Proselites And whereas Dr. Ellis c. be onely 9. Clergy-men and their Testimony goes vnder he name of the London Clergy it will appeare that as the Adherents to wicleff stole the seale of the Vniuersity of Oxford and craftily set it to the Chief Tenets of the said wicliffe that so the approbation of the vniuersity of Oxford might get his learning credit and credence abroad in Bohemia where it had taken some roott in like manner Dr. Ellis c. will be thought to haue stoln his Brethrens votes for the same purpose Our most Rd. Bishop Cuius memoria in benedictione est foresaw the great scandals Mr. Blacloe would bring vpon himselfe and his party for in a Letter dated 6. of Feb. 1654. which his Lordship writ to my selfe and I haue shewn it to our Seniors are these express words I haue not yet seen Mr. Blacloes last book in which as you write there are such horrid speeches against the Popes infallibility which if it be true I feare Mr. Blacloe vvill goe yet further for such speeches shew the last disposition to leaue the Pope and then it will better appeare what kind of Aduersaries you and I haue had Now I leaue to the wisedom's of our Brethren to iudge out of the premises whether Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. their Testimony which Mr. Blacloe in his weake Answere to the Vinditiae set's down in these words De me Cleri Londinatis Encyclica ad Fratres per Vniuersam Angliam Epistola hoc testimonium continet Quantum ad Albij Blacloi personam attinet nonimus eam semper vitae irreprehensibilis exemplaris conuictus fuisse scientiam ipsius esse eminentem fatentur omnes quae nos ex legibus naturae Societatis humanae cogit ad parem illi aestimationem retribuendam Whether I say the said Testimony comming to the Popes notice his Holines may as to reason be mou'd to confirm their Chapter and giue them their own desires as to a Successour or whether they may not haue a design to obstruct thereby the good intentions of his Holines in order to a wish'd setlement of Gouernement in our Clergy that so they may continue as they are in authority Or whether Dr. Ellis could subscribe vnto such a Testimony with a good conscience since my selfe and others that I can name haue heard him call Mr. Blacloe an vnhappie man and since he told a sober learned Brother of ours whose Letter I haue shewn another person of great quality whom I can name that part of his learning was Damnable Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus vijs suis Iacob 1. Again whether Catholicks for the future are bound to belieue Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. when they hear them deny their adherence to Mr. Blacloe and his learning furthermore whether they are not bound to embrace a learning which they iudge to be eminent and know likewise the Author of it to be of an vnimpeachable vertue and of a most vnblemisht life Furthermore whether Lay-Catholicks may do prudently to leaue the Charities they intend for the reliefe of the Mother-House to be dispos'd according to the instructions which Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. suggest to our Brethren in their Encyclicall Epistle to the great preiudice of the said Mother-House Sed iussisti Domine sic est vt paena sua sibi sit omnis in ordinatus animus Aug. Confess l. 1o. c. 12. Pag. 32. And to wish and pray that his other works may be as seruiceable to Gods Church as those against Hereticks haue been Here Dr. Ellis c. prostrated offer their humble prayers to Heauen for Mr. Blacloes perseuerance in the pursuance of his eminent learning vnto seruing the Church of God by resisting of Hereticks In this heauenly prayer they set down a false supposall being I am certain they can produce no euidence to proue that Mr. Blacloe hath composed works which haue brought aduantages to the Church of God c. yet when I vse this manner of speech to any of his principall Proselites instantly Rushworth Dialogues are named to which I haue and do still reply that those are no works of his for though he beare the name of Thomas Blacloe Thomas White Thomas Anglus Thomas Albiorum Trinobantum and Thomas Bolton neuertheless he was neuer called Mr. Rushworth Again my selfe knew very well Mr. Rushworth and that he alone was the true vndoubted Author of those Dialogues except onely some few blasphemous and exotick propositions respectiuely inserted therein by Mr. Blacloe To cleare this busines vnto giuing to Mr Rushworth what is due to Mr. Rushworth who when I was but a Philosopher executed the office of Generall Prefect in our Mother-House a graue vertuous and Religious Person a good Diuine and much versed in Polemicall Theology that is In controuersies and when I was Agent for our Clergy he wanting a Residence I procured one for him in the Town of London where he had the opportunity to conuerse frequently with Mr. Blacloe who then was in great esteem and vogue with all our ancient Clergy and to communicate his conceptions as to his Dialogues hauing a great kindnes for him an opinion of his learning The said Mr. Rushworth not suruiuing to put forth his Dialogues and Mr. Blacloe who euen then had conceiu'd prophane nouelties thinking that the publishing of those Dialogues whereof he had a good opinion as indeed they highly deserued might proue a fit forerunner for the establishing of his own nouelle Doctrines he borrowed the Manuscript thereof from Mr. Edward Enderby Nephew to Mr. Rushworth who is yet aliue and without his leaue or knowledge printed it and notwithstanding that in the preface to the said Dialogues when they were first printed Mr. Blacloe does confess Mr. Rushworth to be the Author thereof neuertheless Mr. Blacloes friends haue made him the Author vnto giuing credit and esteem to his other writings Sic vos non vobis mellificatis apes Mr. Edward Ender by knows this to be true and a certain knight of great worth and learning with whom Mr. Rushworth communicated his said Dialogues hath been heard to say and he is aliue also that sundry poynts which are in the printed Dialogues were not in the manuscript which shew's euidently Mr. Blacloes crafty dealing and the false supposall of Dr. Ellis c. that Mr. Blacloes Workes haue been seruiceable to Gods Church c. Pag. 35. As also Dr. Leyb mou'd to our Dean and writ to Romè falsely pretending that the greater part of the Clergy would think themselues happie in hauing a Vicarius Apostolicus and that onely some few of the Chapter oppose it Now to receiue such an exterordinary Authority is both against the pleasure of her Matie exprest in her commands to our Agent at Rome not to accept it against the lawes of our Catholick Ancestors against the will of our state and so most dangerous subiecting vs to a Premunire c. For the
very following the common principles of Charity and Christianity shall make him too a Blacklo'ist and fall under the correction of his severe censure If any sober reason be calmly produc't and prest which confounds and non-plusses him he presently flies back all amaz'd and exclaims that 't is a Suggestion of the devil If the word Rational happen to slip out in discourse he is immediately struck at it and expresses great abhorring of it as being a word Mr. Bl. uses To such a strange heigth does his passion transport him Now his main reason why we are Blacklo'ists is because we will not declare against Mr. Bl.'s Doctrines Our reasons not to do so are First Our last Bishops commands in his Letter to Dr. Leyb himself dated Iuly 6. 1652. delivered in these words I have divers times written to you to suppresse all clamours against Mr. Bl.'s novelties and as you have written to me you have so done but still divers of my chief Officers write to me that you do the contrary which I am very sorry to hear for so you will cause the inconvenience and Schism which will be worse then the Books are Next by our Reverend Bishops reason giv'n in the same Letter and in these wise and charitable words For Gods love by all means seek Charity and Peace and whiles the See Apostolick speaks not of these novelties you have no need to cry out so loud against them let us follow and not go before our Pastour but with love and charity expect his final sentence Which words shew also that my Lord was jealous of Dr. Leyb's disquiet spirit and thought it seasonable to keep it in due limits by this vehement admonition and exhortation to Charity Now whereas Dr. Leyb pretends a contrary Order of my Lords the Letter he shewes for it contains no such thing but onely that himself being Vicar General should not own the Doctrine and that he should suppresse some books of Mr. Bl.'s which were coming over by preventing their publishing which is done in a silent and quiet way of intercepting or buying them up not by clamours and gathering hands of private persons which is the very way of Sedition And that this was my Lords sense is seen in his Letter to Mr. Bl. written as appears after Dr. Leyb had thus mistaken or would seem to mistake my Lords meaning I have been so far from commanding Dr. Leyb to cry out against your Book that I desir'd him to suppresse all speech against it as I assure you is true and I hope he will not deny Perhaps he knowing I much dislik't your Book gather'd that I would have him speak against it but whatever he sayes or gather'd this is true which I write Thirdly by the Orders and Decrees of two General Assemblies of -53. and -57. representing the whole Bodie of the Clergy who agreed that we should not transgress my Lords commands in that point but follow his grave fatherly and charitable advice Fourthly by the Judgement of the right honourable Lord Abbot Montague and our Venerable Brethren in France in their common Letter of Mediation to Dr. Leyb repeating my Lords advice to him that we should follow not go before our Pastor And this was when Mr. Bl.'s submission of his Writings to the Church and See Apostolick stolick was not yet made much less can it be exacted of us now since he hath submitted his Doctrine to the Church for by so doing he hath left the controversie now in the Churches hands and so makes our's or any other 's intermedling very improper Lastly We are mov'd not to disclaim Mr. Bl.'s Doctrines by the example of other Bodies and Communities and particularly that of the Society who when Tenets written by some of their Body have highly scandaliz'd the World and were actually censur'd by very many Bishops and his Holinesse also yet thought it not prudent to make Declarations against them themselves much lesse to begin to censure them first Nay more with respect to those grave and prudent Bodies be it spoken we have exceeded the most forward of them in this point having our selves upon this occasion requested the Nuntio of Paris through whose hands as being our Ordinary Commands from his Holiness are to come to us legally to send to us any Decree which concern's us promising to receive and publish it We have signifi'd also the same to his Holinesse and the Court of Rome to the Cardinal-Protectour the inter-Nuntio of Brussels and others which as far we know no other Order has done concerning any of their Body Now We appeal to all the World whether it become the gravity of Ecclesiastical persons of our place vocation to neglect the prudent and charitable Counsel and commands of our late Bishop of such venerable persons as compose our Assemblies that is all the Vicar Generals Canons and Arch Deacons in England as also of the most worthy Mediatours to neglect the example of all other Communities the evidence of our own reason too which tells us that a mature and orderly procedure ought to be observ'd in such Censures and all this to follow and second the passion of one single man whose very moving and stirring in such a matter is beyond his duty in regard he is but a private person and can shew no Order or Commission from any Superiour is so plainly an Act of sedition that nothing can suffice to justifie it in the opinion of any sober man who shall but consider that the Catholick Church hath Order and Government in it and that affairs of this nature determining what is Faith what Heresie are not to be carry'd on by clamour and getting hands of a few ignornat or passionate Persons by surprize or misinformation but by an Authority deriv'd in an orderly and legal manner from the Supreme Bishop or in case it be matter of Opinion and not of Faith then 't is solid and prudent reasons and not empty and rude noises which are proper to confute such Errours As for Mr. Bl.'s person we have known him to be ever of a most unblemish't life and exemplar conversation and as such we are taught by Christian principles to honour and respect him He hath born many principal Offices under our Clergy done as many particular services and hath been Master to very many of our eldest and gravest Brethren with considerations give them and us a gratefull esteem and respect for him His learning all grant to be eminent which by the common principles of civility and humanity oblige us to value him accordingly and to wish and pray he may so employ his pen that his other works may be as serviceable to Gods Church as those against Hereticks have been But to defend him in any Tenet which may justly be conceiv'd against Superiours either spiritual or temporal or against Doctrines held forth by the Catholick Church we abhor in our hearts for his opinions very few of us know them few or none understand
elected that neither obserued the holy Canons as to his election nor euer sought to Rome to confirm him so Vncanonically introduced Pag. 27. Lastly we bring him his Mr. Leyb own Letter asserting that our Chapter was to haue Episcopall Iurisdiction after my Lords death that the Chapter is to be look't on as his Heir â—pparent or lawfull Successor that our gouernment is to reside in the Chapter after our masters death To this accusation I answer inregard I haue found by experience that Dr. Ell is Mr. Curtis c. do corrupt and falsity the originall Letters which they mention in their Encyclicall Epistle I cannot be induc'd to belieue that they haue repeated my words aright neither do I thinke that there are the particles Our Chapter c. I remember that vpon notice giuen me that Mr. Blacloe and his Party went about to out my Lord Bishop from his Episcopall authority and that Dr. Blundston vpon that scoare endeuour'd to draw all our Brethren residing in his district to promise obedience to the Chapter I writ the said Dr. Blun. a Letter telling him that he proceeded vnaduisedly because a Chapter ought not to execute the Bishops authority while he was aliue For in all Catholick Contries where Bishops seats are establish'd the Bishop while he liues gouernes the Clergy and not the Chapter to which if Cathedrall the Canons of the Church giue leaue onely to suceeed in his authoritie during the vacancy of the seat And if a new Dean be elected in the meane while or afterwards he is bound by the said Canons to aske of his Holines confirmation as to his election otherwise it is null and inualide wherefore to haue writ that the or a Chapter is looks on as the Bishops Heir apparent or that our gouernement is to reside in the Chapter after our masters death is not to approue the exercise of Episcopall Iurisdiction in the Chapter without his Holines condescention thereto and this I counseld as a necessary requisit to our gouernement my Lord Bishop being dead But my Counsell had no weight with Mr. Blacloe and his Adherents who play'd not one but many Bishops suddenly without consulting the supream Pastour Pag. 27. Sometymes he Charges Mr. Blacloe with cozenage and iniustice as that he has embez'ld or conuerted to other vses a summe of money left in his hand for the Clergies good whereas vve knovv the contrary by diuers persons in vvhose hands and to vvhose trust he left the said summe to be employ'd hereafter for the good of the Clergy In Answer to this accusation I say that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. do me wrong for as much as they assert that I haue accused Mr. Blacloe of cozenage and iniustice as to embezling a summe of money committed to his care and trust I neuer Charg'd him with iniustice as to spending the principall stock but for conuerting to his own vse the Rents thereof contrary to all iustice For example our last Bishop about 55. yeates agoe preuaild with an Hon. ble person his friend to bestow a summe of money vnto the erecting and maintaining of a litle community in the Town of Paris which might consist of such Clergy-men as their Superior should iudge fit and proper for the end the erection was intended to wit for the keeping a continuall succession of able schollars as to positiue scholasticall and polemicall Theologie especially knowledge in controuersies being thought necessary vnto resisting the Enemies of Catholick Religion To the aduancing of so good a worke the most Rd. and Illustrious Abbot of Arras lent our Clergy a small Colledge built in the said Towne of Paris pertaining to his Monastery and therefore named the Colledge of Arras The money procured for the entertainment of this community was deliuered into the hands of Mr. Iohn Colleton to whom the trust was committed but he in regard of his imprisonment thought fit to recommend the trust and management of the said fund vnto Mr. Iohn Hammon who about the yeare 1640. entrusted Mr. Blacloe with it who hath neuer employed one penny for the end the fund was erected The Rents that maintained constantly afore a community of some fiue prime Clergy-men and indeed two Bishops and two Deans were of Arras Colledge community now entertaine Mr. Blacloe in poore cloathing Of this Mr. Blacloes most vniust dealing at my last being at London I complain'd to Mr. Curtis that receiues the Rents and told him plainely that it was a mighty shame to our Clergy to suffer or countenance such an vnworthy scandalous and vniust proceeding To which Mr. Curtis replyed saying But how can vve helpe it Mr. Blacloe is entrusted with the money vve cannot take it from him but he say's that he vvill leaue it to the Clergy Besides said Mr. Curtis Mr. Blacloe hath giuen to Lisboa one hundred pounds and allovv's the Dean Dr. Ellis thirty pounds yearely and twenti pounds yearly to Mr. Robert VVorsley out of the Rents of an other fund left by Dr. Bosvvel and vvherevvith Mr. Blacloe is also entrusted What I haue herein set down in relation to the fund of Arras Colledge I protest sincerely I heard from Mr. Collingtons own mouth from my Lord Bishop from Dr. Kellison and Dr. Louell besides I haue some reason to haue full knowledge of the said fund because my selfe togeather with Mr. Bitcon Dr. Blundston Mr. Ireland and Dr. Reyners were entertain'd in Arras Colledge and maintained with the Rents thereof And as to the substance of my answers to Mr. Curtis afore-mentioned I will be depos'd that I haue expressed them most sincerely Wherefore I leaue it to the wisedom's of our Bhrethren to iudge whether Dr. Ellis does not commit a grieuous sin for as much as he employes money to his own that was giuen and alwais afore applyed to another vse and purpose that is the entertaining and maintaining of a smal community in the Town of Paris For indeed Mr. Blacloe hath noe colour of right as to the dominion or disposing of the said fund in any other way and this truth does euidently appeare by a continuall custome of paying the Rents for the vse of such a community and by the Testimonies of Dr. Boswel and other principall members of our ancient Clergy which are extant in our Mother House and my selfe haue seen them Pag 28. 29. Our last Bishops commands in his Letter to D. Leyb himselfe dated Iuly 6. 1652. deliuered in these words I haue diuers tymes vvritten to you to suppress all Clamours against Mr. Blacloes nouelties and as you haue vvritten to me you haue so done but still diuers of my chief officers vvrite to me that you do the contrary which I am very sorry to hear and so you vvill cause the inconuenience and schism which will be vvorse then the books are In amazemenâ— as to this accusation I wonder if our last Bishop writ me such a Letter which I am confident he did not in the words therein expressed how Dr. Ellis
Mr. Curtis c. came vnto it of necessity they must haue intercepted it because t' is not as to reason credible that my selfe should put it into their hands and in case they intercepted the said Letter in consequence thereof they kept from me his Lordhips commands wherefore they haue nothing of ground or reason to obiect to me commands that I neuer receiu'd Besides the particle Commandes is not set down in his Lordships Letter as themselues express it Again my Lord that was a prudent and wise Prelate would neuer haue let fall from his penne the words And so you vvill cause the inconuenience and schism which will be worse then the books are These particles carrying the sound of a litle nonsense for as much as The inconuenience importe a relation to something said afore which is not expressed and if his Lordship would haue had the said particles to relate vnto the subsequent words he would haue said An inconuenience which c. Howeuer as to the clearing of this matter in debate t' is obseruable that about the yeare 1653. Mr. Blacloe publish'd in print his pernicious book concerning the middle state or condition of souls and dedicated it vnto my Lord Bish. who vpon that occasion writ a Letter vnto me which is imparted to our Seniors wherein are inserted these express words following Mr. Blacloe hath presented me with his new booke which he hath dedicated to me wherein he hath done me this pleasure that he acknowledge's that I dislike his nouelties so that I shall not need to make any publick declaration of my dislike of them seing himselfe hath publish'd it Whereby euidently appeare's that in case Mr. Blacloe had not acknowledged his Lordships abhorrence from his Doctrines he himselfe would haue published it by an open declaration Notwithstanding his Lordship being nothing ignorant of his pastorall duty which was to watch for the souls of his flock as one bound to giue account thereof Hebr. 13. writ an other Letter wherein order was giuen me to suppress the afore mentioned book of the middle state of souls as containing naughty Doctrines that contradicted holy scriptures Councils Fathers and the generall practise of the Catholick Church and to the same effect his Lordship writ to Mr. Harrington who was the second Vic. Gen. In solidum wherefore in Obedience to the order enioyn'd me I dispers'd copies thereof amongst sundry of our Brethren respectiuely and his said Lordship's order made so great an impression in the harts of our Brethren residing within the districts of Yorkshire that twenty of them ioynd vnanimousely in a modest disclaim from Mr. Blacloes Doctrines iudging that the best and most necessary expedient to the suppressing of them The Tenor of the said disclaim togeather with the names of such as subscribed vnto it I haue thought fit to set down and they be as follow 's CVm ex Reuerendissimo piae memoriae Episcopo Chalcedonensi acceperimus Thomam ex antiqua Familia de Albis East Saxonum varios Libros edidisse In quibus multa erronea scandalosa temeraria Doctrinae praxique Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae dissona reperiuntur Cumque magno quidem intimo dolore intellexerimus totum Clerum Anglicanum apud quosdam magnae Notae Viros ideò male audire adeoque horrendâ Schismatis inuri Infamia NOs infrascripti eiusdem Cleri Anglicani indignissima membra Collegijque Anglo-Duaceni aliquando Alumni testamur Nos eiusdem Thomae de Albis Doctrinas suspectas nullo modo approbare sed ab omnibus singulis taliter suspectis intimis ex praecordijs penitus abhorrere In cuins fidem proprijs manibus Nomina subscripsimus William Ogle Arch-Deacon Iohn Mettcalfe Iames Dalton decan ruralis Robertus Chamber William Meynell Matthew Thimbelbi Thomas Duffield Thomas Sutton Michaël Robinson Gulielmus Salisburius Georgius Cathericke Arch Ioannes Younge Thomas Goodricke Ioannes Iowley Mattheus Chamber Francis Blacstone Ioannes Hardwicke Thomas Faceby Nicolaus Postgarte Christophorus Lawson But here is obseruable that one of these zealous Brethren in the performance of their Pastorall charge namely Mr. Iohn Mettcalfe is faln from his subscription He that afore protested against Mr. Blacloes learning as scandalous and dissonant to the generall practise of the Catholick Church now for as much as he is inuested into an Ecclesiasticall dignity extolle's it aboue the clouds as eminent Now Mr. Harrington togeather with others of that faction residing in London as soon as they were inform'd that I had vsed endeuours to obstruct the spreading of Mr. Blacloes Doctrines they complain'd to their Paris friends of the order which my L. Bish. had sent me and of my proceeding in the execution thereof which they stiled a clamorous decrying of Mr. Blacloes learning Here vpon the said friends expostulated with his Lordship 1o. as to his order which they named a condemnation of Mr. Blacloe and thence inferd that his said Lordship had vsurped vpon our supream Pastours authoritie since to pronounce sentence of condemnation is a prerogatiue pertaining thereto His Lordship replyed as to his own order that he had not condemned Mr. Blacloe and indeed a meer order to suppress a book does not importe a condemnation taken in the proper sense Secondly as to my clamorous decrying his Lordship answer'd that he neuer gaue me order to cry out against Mr. Blacloes books there being a great difference between crying out against and a gentle suppressing and likewise between suppressing all speech against and meer suppressing of a booke Howeuer doubtless if my Lord Bishop were now aliue to peruse other bookes put forth since his Lordship death by Mr. Blacloe and likewise to read the illustrious Testimony which he alleages in his weake Answer to the Vindiciae of his own Vnimpeachable vertue and eminent Doctrine giuen him by Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis and seauen other Chapter-men vnder the name of the London Clergy doubtles I say his Lordâ—hip Surgeret vt Mâ—yses surgeret vt Phynees pro domo Dei At least he would publish against Mr. Blacloe Pope Lueius 3. C. Ad abolendam de Haereticis his definition and proceed also against Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. as did the glorious Bishop of Alexandria S. Peter the Martyr against Arrius for fauouring of Milesius Qui as attesteth S. Epiph. sectam dumtaxat fecerat non à fide defecerat My Lord Bish knew right well to exercise his Episcopall authority that is to vse it either in the spirit of loue and meeknes or in the Pastorall rod 1. Cor. 4. vnto the conseruing of his flock his Lordship knew right well that it was a necessary requisite vnto a full execution of his charge to resiste prophane notions of wanton schollars euen in their bud or first springing vp For although to pronounce sentence of condemnation against Teachers of new notions which contradict Councils and the generall practise of Gods Church is the supreme Vniuersall Pastour's prerogatiue neuertheless the Pastorall staff is not giuen to a particular Bishop
in vain Besides euery particular Bishop for as much as he is the Chief Spirituall Dog of the suprem Pastour is bound to barke and fight against such as endeauour to hurt his flock If a wolfe come and the sheapard's Dog shall not giue warning thereof by barking of necessity he will be counted guilty of betraying the Sheep vnto the wolfe The french as Cicero in one oration relateth attempted to seise on the Capitol of Rome and because the watch or Guard Dogs did not barke vnto giuing notice of their comming they were brought before the common Court of iustice and there sentenc'd to haue their things broken Priests yea Lay-Catholick's as to the matter in debate but Bishops especially are the Spirituall watch-Dogs of the supreame Pastour and their office is to barke at and bite wolfes that go about seeking among the flock of Christ whom they may deceiue and deuoure that is to say they are bound to speake teach and write against singular Doctours of new notions which are wolfes in sheep's cloathing and such as to this poynt shall neglect the duty that God requireth from them will receiue their Triall at the high Court of diuine Iustice vnto being condemned as vnprofitable seruants to a far greater punishment then was that of the Capitols watch-Dogs to wit To vtter darkenes Mat. 5. Pag. 30. VVe are mou'd not to disclaime Mr. Blacloes Doctrines by the example of other bodies and communities If Dr. Ellis c. would haue follow'd the example of other Bodies the many great scandals whereof they now beare the guilt had been taken away long agoe Religious orders do not defend or countenance such of theirs as vent pernicious Doctrines to the ruine of souls and the dishonour of their bodyes respectiuely The society turne out other Regulars inflict seuere punishments vpon such as beare the infamous brand of being suspected for heresy or for any disobedience against the Spirituall or ciuil Magistrate Besides Dr. Ellis is not ignorant of our English Benedictin's Zealous proceeding vnto securing and punishing of that learned man of their order Father â—ohn Barns as soon as they were fully acquainted with his wicked designs to broach dangerous Tenets to the destroying of souls And indeed that famous man of their order Father Rudicind Barlo himselfe told me that the securing of the said Father Iohn Barns cost the order 300. l. ster But D. Ellis c. contrariwise do bolster vp Mr. Blacloe obserue his directions in the management of their affairs keep constant correspondence with him receiue his pernicious writings giue publick Testimony of his vnimpeachable vertue vnblemisht life and eminent learning again haue refused to publish the sea Apostolicks Decrees which prohibited and condemned seuerall books of his pretending that a condemnation of a book In globo that is without expressing of particular propositions signifies nothing Dr. Ellis himselfe told me that they Pope must tell them what in particular they ought to auoide in order to Mr. Blacloes Doctrines to which I reply'd that it did not beseem him to reach the supreme Pastour how to proceed in his Decrees Besides the custome of condemning books In globo without censuring particular propositions hath examples in antiquity as euidently proues the Rescript of diuine Constantinus Emperour sent to Bishops and lay people of the Empire which is as follows VICTOR CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG EPISCOPIS ET POPVLO CVm Arrius scriptorum impiorum hominum consuetudinêm imitetur eandem cum illis ignominiae turpitudinis notam merito subire debet Quemadmodum Porphyrius capitalis pietatis hostis qui nefarios libros contra Religionem Catholicam seu Christianam edebat mercedem dignam laboribus recepit eiusmodi quidem vt apud posteriora saecula non ipse solùm maximis probris vexatus fuerit turpissima labe infamiae aspersus verùm etiam impia eius seripta deleta penitus extincta sic etiam visum est Arrium eius Sectatores Porphyrianos nuncupare vt quorum secuti sunt mores eorum etiam nomen habeant Quin etiam si quod opus ab Arrio scriptum reperiatur illud eremandum esse Addit illud etiam mandamus vt si quis librum ab Arrio compositum occultasse deprehensus sit eum non statim in medium adductum igne combusserit morte mulctetur nam mox vt comprehensus fuerit plectatur capite And indeed the first Council of Nice as witnesseth Nicephorus l. 8. C. 18. burnt the books of the Arrians Again the sixt Generall Council condemnd sundry books In globo that is the whole volum's Furthermore in Bulla coenae in Indice librorum prohibitorum Regul 2. all books written by Hereticks are prohibited and condemned notwithstanding that they contain seuerall Catholicke Tenets Hereby plainely appeares how vnaduisedly Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. obiect against me pag. 33. thus He would haue vs condemne them Mr. Blacloes opinions as he strangely phrases it in globulo by which we conceiue he means in the bulke whence it would follow that we must condemn the Tenets of the Trinity the Incarnation and all other Mysteries of our faith all these being found in Mr. Blacloes books and going in the same Bulke or booke with the rest But how vnhandsomely haue Mr. Ellis c. set down this obiection or rather false accusation against me for I neuer propounded a condemnation onely aduised a disclaim from Mr. Blacloes pernicious books which the Court of Rome had prohibited and condemned Again I neuer mention'd Condemn in globulo as they strangely and vnaduisedly phrase it For I said In globo which signifies In the whole without expressing particular propositions Furthermore Dr. Ellis c. will not deny but that Caluins Institutions are condemned and not all the Tenets of the Trinity the Incarnation and other mysteries which notwithstanding go in the same Bulke or book and I doe not see how D. Ellis c. can pretend inuincible ignorance for an excuse as to this particular errour Lastly whosoeuer shall read all Mr. Blacloe's Bookes will not find in them all the Mysteries of Our faith as they Dr. Ellis c. auerre vnlesse by Our faith they meane Mr. Blacklo's new Faith Pag. 31. 32. As for Mr. Blacloes person we haue known him to be euer of a most vnble'mish't life His learning all grant to be eminent which by the common principles of Ciuility and humanity oblige vs to value him accordingly As to Mr. Blacloes most vnblemish't life and vnimpeachable vertue which be the glorious Characters giuen him all a long the Encyclicall Epistle t is euident as to reason that if the Testimony of Dr. Ellis c. were built vpon truth Mr. Blacloe would neuer haue writ my Lord Bish. such a Letter as is afore set down wherin he calleth a Brother equall to him selfe Lying and periur'd sycophant a wret'hed sycophant c. and brand's his Lordship's own selfe with the infamous markes of Paramount Bishop and
the maintainance of vvell dispos'd youths of each County to be brought vp in Yr. House and thence being qualifyed to returne to their Country Yr. House not being to medle therein as also that none should be sent ouer but such as had ended their studies This was vvhat I savv before the Assembly met I was inuited diuers tymes by the Prime of the Assembly Mr. Harrington yet I neuer did go that so by my absence I might testify the dislike I had of a proposition destructiue I thought to the good of our Mother-House Besides our North Country Chapter-men men that sat in the said Assembly namely Mr. Ashton and Mr. Young togeather with some others writ vnto me how valiantly they had carried themselues in behalfe of their old Mother As God know's best I mistrusted not at all that Assembly though I knew that all the Grandees that is the principall members thereof vvere Mr. Blacloes Adherents Nay albeit that Mr. Blacloe hath much strengthned himselfe since the conuening of the said Assembly and my Lord Bish death for as much as he has new Chapter-men created which are according to his own hart for example Dr. Ellis Mr. Plot Mr. Manly Mr. Singleton Mr. Cancefield neuertheless if now a generall Assembly of Chapter-men were to be called I should not apprehend preiudice as to our Mother-House thereby because I am confident that there would be called vnto it sundry conscientious pious zealous and well affected persons to their old Mother and myselfe that might hinder Mr. Blacloe and his partys machinations and vngodly enterprises as to our preiudice And notwithstanding that this disaffected party may imagine that they haue vndone both of vs by their Encyclicall Epistle howeuer I do not doubt but that our old Mother shall receiue benefit and my selfe honour thereby whiles they beare the infamous brand to all posterity of being vngratefull ingratum si dixeris omnia scelera dixeris for Dr. Ellis vvas an Alumnus of our Mother-House Mr. Plot had all his breeding in it was my schollar about 3. yeares and besides I mou'd Dr. Kellison to receiue him for nothing Mr. Iohn medcalse and Mr. Iohn Singleton were like wise Alumni and the first amongst our yorkeshire Brethren that haue cast dirt in the face of their old Mother in like manner Mr. Manly and Mr. Cancefield the first amongst our Brethren of Lancashire that haue committed such an impiety Hereby appeares euidently how vnaduisedly and vnhappily these few of our Brethren haue dressed vp this charge against me But whereas in the close thereof they craftily exhorte our Brethren to put in execution Mr. Blacloes former design as to disposing of Charities giuen to this Mother-House Saying VVe leaue to Yr. vvisedomes to iudge vvhether it may not now be firt to put that point in execution Mou'd thereby out of a tender care for the conseruing of the Mother-House and preseruing her children from prophane nouelties I haue iudgd it expedient to haue recourse to all our English Catholicks vnto preuenting of their vngodly enterprises Pag. 7. Dr. Leyb sent a letter to Mr. Knightly vvherein vvas signifyed that Mr. Blacloe made vs odious to all Christian Princes the Doctrine therein contained touching them as much as the king of scots as he tearm'd his Ma.tie that his booke of Obedience and Gouernement is against the Protector Cromvvell c. In this Charge Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. imitate the crafty fisherman who loues to fish in troubled water for thinking to make some aduantage against me by the said letter they haue troubled transplaced and confounded the words thereof though not so much but that I shall be able to escape their nets for they do not conceale the chiefe substance And indeed I do acknowledge that I writ to Mr. Knightly a letter wherein I signifyed that Mr. Blacloes Doctrine contained in his booke of Obedience and Gouernement made vs odious to all Christian Princes and was as much against Cromwell then kinging it as against the king of scots and so I called his Ma.tie this I am certaine was the substance and the words where with my Aduersaries charge me importe as much But it seem's to me a strange thing that Dr. Fllis Mr. Curtis c should dare to object vnto me the abhorrence I haue from the Doctrine contained in Mr. Blacloes booke of Obedience and Gouernement cut out of Mr. Hob's leuiathan rendring the English Clergy odious to all Christian Princes since Mr. Tho. White alias Blacloe in the said booke of Obed. and Gouer. writeth thus 1. Pag. 133. If a Magistrate hath truly deserued to be and is dispossessed euery one to his povver is bound to resist him Secondly Pag. 135. If a Magistrate be innocent and vvrongfully dispossessed he is obliged absolutely to renounce all right and claime to gouernement and if he does not he is vvorse then an infidell Thirdly pag. 147. Any vvho hath suffered wrong by a Monarch when he is dispossessed may proceed as if there were no Commonwealth by the lavv vvhich in a wildernes warranteth vs to kill a Tyger or Robber that seeketh to kill vs not pretending lavv for our action but that it is manlike and rationall The ground or foundation on which he seem's to build these his horrid Vnparalleld Vnauthorized and Vnchristian Tenets is laid afore pag. 38. It follow 's not says Mr. Blacloe that I wrong him an other man euen though I do him harme or secke his ruine for he is no othervvise to me then a piece of cloath or wood which I cut and shape after my own will fittingly for my vse I name the Doctrines set down Horrid because no reasonable man can read them without being horrour-struck Vnparalleld because no writer Christian or Heathen hath euer broachd the like Vnauthorized because Mr. Blacloe can not shew that he is sent to teach them and mission to teach and preach the Apostle requireth Rom. 10. Quomodo praedicabunt nisi mittantur Lastly I name them Vnchristian Tenets because the Doctrine of the Apostles on whom Christian Religion was built beare not the least sound that way For example Rom. 13. Let euery soul be subiect to the higher powers for there is no power but of God whosoeuer therefore refisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue to themselues damnation wherefore ye must be subiect not in regard of wrath onely but also for conscience sake Which scripture-Testimony does euidence plainely that subiects shall receiue to themselues damnation if they take away from their Prince his Royall authority and those are to receiue greater damnation that wrong hurt resist or kill him so depriued because he endeuours though by force of Armes to be restored to his iust rights Again 1. pet 2. subiects are commanded to obey not onely good and curteous but also froward Princes and as a king that is dispossessed by his own subiects by the law of God and nature continues their king so the
as leading and gouerning it and therefore conceald that part of the Letter because Mr. Curtis c. represent as enemyes to the Chapter all such Brethren as shew a dislike of or moue a disclaime from Mr. Whites pernicious nouelties nay my selfe is proclaimd in their Encyclicall Epistle as girding at and seeking dissolution of the Chapter because at my last being in London out of pure loue and Zeale I told Dr. Ellis that although the Chapter were without exception he ought not to exercise any Iurisdiction as Dean in regard his election according to the Churches Canons was made void because he had not accepted his said election with in the prefixed time set downe by the Canons which require acceptance of election within the space of one moneth and Dr. Ellis did not accept it within the space of 8. months Besides Priuantut iure per electionem acquisito qui post acceptationem intra tres menses confirmationem non petunt C. quam sit de Elec. Elect. pores in 6. Item qui ante Confirmationem administrant ibi C. Auariliae But he that tell 's truth draw's an odium vpon himselfe Furthermore if Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. had been minded to deale sincerely in publishing my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford c. their religious endeauours in order to the afore mentioned Vnion in our Clergy they should not haue produced onely their common Letter to me but like wise their common Letter to Mr. Blacloe which they craftily conceal'd from our Brethren because my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford c. in their said common Letter sent Mr. Blacloe wherof a Copie was giuen me haue these express words If herefier you intend to publish any thing concerning or nearly relating to Religion you vvill be pleasd to lee it be perused and consented vnto by Mr. Blusion Mr. Daniel Mr. Ellis Mr. Gennings Dis. if Diuinity And in the close of the common better are these words in relation to the former This vve conceiue vvould be a means to preuente all future occasions of Dr Leyborne or any others complaints against Yr. Doctrine This vvill satisfy as vve belieue and in some sorte preserue our body vvhereof you are a principall member from those feares of blemish vvhich are pretended to fall vpon it through Yr. exotick opinions By the premises is plainely verified to the shame of Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. the scripture Testimony proverb 27. Qui fodit foueam incidet in eam qui voluit lapidem reuertetur ad eum They digged a pit to swallow me and they are faln therein themselues they rolled a stone vnto shaming of me and the stone is returned with sham vnto them Pag. 11. vvhereas I vndervvritten Mr. Blacloe haue c. Here Dr. Ellis and Mr. Curtis c. produce a copie of Mr. Blacloe's submitting his writings to the Sea Apostolick and both they and all other his Adherents much glory therin without cause for indeed that his submission signifies nothing fince Mr. Blacloe and his pack of friends soon after in the Assembly 1657. did not onely reiect his Holines Decrees that prohibited and condemned sundry of his prophane books but also went about to forewarne our Brethren against censures from Rome If procur'd by indirect wayes against Mr. Blacloe though by direct they should come to them I vse Mr. Progers that was present his words set down in the 9. account of the declaration he sent me as to the passages of that Assembly and he sais further in the same account that in order to that fore warning he made this Quere Be not such preuention and forestalling the beginning of Rebellion in the state and schisme in the Church Moreouer whereas I sent the said Decrees to Mr. Knightly by order from the Nuncio Mr. Curtis writt vnto me vnaduisedly saying that he wonder'd that I would send Decrees which I knew did not bind there and of this vnhandsome writting I chalengd him when last I was at London But Bone Deus in quae tempora hoc est in quam dierum inobedientiam nos reseruasti Again since the reiecting of the said Decrees Mr. Blacloe hath put forth a pernicious book intitled Statera morum fiilled with fordid and damnable Doctrines and this he dedicates to the Bishops of this Country also hath dispersd it in sundry places with design to stirre vp such as are addicted to Iansenisme vnto rebellion against the authority of the sea Apostolick wherefore since Mr. Blacloes subsequent actions haue vnmade what his precedent Act as to submitting to the Pope had made afore his submission now signifies nothing in consequence of which the producing of it must of necessity turne to the sham of Mr. Blacloe and such as produce it in his fauour Wanton schollars of new notions in all ages whiles they were without a Potentate to protect or a strong party to secure them from the power of Rome submitted their writings to the Pope a stratageme onely to gain tyme vnto spreading and establishing of their wicked Doctrines And indeed Ecclesiasticall Histories make mention of sundry Hereticks submission of their Doctrines to the sea Apostolick before they were fast in the saddle Pag. 12. Mr. Blacloes reply to his Dr. Leyb pamphlet though printed and ready to be publisht vvas held in by him Mr. Blacloe and Mr. Leyb permitted to haue the last word To the disprouuing of this Tale I can say thus much Mr. Car himselfe told me that Dr. Holden had receiued a Letter from Mr. Blacloe wherein was signifyed that he had an Answer in readines to Dr. Leyburns booke and Dr. Holden writ back vnto him that if he had prepared an Answer he should do well to light a fagot and burne it for he would gain nothing of credit by answering it This Mr. Car had from Dr. Holden himselfe Again as to reason it is not probable that Mr. Blacloe would suppress his Answer if printed out of his innate goodnes to spare me The Encyclicall Epistle that breath 's forth ranck poison of malice giues euidence enough of his Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. their great charity towards me But perhaps the said Encyclicall Epistle is cut out of the said Answer which lies hid out of bashfulnes Pag. 16. Mr. Mark Harrington our late Sub-Dean he Mr. Leyb iudges to haue dy'd in a sad case In Answer to this accusation I say 1. o that it seems to me a strang thing that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. dare name Mr. Harrington Sub-Dean since my Lord Bish. in his Letter to Mr. Harrington Mr. Curtis alias Peterson afore produced says expresly that neither himselfe nor any other who had authority from him gaue Mr. Harrington such an office and thence his Lordship infer'd that they vsurped vpon Episcopall authority by assuming to themselues Spirituall authority giuen by none Secondly as to Mr. Harringtons dying condition Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. attest point blanck that I iudge him to haue dyed in a sad case but