That Ecclesiasticall government doth not belong to the King but as the King had power to make Lawes to governe the Temporall estate by so the Prelates had power to make Lawes and governe in Ecclesiasticall things and hath affirmed that he ought not to be judged by a temporall Magistrate and is a common swearer and curser Woundes and Bloud and Pox and Plague and such like horrid oathes and curses doe commonly proceed out of his mouth and did bragge that he hath out-sworne a great swearer and is a frequent Gamester even upon the Lords dayes and when the late Innovations were growing to an height in the Church he did openly say in the said Church That the Kingdome had been governed by Puritans but now he hoped they would be rightly governed and hath read in his said Church all such Declarations and Proclamations as came forth in the Kings name and refused to reade the Ordinances of Parliament or to contribute to the Parliament or associate for the publike defence 41. The Benefice of William Muffet Vicar of the Parish Church of Edmonton in the County of Middlesex is sequestred for that he is a common frequenter of Tavernes and Ale-houses and a common swearer curser and blasphemer and is a common fighter and quarreller not sparing his Majesties Officers and is commonly drunke and scarcely sober at all but when he wanteth money to consume in drinke and in his drunkennesse goeth up and downe the said Towne breaking glasse windowes which hath cost him twenty shillings at a time to repaire and is a common drinker of healths and forcer of others to doe the same and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 42. The Benefice of Iohn Denn Vicar of the Parish Church of Dartford in the County of Kent is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house and Taverne haunter and commonly drunke and on Sabbath dayes useth to sit till twelve of the clock at night sending for bottles of Wine and clubbing and in a Sermon described a drunkard to be only such an one as lies in the Cart-way foaming at mouth and not able to remove from the Cart-wheeles and refuseth to preach on the Lords dayes and Fast dayes and is unwilling to suffer any to doe the same and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament and the proceedings thereof 43. The Benefice of Richard Tanton Parson of the Parish Church of Ardingly in the County of Sussex is sequestred for that hee is a common drunkard and Ale-house haunter and in his Sermons hath wished That every knee might rot that would not bow at the name Iesus and hath read in the said Church Declarations in his Majesties name for raising of horse and money to maintaine warre against the Parliament and against the Militia and hath stirred up his Parishioners to joyne with the Kings forces and hath affirmed That he would beare out his Curate in refusing to deliver the Sacrament to such of his Parish as would not come to the Railes to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 44. The Benefice of Thomas King Vicar of the Parish Church of Chesill magna in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he is a common frequenter of Ale-houses and Tavernes and very frequently drunke even upon Fasting-dayes and upon the Lords-day and hath refused to deliver the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper for divers yeares to his Parishioners that would not come up to the Railes having set up the Table Altar-wise and used bowing and cringing to it although they did upon their knees intreate it at his hands in the Chancell where they were wont before to receive it and hath deserted his Cure for above three months and did reade the book of sportes in his said Church for prophaning of the Sabbath 45. The Benefice of Edward Alston Parson of the Parish Church of Pentloe in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he hath attempted the chastity of some women and hath used very unchast demeanours towards other women snatching a handkerchiefe from one and thrusting it into his breeches and forcing her hand after it and putting his yard into her hand pulling up the coates of another and thrusting his hand into the placket of another and using other wicked temptations to draw them to his lust and was a forward maintainer and practicer of the late illegall Innovations and hath expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament affirming That they sate to make Lawes by authoritie and brake them without authority which was meere hypocrisy And in his Pulpit spake against the present defensive warre protesting that now when every child lift up his Sword to shed innocent bloud it was high time for him to lift up his voyce like a trumpet And did reade in his Church Declarations set out in his Majesties name but refused to reade any Declarations of Parliament And at Christmas was 12. moneth having appointed a Communion and all things were ready for it and the Parishioners prepared he turned his backe and went away refusing to deliver it because the Surplice was not there And falsly affirmed That the Parliament gathered great summes of money to enrich their owne purses 46. The Benefice of Christopher Webb Vicar of the Parish Church of Sabridgworth in the County of Hertford is sequestred for that he is a Common drunkard and Ale-house haunter negligent of his Cure and not suffering others to preach when himselfe would not and hath expressed much malignity against the Parliament affirming among other things That he hoped in God he should see the Confusion of the Parliament 47. The Benefice of Iohn Reynolds Parson of the Parish Church of Haughton and Witton in the County of Huntington sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house haunter and tipler therein and swearer and in stead of preaching did reade the Booke of Canons condemned in Parliament to his people and pressed them to observe the same commending them for the admirablest things and wittiest peece that ever was set forth and affirmed The Synod or Convocation of the Bishops to be of more force and authoritie then all Parliaments and to be before any of them And hath altogether left his said Cure for foure months last past 48. The Benefice of Edward Ashburnham Vicar of the Parish Church of Tunbridge in the County of Kent is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house haunter and Taverne haunter and very often drunke even upon the Lords-days and hath driven divers of his Parishioners with their families from their dwellings by pursuing them for not comming up to the Railes to receive the Sacrament and seldome preacheth upon the publike Fast-days and made a publick speech for the incouraging of the late Insurrection and Rebellion at Tunbridge and to contribute to the maintenance therof 49. The Benefice of Nicholas Bloxam Parson of the Parish Church of great Waldingfield in the County of Sussex is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and inticer of others to that beastly
thou art that fixest thine eye on this display learne by the evills which thou readest to bewaile the greater evills in this sinfull Land which thou yet dost not know b The following Centuries will make a more full Discovery of the wickednesses that are among us When malice hath spoken its worst and done its utmost then shalt thou cleerely understand what I daily see and certainely know that the great services and paines of the Parliament have no other scope but divine glory the Churches reformation and the Kingdomes safety Consider sadly and seriously of these things and the Lord give thee and me understanding of these times to know what Israell ought to doe in the same and let us without feare of the hand of violence or foote of pride set hand and heart and shoulder and all to the perfect cleansing of the house of the Lord and advancing his Sion to a perfection of beauty and setting up his Christ upon his Throne to rule over us in all things according to his own mind and then expect with fulnesse of assurance that he will speedily make all his enemies his foot-stoole and ease himselfe and us of all his adversaries Which is the prayer of him that desireth to spend himselfe and be spent in the service of the King and Kingdome JOHN WHITE THE FIRST CENTVRY OF Scandalous and Lewde MINISTERS 1. THE Benefice of Iohn Wilson Vicar of Arlington in the County of Sussex is sequestred for that he in most beastly manner divers times attempted to commit buggery with Nathaniel Browne Samuel Andrewes and Robert Williams his Parishioners and by perswasions and violence laboured to draw them to that abhominable sinne that as he shamed not to professe they might make up his number eighteene and hath professed that he made choice to commit that act with man-kind rather then with women to avoide the shame and danger that oft ensueth in begetting Bastards and hath also attempted to commit Buggery with a Mare and at Baptizing of a Bastard child blasphemously said openly in the Church That our Saviour as he was in the flesh was a Bastard and usually preacheth That Baptisme utterly taketh away originall sinne and that the sinnes committed after Baptisme are only by imitation and not by naturall corruption and hath in his Sermons much commended Images in Churches as good for edification and that men should pray with Beades and hath openly said that the Parliament were Rebels and endeavoured to starve the King and that whatsoever the King commands we are all bound to obey whether it be good or evill and hath openly affirmed that Buggery is no sinne and is a usuall frequenter of Ale-houses and a great drinker 2. The stipend of Iohn Aymes Curate of Lowis in Kent is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard a common haunter of Ale-houses and a common swearer and hath affirmed the Parliament to be a Round-headed Parliament and that their heads should be all shortly chopt off and wished that the King might grind them in pieces like a Potters vessell and for above 15. weekes hath altogether deserted his Cure 3. The Benefice of Charles Forbench Parson of Heny in the County of Essex was sequestred because he is a common swearer oftentimes breaking forth into fearfull Oathes and Imprecations and very carelesse of his pastorall function and wholy neglecteth the observing of the monethly Fast setting his men to plow himselfe also working on those dayes in the fields and hath affirmed that the Earle of Strafford was no traitour and that he was put to death wrongfully by the Parliament 4. The Benefice of Stephen Withers Parson of Kelvedon in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he hath sollicited oftentimes the Wife of Philip Glascomb to commit adultery with him and divers other women affirming it to be no sinne to lie with them And hath not only practised Altar-worship but urged his people to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper at the railes and in his Church read the Booke for prophanation of the Sabbath by sports and will not suffer his people to have above one Sermon on the Lords day though at their charge and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament 5. The Benefice of Emanuel Vty Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Church of Chigwell in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he affirmed that there hath beene no true Religion in England these forty yeares and that he loved the Pope with all his heart peremptorily maintaining that whatsoever men of holy Orders speake they speake by Divine inspiration and that if the Devill himselfe would have holy Orders put on him he would be inspired by the holy Ghost and hath denied the Kings Supremacy and exalted the Power of Bishops above the Authority of the Prince affirming them to be the head of the Church and blasphemously broached That the Command of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury was to be equally obeyed with the Word of God and hath declaimed against the Authority of Parliament and affirmed That Parliament-men are Mechanicks and illiterate and have nothing to doe to intermeddle in matters of Religion 6. The Benefice of Edward Cherry Rector of the Parish Church of Much-holland in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he usually boweth twelve times towards the East when he goeth into the Chancell and his Sermons which were rarely above one a Moneth mostly tend to the upholding and pressing of that and the like superstitious innovations and hath refused to give the Sacrament to those of his Parishioners that would not come up to the railes to receive it and hath taught in his Sermons That Baptisme washeth away originall sinne and that all men may be saved if they will and have free-will thereunto and hath been very often drunke and affirmed that a man may more lawfully play game and drinke in an Ale-house on the Sunday then on any other day and hath published a very scandalous Libell against the Earle of Essex Earle of Warwick and Earle of Holland and hath affirmed That he never knew any good the Parliament did unlesse it were to rob the Country and pick their purses and hath deserted his said Cure for above a yeare last past leaving the same wholy unsupplied and is reputed to have betaken himselfe to the Army raised against the Parliament 7. The Benefice of Thomas Thrall Vicar of the Parish Church of S. Mary Mount-thaw London is sequestred for that he hath neither Preached nor Catechized on the Lords day in the afternoone nor suffered his Parishioners to have any to performe the same though they have desired it at their own charge And is a common haunter of Tavernes and Ale-houses spending much of his time there and hath been often drunke and not only read the Booke for sports on the Sabbath in his Church but hath stirred up his Parishioners thereunto and countenanced them with his presence at Cudgells and the like other sports on that day
his house on Sundayes after prayers to sit there with him and consume their time in drinking and tipling 35. The Benefice of Henry Hancocks Vicar of the Parish Church of Fornax-Pelham in the County of Hertford is sequestred for that he hath preached That it is as lawfull for a woman if she dislike her Husband to leave him and take another as for one to goe out of his Parish to heare another Minister And that to goe to another Church was as the sinne of Witch-craft and Idolatry and filleth as well his Sermons as his ordinary discourses with bitter invectives and slanders against those that are religiously affected especially presenting them under the names of Puritans and Round-heads and hath said in his Sermons That the Puritans forced the Parliament to make Lawes according to their own fantasies and not according to the Law of God And after the fight at Edge-hill said in his Sermon That he was overjoyed to thinke that God should put it into the heart of the King to fight the Lords battell on the Lords day to uphold the ould antient Catholike Faith And fearing the pulling up of the railes about the Communion-Table he walked with his Sword about the Church-yard in the night saying he would rather loose his life then suffer them to be pul'd up and that if the Bishops should command him to weare a Kettle upon his head he would doe it and is a common tipler and haunter of Ale-houses and a prophane swearer of bloudy oathes 36. The Benefice of Alexander Clarke Vicar of the Parish Church of Bredfield in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he hath used very frequent bowing to the Altar in his going and returning from it and hath pressed the observing thereof upon his Parishioners and refused to let the Church-wardens levell the ground where the Altar stood because it was holy and consecrated and not fit to be throwne out or mixed with common earth and hath enveighed in his Sermons aginst praying by the Spirit calling it a Monster conceived borne and dying all in an instant and hath read the Booke of Sports on the Lords day and incouraged his Parishioners to observe the same telling them that it was sitter to play and follow their businesse on the Lords day then on holy dayes and hath publikely sported himselfe with his parishioners on the Lords dayes at Barly-breake and hath taught to the people that he hath absolute power to forgive sinnes blaming them that they did not send for their ghostly Father to have them forgiven and hath seldome observed the monethly Fast enjoyned by Parliament and hath endeavoured to draw his Parishioners to the Forces raised against the Parliament affirming that the Parliament had driven the King away from them and that the proceedings of them about the King were just and that there was not a Papist neere him And hath affirmed that the Earle of Strafford did die wrongfully and that the Parliament put him to death without a cause and hath spoken reproachfully of the Earle of Pembrooke and hath threatned his neighbours to give a list of the Names of them to the King that incouraged any to contribute to the Parliament 37. The Benefice of Zachary Tusham Vicar of the Parish Church of Dallington in the County of Sussex is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and hath solicited the chastity of one Alice Thorpe and is a common quarreller and did way-lay one Edmund Gore about mid-night and fell upon him and beare him and hath greatly neglected his Cure sometimes deserting the same for two-Moneths together without any supply and hath spoken very disgracefully of the Earle of Essex and expressed great malignity against the Parliament 38. The Benefice of Nicholas Wright Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Church of Thoydon-Garnon in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he hath not preached above twice or thrice a yeare to his Parishioners and yet hath presented divers of them and put them to great charges in the Ecclesiasticall Courts for going to heare Sermons in other Churches when they had none at home and brought also such Ministers as they heard so preach into trouble And hath procured the Communion-Table to be set Altar-wise with stepps to it and railes about it and constantly bowed towards it at his coming and going out of the Church refusing to administer the Sacrament to divers of his Parishioners without any cause other then his own wilfulnesse and read the Booke for Sports on the Lords day in his said Church and preached to maintaine the lawfulnesse of it by meanes whereof the Lords day hath ever since been much prophaned by Foot-ball playing and other ungodly practises and hath deserted his said Cure ever since Palme-Sunday last and betaken himselfe to the Army of the Cavaleeres and is in actuall War against the Parliament and Kingdome And hath brought and continued long under him for his Curate a drunken lewd and scandalous person that hath been indited and found guilty at the Sessions for a common drunkard 39. The Benefice of Iohn Woodcock Vicar of the Parish Church of Elham in the County of Kent is sequestred for that he is a common frequenter of Ale-houses and commonly drunke and abuseth them that will not keepe company with him at the Ale-house and is a common swearer by Wounds Bloud and other like execrable Oathes and a common curser and hath deserted his said Cure ever since the first of August last and hath expressed great Malignity against the Parliament and the proceedings thereof 40. The Benefice of Iohn Manby Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Church of Cottenham in the County of Cambridge is sequestred for that while the Table was set Altar-wise he did constantly bow to it eight or nine times in a fore-noone and though he knew that the Parishioners could not heare him yet did alwayes reade second Service at the Altar and affirmed That it was no matter whether they heard or not for he prayed for them at the Altar which was Sanctum Sanctorum and affirmed That God was there more peculiarly present then in any other place of the Church and hath pressed his people in his Sermons That they ought to bring their offerings to the Altar and offer them there to him for that he was there in Gods stead to receive them and preached That he had power not only to pronounce absolution but had undoubted power to forgive sinnes and that the same was given him by the Bishops laying on of hands and that the Holy-dayes ought to be kept with as much reverence as the Lords day and that he read the late new Cannons and exhorted the people to receive and observe them as Scripture affirming them to be drawn out of Scripture And refused to Baptise children brought to the Church on the Lords day at evening Prayer though earnestly desired giving no other reason for it but because it was not his pleasure and hath preached openly
frequently in his Pulpit upbraideth his Parishioners calling them Knaves Devills Raskalls Rogues and Villaines using other opprobrious speeches against them and in one of his Sermons affirmed That he hoped the late Lord Cooke was in Hell for maintaining Prohibitions and hath been very negligent in his Cure oft absenting himselfe from it for many weekes together and leaving the same in his absence to very scandalous Curates and hath wholy deserted his said Cure for above nine weekes last past and hath expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament 58. The Benefice of Thomas Goade _____ of the Parish Church of East-Hatley in the County of Cambridge is sequestred for that he was for his scandalous life and misdemeanours deprived of his Benefice at Guningson in the County of Nottingham about 20. yeares since and hath not since reformed his life but is still a common frequenter of Ale-houses and very often drunke and oft on the Lords day And on Newyeares-day was twelve-moneth the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being to be administred in his Church he came from an Ale-house where he had been all night and was so drunke that he fell downe twice or thrice in the presence of the Parishioners who expected him at the Church-doore And hath beene oft likewise drunke when he should have been preaching and taken up drunke in the Church-yard coming to performe that duty by reason whereof divers times his Parishioners have had neither prayers nor preaching on the Lords day And hath oft sate so long drinking that he hath bepist himselfe and sometimes the roome where he sate and is an outragious common swearer and curser and in his Tipling useth to say Now Devill doe thy worst and caused his servants to goe to their earthly laboures upon the Fast-dayes and finding his neighbours Hoggs trespassing wished the plague of God in Hell might take her and her Hoggs and hath been a great practiser and presser of the late illegall Innovations in the Worship of God And because his Parishioners would not come up to the railes to receive caused the Parish-Clarke to carry away the Bread and Wine and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 59. The Benefice of Nicholas King Vicar of Friston and Snape in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house haunter and companion of scandalous persons and men of evill fame and oft drunke and attempted the chastity of Elizabeth Scotchmer who going to his house to pay him some moneyes he inticed her to lye with him and did strive a long time with her to abuse her by force and would have corrupted her thereunto with moneyes but she protesting unto him she would not sell her soule to the Devill for money he replied to her She was a foole for God did forgive the greatest sinners and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 60. The Benefice of Edward Turner Parson of the Parish Church of S. Lawrence in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he is a common swearer and common Ale-house haunter and strong to beare strong drinke and useth to sit five or six houres together tipling at Tavernes sometimes whole dayes and nights tipling and drinking and sometimes drunke a common practiser and presser of the late illegall Innovations and hath deserted his Cure for the space of a yeare now last past 61. The Benefice of Iohn Wells Parson of the Parish Church of Shimplyn in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house haunter and common drunkard and in his drunkennesse hath layne abroad in the fields lost his hat fallen into ditches and so bemired himselfe that he hath been faine to be washed and hath attempted the chastity of divers women and sould his Calves for kisses with them and having lockt himselfe up in a chamber in an Inne with a lewd woman after a long time the doore was broken open upon him upon his refusall to unlock it and he found in a very suspitious manner upon a bed with her after which he conveyed her secretly away and sent guifts unto her And hath affirmed That the Land was governed by wicked men and that the Papists were the Kings best subjects and is a common swearer of very great Oathes 62. The Benefice of Thomas Geary Vicar of the Parish Church of Beddingfield in the County of Suffolke is sequestred for that he is a common frequenter of Ale-houses often drunke even to vomit and hath been and is a common swearer of bloody oathes and curser in a fearfull manner as God damne me the Devill damne me refused to preach for many Sabbath dayes together and said he thought preaching would doe his Parishioners no good and useth in his Sermons to raile upon his Parishioners calling them sowded Piggs Bursten Rammes and speckled Frogs and one of the chiefe women of the Parish greatly grieved at such miscarriages and going out of the Church the said Geary openly in his Pulpit thereupon said that if there were but one Whore in the Parish she would kick and fling and never keepe her seate and affirmed that he had absolute power to forgive sinnes and said that though this doctrine had laine hid for many yeares yet he blessed God that it was now revived againe and on a Fast-day disheartend men from attending on that sacred Ordinance and was a great promotor practiser and urger of the late illegall Innovations and when the railes were taken away affirmed that the place was the worse for thowant of them and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 63. The Benefice of Thomas Darnell Vicar of the Parish Church of Thorpe in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he is an usuall prophaner of the Lords day by sports and playes and by making cleane his Cow-house and out-houses and other like servile workes and read the Book of sports on the Lords day in the Church with approbation thereof and is a common swearer and curser and a notorious drunkard and Ale-house haunter even upon the Fast-dayes and is a common Gamester at unlawfull games and hath been convicted of incontinency and adultery before Doctor Warren and others Justices of peace and began suite at Law in an action of slander for the same but durst never proceed therein and hath preached That he that would not conforme to his Prince in any Religion ought to be burnt and was a constant practiser of the late Innovations and put such of his Parish from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as would not come to receive it at the railes and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 64. The Benefice of Iohn Wood Vicar of the Parish Church of Marden in the county of Kent is sequestred for that he did reade the Booke of sports upon the Lords day in his Parish Church and did preach for the maintenance thereof and is notoriously infamous for sundry adulteries a common Ale-house haunter oft drunke a common gamester and quarreller in
Sermon on the weeke dayes was a will-worship 79. The place and stipend of Ioseph Daves Curate and Hospitler of S. Thomas Hospitall in Southwarke is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and common haunter of Tavernes and Alehouses and a common swearer and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament affirming them to be all Rogues and that he was consident God would shew no mercy to them that died in the Parliaments service and that all that went forth in their service were Rogues and Rascals and that those that died in their service at Edge Hill went to the Devill 80. The Benefice of Henry Osbalston Doctor in Divinity Parson of the Parish Church of Much-Parudon in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he in his absence supplied his said Cure by scandalous and insufficient Curates and hath in his Sermons preached against frequent preaching affirming it to be properly no service of God and that it was never a merry world since there was so much of it and that if he could preach twice a day he would not and that once hearing of Common-prayer is better then 10. Sermons and hath read in his said Church the Booke of Sports on the Lords-day and encouraged men to Foot-ball and other like sports on that day and hath taught his people That the water in Baptisme doth wash away originall sinne and being desired to pray for a sick child that was two yeares old said in his prayer That actuall sinne it had committed none and as for originall it was done away at Baptisme and hath pressed his parishioners to come up to the railes to receive the Sacrament professing that otherwise he would not deliver it unto them And hath threatned to present such of his parishioners as went to heare Sermons elsewhere when they had none at home calling them Hypocrites and of the tribe of God and said to one of his parishioners that he could not abide him because he shanke of two Sermons a day And being demanded to contribute to the association of the Counties for the publike defence said he would first have his throate cut before he would 81. The Benefice of Humphrey Dawes Vicar of the Parish Church of Mount-Nezing in the county of Essex is sequestred for that he hath discouraged his parishioners from assisting the present defensive War affirming That they are damned and are Traitors to the King that have lent money to the Parliament and that he hath read the Book of Sports and incouraged his parishioners to prophane the Sabbath and hath been often drunke and came so drunke to Church on the Lords day as he bad his people sing a Chapter in the Hebrewes for a Psalme not knowing what he did 82. The Benefices of Richard Taylor Parson of the Parish Churches of Buntingford Westmill and Aspeden in the county of Hertford are sequestred for that he hath not only used frequent bowing to the Communion-Table set Altar-wise but affirmed That there was a more peculiar presence of God there then in the Church and hath compelled his people to come up to the railes to receive the Sacrament refusing to administer to such as scrupled to doe it and there being a Crosse at the head of the Font in his Church upon every approach towards the Font used to bow to it and urged some of the parish to make auricular confession to him affirming that he could forgive them and having the Office of Surrogate in the Ecclesiasticall Court he did improve his authority to introduce the late Innovations into the Church and in his preaching also pressed his people to bow three times at their comming into the Church and keepeth a picture of Christ in his Parlour which hee hath confessed was to put him in mind of his Saviour and hath affirmed the fourth Commandement to be meerely ceremoniall and accordingly useth to hire servants ride journeyes buy wood and send his Hopps to market on the Lords day and upon the dissolution of a late Parliament he said If he were as the King he would never have Parliament more while he lived And affirmed that the last Parliament was the weakest that ever sate because they went about to question the Kings servants and the Ministers that went to the Table to say second Service and said There was no need of a Parliament for the King might have money another way and charged this Parliament with doing great wrong in committing and executing the Earle of Strafford and would neither preach on the Sabbath daies in the after-noone nor suffer others to preach though he could doe it as he said with halfe an houres study and prosecuteth his people for going to other Churches to heare Sermons when they had none at home and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament and refused to publish the Protestation and hath deserted his cure ever since a fort-night before Easter last 83. The Benefice of Thomas Baily Rector of the Parish Church of Brasteed in the county of Kent is sequestred for that he hath endeavoured to corrupt his people with the leaven of false Doctrine teaching them that ex tempore prayer was Pharisaicall at the best and that no prayer ought to be longer then the Lords prayer and that people ought not to pray privately or secretly any prayer that was not first written and shewed to and allowed by a Priest That though people confesse their sinnes to God yet they ought for more surety of forgivenesse to confesse them to their Priest their ghosty Father and that for want of auricular Confession some have beene brought to confesse at the Gallowes And hath laboured by his preaching and otherwise to draw his people to auricular confession averring that he had power to absolve them and that the Priest though wicked had power to forgive others sins though not his owne and that such as refused to give their children and servants liberty on the Lords day after their observation of the time of publike-worship to sport and play did breake Gods Commandements That Offering on the Altar upon their knees is of absolute necessity and accordingly while the Church-wardens are collecting the monies given at the Sacrament he useth to suspend the celebration thereof and when it is brought up to the Table takes it from them layes it on his booke blesseth it offers it up and re-delivers it unto them and then proceeds And hath also publikely preached That it is a great griefe to Gods people that Abbies are not againe erected because divers could not endure to live publikely that the curse of God was on them that kept the Abby-Lands and therefore they did not prosper That he turned the communion-Table Altar-wise railed it in used frequent bowing before it urged his people to come thither to receive set the Jesuites badge with a glory about it over the communion-Table on the East-wall and on the north-wall neare the Altar caused the picture of a flying Dove to be set over the Font
THE FIRST CENTVRY OF Scandalous Malignant PRIESTS Made and admitted into Benefices by the PRELATES in whose hands the Ordination of Ministers and government of the Church hath been OR A Narration of the Causes for which the PARLIAMENT hath Ordered the Sequestration of the Benefices of severall Ministers complained of before them for vitiousnesse of Life errors in Doctrine contrary to the Articles of our Religion and for practising and pressing superstitious Innovations against Law and for Malignancy against the PARLIAMENT IT is Ordered this seventeenth day of November 1643. by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Booke Intituled The first Century of Scandalous Malignant Priests c. be printed by George Miller JOHN WHITE LONDON Printed by George Miller dwelling in the Black-Friers M.DC.XLIII To the READER Reader THis ensuing summary Declaration of the Grounds and Causes whereupon this Parliament hath proceeded against divers Ministers to sequester their Benefices from them and to place in their roomes godly learned orthodox Divines diligent Preachers of the Word of God may serve thee for many excellent parposes First To open thine eyes and clearely convince and satisfie thee that the Parliament had good and very great cause from hence among many other things to declare and resolve that the present Church Governement by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours Commissaries Deanes Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending upon the Hierarchie is evill and justly Offensive and burdensome to the Kingdome a great Impediment to Reformation and growth of Religion and very prejudiciall to the State and Government of this Kingdome and therefore to be taken away a See the Preamble of the bill for the Assembly of Divines and of the Ordinance by which they sit They have beene by our Lawes entrusted with the Care and Provision for the soules of the King and Subjects to heed feed and watch over them b Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 5.2 Heb. 13.17 And to attend upon the great Embassie they pretend unto to pray and beseech them to be reconciled unto God c 2 Cor. 5.20 and to preach and to cause to be preached by able and faithfull men d 2 Tim. 2.2 The Word of God in season and out of season e 2 Tim. 4 2. They have not onely neglected their Personall Execution of this weighty trust but also have generally and mostly committed the same to Persons illiterate and insufficient dumbe Doggs as the Scripture calls them f Isa 56.10 that cannot barke against whom God hath protested for their ignorance g Hos 4.6 and to men swallowed up with Wine and strong drinke whose Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse h Isai 28.7.8 Quorum ess et vivere est esse bibere Whoremongers and Adulterers who as fed Horses neigh after their Neighbours Wives i Jer. 5.8 Buggerers that change the naturall use into that which is against Nature k Rom. 1.26 And to others scandalous of corrupt mindes and ill affected to the Peace and Safety of the Kingdome men unfit to preach to or live among Christians their wickednesse being so great as that they are condemned by Heathens And hereby they have taken the high-way to destroy the souls committed to them and to drown them in Perdition The evill life of a Minister being like the rods which Jacob spread before the Sheepe m Precepts are iter longum Examples iter breve the people write after his copie with ease and confidence Sinnes are reputed as none or as veniall which receive Patronage from the Ministers Example n Hae hominum faces non Dei ministri sed Satanae satellites non Christi seblatores sed Antichriste successores And though some few of these Church Governors have been men that have otherwise expressed in the course of their lives a true feare of God yet by a strange Influence of the Divine Curse upon their Offices branches of the Hierarchy of Rome plants not planted by our heavenly Father these as well as the rest have unhappily laid hands suddenly upon many and preferred divers wicked and unworthy by partiality o 1 Tim. 5.2 to marry and put off their hands a Daughter a Kinswoman and upon other bie and base respects without regard of the good of the soules of them over whom they were set And in this Booke thou shalt have an Assay of the Gall and Worme-wood of the Episcopall Governement taken out of London the Metropolis and of the Counties adjacent that when thou seest what Vermine crawles upon and devoures the principall and vitall parts thou maist reflect with a mournefull heart upon the more miserable condition of Wales and of the North the more remote parts of this Kingdome where upon scrutiny will be easily found many for one as vile and abhominable as these And if thou wouldost have the people perish for want of vision or impoysoned with the destructive Errours of Popery and Arminianisme and the Land yet more defiled with cursing swearing drunkennesse whoredome sodomie then put thy shoulders still to the support of the said Church-Government and Governours but if thou be better minded as in Charitie I hope thou art then joyne heart and hand with the Parliament to purge out such Popish dreggs and together with them pray for and endeavour a through Reformation according to the word of God Secondly Thou maist by perusall of this booke clearly see what manner of persons those Cleargie-men be that favour the present course of his Majestie against his Parliament and people and dislike and maligne the wayes of the Parliament they will appeare unto thee to be such as cannot endure the purity power and strictnesse of the true Religion that hate Reformation and to be brought in their hearts Religion and lives to the holy Word of God that seeks themselves and not the things of Jesus Christ that are given over to vile affections to superstition ambition persecutions covetousnesse malignity and all wickednes and knowing the judgement of God and what they deserve that commit such things yet not only doe the same but have pleasure in them that doe them a Rom. 1.28 29 32. Thirdly Thou maiest hereby discerne one principall ground and cause of the generall ignorance and debauchery of the Gentry and people of this Kingdome Like Priest like people b Hos 4. â— They cause the people to erre by their lyes and by their lightnesse c Jer. 23.31 They are a snare on Mispah and a net spread upon Tabor d Hos 5.1 They have wrested and broken the law of the Lord defiled his holy things hid their eyes from his Sabbaths polluted his Sanctuary e Ezek. 22.26 and seduced the people to the same wickednesse dawbing with untempered Morter f Ezek. 13.10 These Prophets prophesie falsly the Bishops beare rule by their means and the people love to have it so g Jer. 5.31 Fourthly Behold with
admiration and acknowledge with love and thankefulnesse the transcendent mercie of the Lord to his poore people among us that whereas he hath infinite just cause to destroy these Priests and people together cloath them with desolation and doe unto them after their waies and judge them according to their desert h Ezek. 7.27 He is graciously pleased to stirre up a spirit of zeale and judgement in the Parliament to deliver the people from the mouthes of these Shepheards that feed not the flocke but kill them that are fed eate the fat and cloath themselves with the wool l Ez k. 34.3 10. and to set true shepheards over them to seeke that which was lost and bring againe that which was driven away to bind them that were broken and strengthen them that were sick and to feed them all with knowledge and understanding and to feed with judgment the wicked shepheards that before with force and cruelty ruled over them k Eze. 34.15 16. Fiftly Behold with comfort and assured expectation of good from Heaven that as the Lord hath manifested his gracious purpose to reforme his Church in this Land and set up the Kingdome of Christ among us in the purity of Doctrine and Discipline and hath for that purpose called this Parliament fixed it set it upon that worke and maintained it therein and in all these hath manifested his immediate hand and finger in stupendious works of Divine providence opening obstructions working that himselfe which his servants could not making the very enemies of Reformation meanes to further it discovering and preventing the horrid hellish treacherous plots of his and our enemies turning the counsells of Achitophell into folly discovering the rotten hearts of them that said they were for the Cause of God but are found lyers and holding up the hearts of his faithfull ones in the middest of and against all discouragements So the Lord is pleased to carry on his great worke of Reformation in the very face and in aispight of all oppositions and dangers that it gaines ground and creepes on every day These Priests of Baal sonnes of Beliall that know not the Lord whose sinne is very great before God in making multitudes abhorre the Offerings of the Lord a 1 Sam. 2.12 17. are taken away and removed as filthy rubbish from the house of God The Antinomians that destroy the Law as neither directory nor obligatory of a Christian to duty and teach that God sees not is not angry with will not correct requires not sorrow for nor repentance of the grossest sinnes that are committed by such as beleeve they be in Christ and that the elect are actually justified as soone as borne though they have not faith in forty yeares after and many such absurdities and barbarismes in Divinity are questioned and in a good way to be suppressed and the Doctrine of our Church in a great part cleared from all aspersions and misconstructions This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes And certainely these works of God are so many earnest-pence unto us as the first fruits to the harvest that God will in his own way and time perfect his said worke of a through Reformation and bring forth and lay the head and top-stone thereof that we and our postority shall rejoyce and cry grace grace unto it b Zech. 4.7 Sixthly Whereas in severall Proclamations Declarations and Pamphlets set forth in his Majesties name and otherwise sent us from Oxford the Parliament hath been exceedingly reproached and condemned as in truth they have been for all the good they have done for the Kingdome for Sequestring the Livings of Reverend Divines as they stile them thou mayest by a serious perusall of this Booke cleerely see what Divines the Authours and publishers of the said Pamphlets doe so reverence and esteeme And from thence observe of what spirit these men are that side with honour pleade for and receive unto them such Priests of Baal of Bacchus of Priapus Doth not their affection unto and high esteeme of such uncleane beasts abundantly evince that they serve and prostitute themselves unto the same dung-hill Idols and filthy lusts and that they are all of the same Father And note further that these Libellers not only speake evill of Dignities but also of those things that they know not c Jude 8.10 they Censure the Supreame Court of Judicature themselves being Delinquents deferving the severest judgement and that without hearing them or informing themselves of what they have done notwithstanding all their acts and proceedings lie fairely of record in their Journall bookes obvious to every man that desires to understand the same And that the Parliament may appeare just in their doings and the mouth of iniquity may be stopped this Narrative of the crimes * The grossest faults stand proved by many witnesses seldome lesse then six and misdemeanours of those sons of the earth are here published that all the world may see that the tongues of these that speake evill of the Parliament are set on fire of Hell and lift up against Heaven and that they hide themselves under falsehood and make lies their refuge And let not the Learning of some few of these men for which if they had any grace to use it well they were considerable move thee to thinke they be hardly dealt with for learning in a man unsanctified is but a pearle in a Swines snout Arrins Pelagius Arminius all of them learned but thereby the more serviceable to doe mischiefe in the Church like Curio who was facundus only ad reipublicae perniciem Learning and knowledge we honour in any but vitiousnesse and lewdnesse we condemne in all had some of these men sanctity of life as well as light of knowledge they had been honourable to Religion and usefull to soules but their abhorred lusts casting out of them the guidance of light it is but justice to cast them off from being guides to others I say Justice to them and withall mercy to the poore people who at once are ridde of a plague and enjoy a blessing are freed from such who poisoned their soules and supplied by such as take care to feed and save their soules a None succeed these sequest red Priests but such as are examined and approved by the Assembly of Divines I know well that all we say or doe in this particular will be reproached by some but good services must not therefore be deserted because reproached When the fat Abbies were taken downe in Henry the eights time the Friers cried out that holy Church was destroyed yet when the draughts and ponds were searched so many bones and skulls were found which assured men of practises distant enough from holinesse For my part I shall not cease to endeavour and pray for a perfect reformation of the Church which is the garden wherein God delighteth to walke and therefore must be purged of all stinking and noysome weeds And doe thou whosoever
let his Parishioners have a Lecturer on a weeke day which was appointed and maintenance for the same given by the will of the dead and useth to prophane the Sabbath-day by playing at Cards and hath been often drunke in Ale-houses and other places and usually seeketh and haunteth the company of women notoriously suspected of incontinency and intrudes himselfe into their company and into the company of other women walking alone in the streetes in the darke and twi-light and tempteth them to uncleannesse leading them into darke places and into Tavernes fit for such workes of darknesse and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament and charged the Parliament to be the cause of all the trouble and disturbances in the Kingdome and hath greatly neglected his Cure and in his absence hath provided scandalous Ministers to supply the same 19. The Benefice of Iames Bradshaw Vicar of the Parish Church of Chalfont S. Peters in the County of Bucks is sequestred for that he is not only a practiser and maintainer of all the late innovations but hath also preached in his Sermons That the Commissaries Courts were the suburbs of Heaven and the Commissaries and Officers of that Court the very supremacies next to Arch-Angels and that it was a damnable sinne for any warned to that Court not to appeare and that to preach twice on the Lords day is a damnable sinne and that to use any prayers besides the Booke of Common-prayer was likewise a damable sinne and wished that all Lecturers were hanged 20. The Benefices of Robert Cotesford Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Church of Hadleigh and Munkes Ely in the County of Suffolke are sequestred for that he is a strict observer of the late Innovations still continues bowing towards the East in divine Service and hath often preached for auricular confession of sinnes and that the reason why so many fall into despaire is because they come not to their ghostly Father to confesse their sinnes and that men have by nature free-will to all good and that Baptisme doth wash away originall sinne ex opere operato and hath been often drunke consuming his time in tipling and drinking sometimes from morning to night and hath oft attempted the chastity of his maid-servant that she could not live in the house for him and seldome preacheth and for five Moneths last past wholy deserted his said Cures so that the Church-wardens were inforced through his default to make some provision for the said Cure of Hadleigh and hath not only refused to reade the Declarations of Parliament and especially that of the 22th of October 1643. concerning his Majesties Commissions granted to Papists to raise forces commanded to be read in Churches but hath expressed otherwise great malignity against the Parliament and the proceedings thereof 21. The Benefices of Nicholas Andrewes Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Churches of Guilford and Vicar of Godalmine in the County of Surrey are sequestred for that he is not only negligent in preaching himselfe but hath also expressed himselfe to be an enemy to frequent preaching inveighing in his Sermons against long Sermons saying that Peters sword cut off but one eare but long Sermons like long swords cut off both at once and that the surfet of the Word is of all most dangerous and that the silliest creatures have longest eares and that preaching was the worst part of Gods worship and that if he left out any thing he would leave out that and refused to give the Parishioners leave to have a Lecturer to preach unto them and hath presented his Parishioners that went to heare Sermons at other Churches when they had no preaching at home and caused the Church-wardens and Sides-men to be presented for not presenting such into the Ecclesiasticall court And in delivering the Bread in the Sacrament he elevateth it lookes upon it and bowes low unto it and useth other frequent bowing in administring the Sacrament and in his Sermons greatly exclaimes against that Doctrin which teacheth that the greatest part of the world should be damned and frequenteth Tavernes and consumes his time in sitting and tipling there And hath refused to publish the Order of Parliament concerning the removall of superstitious and Idolatrous pictures and Images and hath substituted to officiate for him in the said Cure very scandalous and Malignant Curates viz. Bacock Leverland Pastorloe Heath and one Blane who is in the Army raised against the Parliament and when his people have propounded honest and Orthodox men to be his Curates he hath refused them 22. The Benefice of Ephraim Vdall Rector of the Parlish Church of S. Austins London is sequestred for that he hath affirmed That the great reformers of the Church now were Hypocrites and hath made framed and published a Booke intituled Noli me tangere without Licence Charging the Parliament with Sacriledge in endeavouring to abolish Episcopacy and to take away the Lands of Deanes and Chapters to amend therewith the maintenance of preaching Ministers and that they have thereby brought a Nationall sinne upon the Land as was formerly done by them in taking away the Monasteries and that an uncleane spirit did breathe these things into their minds a devout Devill pretending care of Gods service and that all their goodly pretences are hipocriticall and the maske of vile iniquity and holy theft and that it is a thing senselesse that Lay-men should have any Tithes and that Tithes are Jure divino and that to alien the Lands of Cathedrall Churches to maintaine preaching Ministers is to pervert the will of the dead that gave them and otherwise expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament The Benefices of _____ Ieofferis Doctor in Divinity Vicar of the Parish Churches of Feversham and Ticehurst in the County of Kent are sequestred for that he hath preached That the King may take not only part but the whole of his subjects Estates if it please him And in the same Sermon wished that evill might befall those that went about to take away governement by Bishops which had its plat-forme from Heaven and that the governement by Bishops Priests and Deacons under the Gospell was from God as under the Law the governement of High-priests Priests and Levites and that he knew not from whence the Presbiterian governement came but from Corah Dathan and Abiram And hath opposed and hindered the Lecturer from preaching a Lecture in the said Church although appointed by the House of Commons thereunto And said of the Parliament That Schismaticall and Pragmaticall fellowes were met together to make new Lawes and he hath neglected the monethly Fast and the Lords day there having been for divers Sabbaths neither preaching nor prayers in the said Church and hath deserted his said Cure for the space of halfe a yeare now last past 24. The Benefice of Iames Mountford Rector of the Parish Church of Jewing in the County of Hertford is sequestred for that all hath refused to deliver the Sacrament to his Parishioners
for not coming up to the railes though some of them begged it with teares and openly reviled them for not conforming to that superstitious Innovation calling them Doggs Rogues and Beggers and presented them to the Commissaries Court for the same to their great damage and vexation and hath published in his Church the Booke of Sports on the Lords day and commended the same and hath publikely in his Sermons affirmed That preaching is not necessary for the sanctification of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was made for Ministers to rest in as well as for the people and that Lay-men ought not to meddle with the Scriptures but must beleeve as the Church beleeves which Church he made to be Arch-bishops and Bishops And the railes being removed he placed formes instead of them making his people kneele at them to receive the Lords Supper And hath preached That if the King should set up flat Idolatry we ought to submit and not to take up Armes as some doe now and enveighed against the Parliament for endeavouring to take away Episcopacy and hath not only refused to joyne in the publike defence but hath also discouraged such as have so done 25. The Benefice of Iohn Peckham Rector of the Parish Church of Hosteede parva in the County of Sussex who giveth out that he is the Kings Chaplaine is sequestred for that he hath been very negligent in his Cure absenting himselfe from his Parishioners sometimes a whole Moneth together without leaving any to Officiate for him and hath refused to administer the Lords Supper to those of his Parish that would not come up to the Railes and is a common drunkard and notorious adulterer and uncleane person having drawne divers women to commit uncleannesse with him and hath bragged that he could lie with women and never get them with child and hath used sordid and beastly carriages towards women to intice them to satisfie his lust not to be named among the Heathen and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament and proceedings thereof and hath affirmed publikely that a man might live in murther adultery and other grosse sinnes from day to day and yet be a true penitent person 26. The stipend of Iohn Kidd Curate of Egerton in the County of Kent is sequestred for that he preacheth not to his Parish above once in a fort-night sometimes not once in a Moneth or two Moneths though there be in the said Parish neere 400. Communicants nor provided any other to instruct them and hath used frequent and unreasonable bowing to the Communion-Table in his said Church and perswaded his people so to doe and called them openly unreverent Puppies that passed by it without such bowing and in administring the Sacrament of the Lords Supper when he had received himselfe and was going to administer the Bread to his people assaulted one of the Communicants and pulled him by the haire of the head and thrust him out of the Church and Congregation without any just cause and hath never preached to his Parishioners upon any of the Fast dayes 27. The Benefice of Griffith Roberts Vicar of the Parish Church of Ridge in the County of Hertford is sequestred for that he hath not only practised the late Innovations and neglected the publike Fast and imployed his neighbours to carry home wood for him upon a Fast day but hath openly declared the Earle of Essex and all his followers and Armies of the Parliament to be Traitours and that whosoever sent Horses Money or Plate to the Parliament were also Traitours and that this Land was governed by Children and Fooles and that the Parliament had done that that they must die for even the best of them if ever the Lawes were setled and that the said Roberts is a common drunkard and tipler in Ale-houses and drinker of healths quarrelling with them that will not pledge him therein 28. The Benefice of Peter Dausem Vicar of the Parish Church of Camberwell in the County of Surry is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and drunke at the times of his officiating at Burials and Baptizings and hath by his debaushed conversation disabled himselfe from preaching and hath not preached for these 12. yeares and upwards and did protect and hide a Romish Priest in his house from the Officers that came to seek him and hath extorted undue and unreasonable fees from his Parishioners and after the administring of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper expended the money given to the poore in Sack and dranke it in the Church And in delivering the Sacrament to one Mistris Wilson one of his Parishioners cast the Bread upon the ground saying to her take it there if thou wilt have it and is a common curser and swearer and hath read in his Church his Majesties Declaration against the Parliament concerning Levies and being told of an Ordinance of Parliament against the reading of such things answered He cared not for it 29. The Benefice of Iohn Mountford Doctor in Divinity Rector of the Parish Church of Austie in the County of Hertford is sequestred for that he hath introduced into his said Church and other Churches a turning of the Communion-Table Altar-wise and having a great Crucifix and Picture of the Virgin Mary in the East window over the said Table used bowings and cringings before the said Table and Crucifix set Altar-wise and caused the said Table to be railed in and the Jesuits Badge to be set upon the Carpet there compelled the people to come up to the railes there to kneele to receive the sacrament teaching them that God was alwayes present at the Altar by the presence of his grace and was therefore to be bowed unto and in his going up to the Table to reade second Service usually caused that part of the 43. Psalme to be sung viz. Then shall I to the Altar goe of God c. And hath endeavoured to leaven his people with the doctrines of Arminianisme and hath forbidden by vertue of a Commissary or Surrogates place he held under the Deane and Chapter of Paules preaching in the afternoone on the Lords day and expounding of the Catechisme within his Jurisdiction only tying them to use the same by bare Questions and Answers and pressing the reading of the Booke of Sports on the Sabbath day and usually enveighed in his Sermons against those that went out from his said Parish Church to heare Sermons when they had none at home and did arrest the Church-wardens of the said Parish and the Glasier for pulling downe the said scandalous Pictures in the said window in obedience to Order of Parliament and hath preached against praying ex tempore as unlawfull and hath in his absence substituted a very scandalous Curate very superstitious in his practises who preached that that conscience was neither good nor quiet that could not be content with one Sermon a day on the Lords day and charged them as Rebells that did not observe his superstitious practises of the late
vice a common swearer by great and bloudy oaths and hath bin very carelesse and negligent of his Cure seldome preaching above once a month and never on the Fast-dayes and is seldome present at Church on the Past-dayes and often absent on the Lords-day when he hath drunke hard the day before and hath carried himself very lasciviously towards severall women and is greatly suspected of Incontinency 50. The stipend and Benefice of Iohn Man Curate of the Parish Church of Stroode neare Rochester in the County of Kent is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and frequenter of Ale-houses and Tavernes drawing others to the same excesse with him and is a common swearer by bloudy oathes and useth to curse and is a common quarreller and fighter and said That he scorned the Parliament and that the Parliament-men were not Gentlemen of quality and hath otherwise expressed great malignity against the Parliament 51. The Benefice of Nicholas Lowes Vicar of the Parish Church of Much-Bently in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he hath beene often drunke and useth to sit tipling in Ale-houses seven or eight houres together even on the Lords dayes and affirmed That he hoped to see them all hanged that had set their hands against Bishops and Papists and he and by his example the people spend the greatest part of the Lords day in pastimes and drinking at the Ale-house and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament 52. The Benefice of William Evans Parson of the Parish Church of Sandcroft in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house haunter and notorious drunkard and campanion of Ale-house haunters and hath altogether neglected the publike Fast even since the Order of Parliament for the better observation thereof and spent the same dayes or the greater part of them in Ale-houses and wholy neglected to preach in the after-noones on the Lords day or to suffer any other to doe it And hath driven divers of his Parishioners out of the Parish by prosecuting them in the Ecclesiasticall Courts for going to other Churches to heare Sermons when himselfe preached not and in his Pulpit delivered That those that did give or lend to the Parliament were accursed and insteed of a Sermon on the Lords day read to his people a Declaration set forth in his Majesties name concerning the Militia the Ships Fortes and Towne of Hull 53. The Benefice of Iohn Squire Vicar of the Parish Church of Shorditch in the County of Middlesex is sequestred for that he hath publikely in his Sermons affirmed the Papists to be the Kings best Subjects for their Loyalty and for their liberality and that like Arauna many had given like Kings to the King to maintaine his Honour against the rebellious Scots and for their patience that enduring the many grievances under his Majesty they had buried all in oblivion and the Protestants would afford him nothing but in a Legall way yea but in their own way and exhorting that none should come to the Sacrament unlesse they were so affected to his Majesty as the Papists were and compared his Majesty to the man that went from Hierusalem to Jericho and fell among theeves that wounded him of his Honour robbed him of his Castles and hearts of his people the Priest passing by was the Protestant the forward professour the Levite but the Papist was the good Samaritan especially the Irish Papist and that the Subjects and all they have are at the Kings command 54. The Benefice of Iohn Clarke Rector of the Parish Church of S. Ethelburrough within Bishops-gate London is sequestred for that he hath endeavoured to corrupt his auditory with the leaven of Popish doctrine that the Bread and Wine after the words of consecration cease to be Bread and Wine and differ specie from what they were before and that the Virgin Mary was the window of Heaven and the very clouts and raggs wherein Christ was wrapped were glorious raggs and that the crosse whereon Christ was crucified was made of foure sorts of wood and that he is a common haunter of Tavernes and Ale-houses and useth to sit tipling there till he be drunke and hath exprest great malignity against the power and proceedings of Parliament saying That the Parliament could not meddle or settle the businesse of the Church they being not Schollers but Mechanick men 55. The Benefice of Richard Nicholson Parson of the Parish Church of Stapleford Tawny in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he is a common drunkard and swearer and hath expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament saying They were a company of Factious fellowes and that this Parliament is no Parliament and that the major part of the Lords and Commons being with the King they were the Parliament and used divers other wicked speeches against the Parliament and against severall Lords in the House of Peeres and had three wicked and scandalous Libells against the Parliament found in his Study and did sing one of them in an Ale-house 36. The Benefice of Francis Wright Vicar of the Parish Church of Witham in the County of Essex is sequestred for that he hath tempted divers women both his servants and Parishioners to uncleannesse and is a common haunter of Ale-houses and Tavernes and a common drunkard and prophaner of the Worship of God by publike performing of the same in his drunkennesse and a common swearer and common user of corrupt communication and hath not officiated in the said Cure for the space of twelve Moneths last past before the sequestration 57. The Benefice of Curthbert Dale Rector of the Parish Church of Kettleburrough in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he was a constant observer of the late illegall Innovations in the Worship of God and presented and troubled his Parishioners in the Ecclesiasticall Courts for not comming up to the railes to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and not observing other of the said Innovations and is a common swearer and curser and in his Sermons hath maintained That the Angells did mediate for the children of God and that men might drinke one pot for necessity a second for recreation and a third for good-fellowship and that it is not the blood of Christ that takes away sinne before God but it is repentance and teares that washes away sinnes and hath read the Book of sports on the Lords day and hath slighted and neglected the Monethly Fast and suffered his servants to worke thereupon And seeing a stranger in the Church put on his hat in Sermon time he openly then called him sawcy unmannerly Clowne and bid the Church-wardens take notice of him and the next Lords day tooke occasion in his Sermon againe to speake of him being then absent and to call him Lobb sawcy Goose Idiot a Wigeon a Cuckoe saying he was a scabbed Sheepe a stragler and none of his flock and is a common Ale-house and Taverne haunter and hath been often drunke and