yeare 1624. they have changed the oath of Curchwardens and sidemen as they call them into that forme that it is now become nothing ells but a rack for the consciences of men and may truly be called an injurjous and blooddy oath 2. What else is the ground why they have taken away all those Cannons that respect them selues that the people cannot see them but that they might more peaceably and freely prey on the bodyes and soules of men at their owne pleasures 3. What is the reason they doe of late use so many shiftes and trickes to maintayne their standings as they do by devising all the inchrochments upon the liberty of the subject the like whereof cannot beparalelled by robbing of the nobility of their honorus tytles offices and dignityes and conferring them on their owne heades or the heades of their favorites yea is it not matter enough if not a friend to the prelacy for any though otherwise deserving never so well to stand like a beakon on the top of a hill not respected 4. who seeth not that all the good and whollesomme lawes of the Common wealth is by them turned upside downe like a leaden wand bowed to every end that suits them selues be it right or wrong thus like horses are they prepared to battell with strong unresistible power to beare downe all before them that doth but mute against their cursed usurpations 5. what ranke or order of men comes not under their tyranny and oppression in their matchles extortions they sleight the rich in the height of their pride they regard not the cryes of the widdow and fatherlesse but like men voyd of compassion or bereft of humanity wring and wrest from all men in all causes abundantly more then is alowed them by their owne Cannons and Ecclesiasticall lawes and especially in the probats of wills and administrations they are as the Proph. Zeph saith 3. 3. Like the evening wolfs that leave not the bones untill the morning my brethre may not the Lord cōplaine against us as against his owne people Ier. 5. 26. that among his people are found wicked men that lay wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap to catch men as a cage is full of birdes so are their howses full of deceyt therfore they are become great wax rich also they Judg not the cause of the fatherlesse but as in the 29. shall not the Lord visit for these thinges shall not his soule be avenged on such a nation as this Therfore brethren and loving countrymen considering these things let me in a word speak to you all under these two ranks other as you are the called of God or as yet uncalled by him And first to you that are called of God let me speak to you in the words of the Lord by the Prophet Ierem. 2. 18. What have you to doe in the way of Aegypt to drink the waters of Sihor or what hast thou to doe in the way of Assyria to drink the waters of the river Or for the fear of man to bee found in the way of Gilgall for all their wickednes is in Gilgall there doth the Lord hate them and for their iniquityes wil in his time arive them out of his house therfore come not at their courts obey not their summons sent out in their own names against the law of the land and honour of the King so that if the Kings Majesty were not very patient towards them and those that submit to their usurpations where were they Trust God with your goods and lives he is able to recompence all wth better ad not fire then to this altar of Baal neither by purse nor presence Walk not after these commaundemens of men lest Ephraim like ye he oppressed and broken in judgment and the Lord become to you as to him a moth or as he was to Iudah rottenes Hosea 5. 11. 12. My brethren be not affraid of man in Gods cause consider what the Apostle saith to Timothy 2. epist 1. 7. God hath not given to us the spirit of fear but of power of love of a sound minde Where observe this fear of man for the prevailing power therof is called the spirit of feare and is opposed to the spirit of God as power and love and a sound minde whence then we may learn That where ever his fear of man is residing in the strength and power of it there no sound power of godlines nor soundnes of judgment nor power of action is to be looked for Besides this fear of man will be a snare to you for the fear of man bringeth a snare but who so trusteth in God shal be sure Prov. 29. 25. Besides there is a lake prepared for the fearfull say not then wth the fainthearted spyes there be giants and walls up to heaven and we shall never overcome for we overcome in sufferring Consider also that God the Gospell and the people of God are more beholding if I may so speak to one constant sufferrer sent of God then to ten thousand fainthearted apostates and backsliders therefore my brethren looke what Gods worthyes have done and doe likewise as Paule to Timo. 2. epist 1. 8. so I speak to you all in his words Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimonie of our lord nor of me his prisonner but be you partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell according to the power of God who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling And to you my countrymen that are yet uncalled what shall I say to sett you a worke about the works of a living mā that have not a principle of life in you were but a vain thing I therefore say no more to you but thus Take courage to your selvs as you are men and know your own priviledges and stand to them consider the laws of a kingdome are the subjects inheritance and no subject can be deprived of them without manifest injustice therfore suffer not your selvs to be gulled in these things looke the Statute for the probate of wills and testaments observe the penaltyes upon all that shall extort upon the same the lawe saying directely in these words That if a Bishop or Archbishop or anie other ecclesiasticall jurisdiction shall extort or take of anie of his Mayestyes subjects either more or greater fees then is allowed them by law they shall forfeit to the party wronged three times that they take to the party greived and over and above they shall forfeit to the King ten pounds the which shal be levyed by way of trespasse or of debt recoverable by lawe in anie of his Majestyes courts of record against which action there shal be no appeale nor act of errour to be graunted but the monies so levyed shal be one half to the King and the other half to the partye wronged Or els thou must maintain thy right by an inditement at the common sessions of the quarter where the offence was committed Thus
nothing I will passe is over with sylence leaving it to be further skanned by them which are judiciously wise In causes of instance between party party INprimis wheras there is due for the original citation sealing of it twelve pence only they take that 12. d. 12. d. more which they pretend to be for the serving of it which 12. d. is not due For decreeing a citation in a matrimoniall cause there is two shillings due But taken three or indeed what they can wring out sometymes it cost 5. sometymes 7. shillings For a decree ther is due one shillinge sixe pence But taken by them 2. s 6. d. when the leaste is taken except it be of some rare man whose experience taught him to give lesse For excommunications suspensions 18. d taken by them 4. s For absolutions due 1 s 10. taken by them ordinarily 3. s 6. d. For theire letters testimoniall there is 13. s 4. d. due taken of them besydes 12. d. the Clarke besydes that which is taken by other of theire Officers as also dyvers incroachments to get monyes in these causes as experience proves it For the oath of every witnes 2. d. taken 4. For examination of the first witnes one shilling sixe pence the second 9. but taken of all one other 2. s 6. d. a peece excepting some bould spirited men that have courage to detect them in their proceedings For the examinations of witnesses on interrogatories 1. s 6. d. taken by them 2. s 6. d. commonly For examination of the party principall 1. s 6. d. due taken of them 2. s 6. d. commonly For the oath of the party principal 2. d. taken 4. d. For the copy of every witnesse his examination 5. d. due taken by them 12. d. commonly For the copy of the partyes principalls answer 12. d. due taken 1. s 6. d. commonly I passe over the commissions to pryse goods theire constituting of proctors as having nothing to paye but this that wheras the proctors should take but only 12. d. a daye for their fees in one the same case they doe constantly take 3. s 4. d. a daye will have no lesse allthough the lawe alowes them no more as they wel know and have confessed to me but they plead they can not live of it for they say that lawe was made in the old tyme when housekeeeping was better cheape which is the only argument they have to justify their extortion For exhibition of a proxie in writing 2. d. due taken 4. d. commonly For the acts of court 4 d. a daye due but they commonly take for acts when none are done but doe delaye mens causes speed them not till at length both plaintif the defendant are both wearyed out their monyes spended them selves made fooles to their owne faces their suits as farre from end as when they began and so they again came home by weeping crosse As daylie experience have shewed to be true What they usually take for breaking open the Kings writs for Sentences for significavit to Chauncery I have had litle experience yet as he who seeing but the foot of a man guesseth at his whole body so we seeing the whole body of this court may in some sorte guesse at the members of it For every order of pennance 12. d. due 12. d. to the Apparitor to see it executed here they doe take 2. s for the order of the party that takes it out 12. d. for the Apparitor yet make the party on whom it is executed paye that 12. d. againe too some tymes as is to be proved For their transmittinge of proces the Iudges seale their letters of gardionship I have litle to say but this wher so many small things are sould at so high a rate matters of such consequence can not be cheape In causes of office FOr every originall citation the appearance of every party 1. s 4. d. due taken 8. groates commonly For every decree 1. s 10. d. due taken 2. s 6. d. For an excommunication under seale 1. s 10. d. due taken 4. s For an absolution due 1. s 6. d. taken 2. s 6. d. commonly For their letters testimoniall I saye no more but let him that hath them looke to his purse For excommunications copyes of answer oathes before in causes of instance between party party For the drawing of proxe and visitations and exhibition and suspension I have litle to saye but when the putlouck is hungry let the hen looke to her chickins For registring the names of their Officers in every parish 4. d. 4. for warning of them but what is taken the country is witnes of it selfe For their commutations of penance the charges of it it is incredibile almost to conceave the deepnes of Satan by the which he worketh in these sonnes of Belyall sometynes for monyes passing over incest condemnable among heathens intollerable adulteryes taking sometymes 20. or 30. yea sometymes 40. pounds for such a busines doeing which monyes goeth all or the greater part into their owne pursses wherby they become greate wax rich are like princes in the common wealth Here also they have such strange devices to get monyes to satisfy their owne ends and others corrupt humours in changing the pennance from this to that from this tyme to that from this place to an other and all to gett mony to boulster men in sinne as indeed a modest man would blush to think of for it is no more with them but sin and paye pay and sinne For the bond they ought to take but 12. d. they take 2. s commonly till of late For every act of court 4. d. but see before For every lycence to teach 10. s but let yonge Schollers make much of their monies For putting in of bills by churchwardens 4. d. due but taken 7. d and here note the whole charges for the whole yeare to every parish coms but to 1. s or two at the most but what is payed all men know that come among them That parish speeds well that coms off with 10. s charges somtymes more as experience proves it For their purgations their practises herein this is to be marked among them that no act so playne cleere if but denyed by the party they will give him his purgation for it for his monyes wherby it coms to passe that allthough the fact be as cleare as the sunne it shall escape the censure of the lawe as appears most playnly some having beene purged which afterward have beene condemned by the Civil Magistrat to corporall punishmente for the same fact as is clearely manyfest and here what sumes of mony are taken for purgations and swearing of compurgators for intimations sending out is in deed incredible as experience proves it some mens estate being almost consumed by their delayes in this kinde yea let any man that hath but
the face of honesty in him come among them allthough the accusation be never so false yet hardly gets end in 12. monthes with much charge more disgrace then those shall have that are most clearely guilty many tymes For a dismission of a cause out of court 1. s 4. d. due for a search made by the Register after a cause is ended 12. d. but they take for that for the most part 1 s 6. d. For the sequâ—stration of the first fruits of benefices publication of it under seale 11. s due but what is taken I leave to the Clergy to skan who best know because they have payde it For their letters of commendations for a Curate that goes out of the jurisdiction 6. s 8. d. but what is taken they knowe that make accounte of them For every caveat entred 12. d. but what is taken try then trust For processe transmitted the Iudges seale therto I have no more to say but this things far fetched are deerely bought For the drawing of articles against any man consented of afore after lawfull proofe made of the truth of them 3. s 4. d. but they take a noble besydes many tymes with out drawing For every act upon reducing with drawing of a caveat out of the Registery 12. d. but somtymes taken 2. s somtymes more yea what they can get of ignorant people In causes of office HEere Christian Reader I wold have thee to mynd that all theire extortions formerly mentioned are as nothing in comparison of these that followe for here they will pretend lawe where none is make them that be to stand asyde to serve their turns and bring in such strange devices to intrap men and spin out such long threeds with widdowes fatherles who for the most part are weake unskillfull therfore a fit prey for these kytes to sease upon as is allmost incredible having such shewes of friendship such turning devices to bring things about that a modest man may blush at to see their impiety which shal be manifest in theire due place as followeth For every dispensation for exhibiting an inventory into court 13. s 4. d. but taken 20. s yea somtymes summes of mony are given in this case with many other extortions raysed therupon if the cause be of any consequence to the party For an administration of the goods of the deceased where it exceeds not 5. pounds there is 10. d. due but commonly taken 5. s somtymes 7. 10. often besydes the cunning put-offs by which the cause shal be prolonged onely to weary out the party For an administration of the goods of a deceased amounting above 5. pounds and under 40. pounds there is due 5. s but taken commonly a marke 20. s taken besydes if but referred to pay the cause prolonged yea it may be one thing or other shal be checked at wherby the partye shal be excommunicated so not make an end of his accounts all for lesse then 3. or 4. pounds more or lesse as they can wring wrest from the party For an administration where the goods doe exceed 40. pounds there is due by their lawe a marke for all charges but taken for their account all somtymes 3. or 4. or somtymes 5. pounds never coms of without some rare tyme for less then 40. shillings here they will not stick to say they may take what they can gâ—t because say they the common lawe hath not set downe how much they shall take for an administration but have left it free to take what they can get For the Probate of a will where the goods doe not exceede 5. pounds ther is due 10. d. only but taken seldom less for the Probate then 3. or 4. s as is cleerly to be proved besydes they will have the ingrossing of it although it be ingrossed before will take for it what they list For a will where the goods doe excede 5. pounds under 40. pounds there is 3. s 6. d. due but taken 10. s yea so mtymes 20. s as is to be made good upon them For a probat of a will where the goods doe exceede 40. li. due 5. s but taken 5. pounds 6. pounds so mtymes 7. pounds yea somtyme 10. 12. pounds charges they will rayse upon such a cause by devysing such tricks devices putting them on the executor to such wills that if he looke not well to it one Childs parte must goe to the court For the ingrossing of every will according to the length therof not exceeding 8. s for every long skinne of parchment and here note that it must be done by the Register or els there is nothing due note also the party free at his choyce whether he will not ingrosse it himselfe or set any other to doe it at his advantage either for brevitie or profit that the Register ought not to refuse to prove any will of what consequence soever all though it be ingrossed by some other only he may examin the ingrossment if he find it not true he may reject it till it be perfected but to refuse it being truly done he cannot if he thincks 2. s 6. d. be to litle to pay the writing of the probat then the lawe alowes him to tell by the lyne to take for every 10. lynes of 10. ynches longe a penny all wayes by the statute for the probat of wills Testaments therfore for the Register to refuse to prove any will when the ingrossments are truly made by som other or otherwise to detaine keepe the executor from such wills so ingrossed is a most sinfull oppression punishable by the lawes of England For ingrossing every account the inventorie therto 2. s for every patch of parchment and here note as before the Administrator may doe it himselfe or imploye some other for his owne advantage that it is no lesse then extortion for a Iudge or Register to refuse either the inventorie or accounts so made if it be truly done For exhibiting of every inventorie for subscribing the same 12. due so taken but here lyes the extortion in this particular they will force men to paye for their accounts too that at such rates as doe exceede some tymes 20. s somtymes 40. s sometims 3. or 4. pounds as is to be proved yea somtymes they will urge to receive accounts for monyes before the administrator is capable to passe his account note also that if any refuse to paye for their account that for this reason because they see no lawe commaunding them how or what to paye their Apparitor shall never leave haunting of them nor their selfes excommunicating them till they have compelled them to paye these monyes For the copy of every act extracted out of the registry under the registers hand there is due 12. d. taken 2. s or somtymes 2. s 6. d. as they can get Item for