there at the Barr as a Delinquent for mayntayning the Religion established by publick Autority the honour of the King and the glory of his Majestie and that one Chouny a Sussex man a laick as vvell as himselfe should vvrite a Booke and set it forth by publicke autoritie mayntayning the Church of Rome to be a true Church and never to have had so much in her as the suspition of error in fundamentall poynts and that this booke should be dedicated to the Prelate of Canterbury patrionized by him vvhich Bookâ— the Defâ—ndent both read and exhibited in Court by vvhich notwithstandig the King himselfe and all his Subiects were made Schismaticks and hereticks to the infinit dishonour of God our Gratioâ—s King and King Iames of blessed memorie and our most holie profession and religion This as the defendent told the Lord of Dorset struck an amazement in him especially vvhen the author of it must be favoured and coâ—ntenanced by Canterburie and for the defending of the honour and dignitie of our Church and the honour of the King the Defendent should stand as an evill doer Novv vvhen the defendent vvas come thus farre and vvas then approaching more closely unto them all intending more fullie in the pleading of his cause to have set forth their unjust dealing they tolde him that he rayled and imperiouslie commanded him to hold his peace vvhich vvas the reason of his Apologeticus ad Praesules Anglicanos vvhere he tooke libertie to vvrite that and publish it to the vievv of all the vvorld vvhich he vvould have then spoke But after that they had silenced him they then fell a thundering against him everie one as he pleased all of them joyning in this one onely excepted that they censured him onely for his Booke and in their censure they unanimously agreed that the Defendent should pay the costs of suite a thousand pounds unto the King for a fine be debarred of his practice that his booke should be burnt and that the Defendent should lye in prison till recantation and in the meane time be delivered unto Satan And thus did the Sublime Court deale with the Defendent for doing his duty But here the Defendent craveth favour againe of the honorable Court that he may briefly letting the puny Iudges and their nonsenâ—e dye in silence say something of the Prelats haranges because they onely were the men that found themselves aggreeved aâ— his writing to say the trueth all the other are Officiers under them and are the Prelats hangbyes he meanes the Doctors to doe what they would have theÌ„ as hourely experience teacheâ—h all men And so much the more earnestly he desireth this liberty because it will make much for the demoÌ„stration of the justice of his accusation against the Prelats both in respect of the dishonor they have don unto God by it the dishonour of the King their Master King Iames of precious memory and the wrong done to himself in particular Now the first that entred this combat was Francis White Bishop of Ely who in the first place most blasphemously and with many contumelyes reproached the holy Scriptures making nothing of their divine Autority as all the standers by can witnes for he reviling the Defendent sayd That he had nothing in his booke but Scripture which was as he tearmed it the refuge of all Hereticks and Schismaticks openly averring withall That the Scripâ—ures could not be knowne to be the Word of God but by the Fathers and Saint Augustin would not have beleeved the Scriptures to be the Word of God had not the Church told him so Further he sayd That the Scripture could not be knowne distinguished from â—he Apocrypha but by the Faâ—hers nor the meaning of the Scripture found out but by the Fathers that all the Faâ—hers from all Antiquity which is most false as the defendent in a speciall booke hath sufficiently shewed made and proved a vast difference between Bishops and Presbyters and that there was ever a greater excellency and Autority in the Bishop then in Presbyters And this with an unanâ—mous coÌ„sent they all agreed in till a base fellow Calvin for so he tearmed that ever to be honoured Divine rose up in an obscure corner of the World viâ—lated and overtrew all order Autority in the Church and would allso have demolished the Autority of the Magistrates And then turning his speech to the Defendent unhumanly he called him Base fellow Brasen faced Fellow Base Dunce and sayd in the face of the Court That if he could not mayntayne his Episcopall Autority to be Iure Divino he would fling away his Rotchet And so concluding with those that had gone before him in his censure he sat downe in a very great fuâ—y and passion Afâ—er him came forth the Bishop of Yorke and in that numerous Assembly proclaymes That Iesus Christ made him a Bishop and the holy Ghost consecrated him and that he had not his Autority from the King for Bishops were before Kings and that Bishops held the Crownes of Kings upon their heads and so peremptorily averring that the Defendent ought to be knockt downe with club-Law for his ignorance assenting with the rest in their Censure he fell a sleep In the third place the Bishop of London advanced forwards speaking very loud and temerarious words against the Holy Scriptures saying That he had thought to have found some great Matters in the Defendents booke seeing him so confident and so peremptory but diligently reading of it he met with nothing in it but Scripture which as he sayd was the refuge of all Schismeticks Hereticks so according with his predecessors in their opinion and censure he concluded his part of speech But last of all came forth the Prelat of Canterbury who with a frontlesse boldnes avouched his Episcopall Autority preeminency over his breâ—hren to be onely from God very much blaming Calvin for his faâ—tious Spirit saying That their Ecclesiasticall Autority the power they exercised was from Christ Iesus and produced Timothy and Titus to proveâ— the same assertion and that Bishops were before Christian Kings and they held the Crownes of Kings upon their heads For no Bishop no King those that would have no Bishops sought to overthrow all Government in his censure he jumped in all things with the rest saving in the Fine which as he sayd hee thought too little and therefore ought of meere conscience as he told the other Iudges hee fined the Defendent a Thousand pounds more But he had one thing more to speake as he sayd concerning the Châ—rch of Rome and about that he resolved publickly there to declare himself in regard the Defendent had cast Chounyes book unto him in open Court and of the Synagogue of Rome he spake verie honorably affirming That shee was a true Church and that shee did not erre in fundamentall poynts and all this hee spake in that publick Sessions All which the Defendent hath
borrow no help from without them or fetcht in humane witnesse for the declaring of their Divinity There was no need to send unto the Prophets or the Church in old time to inquire whether the Scriptures were the Word of God amongst any that were but any â—hing acquaynted with the language of Canaan as is manifestly evident in the 2 of the Kings 22. vers 8.10 and the 2. of the â—hron 34. vers 14 15 19â— where it appeareth that when the booke of the law was found by Helchia the Priest in the house of the Lord he knew it at the first reading of it to be the Word of God the same did the King they were neither of them told by the Church or any Prophets or Fathers that it was the book of the law neither did the King send unto Hulda the Prophetesse to know whether it were a true authentick Copy all this needed not it needed then no Godfathers Godmothers to Christen and give it the name of the law of God and holy Scripture as without the with it could not have been knowne there was no need of any such thing or any humane autority for the proofe of that in those times all that were then true Israelits knew it by its owne testimony to be the Word of God and shall any man now thinke that the Scriptures are more obscure and darkeâ— and harder to be discerned by their owne testimony to be Divine and holy then when they had a vaile before them and their sacred treasuries of Divine trueths were muffled up in so many types mysteries Certainly this is not onely great ingratitude to Gods bounty but very contempt and disgrace of holy Scriptures that their most excellent self autority can have no credit amongst Christians without adventiciall assistance of vaine man Is not the witnes testimony of God greater then the testimony of manâ— If we receive the witnes of men the witnes of God is greater sayth S. Iohn in his first epistle chap 5. vers 9. But the Preâ—ats affirmeâ— the testimony of man is to be preferred before the witnes of God so that we ought not beleeve â—he Spirit witnessing but the testimony of the Fathers for they say the Scriptures can noâ— beknowne without the Fathers Christ who was truâ—h it selfe saiâ—h in the 5. of Iohn vers 36. I have a greater witnesse then that of Iohn and what was that witnes his works the witnes and approbation of hâ—s Father the Scriptures Christ here preferres the testimony of the Scripture before the testimony of Iohnâ— which was the greatest of all the Prophets and the Prelats preferre the testimony of the Fathers before the Scriptures and is not this to contemne the holy Scriptures S. Peter in that glorious transfiguration of Christ upon the mount heard the voice of God the Father notwithstanding he sayth in his 2â— epistle chap. 1. vers 19. we have also a more sound word of prophesy And Christ himselfe so reverenced the holy Scriptures that he seemeth to preferre Moses his words bâ—fore his owne saying if yee beleeve not his writings how shall yee beleeve my words and in the person of Abraham when Dives desired one might be sent to his Fathers house to warne his brethren of the danger of torment that he was in Christ sayth they have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them and he sayd nay Father Abraham but if one-went unto them from the dead they will repentâ— and he sayd unto him If they heare not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead By all which testimonies of sacred writ it is evident that if the Scripture of it self cannot prevaile with men that then there is little hope that very miracles will doe them any good for the begetting of faith in them or bringing of them to the truth much lesse the Fathers and this by Christs owne words is confirmed unto us yet the Prelats nevertheles esteeme of the Fathers autority more then of the sacred Scriptures But can any man that hath but the name of a Christian thinke that those that will not be moâ—ed by the Majest and autority of the Scriptures speaking in the name of the Lord of hosts that the autority of the Fathers will prevaile with them who are not â—o be beleeved but as they speake out of the holy Scriptures and by their Divine autority Christ denyes it and therefor we are rather to beleeve that then the phantasies and impious grolleries of a few ungodly men Is not the Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of his owne self sufficiency so able to declare its owne mind and meaning that it hath no need of the Fathers help without doubt unles prophane mouthes will make it a pack of nonsense Truly one would thinke that very reason might be able to convince these wretched wranglers if they had not hardened themselves to fight against the truth yea and sett themselves to resist thâ— holy Spirit of God for if we looke upon very nature art and reason they would convince us for there is no naturall thing but will prove and shew it selfe what it is and declare its owne nature as the Sun Moone Starrs declare their owne nature and tell what they are to every beholder of them fire by it self and of its owne nature esâ—ence is knowne what it is earth and water doe the same and the same may be sayd of gold and silver all other metals they are able to witnes for themselves what they are and to distinguish their owne natures from each others to any rationall man Againe All artificiale things are knowne what they are by their proper formes and so are discriminated the one from the other every one of them carrying a sufficient indication of it self yea all humaneâ— writings â—hew from whence they comeâ— by the spirit they are writ with and doe shew whether the Authors Writers of them be learned or unlearned or be men in autority place or not and there needs no Commentaries upon them to tell whose they are The Proclamations Edicts of Kings and Princes doe sufficiently without either marginall notes or annotations declare of themselves that they come from imperiall autority and the Majest the dignity of their phrase and expression proclame to all men that the authors of them are sacred persons and hee that should call them in question without a Councell or Parlament or the Faâ—hers and Iudges of â—he lawes autority would be thought no loyall Subject and not worthy to live and that deservedly for the very maner of their penning writing doe ever convince their Readers both of the dignity of their matter and of the excellency of the personages that set them forth And shall any in this age of light be found so darkened in his judgmentâ— as to thinke the Word of God inferior to all naturall artificiall humane things yet so it is to
in the Prelats that poore Christians in our age may neither obey the commandement of God who inioyneth us to heare in season and out of season nor imitate the Saints of olde in their pious indeavours in building up themselves in their most holy faith nor follow the good paternes of their Kings and Governors but they must be severely punished for it yea undone traduced â—or it aâ— evil doers if this be not great cruelty tyranny it selfe in the Prelats there was never none for they robb them of Heaven earâ—h all other comforts in as much as in them lyeth Nay which is yet more to shew their cruelty injustice unrightuous dealing the Prelats in the Baptisme of infants constraine the Godfathers Godmothers there solemnly to promise that they wil call upon them that are baptised when they come to yeares of discretion ofâ—en to heare Sermons to this duty are also the baptized tyed Now when they are come to yeares of understanding and in obedience of their promise they made by their God Fathers and God-Mothers and perhaps beeing stirred up also by their exhortation to this good duty of hearing the Word if â—hey goe out to heare Sermons when they have none in their owne Parishes they are first punished in their purses and liberties and then given to the Devill for this good worke which they notwithstanding have tied them to by speciall promise in their baptisme and if all this be not unspeakeable cruelty tyranny and injustice there was never none in the world and yet this is the dayly practise of the Prelates through the Kingdome as all men know And which is yet more to be observed in the same Sacrament of Baptisme children promise there by their God-Fathers and God-Mothers or they doe it for the children to be baptized that they will forsake the Devill and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and are there signed with the signe of the Crosse that innocent Ceremony as they call it that he shall continue Christs Faithfull Souldier fight under his banner all the dayes of his life against the World the Flesh and the Devill by the which promise he is bound to the utmost of his power alwayes to oppose all errors wickednes and prophanenesse Now if any in conscience of his promise either speake or write in defence of the truth as it ought to be defended or if he doe but put in practice that which he hath promised in opposing of Error Superstition Prophanesse Idolatry or the iniquities of the times the Prelates severely punish them for it as their dayly proceedings witnes and if this be not a daring crueltie also and great injustice there is none exercised upon the earth for what is unjustice and crueltie if punishing of men for doeing their duty and keeping their promise and performing that which the Prelates themselves have tied them to by speciall promise be not They teach all Christians in an other Ceremonie of standing up at the Gospell and at Gloria Paâ—ri and at the Creed to shew their readinesse and promptitude in fighting for â—he Faith of Iesus and their Holy Religion against Heresie Poperie and all Innovations all which our Gracious King declares himseâ—fe that he will never alâ—ow of or suffer and the neglect of this Ceremonie will cost a man an undoeing Now if any beeing taught by this Ceremonie come forth to the combat and but oppose themselves against Popery Errors or Innovations in defence of the Faith and the Honour of their King they are punished most severelie for it by the Prelates both in the High-Commission and other Courts and Bils and Informations and Articles are exhibited and made against them as evil doers and troublers of the State and all for doing that thâ—y teach them by their Ceremonies and bind them by promises oath to doe which is Hyperbolicall tyrannieâ— unjustice and cruelty in those reverend Fathers It seemes they would have Christians like Saint George a horsebacke ever mounted but never moving and if they doe chance to stiâ—re or dare bee so bold as to move they immediatelie are cast downe and breake either their eares or their noses or their foreheads and it may be â—hey are also whâ—pped to the baâ—gaine for beeing so bold some mischief for the most part followes their endeavours and that for doing their dutie and that which they were taught by Ceremonies and is not this arrogant tyrannyâ— cruelty and injuâ—â—ice in the Prelates to punish and that severely both the neglect and the doing also of their duty and that they are injoyned to doe without all doubt there is no such crueltie in the world as is daily practised by the Prelates and in their Courts of the which there might mightie volumes bee made but the Defendent hath instanced in these few things onely becauseâ— they are knowne to most men and obvious every day and the Defendents condiâ—ion and his cause can sufficiently witnes their unrighteous dealings and that in divers respects for they dealt with him against the very law and light of nature and as they would not bee done by to make him accuse himselfe to admit his sworne and capital enimies and which first informed them against him out of meere malice as was proved by many to bee prosecutors and witnesses against him yea to speake as it is that the Prelates themselves should be Accusers Parties Witnesses Iury and Iudge in their owneâ— cause as they all were this the Defendent saith is unrighteous dealing to which may bee added the defending of the Popes quarrell to condemne him for one thing and putting those things likewise in the records of the Court for which by the whole Court he was freed from As for example the Defendent was condemned onely for his booke now in the order of the Court or Sentence it is put inâ— that he was condemned for the other things alsoâ— which howsoever they were in themselves verie ridiculous yet it is great injustice to superadde them and so to deale with him Neither is that a small part of injustice to punish and condemne the innocent and justify the wicked both which are an abomination to the Lord. Now they condemned the Defendent for writing against the Pope adjudged his Booke to be burnt and justified his adversaries and Chouny who writ in defence of the Church of Rome and it is their daily practice to condemne bookes that are writ for the Honour of Religion accusing them to bee factious pamphlets but Bookes that are writ for the advancement of Poperie and Superstition and in defence of the Pontificalitie of Prelats and the magnification of the Church of Rome â—o the trampling downe of regall autoritie and for the murdering killing of Kings for the bringing in of Innovations into a Kingdome and for suppressing of true Religion many of which are not to bee named of these Bookes a man may buy shipfuls of them in Pauls Church yard
the said Iohn Bastvvickâ— by the advice confedeâ—acyâ— combination abetment helpe and assistance of the sayd Henry Burton and Mr. Prin c. hath unlavvfully contrived framed and vvriâ— vvithout licence printed divers epistles prefaces additions other passages annexed and inserted thereunto and all vvritten by him the sayd Iohn Bastvvick or by his advice and approbation in vvhich book he hath causlesly boldly enveighed against the Oath ex officio other the antient formes and proceedings of the sayd High Commission Court c. against the Hierarchy of the Church preferring a Presbyterian parity before the sacred and setled Orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons and in the sayd book hath falsly and scandalously defamed the vvitnesses produced against him falsly allso and maliciously taxed the High Commission Court it self and the Iudges therein in generall and some of them particularly personally vvith cruelty injustice vvith vvant of vvisdome temperance and that they are persvvaders of his Mast. though in vaine to bloudâ—hed and are upholders of idolatry superstition prophanesse and therein farther most malicioâ—sly falsly affirmeth That the Archbishop the Lord Treasurer and the Bishop of Ely three of the most vvorthy and learned Prelats of the Kingdome that they are disgracers and contemnets of the holy Scriptures and falsly traduceth them for Traytors and invaders of his Mast. prerogative And in the sayd booke are contayned divers other unlavvfull scandalous libellous passages vvhich beeing many and of various natures is annexed unto the information as a part thereof to vvhich he referreth himselfe To all vvhich large accusation the Defendent for ansvver saith That vvhereas these things of so foule nature consequence are layd upon him Mr. Burton and Mr. Prin That the informers begin their accusation with a calumny As for the defendents ovvne partscular he affirmeth and that truely That for reverend and learned Mr. Henry Burton and Mr. Prin he hath never knovvne them othervvise then to be loyall Subjects unto his Mast. and such as in all peaceable vvayes and honest endeavours have sought vvished earnestly laboured for the promotion of the true Christian faith and religion and such no other maner of men he the defendent hath ever knovvne them and such he verily believeth they are and therefore as they feare God honour the King he is and hath been and ever vvill be by the grace of God an a better vvith them and if that in so doing and practising it be counted either faction confederation or combination he vvill live and dye in it But notvvithstanding of the resolution and purpose of the defendent he further for satisfaction to the information sayth that hovvsoever the forenamed Master Burton and Mr. Prin and himself have been of long acqueyntance yet their familiarâ—â—y hath been ever very little they having not by the 4. or 5. yeares together neither seen nor heard one of an other and for these three yeares last past the defendent sayth that he hath not seen the face of Mr. Prin nor been ever vvith Mr. Burton above tvvice or thrice as he remembreth much lesse bene privy or acquaynted the one vvhat the others either proceedings or intentions vvere and therefore for ever doth disaâ—owâ— any help counsell advice in the making or publishing of any thing that ever he hath done but vvhatsoever he hath vvrit it vvas accomplished before that they knevv of it And for the other men specifyed in the information the defendent knovves them notâ— neither by face nor name and this he is ready to depose And so much may suffice in generall to have spoke of this matter But novv more especially vvhereas he the defendent is accused of long continuance to have envyed maligned his Mast. happy governmenâ— and the good discipline of the Churchâ— Hee the defendent protesteth in the presence of Godâ— and before the vvorld that it is a most false accusation and that there is never a Subject in his Mast. dominions a more honourer of the government of his Imperiall Mast. one that desireth more the good discipline of the Church and is able to produce the testimonies of all the places he haâ—h lived in in this Kingdome both from Magistrats Ministers for the honesty and integriâ—y of his life and conversation and that in all respects he hath so demeaned himself as that he hath not onely been free from viceâ— faction schisme but from the suspition of all vvhich testimonies he hath ready to shevv to this honorable Court the vvhich he exhibited to â—he High Commission Court at that time they studyed most to defame him all this both towne and contrey can testify as also of the infatigable diligence in his particular calling How that he neglected no opportunity to doe the indigentesâ— men good how that being unwearyed in his imployments he wenâ— through the heat of Summer the cold of Winter rose earlie went to bed late exposing himself at all times to any danger whatsoever of plague and pestilence and all to doe the meanest of the Kings Subjects good never taking penny of poore nor never of servant never suffering the most neglected creature of nature to perish for want of care or looking to but made them all an object of his pity and of his art giving them out of his poore competency both for their food Physick neither can any man say that ever he asked the richest a farthing for any paynes he tooke day or night for their preservation or that he ever murmured at the smallest content thy gave him if the Prelâ—â—s had let him follow his calling this defendent had continued in this diligent course of life till the day of his death Buâ— they picking a quarrell with him for writing in defence of the Kings prerogative Royall against the Popeâ— sayingâ— that while hee writ against the Pope he meant them put him upon sâ—ch imployments as he indeed thinks will be very little pleasing to the Prelats allâ—hough he is most cenfident that in them he hath and shall doe the King and Church good service and so he knoweth it will appeare when he is dead and gone But because this bookâ— is now layd unto the Defendents charge as tending to thâ— mayntenance and upholding of schisme and division iâ— his Mast. Church of England opposition against thâ— laudable Orders and Ceâ—emonyes of the sayd Churchâ— howsoever there be no such thing in the sayd Flagâ—llâ— yeâ— this Defendent desireth to give a reason unto this honorable Court for the writing publishing not onely oâ— that booke but of all other his writings since And first concerning the booke for which he was censured He saith that he was provoked thereunto by a Popish Iesuiticall Doctor of Physick who continually dared him into the field of Dispute and set downe his owne theames about which he wâ—â—ld contend which were concerning the Popes Supremacy and the sacrifice of the Masse And it
is well knowne to the Townes country where they both dwelt that the sayd defendent could never be quiet for his braggs andâ— scriblings to himself others till he had ansvvered vvhich vvas the sole cause of his ruine the vvhich ansvver of his though he had long time for peace sake neglected yet at last he vvas through his adversaries importunity put upon it Neither could he for the honour of the trueth and the honour of his Prince both vvhich he loves more then his life delay it any longer and â—herefore out of his duty to God and the King he entred the combat vvith the enimy To vvhich duty he the defendent saith he vvas bound by Christ himself vvho haâ—h commanded to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars unto â—od the things that are Gods vvhich commandement of Christs tyes all Christians under obedience to a double duty vvhich by them may not be neglected Viz. to give vnto God his due and unto the King his Yet for obeying of this commandement this poore defendent must be defamed ruined undone and left friendles monylesse and in captivity and given to the Divell and yet say nothing But the Defendent desireth this honorable Court to give him leaue to say as Queene Hester spake to Ahashuerosh if that hee and his wife had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen he had held his peace but for them to be ruined and undone because he could not see God and the King dishonoured he the defendent cannot but speake Let the King live for ever and never let it be sayd that he hath such a base cowardly fellovv in his Kingdomes that vvill suffer his imperiall Mast. to be trampled upon and suffer it in silence For his ovvne part this defendent confesseth that he is but poore and the Prelats have made him so but as rich in loyalty as any Subject in his Highnesses three dominions and as â—ob sayd concerning God though the Lord should kill him yet he vvould trust in him so this defendent sayth Though the King should leave him to the mercylesse fâ—ry of the Prelats yet he vvill ever honour him vvith his life and all that ever he hath and as hee vvas borne under obedience under obedience hee vvill dye and vvill ever say vivat Rex let the King live for ever and our gracious God put it into his Royall breast to looke into the devillish ploâ—s of the Prelats that doe not onely equalize the paynted tombes in Christs time but farre exceed them in cruelty and wickednes This he is resolved living and dying to doe â—â—vito Diabâ—lo to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods for he is bound to this duty by Christ himselfâ— neither will he ever rebell against his blessed will Now the things that belong unto God as he is King of Kings Lord of Lords and by vvhom alone Kings raigne is an absolute command Soveraignâ—y oveâ— his Church and vvho requires of all his Subjects that they should love him vvith all their hearts vvith all their Soules and vvith all their mighâ—s and that they should not serve him by any of their ovvne inventions And for the maner of his vvorship he hath abundantly declared it in sacred vvrit And Saint Paul vvriting unto Titus vvarnes himâ— sharply to rebuke his auditoâ—s that they may be sound in the faith not giving heed unto the commandements of men that turne from the Trueth chargeth the Corinthians that they should â—ot be servants of men nor vvise above that vvhich is vvrittenâ— sayes unto the Colossians vvherefore if yee be dead vvith Christ from the rudiments of the vvorldâ— vvhy as though living in the vvorld are ye subject unto ordinances and Christ himselfe saith In vaine doe they vvorship him teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men By all vvhich it is manifest if Christians vvill give unto God that vvhich is his and vvill not vvorship him in vaine as they must love him vvith all their hearts so he onely must rule in them they must give him his ovvne vvorship and such service onely both for matter and maner as he requires at their hands and commands from them and not serve him accordiâ—g to mens precepts and devices for in his vvorship they must not be the servants of men for he is the onely King and Lavvgiver in his Church and this is his prerogative Royall vvhich no man may meddle vvithâ— this is to give unto God that vvhich is Gods this duty he the Defendent sayth all Christians are bound unto Againe for all Subjects duties towards the King the defendent saith that must allso freelie vvillinglie bee yeelded and that by speciall precepts for they are commanded to feare God honour the King to be subject unto his autoritie in all things in the Lord to give unto Caesar that vvhich is Caesars Novv in regard of his duty both to God and the King and also of his speciall Oath of allegiance the defendent sayth he could doe no lesse then that vvhich he did in vvriting his booke being provoked thereunto by an enimie of both And so much the rather because himself and all Christians are commanded to give a reason of their hope to vvhomsoever shall demand it of them earnestly to contend for the faith vvhich vvas once delivered unto the Saincts he saith in all these respects he could doe no lesse in ansvvering that Popeling then that he did by giving unto God the right of his government in the hearts consciences of men taking it from the Pope that Vicar rather of hell then of Christ by giving the King that jurisdiction and aâ—tority of regiment in his dominions over his Subjects which God hath conferred upon himâ— Both vvhich Autorityes Spirituall and temporall the Pope and Popish Bishops most blasphemouslie arrogate unto themselves â—rampling all Divine Lawes and Kinglie regalitie under their polluted feet making Kings and Emperors their Vassals vvhich is a most horrible arrogancie and usurpation and not to be suffered by either Kings or their Subjects And therefore vvhen this defendent did nothing but that vvhich by his speciall dutie he vvas bound unto If this by the Informers be thought either schisme faction or sedition he this defendent is resolved to live and dye in it and never to thinke any a good Subject that is not of his minde He doth vvithall freelie confesse unto this honorable Court that he looked for no ill usage of the Prelats for this his indeavour vvhich vvhen he found at their hands it vvas the occasion of the vvriting of manie other books since that time amongst the vvhich there is one called Apologeticus ad Praesules Anglicanos c. dedicated unto the privie Counsell but vvhether the booke that is annexed unto the Bill bee the same that the defendent knovveth not but a booke vvith that Title he confesâ—eth he vvrit vvherein he set dovvne
the proceedings of the Prelats against himself and their dealings tovvards others of their brethren the theame of vvhich booke he the Defendent desireth the honorable Courtâ— to take a briefe relation of at this time that they may the better be informed of the falsitie of the information And first for the principall theame and matter of the booke it is the State of the questions in his Flagello Pontificis for vvhich he suffered vvith the summe of the Arguments he produced for the confirmation of the trueth The questioâ—s arising betvveen the Babylonian and the defendent concerning the autoritie of the Pope were these The first whether Christ did constitute Peter sole Monarch of the Catholick Church The second vvhether the Pope of Rome if hee bee a Bishop as hee is a Bishop hath Autoritie jurisdiction over Kings Emperors Thirdlie vvhether Popish Bishops be true Bishops or no and of the discussing of these questios the defendent saith his adversarie vvas the sole cause In the handling of the which the Defendenâ— fâ—rther affirmeth that he used all the caution that vvas possible as he supposed for man to use prefacing in his booke that being to dispute about the Autority of the Bishop of Rome he desired candidly to be understood of all menâ— for while he disputed of Episcopall autoritie he medled nor contended not against such Bishops as ackovvledge their autoritie jurisdiction from Kings and Emperors into vvhose hands the government of States Kingdomesâ— and Commonvvealths is by God committed For if the Popes themselves vvould acknovvledge their immense and unlimited autoritie from Kings and Emperors he the defendent there said if they commanded nothing contrarie to the vvill and Word of God that he for his part out of the reverence duty â— loyaltie to his Prince vvould obey it The Words in the Original are these Verum de Episcoporum autoritate locutus à bonis bene intelligi cupio Non enim litis litem moveo quatenus ab Imperatoribus Regibus Principibus Terre quorum interest salutem civium tueri potestatem â—us Imperium in socios totumque Dei gregem adepti sunt Nam si Romani Episcopi immâ—nsam illam nullis limitibus circumscriptam autoritatem indulgentia Principum acceptam ferrent voluntati Episcopali nihil voluntati divinae inimicum jubenti obtemperandum putem ob reverentiam Principi si volenti debitam c. So that the defendent having thus playnlie set downe his minde before knowing that all the jurisdiction that the Bishops in England now exercise over others is â—rom the King he thought himself not onely secure from danger but expected favâ—ur at least from the Bishops their helping hand especially when the opposing the Popes Autority in England is a thing that the King and State have ever so well allowed of And that this honorable Court may yet be fâ—rther informed of the speciall cause for which the Prelats are so displeased with the defendent it was for the truely and narrowlie disputing and discussing of the second question to wit whether the Pope of Rome if he be a Bishop as he is a Bishop have Autoritie jurisdiction not onelie over his fellow brethâ—en but over Kings and Emperors which the Defendent there denyed for many warrantable Arguments The summe of which he desireth here to relate unto this honorable Court for his just and necessarie defence justification For by the veâ—ie light of nature and unanswerable reason it is evident and manifest that where there is an equalitie and pariâ—ie amongst men there the one doth not exceed the other in power or Dominion Paris enim in Parem non esse imperium inter Naturae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est Novv Divine constitution hath made Bishops and Presbyters or Elders a like and equall vvhich that it might the better appeare the Defendent propounded there tvvo things to be proved The first vvas That Bishops and Presbyters vvere by the Word of God one and the same Secondlie That Presbyters had equall Autoritie of Governmentâ— Ordination Excommunication vvith Bishops vvherein onely consists their preeminency Autoritie above their brethren vvhich things being proved it vvill necessarilie follovv That the Pope of Rome as he is Bishop doth no vvay exceed other Bishops and Presbyters they being in all things a like and equall unto him much lesse hath any Autoritie and povver over Kings and Emperours And for the proofe of the first position the vvords Presbyter Bishop do sufficientlie evince iâ— vvhich in holy Scripture though diverse in sound signifie one and the same thing as not to cite the vvords themselves vvhich would be large The Apostle Paul to Titus in the first chapter doth sufficientlie shew vvhere the words Bishop Presbyter are confounded And likevvise in the first Epistle of Peter and the fift Chapter there Presbyter and Bishop signifie one and the same thing And the Epistlâ— to the Philippians the first Chapter and the â—irst verse doâ—h apparentlie demonstrate itâ— and diverse other places might be produced dilucidating the same thing But the 20â— of the Acts puts all out of controversie where Presbyter and Bishop signifie one the same thingâ— for officeâ— honour and function so that the identity of their officeâ— is signifyed by those tvvo expressions Neither is there a confusion of their names with a difference still of their functions administrations as some vvould cavill for in these places vvhere Presbyters are called Bishops the disputation is not about the title but about the office signified and specified by the title For vvhen S. Paul exhorts the Presbyters to have an eye to their duty charge he useth this reason that the Holy Ghost had made them Bishopsâ— And the trueth of â—his is so evident that the Rhemists themselves as learned men as any Bishops in England and as able to mayntayne an error are forced ingenâ—ouslie to confesse it saying in expresse vvords in their Noâ—es upon the 28. vers of that Chapter That in the Apostles times there vvas no difference betvveen Presbyter and Bishopâ— so that for the first position it is not onely by the Word of God clearlie evident but by the very confession of the adversaries of the trueth granted as a thing without controversy Novv for proofe of the second position that Presbyters as vvell as the Bishop of Rome have the povver and right of Government Ordination and Excommunication by vvhich in these times Bishops onely exceed Presbyters the defendent vvill here brieflie demonstrat it referring those of this honorable Court that have a desire to search into the full trueth of it to his booke And for proofe that the Government vvas committed unto them and that they exercised the same it is most perspicuous out of the first of Timothie 5. vvhere the Apostle sayth The Presbyters that rule vvell are vvorthie of double honour especially those that labour in Word and Doctrine By this testimonie it is evident that they
all which tend to the ruine of the Kingdome and perverâ—ing of Reâ—igion and the seducing of the Kings good Subjects And all other Bookes of Arminians Sosinians and a thousand such blasphemous treatises are bought and sold publikely in every Stationars shop with the Prelates very good liking And the greatest enimies of the truth such as Bellarmine Baronius Tyrrian Caâ—etan are not onely publicklie vented but are before the King and in the Vniversities and indeed in every Pulpit magnified with glorious titles as the learned Cardinal incomparable Bellarmine those grand impostors and perverteâ—s of the wayes of God and such as have abused King IAMES of famous memory and blasphemously defamed our most Holy Religion All these Authors and many more with their Bookes the Defendent saith are dailie approved of and commended by the Prelatesâ— and such as extoll the Church of Rome patronized by them and maintained And what is it then to advance Poperie if all these doings of the Prelates bee not and what is it to favour prophanesse and irreligion if the punishing and silencing of those that write and speake against the iniquitie of the times be not let all men judge of this with serious reason and they will soone perceive that in this accusation of the Prelats the Defendent hath no way wronged them And for their intemperance and want of wit it is notoriouslie also knowne who raile most shamefully and unhumanelie upon all honest men that come before them as their very speeches in their censure may witnes Iudges of old were wont to give Sentence in lesse matters beeing full of compassion with teares in their eyes neither doe wee read of any Iudges since Christs time but of Ananias the High Priest and Festus the Governor that they ever did revile those that were brought before them or give them any ill language And the one was a Iew and the other a Heathen both enimies of Christ and Christians But for Christian Iudges and them spirituall ones for such contumeliouslie to abuse their brethren as they did the Defendent and dailie doe others and to give them over to the Devill and to perpetuall chaines for every triviall thing yea even for a misprision or a very surmise and to make a man an offender for a word and to ruine them their wives and children for such things and that with scoffes reproaches tants and mocks this the Defendent affirmeth in the Prelates is both crueltie injustice intemperance and want of wisdome and so hee nothing doubteth but this honorable Court and all rationall men will judge Neither doth his graciousâ— Majest or this honorable Court as he truelie believeth know how they abuse his poore Subjects neither will God take this well at their hands for it no way beseemeth those would bee thought the Faâ—hers of the Church so to doe For if wee looke upon Timothy and Titus whose successors they would be thought to bee and the rules that they followed and were guided by wee shall find a vast difference betweene them Saint Paul in his 2. epistle to Timothy chap. 2. telleth him That the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all menâ— apt to teach patient in meeknes instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the trueth c. And in an other place the same Apostle sayth A Bpp. must be patient and no brawler Now when the Prelats so exorbitantly behave themselves trampling all Apostolicall Canons under their feet and so basely revile the good Subjects of the King and their brethren trampling also the sacred Scriptures under their feeâ— and that with as great contempt as the Papists themselves doe advancing Poperie everie way and the Defenders of it can any denie that these are intemperaâ— imprudent unjust men and furtheres upholders of Poperie vvhereas the Defendent is charged in the informationâ— That he accuseth the Prelats as upholders of idolatry superstition and prophanesse and that hâ—â— defameth the witnâ—sses brought against him and hath causlesly and boldlie inveighed against the oath Ex officio The Defendent humbly intreateth the honorable Court that vvith patience they vvould heare his ansvver to these things then he vvill come to the last thing that concerneâ—h him the Letany and the occasion of the vvriting of it What he himself hath done he is ever resolved to seale vvith his best bloud to justifie and make good vvhatsoever he shall accuse the Prelats of Amongst the vvhich he acknovvledgeth that he chargeth them to be advancers of Poperie idolatrie superstition prophanesse And so they are as hath been alreadie sufficiently evinced and by that vvhich follovveth shall yet more illustriously appeare For what is it to aduance Popery and idolatry if that the Prelats dayly doe be it not without men will thinke that Poperie onely that advanceth the Popes Supremacy and they Protestants onely that goe no farther in opposing that Hereticall religion when that is among many Divines counted one of â—he least controversies in Theology between Papists and us true Catholicks Greater matters I wosse hundreds there are between us And howsoever the King blessed be God his predecessors by the blood of their Subjects and the sacrificing of themselves have shaken off the yoake of the Pope yet his poore Subjects are under many Popes which deale worse with them then ever Popes did to Kings in the middest of their swellingâ—â— pride arrogancy yea every parish Priest and base fellow that is but a Prelats Servant can ruine and undoe the honestest man upon any information So that for the Subjects coÌ„dition it is worse they are in a farre more deplorable predicament then they were in under the Pope by this change for now they have neither their consciences their libertyes their purses their bodyes their limbs or lives in any security but as the Prelats their creatures please are deprived of all who seek continually for their bloud and starve many of them in prisons and expose them to infinit miseries and calamityesâ— so that they are as sheep to the slaughter slayne all the day long And of their deadly crueltie against those that feare God the whole Kingdome can witnes and how that they make them every where most odious But now to the matter the Defendent câ—argeth the Prelats with viz. that they are advancers of Idolatry superstition and prâ—phanesse And that â—hey are advancers of idolatry who can doubt of it that knoweth that very rudiments of Divinity or in the least measure â—aâ—h been acquaynted with the lawes of God For as God onely is and must be the object of all Divine worship as tâ—e first commandement teacheth for him onely we are to serve Matth. 4. as Christ also commandeth to worship any other or to trust in any thiâ—g els is idolatry in a high degree for we must love him with all our hearts and all our Soulâ—s and trust onâ—ly in him So likewise for
according to Gods command must svveare in rightâ—ousnes in judgment and in truth Novv by this damnable oath ex officio he can doe none of all this For he knovveth not vvhat to svveare to and by that oath he makes that evill vvhich is good many times and that good vvhich is evill vvhich is great unrighteousnes and untruth he is also to accuse himselfe and his brethren to the utter undoing of them all vvhich is horrible injustice and vvant of vvisdom judgment Besides an oath by Gods ovvne appointment is to bee â—he end of all controversy It is the last thing in a controversy and the conclusion of it vvhere this end is not in an oath it is not to svveare according to Gods ovvne appoyntment but sinfully Now the oath ex officio is not such an oath for that is the beginning of all molestation and strife mischief vvicked debate and the cause of infinit brabbles and needles vexations to â—hemselves and others and therefore ought to be deâ—ested and abominated Further no man is to take the name of God in vaine novv in the oath ex officio every man takes the name of God in vaine For they vvil never beleeve him though he svveare by the day and by the night vvhatsoever he svveareth or sayth in his ovvne defence and justification let it be never so true as dayly experience can testifie but onely make it a trap and a snare farther to intangle and involve him therefore it being an oath against the Lavv of God of charity love nature it is to be detested as the devill and so the Defendent for his part doth abhorre it as he doth the devill and all his vvorks and as he doth all the other cuâ—sed and abominable proceedings of the Prelats vvho spend the vvhole patrimony of their vvit to molest the deare servants of God and the Kings best and loyallest Subjects By all vvhich unrighteous dealing they manifest themselves to bee the enimies of God and the King and as such the Defendent vvrites against them and so he yet vvill for the many reasons above alledged esteeme of them by vvhat names or titles soever they be called or whatsoever place of dignity they are in and in this mind the Defendent will persever till they have acknovvledged their contumacy to God and the King and repented of the same And thus much the Defendent had to say in his owne defence concerning the things hee was charged with in his Apology and with al desireth of this honourable assembly that the oâ—her matters that the informers say are of divers natures in it may be specified For it is an easy thing to pick here and there a word out of best books to doe a man a mischeife all men know Spiders will gather poison where Bees find hony and he knoweth very vvell he hath many malignant enimies and therefore desireth the favour of the honorable Court for his better defence And now he comes to the second booke called the Letany occasioned by the Bishops cruelty for they threatning him not onely to starve him out of his opinion but also vvith the pillory the losse of his eares the one at Colchester the other at London vvith the slitting of his nostrills branding of him in the forehead and he allso hearing that this decree vvas gone out before September last divulged and spread abroad by the Prelats favourits as all the Country vvill testify it put him upon his devotions and made him vvrite a Letany vvherein he prayeth for deliverance from them But vvhether that vvhich is annexed to the information be the same he knovveth not for the informers say that that is a prophane Letany As for the Letany the defendent made it was a good godly Letany and in that ridentem dicere verum Quid vetat And concerning the Christening hee doth confesse he did invite CANTERBURY AND LONDON IN HIS WIVES NAME AND THE WHORE OF BABYLON TO BE WITNESSâ—S Which he vvas constrayned to by reason of the penury of his freinds for the Prelats had driven avvay all his acquayntance so that every body vvas affrayd of them nor no man durst intertayne his poore vvife nor give her houseroome though she vvas then great vvith child and in much misery as the vvhole Country vvill justifie and in this distresse and calamity he did it vviâ—hall he thought he did the Prelats a great deale of honour that he the Defendent should vouchsafe to have such men as they were to his Christening that he did joine so honorable a Gossip as the Matrone of Rome with them whom they so much honoured adored and pleaded for in this Deâ—endents cause as Christs true Church and Spouse and their best beloved Mistris presuming that he could no way disparage them by joyning this Spirituall Mother with these Spirituall Fathers and in this the Defendent thinks he did very much grace them inviting such a Catholicke companie to the baptising of his child who he hopeth will live and die a true Christian Catholick And wonders that the Prelates should be so peevish as to misinterpret his â—eale to them all especiallie when he did give them their titles most magnificently as FATHER WILâ—IAM OF CANTERBVRIE HIS HOLINESSE AND WILLIAM LONDON MAGNIFICVS RECTOR OF THE TREASVRIE Neither did hee see any reason why he should detract from Canterburie his titles for as he is Pope of Canterburie he is holy and for the title of Pope it was given antientlie to all or most Bishops and in speciall to his predecessor Anselmus that rebell as all Histories doe relate and the title of Grace is but the title of a Cardinall Besides that title is now revived if fame be not a liar which is a good plea in their Courts and false copies from both thâ— universities bee not dispersed and spred abroad For the Vniversity of Cambridge in their letters greet him with Sanctissimâ— Pater most holy Father the title of the Pope which onely belongeth to the first person of the glorious Trinity God blessed for ever and from Oxford they give him the stile of Sanctitatis his Holynesse and Edmund Reeve in his exposition of the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer Booke gives the title of Holinesse of times to the Bishops cals them Holy Fathers by their owne allowance and approbation Now he is a Father of the Church and that of Canterbury and he is VVilliam and he is Holy at leastwise vvould bee so reputed and vvould deeme it a Scandalum magnatum to be stiled prophane or unholy Ergo Father VVilliam of Canterburie his Holynesse and the Defendent is resolved never to detract any thing from his Holinesse but shall daily praâ— that hee may grow and evermore increase in Holinesse And for the Prelate of London he should be feeding of Christs flocke in the Pulpit and he is at the receipt of custome telling of mony like Matthew the Publican before his calling to the Apostleship the love of vvhich is the roote of all evill and hath got himselfe no small honour by it vvhich the Defendent vvould not in the least diminish and therefore beeing 〈◊〉 skilfull Hâ—rald nor acquainted vvith the titles of Honour they usually stile men in that place he vvas constrained to make use of a little of his Roman Rhetoricke and called him Magnificus Restor of the Treasury a fiâ—ting honorable title as he conceived vvhich he doth not nor ever shall repute a Scandall nor repent of that invitation And for any other passages that are in the Letany that he made he the Defendent is most assured if the honorable Court heard it all not by peeces and scrips vvhich hee most humbly desireth they vvould vvell perceive the Defendent had good reason for vvhat he hath both done and vvrit For this Honorable Court vvould then vvell perceive that the Defendent never medled vvith any of them nor in the least thing impeached their dignities till they by their delinquency against God and the King did manifestly demonstrate they were fallen from Grace and then as they had proclaimed themselves enimies of God and the King he did set himselfe against their proceedings and vvill continue in so doing though it bee through all misery to the last gasp of breath and vvill continually say LET THE KING LIVE FOR EVER AND THE ENIMYES OF THE KING PERISH and dying he will devoutly pray from plague pestilence famin from Bishopsâ— Priests and Deacons good Lord deliver us Ever meaning from usurping Popish Bishops Priests Deacons and such as challenge their standing and Autoâ—itle jure Divino and not from the King as our Prelaâ—â— do And as to all other the residue of the offences and misdemeanors complayned of in the sayd information examinable in this honorable Court this Defendent saith that he is not guiltie of them or any of them in maner and forme as by the said information is supposed All vvhich matters this Defendent is ready to averte and prove as this honorable Court shall a vvard And humblie prayeth to be dismissed out of the same vvith his costs and charges against the Prelats by vexation in this his former suite in the High Commission most vvrongfullie susteyned FINIS