read and to seize on and suppresse them in all places with greatest diligence when printed The third to purge out the principall Passages Motives Invectives against Popery and its abuses in all old printed Books ere they should bee reprinted and out of all new Bookes tendred to the Presse before they could gaine License to passe it The fourth to punish the Authors Printers dispersers of any prohibited or unlicensed Books against Popery with the severest censures all which is abundantly evident by their severall Indices Librorum Prohibitorum and Librorum Expurgandorum by the Provinciall Councell of Sennes Anno 1528. Apud Surium Concil Tom. 4. p. 718. to 723. Laurentius Bochellius Decreta Ecclesia Gall lib. 1. Tit. 10. De Libris vetitis cap. 1. to 29. The Statute of 34 and 35. H. 8. c. 1. Master Fox his Acts and Monuments the old Edition pag. 536. 573. 680. 450. 1335. c. Dr. Iames his Index Generalis Librorum prohibitorum a Pontifieijs c. Oxon 1627. Antonij Posseâ—ini Bibliothesa selecta with sundry others The Arch-bishop in imitation of this their policy first of all ingrossed the sole power of licensing all new Bookes of Divinity into his owne his Chaplaines and Creatures hands so as nothing could passe the Presse with publique approbation but by his or their precedent approbation without danger of ruine to the Authors Printers Stationers Venders Dispersers And because he feared and experimentally discerned that when Stationers or Printers were restrained to print new Bookes against Popery they would presently fall to reprint old ones formerly licenced by Authority to prevent this inconvenience to the Popish party he procured this ensuing Decree of his owne contriving to be ratified by the Lords in the Starre-Chamber then sent it to the Stationers to print and commanded them punctually to observe it whereby he Monopolized the sole power of authorizing Divinity Bookes for the Presse to himselfe and his Agents and restrained the reprinting of all Books though formerly printed by Authority without a speciall review and relicencing of them by him and his Chaplaines This Decree was intituled A Decree of Star-Chamber concerning Printing made the first day of July 1637. Imprinted at LONDON by Robert Barker c. 1637. This Decree in the Printed Order of Star-chamber prefixed thereunto is Expresly alleaged to be drawne and Penned by the advice of the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London Lord High Treasurer of ENGLAND and of the Lord Keeper the Lord chiefe Justices and Lord chiefe Barron when it was the Archbishops project only who sent it to the Presse the others names being used only for conformity as M. Walley others attested upon Oath We shall rehearse only such clauses thereof as are most observable pertinent to our purpose 2. Jtem That no person or persons whatsoever shall at any time print or cause to be imprinted any Booke or Pamphlet whatsoever unlesse the same Booke or Pamphlet and also all and every the Titles Epistles Prefaces Proems Preambles Introductions Tables Dedications and other matters or things whatsoever thereunto annexed or therewith imprinted shall be first lawfully licenced and authorized only by such person and persons as are hereafter expressed and by no other and shall be also first entred into the Registers Booke of the Company
of Stationers upon paine that every Printer offending therein shall be for ever hereafter disabled to use or exercise the Art of Mysterie of Printing and receive such further punishment as by this Court or the high Commission Court respectively as the severall causes shall require shall be thought fitting That all other Bookes whether of Divinity Phisick Philosophie Poetry or what soever shall be allowed by the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury or Bishop of London for the time being or by their appointment or the Chancellours or Vice-Chancellors of either of the Vniversities of this Realme for the time being Alwayes provided that the Chancellour or Vice-Chancellour of either of the Vniversities shall Licence only such Booke or Bookes that are to be printed within the limits of the Vniversities respectively but not in London or else where not medling either with Bookes of the common Law or matters of State 5. Item That every Merchant of bookes and person and persons whatsoever which doth or hereafter shall buy import or bring any booke or bookes into this Realme from any parts beyond the Seas shall before such time as the same booke or bookes or any of them be delivered forth or out of his or their hand or hands or exposed to sale give and present a true Catalogue in writing of all and every such booke and bookes unto the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury or Lord Bishop of London for the time being upon paine to have and suffer such punishment for offending herein as by this Court or by the said high Commission Court respectively as the severall causes shall require shall be thought fitting 6. Item That no Merchant or other person or persons whatsoever which shall import or bring any booke or bookes into the Kingdome from any parts beyond the Seas shall presume to open any Dry. Fat 's Bales Packes Maunds or other Fatdalls of Bookes or wherein Bookes are nor shall any Searcher Wayter or other Officer belonging to the Custome House upon paine of loosing his or their place or places suffer the same to passe or to be delivered out of their hands or custody before such time as the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterb. or Bishop of London or one of them for the time being have appointed one of their Chaplaines or some other Learned man with the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers or one of them and such others as they shall call to their assistance to bee present at the opening thereof and to view the same And if there shall happen to be found any seditious schismaticall or offensive Booke or Books they shall forthwith be brought unto the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Bishop of London for the time being or one of them or to the High Commission Office to the end that as well the Offender or Offenders may be punished by the Court of Starre-Chamber or the High Commission Court respectively as the severall causes shall require according to his or their demerit as also that such further course may bee taken concerning the same Booke or Bookes as shall be thought fitting It is further Ordered and Decreed that no Merchant Bookseller or other person or persons whatsoever shall imprint or cause to be imprinted in the parts beyond the Seas or elsewhere nor shall import or bring nor willingly assist or consent to the importation or bringing from beyond the Seas into this Realme any English Bookes or part of bookes or bookes whatsoever which are or shall be or the greater or more part whereof is or shall be English or of the English tongue whether the same Booke or Bookes have beene here formerly printed or not upon paine of the forfeiture of all such English Bookes so imprinted or imported and such further censure and punishment as by this Court or the said High Commission Court respectively as the severall causes shall require shall be thought meet 18. Item That no person or Persons doe hereafter reprint or cause to reprinted any booke or bookes whatsoever THOUGH FORMERLY PRINTED WITH LICENCE without being revived and a new Licence obtained for the reprinting thereof Alwayes provided that the Stationer or Printer be put to no other charge hereby but the bringing and leaving of two printed Copies of the Booke to be printed as is before expressed of written Copies with all such additions as the Author hath made XXIV Item The Court doth hereby declare their firme resolution that if any person or persons that is not allowed Printer shall hereater presume to set up any Presse for printing or shall worke at any such Presse or set or Compose any Letters to be wrought by any such Presse he or they so offending shall from time to time by the Order of this Court be set in the Pillory and Whipt through the Citie of London and suffer such other punishment as this Court shall Order or thinke fit to inflict upon them upon Complaint or proofe of such offence or offences or shall be otherwise punished as the Court of High Commission shall think fit and is agreeable to their Commission XXV Item That for the better discoverie of printing in Corners without Licence The Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers for the time being or any two Licensed Master Printers which shall be appointed by the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury or Lord Bishop of London for the time being shall have power and Authority to take unto themselves such assistance as they shall thinke needfull and to search what Houses and Shoppes and at what time shall thinke fit especially Printing Houses and to view what is in Printing and to call for the Licence to see whether it be Licensed or no and if not to seize upon so much as is printed together with the severall Offenders and to bring them before the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury or the Lord Bishop of London for the time being that they or either of them may take such further Order therein as shall appertaine to Justice The Archbishop and his Confederates having accroached by coulour of this Decree the sole power of the Presse into their hands which they usurped without any such pretext of Authority long before the passing thereof began after the Popish guife in imitation of the Pope and Popish Inquisitors First to prohibit the re-printing and sale of sundry Orthodox Bookes formerly printed and sold by Authority of which we shall give you sundry notable instances One of the first Books we find prohibited by the Popish Prelates in England in King Henry the 8. his Reigne was the Bible and New Testament in English of Tyndallâ— translation and all other English Bibles and Testaments having any Annotations or Preambles which were ordered to bee out and blotted out of the said Bibles and Testaments in such sort as they could not bee perceived or read under paine of forfeiting 40s for every such Bible with Annotations or preambles as you may read in the Statute of 34. and 35. H. 8.
acquitted by the Court. 3ly That when he could not have his will of this innocent Gentleman one way he meditared present revenge another way proclamed it in open Court charging him with raising a Faction in the High-Commission Court when as his fellow Commissioners would not concur with him in his Factious prosecution to gratifie the Papists 4ly That hee bare an extraordinary affection to Popish but an extreame inveterate malice to true Protestant Saints and Martyers because hee was so farre incensed against Mr. Gillibrand and his Almanacke onely for omitting the names of false Popish Saints and Martyres and placing the names of our reall Protestant Martyres in their stead the truth whereof was then further manifested at the Bar by a memorable Passage in Doctor John Pocklingtons Altare Christianum licenced by Doctor Bray the Archbishops owne houshold Chaplaine as appeares by the printed Approbation prefixed to it and perused by the Archbishop himselfe who ordered it to be printed of which booke there being two editions Mr Pryn found both of them curiously guilded and bound up in the Archbishops Study at Lambheth in both of which this Passage remained uncorrected unexpunged wherein the Calender before the Booke of Martyres which Mr. Gellibrand imitated with our Godly Martyres are most grosly railed against censured traduced as Traytors Murderers Rebells Heretickes and the Popish Saints in whose places they were inserted proclaimed to be the holy Martyres and Confessors of Iesus Christ whose names are written in heaven in these very tearmes which you may find in the first Edition Pag. 92. and Edit 2. Pag. 114. This was the holy and profitable use of these Diptickes much like the List of persons CENSVRED BY HOLY CHVRCH called WITH SOME REPROACH OF TRVTH AND CHRISTIAN RELIGION Catalogus testium Veritatis collected into one volume by Flacius Illericus and enlarged since by others And as unlike a KALENDER that I have seene to wit that before Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments wherein THE HOLY MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS OF JESVS CHRJST who had not only place sometimes in these Dipticks but WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN ARE RASED OVT AND TRAITORS MVRDERERS REBELS AND HERETICKS SET IN THEIR ROOMES so as if Penry Hacket or Legat had come in time they might have challenged as orient and scarlet a dye as some of them Certainly more venome and malice could never have beene couched or Vented in fewer words against Mr. Fox his authorized Kalender to his Acts Monuments against our own English Martyres the Professors of the Protestant Religion in all ages so by consequence against our Religion it selfe then is comprised vented in these lines twice published in print in these Editions by this Arch-Prelates his Chaplaines speciall approbation without the least retractation of purpose to please the Popish party offended with Mr. Gellebrands Almanacke which this Bishop would have Martyred and burned for an Hereticke as our Martyres were to gratifie the Popish party much offended at it by which the whole World may clearely discerne his strong inclination his cordiall affection to them and their his palpable disaffection to us and our Religion We shall now proceed to other evidence About the latter end of the yeare 1636. Master Prynne being certainly informed of the Archbishops intention to procure a Decree in Starchamber prohibiting the reprinting of all old Bookes of Divinity unlesse they were first reviewed purged new Licenced by his Chaplaines or Agents before this Decree was ratified sent for Michael Spark Senior and perswaded him to reprint some three or foure old Bookes of speciall use against Popery ere this Decree should passe by name Thomas Beacons Display of the Popish Masse and his Reliques of Rome as being then most seasonable opposite to the Archbishops Romish designes formerly printed cum privilegio in Queen Elizabeths Reigne An. 1560. yea dedicated to all the Bishops of England and highly approved by them Hereupon he caused Mistresse Anne Griffin to begge leave of the Company of Stationers who were owners of those Coppies to reprint these Bookes which being granted she printed off his Display of the Popish Masse and began to Print his Reliques of Rome No sooner was the first of them published abroad but a Papist seeing one of them newly printed lying to be sold in a Book-sellers shop in Paules Church-yeard reading the Title thereof grew very angry at the Booke being a very solid learned Treatise against the Popish Masse with the Ceremonies accompaning it and said hee wondered much that the Archbishop would suffer such Bookes to be Printed in this Age adding that perchance he knew not of it and therefore he would goe over to Lambheth and informe him thereof to the end it might be suddainly called in ere it were dispersed which it seemes he performed accordingly for the very next morning the Archbishop called in this Booke very strictly sending his Pursevants and Officers to seize on all of them they could meete with and understanding that Mistresse Griffin printed it he sent for her to Lambheth where he in a very angry manner demanded of her why she did reprint this book against the Masse NOW above all other times whether she could find no other time but this to print it To which she answered she did it for want of other work to imploy her servants who else must sit still seeing they could get no good New bookes Licenced Then he demanded of her how shee durst reprint it without a new License she answered She did it by leave of the Company of Stationers and knew of no order to the contrary After which he threatned her with the high Commission and told her that if she printed any more old Books though formerly licensed without a review and new licensing of them by his Chaplaines he would put downe her printing House and she should never print againe though there was then no Order to the contrary whereupon she durst not proceed to print his Reliques of Rome but gave it over All which was fully proved by the severall Oathes of Mr. Prynne Michaell Spark senior Anne Griffin such an Arch-favourer of Popery was this Prelate then grown that he would not permit this Treatise against the verry Popish Masse it selfe to be reprinted though formerly oft printed cum Privilegio growes angry at the printing of it causeth it presently to be suppressed upon a Papiste Information and thus checks the Printer Was not Popery grown to a strong head among us when not so much as one small old Booke against the Masse and Idolatry of it might passe the Presse but it must presently be suppressed by this Arch bishops speciall command and the Printer thus threatned for it Yet he forsooth if wee dare believe his Protestations was then as averse from as great an Enemy to Popery as any mortall breathing About the same time a Booke intituled The Palsegraves Religion containing the Faith and Confession of the Churches of the Palatinate formerly
at the Communion and in the Visitation of the sicke and in the second part in the Homily of Repentance As therefore in generall I doe acknowledge in the words of the aforesaid Homily that it is most evident and plaine that this Auricular Confession hath not his warrant of Gods Word that therefore being not led with the conscience thereof if we with feare and trembling and with a tru contrite heart use that kind of confession which God doth command in his word namely an unfeighned confession unto Almighty God himselfe then doubtlesse as he is faithfull and true hee will forgive us our sinnes and make us cleane from all our wickednesse so in the case of a troubled or doubtfull conscience I do conforme my opinion unto the direction of our Church which in her Liturgie doth exhort and require those whose Consciences are troubled with any weighty matter to a speciall confession so that they who cannot quiet their owne Consciences are to repaire to their owne or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods word to open to them their griefe that so they may receive such ghostly Counsell advise and comsort as their consciences may be relieved and by the ministery of Gods word they may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of their Conscience and the avoyding of all scruple and doubtfullnesse But it is against true Christian liberty that any man should be bound to the numbring of his Sinnes as it hath beene used heretofore in times of Ignorance and blindnesse This I do acknowledge to be the Doctrine of the Church of England concerning Confession and to it I do ex animo subscribe and am heartily sory for what ever I have de-livered to the contrary Mr. Adams being backedby the Popish Heads refused to make this Recantation though just and faire professing he was not conscious to himselfe of any thing he had said in his Sermon contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England Whereupon at a full meeting of the Doctors it was put to the Vote Whether this Recantation should be enjoyned him or no Dr. Ward Dr. Bambridge Dr. Bacheroft Dr. Love Dr. Holdsworth and the Vicechancellor voted he should make this Recantation but Dr. Collins Dr. Smith Dr. Cumber Dr. Cosin Dr. Lany Dr. Martin Dr. Sterne and Dr. EDEN Voted that hee should not make it justifying even the use and necessity of Confession to a Priest necessitate medij to obtaine absolution and affirming that they would not Vote Master Adams had delivered any thing contrary to the Doctrine of the Church of England in this point of Confession and thereupon acquitted him But the Vice-chancellor adjourning the businesse till another day when 12. Doctors only were present and Dr. Smith Dr. Cumber Dr. Martin and Dr. Eden who formerly acquited him absent by the helpe of Dr. Paske his voyce with much opposition voted that Mr. Adams should make the forementioned Recantation to which hee and those who Voted with him subscribed their hands Dr. Cosin Dr. Lany Dr. Beale Dr. Sterne and one more subscribed likewise their dissents thereunto When this was done all was done and Mr. Adams without making any submission or Recantation at all was dismissed and so encouraged that he resolved to maintain this his opinion in his Act questions The whole proceedings in this businesse together with the Copy of Mr. Adams his Sermon and the Recantation forementioned were sent up to London by Dr. Cosin and found by Mr. Prynne in the Archbishops Study endorsed with his owne hand thus Received Mach 16. 1637. Doctor Cosins his Letter about the proceedings of Brownrig Vicechancellor of Cambridge against Mr. Adams for his Sermon about Confession Ianuary 25. 1637. c. Who instead of censuring concurred with Dr. Cosins and the other Popish Doctors in protecting and justifying Mr. Adams in his grosse Popish Doctrines of Auricular Confession and Absolution which he endeavoured with all his might to introduce And no wonder for in his owne Diary he writ this memoriall with his owne hand June 15. 1622 I became CONFESSOR to the Lord of Buckingham and Iune 16. being Trinity Sunday he received the Sacrament at Greenwitch And all Courtiers know that hee was since for many yeares not only a privy Councellor but Confessor to his Majesty at least Commonly so reputed which made him so earnest to bring all others under the yoak of Confession since he had brought these Grandees under it Yea so farre had this Popish Tenet of the necessity of Confession and absolution by Priests prevailed among us by these authorized Bookes and Sermons generally preached for them that Bishop Mountague in his Printed Visitation Articles for the Diocesse of Norwich Anno 1638. made it a crime presentable in Ministers not to presse the Doctrine and practise of it upon the people at least-wise in the holy time of Lent as appeares by this memorable Article of his Tit. 7. Artic. 4. Doth the Minister especially exhort the Parishoners TO MAKE CONFESSJON OF THEIR SINNES TO HIMSELFE or some other learned grave and discreet Minister ESPECIALLY IN LENT against the holy time of Easter that they may receive comfort and ABSOLVTION so to become worthy receivers of such holy misteries How farre the Archbishops Agents and Emissaries urged exercised Popish Auricular Confession not only in England but Jreland too we shall instance but in one memorable example The Archbishop in his Paper of Remembrances to the Lord Deputie of Ireland when he first went over thither a Copy whereof Master Prynne met with in his Study made this speciall request to him in behalfe of one Mr. Croxton a young Minister and Creature of his I heartily pray your Lordship to take notice of one Mr. Croxton whom J send over with your letters to my Lord Mount Norris I hope he will prove so honest and so able a man as may do good service in those parts if God blesse him with life And I doubt not but as it shall fall in your way Your Lordship will bestow some preferment upon him for his maintenance for which I shall thanke you This Croxton arriving in Ireland the Lord Deputy upon this recommendation of the Archbishop received him with all due respect and promoted him to severall Ecclesiasticall preferments there as appeares by his Letters of thankes to the Archbishop wherein he gives him the Popes Titles Holinesse and most holy Father as if he were a Pope This Croxton being thus advanced to promote the Archbishops designes at Easter in the Yeare 1638. caused all his Parishioners to come up to the High-Altar at Goran where hee was Incumbent and there Sacramentally to make their Confessions to him which the Protestants in those parts deemed a most strang and scandalous act declaming much against it Yet this audacious Popel in knowing how acceptable this Popish Innovation was to the Archbishop the more to ingratiate himselfe in his favour in a vaunting manner certified His Grace by a
penitents into the Church after they had done publike penance A solemn day was set a part for taking of publike penance for open faults by imposition of hands and sprinkling of ashes namely Ashwednesday by the Canon of the Councell of Agatha in Gratian This is the godly Discipline whereof our Church speaketh in the Commination of putting notorious sinners to open penance in the beginning of Lent and wisheth that it might bee restored againe And as Ashwednesday was appointed for putting notorious sinners to open penance so was MAUNDAY Thursday set a part for their absolutions P. 59. The godly discipline constantly practised in Churches and at Altars and the sad and malencholly mention of Penance Fasting and Prayer with other Austerities which the pietie of the times have but just cause to thinke of P. 63. This was done 40. dayes before Easter namely on Ashwednesday in Sack-Cloth and Ashes And for 8. dayes together before Easter they were to doe penance to fast to refraine all manner of pleasures though never so lawfull to stand bare foot upon Sack-cloth and to watch on Good-Friday all night or at least till two a Clock in the morning Shelfords five Treatises Pag. 71. Then they confessed their sinnes to God and their Minister for spirituall comfort and Councell then they endeavoured to make the best temporall satisfaction they could by Almes Prayer and Fastings and other workes of humiliation The Scots New Service Booke in the Commination against sinners with certaine prayers to bee used diverse times in the yeare and especially on the first day of Lent commonly called Ashwednesday To which there is this addition in justification of Popish penance made with the Arch-Bishops owne hand Brethren in the Primitive Church there was a godly discipline used that at the beginning of Lent notorious sinners were put to open Pennance and did humbly submit themselves to undergoe punishment in this world that their soules might be saved in the day of the Lord. All which is thus closed up by Bishop Mountague who after a long discourse in Justification of Confession and Penance concludes thus out of Pope Leo. Originum Ecclesiasticarum Tomi Prioris pars posterior Londini 1640. Pag. 467. Sect. 33. Christus enim ut cum B. Leone loquar Ecclesia Prapositis potestatem dedit ut Confitentibus actionem paenitentiae darent cosdem SALUBRI SATISFACTIONE PVRGARENT sic ad communionem Sacramentorum per januam reconciliationis admitterent 3. That we ought necessarily to give blinde Obedience to the Ecclesiasticall commands and directions of our Priests Confessors and spirituall Superiors THis desperate Popish Assertion was published and justified in these Authorized printed passages worthy our speciall observation Christs Epistle to a Devout Soule pag. 112. 113. 114. 116. Respect not the man who by my Ordinance is thy superior whether he be learned or unlearned but have regard to this only that he is thy superior by whom I will govern thee and in whom thou oughtest to obey me Wherefore I would have thee subject thy selfe unto him without any servile feare or scruple of thy Conscience and dispraising thine owne wisdome and Councell submit thy selfe to be governd by his judgment and opinion whatsoever he shall determine or appoint thee Walke in the path of Obedience and doe nothing at all without the Counsell of thy Pastor or Ghostly Father or Superiour esteeming that alwayes best which thy Superior shall thinke fittest doe all things according to the councell of thy Superior and submit thy selfe wholly to his will and discretion And Page 192. my inspirations never disagree from the Obedience that thou must carry to thy superiors therefore if thou submittest thy selfe to them and reliest in no respect upon thy owne selfe thou art sure to walke in simplicity and purity of heart Francis Sales his Introduction to a Devout Life pag. 334. 335. Obedience Charitie and Povertie are three excellent justruments unto perfection There are two sorts of Obedience the one necessary the other voluntary by necessary obedience thou must obey thy Ecclesiasticall Superiors as the supreame head c. Which is thus seconded by Christopher Dow in his Booke against Master Burton pag. 136. 137. Secondly I say that being done by the same Authority that first set them forth it is neither for him nor me nor any other of inferiour rancke to question them but with humble Reverence to submit to their judgments and to think them wiser and farre more fit to order those things that belong to their places than wee whom neither it concernes nor indeed can know the reasons that move them either to doe or alter any thing c. With whom Doctor Heylyn in his Coale from the Altar p. 2. Thus complyes in judgment Should we all be so affected as to demurre on the commands of our Superior in matters of exteriour Order and Publike Government till wee are satisfied in the grounds and reasons of their commandements or should we fly off from our duty at sight of every new devise that is offered to us we should finde a speedy dissolution in Church and State Which Doctor Pocklington thus closeth in his Altare Christianum pag. 180. What flood-gates this man sets wide open to let in a whole deluge of confusions impiety and Sacriledge into the Church if the Contents of his Letter in this particular might obtaine viz. That the Constitutions Orders Decrees appointed by Cannon or renewed by TRADITION of holy Church be not of absolute authority and require full obedience but are to be scanned and disputed 4. That Christians here must have Altars that these ought to be rayled in Altarwise at the East end of the Chancell and there bowed to and towards as to Gods mercy seate and the place of Christs chiefe reall presence upon earth and that there can be no true Sacrament or Consecration of it where there is no Altar THis is the Subject matter of many whole Bookes lately published authorized by the Archbishops Creatures and Chaplaines as Doctor Heylyns Coale from the Altar his Antidotum Lincolniense His Moderate answer to Master Henry Burton pag. 132. to 140. yea a thing expresly enjoyned by the Archbishop and others in the new Statutes for the Vniversity of Oxford in the new Statutes of diverse Cathedrals the new Cannons and by diverse Bishops in their Visitation Articles already mentioned We shall therefore insist only on some other authorized Bookes and passages to this purpose Wee shall begin with Doctor Iohn Pocklington his Sunday no Sabbath printed by the Arch-bishops approbation and his Chaplaines license p. 43. 44. 50. Habemus Altare we under the Gospell have an Altar Heb. 15. 10. and so is the Word Altar and Lords Table indifferently and alike anciently used these were some Tables or Altars of stone quia Christus est lapis angularis some were of Wood the better to expresse his death on the Tree these wooden Altars or Tables the furious Circumceflions brake downe in Saint
blessed body two reverent adorations Doctor Laurence in his Sermon before the King resolves thus Page 17. 18. As I like not those that say he is bodily there so I like not those that say his body is not there because Christ saith t is there and Saint Paul saith 't is there and the Church of England saith 't is there and the Church of God ever said t is there and that truly and substantially essentially and that not only by way of representation or Commemoration and yet without either con sub or trans which the antient Church said not by a reall and neverthelesse a spirituall and mysticall and supernaturall presentation and exhibition For why should our Saviour bid us take what he would not have us receive We must beleeve t is there we must not know what is there our faith may see it our sence cannot t is a mistery they all say and t were no mystery if t were knowne his presence they determined the manner of his presence they determined not they say he is there end they say the Lord knowes how For why should we seeke him naturally in the Communion whom naturally we cannot finde in the Wombe of the Virgin Doctor Pocklington in his Altare Christianum writes thus Page 108. 153. The people were not so prophane and unchristian not to performe their most humble and lowly reverence towards the most holy and sacred Altar where Christ is most truly and really present in the blessed Sacrament c. Altars because they are the seates and Chaires of estate where the Lord vouchsafeth to place himselfe amongst us quid est enim Altare nisi sedes corporis et sanguinis Christi as Optatus speaks have bin in all ages so greatly honoured and regarded of the most wise learned and most blessed Saints of God Doctor Heylin in his Cole from the Altar affirmes Page 15. Bishop Ridley doth not only call it the Sacrament of the Altar affirming thus that in the Sacrament of the Altar is the naturall body and bloud of Christ c. The Archbishop of Canterbury in his Speech in Star-Chamber hath this strange Passage which did much amuse the VVorld Page 47. To Almighty God I doubt not but yet it is versus Altare towards his Altar as the greatest place of Gods residence on earth I say the greatest yea greater than the Pulpit For there t is Hoc est corpus meum This is my Body But in the Pulpit t is at most but Hoc est verbum meum This is my word and as many men use the matter Hoc est verbum Diaboli This is the word of the Devill And a greater reverence no doubt is due to the Body than to the VVord of the Lord and so in relation answerably to the Throne where his Body is usually present than to the Seat whence his Word useth to be proclaimed c. These words doe necessarily imply a reall presence of Christs Naturall Body on the Altar not of his Sacramentall only For this sentence The greatest place of Gods residence on earth I say the greatest yea greater than the Pulpit for there t is Hoc est corpus meum C. But in the Pulpit t is at most but hoc est verbum meum clearely demonstrates that he meanes this only of Christs very naturall body For first he speakes of that Body of Christ to which the Deity is hypostatically united and ever present with Secondly of that body which drawes along with it the greatest presence and residence of God Himselfe on earth Thirdly of that body of Christ which is farre more worthy and honourable than the word of Christ Fourthly of that body to which a greater reverence no doubt is due than to the word of the Lord and so by relation to the Throne wherin his body is usually present then to the Seat where his word useth to be proclaimed Now all these cannot be intended of any representative or Sacramentall Body of Christ but onely of his Naturall body Therfore his cleare meaning can be no other but that Christs very natural body is really present on the Altar in the consecrated bread when the Sacrament is there administred And to put this out of doubt these passages in his Conference with Fisher p. 286. 293 294 295 296. intimate or rather clearely expresse as much All sides agree in the truth with the Church of England That in the most blessed Sacrament the worthy Receiver is by his Faith made spiritually partaker of the true and reall body and bloud of Christ TRVLY and REALLY I would have no man troubled at the words TRVLY and REALLY c. Bellarmine saith Protestants doe often grant That the TRVE and REALL BODY OF CHRIST IS IN THE EVCHARIST and T IS MOST TRAVE For the Calvinists at least they which follow Calvin himselfe do not only beleive that the TRVE and REALL BODY of Christ is received in the Eucharist but THAT IT IS THERE and that we partake of it VERE ET REALITER Nor can that place by any art be shifted or by any violence wrested from Calvines true meaning of the presence of Christ IN and AT the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist And for the Church of Engl. nothing is more plaine than that it believes and teaches The true and reall presence of Christ in the Eucharist unlesse A. C. can make a body no body and bloud no bloud Nay Bishop Ridley addes yet further That in the Sacrament IS THE VERY TRVE and NATVRALL BODY and BLOVD OF CHRIST that which was borne of the Virgin Mary which ascendod into Heaven which sits at the Right hand of God the Father which shal come from thence to judge the quick and the dead c. All which compared with his Alterations and Additions made with his owne hand in the Booke of Common Prayer which he would have obtruded on the Church of Scotland recited at large in A Necessary Introduction to his Tryall pag. 158. to 164. so grosly Popish that hee durst not hazard the giving of them in evidence to this particular point but pleaded the Act of Pacification and Oblivion in barre thereof as soone as ever they were but mentioned will undoubtedly manifest him a meere Papist in this particular and a professed Patron of the Reall presence Transubstantiation and the Masse it selfe 7. That Crucifixes Images and Pictures of Christ God Saints may bee lawfully profitably used set up in Churches and â—ught not to be demolished or removed thence HOw zealous the Archbishop with his Confederates were in defence of Images and Crucifixes in Churches how forward to introduce and set them up in their Chappell 's Churches Cathedralls Houses confirming this Popish position by their practise contrary to our Homilies Statutes Writers and how extreamely violent hee was against such who did by word or deed oppose them hath beene already at large demonstrated in the premises especially in the cases of Master Sherfield and Mr. Workman We shall
the damned Purgatory Limbus Jnfantum et Limbus Patrum This division be it granted them page 278. Gods Kingdome is not so narrowed but that he might well have more places then one Recepracles Repositories resting places for the Righteous Which he thus prosecutes in his Appeale page 236. Heaven so spatious extended so capations is not nor hath beene so narrowed in wherewith that there cannot be divers Designations Regions Habitations Mansions or Quarterings there page 237. They the Fathers were not in Hell but as they were not there so were they not likewise in Heaven strictly taken for the third Heaven that receptacle of the Righteous now together with the glorified body of our Saviour page 238. For that place was not then stantibus ac tunc fitting or accruing to them such a Royall habitation the None-such of God did not befit their then inferior states and conditions And in his Appar P. 476. Communem esse Patrum sententiam aliorumque doctissimorum Scriptorum nostrae aetatis et Confessions sanctorum aminas ante Christi resurrectionem non fuisse in Caelo Hieronimi testimoniae sunt innumera ante adventum Christiomnes and inferos ducebanturunde Jacob ad inferos discensurum se dicit et Evangelium docet magnum Chaos interpositum apud inferos Nota quoque ut Samuelem verè quoque in inferno fuisse credas et ante adventum Christi quamvis sanctos infernt lege detentos locum esse ait qui lacus vocatur et abissus in qua non erant aquae in qua animae recluduntur sive ad paenas P. 135. Obijciunt nullus tertius locus indicatur in Scriptura preter infernum dimnatorum et Caelum Resp Licet non indicaretur in scripturis alium esse locum tertium non tamen inde sequeretur non fuisse tertium quia multa sunt quae non indican tur in scripturis Many other passages of like nature might be added but these shall suffer 10. That there are Canonicall houres of Prayer which ought to be observed THis is the subject matter of Doctor Cozens his privat Devotions or HOWERS OF PRAYER printed three or foure several times one after another digested into Canonicall houres the practise whereof he not only there pleaded for but 〈◊〉 wise afterwards introduced in Peter House in the Vniversity of Cambridge 〈◊〉 mong other his Popish Innovasions as was attested upon Oath by Mr. 〈◊〉 and others The Archbishops owne private Manuscript Devotions under his owne 〈◊〉 seised by Mr. Prynne in his Chamber at the Tower were all digested into Canonicall houers in Imitation of the Houres of our Lady and other Popish Treatises of Devotion as was manifested by the Booke it selfe from Page 1. to 75. Doctor William Watts in his Mortification Apostolicall printed at London 1637. Page 47. thus Justifies the use of Canonicall houres For this purpose the night was devided into Canonicall houers or certaine times of rising to Prayers At midnight will I arise to give thankes unto the said the man after Gods owne heart Mark here that he praised not God lying but used to rise and doe it at other houers the Saints may sing a loud upon their Beds and the spouse may seeke her Christ in the Bed by night but when a Canonicall houer comes of which midnight was one David will rise to his devotions thus did the Apostles 100. At midnight Paule and Sylas prayed and sung praises unto God The morning watch was another Canonicall houer and this David was so carefull to observe that he oft times waked before it c. 11. That men have Free-will in Actions of Pietie BIshop Mountague in his Gagge determines thus Page 109. Man hath freewill in Actions of Pietie and such as belong unto his salvation For the concurrence of grace assisting with freewill The correspondency of freewill with Prescience Providence and predestination is much debated in your owne Schooles Page 116. Our conclusion and yours is beth one we cannot deny freedome of will which who so doth is no Cathelique no nor Protestant Which he thus seconds in his Appeale Page 75. 76. The Question of freewill is a point of very great obscurity fitting rather Schooles then popular eares or auditories if not what meane those many divisions amongst men touching freewill the nature state Condition of it since Adams fall the Concurrence and Cooperation thereof with Grace Page 99. There is freewill Man prevented by grace assisted putteth to his hand to procure Augmentation of that Grace as also continuance unto the end in that grace Page 95. Thus having with as great diligence as I could examined this Question inter parts of freewill I doe ingeniously confesse that I cannot finde any such materiall difference betweene the Pontificians at least of better temper and our Church So he Shelford in his five Treatises Page 203. writes thus The order for freewill is for man to which because it is the Highest God added his speciall grace And by this man travelleth either to his home of happinesse or to his home of heavinesse He proceeds thus Page 211. Herein stands his liberty and freedome to doe what he can and will what he will in the way of Grace and goodnesse wherein God will ayd him to go beyond himselfe pag. 105. O blessed Charity if thou hast this roote in thee thou shalt comprehend this bredth and length heigh and depth and thou shalt with these holy Saints say If I had beene in their Coates or had their occasions I would have done as they did I shall conclude with Index Biblicus printed at London 1640. Liberum arbitrium etiam post lapsus in homini mansit c. 12. That we are justified before God by Charity and good workers not by faith alone SHelford in his 5. Treatisies pag. 109. resolves thus The fulfilling of the Law justifieth but Charity is the fulfilling of the Law Ergo it justifieth Where the Abostle preferreth Charity to justifying faith he compareth them in the most excellentway and it is most manifest that the most exeellent way is in the way of our justification pag 120. Bona opera sunt efficienter necessaria ad salutem Gredere Iustitia est omnis et una salus At non sit olim tam malis semita nunquam Heroum lassos duxitad astra gradus Sed labor et virtus Christopher Dowe in his Innovations unjustly charged pag. 124. We must put all that we can we must not fly to naked imputation not by faith only c. pag. 127. Fr. 4 Sancta Clara that good workes are effectively necessary to salvation which position was intended and maintained in opposition to the Enemies of good workes of whom some deny their necessity others allowing their presence as requisite deny that they conduce any thing to the furtherance of salvation Sancta Clara his Deus Natura Gratia pag. 158. Hic pax facillime ineunda sic etiam D. Montacutius articulum be fide recte explicat pag. 159. Ecce igitur plane
fellowes that in their letter to Calvin depart from the constitution Ordinance and practice of the Apostles and Apostolicke men and call not this day the Lords day or Sunday but with the piety of Jeroboam make such a day of it as they have devised in their owne hearts to serve their owne turne and Anabaptising of it after the minde of some Iew hired to be the God Father therefore call it the Sabbath page 7. This name Sabbath is not a bare name or like a spot in their foreheades to know Labans sheep from Iacobs but indeed it is a Mistery of Iniquity intended against the Church c. page 13. But what doe I speake de integro die of a whole day do but that in keeping the Lords day which the Widdow did in her Almes that gave two mites sic tu duas horas so give the Lord two houres this if you do not beware you lose not integroru mannorum labores the Labours of many whole yeares Page 20. Others also for the Plots sake must uphold the name of Sabbath that stalking behinde it they may shoot against the services appointed for the Lords day Hence it is that some for want of witte too much adore the Sabbath as an Image dropt downe from Iupiter and cry before it as they did before the Golden Calfe This is an holy day unto the Lord whereas it is indeed the great Diana of the Ephesians as they use it whereby the mindes of their Proselites are so perplexed and bewitched that they cannot resolve whether the sinne be greater to bowle shoote or dance on their Sabbath then to commit Murder or the Father to cut the throat of his owne child All which doubts would soon be resolved by plucking of the Vizard of the Sabbath from the face of the Lords day which doth as well and truly become it as the Crowne of Thorns did the Lord himselfe This was plotted to expose him to damnable dirision and that was plotted to impose on it detestable superstition yet to die for it they will call it a Sabbath presuming in their zealous ignorance of guiltfull zeale to be thought to speake the Scripture phrase when indeed the Dregs of Ashdod flow from their Mouthes p. 21. With us the Sabbath is Saturday and no day else no ancient Father nay no learned man Heathen or Christian took it otherwise from the beginning of the world till the beginning of their Schisme in 1554. page 22. Many that see so little benefit will be suckt out of the constitutions of the Apostles practise and tradition of holy Church Doctrine of Godly and learned Fathers that they have got themselves heapes of Teachers that to serve their owne turnes will call and keepe the Lords day as a Sabbath and so prophane it with such outcries that the voyce of truth will become silent but with Moses liberavi animam meam Doctor Peter Heylin in his History of the Sabbath dedicated to his Majesty and printed by the Archbishops speciall approbation is every way as prophane and bitter against the morality and strict observation of the Lords-day Sabbath as Pocklinton we shall instance but in a Passage or two The first is in his Epistle to the Reader before the second Booke of his History in these termes And this part we have called the History of the Sabbath too although the institution of the Lords day and entertainment of the same in all times and ages since that Institution be the chiefe thing whereof it treateth for being it is said by some that the Lords Day succeeded by the Lords appointment into the place and rights of the Jewish Sabbath this booke was wholly to be spent in the search therof whether in all or any Ages of the Church either such doctrine had beene preached or such practise pressed upon the Consciences of Gods people And search indeed we did with all care and diligence to see if we could finde a Sabbath in any evidence of Scripture or writing of the holy Fathers or edicts of Emperours or decrees of Councells or finally in any of the publike Acts and Monuments of the Christian Church but after severall searches made upon the Alias and the Pluries wee still returne Non est inventus and thereupon resolve in the Poets language Et quod non invenit usquam esse putet nusquam that which is no where to be found may very strongly bee concluded not to be at all Buxdorfius in the eleventh Chapter of his Synagoga Judaica out of Antonius Margarita tells of the Jewes Quod die Sabbatino praeter animam consuetam praediti sunt alia that on the Sabbath day they are perswaded that they have an extraordinary soule infused into them which doth enlarge their hearts and rouse up their spirits Ut Sabbatum multo honorabilius peragere possint that they may celebrate the Sabbath with the greater honour And though this Sabbatharie soule may by a Pythagoricall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeme to have transimigrated from the Jewes into the bodyes of some Christians in these latter dayes yet I am able to give my selfe good hopes that by presenting to their view the constant practise of Gods Church in al times before and the consent of all Gods Churches at this present they may be dispossesed thereof without great difficulties It is but anima superflua as Buxdorfius calls it and may bee better spared then kept because superfluous To which wee shall annex these passages in the eight Chapter of this his second Booke Sect. 7. pag. 249. c. Thus upon search made and full examination of all parties wee finde no Lords Day-Sabbath in the Booke of Homilies no nor in any writings of particular men in more then thirty three yeares after the Homilies were published Then reciting Doctor Bounds opinion in his book of the Sabbath pag. 211. All lawfull pleasures and honest Recreations as Shooting Fencing Bowling which are permitted on other dayes were on this day to bee forborne No man to speake or talke of pleasures or any worldly matter he saith Most Magisterially determined more like a Iewish Rabbi then a Christian Doctor Yet Romish and Rabbinicall though this doctrine were it carried a faire face and shew of Piety at least in the opinion of the Common people c. Sect. 8. p. 255. 256. We may perceive by this that their intent from the beginning was to cry downe the Holy Dayes as superstitious Popish Ordinances that their new found Sabbath being placed alone and Sabbath now it must be called might become more eminent Nor were the other though more private effects thereof of lesse dangerous nature the people being so insnared with these new devices and pressed with rigour more then Jewish that certainly they are in as bad a condition as were the Israelites of old when they were captivated and kept under by the Scribes and Pharises Some I have knowne for in this point I will say nothing without good assurance who in a furious
Booke for very shame by the Stationer they were so vile licentious and distastfull to most 26. That Reading is Preaching that Preaching is only for extraordinary persons and times not for ordinary Ministers and seasons that one Sermon a moneth is better than two every Lords-Day That Bishops are not bound to preach at least not so often as other Ministers by reason of their great temporall employments and Court attendance c. And that Saint PAUL read Homilies SHelfords five Treatises pag. 35. 36. After this a wise and discreet Sermon not made by every Minister but by a man of Reading and discretion right well beseemeth this holy place Pag. 74. Some Parishes as men say have good Preachers but bad livers and some have meane Preachers or Readers but good livers which of these are best The good living Minister what he builds by his reading of Gods Word Prayer and administration of the Sacraments pulls not downe againe but upholds all with his good life therefore he is farre the best Preacher Pag. 77. Hast thou not thy Minister to doe this for thee every Sunday and Holy-Day in Catechizing But thou likest not of this because it is not a Sermon how provest thou that because it is not spoken out of the Pulpit nor delivered out of a Text c. Page 78. The very reading of it is preaching and not only preaching but lively and working preaching working upon mens soules to grace and goodnesse And that Gods Word read unto us is preaching you shall finde it expressed in Acts 15. 21. P. 82. What need is there of Preaching The besotted negligence of our delicate Puritans is that which makes them to run so after Sermons God speakes unto thee every Holy-Day by his owne Word Pag. 91. There is another kinde of preaching which is not fit for every kind of Minister but for extraordinary and excellent men called by God and the Church to reforme errors and abuses or to promulge to the world new Lawes and Cannons And as this kinde is to be performed by extraordinary men so it is not alwayes so needfull but only when necessitie requireth for when things are setled there needs no more setling but only preserving We ought not to have many Moseses nor many Evangelists nor many Apostles Pag. 93. The ancient and true doctrine ef the Primitive Church by set ed Articles is restored therefore this extraordinary kind is not now so necessary except it bee upon some notorious Crimes breaking in upon our people or some exorbitances of greene heads breaching the froth of their owne braines which will hardly be reformed untill many of these be unfurnished of their Licenses and those that are permitted be restrained to certaine times and seasons For better were it for our Church and people to have but one Sermon well premeditated in a moneth which is insinuated by the Canon then two upon a day proceeding from a rolling braine and mouth without due preparation Pag. 94. All the Bishops in the Land can hardly keepe downe their wrong and unseasoned doctrine Having shewed this kinde of preaching to be extraordinary for speciall men speciall times and occasions It followes that the preaching by reading is the ordinary preaching This was the ordinary preaching in our Church before King Henry the eight Page 241. Preaching of its owne natare is indifferent therefore the managing of it is not for all men but only for such as are of a stayed head and large understanding Dr. Pocklingtons Sunday no Sabbath P. 31. No ground at all for the fruitlesse and disobedient exercise of their afternoone talent It will bee hard for the best and stubbornest of them all to shew a Sermon preached by any of the Fathers in the afternoone P. 32. S. Paul preached 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the while he was in his Homilie what his Homily was it is hard for mee to say whether it was that himselfe made and did not read or one that he read and another made An Homily I am sure it was and it may be made by all the Apostles or the chiefe of the Apostles Wherefore I take it for a cleare truth that Saint Paul read the Decrees and sure I am by the word used in the Text that when he read them and no more but read them without adding or deminishing that hee preached by way of Homilie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reading of Homilies then is preaching and so adjudged by the Learned Bishops in the Councell of Rhemes P. 34. If then Reading of Decrees of the Apostles be preaching and used for the profit and peace of the Church and for the establishing of them in the faith then surely is reading of Lessons Epistle and Gospell much more preaching and the Reader is a Preacher Edmond Reeve his Communion Catechisme expounded page 74. They are said to make an Idoll of Preaching which place even the whole Christian Religion in hearing of Sermons and in Comparison of preaching forth of a Pulpit they nothing or very little account of the Common-prayer and the reading of the Homilies Page 77. To preach unto a Congregation on every Sunday is the proper worke of Pastours But the Bishops the Fathers in God having received the greatest measure of the holy Ghost are to be imployed besides in the greatest ministeriall matters of the Church as to ordaine Priests and Deacons Christs holy Ordinance of Consecration P. 78. It is their worke to Consecrate Churchces c. To require all the Eccleasticall Lawes of the Kingdome to be observed and to have to doe in the affaires of the Common-wealth Page 79. Many more are the employments pertainng to their high order and calling by reason whereof they may but at some certaine times preach unto Congregations when as they shall see occasion Page 94. Holy Church hath ordained that in the Sunday afternoone there should be taught her fundamentall Catechisme her Lawes her Canons her Constitutions should be read the Common-prayer with the Lessons be said and that the Homilies should be read also 27. That Bishops pretended Lordly superiority in point of Order and Iurisdiction over and above other Ministers is of Divine right and institution and that there neither is nor can be any true Church where there are no such Lordly domineering Bishops THis Archbishop of Canterbury himselfe determines thus in his Speech in Star-Chamber page 67. This I will say and abide by it that the calling of Bishops is Iure Divino by divine Right and this I say in as direct opposition to the Church of Rome as to the Puritan humour and I say further that from the Apostles times in all ages in all places the Church of Christ was governed by Bishops Now this is made by these men as if it were contra Regem against the King in fight or in power But that 's a meere ignorant shift for our being Bishops Iure Divino by divine Right takes nothing from the Kings Right In his Reply to
and prejudice of Religion grew conscious to himself that this passage if un-expunged might one day rise up in judgement against him and be applied to himselfe in after times wherefore out of a provident foresight he thought it a poynt of wisdome to expunge it But since divine providence hath brought it to publike light we conceive it will be a very good president to direct your Lordships judgement in the sentence of this Haman this Arch-Malefactor against our State and Religion The the third expunged clause was this And whereas there is not onely a law of God but even of man against Sabbath-breaking which concernes the fourth Commandement and divers against Popery which trencheth upon the first and second Commandement c. let not the other which concernes the Sabbath seem to have been consented to onely upon the importunity of a few Precise persons but never intended for execution least God set such a Memorandum upon them and you who will not be carefull of the Memento set upon that Commandement that whoso heareth of it both his eares shall tingle as stories tell us he hath done upon both Prince and People in France Denmarke yea and here in England offending in that kind Let not all the other Statutes tending towards the first and second Commandement seem meer engines of state to draw reward for toleration dispensation and connivancy least God connive not at nor dispence with such intolerable dissimulation least he make the gaine gotten by this dividing of Adoration between him and Idols to be like that of Solomens in that case which was recompenced with the losse and dividing of his Kingdome betwixt his sonne and astranger 1 Reg. 11 and 12. Chapters But ob farre be that from the State of this Iland and from you to be instruments in it And in the Margin this Note affixed to the word stories was quite purged out Greg. Turonensis Magdeburg cent 12. c. 6. at London 1583 c. in which places meaner persons working greater sporting Kings fighting battatles on the Sabbath dayes are all reported to be overthrowne and destroyed with fearfull judgements These being the onely pious Orthodox passages in all this Sermon against popery Papists Sabbath-breaking and ill Counsellours were quite crossed out with this Bishops owne hand who altered and added many things in it for the worse and all to this very purpose that the people might not take notice of any designe in forraigne parts to extirpate the Protestant Religion or to tolerate set up Popery or suspend the Lawes against it or Papists Priests and Sabbath-breakers at home whereof these Clauses gave them notice which this Doctor as had as he was foresaw world produce that devision in our Kingdom which we now experimentally suffer under threatning uttter desolation to us all these purgations in one Sermon were made by polupragmaticall Prelat before he had any legall power to license Books for the Presse 〈…〉 â—econdly we shall proceed to some higher attempts after he had gained such 〈…〉 of them even upon the publike Records of our Church 〈…〉 of 3. Jacobi ch 1. intituled An Act for a publike Thanksgiving 〈…〉 every yeere on the fifth day of November ordaineth this day to be had perpetuall remembrance that all ages to come might yeeld prayses to God for our deliverance from the most inhumane cruell and barbarous Gunpowder-plot of the Papests and hate in memory this joyfull day of deliverance Hereupon there was a speciall booke of Prayers and Thanksgiving compiled and enjoyned by authority to be used on this day in one of the prayers whereof there was this clause Root out the Babylonish and Antichristian Sect which say of Ierusalem downe with it downe with it even to the ground and to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Nobles Magistrates of the Land with judgement and justice to cut off these workers of iniquity whose Religion is Rebellion whose Faith is Faction whose practice is murdering of soules and bodies and to root them out of the confines of this Kingdome c. This clause continued in all these publike books without the least exception or alteration from the yeere of our Lord 1606. till 1635. and then this Arch-bishop conceiving this passage to lay an imputation and seandall First upon the profession of Romish Priests Jesuits and blood-thirsty papists by stiling them a Babylonish and Antichrian sect Secondly upon their Romish Religion whose religion is rebellion whose faith is faction Thirdly upon their Rebellious and traiterous practises in stiling them these workers of iniquity whose practice is murdering of soules and bodies Fourthly upon their persons as unfit to be tolerated in the Realm and meet to be rooted out of the confines of this Kingdom by the King Nobles and Magistrates a clause altogether inconsistent with our toleration of and his reconciliation of us our religion with them and Rome then actually intended endeavoured by this Arch-prelat and his Confederates he thereupon in the yeere 1635. caused this Book to be re-printed and altered the forementioned clauses in this ensuing forme only to gratifie the Jesuits Priests popish Recusants and take off these just charges against them and their Religion both for the time past and future by turning the edge of this prayer upon the Puritanes on whom the Papists would have fathered this their horrid treason had it taken effect Root out that Babylonish and Antichristian sect of them which say of Ierusalem c. And to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the Land with justice and judgement to cut off those working of iniquity who turne Religion into Rebellion and faith into Faction c. Master Henry Burton in his Sermons on the fifth of November 1636. intituled For God and the King p. 130. to 142. informed the people of this most grosse alteration and charged the Arch bishop to be the Author of it aggravating his offence to the full Master Prynne doing the like in his Epistle Dedicatory to his Quench-Cole For this good service among others they were brought into the Star-chamber by the Archbishops instigation who in his Speech in that Court at their consure published by speciall command First of all confessed that he made this alteration Secondly justified the making of it because it gave offence and scandall to the Papists which ever ought to be avoyded as much as may be adding that it laid an imputation on their Religion as if it were rebell on spending sundry pages in justification of this alteration as most fitting and necessary averring that our religion and the Papists was all one and rendring three reasons why this change was made Thirdly he addes by way of justification excuse that though he made this alteration yet he did it by his Majesties command p. 33. 34. His Majesty expresly commanded me to make the Alterations and see then printed and here are both the Books with his
Popery Priests Jesuits Arminianisme Arminians and did in some places alter and corrupt the authors words so farre as to make him an Arminian in those very poynts wherein he opposed their Arminian opinions and utterly refused to license one Sermon of his concerning Election because the whole scope of it was against Arminius and his errors At which Master White being very much discontented to see his deceased friend's Sermons so abused demanded his intire copy and moneys again but could procure neither of them but the copy thus altered expunged which must either be totally suppressed or printed as he had castrated it Whereupon he carried some other of his Sermons to Doctor Weekes and Doctor Baker the Arch-bishops great creatures Chaplaines to the Bishop of London who made the like alterations and purgations in them as Doctor Haywood had made in the rest an exact catalogue whereof amounting to 210. corruptions and purgations Master White presented at the Barre upon his oath which were afterwards made use of and reduced under severall heads Master Chetwin attested that Dr. William Jones of East-Berghall in Suffolk writ a Comentary on the Epistles of Paul to Philemon and the Hebrewes which he carried to Dr. Samuel Baker Chaplain to the Bishop of London Anno 1636. a great Instrument of the Arch-bishop's to license for the Presse who purged out all the principall clauses in it against Altars Images Masse Transubstantiation Popery Papists and for the sanctification of the Lord's day a catalogue of the most whereof he had collected out of the written copy which was so obliterated that he could not read the same in many places above 150. lines being made unlegible That this book being printed according to the expunged altered copy which otherwise could not passe the Presse the good old Dr. upon the perusall of it after its printing was so much discontented at the alterations and purgations made therein without his privity that he disclaimed into be his work saying it was the Licencer's only not his who had made him a favourite of those Papish opinions by his corrupting and changing his words which he professedly oppugned refuted in his own genuine work The regreete of which injury went so neer his heart that he fell sick through discontent and soon after dyed and is by these alterations and purgations which were generally taken notice of the sale of the book was extreamly hindred to the great losse of the Stationer that printed it Peter Cole Stationer living in Cornhill London testified that he printed Master Richard Ward his Comentary on Matthew anno 1639. out of which Doctor Weekes the Licencer purged so many principall passages against Popery and Arminianisme as amounted to two small written volumes collected by Mr. Ward himself who was much grieved injured thereby and the sale of the book quite spoyled to his great prejudice These two small volumes with this ensuing Abstract of them were presented by Master Ward himselfe to the Parliament who examined this abuse at the Committee for printing Because it is an offence highly to be punished to abuse your Honours pious and most just eares with untruths I have therefore presumed to present to your Honours view the heads and particular grosse abuses which my poore Book hath suffered by the Licenser's too numerous obliterations whereby it will appeare as cleere as the Sunne that our Licensers liberty in the licensing of bookes is most licencious and that Popery and Pelaganisme were too much favoured and befriended by them wholly leaving it to your grave pious and prudent consideration how these and the like abuses may be best redressed for the time to come First the Licenser by his deleaturs hath made some places and passages of my book ridiculous and non-sense E. G. in my written copy sol 338. the first line the Reader is referred for more full satisfaction to the foregoing Objection which Objection is wholly obliterated because it snited not with the Licensers opinion and thus the Reader of my book is referred to that which is not in my booke but expunged out of it What the Objections were which were obliterated your Honours may see in the greater of these two books which I present to this honourable Court page 138. 139. Againe in my written copy sol 339. I have these words Our Saviour seems here to imply that many Antichrists under the name of Christ shall deceive many whence these Questions following may be demanded namely c. These words are printed but all the Questions promised were wholy expunged save onely one which concernes not Antichrist at all here my Reader is promised some Questions in the plurall number concerning Antichrist but he finds but one onely in the sigular number concerning the true Christ What these expunged Questions were your Honours may see in the greater book page 65. Againe in my written copy fol. 366. I have these words Here therefore I lay downe these three things viz. c. and this is printed but the Reader finds but two for the second is expunged and what it was your honours may read in the lesser of these two books page 51. a. and another parallel'd place page 37. e. Secondly the Licenser by his obliterations hath in some places quite altered and perverted the sense E. G. In my written copy fol. 18. I propound a Question concerning the excellency of Baptisme above Circumcision and first shew what Pereius the Jesuite answers thereunto and then what I justly except against his answer and upon what grounds Now the Licenser here lets the Jesuits answer stand and expunges wholy what I say against it making me thus by my silence to seem to my Reader to subscribe to what the Jesuit affirmes Your honours may see both Pererius and my owne words in the greatest of these two books page 3. and another parallel'd place in the lesser of these books page 48. l. Thirdly some places and passages by the Licensers deleaturs are maimed lamed and left altogether unsatisfactory to the intelligent and quick sighted Reader examples whereof your Honours have in the lesser book pag. 9. f. and pag. 18. d. and pag. 51. b. and pag. 58. a. great book pag. 49. line 2. Fourthly some words and sentences are by him changed and altered as your Honours may perceive by this lesser book pag. 4. l. and pag. 21. b. and pag. 41. h. and pag. 42. b. Fifthly and lastly some places and passages are by the licenser so wholy obliterated and expunged that no prints or foot-steps at all remaine of what was there as will evedently appeare to your Honours by the greater of these books which I present to to your perusall and by the Index expurgatorius thereof which I have here subjoyned Because the imployments of this grave Senate and religious Assembly are so many and weighty that it wants leasure to read and peruse all which was expunged out of my book and which is contained in these two severall Manuscripts I have therefore
the word of Christ one example we have in this verse Bellarmine saith c. page 57. Ob. 3. Christ saith unto me is given all power therefore Antichrists imp Pererius saith the Pope hath power over Infidels And a little after Answ 2. all power is given to Christ therefore to the Pope is a blasphemous and Antichristian consequence displaying the Pope to his colours to be the Where in making himselfe or suffering himselfe to be made equall with Christ is obliterated Would not any Protestant admire such passages as these should be expurged to gratifie the Pope The Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Arch-bishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland in Convocation holden at Dublin in the yeere of our Lord 1615. for the avoyding of diversities of opinions and the establishing of consent touching true Religion reprinted at London 1629. Artic. 78. 80. determined thus against the Pope THE power which the Bishop of Rome now challengeth to be the supreame head of the Universall Church of Christ and to be above all Emperours Kings and Princes is an usurped power contrary to the Scriptures and Word of God and contrary to the example of the Primitive Church and therefore is for just causes taken away and abolished within the Kings Majesties Realmes and Dominions The Bishop of Rome is so farre from being the Supreame Head of the Universall Church of Christ that his works and doctrine doe plainly discover him to be that Man of sin foretold in the holy Scriptures whom the Lord skall consume with the spirit of his mouth and abolish with the brightnesse of his comming These Articles were so displeasing to the Arch-bishop together with some others against Arminians that in the yeere 1634. this whole book of Articles was revoked suppressed by Parliament in Ireland through his procurement then which strange act there could not be a more apparent undermining of the Protestant Religion In the yeer 1634. there were at the speciall request of the Queen of Bohemia Letters Patents granted to Master Rulie a Palatinate Minister for a collection throughout 〈…〉 of the poore Ministers of the Palatinate in which Patent there was this notable â— clause inserted relating to their Religion and sufferings Whose cases are the more to be deplored for that this extremity is fallen 〈◊〉 them for their 〈…〉 constancy to the true Religion which we together with them doe professe and 〈◊〉 we are all bound in conscience to maintaine to the utmost of our powers whereas these relations and godly persons being involved amongst many others their couâ—trymen in 〈◊〉 common calamity might have enjoyed their estates and fortunes if with other back-sliders in the times of tryall they would have submitted themselves to the ANTICHRISTIAN YOKE and have renounced or dissembled the profession of the true Religion The very same formall words were used in former Patents of collections for them in King James his Reign and in the Patent dated the 29. of Jan. in the third yeere of King Charles his Reign by which this Patent was drawn The Arch-bishop perusing this Patent brought to him by Master Rulie after it had passed the Seale grew extreamly cholerick at it rated Master Ruly who pleaded ignorance of the customes of England and that the Patent was drawne by the Kings Atturney according to former presidents without any directions from himselfe who was a meer stranger chid him very sharply threatned to suppresse the whole collection detained the Patent under seale and carrying it the next day to the Court complained of it to the King checked the Lord Keeper and Secretary Cooke for letting such a clause passe in the Patent who justified themselves by former presidents by which they were guided and by his violence wholly cancelled the Patent after it was sealed then caused a new Patent to be drawne wherein this former clause was omitted the King telling the Lord Keeper that the Arch-bishop would have it altered and therefore it must be done which thereupon was done occordingly Now the cause of all this stirre and anger of his Grace-ship against this clause was onely because it stiled those of the Palatinate professors of the true Religion c. and tacitely censured the Pope as Antichrist in this latter clause Where as these religious and godly persons might have enjoyed their estates and fortunes if with other back-sliders in the times of tryall they would have submitted themselves to the Antichristian Yoke and renounced or dissembled the profession of the true Religion As was punctually attested upon oath by Master Wakerly and Master Hartlib Of which more fully hereafter Now that all the forementioned purgations of passages against the Pope and his being Antichrist proceeded originally from the Archbi himselfe without any other motive but his own inherent affection to his Holinesse and the Roman party we shall most apparently evidence to all the world by a Letter of his to Dr. Hall the Bishop of Exeter signed with his owne hand and Bishop Hal's answer thereunto the Originals of which Letters Master Prynne seized in his Study at Lambeth and attested at the Lords Barre where they were both acknowledged and read in these ensuing tearmes My very good Lord I Have received your Lordships Letters of Decemb. 6. 23. and with them the copy of your Book and in them a paper of short propositions which you think and so doe I is fitter for the attestation of divers hands then the book it selfe These propsitions shall be well weighed against the time of Convocation which I conceive will be a fit time to take other Bishops attestation without further noyse or trouble For your book I first thanke you very heartily for your paines and next more then heartily were it possible for your noble and free submission of it not onely to many eyes and judgements but also in the maine to be ordered and after that prest or supprest as it shall be thought fit here Which care or conscience would men use which set out books we should not have so much froth and vanity in the world as now 't is full of But whereas you writ First that the Booke grew into greater length under your pen them you expected I cannot be sorry for that since that which you have added concerning Parker Anti-Tilenus and Vedelius seems to me very necessary Secondly that you are pleased to subject the work to me and to interpret it that you meant not personally to me because I could not have time for other great occasions to revise it but by way of desputation These are to let you know that were my occasions greater then they are I would not suffer a book of that Argument and in these times to passe without my owne particular View And therefore my Lord these may tell you that both my Chaplaines have read over your book and that since them I have read it over my selfe very carefully every line of it and I have now put it into
parte intererit salutem Cum vacante â—uper sede Episcopi Cicestren per mortem naturalem vltimi Episcopi ejusdem ad humilem petitionem Decani Capituli Ecclesiae nostrae Cathedralis Cicestr per Literas Nostras petendi licentiam concesserimus alium sibi eligendum in Episcopum pastorem sedis pradicti iidem Decanus Capitulum vigore obtentu licentiae nostrae perdilectum nobis in Christo Richardum Mountague sacrae Theologia Baccalaurum sibi et Ecclesia praedicta elegerunt in Episcopum pastorem prout per literas suas sigillo corum communi sigillatas Nobis inde direstas plenius liquet apparet Nos electionem illam acceptantes eidem electioni Regium nostrum assensum adhibuimus pariter et faverem et hoc vobis tenore praesentium significamus Rogantes ac in side et dilectione quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter precipiendo mandautes quatenus vos eundum Richardum Mountague in Episcopum et pastorem Ecclesiae Cathedralis nostrae Cicestren pradictae fie vt praefertur electum electionemque praedict confirmare et cundem Episcopum et pastorem Ecelesiae Cathedralis predictae consecrare ceteraque omnia et singula peragere quae vestro in hac parte incumbunt officio pastorali juxta formam statutorum et legum Regni nostri Angliae in hac parte editâ— et provis velitis cum diligentia favere effectu In cujus rei c. This conteineth your Majesties Royall Assent for Richard Mountague Batchelar in Divinity to be Bishop of Chichester voyde by the death of the last Incumbent By order of the Lord Bishop of London After this he so far honoured him as to be present at his consecration Witnesse this passage in his Diary penned with his own-hand August 23. 24. 1628. Saturday Saint Bartholmeus Eve the Duke of Buckingham slain at Portsmouth by one Lieutenant Felton about 9. in the morning the Newes of his death came to Croydon where it found my selfe and the Bishops of Winchester Ely and Carlisle at the consecration of Bishop Mountague for Chichester with my Lords Grace In the year 1638. upon the Translation of Bishop Wren to Ely this Archbishop preferred him to the See of Norwich witnesse Bishop Mountagues Letter to the Archbishop thus endorsed with his own hand Rec. Martii 29. 1638. Bishop of Ghichesters submission of his Bookes to me c. Found in his Study at Lambeth and attested by Master Prynne May it please your Grace By Mr Bray I sent your Grace another part of my Altar Relations as my between-between-times of sicknesse would give me leave to transcribe the rest as I can dispatch it I will send after with Gods helpe In the last there is much of the Churches sacrifice faithfully related out of Antiquity not positively by me asserted I am but a Narrator and so the lesse offensive Howsoever I give your Grace Power to dispose of what I write as will fit the Church and State For we are I know of the same Religion drive to the same end though not the same way So much I related to Master Bray and Mr Deane of Christ-Church The remaynes of my Ague are worse then the Ague it selfe so that I cannot waite upon your Grace as I would Yesterday I took a Purgation which I hope will doe me good but hath much weakened mee and Phisitians in expelling the remaynes and restoring health unto the castle of strength say they must tuto pede movere I cannot learn that my Lord of Norwich is yet fully translated till when I suppose there is no issuing of my Conge D'esleer I must humbly intreat your Grace that you would be pleased to informe me when and what I should doe in both which I am so ignorant God make me profitable to his Church to which I can bring nothing but honesty and Industry which I will promise and to your Grace thankefullnesse for your long-continued extraordinary Favours in which vote I rest Your Graces poor Servant and Brother Rich. Cicist For the most Reverend my Lord of Canterbury his Grace this By this Letter it is most apparent First that Bishop Mountague made the Archbishop acquainted with his Bookes before he printed them and submitted them to his censure and how full of Popery they are you have already heard Yea after they were printed he presented him with printed Coppies of them curiously bound up and guilded produced and read formerly at the Lords Barre Secondly That Canterbury and he were of the same religion and did drive at the same end and what was that but the erecting of Altars the introducing of Popery and reconciling us to Rome as this Letter and the foregoing evidence manifest Thirdly That his promotions were by the Archbishops long-continued extraordinary favours for which he returnes him thankes in this Letter And no wonder was it that Bishop Mountague was his speciall Favourite for if we beleeve the Pamphlet intituled The Popes Nuncio p. 11. 14. 16. first published in Italian by the Venetian Embassadour this great confident of the Archbishop was very intimate with Panzain the Popes first Legate frequently visited him and very passionately desired a Reconciliation of us and the Church of Rome Yea Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester in his Letter to the Archbishop whiles they were both prisoners in the Tower dated August 30. 1642. the originall whereof was seised on by M. Prynne writes That at that instant when he dissented from the New Canons by Bishop Mountagues encouragement An. 1640. he could have proved how that in his person he did visit and held correspondency with the Popes Agent and received his Letters in behalfe of his Sonne who was then travelling to Rome who by his Letters he had extraordinary entertainment there This Bishop Mountague would ascribe to the favour and credit which he had gotten by his writings If so it seemes they were very well approved of at Rome And this is not onely probable but reall as appeares by an originall Letter under Bishop Mountagues own hand to Secretary Windebanke dated from Aldingburne Jan. 26. wherein he desires this Popish Secretary to give his son leave to goe to Rome in his travell which he is desireous to do and I writes he AM DESIROVS HE SHOVLD desiring him to acquaint his GRACE therewith and remember his duty to him His Graces advancement then of such an Arminian and Romish Prelate so intimate with the Popes Legate and much favoured at Rome must certainly favour of a Romish designe to corrupt our Church subvert our Religion set up Popery and reduce us back to Rome Doctor Roger Manwaring Vicar of Saint Giles in the fields a man very Popishly affected and intimate with Papists who abounded in his Parish upon a complaint and Impeachment of the Commons in Parliament for two Sermons preached before his Majestie the third year of his reigne in Justification of the Lawfulnesse of the Kings imposing Loues and Taxes on his People without consent
into his said Church without the direction of his Reverend Diccesan and dares not goe about in any sort to justifie his doings But waving all manner of defence hee most humbly casteth down himselfe at your Lordships Feet beseeching you for Christs sake to look upon him with the eye of mercy who with a most penitent and sorrowfull heart confesseth his mis-doing in the Premises c. And whereas your Petitioner is charged to have set forth and published two Bookes wherein he defends not only Innovations in Religion but divers Popish Wicked and Antichristian points and casteth reproach upon our English Martyrs in Mr Foxes Callender and magnifieth Popish Canonized Saints for true Martyrs Hee doth most humbly give your Lordships to understand That order was given for their Printing and setting forth without your Petitioners procurement motion or knowledge who composed them for his own private satisfaction and to be the better satisfied was willing to have them presented to the consideration of the Reverend Governours of our Church to receive their Opinion and Judgement about them And for the Contents of the said Bookes If any Popish Wicked or Antichristian points be in them Hee is ready and most desirous from his heart utterly and openly to abandon and abjure them But hopeth that because the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace did see and read all or a great part of them as his Chaplain Dr Bray could your Petitioner and did without any suite of your Petitioner give order and allowance for their Publishing That no such detestable points are conteined in the said Bookes and for our English Martyrs in Mr Fox his Calender There is no mention or any word or syllable in either of those Writings about them Wherefore again and again he casteth down himselfe before this most Honourable Assembly and beseecheth you who upon earth represent the God of mercy to shew mercy to him who is altogether innocent in moving to have the said Beekes Published And it truely penitent for what he hath done without his Diccesans Directions and most humbly beseecheth his Lordship now present to admit his Submission and to be a meanes to obteine the favour of this most Honourable House and to procure his freedome and dismission who voweth by Gods grace to be ever hereafter so carefull of all his words and actions that neither the Church nor any Member thereof shall take any offence or displeasure at him Vera Copia And your Petitioner shall ever pray for the happi successe of this present Parliament John Pocklington Now what a Capitall Crime and transcendent misdemeanour it is for this Arch-Prelate to place such Arminian Popish Prelates and Chaplaines in ordinary about his Majestie the young Prince more infectious then Cardinall Wolsies breath to King Henry the 8. when infected with the great Pox to seduce poyson them as much as in them lay with Arminian and Popish Errours Superstitions Ceremonies and in and by them their whole kingdomes and Nationall Churches and that not onely by transient verball Sermons which infect only the eares of the Auditors for the present but by pestilent printed Treatises which corrupt the eyes judgement of the Readers and universally seduce both the present and future generations more then any publike verball Sermons though never so pernicious to the Auditors for the present let all wise men judge For his promoting of Arminians of persons addicted to Popish Ceremonies Errours Innovations to Offices and Headships in our Universities to poyson those fountaines of Piety and Learning we shall instance in these few Particulars During the time of his Chancellorship in the University of Oxford from April 1630. till Anno 1641. it is observable that he nominated only five Vice-Chancellors to governe the University under him namely Dr Smith Warden of Wadham Colledge Doctor Brian Duppa Deane of Christ-Church whose further promotions he procured Doctor Pinke Warden of New-Colledge Doctor Bayly President of Saint Iohn Baptist Colledge Doctor Frewen President of Mary Magdalen Colledge Dr Christopher Potter Provost of Queenes Colledge as the University Register undenyably proves and all Oxford Schollers can attest all deeply tainted with Arminianisme great Promoters of all Popish Innovations Superstitions Ceremonies in that University as we have formerly manifested Besides he promoted Doctor Thomas Iackeson a professed Arminian to the President-ship of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford and afterwards to the Vicaridge of Witney as appeares by the Docquet Booke to omit his advancement of Doctor Laurence and other such like Popish Doctors there What heades of Houses hee promored in the University of Cambridge and what professed Arminians and Well-wishers to Popery they were you have already heard in part we shall onely repeate the names of some of them Doctor Brookes Doctor Beal Doctor Martin Doctor Cosin Doctor Layny Doctor Sterne men very infamous both for Arminian and Popish Errors And not content to corrupt our English Academies he promoted Master Chapple the Archest and most notorious Arminian in the University of Cambridge who leavened all his Pupels and many hopefull Schollers with Arminianisme as Mr Walker and others witnessed to the Provost-ship and Government of the Colledge and Vniversity of Dublin in Ireland as appears by sundry originall Letters thence endorsed with his own hand and himselfe must needs acknowledge whom he brought into that place with an high hand where he did much hurt by venting his Arminian druggs and maintained Justification by Workes Exemption of the Clergy from the Secular power and was very active in the Synod there in suppressing the Articles of Ireland against Papists and Arminians as was Doctor Bramhall too his grand Arminian Popish Instrument there as was attested upon Oath by Dr Hoyle a Member of the Assembly and Divinity Reader in that University His advancements of Persons tainted with Arminianisme Popery and Popish Superstitions to Benefices Prebendaries and other Ecclesiasticall preferments are almost numberlesse as wee finde by the Docquet Bookes all or most of the Ecclesiasticall Preferments belonging to the Crowne being disposed of by him alone of latter times not by the Lord Keeper and Master of the Wardes as formerly upon whose Presentations he encroached We shall instance in some few of many In September 10. 1628. Doctor Augustine Lindsey by order from this Bishop and a Letter by him procured from the King in his behalfe to the President and Chapter of Litchfield was promoted to a dignity in that Church as appeares by the Docquet Booke Mr George Walker the Minister attested upon Oath that this Lindsy whom the Archbishop afterwards made a Bishop was reputed one of the chiefe heads of the Arminian faction and that Dr Bastwick writing against the Arminians bowing at the name of Jesus was sent to him by this Archbishop to be instructed and refuted as the ablest of that party Mr Peter Smart a Reverend Divine deposed That this Doctor was an Arch-arminian to his knowledge with whom he had
Articles of the Duke of Buckingham against the Lord Digby and the Lord Digbies Articles of impeachment against him in Parliament charging one another reciprocally with high treason for endeavouring to withdraw the Prince when in Spaine from his Religion and make him a Roman Catholike of all which we find Authentick Copies endorsed with his owne and Windebanke his creatures hands among both their seized papers already published at large in print where you may peruse them at leizure and therefore he could not possibly be ignorant of this Plot The rather because the sending of the King when Prince into Spaine was the Duke of Buckingham's project of purpose to seduce him in his Religion for which there were Articles of high Treason exhibited against him by the Lord Digby in the House of Peers in Parliament on the first of May 1626. as appeares by the Lords Journall and the Bishops owne Diary to which Duke this Bishop was both a Confessor and cabinet bosome Covnseller as these clauses in his owne Diary manifest June 9. 1622. My Lord Marquesse of Buckingham was pleased to enter upon a neerer respect to me the particulars are not for paper therefore certainly some deep Mystery of iniquity fit to be concealed June 15. I became C. Confessor as himselfe expounded it to my L. of Buckingham Jan. 11. My Lord of Buckingham and I in the inner Chamber at York-house c. and Fed. 17. next following The Prince and Marquesse Buckingham set forwards very secretly for Spaine That this Prelat was privy to the plot of sending the Prince thither before he was sent and to the Instructions given him here how to demean himself even toward the Pope and his instruments when he came thither is most apparent by his owne Letter under his owne hand sent to Bishop Hall Jan. 14. 1639. wherein there is this notable passage formerly urged upon another occasion The last with which I durst not but acquaint the King is about Antichrist which Title in three or four places of your Book you bestow upon the Pope positively and determinately whereas King James of blessed memory having brought strong proofe in a work of his as you well know to prove the Pope to be Antichrist and being aftewards CHALLENGED ABOUT IT he made this Answer WHEN THE KING THAT NOW IS WENT INTO SPAINE AND ACQUAINTED HIM WITH IT that he wrote that not concludingly but by way of Argument onely that the Pope and his adherents might see there was as good and better Arguments to prove him Antichrist then for the Pope to challenge temporall jurisdiction over Kings THIS WHOLE PASSAGE BEING KNOWNE TOME I could not but speake with the King about it who commanded me to write unto you that you might qualifie your expression in these particulars and so not differ from the knowne judgement of his pious and learned Father c. By this relation under his owne hand and Seale it is as cleere as the noon-day Sunne this Prelat was not onely privy to the Kings voyage into Spaine before he departed hence but likewise to the private instructions for his carriage towards the Pope his agents when he came there and his zeal to have this title of Antichrist given to the Pope by Bishop Hall so lately thus qualified obliterated and his complaint of it to the King at this time plainly shewes that he bare a good affection to the Pope and his designes both then and now and politickly furnishes King James with this equivocating Answer to please his Holinesse and to put all out of question that he was privy to this journey before it was undertaken we shall prove it by his owne Diary wherein thus he writes Feb. 17. 1622 The Prince and the Marquesse Buckingham set forwards very secretly for Spaine Feb. 21. I writ to my Lord of Buckingham into Spaine March 31. 1623. I received Letters from my Lord of Buckingham out of Spaine April 19. I received Letters from my Lord of Buckingham out of Spaine June 13. I received Letters from the Duke of Buckingham out of Spaine Aug. 17. I received Letters from the Duke of Buckingham out of Spaine By which it is apparent First that he knew of the time of their secret departure to Spaine the very day they went Secondly that he knew whether they went and writ Letters to the Duke into Spaine within foure dayes after their departure hence before they were neere there or knowne to be arrived there Thirdly that he held constant intelligence with the Duke all the time he was in Spaine writing frequently to him and received no lesse then four Letters from him from thence therefore questionlesse he was privy to this perilous journey of the Prince into Spaine one of the horridest treasons that ever was acted thereby to pervert him in his Religion and reconcile both him and our Kingdomes to the Sea of Rome for this very act alone which his profession as a Bishop ought to have engaged him against with all his might he deserved to be impeached of high treason as well as the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Digby who impeached one one another of high treason for it in Parliament anno 1626. In one word this Bishop at the time of the Princes being in Spaine was so farre in love with the Masse-book and so studious of it that he noted his Missale Romanum neatly bound up gilt in folio almost in every leaf with his own hand by way of approbation and every moneth in the Callender of it by inserting into it with his own pen the Feasts and Stories of divers Popish Saints with the translations of their Reliques and in the Moneth of Sepetmber the 13. day he writes this Memoriall of the Princes returne out of Spaine Prince Charles this night took ship at Saint Andrews to come out of Spaine but had no prayers in his ship that night because so many Spaniards were aboard To prove which the Missal it selfe was produced This his noting and studying of the masse-Masse-book at that very time doth as we conceive strongly intimate his approbation of it his good hopes and assistance to introduce it by that Spanish Match had it succeeded But that breaking off to his griefe soone after the Princes returne from Spaine the next designe of the Duke and his popish confederates to reconcile reduce us to Rome was the translation of their Scene from Spaine into France and making up a popish Match there between the King and our present Queen Mary a zealous Roman Catholike grand patriot of that party whose powerfull mediation and solicitations might as theythen writ in time effect and accomplish this plot as we have elswhere cleerly demonstrated And in this project likewise this Arch-bishop had a finger if not a hand For the Duke of Buckingham with whom he was a Cabinet Counsellour being sent into France to consummate that Match and bring over the Queene from thence we find this Arch-bishop
Protestantium Doctores Sacerdotes sacrificia agnoscere In the 25. Article concerning Homilies pag. 321. he thus shakes off our Homilies in our Bishops owne tearmes Nec tenentur Protestantes ob haec verba in Articulo statim in singula verba vel sententias Homiliarum jurare c. Prudenter igitur quae sanam Doctrinam sapiunt populo legenda alia neglectui habenda Pape 332. in the 37. Article concerning the power of the civill Magistrates against the Popes Jurisdiction he writes thus D. Montacutius contr Heighum alij eorum doctissimi quibuscum de hoc egi nullam utique Jurisdictionem spiritualem Regibus nosiris concedunt sed gubernium civile temporale indirectè per accidens ob pacem Reipubl in personas causas Ecclesiasticas extensum Gavisus sum etiam valdà de illo quod etiam his diebus factum est Cantabrigiae in Comitijs pro actu Doctoroli ubi SUMMO PONTIFICI UT MAXIMO PATRI sic enim eum appellabant designata est cura spiritualium Regi temporalium licet sub fine subjiciebatur Regum esse omnes regere quod intelligi debet civiliter non spiritualiter modò â nobis explicato After which pag. 334 335 336. he handles these three Questions First Whether any have power to withdraw themselves from subjection and obedience to the Sea and Church of Rome upon any occasion Secondly Whether we of this Realme had sufficient causes to doe it Thirdly Whether we did well in it and did not exceed measure therein And he resolves the two latter thus Vtraque quaestio siâ—e dubio gravissima est maximum meretur discussionem Quod si causa sufficiens non fuerit vel terminus justae substractionis excesserint quanta pericula in tà m diuturno scismate Hinc utique omnia quantacunque mala sunt originaliter ebullierunt Catholici veriori tutiori parti adhaerere volentes cum insufficientiasm causae quam moderaminis excessum agnoverunt ponderant utique gravissimum illud Augustini praecidendae unitatis nulla est justa necessitas Lib. 2. cont Epist Parm. Utinam DENVO AUTHORITATE PUBLICA pro dignitane PURITANIS NON INTERMIXTIS EX AFFECTU READUNITIONIS PERPENDERETUR ad hoc singuli evoluant Augustinum contra Donatum Scio illos hoc abhorrere de quibus dicit Cassander licet haud satis affectus Romanae Ecclesiae Plerique ex eis qui sibi ab Evangelio nomen sumpserunt cum partem qua vetus Catholicorum Ecclesiae Romanae nomen retinet prorsus aspernantur omnem que ejus communionem defugiunt nec ut membra ejusdem corporis amore misericordia prosequuntur quod nos a Puritanis hic experimur sed ut Satanae Antichristi corpus abominatur Scio id equidem doles qui ejusmodi sunt quomodo â schismatis rectius dixisset Haereseos nota eximi possunt non video From all these remarkable passages of this book it is most evident that it was purposely penned published dedicated and presented to the King to reconcile him and reunite our Church and Articles to the Church of Rome that this union and accommodation was already accomplished by Bishop Andrewes Bishop Muntague and others of our most eminent moderate Divines in many points of greatest moment and would soon be effected in the residue by a publike Assembly or Synod of our Prelates and divines if no Puritans were intermixed among them But you will object What is all this or this Book to the Archbishop Did he know any thing of this Plot Book or had any hand therein Yes verily First he know of this book before it was published Doctor Lindsey his great favourite whom he advanced to a Deanary and two Bishopricks as we have formerly proved acquainting him therewith and bringing the Author of it to his Grace who had recourse to him severall times after This we shall prove by a paper writen with his own hand by way of extenuation of this charge even since his commitment to the Tower and there seiâ—ed on by Master Pryme which was read as followeth MY Intelligence with the Pope by S. Clara. I never saw that Franciscan Fryar in my life to the utmost of my memory above four times or five at most He was first brought to me by Doctor Linsey it was when he was setting out his booke about the Articles of the Church of England and I then told Doctor Linsey I did feare he would never expound them so as the Church of England might have cause to thanke him for it He never came to me after till he was almost ready to print another booke to prove that Episcopacy was authorized in the Church by divine right and these was after this vnhappy stirres began His desire was to have this book printed here but at his severall addresses to me for this I still gave him this answer That I did not like the way which the Church of Rome went concerning Episcopacy And howsoever I would never give way that any such book from the pen of any Romanist should be printed here And the Bishops of England are very well able to defend their owne cause and calling without calling in any ayd from Rome and would so doe when they saw cause And this is all the conference that ever I had with him This excuse of his though partiall acknowledgeth that he was acquainted with the book and Author before its printing and that Doctor Linsey his favourite was a great promoter of it privy to the plot of Reconciliation and very intimate with the Fryar that compiled it Secondly when the book was printed this Author presented not onely the King but Archbishop himself with one of them bound up in Vellam with the Kings Armes on the cover and blew silk strings which he thus endorsed with his owne hand Fron. â Sanctâ Clara Problemata 37. Expositio paraphrastica Confessionis Anglicanae Which book he reserved in his Study at Lambeth where Master Prynne seized and produced it at the Barre Thirdly he not onely received but permitted it to be publikely sold and dispersed amongst us without any seizure or restaint and to be twice or thrice reprinted in London notwithstanding many exceptions and complaints against it when as he most strictly suppressed orthodox books Fourthly if Fryar Saint Giles were the true Author of this book as he was reputed by the Fryars in forraigne parts the Archbishop not onely knew but maintained him in the University of Oxford to seduce poyson the Schollers there and reconcile them to Rome and gave him an annuall pension of one hundred Markes the blame of which action for his owne excuse he would transferre upon the King without any proofe at all but onely this surreptitious warrant without any date at all writ with his owne hand not by any Secretary of State which will no wayes extenuate but aggravate his crime the warrant being no doubt fraudulently procured to serve a turne at
most unfaithfull to the King of all men who not only betrayes and reveals even the Kings greatest secrets but likewise communicates Councels by which the designe may be best advanced He at least thrice every week converseth with the Legat in nocturnall Conventicles and reveals those things which he thinks fit to be known for which end he hired a house neer to the Legats house whom he often resorts to through the Garden door for by this vicinity the meeting is facilitated â—he said Secretary is bribed with gifts to the party of that conjured society by whom he is sustained that he may the more seriously execute his Office He sent his Son to Rome to insinuate himself into the Roman Pontiffe For his committing Messengers to prison untill they should enter into bond never to persecute Priests or Jesuits more an extraordinary good service of a pretended Protestant Secretary of State you shall hear thereof anon when we produce our Witnesses By all these particulars it is most evident that this Secretary the Archbishops old and most intimate loving friend was advanced by him to this place of trust to be a most pestilent trecherous instrument of protecting enlarging securing popish Priests Jesuits Fryars Papists to hold familiar intelligence with the Popes Cardinals Nuncio's Agents to promote their dangerous designs upon us and reduce us back to Rome that the Archbishop knew he was such an one and yet continued his intimacy and correspondency with him to promote the same designs We shall now proceed a little further and cleerly evidence to your Lordships and the world that the Archbishop held not only remote mediate correspondency with the Pope and his Agents by Bishop Mountague Windebank and others of his Instruments but even with most desperate popish Priests Jesuits and Papists themselves Not to instance in the Earl of Arundel and his Countesse Sir Kenelme Digby Sir John Winter and other lay-papists who were very active strenuous promoters of this Romish plot at Habernfield's Discovery informs both the Archbishop himself and us we shall nominate some professed Priests and Jesuits of note with whom he had intelligence Sancta Clara as we have proved formerly under his own hand was brought to him by Doctor Lindsey who acquainted him with his Book of Reconciliation before it was printed and was with him afterwards some five or six times more proffering him his Service to maintain Episcopacy to be Jure Divino Monsieur Saint Giles a most dangerous seducing Priest though known to him to be such a one was maintained by him sundry yeers together in the University of Oxford where he had the free use of the Library to instruct and seduce both the Doctors and Students there reduce them back to Rome who were running too fast thither without such a spur to post them forwards or Postilion to direct them in the way This we have proved under his own hand by the testimony of Master Brode and if need be we have Master Nixon Master Godfrey and one Father Cox a Benectine Priest to attest it further on their Oaths Sir Toby Matthew a most dangerous seducing active Priest and Jesuit was frequent with him at Lambeth White-Hall and other places eating oft with him at his Table riding sometimes very familiarly with him in his Coach and going with him in his Barge Father Flud alias Smith a most desperate seducing Priest and Jesuit who had a hand in the Gun-powder-plot was very familiar with his Creature Windebank and oft frequented the Arch-bishop at Lambeth House Father Leander a Benedictine Monk his ancient Chamber-fellow and acquaintaÌ„ce in Oxford sent over into Engl. about the yeer 1636. as was generally reported among the Benedictines and Papists of purpose to reconcile us to Rome by his interest in this Archbishop and great learning was very intimate with his Grace and Windebank So was Father Price general of the English Benedictines who procured the Searchers place at Dover and put Papists into it for the more secure passing of Priests Jesuits popish Agents the easier into England conveying Englishmen and women to forraign Monasteries and intelligence to and from Rome and other parts by the assistance of Windebank Canterbury and others yea the popish Bishop of Calcedon too Dr Smith held firm correspondence with him Neither was he thus only familiar and held correspondency with these Priests and Jesuits but protected them all he might not prosecuting them at all but onely in shew to delude the people and then very coldly securing them in by prisons where they had the best chambers great resort liberty to goe in and out at pleasure without a Keeper never sending them to the common Goales to be indicted executed and at last releasing them out of prison when as he persecuted close imprisoned banished into forraigne Countries dungeons cut off the ears slit the noses branded the cheeks of some and utterly ruined other Protestant Ministes and zealous Gentlemen for opposing popery and popish Innovations Nay he imprisoned one Gray a great discover of Priests only for apprehending Priests caling him a Priest-catching knave commanded the Pursevants not to keep company with him for if they did he would displace them and pull their Messengers coats over their ears denied to imploy others as Messengers to apprehend Priests and Jesuits because he said they were too hot and zealous in that service yea he suffered all manner of popish Books to be imported to seduce his Majesties Subjects restored them to their owners when seized by the searchers contrary to an expresse Statute concealed some of their most desperate plots treasons discouraging menacing the Witnesses that revealed them To evidence all this we shall produce our witnesses who testified upon oath as followeth James Waddesworth Gent. of Saint Dunstans parish in the west London deposed both in writing and vivâ voce at the Lords Bar That one Henry Smith alias Loyd a dangerous Priest and Jesuit before the beginning of the Scottish Warres did cell him in Norfolke where he met him That the popish Religion was not to be brought in here by disputing or Books of controversie but with an Army and with fire and sword that he hath often times since met the said Smith going as he told him to see the Archbishop of Canterbury who as he said was a good man and loved them well that himself was about eight yeers since imprisoned above three yeers space in severall prisons only for calling a Priest Traitor and for apprehending Priests During which time of his imprisonment the said Smith came three or four times to visit him in the name of the Archbishop the Lord Cottington and Secretary Windebanke and told him That if he would adjure the Realme and never prosecute Priests more he should have a Warrant under the Kings hand to release him which he refusing at that time he was afterward released out of prison but upoÌ„ this promise never to prosecute priests again And when he was
very good fare great resort of all sorts of people daily Masses and free liberty to walke and stay abroad at pleasure without a Keeper as freely as any man might walke out of his owne House Yea such was his indulgence towards them though Arch-Traytors by our Lawes that in his Epistle Dedicatory to the King himselfe before his Relation of a Conference with Fisher the Jesuite he makes this profession of it in Print not onely to his Majesty but to the whole world in these words which were read at the Barre In which Speech give me leave to observe to your Sacred Majesty how grievously you suffer him Master Fisher and his Fellowes to be persecuted for the Catho like Faith when your poore Subject and servant cannot set our A true Copy of a Conference held with the Jesuite Jussu Superiorum but by and by this man is persecuted GOD FORBID I SHOULD EVER OFFER TO PERSWADE A PERSECUTION IN ANY KINDE OR PRACTICE IT IN THE LEAST to â—it 〈…〉 Popish Priests and Jesuits of whom onely he there intended it For 〈…〉 HAVE NOT GIVEN HIM OR HIS SO MUCH AS COVERSE LANGVAGE Behold from his own pen what a most mild and favourable â—â—â—end he was to Jesuits and Roman Priests He never perswaded any persecution against them in any kind or practised it in the lest adding an absit God forbid that he should ever offer it But yet on the contrary did he not perswade a persecution in every kind and practise it in the bighest degree against the most zealous Protestant Ministers Gentlemen who opposed his and their popish designs by exciting his Majesty and the whole State against them even in this very Epistle yea in his printed Speech in Star-chamber at the censure of Master Prynne Master Burton and Doctor Bastwick and in his Epistle Dedicatory to the King thereto prefixed all meer perswasions excitements to persecution in the extreamest degree Nay did he not most cruelly practise the same in the severest manner upon sundry of them by adjudging them to the Pillory fining them beyond their estates cutting off their ears slitting their noses branding their cheeks with hot irons whipping them through the streets shutting them up close prisoners in nasty dungeons banishing them into remote Islands there to be perpetually imprisoned al their lives so strictly that neither Wives children kinred friends must have the least accesse unto them nor yet set footing in the Islands to visit or relieve them yea deprive them of Pen Inke Paper to write unto their friends for necessaries or Petition for release intercept all Letters and reliefe sent to them and deprive them of the use of all Books to passe their time except the Bible Common-Prayer-Booke Doctor Cozens and such like Books of private devotion And did he not persecute hundreds of other godly Ministers yea raise up a generall persecution against them throughout the Kingdome and drive sundry of them with many thousands of religious godly people out of the Kingdome into forraigne Plantations among Savages and Indian heathens Nay did he not all this and more whiles he had any power notwithstanding God himselfe did forbid it And whereas he writes That to his remembrance be never gave this Jesuite or any of his so much as course language he was so far from using such civility to our godly Protestant Ministers Gentlemen others who most opposed Popery and Popish Innovations that his mouth was full of most bitter railing Invectives Satyres revilings against them not onely in his private Chamber when ever convented before him but even in his publick Speeches in the Starchamber and High-Commission witnesse his printed Speech in Starchamber before mentioned with his Epistle to it nay in this very Epistle to the King he thus railes upon them in down-right tearmes How I have been used by the scandalous and scurrilous pennes of some bitter men the world knows little leasure and lesse encouragement given me whiles I am under the Prophets affliction Psal 50. between the mouth that speaks wickednesse and the tongue that sets forth deceit and slander me as thick as if I were not their own mothers sonne In the midst of these libellous outcries against me c. Factious people at home c. And not content to rayle at them himselfe in Speech and Print he set his creatures every-where to revile and rayle most libellously against them in Presse and Pulpit witnesse Doctor Heylins and Christipher Doves books against Master Burton written and printed by this Archbishops command Doctor Pocklintons and Bishop Mountagues Books forecited Bishop Whites Epistle before his Discourse of the Sabbath Doctor Heylins History of the Sabbath and Antidotum Lincolniense with infinite Sermons full of gall vinegar and most libellous railings against Puritans and the most zealous Protestant without the least invective against Priests Pope or Jesuits Therefore his grand addition his favorable dealing with Priests and Jesuits on the one side compared with his most harsh persecutions and libellous invectives against their 〈◊〉 are most pregnant evidences for what party he stood and whose 〈◊〉 most cordially drived on Fourthly that the Archbishop contrary to his Trust Oath Place and duty both as an Archbishop a Privy Counsellour and high Commissioner did not onely favour Seminary Priests and Jesuits though traitors by Law but discourage discountenance those Officers appointed by the State to apprehend them telling Thomas Mayo that he was too hot and nimble for that service threatning Master Thatcher to lay him by the heels and turne him out of his place if he kept company with Gray who gave him intelligence of the persons and lodgings of Priests and Jesuits threatning all the Messengars of the high Commission openly in Court that if they kept company with Gray whom he called A PRIEST-CATCHER he would not onely lay them by the heels but likewise pull-their Coats from off their backs and turne them out of their places That he caused Gray to be committed to the Fleet above twelve weeks for apprehending Priests and the words forementioned yea threw away his Petition saying He would have nothing to doe with that PRIST-CATCHING KNAVE nay he and Master Waddesworth must not be released out of Prison till they would promise never to apprehend or prosecute Priests or Jesuits more A most cleer demonstration that he not onely had correspondency and intelligence with Priests and Jesuits but likewise was their Arch-protector their grand friend insomuch that Smith the Jesuit openly threatned Master Newton in the streets That he had done his errand to the Archbishop Now we appeale to all the world whether ever any reall Protestant Prelat shewed himself such a Patriot of Priests and Jesuits in this kind as he or whether the Pope himselfe could have done more in their behalfe then he did had he sate Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth-house It was one chief Article of the Privy Counsels and Judges charge against Cardinall Woolsey presented to King Henry the eighth
in it To which was answered that this Book was as the Papists stile their Images a meer ignorant Lay-mans not a learned Archbishops Book consisting meerly of unlawful Pictures Therefore he had it only to view not read Secondly his curious guilding of the Book and Pictures in it argues that he prized it more then ordinary to help him in his Devotions Thirdly he was so far from refuting it that he authorized those very Pictures to be reprinted in England and bound up in our Bibles Fourthly he had many small Popish guilded velome Pictures curiously guilt inserted into this Book a pregnant proof he very much doted on these Puppets in his declining age The third particular objected against me in my study is two large folio Masse-books and that I had noted one of them frequently with my hand That I had likewise there the Roman Missal Pontifical and twenty two Popish hours of our Lady Breviaries Manuels and Books of Popish devotion I Answer First that it is lawful for every learned man to have those Books to peruse and refute them as there is occasion there being no great Schollers but have them in their studies for this end for which cause alone I both read and noted one of them with my own hand not out of any love to or approbation of the Masse it self And they may as aptly conclude that I am a Turk because I have the Alcoran in my study as that I am a Papist or Popishly affected because I have the Masse-book The same Answer I shall give to the other objected Books found in my study The Reply hereto was First that the meer having all or any of these Books in his study was no convincing argument of his affection and inclination to Popery no more then his keeping the Alcoran as a Schollar proves him to be a Turk neither was it so pressed by us since many Protestants have them in their studies to peruse refute which is no offence but laudable and necessary in some cases But we have punctually proved all along that he bought perused and noted them with his own hand not by way of dislike or refutation but approbation yea he pursued them strictly in practise and imitation as far as the most superstitious Popish Priests or Prelates did at Rome in most particulars Secondly compare his having of these Books with the extraordinary curiousnesse and costlinesse of their binding guilding the Popish Images Crucifixes in his study Chappel Gallery and the rest of our following evidence and then they are a very strong Argument to prove him a professed Papist in affection opinion if not in practise too The last objected thing found in my Library is my private Prayers and Devotions written with my own hand against which there are three exceptions First that some of these Prayers are extracted out of the Roman Missal Pontifical Breviary and hours of our Lady Secondly that they are digested into Canonical hours of prayer after the Papists Model Thirdly that I make mention of prostration in some of them To which I return this general Answer That this being only a Book for my own private devotions and use alone ought not to be charged against me As to the objected particulars excepted against I Answer First that if any such prayers be taken out of the Missal Pontifical or Roman Breviary yet they are devout and pious in themselves and there is no prayer to Saints or Angels in the Book Thirdly the Canonical hours of Prayer are of very great Antiquity in the Church derived from holy King Davids practise who said Seven times a day will I praise thee and was taken up and practised by Christians within two hundred years after Christ and approved of in preces privatae in Queen Elizabeths raign Thirdly that prostration in prayer is no crime but commendable and a signe of extraordinary humility Christ himself using this gesture in his prayers before his passion Hereunto the Commons Councel retorted in general That his own private devotions did best of all serve to discover his secret intentions and inclinations therefore they were fit to be given in evidence for this purpose In particular First that his collecting of Prayers out of such Popish dunghils when there were purer mines to dig in was a symptome of a Romish inclination And whereas he alleageth the matter of those prayers to be good those we except against are for their very matter meerly superstitious Secondly that this justification of the Antiquity and lawfulnesse of Canonical hours of Prayer was taken verbatim out of Mr. Cosens his hours of Prayer formerly complained of in Parliament That Canonical hours of Prayer are no wayes warranted by Davids president who speaks onely of Praise not Prayer and never digested his Psalms or Prayers into such Canonical houers nor any other Saint in the Old Testament or New The most exact patern of Prayer which Christ himself left both his Disciples and us to imitate warrants no such practise nay the Primitive Christians and true Antiquity never knew of any such Models of Prayer digested into Canonical hours which Popish monks first introduced practised prescribed Neither did Queen Elizabeth approve of them as Dr. Cosens pretends in his hours of Prayer whence the Archbishop borrowed this false answer as some who answered his Book by publique Authority have manifested to his shame Thirdly the Archbishop hath quite mistaken the last objection which was not his prostration to God in Prayer but his prostration coram Altare and dum Altari adsto in honour and reverence of his idolized Altar So that the charge rests still upon and sticks faster to him then before by this his justification Thirdly From my study at Lambeth they pursued me to my Gallery there where they charge three Pictures against me to which I return this Answer That the first of them which is the great one was given me by a friend and there can be no harm or Popery in it being onely the Picture of Saint Ambrose Augustine Jerome and Gregory the first which may be lawfully made and reserved That the two other Pictures were in the Gallery long before my time and continued there in Archbishop Abbots Bancrofts and Whitgifts dayes to prove which he produces Mr. Dobson his servant who affirmed that he saw these two latter Pictures in the Gallery in Archbishop Bancrofts time where they continued ever since and one of them is a Picture against Popery to wit of Christ going into the sheepfold by the door and of Popish Priests and Friers climbing into it by the window like theeves and robbers Besides the Harmony of confessions of the reformed Churches holds that Images are in themselves indifferent so as no adoration be given to them yea Mr. Calvin in the place forecited is of the same opinion And I have written against the adoration and superstitious use of Images as fully as any man
whatsoever Therefore those Pictures can be no evidence of mine intention to bring in Popery To which was rejoyned First that we beleeve the first Picture was a present sent unto him from Rome where the workmanship of it shews it was made and therefore he did wisely to conceal his name who bestowed it on him That we did not except against the meer Pictures of those Fathers but against the Picture of the Holy Ghost in form of a Dove hovering over their heads and sending forth rayes and influences from his beak severally upon each of them directly contrary to our Statutes Homilies Writers which condemn all such Pictures of the Holy Ghost or any other persons of the Trinity Secondly that one of the other Pictures was a most abominable Idol of Christ newly taken down from his Crosse all bloody with shaven crown Priests Friers and Nunns standing and kneeling round about him which kinde of Pictures by our Lawes Homilies Injunctions resolutions as we have already proved ought to be utterly demolished and not suffered in private Houses or Galleries no more then in Churches or Chappels The other was a Picture of Christ himself upon a ladder not entring in at a door with Monks and Friers only about him and therefore as superstitious Popish as the former and not tolerable by our Lawes especially in an Archbishops publique Gallary where all sorts of strangers and visitors of quality were entertained who by this example would be induced if Protestants to approve of such superstitious Pictures and to procure the like by way of imitation If Papists would be thereby hardned confirmed in their superstition and in giving them adoration especially when they should behold the like Superstitious and Idolatrous Pictures as well in his Chappel and study as in his Gallary where no such were in his predecessours dayes but only broken and defaced ones As for his predecessours having or leaving these two last Pictures to him it is no justification nor mitigation of his crime their ill actions are no Apology at all for his who repaired and beautified in his Chappel those very superstitious Images which they demolished and never durst repair Thirdly whereas he produceth the Harmony of confessions of the Protestants Churches for proof of the use and indifferency of these Images so as they be not adored He cites neither Section nor Page nor sentence therein to prove this assertion but we must take it on his own bare word which how false it is we shall prove by the words of the Harmony it self Sect. 17. p. 401. Where the latter confession of Helvetia Cha. 17. determines thus But yet notwithstanding we must admonish men to take heed that they count not among things indifferent such as INDEED ARE NOT INDIFFERENT as some use to count the Masse and THE USE OF IMAGES IN CHURCHES This is the only passage we finde in the Harmony of confessions for the indifferency of Images or their use which is point blank against him And as for Mr. Calvins forecited Text it is as point blank against him as this of the Harmony as we have proved Therefore this charge lies still heavy upon him in each particular and bewrayes both his Popery and falsity in quotations Secondly from Lambeth house they next pursued me to White Hall where these particulars were charged against me First my own personal bowing to the Altar and my enjoyning of others his Majesties Chaplains to use it when I was Dean of the Chappel Secondly the hanging up of a glorious large costly Arras Crucifix behinde the Altar on passion week in his Majesties own Chappel there in the yeers 1636. and 1637. which gave great scandal and offence as Sir Henry Mildmay attested Thirdly my making his Majesties Chappel a patern of imitation to all Cathedrals and other Churches Fourthly the practise of Dr. Brown and two Seminary Priests in bowing to the Altar and Crucifix there with their speech to Mrs. Charnock To the first of these I Answer that my bowing there was only to worship God not the Altar and I hope it is no offence nor treason to worship God in the Kings own Chappel or to induce others to do the like The lawfulnesse of this worship towards the Altar I have manifested at large in my Speech in Starchamber and proved it by a Chapter order in the Black book of Windsor which the Knights of the Honourable Order of the Garter yet observe and practise therefore it is no Popery nor Popish Innovation but a reverence fitting the place which the Homily for repairing and keeping clean Churches commands And I pray God that under colour of casting superstition out of Churches we bring not in prophanesse To the third I Answer that I was not Dean of the Chappel but Bishop Wren when this Crucifix was set up that neither Sir Henry Mildmay nor any other ever complained to me that they were scandalized by this Crucifix If Sir Henry took scandal meerly at the Crucifix it self he must have taken scandal at that Crucifix in the old hangings which stood continually behinde the Altar as well as at this which was more costly which since he did not it seems he took scandal only at the workmanship not at the Crucifix it self in this more costly peece To the third he gave no Answer To the fourth I Answer that Dr. Browns act is nothing to me he is old enough and must answer for himself The same Answer I give to that of the Seminary Priests only this I shall add that perchance it might be an act of cunning in them of purpose to discredit and discountenance all our external worship of purpose to gain Proselytes to themselves To which was replied First that to worship God as we ought in the Kings Chappel is no treason nor offence but this kinde of worshipping God there or elsewhere towards the Altar is both Popish Superstitious and Idolatrous For by the black-Black-book of Windsor which he cites it was introduced in the very darkest times of Popery in Henry the 5. his raign or a little before and that in modum virorum Ecclesiasticorum a worship derived from Ecclesiastical persons to wit Popish Priests and Monks of that age It was a worship joyntly given in one and the self same act and instant Deo Altari to God and the Altar that is in their interpretation to the consecrated Host and breaden God as they deemed it on the Altar and to the Altar it self It was prescribed only by Popish Canons the Roman Missal Ceremonial Pontifical and introduced purposely to support their Errour of Transubstantiation at first and now revived for that very purpose as the Archbishop himself defines in his Starchamber Speech who yields this reason why we must how towards the Altar not towards the Pulpit For there t is hoc est corpus meum c. And a greater reverence no doubt IS DUE TO THE BODY then to the Word
so he deserved to be censured for it That the Papists burnt it I could not help that Neither did it agree with Master Fox his Calender but he abused it in leaving out divers Saints allowed by the Church of England as the Epiphany and Annunciation of our Lady For Doctor Pocklingtons Book wherein he abused our Martyrs it was licensed by his Chaplain Doctor Bray who was censured for it as was Doctor Pocklington too in the Lords House But it is objected that my Chaplaines act is in law mine owne I answer not unlesse I command it But the Book it selfe was found in my Study and I preferred Doctor Pocklington for it I know no such thing and though I had the Book yet I knew not of this passage in it Fourthly for the calling in of Beacons Book printed by Mistris Griffin it is nothing to me what a Jesuit said of it and if called in it was because she reprinted it contrary to the Star-chamber Decree Fiftly for the Palsgraves Religion I remember it not and if called in it was because it was contrary to the Kings Declaration and touched upon some points of controversie prohibited by it Sixtly the hindring of the reprinting of Master Fox Bishop Jewell and Doctor Willet was no act of mine Seventhly I hindered the printing of no new Books against Popery Eightly the questioning of Master Prynne Master Burton and the rest in the High Commission was no act of mine but the Courts nor were they censured but got off without censure Master Burton said he was questioned before the Counsell Table for one of his Books as a Libell If it were a Libell there was cause to doe it He added he could not be quiet for being troubled in the high Commission nor could the Church be quiet for him which was the cause of his trouble He affirmed I committed him to the Fleet and denied him the benefit of the Petition of Right I answer there was cause enough for his commitment for printing of Books without license and for disturbing the peace of the Church and he had the benefit of the Petition of Right because the reason of his commitment was expressed in the Warrant Ninthly I licensed none of the particular books forecited my selfe nor any of my Chaplains to my knowledge I am certaine not by my command and if any of them have transgressed herein themselves must answer for it not I who having many other weighty publike affaires to look after had no time to peruse or license Books my selfe and was enforced to commit this trust to their care Tenthly to the particular books I answer First that though Sales his book was licensed by my Chaplaine yet he was abused therein by the Translator Printer who was punished for it in Star-chamber The book it self was called in and burnt by Proclamation and I dismissed the Doctor for licensing it out of my house and service For Christs Epistle to a devout Soule it was licensed at London House by Doctor Weeks the Bishop of Londons Chaplain not mine and so nothing to me besides it was suppressed before it was published For Doctor Heylins Books they are nothing to me I had no hand in them nor yet in Doctor Pocklingtons who hath been censured for them himselfe For Bishop Mountagues Impressions they concerne not me I did neitheir advise nor authorize them For the Lives of the Emperours which commend the Councell of Trent the Book was not licensed and I know not of it For the Popish Index Biblicus printed in England it is nothing to me it was without my privity and direction For the severall popish passages objected out of some newbooks the Authors themselvs must answer them at their perill they concerne not me For the rejecting of Master Prynnes Crosse Bill in Star-chamber complaining of these popish Books and Doctrines it was none of my act but the Courts and Lord Keeper Coventries and so was Mr. Burtons censure for his Book in which I gave no Vote For Master Croxtons Letter to me with a Crosse enjoyning Auricular confession I could not hinder it nor his practise of confession being in Ireland And for the passages objected out of mine owne Speech in Star-chamber that they imply and necessarily inferre the popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation and the giving of divine worship to the Altar even the same that is given to God I answer that neither of these can be inferred from thence for my words onely imply that Christs body is truly and really present in the Sacrament yet not corporally but in a spirituall manner and so is received by us which is no more then Master Calvin himselfe affirmes on the 1 Cor. 11. 24. where thus he writes Neque enim mortis tantum Resurrectionis suae beneficium nobis offert Christus sed corpus suum in quo passus est Resurrexit Concludo REALITER ut vulgo loquuntur id est VERE Nobis in Coena datur Christi corpus ut sic Aâ—imis Nostris in Cibum salutarem and Master Perkins himselfe faith as much For my words that we should bow DEO ET ALTARI which are coupled both together with a Conjunction Copulative yea both bowed to at the self-same time in one and the same act and the worship directed to and terminated in both alike Ergo divine worship is given to the Altar herein as well as to God which is flat Idolatry or but such civill reverence given to God as is rendred to the Altar which is to dishonour God and gives him no greater worship in his house then is due unto a creature I answer that though the act of bowing be the same to both yet the object mind and intention being different the worship must be so too There is a double worship and bowing one of the body the other of the heart as Master Perkins himselfe distinguisheth which is properly called Veneration when done but to a creature in a civill respect and worship onely when given to God himself To this was replied Ferst that this Decree of Star-chamber concerning printing was onely his owne act originally who projected and put that Court upon it whereof he was an over-potent Member theirs onely Ministerially to satisfie his importunity therein as the forecited Passages in the Decreee it selfe and our Witnesses attest Yea the printing of it was by his own command to enlarge his Jurisdiction which it much advanced We grant that some things in the Decree were good approved of by the Stationers who desired the same of which we complain not and some particulars very usefull had a right use been made of them But the prohibiting reprinting of all Orthodox Books formerly printed by authority unlesse re-licensed by him or his Agents the deniall of any old book to be reprinted even against Popery it selfe with the suppressing or purging most new Books against Popery under pretext of this Decree and the arbitrary punishing such who transgressed herein both in the Star-chamber
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
herein Seventhly himselfe if not immediatly yet originally and mediatly hindered the printing of all the new Books against Popery refused at the Presse and denied license by his Instruments Chaplaines Doctor Bray Doctor Haywood Doctor Weekes Doctor Baker unlesse first purged by them Ninthly the questioning of Master Prynne Master Burton with their Printers and Stationers in the High Commission for their Books against Doctor Cosins his popery Babel no Bethel Baiting of the Popes Bull and the like was originally his act alone not the Courts which did naught in it but by his instigation Their getting off thence was by Prohibitions sore against his will where else he resolved to ruine them Master Burtons answering the Popes Bull by license deserved no questioning at the Counsell Table and was certainly no Libell at all unlesse the Pope or his Partisans deemed it such to them His Books then were no trouble to the Church and therefore it was strange and most unjust he should be troubled for them yea his imprisonment without Baile which he tendered when bailable by Law was contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right though the cause of it not warranted by Law was expressed in the Warrant Tenthly his owne Chaplaines oversights and offences in licensing popish Books even with this speciall Encomium that there was nothing in them contrary to faith and sound Doctrine the forme of licensing himselfe prescribed them under his owne hand is certainly both in law and justice his owne crime more then theirs who must answer for it much more then they the trust of licensing books being originally reposed in himselfe by the State and in his Chaplaines onely by his owne Deputation for whom he must answer at his perill To prove this and take away this poore evasion which he so much insists on we shall put but these few cases adjudged in Law If a Bailiffe under Jaylor or under Sheriffe suffer a prisoner to escape or any way to misdemeane themselves in their office an action of escape debt an fine in cases of felony and treason and action of the case lyeth against the high Sheriffe and chiefe Jaylor for it who must undergoe the penalty and blame because they are their servants entrusted by themselues And to put a case which comes neerer home and is farre stronger then this of a Chaplaine 21. E. 1. membr 3. Dorso Clauso and in the Pleas of that Parliament placit 17. John Archbishop of Yorke was questioned in Parliament for excommunicating William of Willicon and John Rowman servants to the Bishop of Durham then imployed in the Kings service the Archbishop pleaded just as this Archbishop doth now That they were not excommunicated by himselfe but onely by his Commissary who must answer for it and so no act of his for which he ought to answer But yet notwithstanding it was upon serious debate resolved in Parliament that the Act of his Commissary being his owne immediate Officer was his owne act for whose misdemeanour he must answer and thereupon he was fined 4000. markes to the King and forced to pay it a great fine in those times for such an offence yea gladed to make many friends to the King to avoid a further censure which is farre stronger then the case of this Arch-prelate For this Commissary was an Officer established by Law which the Archbishop could not remove at pleasure without just cause but his Chaplaines were no Officers by Law but meer meniall servants under his immediate command and removable at pleasure therefore certainly they durst license nothing especially against our established Religion without his privity and command Besides there were never any such popish Books authorized since the beginning of Reformation in any of his Predecessors times by themselves or their Chaplaines neither durst such erronious pamphlets appeare publickly amongst us till he grew great to patronize them yea when they were thus licensed and publickly complained against as Popish erronious and destructive to our Religion he censured persecuted such who durst complaine or write against them never questioning nor punishing the Licensers Printers or Authors of them exemplarily as he should have done to discharge the trust reposed in him and vindicate his sincerity herein whereas if any new Book against Arminians or Popish Innovations did but privily passe the Presse by license of his Predecessors Chaplaines as Bishop Carltons Book against Mountague Master Prynnes Perpetuity his Survey of Master Cozens his Cozening Devotions Histriomastix with other forenamed Impressions did he presently suppressed burnt them questioned the Authous Printers Dispersers Licensers of them both in the High Commission and Star-chamber too where Master Prynne by his meanes was censured in the highest degree of extremity for his Histriomastix a licensed Book and Master Buckner too who licensed it fined by this Archbishop himselfe and that Court therefore this act of his Chaplaines must rest upon his own head and the guilt thereof lye heaviest upon him whose fault it was to make choyce of such and to entrust them in this kind As for his excuse of his many other grand imployments which so engrossed his time that he had no leisure to peruse what Books were tendred and licensed for the Presse it is so farre from being any excuse that it aggavates his crime Certainly the preservation of our Religion in its purity the keeping out all Popish innovations in Ceremony Doctrine Worship and the suppression of Popish errours Books Doctrines were the principall things of all others which his Place Calling yea his Majesties trust engaged him to look unto for him then to neglect this principall part of his Episcopall duty the frequent preaching of Gods Word he seldome appearing in the Pulpit after he became Archbishop and a Privy Counsellour to drowne himselfe in all manner of secular imployments in the Star-chamber Counsel-Chamber Exchequer spending his time in proling about Tobacco Licenses illegall Taxes Projects Monopolies of all sorts contrary to the Lawes and Liberties of the Subjects in undermining Parliaments oppressing the people every where and managing the Kings Revenues things no way suitable to his spirituall Function is so farre from extenuating that it puts the highest degree of aggravation upon this his negligence and Chaplaines misdemeanours which he should have better looked too But admit the reall duties of his Place alone had been overburthensome to him he should then have intrusted imployed such in Licensing and perusing Books who would have discharged the trust reposed in them in farre better manner then his knowne Popish and Arminian Chaplains did Tenthly to his excuses touching the particular Popish Books objected We answer first that Sales his Booke was Licensed by Doctor Haywood his own Chaplain that he was not abused in it but the Printer whom he checked for complaining to him of the Popish passages in the Booke and encouraged to proceed in the printing of it which otherwise he durst not have printed That it was afterwards
called in and publickly burnt was no thanks to him or his Chaplain but to Master Prynnes crosse Bill against him and his Chaplaine in Star-Chamber for licensing it As for the Proclamation for calling it in it was but a meere device to abuse the King Kingdome to justifie or excuse his peccant Chaplain and himselfe by a most false relation of the carriage of the businesse Besides if his Chaplain was innocent Why then doth he pretend he punished him by turning him out of his service If guilty Why doth he justifie him to the King and Kingdome by this Proclamation But indeed this pretended punishment was but a meere pretence for he punished him onely with a good Living to wit Saint Giles in the Fields sending him from Lambeth thither to infect that Parish with his Popish Leprosie or to please the Papists Priests Jesuits of which there were more residing in that Parish alone then in all the Parishes about London For Christs Epistle to a Devout Soule that it was licensed by Doctor Weekes at London-house the self-same day that Sales was at Lambeth is true but yet it is as true that Doctor Weeks was this Archbishops owne Chaplaine and the Bishop of London his meer creature Servant yea it appears there was a strong confederacy between the Chaplaines of Lambeth and London-house in licensing both these Popish Books for the same Stationer the self-same day to propagate and license Popery with a witnesse even just at that very season which makes it more remarkable when Master Prynne Master Burton and Doctor Bastwicke were prosecuted by their good Lord and Master Canterbury in the Star-chamber for opposing their Popish Innovations Impositions Doctrins and just when the gaudy Crucifix was erected by him at White-hall in the Kings owne Chappell in Passion week they then thinking all cock-sure on their side That this Epistle was suppressed we may thank not the Archbishop but Master Prynn's Crosse-bill who but a few weeks after was ill requited with a bloody barbarous censure for his paines and sent away hence close prisoner first into North-Wales then into Jersey where none must have accesse unto him to prevent any more such oppositions discoveries of popish Bookes and Bils against them For Doctor Heylins Books complained of they were some of them purposely written by the Archbishops owne command as he hath confessed to wit that against Mr. Burton Antidotum Lincolnienses licensed by his own Chaplaines therefore they concerne him much For Doctor Pocklingtons Popish Impressions they were perused by himselfe yea published by his direction without the Doctors privity as his Petition manifests therefore his censure for writing them will be no excuse for his owne publishing or his Chaplaines authorizing them without the Doctors knowledge or desire For Bishop Mountagues Books they were all bound up most of them with his Armes very rightly gilt and presented to him by Mountague himselfe after that entertained by him in his Study justified by him in private conferences yea the later of them expresly submitted to his judgement dispose and licensed by his Chaplaines and yet are they nothing to him For the Epitome of the Lives of the Emperours it was licensed by his owne Chaplaine Doctor Weekes at London-house as the license and entry of it in the Stationers Hall which we have here ready to produce attests That he took no notice of it nor of what was in it was his owne voluntary negligence who could take notice of any the least pretended Puritannicall Anti-episcopall or Anti-Arminian passages in all new printed Books whatsoever yea of any harsh passages against the Pope Papists Jesuits and cause them to be suppressed expunged and the Authors of them sometimes to be deeply censured For the Popish Index Biblicus being printed here in London then publikely bound up with our Latin Bibles of Junius and Tremelius translation with which they as well accorded as Fire doth with Water or Popery with Protestanisme it concerned him most of any thing to take notice of and have most severely punished But this vigilant Argus against Protestanisme or any thing that trenched upon Episcopacy Popish Ceremonies Arminianisme or the High Commission was here as blind as a Beetle and could espye no Books at all though never so grosse that made for Popery and popish Innovations or else fell fast asleep when he should watch against these popish enemies who sowed their Tarts so fast among us For the objected popish passages out of these now Authorized Printed Authors himselfe must answer for them First because many of them were particularly complained against by Master Burton in his Sermon for God and the King by Master Prynne in his Crosse Bill which he read and by sundry printed Books which he could not but take notice of yet he neither suppressed the Books nor questioned the Authors Printers or dispersers of them Secōdly because never any such large crop or harvest of Popish Books and Tares appeared or sprung up in our English Church before his time since the beginning of Reformation it being the chiefe part of his place and Office as Archbishop of Canterbury to suppresse and extirpate whereas he authorized and propagated them all he could For the rejecting of Master Prynnes Crosse Bill in Star-chamber against him his Chaplaines and Confederates for Writing Licensing Publishing these Popish Books and Passages it was principally his owne Act who stopped it at the Lord Keepers was present when it was rejected in open Court where he sat as one of the most swaying Judges and endeavoured to have brought him in danger of his life onely for preferring it in a Legall manner whereas had he his Chaplaines Confederates been Innocent they would have Petitioned the Court it might have been received that so they might legally have cleared themselves if they could of that which now blessed be God we have fully proved before an Higher Tribunall for which this cause by Gods providence was reserved as the fittest Court both to heare and censure it For Master Croxtons Letter he was his owne creature specially recommended by him to the Lord Deputy Wentworth who preferred him for his sake and he that durst preferre such a Popish Priest in that Popish Kingdome who dared thus openly to put the Masse-Priests yea Jesuits badge of a Crosse in the Front of his Letter to him and acquaint him with this open practice of Auricular Confession must doubtlesse be no wel-wisher to our Religion and assured of the Archbishops readinesse to concur with him in the approbation of his courses else he durst not write thus to him As for that passage in his Speech in Star-chamber we have already proved that it necessarily implyes a Transubstantiation or corporall presence of Christ on the very Altar For there saith he not in and to the beleevers heart receiving him spiritually by faith t is Hoc est corpus meum c. and A greater reverence no doubt is due TO THE BODY then to the word of
he avers that the Pope is Antichrist and p. 810. where he cals the Pope the whore of Babylon Therefore these could not be thought to be crossed out in favour of Papists and Popery but because the expressions in them were such as might give just occasion of distaste Fourthly I shall by your Lordships favour demand of Doctor Featly himselfe two questions and desire his answer to them First Whether when he was a Licenser in my Predecessors time it was not usuall for his Chaplaines to qualifie or rase out some unfitting expressions when they saw cause out of Books tendered to them to license and whether they were not liable to censure if any such escaped them upon complaint Secondly Whether himselfe since the sitting of this Parliament hath not written a Book afterwards licensed and whether the Licenser did not alter and blot something out of it what was it and who did it To which sodaine questions the Doctor being commanded by the Lords to give an answer replyed to the first Question That he and his fellow-Licensers did sometimes use to qualifie or obliterate some passages savouring of Puritanisme or in favour of it especially after the burning of Doctor Mockets Booke for which the Licenser was reprehended and that himselfe was once questioned before King James for a Booke licensed about a passage concerning the calling of the Jewes and for Master Eltons Booke upon the Commandements savouring of Puritanisme but he never knew in his time of any Passages against the Papists Popery Arminianisme or the like expunged out by Archbishop Abbot or his Chaplaines nor any one questioned for licensing any such but rather encouraged till of late times To the second he confessed that he and Master Rouse did joyntly write and publish a Booke fince this Parliament intituled Vertumnus Romanus and that Master Rouse caused him to strike out a Passage in it that was somwhat sharpe against the Separatists which he did at his desire Whereupon the Archbishop urged that then he hoped his Chaplaines might have the same liberty to crosse what they thought fitting out of the Books they licensed though it were against Popery To this was answered First that by Queene Elizabeths Injunctions Numb 51. The Archbishops of Canterbury York Bishop of London themselves not their Chaplains are appointed to License Books and trusted with this charge which they personally performed as appeares by sundry Entries of Books licensed by them in the Stationers Register of Entries And why their Successours in these dayes should not personally license Books and discharge this trust as well as their Predecessours making 〈◊〉 of their Chaplains onely for their assistance to report the substance of the 〈◊〉 unprinted to them no reason can be given but either their carelesnesse 〈◊〉 or overmuch intermedling with secular affaires no wayes concerning or beseeming them Secondly that his Chaplaine made these Purgations not himselfe is no excuse since he did it by his speciall command and direction as Sir Edmond Scots words and Doctor Featlies testimony evidence Thirdly his Chaplains death is no excuse of his own guilt That Doctor Featly complained not to him of these Purgations is no excuse for if he had Sir Edward Hungerfords example his owne answer to him then his present expressions at the Barre now and Sir Edmond Scots words to Doctor Featly clearly prove it had been bootlesse and he remedilesse Legem sibi dixerat ipse he was resolved to admit and redresse no complaints of this nature against his Chaplaines Fourthly the permitting of some Passages against Popery to stand in the Doctors Sermon is an aggravation of his Chaplaines crime in purging out others of the same nature for why should not all stand as well as some especially that against Popish worshiping of Images taken verbatim out of our Homilies there quoted and the very words of the Scriptuze it selfe against conniving at Popish Seducers to Idolatry Indeed those that remained are more generall these obliterated more particular sharpe piercing and more concerned our present times practises therefore lesse reason to be expunged Fiftly these expunctions out of the Doctors Sermons were so many that the Printer was enforced to new print some 16. or 18. sheets in folio to his great prejudice That those Passages he cites escaped their purgation was because the Booke being large they passed undiscerned till after its publication else doubtlesse the Archbishop and his Chaplaines would have crossed them out in Doctor Featlies Sermons as well as in Doctor Sibthorps or in Doctor Potters Bishop Hals owne Booke Doctor Jones and Doctor Clerke and not have permitted his Brother Pontiffe of Rome to be stiled Antichrist and the whoore of Rome and his Priests compared unto Baalists Sixtly Doctor Featlies testimony is a very strong evidence against the Archbishop for before his time there were never any such Purgations made but onely of Passages in favour of Puritanisme nor any Books questioned or Passages deleted that were against the Pope Popery Arminianisme Jesuits Seminary Priests or Papists which the Archbishop and his Chaplaines first introduced As for his Vertumnus Romanus being joyntly written by Master Rowse and himselfe it was just that Master Rowse should have liberty to crosse out by the Doctors consent any passage he disliked and the Doctor consented to have this deleted this Passage therefore not being obliterated by any Licenser but by the Authors themselves by joynt consent and being not against Popery or Papists but Separatists onely who professe the same Doctrine with us and were then ready to joyne with us in one way of Worship of Government is no extenuation or justification of his and his Chaplaines purging this Doctors Booke so grosely as they did of Passages against the Pope Popery and Arminianisme The next Purgations objected were made in Doctor Clerks Doctor Jones and Master Wards Books by Doctor Heywood Doctor Baker Doctor Weeks To this I answer First that there are divers sharpe Passages yet remaining in Doctor Clerkes Sermons against Papists that they were licensed part of them by Doctor Weekes none of mine but the Bishop of Londons houshold Chaplain and part of them by Doctor Heywood my Chaplain That Master White distinguished not what Sermons were Licensed by the one what by the other Besides Master White is but a single witnesse Secondly Doctor Jones his Commentary on the Hebrewes was licensed and purged by Doctor Baker the Bishop of Londons Chaplaine and Master Wards Booke by Doctor Weeks not by me or my Chaplaines therefore they concerne me not To this was replyed First that the most pungent and pregnant Passages in Doctor Clerkes Sermons against the Popes Authority tyranny pride Jesuits Priests Papists Arminians Arminianisme Popery and Popish errours are 〈◊〉 tally wiped out by the Licensers and very few such escaped their spunge 〈…〉 leaving therefore of a few inconfiderable Passages against them unexpungâ—â—◠〈…〉 no more excuse the obliterating of the rest then a thiefes leaving of a
seduce him to popery and reconcile our Churches and Kingdomes to Rome by this meanes contained in their mutuall Articles of Impeachment the Copies of which Letters and Articles were found in his owne Study by Master Prynne must needs concerne him since he could not be ignorant that the Pope and his Instruments would use their utmost diligence to seduce the Prince to their Religion when they had him thus sent and betrayed into their power for that very purpose and his Letter to Bishop Hall though written but of late long after that intended Match yet fully relates his privity to the most secret Instructions before it to gratifie and please the very Pope himselfe and prevent his Objections against the Match or King James For the French Match the Evidence proves he was both privy consenting and assisting to it even after he knew the danger of it in point of Religion both to the King and Kingdome by the proceedings and Articles in the Spanish Treaty being both the very same in substance whereas his intimacy power with the King Duke and quality of his place as he was a Bishop yea Confessor to one or both of them should have engaged him had he been a reall Protestant to have used his utmost endeavours to disswade the King and Duke from both these Popish Matches as most perilous destructive to our Religion the sad effects whereof we now visibly behold in our civill wars and read In Characters written with our owne blood For his intimacy with the Queen it favours of farre more then civility or duty and her extaordinary favours to him proceeded from no other cause but his compliance with her Majesty to introduce popery and reduce us back to Rome as appeares by his proceedings against Master Gellibrand in the High Commission for his Almanack wherin the popish Saints were expunged and our Martyrs inserted at her Majesties request by his prohibiting Ministers to pray and censuring them for praying for her conversion to our Religion which we have punctually proved and of Master Howe for praying to God to preserve the young Prince from being brought up in Popery of which there was great feare a harmlesse yea necessary prayer both in respect of the Queen Mother then too neer him and the Queen who by the Articles of the Match was to have a great hand in his Education till he was fourteen yeers of age as also in regard of the Popes Nuncioes the seducing Jesuits Priests and Capucines about the Queen Court Him and childrens naturall prouenesse unto errour Which prayers admit they had been an oversight yet proceeding from a godly Christian Zeale deserved onely a private admonition not open prosecution or High Commission censure but his making of them so publickly criminall and censuring those so severely for them of purpose to deterre all others from praying for the Queens conversion or against the Princes perversion is an undeniable argument of his good affection to Popery and attempts to reduce us thereunto For his extolling Queen Maries and depressing King Edwards and Queen Elizabeths dayes the words sufficiently declare it was as well in reference to the Religion then professed as to the Vniversity Statutes and the Preface it selfe is of his owne making as well as the Statutes as we shall more fully manifest in due place by his own letters Secondly to the particular instances the Commons made this reply First that their maine end in producing them was onely to demonstrate that the Pope and his Instruments had a reall Plot and designe to introduce Popery and reduce us back to Rome and that the Archbishop could not but know and take speciall notice thereof by all these particular Letters Papers Books found in his owne Study sent written to himselfe endorsed with his owne hand or recorded in his Diary which should have engaged him with greater vigilancy care animosity to have opposed them and their designes In which regard the three first of them with all the rest most neerly concerned him neither doth nor can he plead ignorance of them Secondly that though all these particulars prove not that he promoted confederated with them in their designes yet some of them directly prove it as his countenancing of Sancta Clara his Books his maintaining of Saint Giles a most dangerous seducing Popish Priest many yeers in the University of Oxford his opposing answering the Commons Remonstrance against the dangerous open encrease and practises of Papists in Ireland to set up Popery there and branding it as a scandalous untruth Thirdly for Habernfields plot we shall prove how it makes against him in due time and for Sancta Clara his Book of Reconciliation we have proved First that he knew of it and had both the Book and Author brought to him by his Favourite Doctor Linsey before it was printed this we have under his owne hand therefore it is monstrous impudency in him to deny it Secondly that this Book when printed was presented to reserved by him in his study and the Author with him there some three or four times afterwards Thirdly that it was printed and publickly sold here in Londō without controll Fourthly that his creatures both abroad and at home much applauded it Fiftly that Saint Giles was the Author of it a popish Priest whom himselfe sent to and maintained in the University of Oxford to pervert and seduce Schollers there That he had the Kings Warrant for it is no excuse and the Warrant being without date written with his owne hand and signed by the King to help at a dead list savours of meer fraud circumvention and will amount to an aggravation but no extenuation of his crime Fourthly the proffer of a Cardinalship twice unto him even at Court so soon as he was nominated Archbishop proves the good opinion that the popish party had of his inclination to their party and Religion his concealing the names of the parties that made him the offer which he will not disclose and his not prosecuting and complaining against them to bring them to publique justice prove that he deemed this proffer no injury nor disparagement if a poor Puritan did but write against Popery or Popish Innovations he presently prosecuted him in the High Commission or Star-chamber where he was sure to be fined imprisoned pillored stigmatized scourged banished but he that seriously tendred him a Cardinals Cap twice one after another escaped scot-free without so much as being once questioned for it As for his informing the King thereof it was not by way of complaint but advice and his answer to the King if true is no absolute rejection of the Dignity but rather an adjournment for the present his ambitious itching desire of being a Pope and Patriarch throughout his Majesties Dominions testified by Sir Henry and Master Anthony Mildmay with Master Challoner making him refuse the present offer not any detestation of Popery or reconciliation with Rome To the sixt was replied that it appeared by the Bishops Protestation in