the King is to destroy his Monarchike government to dethrone him and make him no King to subject him to his people and make them his masters or at least collegs in the Empire (l) Joannes Wemius pag. 18. Quo casu dicerâ—m non proprie esse regnum sed aristocratiam vel democratiam Ibid. pag. 23. Hoc esset ex rege non regem eum facere Ibid. p. 38. Quod si alicubi non habeat rex potestatem leges serendi nisi ex populi in comitiis consensu sic fundamentaliter limitato propriè Rex non est ac non tam acceptans est populus quam cum Rege ut collega Regem ferens ibid. pag. 53. Non est imperium illud vere Monarchicum sed principatus quidam imperans ille non Monarcha aut Rex sed tantum Princeps ut Venetorum dux residente in optimatibus aut populo imperii summa But thanks be to God that our gratious Prince hath so oft declared himselfe to bee farre from all such thoughts yea that my lord of Canterburie himselfe is forced whiles to let drop from his fingers cleane contrare maximes (m) Relat. of the Conference pag. The statute Lawes which must binde all the Subjects can not bee made but in and by Parliament the supreame Magistrate in the civill state may not abrogat Lawes made in Parliament Ibid. pag. 158. Tiberius himself in the cause of Silanus when Dolabella would have flattered him into more power than in wisedome he thought fit then to take to himself he put him off thus No the Lawes grow lesse when such power enlargeth nor is absolute power to bee used where there may be an orderly proceeding by Law Even in no imaginable case they will have tyrants resisted Lastlie they teach us in the matter of resistance first that do the Prince what he will he may never be resisted by any or all his Subjects that not only a private man must give over all defence though most innocent of his own life against the Prince though his most unjust violence (n) Ioannes VVemius p. 21. Teneri videtur subditus seipsum fame perimere ut principem salvaret propter conservationem boni publici singulis a dempta est adversus principem quae naturalis dicitur iuris defensio seu iniuriae depulsio but the whole state can do nought without rebellion against God but flee or suffer when the Prince whether by him selfe or his officers doth destroy the true religion established by all Laws and the liberties of the land dear bought of old peaceably brooked in many ages also the lives of many thousands of the best Subjects without the pretence or colour of any just cause (o) Canterb. relat Pag. 205. vvhere the foundations of the faith are shaken by princes there their ought to be prayer and patience but no opposition by force Aberdeens duplys pag. 25. The way for all Christian Subjects to conquer tyrants and the remedy provided in the New Testament against all persecutions is not to resist powers which God hath ordained lest we be damned but with all meeknesse to suffer that we may be crowned It is evident by Scripture that it is unlawfull for Subjects in a Monarchicall estate to take armes for religion or for any other pretence without warrand from the Prince The renowned Thebaean legion of 6666. Christian souldiers without making resistance as they had strenth to have done suffered themselves rather to be slaine for their Christian profession by the Officers of Maximinian the Emperours executors of his cruell commandements against them Corbet pag. 42. For your examples from reformed churches since we live not by examples but by Lawes I will not stand upon them from facts to prove the lawfulnesse of resisting is ridiculous none of those by resisting gained so much as by suffering as experience too late doeth show Againe that all this subjection must be used not only to our native King but to any forraine usurper who can get footing among us and it were the Kings of Spaine as their predecessors the hereticall Gothish Kings got footing in the Romane Impyre (p) Aberdeens Duplys pag. 29. Such was the doctrine and practice of many other great lights which shined in the days of Iulian the Apostate and in the dayes of the Arrian Emperours and Gothick Arrian Kings That even against them the States of a Land with a good conscience could use no defence though before their eyes they should see them execut the cruell tyrannies of Nebuchadnezar put out the eyes of the King kill his children lead himself and his Nobles away to a far land in fetters Though with Nero (q) Corbet pag. 26. Qui Mario Cajo Casaeri qui Augusto ipse Nerom qui Vespasianis vel patrivel filio ipsi Domitiano crudelissimo ne per singulos ire necesse sit qui Constantino Christiano ipse apostatae Iuliano Ibid. pag. 36. If the Iewes in the dayes of Assuerus had beene of this new Scottish humour when an utter extirpation was intended by Haman both of themselves and their religion they would have taken Ames but their prayers and teares were their defence in their greatest extremity for their mere pleasure they should set the royall city in a faire fire or execute the plot of Haman by murthering all the seed of the Iewes all zealous Protestants up and downe the Land in one day Such maximes exceedingly opposite to the honour of God the safetie of the Kings person and crowne the welfare of the people these men cause to bee printed and let them go about without any censure at these times when by royall decreers they have pulled into their hands the full commandement of all the Presses and the absolute jurisdiction over all the Book-sellers shops in the Kingdome and kythes frequently their zeale against any Books that give but the least touch to their mitres by inflicting no lesse censure then fire upon the Books pilloring and nose-sliting on the Authors and whipping thorow the streets on the carriers All these extraordinary prerogatives VVat they give to Kings is not for any respect they have to Majestie but for their own ambitious and covetous ends whereby the faction advanceth supreame Magistrats so nere unto God and their favorits so far above the skyes (r) Ioannes VVemius in his preface to the Duke of Buckinghame Reges in diviniorem sortem transcripti cute specie tenus homines reipsa boni genii censendi sunt in quos ut humanos loves divini honoris offines pene consortes oculos animosque nostros defigi convenit Tu Heros nobilissime coruscas velut inter ignes Luna minores quem in summo augustioris gloriae solstitio divina prorsus virgula constitutum nemo potest diffiteri seeme to flow not from any love they carie either to their crownes or the royall heads that bear them but meerlie out of their self-respect
judges he may resist the grace of God offered Not onely doeth he thus farre proceed but also he avowes that all the difference which is betwixt the Church of England Rome in this head of freewill to be in nothing materiall a reallie long agoe to be ended and agreed amongst the most judicious and sober of both the sides (o) Ibid. p. 95. Thus having with as great diligence as I could examined this question inter partes of free-will I doe ingenuously confesse that I can not finde any such materiall difference betweene the Pontificians at least of better temper and our Church For the fifth Also the fifth of perseverance he is as grosse as any other Remonstrant or Molinean Iesuite professing that no man in this life can have more assurance not to fall away both totally and finally from all the grace he gets then the divels (p) Antigag p. 161. Man is not likely in the State of grace to be of an higher alloy then angels were in the state of glory then Adam was in the state of innocencie Now if Adam in paradise and Lucifer in heaven did fall and losse their originall estate the one totally the other eternally what greater assuraÌ„ce hath any man in the state of proficiencie not of consumatioÌ„ had once in heaven and Adam once in paradise Behold the Arminian ensigne fairly now displayed in England by the the hands of Montagu and White under the conduct of D. Laud Bishop of S. Davids even then the President and chiefe of Ecclesiasticall affaires of the Duke of Buckinghames secret Counsel At the first sight of this black banner a number of brave Champions got to their armes pulpits over all England rang presses swat against the boldnesse of that but small hand full then of courtizing Divines Their craftie leader seeing the spight of opposition and finding it meet for a little to hold in and fold up his displayed colours did by the Duke his Patron perswade the expediency of that pollicie which the Iesuites had immediately before for that same very designe moved the Roman consistorie to practise He obtained a Proclamation commanding silence to both sides Silence by proclamation injoyned to both sides discharging all preaching all printing in these controversies a stricting to the cleare plaine and very grammaticall sense of the articles of England in these points without all further deductions By this means his intentioÌ„s were much promoved opeÌ„ avowers of Arminianisme were by publicke authority so exâ—emed from any censure a reall Libertie was thus proclaimed over all the Land for any who pleased to embrace Arminianisme without opposition Hereby in two or three yeares the infection spread so farre and broad that the Parliament was forced in the 28. to make the encrease of Arminianisme The Arminians in England advanced their chiefe grievance to his Majestie But at that time D. Laud was growne greater He had mounted up from the Bath to London and to make a shew there in Parliament of his power in the eye of all the complainers hee raised up Montagu to the Episcopall Chaire of his owne Diocesan D. Carletoun who had lately chastised him in print for his Arminian appeal D. White his other chiftane that all great spirits might be encouraged to run the wayes which D. Laud pointed out to them in despight of these Parliamentarie Remonstrants was advanced from Bishoprick to Bishoprick till death at the step of Elie did interrupt the course of his promotion that to Wren a third violent follower of his Arminian Tenets way might be made for to climb up the remaining steps of the Ladder of his Honours Now to the end that the world may know that my lord of Canterburie doth nothing blush at the advancement of such men heare what a publicke Testimony of huge worth and deserving hee caused his Herauld Peter Heylen to proclaime to that Triumvirat not onely at his owne directions for that moderate answer of Heylens is the Iusto volumine which his G. did promise to the World in his Starre Chamber-speach but also in name of Authoritie If Heylen lye not who sayes Hee writes that booke at the commandement of the state There after the cryasse of Canterburies owne extraordinarie praises (q) A moderate answer pag. 78. you will be troubled to finde Canterburies equall in our Church since K. Edwards reformation whether yee look to his publick or prâ—vate demeanours the renown of his three underleaders is loudly sounded as of plaine non-suches (r) Ibid. pag 84. White Montagu and Wren whom you so abuse are such who for their endeavours for this Churches honour fidelitie in their service to the King full abilities in learning have had no equals in this Church since the Reformation All these his Graces favours to his followers Their opposites disgraced and persecuted would have beene the more tolerable if hee would have permitted his orthodox opposites to have had some share in their Princes affection or at least have lived in peace in their owne places But behold all that crosses his way must downe were they the greatest Bishops in the Dominions For who else wrought the late Arch-bishop so farre out of the Kings grace that he remained some yeares before his death well near confined to his house at Lambeth Who hath caused to be caged up in the tower that great learned Bishop of Lincolne what ever else may bee in the man What fray makes that worthie Primate Vsher to foretell oft to his friends his expectation to bee sent over Sea to dye a pedant teaching boyes for his bread by the persecution of this faction whose wayes he avowes to many doth tend to manifest Arminianisme and Poperie This their resolution to persecute with all extremitie every one who shall mint to print or preach any thing against Arminianisme they avow it openly not onely by deeds for why else was poore Butter cast by Canterburie in the Fleet for printing of B. Davenants letter to B. Hall against some passage of Aâ—minianisme at the Authours direction as we see it set downe by Huntly in his Breviate but even in open print for when Burton complaines to the King that he was silenced by Canterburie for expounding of his ordinary text Rom. 8 Whom God had predestinate those he hath called and applying it to the present Pelagianisme and Poperie of the Arminians Christopher Dow (s) Chr. Dow. Answer to Burton Mr. Burton did preach on the highest point of predestination in a controverted way with disputes and clamarous invectives against those who dissented froÌ„ him in opinion his questioning suspending for this cause was nothing contrary to his Majesties declarations Ibid. pag. 40. Bee it so that the doctrine of election effectuall vocation assurance oâ— perseverance are by the Kings declaration suppressâ—d rather then the peace of the Church should be disturbed we might truely say of that time when his Majesties declaration was published that men
noble gentle-man Generall Leslie Generall Leslies vindication cannot escape the scrapes of your empoysoned peâ— Ye are on a stage playing the part of a Fuâ—ioso who ever commeth in your way the first dirt and stones ye can grip must flie at their faces When ye have searched that great personage from his birth to his old age nothing can yee espy in all his life whereupon to fasten your tuske but that which among all Nations as well barbarous as civill hath ever beene reputed a marke of honour and matter of gloriation When ye have curiously eyed that excellent piece from top to toe your malice can espy no blemish but a skar of an old most honourable wound which maketh him the more glorious with all who understand the tearmes of true honour and the dearer to every one who hath any spark of affection toward that service wherin that wound among many more was received by him But ye your like cannot hold in the passion of your soule but must vent your hatred malice your disdainfull indignation against all the valarous acts of any in the reformed religion against the popish partie whether in these dayes or the dayes of our forfathers Ye cannot dissemble your passionate affection to the side of Q. Marie at our first reformation rather ere your loyal heart had played the pranks of the rebellion the treason and what not of our ancestours ye would have joyned with the enemies of our Churcâ— State for the cutting off of the blessed root of King Charles race for the setling upon the throne of Britaine after the dispatch of Q. Elizabeth K. Iames these hereticall Schismaticks the posteritie of Iohn of Austria of the Duke of Northfolke or of any whom it should have pleased the Pope the Catholick King the Duke of Guise to have matched with Q Marie Thus dâ—e ye and your faction stand affected toward the former age neither is your minde any better toward this present The Dâ—tch Princes the head of their league that true Heroâ— â—hat wonder of the world the K. of Swaine must all be to you but villanes traitours who for their zeale to the reformed Religion Liberties of Germanie durst be so peart as to lift up armes to stop that very far advanced reformation of Ferdinand The wounds that famous Leslâ—e did get in this cause must be slandered and made a matter of reproach to you your like but it is good that men of honour doe think of you your language as it is Who is acquainted with the world abroad they know full well that Leslies most valarous very wise happie deportments in the wars over Sea have brought more true glorie to our NatioÌ„ then the cariage of any man who went out of our Land these manie ages Certainly this brave Souldiers late conduct of our Nation in the time of the greatest danger that our land did see this hundreth yeares was so full of wisedome stoutnesse moderation successe that his memory will be fragrant blessed in all generations to our posteritie This sight of that mans vertues did draw to him so much love from all that followed his Campe so much honour from all the English Nobilitie that served in the opposite armie that we may say truely There liveth not in this Yle a gentle-man of comparable reputation with all sorts of men except alone of you in the faction by whose hearts to be hated by whose pens to be defamed it is an increase of contentment praile of all honest men But being unable to stand any longer upon your dung hill least I be suffocat with the stink therof I must turn my back flie leaving you to dwell upon these your excrements if so be ye cannot be drawn from them to die be buried therin only my parting a little of one purpose which so oft in your whole writ ye inculcate Ye will have us in the doctrine of Episcopacie we agree in our Tenets of Episcopacie with all the reformed abroad to differ from all other reformed Churches yet it will appeare to those who goe not beyond the very passages your selfe doth bring in this matter that betwixt us any reformed Church there is no discrepance at all For that Episcopacie which ye maintaine beside the manifold unhappy accidents that use to hang both upoÌ„ the persons and office which your selfe will scarce defend hath into it essentially the power of ordination all Ecclesiastick jâ—risdiction annexed that by a divine right to the person of one man in a whole diocesse that ever any reformed divine except some few that but lately in England did approve let be commend such an office it is so false as any thing can be That kind of episcopacie wherof the divines ye alleadge speak off is so farre from the present English and late Scotish one as light is from darknesse as reformed doctrine from grosse Poperie contrarie both to the word of God all sound antiquitie Beside even that kinde of Episcopacie which they seem not much to oppose is such an office as they make to be no way necessary in any Church but removeable out of all to which they thought never meet to give any footing in their own churches but at the beginning did cast it out and to this day have carefullie holden it at the doore This ye cannot be ignorant is the known practice let be the doctrin of al the reformed churches over Sea of all their divines without the exception of one man Doe ye think that any of them will be offended with us for following their owne example for casting out that which they have rejâ—cted before us upon lesse occasions For it is certain that Episcopacie is no way so opposite to the discipline of any reformed church as to that discipline which many Assemblies Parliaments have setled in our land it is certain that no church over Sea hath ever been halfe so much grieved with that unhappie office as ours oft times hath beene we all know that from it alone hath flowed all the miseries schisms dangers wherwith our church since the reformation hath been vexed none of us is ignorant that this â—ffice was the only horse wherupon our later novations of Perth articles high CoÌ„mission Leiturgie Canons came riding unto us And now the world may see that it is only Bishops that threaten this whole Yle with the danger of the most cruell warre it saw these 500 yeares That any reasonable man will blame us for our firm resolution to oppose their re-entrie among us for ever we doe not â—ear for beside that our whole land is al utterly impatient of their but theÌ„ our last two generall Assemblies articles of our late Pâ—rliament with our Princes approbatioÌ„ have ordained their office to be abjured by our whole nation with solemne oaâ—h subscriptioÌ„ As for our neighbour churches in Engâ—aÌ„d Ireâ—aÌ„d though hitherto we have been mâ—st sparing to meddle with any thing which concerneth them yet now since ye put us so hardly to it we canÌ„ot dissemble any loÌ„ger our hearty wishes that since the bishops there beside the manifold evils that is in tâ—e â—ffice which they doe use defend the needlesnes of iâ— since I say their bishops have been the first fountain of all our churches trouble since they are the prime instrumeÌ„ts which now infect this Yle with Arminianisme popery since they have raised yet doe further so hot a persecutioÌ„ against our whole natâ—oÌ„ in Iâ—land as no reformed church to this day hath ever beeÌ„ acquainted with since after our full agreemeÌ„t with our gratious king neighbour natioÌ„ of Eng aÌ„d they without any cause that yet we know or can hear tel of have been the bellows to kindle the wrath of our king against us to stir up a most blodie war for the undoing if God prevent it not first of the most flourishing churches in these dominioÌ„s theÌ„ of the whole reformed elâ—where we professe it our wish to God that the king his present parliameÌ„t might seriously coÌ„sider if it were not for the good of the crown for the welfare of their natioÌ„ for the peace of their church that EnglaÌ„d after the exaÌ„ple of all the reformed should rid theÌ„selvs at least of their bishops trouble as they did of old without any repentance to this day of their Abbots Monks This we conceive would much increase the joy and prosperitie of all the three Dominions FINIS
LADENSIVM ἈΥΤΟΚΑΤΑΚΡΙΣΙS THE CANTERBVRIANS SELF-CONVICTION OR An evident demonstration of the avowed Arminianisme Poperie and tyrannie of that Faction by their owne confessions With a Post-script to the Personate Jesuite Lysimachus Nicanor a prime Canterburian Written in March and printed in April 1640 COR VNVM VIA VNA Summa Capitum THE Preface showeth the unreasonablenesse of this new warre That we have committed nothing against the late pacification That compassion hope and all reason call now for peace at home that at last we may get some order of our enemies abroad That the Canterburian faction deserveâ— not so well of England that armes in their favour ought to be taken against Scotland VVe offer to instruct their insupportable crimes by their owne writs If armes be needlesly taken in so evill a cause they cannot but end in an untimous repentance In this nicke of time very poore wits without presumption may venture to speake even to Parliaments The obstinate silence of the English Divines is prodigious CHAP. I. The delineation of the vvhole subsequent Treatise OUR Adversaries decline to answer our first and chiefe challenge The scope of this writt All our plea is but one cleare syllogisme the Major whereof is the sentence of our Iudge the Minor the confession of our partie the conclusion a cleare and necessary consequence from these two premisses CHAP. II. The Canterburians avovved Arminianisme ARminianisme is a great dangerous innovation of our Religion King Iames his judgment thereof The great increase of Arminianisme in Scotland by Canterburies meanes King Charles his name stolne by Canterburie to the defence of Arminianisme The Irish Church infected with Arminianisme by Canterburie The Canterburians in England teach the first second article of Arminius Why King James stiled Arminians Atheists They teach the third fourth article also the fifth The Arminians in England advanced Their opposites disgraced and persecuted Canterburie and his fellowes contrary to the Kings Proclamation goe on boldly to print let be to preach Arminian tenets A demonstration of Canterburies Arminianisme in the highest degree They make Arminianisme consonant to the articles of England and so not contrary to the Proclamation CHAP. III. The Canterburians professed affection towards the Pope Poperie in grosse ONce they were suspected of Lutheranisme but at last Poperie was found their marke To make way for their designes they cry down the Popes Antichristianisme they are content to have the Popes authoritie set up againe in England Their minde to the Cardinalat They affect much to be joyned with the Church of Rome as shee stands CHAP. IV. The Canterburians Ioyne vvith Rome in her grossest Idolatrie IN the middes of their denyalls yet they avow their giving of religious adoration to the very stock or stone of the altar As much adoration of the Elements they grant as the Papists require In the matter of Images their full agreement with Rome About relicts they agree with Papists They come neere to the invocation of Saints CHAP. V. The Canterburians avovv their embracing of the Popish heresies and grossest errours THey joyne with Rome in setting up traditions in prejudice of Scripture In the doctrine of faith Justification fulfilling of the Law merit they are fully Popish In the doctrine of the Sacraments behold their Poperie They are for the reerection of Monasteries and placing of Monkes and Nunnes therein as of old How neere they approach to Purgatory and prayer for the dead CHAP. VI. Anent their Superstitions FEW of all Romes superstitions are against their stomack They embrace the grossest not onely of their privat but also of their publick superstitions CHAP. II. The Canterburians embrace the Masse it selfe THey cry down so farre as they can all preaching They approve the Masse both for word matter The Scotish Leiturgie is much worse then English Many alterations into the Scotish specially about the offertorie the consecration the sacrifice the Communion CHAP. ULT. The Canterburians maximes of tyranny THE tyrannous usurpation of the Canterburians are as many and heavie as these of the Romish Clergie King Charles hates all tyrannie The Canterburians flatter him in much more power then ever he will take They enable the Prince without advice of the church to doe in all Eccelesiasticall affaires what he thinks meet They give to the King power to doe in the State what ever be will without the advice of his Parliament In no imaginable case they will have the greatest tyrants resisted What they give to Kings is not for any respect they have to Majestie but for their own ambitious covetous ends The Chiefe vvitnesses vvhich in the follovving action are brought into depone WIlliam Laud Arch-bishop of Canterburie in his speech before the Starre-chamber in his relation of his Conference with Iesuite Fisher as it was the last yeare amplified and reprinted by the Kings direction In Andrewes opuscula posthuma set out by him and dedicated to the King B. VVhyte of Eli in his treatise upon the Sabbath and his answer to the lawlesse Dialogue B. Montagu of Chichester in his answer to the gagger in his appeale in his antidiatribae in his apparatus in his origenes B. Hall of Exeter in his ould Religion set out with his owne apologie and the apologies of his Friends M. Chomley and M. Butterfield In his remedie of profanesse Peter Heylen Chaplan in ordinary in his answer to Burton set out as he sayes by the command of authoritie as a full and onely Reply to bee expected against all â—he exceptions which commonly are taken at my Lord of Canterburie his actions in his antidotum Lincolinense subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane D. Pottar Chaplan in ordinary in his charitie mistaken as he prints at the command of authoritie D. Laurence Chaplan in ordinary in his Sermon preached before the King and printed at the command of authoritie D. Pocklingtoune in his Sunday no Sabbath in his Altare Christianum both subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Christopher Dow in his answer to Burtoune subscribed by Canterburies Chaplane Couzine in his devotions the fourth Edition subscribed by the B. of London my Lord high Treasuror his owne hand Chounaeus in his Collectiones Theologicae dedicated to my Lord of Canterburie and subscribed by his Chaplane Shelfoord in his five pious Sermons printed at Cambridge by the direction of the Vice Chanceler D. Beel set out with a number of Epigrames Latine and English by diverse of the Vniversitie fellowes defended yet still by Heylene and Dow in their bookes which Canterbury hath approven Antonie Stafford in his female glory printed at London and notwithstanding of all the challenges made against it yet still defended by Heylene and Dow in their approven writs William Wats in his Sermon of apostolicall mortification Giles Widowes in his Schismaticall Puritan Edward Boughen in his sermon of order and decencie Mr. Sp. of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge in his sermon of Confession Samuel Hoards in his sermon at the metrapolecall visitation Mr.
though the remainder of the Nobilitie and Gentrie in the Land should be sent over by him some to worke in fetters in his Mines of Peru others in chayns to row all their dayes in his gallayes in the Mediterrane for all these or any other imaginable acts of tyrannie that could escape the wicked head of any mad Nero of any monstrous Caligula these men doe openly take upon them to perswade that no kinde of resistance for defence can bee made by the whole States of a Land though sitting in Parliament with a most harmonious consent no more then the Jewes might have done against Nabuchadnezar or the Christians of old against the Pagane Emperours or the Greeke Church this day against the grand Signieur in Constantinople that all our forbeares both English and Scots in their manifold bickerings against the misleaders of their Prince against the tyrannizing factions of Court were ever Traitours and Rebels and ought to have loosed their head and Lands for their presumption to defend their Liberties against the intollerable insolencies of a pack of runnigate Villanes for their boldnesse to fasten the tottering Crowne upon the head of their Kings all such Services of our Antecessours to King and Countrie were treacherous insurrections If for all these their crimes I make speake before you no other witnesses then our owne tongue Armes needlesse taken in so evill a cause can not but end in an untimeous repentance I trust they shall not remaine in your mindes the least shaddow of any scruple to beleeve my allegations nor in your wills the least inclination to joyne with the Counsells of so polluted and self-convicted persons And if to men whose open profession in their printed Bookes let be secret practises leads to so wicked ends so farre contrarie to the glorie of God to the honour and safetie of our King to the well of us all whether in Soule Body Estate Children or any thing that is deare to us yee would lead your armes against us we beleeve the Lord of Hosts the righteous judge would be opposite to you and make hundreds of your men in so evill a cause flee before ten of ours Or if it were the profound and unsearchable pleasure of the God of Armies to make you for a time a scourge to beate us for our manifold transgressions yet when ye had obtained all the Prelates intentions when wee for our others sins were tred under your feete wee would for all that hope to die with great comfort and courage as defenders of the truth of God of the Liberties and Lawes of our Countrie of the true good and honour of the Crown and Royall Familie All which as we take it one of the most wicked and unnaturall faction that ever this Isle did breed are manifestly oppugning yet certainly we could not but leave in our Testament to you our unjust oppressors the legacie of an untimous repentance for when ye have killed thousands of us banished the rest out of the isle when on the back of our departure your sweete Fosters the Bishops have brought the Pope upon you and your Children or when a French Spanish invasion doth threaten you with a slavish conquesh Wil ye not then all above all our gracious Prince regrate that Hee hath beene so evill advised as to have put so many of his brave Subjects to the cruell sword who were very able and most willing to have done him noble service against these forraine usurpers Would not at such a time that is too likely to be at hand if our Prelates advises now be followed both his Majestie and all of you who shall remaine in life bee most earnest recallers not onely of your owne Countrie-men many thousands whereof ye know have lately by Episcopall tyrannie beene cast out from their homes as farre as to the worlds end among the savadge Americans but also the reliques of our ruine from their banishment with as great diligence as in time of Fergus the second the inhabitants of this Land did recall our ancestors when by the fraud force of a wicked faction they were the most part killed and the rest sent over sea in banishment It were better by much before the remeedilesse stroke be given to be well advised then out of time to sigh when the millions of lost lives when the happinesse of our true Religion when the liberties of both the nations once throwen away by our owne hands can not againe be recovered To the end therefore that such lamentable inconveniences may be eshewed In this nick of time very poore wittes without presumption may venture to speake to Parliaments and your Honours the more animate to deny your power to those who now possiblie may crave to have it abused against us without cause beside numbers of pressing reasons wherewith I doubt not every wise man amongst you is come well enough instructed by his owne considerations and which I trust shall be further presented in plentie by these of our Nation who have ever beene at the head of our affaires whom God hath still enabled to cleare the justice and necessitie of all our proceedings hitherto to the mindes of all save our infatuat adversaries whom superstition and rage hath blinded If it might be your Honours pleasure when all the rest hath ended I could wish that even unto me a little audience were given my zeale to the truth of God to the peace of this Isle to the honour of our deare gracious Soveraigne imboldneth me to offer even my little myte of information This is a period of time when the obstinate silence of those who are most obliged by their places and guifts to speake must open the mouth of sundrie who are not by much so able verie babes yea stones must finde a tongue when Pharisees deny their testimonie to Christ Dumbe men will gett words when a Father when a King let be a whole Kingdome by the wickednesse of a few is putt in extreame perrill of ruine An Asse will finde language when the devouring Sword of an Angell is drawne against the Master Nothing more common then the speaches of very Oxen before any calamity of the Common-wealth The clâ—iking of Geese did at a time preserve the Capitoll Amicla was lost by too much silence The neglect of the voice of a Damosell the contempt of Cassandraes warning the casting of her in bands for her true but unpleasant Speach did bring the Troyane Horse within the walls and with it the quick ruine both of the Cittie and Kingdome I hope then that the greatnesse of my undertaking may purchase mee a little audience An offer deserving a little audience For I offer to make you all see with your own eyes and heare with your owne eares the Canterburians to declare by their owne tongues and write downe under their owne hands their cleare mindes to bring into our Church Arminianisme and compleet Poperie and in our State a slaverie no
the rest to our acerâ—st and sibbest sister of England as it were in a table divers of these errours which our partie first by craft and subtilitie but now by extreame violence of fire and Sword are labouring to bring upon us to the end that our deare Brethren understanding our sufferings in the defence of such a cause may bee the more willing at this time to contribute for our assistance from God the helpe of their earnest Prayers and for ever hereafter to condole with the more hearty compassion any misery which possibly may befall us in such a quarrell All our plea is but one cleare syllogisme Albeit truely our hopes are yet greater then our feares if we could become so happie as once to get our plea but entered before our Prince for we can hardlie conceave what in reason should hinder our full assurance of a favorable decision from that Sacred mouth whose naturall equitie the World knowes in all causes whereof hee is impartially informed since our whole action is â— uâ—ht but one formall argument whereof the Mâ—j r is â—he verdict of our judge the Minor shal be the open and â—â—â—wâ—d Testimonie of our partie need we feare thâ—â— either our judge or partie will bee so irrationall as to vâ—nture upon the denyall of a conclusion whereof both the premisses is their owne open profession Our Major is this The Major thereof VVho ever in the Kings Dominions spreads abroad Poperie or any Doctrine opposite to the Religion and Lawes of the Land now established ought not to bee countenanced but severely punished by the King This Major the King hath made certaine tâ— us in his frequent most solemne asseverations not onely at his coronation both here and in England in his proclamations both here and there (a) Neither shall we ever give way to the authorizing of any tâ—â—ng wherby any innovation many steal or creep into the Church but shall preserve that unitie of doctrine discâ—pline established â—n Q. Elizabeths reign wherby the Church of England have stood flouâ— sâ—ed since Proclam dissolving the Parl of England 1628. and therefore oâ—ce for all we have thought fit to declare and hereby to assure all our good people that we neitâ—er were are nor ever by the grace of God shall bee slained with popish superstition but by the conâ—tarie are resolved to maintain the true Protestant Christian religion already professed within this our ancient Kingdom We neither intend innovation in religion or lawes proclam â—une 8. 1638. to free al our good subjects of tâ—e least suâ—pition of any intent on in us to innovate any thing either in religion or lawes and to sati fie not onely their desires but even their doubts We have discharged c. proclam Septemb 22. 1638. and to give all his Maj. people full assurance that he never intended to admit any alâ—eration or change in the true religoÌ„ pofessed wiâ—â—in this kingdome and that they may be truely and fully satisfied of the realitie of his intentions and integritie of the same his Maj. hath been pleased to require command all his good Subjects to subscribe the confession of Faith formerly signed by his dear Father in anno 1580. and it is his Maj will that this be insert and registrat in the books of Assembly as a testimony to pâ—steritie not only of the sinceritie of his intentions to the said true religion but also of his resolution to maintaine and defend the same and his Subjects in the proâ—ession thereof proclam Decemb. 18. 1638. but also in his late large declaration oftimes giving out his resolution to live and die in the reformed protestant religion opposite to all Poperie to maintaine his established lawes and in nothing to permitt the enervating of them Yea this resolution of the king is so peremptor publickly avowed thâ—t Canterburie himselfe dare not but applaud thereto (b) If any Prelate would labour to bring in the superstitions of the Church of Rome I doe not onely leave him to Gods judgement but if his irreligious falshood can bee discovered also to shame and severe punishment from the State and in any just way no maÌ„s hands should bee sooner against him then mine in his Starre chamber speech who can seeme more foreward then he for the great equitie to punish condignlie all who would but mind to bring in any Poperie in this Isle or assay to make any innovation in Religion or Lawes Wee beleeve indeed that my Lord Canterburie doth but juggle with the world in his fair ambiguous generalities being content to invegh as much against poperie and innovation as we could wish upon hopes ever when it comes to any particular of the grossest poperie we can name by his subtile distinctions and disputations to slide out of our hands But wee are perswaded what ever may be the jugling of sophisticating Bishops yet the magnanimous ingenuitie the royall integritie of our gracious Soveraigne is not compatible with such fraudulent equivocations as to proclaime his detestation of poperie in generals and not thereby to give us a full assurance of his abhorring every particular which all the orthodox Preachers of this Isle since the reformation by Queene Elizabeth and King Iames allowance hath ever condemned as popish errours Our Major then wee trust may be past as unquestionable Wee subjoyne our Minor The Minor But so it is that Canterburie and his dependars men raised and yet maintained by him have openly in their printed bookes without any recantation or punishment to this day spread abroad in all the Kings Dominions doctrines opposite to our Religion and Lawes especially the most points of the grossest poperie In reason all our bickering ought to be here alone This Minor I offer to instruct and that by no other middes then the testimonie of their owne pens If J doe so to the full satisfaction of all who know what are the particular heads of the reformed Religion and what the Tenets of Poperie â—pposite thereto what are the Lawes standing in all the thrâ—e Dominions and what the contrarie maximes of the Turkish Empire wherewith Matchivelists this day every where are labouring to poyson the eares of all Christian Princes for enervating the Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdomes I hope that reason and justice which stand night and day attending on either side of King Charles Throne will not faile to perswade the chearfull embracement of the conclusion The conclusion which followes by a cleare and naturall necessitie from the forenamed premisses to witt that Canterburie and his dependars in all the three Dominions ought not to be countenanced by the King but severally punished Let be that for their pastime a bloodie hazardous warre should be raised in so unseasonable a time for the undoing of that countrie and church which God hath honoured with the birth and baptisme both of his Majesties owne person and of his renowned Father and to the which both of them as