him but he could not be found The transgressors shall be destroyed together the end of the wicked shall be cut off And though for a time they are not in trouble neither are they plagued like other men Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chaine violence covereth them as a garment c. Yet if thou observe their endes thou must needes conclude with the same Psalmist Ps 73. 18. 19 20 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places thou castedst them down into destruction How are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with Terrors As a dreame when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their image That of Zophar being really verified in this Arch Prelate Job 20. 5. to 10. The triumphing of the Wicked is short and the joy of an hypocrite but for a moment Though his excellency mount unto the Heavens and his head reach unto the clouds Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung they which have seen him shall say Where is he He shall fly away as a dreame and shall not be found The eye which saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more behold him Secondly hence thou maiest learne the truth of Solomons Observation Prov. 21. 30. There is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsell against the Lord. Certainly all such wisdome counsell as this imployed against God his Ordinances Gospell people though never so accurately managed so politickly contrived so powerfully backed so successefully advanced for a time will in conclusion be brought to nought and made of none effect Ps 33. 10. Acts 5. 38. Isay 19. 11 12 13. c. 8 9. 10. Job 9. 4. Whereas the counsell cause and Church of God maugre all opposition shall stand for ever and cannot be overthrown Ps 33. 11. Acts 5. 39. Isay 46. 10. Thirdly Let all Gods people learne from hence never to fear the force threats or power of the greatest Persecutors breathing since they are but mortall men who shall themselves be troden down and brought to Judgement in Gods due time During my many yeares heavy pressures under this Arch-Prelates Tyranny my spirit was exceedingly elevated even to a magnanimous contempt and holy slighting of all his overswaying power menaces proceedings as most despicable with the consideration of these two Scriptures which were ever fresh in my thoughts Isay 51. 12. 13. I even I am he that comforteth you who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye or of the sonne of man that shall be made as grasse And forgettest the Lord thy maker who stretched forth the Heavens and laid the foundations of the Earth and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressour as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the oppressour And Ps 92. 7 8 9. When the wicked spring as the grasse and all the Workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever But thou O Lord art most high for evermore For loe thine enemies O Lord loe thine enemies shall perish and all the Workers of iniquity shall be scattered Certainly he who beleeves these sacred Texts and meditates seriously on them will never dread the potency tâ—raâ—ny or menaces of any mortall in a good cause or quarrell Fourthly Meditate from hence the vanity instability and danger of greatness without goodnesse the impotency of the greatest humane power honour favour to exempt or secure evil Counsellors or publike Malefactors from the sword of Justice The unhappy fatall ends of Wicked Royall Favourites who by humouring their Princes in unjust oppressive courses usually in the conclusion do but destroy themselves and prejudice their Princes most of any as this Arch-Prelate hath done The certain ruine of all bloody Persecutors of Gods people together with the infinite wisdome and power of Almighty God who can wisely order over-rule the mischievous Plots malicious contrivances of his most desperate Enemies to advance his own Honour Cause Gospell People to effect the quite contrary to what they intended and to bring about his own ends and their downfalls Many such cordiall meditations and sweet contemplations will this History afford thee for thy comfort thy incouragement in thy constant Christian profession in times of greatest danger and hottest persecution The good Lord so sanctifie it and them to thy Soul that this Archbishop who by his Life and Doctrine wrought so much mischiefe and sorrow to our Church for a season but no present good at all may bring much consolation Edification to it and thee by this his Triall and Death Farewell A COMPLEAT HISTORY OF The Commitment Charge Tryall Condemnation and Execution of WJLLJAM LAVD late Arch-Bishop of CANTERBVRT VVIlliam Laud borne in Reading of obscure Parents having through flattery and other sinister meanes by severall gradations insinuated himselfe into high favour at Court and climbed up to divers Ecclesiasticall promotions in our Church till at last he mounted to the very Pinacle of his ambition the Archbishoprick of Canterbury whereby he became Primate and Metropolitan of all England and to a Patriarch-ship or kinde of universal Papacy over all his Majesties Realmes who steerd their Ecclesiasticall affaires by his Compasse adoring him as their only Oraele and having likewise out of his insatiable ambition pragmatically intruded himselfe into all kind of secular Negociations inconsistent with his spirituall function so farre as to sway all State as well as Church-affaires according to the pleasure of his owne exorbitant will hereupon unable to mannage so great an Authority with that moderation as beseemed a Person of his profession he became so intollerably insolent violent extravagant in all his proceedings in Church and Republicke that no Pope nor Prelate whatsoever advanced from the lowest fortune to the hight of honour more really verified that Adagie of Claudian the Poet no not William Longchampe Bishop of Ely to whom Roger Houeden our Historian particularly applyed these lines of his long since Asperius 〈…〉 Câ—â—cta ferit 〈…〉 Vt se pâ—sse 〈…〉 Quam sâ—r vi nobiis in 〈…〉 Agnoscit geâ—itus et 〈…〉 nescit In so much as that Caracter which Gulielmus Nubrigensis gives us of our proud Prelate Longchamp and his tyrannicall oppressive deportment in Church in State by reason of his Ecclesiasticall and temporall united jurisdictions in the Raign of King Richard the first seemes purposely recorded to paint out the Cariage of this Arch-Prelate during all the yeares of his domineering Authority in the Raigne of Charles the first Ille sublato omniâ— obstaculo quo minus ambularet in magnis mirabilibus supra se fratus DVPLCIS id est APOSTOLIC A SIMVL ET 〈◊〉 A POTEST ATE CLERO â— ARâ—TER Eâ— POPVLOâ— ARROGANT◠〈…〉 Et â—â—cut â—â— quodam â—criptune est 〈…〉 pro dextera sic et ille ad faciliorum molicionum suarum efficatiam utraque potestate utebatur
into tyranny or idolatry for first Kings are subject to their Common-wealths at least unto the law of God Deut. 17. 18 19 20. Iosh 1. 8. and secondly it is the office of the inferiour Magistrate as well as the superiour to maintaine and defend the lives and safety of the subjects and therefore although the superiour Magistrate should neglect his duty yet the inferiour must not neglect theirs Thirdly it is not lawfull for any private person either to take up arms for the defence of the inferiour Magistrates before a danger come or for their owne defence in danger or for the avenging of themselves after danger if they can be defended by an ordinary power and this we gather from David 1 Sam. 24 26. Fourthly it is lawfull even for a private person to resist with weapons if a tyrant like a theefe shall offer violence unto him either by himselfe or by another when he can neither obtain the relief and help of publike authority and power nor escape by any other meanes or way for against whom it is lawfull for a man to defend himself by the Magistrate against the same it is lawful to defend himself by himself in a case of necessity as for example If a King in his anger should command one of his followers to kill such a one or should run upon him himselfe with his sword drawne intending to kill him if that man could neither be delivered by the law or government of the Land nor by flight could escape away he might then lawfully with his sword in his hand defend himselfe even against the King himselfe but he must not offend the King nor lay his hand upon the Lords anointed for the very law of nature teacheth men to defend themselves and to maintaine their lives against all the unjust assaults and practises of any whatsoever Fifthly to take away defence of himselfe from a private person against a tyrant is to establish tyranny for the law of God doth principally require the society of humane conversation and therefore those things that are Caesars are to be given to Caesar neither is he to be resisted so long as he doth not oppose himselfe against God commanding some wicked Religion or some wicked and unjust thing for as Christ commands us to give unto Caesar those things so he commands us to give unto God those things that be Gods and God forbids us to give unto Caesar those things which are not Caesars and therefore if Caesar commands that which is repugnant to the command and will of God we must not obey him Acts 4. 19. 5. 29. In Doctor Iones his Comentary on the Hebrewes these sentences are purged out page 387. in the written 493. in the printed copy It is comparitively spoken all the Statutes Edicts and Commandements that proceed from Kings are not to be feared Saul commanded the Serjeants to lay violent hands on the Priests but they moved not a hand to doe it 1 Sam. 22. 17. Nebuchadnezzer made a proclamation that all Nations and kinreds should fall downe and worship his golden Image yet the three children would not doe it they chose rather to be cast into the fiery furnace Darius made a Decree none should pray to any God and yet Daniel he feared not the commandement still he prayed to the God of Israel so Pharaoh gave commandement that the Egyptians children should be throwne into the River yet Moses Parents feared God and chose rather to obey God then man If the Kings commandement be according to Gods commandement then obey it if it be repugnant then it is an excellent demand Acts 4. 19. whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather then God judge ye children saith Paul obey your parents in the Lord so Subjects obey your Kings in the Lord what reason is there we should obey man above God honour Kings as Gods Vice-gerents be thankfull to God for Kings yea though they be wicked ones for a tyranny is better then anarchy pray for Kings reverence Kings but feare not the earthly King before the heavenly their breath is in their nostriâ—l they are alive to day and dead to morrow they have strong hands and long horns to crush us with yet God can dry up their hands as he did Ieroboams he can weaken their hornes that they should not gore us with them I will tell you saith Christ whom you shall feare not him that can kill the body and goe no further but he that can cast soul and body into hell fire let us feare the King of Kings above earthly Kings God be thanked we have a King whose commandements are not contrary to Gods Commandements but if God in his wrath should send us a King as our sinnes have deserved that should command us to goe to Masse to worship Images to kill the Saints of God let us not feare such Commandements either our God will deliver us out of their hands even miraculously above our expectation or else take us to himselfe and give us a crowne of eternall glory And page 396. in the written copy The fiercenesse of Kings is not to be feared when the King of Kings sends us in his businesse c. When the blood is heated the mind incensed this is the rage of the King the King was enraged for anger against Moses as Lamech said I would kill a man in my wrath so where is this Moses bring him that I may flay him and no doubt he beset the Land and sent out pursevants after him unto all places yet Moses feared it not the wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon yet if it be in Gods cause let us not feare it The devill is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rapiens eripiens to deliver us our of his hands Nebuchadnezzar was wroth with the three children because they would not fall downe and worship his golden image they feared it not Kings are mighty but God is more mighty they have long armes that can reach far but God at his pleasure can dry up their arms as he dryed up Ieroboams hand when he stretched it out to strike the Prophet they have sharp hornes but God can blunt their hornes Of Lyons he can make them Lambs as he did Esau and Laban if they will be Lyons still blustering and roaring against his children he can send out his Angels on the sodaine to smite them as he did Herod and can cause the very wormes to devour them Let us honour Kings yea though they be enemies to Gods Church let us reverence their power and authority but in matters appertaining to the King of Kings let us not feare the fiercest of them In the same Author we find these clauses likewise expunged Written cop f. 71. Book f. 396. A King and Queen are but flesh and blood Written copy f. 52. Book f. 91. Art thou a King yet thy breath is in Gods hand and
but so understood the argument concludes nothing viz. against us this onely thence following therefore as he hath decreed from all eternity to save for faith and to damne for unbeliefe so shall the execution of the decree be which is true but concernes not the Question in controversie Thirdly is followes not Christ will say come ye faithfull c. come for faiths sake as for the meritorious or impulsive cause for faith is the onely instrumentall cause and he intimates the impulsive cause when he saith Benedictos patris ye blessed of my Father where is shewne that their salvation did proceed from the free savour of God because God the Father of his free grace hath loved them in Christ Fourthly if the Kingdome of God be an inheritance then it comes or fals unto us because we are the sonnes of God by a free adoption But it is called an inheritance for he saith here Hereditatis jure possidete possesse this Kingdome by right of inheritence Therefore it fals not unto us for our works sake but because we are the adopted children of God in Christ Ibid page 358. on Matth. 25. 39. this sentence is purged out It is questioned between us and the Papists whether election or predestination on to life eternall be from Gods free grace or a foresight of mans good works and faith First it is agreed upon betwixt us and them that there are some elected and predestinated and this is cleere from Mat. 20. 16. 22. 14. 24. 31. Rom. 8. 30. Ephes 1. 4. And Secondly it is agreed betwixt us also that those who are elected and predestinated are elected to an eternall Kingdome as is plaine from Luke 12. 32. And Thirdly it is agreed upon betwixt us that those who are elected unto life eternall shall infallibly and certainly be saved and this is proved from Mat. 24. 22. 24. John 6. 29. 10. 21. Rom. 8. 24. 11. 29. This was assented unto by the best esteemed Divines in the Councell of Trent and thought to be catholike because it was consonant to the opinion both of Thomas Scotus and the most School-writers and also to the doctrine of Saint Paul and Catharinus himselfe could not deny it reade the History of the Councell of Trent lib. 2. page 211. 212. Yea Bellarmine himselfe doth affirme as much plainly De grat lib. arbit lib. 2. cap. 10. which is worth observing because elsewhere he contradicts himselfe teaching that the elect may fall from faith and salvation and utterly and eternally lose both Fourthly the Papists affirme that faith and works foreseen were the impulsive and moving cause of the decree of election unto life everlasting Fifthly we say that the impulsive and moving cause of the decree of election is only the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and good will and free grace of God and this we confirme from these places Luke 12. 32. Iohn 15. 16. Rom. 11. 5. Ephes 1. 6 c. Ibid. page 305. on Matth. 20. 8. Every man received a penny c. The Rhemists upon Rom. 9. 2. alleage these words to prove That Predestination and Election is from a foresight of works they argue thus the Master saith call the labourers and give them their reward therefore God from all eternity hath ordained to give the kingdome of Heaven to those whom he foresaw should bring forth good fruits and works First our Rhemists doe not prove the position controverted between us and them for the Question is not Whether God have ordained to give Heaven to those whom he foresaw should bring forth good works for this we doubt not of because the Scripture plainly declareth it Rom. 2. 6. 10. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. but the Question is this Whether this foresight of good workes were the cause of predestination and election for this we deny and this if they would doe any thing they should prove Secondly this place speaks not of predestination but of the execution of predestination Now it followes not works goe before the execution of predestination therefore before predestination it selfe Now that our Saviour speaks here of the execution of predestination is plaine from the very words for first it is said that some of the Labourers were hired in the morning and some at other houres and then afterwards when it was night the Lord of the Vineyard said to his Steward Call the Workmen Now this can no way be understood of predestination which was long before the first houre of the day Thirdly this place sheweth that good workes are the way to Heaven wherein we must walk but not that the decree of life hath respect to good works for good works goe before the possession of Heaven but not before the decree and ordination Fourthly Saint Ambrose out of this place frameth a strong contrary argument proving thereby that election is altogether of grace without any respect to works see before 2 Answ to Obj. 1. fol. 258. a. the last line c. Ibidem page 302. this is deleted Fourthly the Papists are faulty here who affirme that the decree of salvation came from the foresight of works and so they make them primus Motor Ibidem in the written copy fol. 245. Although we know not the reason why the Lord doth it but more particularly first we must acknowledge the Lord to be just in the election of the godly now the order of election is laid downe Rom. 8. 29 30. Ephes 1. 11. from whence and some other places the order may be expressed thus to wit First God decreed to make Christ the head of his Church Ephes 1. 22. then secondly he ordained and decreed that there should be a Church and here first he decreed to create man secondly to permit him to fall and thirdly to repaire and recover some from their fall and fourthly to endow them with grace and saving faith Secondly we must acknowledge the Lord to be just in the reprobation of the wicked Because the dissention of Divines is great in this point I will speak sparingly thereof and only lay downe the order of it as I conceive it to be and so leave it First God decreed to create man and secondly God foresaw that although man were created pure and immaculate yet if he were left unto himselfe he would fall and thirdly God leaves man unto himselfe and permits him to fall and fourthly determines to offer the meanes of rising againe namely Christ and mercy in him which he foresaw would be flighted and by many not received then fifthly for this contempt he justly reprobates them Ibidem fol. 319. 320. on Matth. 22. 14. It is affirmed by some that there is a universall election against which we urge this plaine place Many are called but few chosen which place sheweth that although the externall meanes of salvation be offered to many yet not all of them but some onely are elected and chosen unto life Huberus hereunto answers that there is first a general
Bellarmine lib. 4. de justif cap. 5. argues thus The Scripture calleth the works of the righteous absolutely good works as in this verse that they seeing your good works But if all the good works of the righteous be mixed with mortall sâ—nne then they are rather to be called evill then good works This he proves from another viz. ex Areopagâ—a quarto de divinis nominibus Quia maluâ— dicatur opus absolte nisi integre fic bonum because except a work be perfectly good it is absolutely called evill First this phrase works are absolutely called good is Amphibola and doubtfull sometimes signifying the works which are good simple and sometimes those which are good in part Secondly works are called good either first indefinitely as they are commanded in and by the law or secondly peculiarly as they are performed by some singular persons as it is one thing to desire vertue in generall and another the vertue of Alcihiades or Socrates as it is one thing to commend learning in generall another the learning of Plato or Cicero so it is one thing to speak of good works in generall another of the good works of Peter John or Paul Thirdly these things premised we grant that works are absolutely called good taken indefinitely and as they are commanded yea this verse proves it which speaks not of works done by any particular person but of those which men ought to doe there is none of sound judgement can deny or doubt but that we are so debters unto the Law that we ought not onely to begin but also to perfect that which the Law prescribes as perfectly good and in all the parts thereof absolute but he were of unsound judgement that hence would conclude because it is our duty to doe it therefore we doe it for Saint Paul confesseth that he doth not onely the good which he ought but which he would doe Thus I say if we consider the works as they are enjoyned it is true that they may be called absolutely good but if we understand particularly the works of this or that man then we deny that ever the Scripture cals them absolutely good neither doth the Cardinall prove this because as was said before this place speaks not of what is done but of what ought to be done Chamier Tâ—n 3. fol. 360. 1. 2. 3. de Imperfect Op. lib. 11. cap. 23. Fourthly our work which we doe are called good in Scripture Non secundum perfectam justitiam sed hanc quae bumanae fragilitati competit Hier. Dialog 1. Contr. Pelag. not according to perfect righteousnesse but as it is agreeable to our humane frailty or they are good in part though not perfectly Becanus yet urgeth this place for the proofe of this opinion of perfection of works disputing thus The Apostles are commanded so to shine before men that they may see their good works and glorifie their Father which is in Heaven But how shall men see their good works if they all be damnable or how shall their heavenly Father be glorified if all they doe be contaminated and defiled with sinne Answ We must distinguish between humane and divine judgement men see mens works as they are outwardly and can goe no further they onely perceive what is obvious to their senses and can neither see the heart nor know whether that which is done be done according to all the circumstances that are required thereunto Now true righteousnesse is proper unto the heart and it is the circumstances that make the work more or lesser good or bad and therefore although men see the good works of the righteous which outwardly they shew forth and glorifie God for them yet it followes not hence therefore those works are in Gods sight perfectly good c. Ibidem fol. 185. this is crossed out The morall law was a bond of salvation unto Adam Rom. 2. 13. and of death Gal. 3. 10. but is now abrogated by Christ in regard of the conditions we being now justified onely by faith Ibidem on Matth. 12. ver 27. written copy page 251. this discourse is obliterated By thy words thou shalt bo justified Quest What is the matter or materiall cause of our justification Answ First some say that the onely act of mans heart in beleeving is the matter of it Secondly some say that partly faith and partly Christs obedience is the matter of our righteousnesse Thirdly some say that the works of the law done by man are the matter of our righteousnesse Now all these three opinions are sufficiently refuted by Master Forb's of Justification cap. 22. page 77. to whom I referre the Reader Fourthly we say that onely Christ in his obedience is the whole matter of our righteousnesse and that nothing in Heaven or in earth in man or without man is the matter of mans righteousnesse before God except onely Christ this being amply handled and proved by Forbes cap. 23. 24. and his book being in English and easie to be had I referre the Reader thereunto c. Ibidem written copy page 68. this is crossed out by the Licenser Thirdly the Lord having converted and regenerated us we are onely able to bring forth good works for non precedunt justificandum sed sequentur justificatum Aug. good works march not before as causes of our justification but follow as fruits or signs of our sanctification c. And page 336. Answ 1. They good works are the way and meanes unto this Kingdome but I doe not give or grant this and that First because that which is but onely a meanes is not at all a sufficient cause and Secondly because if we should grant this then the Papists would have what they desired for they say that good works are necessary to salvation Non modo necessitate presentiae sed necessitate efficienciae Bellarm. de Justific lib. 4. cap. 1. The way which leads to London is indeed a meanes of comming to London but not the efficient cause Neque enim facit sed patitur ut quis veniat Londinum for when a man comes thereunto the way doth nothing but onely suffers and therefore â—he way thereunto is more rightly called causa sine qua non Parens s fol. 848. b. c. In Doctor Jones his Comentary on the Hebrewes page 58. these clauses are purged out By grace you are saved not by works any kind of way let us not part stakes with the Lord and give halfe to our selves and halfe to the Lord as the Papists doe Page 208. Our best works are defiled with sinne saith the copy too often defiled saith the Licenser c. Page 247. Our praying preaching hearing of Sermons and best works are unprofitable to bring us to the Kingdome of Heaven they may be seales of our election but no causes of our salvation Page 253. The old Covenant depended on working doe this and live the new requireth nothing but faith c. Page 339. Here we may behold what reckoning is to be made of the works of the
as he hath sought to make an Ecclesiasticall division or religious difference betweene us and forraine Nations so he hath sought to make a Civill difference betweene us and his Majesties subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland And theis he hath promoted by many innovations there prest by himselfe and his owne authority when they were uncapable of such alterations He advised his Majesty to use violence He hath made private and publique Collections towards the maintenance of the Warre which he might justly call his owne warre And with all impudent boldnesse hath struck Tallies in the Exchequer for divers summes of money procured by himselfe Pro defensione Regni when by his Counsels the King was drawne to undertake not a Defensive but an Offensive Warre 14. He hath lastly thought to secure himselfe and his party by seeking to undermine Parliaments and thereby hath laboured to bereave this Kingdome of the Legislative power which can only be used in Parliaments and that we should be left a Kingdome without that which indeed makes and constitutes a Kingdome and is the only Meanes to preserve and restore it from distempers and decayes He hath hereby endeavoured to bereave us of the highest Judicatory such a Judicatory as is necessary and essentiall to our government Some Cases of Treason and others concerning the Prerogative of the Crowne and liberty of the People It is the supreame Judicatory to which all difficult Cases resort from other Courts He hath fought to deprive the King of the Love and Counsell of his People of that assistance which he might have from them and likewise to deprive the People of that reliefe of grievances which they most humbly expect from his Majestie My Lords The Parliament is the Cabinet wherein the chiefest Jewells both of the Crowne and Kingdome are deposited The great Prerogative of the King and libertie of the People are most effectually exercised and maintained by Parliaments Here my Lords you cannot passe by this occasion of great thankes to God and His Majesty for passing the Bill whereby the frequent course of Parliaments is established which I assure my selfe he will by experience finde to bee a strong foundation both of his honour and of his Crowne This is all my Lords I have to say to the particulars of the Charge The Commons desire your Lordships that they may have the same way of Examination that they had in the case of the Earle of Strafford That is to examine members of all kindes of your Lordships House and their owne and others as they shall see cause And those examinations to be kept secret and private that they may with more advantage be made use of when the matter comes to tryall They have declared that they reserve to themselves the power of making Additionall Articles by which they intend to reduce his Charge to be more particular and certaine in respect of the severall times occasion and other circumstances of the offences therein Charged And that your Lordships would bee pleased to put this cause in such a quicke way of proceeding that these great and dangerous crimes together with the offendors may be brought to a just judgment The Charge of the Scottish Commissioners against the Prelate of Canterburie NOvations in Religion which are Vniversally acknowledged to bee the maine cause of commotions in Kingdomes and states and are knowne to be the true cause of our present troubles were many and great beside the bookes of Ordination and Homilies 1. Some particular alterations in matters of Religion pressed upon us without order and against Law contrary to the forme established in our Kirk 2. A new booke of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiasticall 3. A Liturgie or booke of Common-Prayer which did also carrie with them many dangerous errours in matters of Doctrine Of all which we challenge the Prelate of Canterburie as the prime cause on earth And first that this Prelate was the Author and urger of some particular changes which made great disturbance amongst us we make manifest 1. By fourteene letters subscribed William Cant. in the space of two yeares to one of our pretended Bishops Bannatine wherein he often enjoyneth him and other pretended Bishops to appeare in the Chappell in their Whites contrary to the custome of our Kirke and to his promise made to the pretended Bishop of Edenburgh at the Coronation that none of them after that time should be pressed to weare these garments there by moving him against his will to put them on for that time wherein he directeth him to give order for saying the English Service in the Chappell twice a day for his neglect shewing him that he was disappointed of the Bishopricke of Edenburgh promising him upon the greater care of these novations advancement to a better Bishopricke taxing him for his boldnesse in preaching the sound Doctrine of the reformed Kirkes against Master Mitchell who had taught the errours of Arminius in the point of the extent of the merit of Christ bidding him send up a list of the names of Councellours and Senatours of the Colledge of Justice who did not communicate in the Chappell in a forme which was not received in our Kirke commending him when he found him obsequious to these his commands telling him that he had moved the King the second time for the punishment of such as had not received in the Chappell and wherein he upbraideth him bitterly that in his first Synod at Aberdein he had only disputed against our Custome of Scotland of fasting sometimes on the Lords Day and presumptuously censuring our Kirke that in this wee were opposite to Christianitie it selfe and that amongst us there were no Canons at all More of this stuffe may be seene in the Letters themselves Secondly by two papers of memoirs and instructions from the pretended Bishop of Saint Androis to the pretended Bishop of Rosse comming to this Prelate for ordering the affaires of the Kirke and Kingdome of Scotland as not only to obtaine Warrants to order the Exchequer the Privie Counsell the great Commission of Surrenders the mater of Balmerino's processe as might please our Prelates but warrants also for sitting of the High Commission Court once a weeke in Edenburgh and to gaine from the Noblemen for the benefit of Prelates and their adherents the Abbacies of Kelso Arbroith St. Androis and Lindors and in the smallest matters to receive his Commands as for taking downe Galleries and stone-walls in the Kirks of Edenburgh and Saint Androis for no other end but to make way for Altars and adoration towards the East which besides other evills made no small noyse and disturbance amongst the people deprived hereby of their ordinary accommodation for publike worship The second Novation which troubled our peace was a booke of Canons and constitutions Ecclesiasticall obtruded upon our Kirke found by our Generall Assembly to be devised for establishing a tyrannicall power in the persons of our Prelates over the Worship of God over the Consciences Liberties and
had separated from Rome ever since the time of Reformatior An evill therefore which hath issued not so much from the personall disposition of the Prelates themselves as from the innate quality and nature of their Office and Prelaticall Hierarchie which did bring forth the Pope in Ancient times and never ceaseth till it bringeth forth popish Doctrine and worship where it is once rooted and the Principles thereof somented and constantly followed And from that antipathy and inconsistency of the two formes of Ecclesiasticall Government which they conceived and not without cause that one Island united also under one head and Monarch was not able to beare the one being the same in all the parts and powers which it was in times of Popery and now is in the Roman Church The other being the forme of Government received maintained and practised by all the Reformed Kirks wherein by their owne testimonies and confessions the Kirks of Scotland had amongst them no small eminencie This also we represent to Your Lordships most serious consideration that not only the fire-brands may be removed but that the fire may be provided against that there be no more combustion after this This charge of the Scots against the Arch-Bishop was usherd in with this Introduction in the Scotish Treatie which clearely manifests him to be excepted by name out of the Act of Pacification and Oblivion by the fourth clause thereof An Introduction to the accusation against Canterbury and the Leiutenant of IRELAND SEeing His Majestie hath beene Gratiously pleased concerning out fourth demand to declare that all his subjects shall be lyable to the tryall and sentence of the Parhament respective And seeing the Incendiaries are of two sorts either of the English or Scottish Nation to bee tryed here or there of the Scottish wee shall speake afterward And for the present we shall deliver to your Lordships the grounds of our complaint against the Prelate of Canterbury and the Leiutenant of Ireland whom the Kingdome of Scotland have conceived and expressed to have beene prime Incendiaries that they may be fully presented to your Lordshipps to the Kings Majesty and to the Parliament without prejudice alwayes unto us to adde hereafter what we shall find necessarie And although we do not presently verefie every point therein yet our present proofs of some principall points our probable presumptions of the rest which are annexed therewith are sufficient ground cum constat de incendio to one Nation to desire another to put them per viam transitionis to a tryall and to examine all the Councellors and others here who may be conceived to have beene eye or eare witnesses of any of the Councells speeches or Actions lyable to the Charge and for saving unnecessarie charges and travell to the subjects to direct Commissions and all other Warrants requisite to such as his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit for examining all such persons as may be apprehended to have knowledge of any of these Councells Speeches or Actions which are alleadged to have beene in Ireland and that upon such Interrogatories as we shall give unto the Parliament shall be pleased to adde for triall All which we earnestly crave of his Majesty and the Parliament as we desire that his Majesty may be pleased to send Warrant to the Committee of at Esr like or to the Sheriffes of Shires for examining witnesse anent the oath pressed upon any of our Country men and other wrongs contained in the complaint if they be not sufficiently proved here 14. December 1640. After these Originall Articles exhibited against the Archbishop both by the Scottish Commissioners and House of Commons to the House of Peeres the Archbishop delaying to plead unto them and the Parliament being taken up with many emergent weighty affaires for their owne and the Kingdomes necessary preservation by reason of the unnaturall bloody Rebellion in Ireland and Warres in England so reploted and raised by the popish party the proceedings against him were respited neare two yeares space And then the Commons intending to bring him to a speedy triall exhibited these ensuing Additionall Articles against him not much different from the Originall except in some particulars Further Articles of Impeachment by the Commons assembled in Parliament against William Laud Archbishop of CANTERBVRY of high Treason and divers high Crimes and Misdemeanours as followeth 1. THat the said Archbishop of Canterbury to introduce an Arbitrary Government within this Realme and to destroy Parliaments in the third and fourth yeares of his Majesties reigne that now is a Parliament being then called and sitting at Westminster traiterously and maliciously caused the said Parliament to be dissolved to the great grievance of his Majesties subjects and prejudice of this Commonwealth And soone after the dissolution thereof gave divers Propositions under his hand to George then Duke of Buckingham casting therein many false aspersions upon the said Parliament calling it a factious Parliament and falsly affirming that it had cast many scandalls upon his Majesty and had used him like a child in his minority stiling them Puritans and commending the Papists for harmlesse and peaceable subjects 2. That within the space of ten yeares last past the said Archbishop hath treacherously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of this Realme and to that end hath in like manner endeavoured to advance the power of the Councell Table the Canons of the Church and the Kings Prerogative above the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme And for manifestation thereof about six yeares last past being then a Privy Councellor to his Majesty and sitting at the Councell Table he said that as long as he sate there they should know that an Order of that Board should be of equall force with a law or Act of Parliament And at another time used these words That he hoped ere long that the Canons of the Church and the Kings Prerogative should be of as great power as an Act of Parliament And at another time said that those that would not yeeld to the Kings power hee would crush them to peeces 3. That the said Archbishop to advance the Canons of the Church and power Ecclesiasticall above the law of the Land and to pervert and hinder the course of Iustice hath at divers times within the said time by his letters and other undue meanes and solicitations used to Iudges opposed and stopped the granting of his Majesties Writs of Prohibition where the same ought to have beene granted for stay ef proceedings in the Ecclesiasticall Court whereby justice hath beene delayed and hindered and the Iudges diverted from doing their duties 4. That for the end and purpose aforesaid about seaven yeares last past a Iudgment being given in his Majesties Court of Kings Bench against one Burley a Person being a man of bad life and conversation in an Information upon the Statute of 21. Hen. 8. for wilfull Non-residency the said Archbishop by solicitations and other undue meanes used to the Iudges
answer all his Charge together not each dayes Evidence by Peece-meale To which Master Maynard in the behalfe of the Commons answered 1. That if the Archbishops memory were so bad as he pretended it would be far worse for him to charge it with answering many particulars and the whole evidence against him together then to answer every particular Charge each day as it should be given in against him whiles it was fresh in memory 2ly That it might and would be a great inconvenience to have witnesses crosse-examined upon other dayes then those whereon they gave in their testimony against the Prisoner 3ly That the Lords themselves would finde it difficult to passe their judgements upon all the Charge together without hearing his punctuall answer to every particular proof as it should be given in evidence whiles it was fresh in their memories 4ly Because else all the witnesses which were very many must of necessity attend and be kept in Town from the first to the last day of his Tryall which would be a very great Charge and inconvenience 5ly In the Earle of Straffords case this very Parliament he was put to answer every day to the particular Evidence given against him on the same day Upon which reasons the House of Peers ordered that the Archbishop should make his particular Answer to every particular Charge on the same day it was given in against him Then the Archbishop desired that the House of Commons would sever the Articles which were Treason from those other Articles which were matters of crime and Misdemeanour only but not Treason that so he might know which of them were Treason and which not To which Master Maynard answered That this they might not doe because they were now onely to try the matters of fact not Lavv and because all the Articles taken together not each or any particular Article by it self made up the Treason wherewith he was charged to wit his endeavours to subvert and destroy Religion the fundamentall Lawes of the Land and government of the Realme and to bring in Popery and an arbitrary tyrannicall Government against Law After which Master Serjeant Wilde by way of Introduction to the Archbishops charge with abundance of elegancy and zeale related the Heads of his Offences to the House of Peeres in these ensuing straines My LORDS THis great cause of the Archbishop of Canterbury after a long and painefull traâ—aise is now come to the Birth of which it may be truly said as it was in a like case Râ—pertum est hodierno die facinus quod nec Poeta fingere nec Histrio sonare nec Mimus imitare potuerit For if all the oppressions all the pernitious practises and machinations which have beene in each time to ruinate our Religion Lawes and Liberties were lost I thinke here they might bee found and drawne out againe to the life So that your Lordships who have beene the great Assertors of our Liberties and stood so fast to the rules and principles of your Noble Progenitors which others have ignobly deserted may after a long conflict with so many great and marchiesse difficulties say now as a great Commander once did upon an extraordinary danger Tandem par animo meo periculum video Here is a cause proportionable to your selves apt and proper for the justice and power of this honourable Court Had they beene faults of common frailty error or incogitancy which this man hath committed wee should gladly have stepped backe and cast a Cloake over them but being so wilfull so universall so distructive to the Lawes of God and man so comprehensive of all the evills and miseries which now we suffer the sin would lye upon our owne heads if wee should not call for justice which that it hath beene so long uncalled for not deferred or delayed I suppose no man will thinke strange who considers the present distractions the death and dispersion of our witnesses the losse of some of our Members who have beene imployed and taken paines in this businesse the multitude of diversions which we have had and have daily occasioned by the Acts and influences of this Meteor But the truth survives and matter enough survives so copious and so full of variety that if all the particulars should be examined for his three yeares imprisonment which he complaines off there would be three yeares time of tryall and hearing of the heavy charge that lyes against him A charge of High Treason Treason in all and every part Treason in the highest pitch and altitude for what greater Treason can there be then to betray the whole Realme and to subvert the very foundations leaving nothing for posterity but a curse upon him that shall goe about to build again That which of it selfe is so haynous is much more enhanced and aggravated by the quality of the person A Church-man a great Prelate a man in great trust place and Authority in Church and Common-wealth A man indued with so great guifts of nature and so many of grace and favour from His Majesty and for al these to be perverted to a contrary end even to the destruction of the publike and the ruine of the Wombe that bare him how deepe a dye doe these impose upon this foule crime How Church-men in all ages as hath beene often observed should come to be the Archest Seedsmen of mischiefe and principall Actors in all the great distractions and alterations that have hapned is a destinie that may seeme strange But the reason is ex bono Thealogo malus Medicus their intermedling with temporall things and matters hererogeneall to their calling wherein God is pleased to finite them with blindnesse and to infatuate their Councell whereof a perfect patterne wee have in this great Prelate who by abusing his profession and making the businesse of State the customary subject of all his endeavours became the Author of all the illegall and Tyrannicall proceedings in the Starre-Chamber High Commission Court and other Courts of all the Innovations in Doctrine and Discipline of the suppressing of godly Ministers and preaching of the advancing of others who were the promoters of Popery and Arbitrary power and indeed of all the concussions and distractions in Church and State whereby Religion hath beene jusâ—ed out Lawes and Parliaments trodden downe with contempt For matter of Religion surely those times were happy when by the magnanimity of Princes and the wisdome and piety of our Predecessors that Antichristian Yoke of Popery was shaken off And now after so many bloudy Massacres in France such fiery persecutions here in Queene Maries dayes so many treacherous conspiracies in time of Queen Elizabeth that execrable and horrid Powder-Plot in the late time of King James such streames and Rivers of bloud in Germany and Ireland and other parts of the Christian world ever since by those restlesse and cruell fire-brands of all mischiefe for any man now to goe about to rebuild these walls of Iericho and to reduce us to those rotten
cap. 1. and in Master Fox his Acts and Monuments pag 635. 621. Whereupon those Annotations and Preambles were cut and blotted out accordingly in sundry old Bibles yet extant Yea the first Booke in the Roman Indices Librorum prohibitorum in Forraigne parts is the Bible of some Translations especially Bibles in the Vulgar Tongue with Notes and Prologues the Bibles of Rob. Stephanus Vatablas â—agnine others though Papists with the Arguments of Raynerius upon the Psalms expresly ordered to be expunged as you may read in the Index Librorum Expurgatorum set forth by Gaspar Quiroga Archbish of Toledo Generall Inquisitor of Spaine Salmuri 1601. p. 7. to 18. 151. to 152. in Bochellus Decreta Ecclesia Gal. l. 1. Tit. 10. Delibris vetitis c. 1. 11. Dr. Iames his Index Generalis Librorum prohibitorum with others So one of the first Bookes most strictly prohibited to be printed imported or sold by this Archb was the English Geneva Bible with Marginal Notes and Prefaces though printed here in Engl. not only without the least restraint but Cum Privilegio Regia Majestatis during all Q. Elizabeths and K. James their Reigns by the Queens and Kings Printers and since our Printers have neglected to reprint them for feare of hundering the sale of Bibles of the last Translation without Notes they have been sold without any contradiction till this Archbishop began to domineere yet no sooner was hee advanced to his Papall See but the printing importing and sale of all these Bibles with Notes was most strictly inhibited the Bibles searched for seized confiscated the importers and Sellers of them imprisoned vexed and some of them ruined in the High-Commission Court Michaell Sparke Senior deposed that himselfe and sundry other Stationers had divers of their English Bibles with Notes seized and taken from them by the Archbishops meanes which were commonly sold before his time without restraint but contradicted and suppressed by him and that himselfe with diverse others had been prosecuted in the High-Commission for selling of Bibles with Notes and some imprisoned and fined for this cause Mr. Prynne produced an Abstract of a Letter dated Septem 30. 1633. from Sir William Boswell His Majesties Agent in the Low-Countries endorsed with Mr. Dells hand and found in the Archbishops Study wherin among other accounts of his good services for the Archbishop he certified His Grace that there had beene two Impressions of English Bibles at Delfe and Amsterdam with the Geneva Notes c. Whereof he might be pleased to make such use as seemeth best for suppressing the abuse at home whether they are likewise transported under pretence of White-paper And April 14. 1638. he received another Information out of Holland from I. S. endorsed with Master Dells hand concerning the Printing of English Bibles there in Quarto and Folio with Notes in the Margent intended to bee transported thence into England A cleare Evidence that his Grace was the Originall cause of suppressing these Bibles not only at home but in fortaigne parts and all for feare the Notes in them should over-much instruct the people in the knowledge of the Scriptures which Notes though highly esteemed of in all reformed Churches and printed not onely with their Latine Bibles but with the English French Dutch German and Italian Bibles in vulgar use among them and in the Folio Bible printed in Scot. 1610 yet now they must be totally prohibited suppressed only in England by this Popish Prelate though here formerly printed Cum Privilegio and freely vended read approved used in our Church for above 60. years space together How much Impiety and Popery lies coucked in this notorious fact of his not to be paralleld by any Protestant Prelates but Popes and Popish Prelates only whom hee imitated herein wee must humbly submit to Your Lordships and all Protestants considerations In the Yeare 1631. William Beale Servant to Master Henry Gellibrand Professor of the Mathematickes at Gresham Colledge London set forth an Almanacke for that Yeare by His Masters Approbation printed for the Company of Stationers agreeing with the Kalendar before Master Fox his Acts and Monuments printed oft times by publike Authority without the least exceptions both in Queene Elizabeths King James and King Charles Reignes in which Almanacke the names of the Popish Saints Canonized by Popes and thrust into our Kalendars were omitted and the names of reall Saints and Martyrs mentioned in the Booke of Martyrs inserted just as they are in Master Foxes his Kalendar This Prelate being then Bishop of London taking great exceptions against this Almanack brought both Mr. Gellibrand and his man into the High Commission for compiling and publishing it where hee prosecuted them with great violence At the hearing of the cause it appearing to the Court that it was Verbatim the same with Mr. Foxe his authorized Kalender and that some Almanackes of this kind had formerly bin printed as tending only to the honour of our owne reall Martyrs and the disparagment onely of false Popish Saints Master Gellibrand was acquitted by Archbishop Abbot and the Generall Vote of the High-Commission Court none censuring him but this Bishop who perceiving Master Gellibrand to be acquitted He thereupon stood up in a great passion and publikely informed the Court That the Queene her selfe sent for him and specially complained to him against this Almanacke which gave great offence to those of her Religion and desired him to prosecute the Author of it and suppresse the Book and therefore he hoped he should not passe unpunished in this Court yet notwithstanding the Court acquitted him Hereupon the Bishop stood up again in a fury and said to Mr. Gellibrand Sir Remember you have made a Faction in this Court for which you ought to be punished and know that you are not yet discharged hence I will sit in your Skirts for I heare you keepe Conventicles at Gâ—esham-Colledge after your Lectures there Whereupon he gave Order for a second prosecution against him in the High-Commission which so afflicted this good man that it put him into a Feaver fit whereof he died And because the Bishop could not procure Master Gellibrand to be censured and this Almanacke burned as he desired the Papists thereupon bought up most of them and made them Martyrs by burning them in the fire All which was deposed at the Lords Bar by Mr. Gellibrand of Bread-street London and ready to be attested by sundry others had not the Bishop himselfe acknowledged the truth thereof In this Evidence there are foure things very remarkable FIrst That this Bishop was so shamelesse as to professe in open Court that in this Prosecution of Master Gellibrand hee was but the Queenes and Papists Agent proceeding thus against him at their speciall request Secondly That he was extraordinary violent if not extreamely irregular and unjust in this prosecution making no Conscience to ruine a Learned Pious Protestant without any just Cause to pleasure the Papists notwithstanding hee was generally
the Church of England was ready to ring the Changes and insinuating unto his Auditory that there was cause to fear an Alteration of Religion saying that Religion and the Gospel stood on tiptoes ready to be gone that divers good Ministers were silenced and that they should beware of a relapse unto Popery In this censure the Archbishop had the chiefest hand as was proved by the High Commission Bookes and Mr Wardes Submission which was drawn up by Sir Iohn Lambe and sent to this Archbishop who endorsed it with his owne hand This severe sentence utterly ruined this famous painfull preacher who lay long in prison and soone after ended his dayes in great grief and sorrow In April 1630. Articles were exhibited against Mr Charles Chancy a Reverend learned painfull Minister living at Ware for preaching against the Bacchanales and disorders used by many in the Christmas holy-dayes the increase of Popery Arminianisme and using these expressions in a Sermon of his charged against him in his Articles in Ianuary before That Idolatry was admitted into the Church and that not only the prophets of Baal but Baal himselfe is received and houses multiplyed for the entertainment of them and with all saying that the preaching of the Gospel would be suppressed That there wanted men of courage to tell the Superiours in the Church of their neglect for that there was increase of much Atheisme Popery Arminianisme and Heresie in our Church since the reformation of it as at this time wherein Heresies were not onely broached but maintained whereby he raised a fear among the people and insinuated to them that some alteration of Religion would ensue and be brought in and scandalized the whole Church of England and Government thereof To these Articles Mr Chancy gave in his answer upon Oath in the High Commission the 21 of the same April and the very next day by Order of that Court the whole cause was referred to this Bishop then of London being his ordinary provided that if Mr Chancy did not submit himselfe to performe his Lordships order therein that then his Lordship if it seemed good unto him might transferre the cause backe again to be censured in this Court Whereupon Mr Chancy made a Submission to his Lordship in Latin and soon after was enforced to desert the Kingdome and set sayle for New England to avoyd further persecution All which is manifest by the Originall Articles and Mr Chancyes answer to them found among Sir John Lambes sequestred Writings by Mr Prynne and by the Order of Reference and M. Chancyes Submission endorsed with the Bishops own hand the chiefe Prosecutor of this cause To these we could add M. Cotton M. Hooker M. Davenport M. Wells M. Peters M. Glover and sundry other Ministers driven into New England and other Plantations those that fled over into Holland to avoyd his prosecution with some hundreds of Ministers questioned in the High Commission and else-where by his meanes and there suspended silenced for not publishing the Booke of Sports or not submitting to his Popish Innovations M. Salisbury was questioned and troubled by this Prelate for these passages in his Sermon on Math. 24. 6. How many thousands have made shipwrack of faith a good conscience renounced our true Church stepp'd aside to Arminianisme and from thence as it is the widest gate that opens towards Rome relapsed to Popery Thus are wee scattered in our Jacob and divided in our Israel The Low Countryes not long since if not still sighed as deeply and mourned as strongly to finde herselfe as imperceivably to be overgrowne with Arminianisme And what a faction is like to be in our deplorable England between Popery and Arminianisme together except God be more mercifull and our State the more vigilant and mindfull We shall see sooner then tell and feel sooner then see Doctor Staughton D. Sibbes D. Taylor D. Gouge M. White of Dorchester M. Rogers of Dodham with sundry more of our most eminent preaching orthodox Divines were brought into the High Commission and troubled or silenced for a time by his procurement upon frivilous pretences But in truth because they were principle Props of our Protestant Religion against his Popish and Arminian Innovations But omitting these we shall conclude this head with one memorable instance more which comes very home Mr Nathaniel Bernard Lecturer at Sepulchers in London preaching at Antholins Church in May 3. 1629. used this expression in his prayer before his Sermon Oh Lord open the eyes of the Queenes Majestie that shee may see Iesus Christ whom shee hath peirced with her Infidelity Superstition and Idolatry This Archbishop then of London was presently informed of this passage attested by Walter Kirby an Atturney of Bernards Inne Iohn Browne of Durham Minister and some others Whereupon the Bishop brought him into the High Commission where after long attendance upon his Submission this ensuing Order was framed Die Jovis viz. xxviii die mensis Januarii Anno Domini juxta c 1629. Coram Commissionariis Regiis apud Lambeth Judicialiter sedentibus presente Thoma Mottershed Registrarij Regij Deputat Officum Dominorum contra Nathanielem Bernard Clericum Prima Sessio Termini Hillarij HIS appearance by bond was respited untill this day at which day and place the said Nathaniel Bernard appeared personally and then it being objected unto him by the Court that he had in a Sermon lately by him preached or otherwise delivered some Scandalous and undutiful speeches derogatory to some particular person of most eminent place which the Court desired not to have there repeated and for that the said Mr Bernard had acknowledged his error in that kinde as some of the Commissioners there unto whom he had submitted himself reported and himselfe confessed the Court was inclined upon his submission being a young scholler and a student in Divinity to accept his submission and enclined to deal mercifully and favourably with him yet considering that his scandalous and undutifull speeches were of such high nature as could not be well remitted or pardoned by this Court without the approbation and the good liking of his most Excellent Majestie the Court desired the Lord Bishop of London to acquaint his Majestie therewith and if his Majestie upon understanding of the Cause would be graciously pleased to pardon him and leave it to the Court that then this Court would take such further order for his dismission as they should think meet Mottershed The Copy of this Order with another Paper conteining the words were both endorsed with the Bishops own hand and found among his Papers by Mr Prynne who produced them Mr Bernard not long after upon his submission was dismissed the Court After which repairing to the University of Cambridge to visit his friends he fortuned to preach at Saint Maries Church there on the 6. of May 1632. in the afternoon wherein he let fall divers Passages concerning preaching the purity of Gods Ordinances worship and against the Introducers of
yet be expresly prohibited to pray for the Queens conversion in particular to whom we have so neere relation the want of whose conversion hath brought so many mischiefs wars on our Church and Kingdomes Certainly this was an Act of the greatest impiety that ever was committed by any christian Prelat if he really beleeved the Queen to live in a false Religion and may justly brand him for an Atheist being diametrally contrary to Gods precept 1 Tim. 3. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made FOR ALL MEN for Kings and ALL THAT ARE IN AVTHORITY that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Therefore he must needs beleeve her popish Religion to be the true ours the false else he would have encouraged rather then prohibited Ministers to pray for her conversion unto us and our Religion whom it seems by this inhibition he would have converted to her and hers Thirdly this inhibition manifests at the least that the Archbishop was a very cordiall friend servant not onely to her Majesties person but her popish Religion too that he desired her un-interrupted continuance in it without the least opposition not onely by way of dispute but prayers too Fourthly this publike prohibition in his own Metropoliticall visitation was of it self a great encouragement to a strong confirmation of her Majesty and all the popish party in their false Religion giving them great advantages to seduce others to it as the true because this Injunction intimated it to be the true Religion wherein they might safely persevere But did this Prelate stop here only openly to inhibit men thus to pray for her Majesties conversion No verily for both before and after this he imprisoned questioned and censured some in the High Commission for such prayers Master Bernard as we proved formerly was questioned censured in the High Commission as a grand offender for such a Prayer Master Hugh Peter was apprehended by a Pursevant imprisoned for a time in the New-prison silenced here from his Ministry and forced into Holland by the Arch-bishop onely for praying at Sepulchers Church for the Queen in these words That as shee came into a Goshen of safety so the light of Goshen might shine into her soule that shee might not perish in the day of Christ as himselfe and sundry others will depose But we shall insist onely on two other instances in the High Commission The first is one Master William Jones a Gloucestershire Minister who as Master Prynne attested upon oath was brought into the High Commission Anno 1636. and there prosecuted by the Arch-bishops meanes for not reading the Booke of Sports and for praying thus for the Queen in his Pulpit to God To shew unto the Queene the light of Goshen and to bring her to his true worship What worship said the Arch-bishop to him as if her popish worship were Gods true worship Nor did he onely persecute and trouble Ministers thus for praying for the Queens illumination and conversion to Gods true worship but likewise for praying to God to keep the Prince from the infection of popery witnesse the case of one Master John How Minister of Loughborough in the County of Leicester who on the sixth day of November 1634. as was proved by the Register book of the High Commission Court there produced and read was censured in that Court where the Archbishop was chiefe Judge and Dominus fac totum attached committed during his Majesties pleasure suspended from the execution of his Ministry and every part thereof fined five hundred pounds to the Kings use ordered to make a submission to the Court and condemned in expences and costs of suit onely for praying but once in the Pulpit That the young Prince might not be brought up in Popery whereof there was great cause to feare for that as was alleaged these words did much derogate from his Majesties known approved Religious care in maintaining propagating the true Religion here established professed within this Realme and caused a causelesse jealousie of the education of the young Prince his Sonne in the popish Religion When as he onely intended it of the danger of his education in respect of the Queen his Mother and those many seducing Priests Papists then about her who by many policies devices endeavoured as much in them lay to draw him to and educate him in the popish Religion it being provided by the sixteenth Article of the Kings marriage with France That the children which shall by reason of the said marriage be borne and live shall be nurst and brought up NEER THE SAID LADY AND QUEEN from the time of their birth untill they come to the age OF FOURTEEN YEERS In respect whereof there was great cause to feare the Princes infection by and seducement unto Popery without Gods extraordinary mercy and therefore great need of our frequent prayers to prevent it His rigorous proceedings therefore against these Ministers on the one hand for praying for the Queens illumination with and conversion to our Religion and his severe censuring them on the other hand for praying That the young Prince might not be brought up in Popery compared with his intimacy favour with the Queen his redinesse to serve her Majesty upon all speciall services and commands are a most pregnant evidence not onely of his conusance of but powerfull concurring assistance in promoting this grand dangerous designe of introducing Popery and reconciling us to the Church of Rome And that which may further satisfie your Lordships and the world herein is his extraordinary dignifying of Queen Maries his depressing King Edward the sixth his Reigne in his very Preface to the new Statutes compiled by him for the Vniversity of Oxford the Originall whereof was produced and this clause read out of it Edwardo sexto ad clavem sedente novo sundatum est molimine c. Prascribente Rege lenocinante NOVITATE primo visum opus admitti c. Paulo post potiente rerum Maria sub Cardinalis Poli auspicijs idem recruduit labor Novae exindè data leges sed pari cum prioribus angustiâ Interim tamen inter incerta vacillans Statuta viguit Academia colebantur studia enituit Disciplina OPTANDA TEMPORUM FAELICITATE Tabularum defectum resarcivit innatus Candor quicquid legibus deerat Moribus suppletum est Decurrente temporum serie vitijs legibus pariter laboratum est In which passage he brands King Edwards dayes of Reformation with Flattering Novelty applauds Queen Maries under the government of Cardinall Pool as those wherein the University of Oxford did most eminently flourish in learning Discicipline manners and magnifies the desirable felicity of those times under another Qu. Mary of the same Religion depressing Queen Elizabeths reign and her successors as more abounding with vice and more defective of good laws and government in our Oxford University at least then Queene Maries This
Protestantium Doctores Sacerdotes sacrificia agnoscere In the 25. Article concerning Homilies pag. 321. he thus shakes off our Homilies in our Bishops owne tearmes Nec tenentur Protestantes ob haec verba in Articulo statim in singula verba vel sententias Homiliarum jurare c. Prudenter igitur quae sanam Doctrinam sapiunt populo legenda alia neglectui habenda Pape 332. in the 37. Article concerning the power of the civill Magistrates against the Popes Jurisdiction he writes thus D. Montacutius contr Heighum alij eorum doctissimi quibuscum de hoc egi nullam utique Jurisdictionem spiritualem Regibus nosiris concedunt sed gubernium civile temporale indirectè per accidens ob pacem Reipubl in personas causas Ecclesiasticas extensum Gavisus sum etiam valdà de illo quod etiam his diebus factum est Cantabrigiae in Comitijs pro actu Doctoroli ubi SUMMO PONTIFICI UT MAXIMO PATRI sic enim eum appellabant designata est cura spiritualium Regi temporalium licet sub fine subjiciebatur Regum esse omnes regere quod intelligi debet civiliter non spiritualiter modò â nobis explicato After which pag. 334 335 336. he handles these three Questions First Whether any have power to withdraw themselves from subjection and obedience to the Sea and Church of Rome upon any occasion Secondly Whether we of this Realme had sufficient causes to doe it Thirdly Whether we did well in it and did not exceed measure therein And he resolves the two latter thus Vtraque quaestio siâ—e dubio gravissima est maximum meretur discussionem Quod si causa sufficiens non fuerit vel terminus justae substractionis excesserint quanta pericula in tà m diuturno scismate Hinc utique omnia quantacunque mala sunt originaliter ebullierunt Catholici veriori tutiori parti adhaerere volentes cum insufficientiasm causae quam moderaminis excessum agnoverunt ponderant utique gravissimum illud Augustini praecidendae unitatis nulla est justa necessitas Lib. 2. cont Epist Parm. Utinam DENVO AUTHORITATE PUBLICA pro dignitane PURITANIS NON INTERMIXTIS EX AFFECTU READUNITIONIS PERPENDERETUR ad hoc singuli evoluant Augustinum contra Donatum Scio illos hoc abhorrere de quibus dicit Cassander licet haud satis affectus Romanae Ecclesiae Plerique ex eis qui sibi ab Evangelio nomen sumpserunt cum partem qua vetus Catholicorum Ecclesiae Romanae nomen retinet prorsus aspernantur omnem que ejus communionem defugiunt nec ut membra ejusdem corporis amore misericordia prosequuntur quod nos a Puritanis hic experimur sed ut Satanae Antichristi corpus abominatur Scio id equidem doles qui ejusmodi sunt quomodo â schismatis rectius dixisset Haereseos nota eximi possunt non video From all these remarkable passages of this book it is most evident that it was purposely penned published dedicated and presented to the King to reconcile him and reunite our Church and Articles to the Church of Rome that this union and accommodation was already accomplished by Bishop Andrewes Bishop Muntague and others of our most eminent moderate Divines in many points of greatest moment and would soon be effected in the residue by a publike Assembly or Synod of our Prelates and divines if no Puritans were intermixed among them But you will object What is all this or this Book to the Archbishop Did he know any thing of this Plot Book or had any hand therein Yes verily First he know of this book before it was published Doctor Lindsey his great favourite whom he advanced to a Deanary and two Bishopricks as we have formerly proved acquainting him therewith and bringing the Author of it to his Grace who had recourse to him severall times after This we shall prove by a paper writen with his own hand by way of extenuation of this charge even since his commitment to the Tower and there seiâ—ed on by Master Pryme which was read as followeth MY Intelligence with the Pope by S. Clara. I never saw that Franciscan Fryar in my life to the utmost of my memory above four times or five at most He was first brought to me by Doctor Linsey it was when he was setting out his booke about the Articles of the Church of England and I then told Doctor Linsey I did feare he would never expound them so as the Church of England might have cause to thanke him for it He never came to me after till he was almost ready to print another booke to prove that Episcopacy was authorized in the Church by divine right and these was after this vnhappy stirres began His desire was to have this book printed here but at his severall addresses to me for this I still gave him this answer That I did not like the way which the Church of Rome went concerning Episcopacy And howsoever I would never give way that any such book from the pen of any Romanist should be printed here And the Bishops of England are very well able to defend their owne cause and calling without calling in any ayd from Rome and would so doe when they saw cause And this is all the conference that ever I had with him This excuse of his though partiall acknowledgeth that he was acquainted with the book and Author before its printing and that Doctor Linsey his favourite was a great promoter of it privy to the plot of Reconciliation and very intimate with the Fryar that compiled it Secondly when the book was printed this Author presented not onely the King but Archbishop himself with one of them bound up in Vellam with the Kings Armes on the cover and blew silk strings which he thus endorsed with his owne hand Fron. â Sanctâ Clara Problemata 37. Expositio paraphrastica Confessionis Anglicanae Which book he reserved in his Study at Lambeth where Master Prynne seized and produced it at the Barre Thirdly he not onely received but permitted it to be publikely sold and dispersed amongst us without any seizure or restaint and to be twice or thrice reprinted in London notwithstanding many exceptions and complaints against it when as he most strictly suppressed orthodox books Fourthly if Fryar Saint Giles were the true Author of this book as he was reputed by the Fryars in forraigne parts the Archbishop not onely knew but maintained him in the University of Oxford to seduce poyson the Schollers there and reconcile them to Rome and gave him an annuall pension of one hundred Markes the blame of which action for his owne excuse he would transferre upon the King without any proofe at all but onely this surreptitious warrant without any date at all writ with his owne hand not by any Secretary of State which will no wayes extenuate but aggravate his crime the warrant being no doubt fraudulently procured to serve a turne at
love among Neighbours and friends as the Bishop of Bath and Wells with divers of the gravest Clergy in the county of Somerset certified his Majesty who desired their continuance If some abuses crept into them as they did in some places and it seemes in Somersetshire yet this was no good reason to take away the feasts and meetings themselves as Iudge Richardson did by his order for which there were great complaints made by men of quality but only to regulate them and take away their abuses which this Declaration doth without countenancing any disorders To this was replyed 1. That it is cleare by the evidence given and his Letter written to the Bishop of Bath and Wells that this Declaration was enlarged by himselfe and republished by his instigation and procurement That himselfe put his Majesty upon the reprinting of it the warrant being written with his owne hand and being without any date at all makes it probable it was procured since the Declaration printed The later end of the Declaration it selfe concerning Wakes and Revells compared with the juncture of time when it was published manifests that it was thrust out to crosse Iudge Richardsons order and forestall the Petition of the Somersetshire Iustices for its continuance immediatly after its reversall it having no relation at all to Brabournes Booke Besides the publishing of it just when Mr. Prynne was questioned for his Histriomastix wherein he censures mixt dancing Sports Pastimes on the Lords day and reciting it in the very information against him manifests that it was likewise reprinted to make way for his first censure in Starchamber Moreover some of the recreations mentioned in it are not very lawfull upon any day though the Archbishop affirmes the contrary but certainly unlawfull on any part of the Lords day even after evening Prayer as Pathers Councells Imperiall Lawes and both Protestant and Popish writers have resolved The pretended Practise of Geneva which he alleageth is but a Hearesay without proofe borrowed from Peter Heylins prophane History of the he should have said NO Sabbath part 2. c. 6. sect 6. 8. 9. who yet informes us sect 9. that Daâ—noing hath bin condemned by French Synods and writers as well Protestantas Popish which yet the Declaration for sports in terminis allowes of on the Lords day contrary to the practise and judgement of Geneva As for Mr. Calvin himselfe though he differs in some particulars touching the Morality of the 4th Commandement from other of our Divines yet he in expresse words condemnes Dancing and Pastimes on the Lords day not deemingita Iewish Superstition or rigidity to prohibit such sports thereon especially Dancing as his 71. Sermon upon Iob proclaimes to all the world and other Geneva Ministers since him have done the like That this Declaration did de Pacto put downe afternoone Sermons on the Lords day in most and forenoone too in many places by suspending sundry preaching Ministers who durst not publish it out of conscience is apparent to al. Wherefore to affirme this one part of the Archbishops design in reprinting thereof is a certaine and more then probable truth and the words of it that they should use those Pastimes after Evening Prayer not evening Sermon import as much some Bishops grounding their suppressing of Afternoone Sermons on this expression which Sermons Peter Heylin in his History of the Sabbath part 2. c. 6. sect 9. and c. 7. and 8. makes to be meere innovations as doth Doctor Pocklington in his Sunday no Sabbath both published by this Archbishops command and approbation For his owne strict observation of the Lords day it is an averment without truth Certainly he that made conscience of its strict observation himselfe would never give way to such a Declaration encouraging others to prophane it who were apt to do it without such an incitement nor suspend such Godly Ministers who durst not publish it out of conscience for feare of encouraging others to prophane it Yea his pretended strictnesse of late times was such that himselfe and his servants made it an ordinary practise in the Somer to go to Bowles and use other pastimes on it and he sate constantly thereon at the Councell Table about worldly businesse 2ly That there was no warrant at all in the Declaration that Ministers should publish it or to punish any who refused it hath bin formerly proved at large and where there is no penalty prescribed in a Law much more in a Declaration no punishment can be inflicted That he gave expresse order for silensing Mr. Wilson Mr. Culmer and Mr. Player is proved by severall Oathes and that they were suspended divers yeares not only ab officio but beneficio having nothing left to support their Wives and Families That they were obstinate or sactious is a groundlesse scandall not proved they were only conscientious and would not disobey God to humour men That he silenced only these three in his Diocesse was but casuall because others submitted to read the Booke but his command was generall to suspend all who refused to read it and those three in speciall That he put not any Article of Inquiry touching the reading of this Declaration into the Articles for his Metropoliticall Visitation was his Jesuitical Art and cunning to conceale his wickednesse and prophanenesse from publique view but that he gave private Instructions to his Vicar Generall in this his Visitation to convent and question such who had not read it who thereupon did accordingly question divers good Ministers for this very cause you have heard it proved at large by the very Abstracts of his Metropoliticall Visitations under his owne and his Visitors hands That other Bishops inserted such an Article into their printed Visitation Inquisitions we have fully proved as also that they gave an Accompt to him of the Ministers they had suspended for not Reading the Declaration according to his Injunctions Therefore their Articles of this nature proceeded meerely from him and must be charged on him as well as on themselves That it was the Act of the Court not his to bring any into the High Commission for not reading this Book is a most false averment for Mr. VVilson now a Reverend Divine of the Assembly was brought into the High Commission by his owne expresse command and no others as himselfe deposeth who personally suspended him before at Lambheth for that cause both from his Office and Benefice and Mr. Page was by his speciall order brought into the High Commission as appeares by his owne Subscription to Francis Thompsons Petition That Mr. Snelling was there questioned and severely censured by the Archbishops meanes who gave Order not to accept either his Answer or defence and threatned to burne it is cleare by the proofes forementioned That his censure was only for not publishing the Declaration is evident by the sentence it selfe if well observed his not bowing at the name of Jesus being put in only for a Cipher but not insisted on at
resolve to dissolve them before they were called In case they prove peevish c. and to write so of Parliaments as he hath done in other papers durst write such an answer as this without any royall mandate to encourage him And this his answer to the Commons Vote against Arminianisme demonstrates which is fraught with transcendent contempt of their authority and proceedings therein basely scorned scoffed at And the reasons given therin prove that it was no private note to satisfie himself alone but a paper purposely complied to incense the King others against the Commons as the comparing it with some passages of his Diary and dissolving of that very Parliament in discontent soon after will easily demonstrate For the Statutes objected they prove no such thing as in pretended our Parliaments in all Ages not the Convocation who are but only assistants to the Houses in matters of Religion when their advice is required having been the sole Judges Law-givers determiners of all Ecclesiasticall affaires matters of Religion as we can prove by infinite Presidents Thirdly the calling in suppressing burning of all the forecited books against Arminianisme with the questioning of the Authors and Printers of them in the high Commission is directly sworn proved to be his act and the Courts onely mediatly by his procurement the Warrants for their Citation Commitments were signed with his hand he was the onely violent man against them in open Court upon all occasions and though many of them were not censured but got off yet it was onely by prohibitions full sore against his will for the bringing whereof he threatned to lay them by the heels However those that escaped best were there prosecuted sundry yeers put to great attendance and expence many of them imprisoned and their books all lost or privately burnt by his direction without any censure of the Court at all as Bishop Carltons Book against Mountague and Master Prynnes Perpetuity though both publikely licensed by Archbishop Abbots Chaplaines Bishop Downhams Book as this Archbishops owne Letter to Bishop Vsher manifests was called in by his instigation onely to colour which he procured a mandate from the King and his owne endorsment proves that Doctor Sutcliffes Book was suppressed in the Presse by his procurement For Doctor Jackson he could not but know him to be a professed Arminian being so reported by all and declaring himselfe to be one both in his Epistle and Book which though complained of was never suppressed nor questioned notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation and Declaration For the Historicall Narration the vilest imposter ever thrust upon our Church it was licensed by his Chaplain Doctor Martin with his owne privity the calling of it in was the act of Archbishop Abbot upon Master Prynnes complaint and the publike scandall it gave much against this Bishops will who hath ever since connived at the sale of them The turning away this his Chaplaine for it is but a false surmise for he promoted him to the Headship of Queens Colledge in Cambridge and a very great living to boot instead of bringing him into the high Commission and was he not then severely punished for so grand a crime Fourthly though the Proclamation and Declaration prohibiting preaching and writing on these controversies were the Kings in name and title yet they were originally this Bishops meer plot and contrivance to suppresse all Books Disputes Sermons against Arminianisme to usher it in the faster without any opposition the Arminians under pretext hereof having liberty to preach to print their errors without check or censure as our evidence abundantly proves he making them meer snares to entangle all consciencious zealous orthodox men Ministers and others whose zeale excited them to appeare against these dangerous disturbers of our Churches and Kingdomes peace in Presse Schooles or Pulpit For Master Fords and his complices severe censures in Oxford even to expulsion and banishment they proceeded meerly from his own violent prosecution as the Evidence unanswerably proves the Kings and Counsels censures being principally steered by his compasse the chiefe actor prosecutor and Judge in this cause And whereas he pretends that those who preached or printed Arminianisme were convented censured in the Vnversities and elswhere as well as those who preached against it let him name but one Scholler Minister that was ever imprisoned deprived silenced prosecuted in the high Commission or cast out of favour for preaching writing printing Arminianisme and then perchance he may be credited but surely not one such president can be found Whereas Master Mountague was made a Bishop Doctor Harsnet an Archbishop Doctor Linsey promoted to two Bishopricks Doctor Potter made a Deane to omit sundry others and Doctor Duppa made the Princes Tutor Deane of Christ-Church and a Bishop too because he was an Arminian True it is that we find in the University Register of Oxford pag. 50. that one Master Robert Rainsford since a Doctor teaching divers Arminian Tenents in a Sermon at Saint Maries in defence of Election from foreseen Faith and Vniversall Grace was upon Doctor Prideaux his complaint not long after the expulsion of Master Ford and Master Hodges convented before the Heads and enjoyned a very slender Recantation in as partiall terms as might be not of his Arminian errours which he hath oft since broched but of his disobedience to his Majesties Declaration recorded in these tearmes WHeras I Robert Rainsford preaching at Saint Maries in Oxford the 12. day of August 1632. and falling upon some prynts which by reason of the agitation of them have caused trouble in the Church have been forbidden to be preached on both by his Majesties Declaration and by his expresse Order to the Vice-Chancellour at Woodstock whereof having left the Vniversity for the space of two yeers and upwards I was altogether ignorant have thereby incurred his Majesties displeasure and was therefore worthily convented by the Vice-Chancellour I doe freely and humbly acknowledge my disobedience and am hartily sorry for the same desiring those that are to be my Judges upon my promise of better behaviour hereafter to accept this my unfained acknowledgement and to be favourable unto me 21. August 1632. Robert Rainsford This was all his censure farre different from Master Fords and Master Hodges though after their punishment and so his offence farre greater then theirs who did not begin the quarrell nor kindle the fire of the Arminian Controversies in Oxford but their Opposites who escaped scot-free and were promoted by this Archbishop himselfe for opposing when they were thus severely handled for maintaining the truth So in London the Anti-Arminians were generally silenced suppressed the Arminians connived at advanced encouraged by this Prelate under pretext of this Declaration as the Commons in Parliament complained in their forecited Remonstrance and as we have proved by sundry instances to which he returnes no answer and so stand confessed by his silence For Cambridge Vniuersity we know he was Visitor there though not Chancellour