in as few words and as punctually as I can I have commended these small labours of mine to thee which I desire may be to Gods glory and thy direction and then let God deale wth mee as seemeth good in his owne eies Farewell in the Lord farewell From my lodging in Amsterdam the 6. of December 1631. STEVEN PVCKELL TO ALL THOSE IN ENGLAND exercising Ecclesiasticall power and jurisdiction over Gods people Bishops Archbishops Archdeacons Deans Officialls Commissaries and all other their depending Officers from the highest Prelate to the meanest Apparitor in the Kingdom OH that my counsell might become acceptable to you all that you would breake of your offences by repentance and your crueltyes by mercy to Gods saints and people and that you would leave lording of it over your fellow brethren let not the Lord when he shall come in the cloudes finde you smiting Ieremie on the cheek lest Pashurs portion prove your inheritance and the Lord make you a terrour to your selvs for know you all for a certain that your vinyards are most ripe to the winepresse and that the Angell wbo hath that sharp sickle in his hand is coming forth to cutt downe all the vines of the vineyards of the earth and to cast them into the winepresse of the wrath of almighty God therefore let me again and again intreat you to leave lording of it over Gods inheritance and rob not the Kings Majesty of his maintenaunce nor the nobility of their titles and dignityes nor the magistrates of their power and authority nor the subjects of their rigths and inheritances take not the garmente from the widdow nor the bread from the fatherles by your extortions eate not up the Lords people like bread any longer lest the Lord bring a plague upon you out of which you shall not hee able to pull your necks let the Lord Christs name be honoured and sett up in all his offices and ordinaunces on Sion his holy mountain jussel him no longer out of his Kingly throne lest he reckon you among his enemies and so slay you all before him build not up your Syon with bloods nor your Ierusalem with crueltyes lest you make a fruitfull land become an heap or a desolate wildernes think not by cruelty to suppresse Gods truth for rather then it shall want witnesses God wil make the stones to doe it and so raise up witnesses out of the dust of them whom you and your forefathers have slaine digge no longer so deep to hide your counsells from the Lord for the Lords knowes and hath revealed it to his saincts that you are no other then the very bellowes of Antichrist by which he blowes up and kindleth that fire of superstition and idolatrye in our English nation therefore display no longer the coulours of Antichrist in the Lords camp hold no longer up the ensigne staffe of that man of sin by which you have so long beaten the Lords people lay down your bucklers now at the length at the Lords feete that if it he possible you may finde mercy oh hear hear and be not proud lest your bonds increase let not the soules of Gods saints whom you contemne weep anie longer in secret for your pride be not you a means to cause the Lord to forsake his people and to suffer his people to be led away captive and to sing the songs of Sion in a strange land and be not so in love with an Italian Lord as for him to ingage your soules King and coūtrye But why doe I thus speake unto you can a blackemoore change his skin Not unlesse it be flead of no more can you unlesse the Lord change your natures and make you of wolvs sheep and of lyons lambs which the Lord in his time will either effect in you or els will give you your portion with the beaste and the false prophet and with all those that with you have received the marke of the beast in their foreheads and hands Thinke not that I aime at anie mans person but at the unlawfullnes of your callings and standings for my soule pittyeth your persons to see so manie excellent naturall parts which manie of you are indued withall bewitched with those strong delusions which the just God hath sent for the damnation of all those that receive not the love of the truth yea the Lord knows I would be glad to become anie thing to doe you good but of that I have little hope therfore farewell S. P. A TABLE OF ALL SVCH FEES AS ARE DVE TO THE Ecclesiastical courts under the Bishop of London in the liberty of Essex and Harford and to all the depending Officers of them both Iudges Registers Apparitors and Proctors in causes of instance betweene party and party  Commissary Register Apparitor INprimis for decreeing the originall citation and for sealing of it vj. d. vj. d. nil Item for decreeing the originall citation in a matrimoniall cause with an inhibition and for sealing of it xij d. xij d. nil Item for rhe decree for every party principall ix d. ix d nil Item for every decree viis modis ix d. ix d. nil Item for every excommunication or suspension in writing ix d. ix d. onely iv d. at nil the release Item for every absolution from an excommunication or suspension ix d. ix d. iv d. Item for letters testimoniall to be made upon a search or any other cause vj. s viij d. vj. s viij d. nil Item for the oath of every witnes upon any matter nil nil ij d. Item for examination of every first witnes upon any matter ix d. ix d. nil Item for examination of every other witnes iv d. ob iv d. ob nil Item for the examination of witnesses upon interrogatories ix d ix d nil Item for the examination of every party principall ix d ix d nil Item for the oath of every party principall nil nil ij d Item for the copy of every witnes upō any matter produced and examined nil viij d nil Item for the copy of the partyes principall answer nil xij nil Item for every commission for the examination of a party principall or witnesses or for the praising of goods of a deceassed or to take the oath of a party upon an inventorie or accountes or any other matter v. s v. s nil Item for the constitution of a proctor nil iv nil Item for exhibition of every proxie in writing nil ij d nil Item for every acte nil iv nil Item for everie act upon the opening or receieving of a prohibition consultation or any others of the Kings writts xv s xv s nil Item for every deffinitive sentence and interlocutorie decree v. s v. s xij d Item for every significavit to the chancery for the taking and imprisoning of an excommunicate person in any cause as well of instance as office v. s v. s nil Item for every significavit to the chancery for the freedom
A TRVE TABLE OF ALL SVCH FEES AS ARE Due to the Bishop of London and all his depending Officers as Commissaryes Registers Proctors and Apparitors as hath been given in to his Majestyes Commissioners in Starchamber under their own hands in the month of November M. DC XXX Whereto is added a true discovery of such fees ordinarily exacted by them upon his Majestyes good subjects contrary to this their own table and the statute laws of the land Published by STEVEN PVCKELL and sent as a love token for his countryes good Isa 8. 61. I the Lord love iudgment I hate robbery for a burnt offering 1. Thess 4. 3. with 6. For this is the will of God c. That no man goe beyond and defraud his brother in anie matter because that the Lord is the avenger of all such Imprinted Anno M DC â—XX TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE LORDS of his Majestyes Commissioners for new erected offices and innovated fees and to all others that are doers and lovers of justice health and prosperity attend you in all your lawfull designes with all encrease of honour and favour both with God and men RIght honorable when I considered not onely the wisdom which God hath furnished your Noble Persons withall together with the power and authority putt into your haÌ„ds by his Majesty for the seeing and inquiring into all extorted and innovated fees it made me to conceive your honours were the men that God had appoynted to deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressour which did incourage me to seeke release under your honours protection against my cruell oppressours in which I freely confesse I found to Gods glory be it spoken more then ordinary successe by your honors means in that your honours effectually procured my peace for awhile in coÌ„maunding that Commissary my accuser to suspend his suite against me in the high commssion but yet it was but for a while in that my busy and malicious adversary getting something in respect of my conscience as your honours well know insenced against mee some high Commissioners as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London who contrary to your honours order made did forthwith pursue me with such violence as if they thirsted for my bloud and nothing but my life would serve their turn for which cause I was inforced to leave my own native country to seeke shelter in forrain parts where through the Lords goodnes having found a place of breathing I have thought it my duty to speak according to my strenght from a farre and to present to your honours a brief discovery of some of their extortions I have taken knowledge of in their proceedings to give your Honours occasion to dive into this mystery of iniquity where I doubt not but your wisdoms wil soon finde out much more then my shallownes can extend to yet by this little I discern and discover they are no other then merciles oppressours intruders upoÌ„ the subjects rights and priviledges and who is appointed under God and his Majesty to curb them and to restrain their inordinate lawles courses but your honours but they having beeÌ„ much fleshed by prevailing against all sorts haply their insolency will not fear to atteÌ„pt to make an assault against yours honours in case you question them for their injustice and oppression in these or other their proceedings yet I trust they shall not prevaile but having begun to fall they shall fall more and more till their usurped power under which manie mourn be utterly overthrowne To call to your honours remembrance their late injustice in my own particular I have presumed once again to renue my complaints to your honours against them and for farther evidences every day affoards his just complaint against them wherever they keep their courts or excercise authority over his Majestyes subjects in anie part of his dominion If therefore God shall move your honours hearts to goe on with so good a work as to purge not onely them of these evills but free the churches and people of God of these strange offices God shall have much glory by you the Church and people of God much peace and freedom the land purged of manie a crying sin and the Kings throne established in justice and righteousnes which that your honours may be inabled to doe the God of truth and justice be with your honours and double the spirit of courage and wisedom on you I rest at your honours service to bee commanded STEVEN PVCKELL To the truely and wel affected Christian Reader CHristian Reader God by his wise providence ordering all things to his owne glory hath bene pleased after many and sore trialls to bring me the unworthyest of his servants to a place of more rest and safety in respect of my present condition then I either had or possibly could look for in myne owne land I therfore seriously consideringe by how many bonds I stand bound to Almighty God for those many great mercys â—nd strâ—nge delyverances which I have received from his mere goodnes and 〈◊〉 â—vidence as also well considering how nearly my soule is kâ—nt to you my â—â—ning Countrymen I could not but out of pitty to your presâ—nt estate and conscience of myne owne duty to God and you all answer your reasonable requests and earnest expectation in adventuring to put thes few lines to the open view of the world the which thing God who knowes my hart knowes I aime not at any mans person neither have I added any thing but have taken a true coppy of all the fees as they were presented before his Magesties Comissioners in Starchamber confirmed under every of their owne generall hands without adding any thing therto by the which the wise and discrete reader may in some sort from his owne experience who is the best scholemaster playnly see how treÌ„blingly these shoulders and posts by the which the kingdome of Antichrist is yet upheld in our Kingdom of England do tyranise not onely over the soules and conscieÌ„ces but over the bodyes and goods of his Magistyes loving subjects their Cannons and Constitutions Iniunctions and Decrees tending to no purpose but onely to be snares and gins to the soules and bodyes of men thus those who would be thought to be the prophets of England are all like those prophets in Israel Hosea 9. 8. the suare of a fowler is in all their wayes all their projects being how to grow great and maintayn their pomp and state allthough it be with the blood of the poore fatherlesse widdow yea though it be to the overthrow of King and state which I wil indeavour to clear by thes propositions For proofe wherof I will appeall to none other but to thyne owne experience First who seeth not that all their Cannons and Decrees both new and ould tend to no other end but the inthralling of the soules and bodyes of Gods people and the bringing of them under an Antichristian yoke wich appeares first that since the
yeare 1624. they have changed the oath of Curchwardens and sidemen as they call them into that forme that it is now become nothing ells but a rack for the consciences of men and may truly be called an injurjous and blooddy oath 2. What else is the ground why they have taken away all those Cannons that respect them selues that the people cannot see them but that they might more peaceably and freely prey on the bodyes and soules of men at their owne pleasures 3. What is the reason they doe of late use so many shiftes and trickes to maintayne their standings as they do by devising all the inchrochments upon the liberty of the subject the like whereof cannot beparalelled by robbing of the nobility of their honorus tytles offices and dignityes and conferring them on their owne heades or the heades of their favorites yea is it not matter enough if not a friend to the prelacy for any though otherwise deserving never so well to stand like a beakon on the top of a hill not respected 4. who seeth not that all the good and whollesomme lawes of the Common wealth is by them turned upside downe like a leaden wand bowed to every end that suits them selues be it right or wrong thus like horses are they prepared to battell with strong unresistible power to beare downe all before them that doth but mute against their cursed usurpations 5. what ranke or order of men comes not under their tyranny and oppression in their matchles extortions they sleight the rich in the height of their pride they regard not the cryes of the widdow and fatherlesse but like men voyd of compassion or bereft of humanity wring and wrest from all men in all causes abundantly more then is alowed them by their owne Cannons and Ecclesiasticall lawes and especially in the probats of wills and administrations they are as the Proph. Zeph saith 3. 3. Like the evening wolfs that leave not the bones untill the morning my brethre may not the Lord cōplaine against us as against his owne people Ier. 5. 26. that among his people are found wicked men that lay wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap to catch men as a cage is full of birdes so are their howses full of deceyt therfore they are become great wax rich also they Judg not the cause of the fatherlesse but as in the 29. shall not the Lord visit for these thinges shall not his soule be avenged on such a nation as this Therfore brethren and loving countrymen considering these things let me in a word speak to you all under these two ranks other as you are the called of God or as yet uncalled by him And first to you that are called of God let me speak to you in the words of the Lord by the Prophet Ierem. 2. 18. What have you to doe in the way of Aegypt to drink the waters of Sihor or what hast thou to doe in the way of Assyria to drink the waters of the river Or for the fear of man to bee found in the way of Gilgall for all their wickednes is in Gilgall there doth the Lord hate them and for their iniquityes wil in his time arive them out of his house therfore come not at their courts obey not their summons sent out in their own names against the law of the land and honour of the King so that if the Kings Majesty were not very patient towards them and those that submit to their usurpations where were they Trust God with your goods and lives he is able to recompence all wth better ad not fire then to this altar of Baal neither by purse nor presence Walk not after these commaundemens of men lest Ephraim like ye he oppressed and broken in judgment and the Lord become to you as to him a moth or as he was to Iudah rottenes Hosea 5. 11. 12. My brethren be not affraid of man in Gods cause consider what the Apostle saith to Timothy 2. epist 1. 7. God hath not given to us the spirit of fear but of power of love of a sound minde Where observe this fear of man for the prevailing power therof is called the spirit of feare and is opposed to the spirit of God as power and love and a sound minde whence then we may learn That where ever his fear of man is residing in the strength and power of it there no sound power of godlines nor soundnes of judgment nor power of action is to be looked for Besides this fear of man will be a snare to you for the fear of man bringeth a snare but who so trusteth in God shal be sure Prov. 29. 25. Besides there is a lake prepared for the fearfull say not then wth the fainthearted spyes there be giants and walls up to heaven and we shall never overcome for we overcome in sufferring Consider also that God the Gospell and the people of God are more beholding if I may so speak to one constant sufferrer sent of God then to ten thousand fainthearted apostates and backsliders therefore my brethren looke what Gods worthyes have done and doe likewise as Paule to Timo. 2. epist 1. 8. so I speak to you all in his words Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimonie of our lord nor of me his prisonner but be you partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell according to the power of God who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling And to you my countrymen that are yet uncalled what shall I say to sett you a worke about the works of a living mā that have not a principle of life in you were but a vain thing I therefore say no more to you but thus Take courage to your selvs as you are men and know your own priviledges and stand to them consider the laws of a kingdome are the subjects inheritance and no subject can be deprived of them without manifest injustice therfore suffer not your selvs to be gulled in these things looke the Statute for the probate of wills and testaments observe the penaltyes upon all that shall extort upon the same the lawe saying directely in these words That if a Bishop or Archbishop or anie other ecclesiasticall jurisdiction shall extort or take of anie of his Mayestyes subjects either more or greater fees then is allowed them by law they shall forfeit to the party wronged three times that they take to the party greived and over and above they shall forfeit to the King ten pounds the which shal be levyed by way of trespasse or of debt recoverable by lawe in anie of his Majestyes courts of record against which action there shal be no appeale nor act of errour to be graunted but the monies so levyed shal be one half to the King and the other half to the partye wronged Or els thou must maintain thy right by an inditement at the common sessions of the quarter where the offence was committed Thus
and inlargement of an excommunicate in any cause as well instance as office v. s v. s nil Item for the copy of every order of pennance vj. d. vj. d to see it executed xij d Item for transmitting every proces Judicis a quo ad Judicem ad quem to the Register according to the taxation of the Iudg ad quem or according to the composition of xxx betweene the Register and the party appellant nil xiij s nil Item for the seale of the Iudge a quo set to the proces transmitted vj. s viij d nil nil Item for all letters of gardionship under seale vj. s viij d vj. s viij d nil IN CAVSES OF OFFICE  Commissary Register Apparitor INprimis for every originall citation and appearance of every party vj. d vj. d iv d Item for every decree viis modis ix d ix d iv d Item for every excommunication or suspension under seale ix d ix d iv d Item for every absolution from an excommunication or suspension ix d ix d nil Item for letters testimonial to be made upon any cause and for the writing of them if the vj. s viij d vj. s viij d nil cause so require   Item for the examination of every party principal ix d ix d nil Item for the copy of every partyes principall answer nil xij d nil Item for the oath of every party principall nil nil ij d Item for the drawing of proxie for apearance at all visitations and synods nil ij s vj. d nil Item for the exhibition and coÌ„signation of every proxie in writing at the visitations and synods onely nil iv d nil Item for registering the names of the churhwardens and sydemen of every parish nil iv d for warning of them iv Item for every certificat made to the Bshop by the Commissary for the commutation of any penance vj. s viij d vj. s viij d xij Item when any pennance is commuted by the Bishop and the commutation extended to the Commissary x. s x. s nil Item for the writing of any bond taken for the indemnity of the Iudg or his commissary upon any cause nil xij d nil Item for every act passed in court nil iv d nil Item for every facultie grants lisence acceptation for teaching v. s v s nil Item for exhibiting every bill of presentmens at the visitations onely nil iv d nil Item for the purgation of every person to whom purgation is assigned and for his own hand ix d ix d iv Item for every compurgator first sworne and for his hand ix d ix d ij Item for every other compurgator vj. d vj. d ij d Item for every intimation sent out for all those that will object against a purgation of any man and his compurgators xv d xv d iv d Item for a dismission of every man out of the court for any cause what ever vj. d vj. d iv d Item for any search made by the Register for any acte of court or any other insterment after a cause is ended nil xij d nil Item for every sequestration of the fruit of a benefice and publication of the same under seall v. s v. s xij d Item for letters commendatorie for a curat going out of the jurisdiction iij. s iv d iij. s iv d nil Item for every caveat entered nil xij d nil Item for the copy of every order of pennance to see it executed vi d vi d xij d Item for transmitting a processe Judice a quo to register according to the taxation of the Iudg ad quem or a composition made betwixte the register and party appellent nil xiij s nil Item for the seall of the Iudg to the same processe vi s viij d nil nil Item for the drawing of articles against any man convented of office for lawfull proofe made of the truth of theÌ„ xx d xx d nil Item for every acte upon the redeluding and withdrawing of a caution out of the registery nil xj d nil IN CAVSES OF OFFICE  Commissary Register Apparitor ITem for every dispensation for exhibiting of an inventory into court vj. s viij d vj. s viij d nil Item for an administration of the goods of a deceassed not extending to the sum of five pounds nil vj. d iv d Item for the administration of the goods of a deceassed amounting above the value of five pounds and under forty ij s vj. d ij s vj. d x. d Item for the administration of the goods of a deceassed admounting to forty and upwards let it be as many thousands as it will is vj. s viij d vjs viij d xj d Item for the probat of a will the value doth not exceed the sum of five pounds nil vj. d iv d Item for the probat of a will wher the goods exceed five pounds and not above forty pounds ij s vj. d xij d x. d Item for the probat of a will where the goods doe exceed the value of 40 l. and upwards let it be as much as it will ij s vj. d ij s vj. d x. d Item for the ingrossing of every will according to the length therof not exceeding viij s for every larg skin of parchment for every skin nil viij s nil Item for ingrossing every inventory and accounts according to the length therof not exceeding two shillings for every presse of parchment nil ij s nil Item for exhibiting of every inventory and for subscribing the same vj. d vj. d nil Item for the copy of eyery act extracted out of the registery under the registers hand nil xij d nil Item for the copy of every inventory testament libell matter allegations or articles whatsoever extracted out of the register under the registers hand nil according to nil the length therof 〈…〉 â—â—tters of request made to 〈…〉 ordinary to cite one dwelling out of the Iudges Iurisdiction xx d xx d nil Item for every renunciation of an administration of the goods of a deceassed or an executor of a will admitted and inacted vj. d vj. d nil Item for every decree made upon the distribution of goods among the next of kinne and for registering of the same vj. s viij d vj. s viij d nil Item the fee of a proctor every court-day in which he is retained upon any cause what soever xij d  xij d. the proctors fee.  FINIS CHRISTIAN READER TO THE ENâ— thou mayest the better understand the abominable extortions of these men in their Courtly government I will give thee an Abstract of all such fees as in myne owne experience I have knowne observed to be taken by these men in which I will deliver nothing but with a litle observation of thine owne thou shalt see to be most clearely true And herein for thy better direction I will goe over the whole table offees shewing their errour in every particular I know and where I know