there at the Barr as a Delinquent for mayntayning the Religion established by publick Autority the honour of the King and the glory of his Majestie and that one Chouny a Sussex man a laick as vvell as himselfe should vvrite a Booke and set it forth by publicke autoritie mayntayning the Church of Rome to be a true Church and never to have had so much in her as the suspition of error in fundamentall poynts and that this booke should be dedicated to the Prelate of Canterbury patrionized by him vvhich Bookâ— the Defâ—ndent both read and exhibited in Court by vvhich notwithstandig the King himselfe and all his Subiects were made Schismaticks and hereticks to the infinit dishonour of God our Gratioâ—s King and King Iames of blessed memorie and our most holie profession and religion This as the defendent told the Lord of Dorset struck an amazement in him especially vvhen the author of it must be favoured and coâ—ntenanced by Canterburie and for the defending of the honour and dignitie of our Church and the honour of the King the Defendent should stand as an evill doer Novv vvhen the defendent vvas come thus farre and vvas then approaching more closely unto them all intending more fullie in the pleading of his cause to have set forth their unjust dealing they tolde him that he rayled and imperiouslie commanded him to hold his peace vvhich vvas the reason of his Apologeticus ad Praesules Anglicanos vvhere he tooke libertie to vvrite that and publish it to the vievv of all the vvorld vvhich he vvould have then spoke But after that they had silenced him they then fell a thundering against him everie one as he pleased all of them joyning in this one onely excepted that they censured him onely for his Booke and in their censure they unanimously agreed that the Defendent should pay the costs of suite a thousand pounds unto the King for a fine be debarred of his practice that his booke should be burnt and that the Defendent should lye in prison till recantation and in the meane time be delivered unto Satan And thus did the Sublime Court deale with the Defendent for doing his duty But here the Defendent craveth favour againe of the honorable Court that he may briefly letting the puny Iudges and their nonsenâ—e dye in silence say something of the Prelats haranges because they onely were the men that found themselves aggreeved aâ— his writing to say the trueth all the other are Officiers under them and are the Prelats hangbyes he meanes the Doctors to doe what they would have theÌ„ as hourely experience teacheâ—h all men And so much the more earnestly he desireth this liberty because it will make much for the demoÌ„stration of the justice of his accusation against the Prelats both in respect of the dishonor they have don unto God by it the dishonour of the King their Master King Iames of precious memory and the wrong done to himself in particular Now the first that entred this combat was Francis White Bishop of Ely who in the first place most blasphemously and with many contumelyes reproached the holy Scriptures making nothing of their divine Autority as all the standers by can witnes for he reviling the Defendent sayd That he had nothing in his booke but Scripture which was as he tearmed it the refuge of all Hereticks and Schismaticks openly averring withall That the Scripâ—ures could not be knowne to be the Word of God but by the Fathers and Saint Augustin would not have beleeved the Scriptures to be the Word of God had not the Church told him so Further he sayd That the Scripture could not be knowne distinguished from â—he Apocrypha but by the Faâ—hers nor the meaning of the Scripture found out but by the Fathers that all the Faâ—hers from all Antiquity which is most false as the defendent in a speciall booke hath sufficiently shewed made and proved a vast difference between Bishops and Presbyters and that there was ever a greater excellency and Autority in the Bishop then in Presbyters And this with an unanâ—mous coÌ„sent they all agreed in till a base fellow Calvin for so he tearmed that ever to be honoured Divine rose up in an obscure corner of the World viâ—lated and overtrew all order Autority in the Church and would allso have demolished the Autority of the Magistrates And then turning his speech to the Defendent unhumanly he called him Base fellow Brasen faced Fellow Base Dunce and sayd in the face of the Court That if he could not mayntayne his Episcopall Autority to be Iure Divino he would fling away his Rotchet And so concluding with those that had gone before him in his censure he sat downe in a very great fuâ—y and passion Afâ—er him came forth the Bishop of Yorke and in that numerous Assembly proclaymes That Iesus Christ made him a Bishop and the holy Ghost consecrated him and that he had not his Autority from the King for Bishops were before Kings and that Bishops held the Crownes of Kings upon their heads and so peremptorily averring that the Defendent ought to be knockt downe with club-Law for his ignorance assenting with the rest in their Censure he fell a sleep In the third place the Bishop of London advanced forwards speaking very loud and temerarious words against the Holy Scriptures saying That he had thought to have found some great Matters in the Defendents booke seeing him so confident and so peremptory but diligently reading of it he met with nothing in it but Scripture which as he sayd was the refuge of all Schismeticks Hereticks so according with his predecessors in their opinion and censure he concluded his part of speech But last of all came forth the Prelat of Canterbury who with a frontlesse boldnes avouched his Episcopall Autority preeminency over his breâ—hren to be onely from God very much blaming Calvin for his faâ—tious Spirit saying That their Ecclesiasticall Autority the power they exercised was from Christ Iesus and produced Timothy and Titus to proveâ— the same assertion and that Bishops were before Christian Kings and they held the Crownes of Kings upon their heads For no Bishop no King those that would have no Bishops sought to overthrow all Government in his censure he jumped in all things with the rest saving in the Fine which as he sayd hee thought too little and therefore ought of meere conscience as he told the other Iudges hee fined the Defendent a Thousand pounds more But he had one thing more to speake as he sayd concerning the Châ—rch of Rome and about that he resolved publickly there to declare himself in regard the Defendent had cast Chounyes book unto him in open Court and of the Synagogue of Rome he spake verie honorably affirming That shee was a true Church and that shee did not erre in fundamentall poynts and all this hee spake in that publick Sessions All which the Defendent hath
had rule and government in their hands And that they had povver also of ordination and imposition of hands it is likevvise apparent out of the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy the first Chapter For the Apostle speaking to Timothy sayth Doe not neglect the gift that is in thee vvhich is given thee for prophesy by the imposition of the hands of the Presbyterie Here allso the Presbyters had the right of imposition of hands And that they had the povver of Excommunication and Absolution it is likevvise manifest from the 5. of the 1. of the Corinthians and the 2. Chapter of the 2. Epistle vvhere the Apostle gives them the povver of casting the incestrous person out and upon his repentance receiving of him in againe By all vvhich Autorities of sacred vvrit it is sufficiently cleare and evident That the Presbyters had the Autoritie and povver of government and rule in the Church vvith the facultie also and abilitie of ordination excommunication and all this by Divine institution and expresse vvords of holy Scripture hovvsoever this right and their due vvas through the fraud and deceit of the Bishop of Rome and Romish Bishops aftervvards taken avvay from the Presbyters Wherefore the Defendent concludedâ— That if there were any difference betweene Presbyters and the Bishop of Rome which hee denyed that then the Presbyters in dignitie and honour exceeded and that greatly the Bishop of Rome Romish Bishops for all these Privileges of governement ordâ—nation and excommunication are in formall vvords given unto the Presbyters and no vvhere granted unto the Bishops And for farther illustration and proofe of this the Defendent with many other Arguments proved That Presbyters were better men then the Bishop of Rome if there were any difference The summe of which hee desireâ—h this Honorable Court to take notice of â—hat they may more ponderously waâ—gh the businesse in hand and see the vanitie of the information And for the Arguments in briefe they are these They who are most obedient to the Preceptsâ— Commands and Prohibitions of Christ and doe most diligently obey the Apostles admonitions they are and so ought to bee esteemed more worthy and excellent then such as regard neither of both But the Presbyters are more obedient to the Commands of Christ and doe more diligently obey the Apostles admonitions then the Romish Bishops Therefore they are more worthy excellent For the major no man can deny that knovves loyall and obedient Subiects to their Prince and his Officiers just commands are to bee preferred before Rebels and them that regard neither of both Novv Christ and his Apostles have commanded That all Ministers should feed the Flock of Christ deligently in preaching of the vvord administration of the Sacraments and that they should not be Lords over his inheritance Both which precepts and prohibitions the Presbyters do more exactly observe then Romish Bishops for they neither preach themselves nor will let others and are Lords over Christs inheritance which the Lord Iesus and his Apostles have peâ—emptorily forbid Ergo the Presbiters are more worthie then Romish Bishops Againe That name which is and hath ever bene a name and title of Dignitie and Honour is to bee preferred before that which is a name of paine labour and sollicitude But the name of Presbyter or Senior is hath beene ever a name of Honour and dignitie and a title of mightie Emperors and Princes and the name of Bishop is a name and title of labour and travell Ergo the title and name of Presbyter is to be preferred before that of the Romish Bishops For the major none that are truly noble and learned can deny And for the minor to omit many other places it vvil evidently appeare to any that vvill looke upon the â—irst Epistle to Tim. and the 5. There the Apostle sayth The Presbyters that rule well are vvorthy of double honour So that it is apparent enough That honour and dignity is contayned in that name vvhich deserveth both reward reverenceâ— respect And in the same Epistle the Apostle sayth Rebuke not a Presbyter but honour him as a Fatherâ— and speaking of Bishops he sayth He that desireth the Office of a Bishop desireth a good worke Hee sayth indeed a good vvorke but a work notwithstandig full of care watchfullnes toyle and labour From all which it is ratifyed That the name and title of Presbyter is a name full of dignity honour and splendour and the title of Bishop a compellation or name full of labour anhelation solicitude and therefore to be preferred before the title of Bishop being farre more excellent Againe That name which whensoever it is ioyned with the name of Bishop hath alwayes the first place and precedencie that name is most excellâ—nt But the name of Presbyter when it is ioyned with the title of Bishop hath ever the precedencie Ergo it is to be preferred before it For the major the adversaries cannot deny it For they conclude and establish the precedency and preminency of Peter before the oâ—her Apostles because he is often first named And for the minor the vvord of God declares it illustriously as may be seene in the 20. of the Acts and the first of Titus and the fifâ—h chapter of the first of Peter In all vvhich places the names of Presbyâ—er and Bishop being ioyned together Presbyter is ever first named To all this Peter calls himselfe a Presbiter The same doth Saint Iohn as if all Ecclesiasticall dignity vvere placed in that name But there are many arguments yet remayning to prove the dignitie of Presbyters to bee above that of Bishops if there be any difference betvveen them For They to whom in the most difficult controversies of the Church and greatest dissentions the Primitive Christians had ever recourse and who the spirit of God did in a special maner assist and who made Decrees by which the Church of God to this day is to be regulated and governed and who the Apostles themselves made their sociats and companions in both Generall and Provinciall Counsels and the which had the next place unto the Apostles in their Assemblies they are more worthy and to be had in greater honour and veneration then the other Ministers of the Church which are neither by name nor place knowne in those holy meetings But the Presbyters are such and Therefore the Presbyters are more worthy and excellent then Bishops As for the major the adversaries cannot doubt of that vvhich bestovv dignity and honour upon their Bishops according to the place and degree they had in the first Councels And for the minor none can doubt of it vvho hath read the 15 of the Actsâ— and the twentyeth chapter of the same book But they that desire to be satisfied concerning this argument at large the Defendent desireth vvould read any of his booksâ— Lastly That the dignity of the Presbyters may yet appeare above â—he title of Bishops it is thus evident Those to whom the Keyes
in the 26â— of the Acts vvhere Christ saith unto Paul Rise stand up on thy feet For I have appeared unto thee for this purposâ—â— to make thee a minister witnes both of the things which thou hast seene and of those things in which I will appeare unto thee delivering thâ—e from the people and from the Gentilesâ— unto whom now I send thee to open their eieâ— and to turnâ— them from darknes unto light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenes of Sinnes inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is inâ— mâ—e And Paul vvas not disobedient to this heavenly vision but preached unto all men that they should repentâ— turne to God and doe vvorks meet for repentance And this vvas and is the onely vvay God hath appointed to save our soules by for Faith cometh only by heaâ—ingâ— this preaching vvas all that Paul didâ— I came not to baptise sayth hee but to preach the Gospell so that preaching is the effect of all the ordinances And in another place he saith Woe be meâ— If I preach not the Gospell And in the sixt of the Acts the Apostles told the Churchâ— That it was not reason that they should leave the vvord of God serve Tables and â—herefore they resolved continually to give themselves to prayer to the ministery of â—he Wordâ— And in the 4. of the Ac 〈…〉 the Rulers commanded Peter and 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 nor teach in the name of â—esus Th 〈…〉 vered 〈◊〉 unâ—o them Wheâ—her it be right in 〈…〉 of God to hearken unto yâ—u more then unto 〈…〉 ge yee for vve cannot but speake the things 〈…〉 e have heard Heâ—e vve see the vvhole office 〈…〉 the Apostles vvas to preach the Gospell◠〈…〉 the vvorke taâ—ke and duty of Ministers to 〈…〉 same vvord of life And Paul set hi◠〈…〉 re them for his sedulity in preach 〈…〉 mands them to follovv him in that◠〈…〉 y and Titus and all Ministers in them to 〈…〉 stant in season and out of season in preaching the vvord they that neglect that duty are no Ministers of Christ nor of the Gospell Yea the Bishops themselves and all their Priests as they call them as vve may see in the booke of Ordinations solemnly promise before God the Church that â—hey vvill be diligent in the preaching of the Worde of God and publishing of the Gospell And for the better stirring of them up to that Duty and Office they reade the 20. Chapter of the Acts concerning the charge that vvas given the Elders and Bishops of Ephesus for their diligent preaching of the Gospell And in most of all their prayers before their Sermons they beseech God to blesse the tvvo fountaynes of all learning in this Kingdom that he vvould send out streames for the vvatering of â—he garden of the Church and that he vvould preserve those fountaynes pure and incorrupt Novv all men knovv hovv Paul planted and Apollos vvatered the garden of the Church and that vvas by preaching as is manifest in the 1. of the Cor. Notvvithstanding all this Viz. the charge that is layd upon them by God himself that they should preach the vvord diligently as they love him notvvithstanding allso the promise that the Bishops and their Priests have made of their particular care in preaching vvhich is onely able to save our soules notvvithstanding the curse that is layd upon them if they do not preach notvvithstanding they pray that the tvvo â—ountaines may send out streames for the vvatering of the garden of the Church Notvvithstanding all the premisses the Defendent saith That the Prelats neither preach themselves nor vvill let others preach but silence allmost vvhole Diocesses together and have extinguished very many of the chiefe burning lights amongst us and doe dayly suspend â—he remnant of the most laborious painfull Ministers through England and Wales and have deprived the people of all Soules comfort and spirituall solace vvithout vvhich a mans life is miserable to the infinit dishonoâ—r of God hinderance of the Christian faith and the good institution of the people yea and to the trouble of the vvhole Church and State and therefore the Prelats are the onely hinderers of the instruction of the people in their Christian faith and the saving of their soules and by consequence the enimyes of the Church and Kingdome for from these Priests is iniquity gone out through the vvhole Kingdome and of the truth of that the Defendent novv saithâ— all the Realme can vvitnes and the Prelates practices prove vvho make voyd the commandements of God by their vaine traditions and trample his holy divine precepts under their feet and stop the course of the everlasting Gospell and therefore the enemies of Christs Kingdome and the salvation of their Brethren Novv vvhereas in the Information it is saydâ— That the tontriving publishing divulging sâ—lling venting and dispersing of defamatory and libellous Booksâ— pamphlets and infamous Libells and Letters are pernicious wicked things in themselves and of dangerous consequence to his Mast. service and the publik weale of this Realme directly contrary to wholesome Lawes and Statutes The Defendent for his part doth absolutly in all things thinke the same But vvhereas the Informers vvould make the Defendent M. Burtonâ— M. Prin guilty of such things and to have envyed maligned his Mast. happy government and the good discipline of the Church and that they have made a confederation among themselves out of some schismaticall factious humors and have from time to time causlesly indeavored as much as in them lyeth to vilify defame his Mast. Excellent government the proceedings of the Courts Spiritual and within the Kingdome especially the Court of High Commission for Ecclesiastical causes that the said Confederats have within these seven yeares last past raised layd diverse false scandalous imputations upon the proceedings of all the Courts in generall especially of the sayd High Commission and chiefly upon the Archbishoppes Bishops prime Iudges thereof who doe equally administer justice therein by acquitting the innocent and correcting the nocent according to their demerit proceeding therein with great temper moderation and by their wicked courses and by telling divulging of false lyes news and tales have attempted to move and stirre the people to disobedience and discontent against his Mast. government for the effecting of the said wicked designes purposes the said Iohn Bastwick having been heretofore about the 10. or 12. of February in the tenth yeare of his Mast. raigne justly censured by the said High Commission Court for writing speaking words tending to the maintaining upholding of schisme and division in his Mast. Church of England opposition against the laudable orders ceremonies of the Church as by the said Sentence amongst other things more at large appeareth Thereupon vvithin these three yeares last past he
of the Kingdome of Heaven by name are committed those are more vvorthy honorable then those thaâ— have not that Priviledge But for the Presbyters they have the Priviledge of the Keys granted unto them by name Ergo the Presbyters are more honorable then Bishops For the major no good Christian vvill or rationall man can deny it And for the minor he that readeth the last of Iames shall finde it manifestly enough confirmed and proved By all vvhich Arguments the Defendent did sufficiently beat dovvne the Bishop of Romes autority and by the very light of reason overthew it For if that every Presbyter be by the word of God as good a man as the Bishop of Rome if not better and vvithall if the Presbyters neither can nor may usurp autority over their fellovv brethren much lesse may they doe it over Kings and Emperors and by consequence and necessity of reson it follovveâ—h that the Bishop of Rome hath no cause to arrogate such autority to himselfe over the vvhole Church as he doth and therefore that his rule Government is a meere usurpation and an abominable tyranny over the vvhole Church of God and ought of all men to be defyed abominated and abhorred vvith all his complices as impious and blasphemous against Godâ—â—njuriouâ— to Kings Princes and nocent to all the faithfull members of Iesus Christ. The recapitulation of all the vvhâ—ch Arguments this Defendent thought fit to make knovvne to this honourable Court that their illustricityes might in every respect see his innocency vvho first exemted all Bishops that acknovvledge their autorityes from Kings and Emperors out of the number of those against vvhich he disputed and secondly never by name fought against any other but Romish Bishops and vviâ—h their ovvne arguments vvounded themâ— And therefore he could not but take it unkindly that when in this combat they should have helped him against the common enimie they defending him fell upon the poore Defendent to his perdition saying that he meant â—hem and that he vvas erronious and factious in his opinions Novv if the Defendent hath erred in the discussing of these truthes the Scripture that Word of Life hath brought him to it vvhich vvere blasphemie to thinke and therefore vvhen they adjudged his booke to be burnt they might as vvell have burnt thâ— Scripture also yea all antiquitie and the gravest and learnedest of auncient Fathers vvhose testimonies also hee hath made publick for the greater vindication of the truth against error and cruelty But that the integritie of the defendent may yet more clearlie appeare he most humbly entreateth this Illustrious Tribunall to heare hovv the busines vvas carried against him at his Araignment before the Prelats Barre at Lambeth and hovv submissively he demeaned himself there and hovv superciliously they carried themselves towards the Defendent on the contrary side When it came to his part to speake for himselfe the Advocat having formerly denied to plead his case any farther then about the vvitnesses testimonie vvhich he also did very jejunely beeing an Advocate of such excellent parts of learning and eloquence as he vvas and also at the Bar â—enouncing iâ— saying That the Defendent should plead himselfe which vvhen it vvas put upon him he then first related vnto the Assemblie the Theame of the booke vvhich vvas the mayntenance of the Kings prerogative royall Then he told them the occasion of his vvriting of it that he vvas provoked thereunto by a Pontifician vvho often had dared him into the list of disputeâ— which aâ— last he could not deny as he vvas a Christian and as he vvas a Subiect for by the Word of God he told them and by the Law of the Land and his speciall oath he vvas bound unto it vvhich Oath he also read at large in open Court the vvhich also all the Bishops of England and all the Iudges of the Kingdome had taken and vvere equally bound vvith him to observe Then before he entred into the combat vvith the adversarie he shevved vvhat caution he used that being to vvrite against the Bishop of Rome Italian Bishops it vvas onely as they arrogate their auâ—oritie over their Brethren and the Church of God yea over Kings and Emperors jure divino against such Bishops onely hee affirmed he did dispute read the vvords of exception formerly cited at the Barre as for such Bishops as acknovvledge their jurisdiction povver and autority from Kings and Emperors he sayd he haâ— no controversy against them as he there againe and againe declared himself in the number of vvhich he the Defendent sayd ours were for all the Bishops of England and in his Majst Dominions had and received or at leastvvise ought so to doe their autoritie jurisdiction over their brethren from him For proofe of vvhich he cited read publickly the Statuts and Acts of Parlament as follow First that of the first of Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie vvherein the Oath of Allegiance vvas ratifyed In the which Statute there are these words That all jurisdiction all Superiorities and all Privileges and Preminencies spirituall and temporall are annexed to the Imperiall Crovvne vvhich by Oath he being bound to mayntaynâ—â— could doe no lesse being provoked by an adversary of regal dignity He read also the Statute vvhich was inacted in the 37. of Henrry the eight vvhich is that Archb and Bish. and all other Ecclesiasticall persons have no other Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction but that vvhich they received and had by the King from the King and under his Royall Majest He read also the Statute made in the first of King Edward the sixt in these vvords That all jurisdiction and Autoriâ—ie Spirituall and Temporall is derived and doth come froÌ„ the Kings Majest as supreme Head in the Churches and Kingdomes of England and Ireland and that by the Clergy of both the Kingdomes it ought no otherwise to be held or esteemed of and that all Ecclesiasticall Courts vvithin the sayd Kingdomes ought to be held and kept by no other povver and autoritie eyther domesticall or forrain then that vvhich comes from his most excellent Majestie And that vvhosoever did not acknovvledge and venerate this autoritie that the same men are ipso facto in a praemunire under the Kings high displeasure and indignation as the vvords of the Statute run and the mouth of the lavv speaks and then vvith some reasonâ— also vvhich the Defendent produced besides the Word of God hee shevved That no Romish Bishops had autoritie over their fellovv brethren nor could jure divino challenge it much lesse over Kings and Emperors and therefore so long as the defendent had the Word of God the Lavves of the Kingdome and reason it self on his side he told them he thought himself reasonably secure from all danger in that place And then applying his speech unto the right honorable and noble Lord the Earle of Dorset then present the Defendent tolde his honour that he could not but vvonder that hee should stand
beene forced to recite because it makes very much for the justification of what hee writ in his Apology and that hee had good ground greatly to blame the Prelates aswell for these as for many other of their proceedings as afterwards this honorable Court shall well perceive And now that the Defendent may come to the things that he is charged with in the Information as to have accused the Bishops of in his Apology which by the informers is termed a Libell though it contayneth nothing but a true Narration of the passages of the High-Commission Court which he never spake nor writ against but onely against the abuses of the Iudges in it who have turned that Court which was of purpose appoynted by the State for the suppressing of Heresyâ— Popery and viceâ— to the beating downe of the Religion established by Autority and the promotion and advancement of superstition and the molestation and undoing of the Kings faithfullest Subjects and the deare servants of God as daylie experience teacheth us and the whole Kingdome can witnes In the writing of which booke he the Defendent thinketh himself so far from being a delinquent as he conceiveth he hath done good service to King Church and State having in it vindicated and mayntayned regall Autoritie against the tyranny of the Pope discovered also the Prelats lawlesse usurpations with their ungratitude to the King and cruelties againâ—â— their brethten mayntayned the hoâ—our likewise of the Lawes of the Land and the dignity of sacred Writ both which they slight and make nothing of and by innâ—merable testimonyes of learned men proved the assertion for which he is thus traduced and envyed to be neither novell nor hereticall but according to both the Divine Scriptures and all Antient trueth the vetustest Bishops and by the whole clergy of England in King Henry the eights dayâ—s as all the learned and ingenuous do well perceive and know both at home and abroad So that if â—he Informers with the Prelats will make this Booke a libell then let them make holy Scripture the Lawes of the Kingdome and all the antient recordâ— of learned Bishops libells also for the Defendent in â—hat haâ—h sayd nothing concerning the Preâ—bytery which is not agreeable to them all And for â—he matters in specâ—all he is charged wiâ—h in the information Viz. That he hath causlesly enveighed against the oath ex officio and other antient formes of proceedings in that Court and against the sacred Hierarchy orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons preferring a Presbyteâ—ian parity before it And â—â—at he hath falsly and scandalously defamed the witnesses produced against him falsly maliciously taxed the High Commission Court it self and the Iudges therein in generall and some of them particularly and peâ—sonally with cruelâ—y and injustice with want of wisdome and temperance and that they are perswaders of his Majest to bloudshed and are upholders of idolatry superstition Popery and Prophanesse and further most maliciously and falsly affirmeth that Canterbury London and Ely are disgracers and contemners of holy Scriptures and falsly traduceth them and the rest of the Bishops for traytors and invaders of his Majest Prerogative and that in the sayd booke there are contayned diverse other unlawfull and scandalous passages against the established government and seâ—led discipline of the Church of England the Bishops and Clergy and their proceedings which being many and of various naâ—ure is delivered into his Majestâ— Court of Starchamber To all which things that he is here charged with the Defendent will answer with what breviâ—yâ— and the best Method he can doubteth nothing but whatsoever he hath writ in his Apology against the Prelats their proceeding shall be made evidently appeare to this Court to be most true And to begin with the things layd to his charge in the last place that hee accuseth the Bishops to be disgracers and contemners of holy Scripture to be invaders of his Majest prerogative upholders of idolatry Poperie superstition and prophanesse All which is most true for so they are as he hath sufficientlie proved against them in that booke and doth here also add that they have greatly dishonoured the King their Master and King Iames his Father of perpetuall memoryâ— all which he will briefly declare and demonstrat to this noble Court And that they are contemners disgracers of holy Scripture what can be more manifest when they say that the Scriptures are the refuge of all Schismaticks and Hereticks as much as if they should say â—he good Lawes and Statuts of a Kingdome and the Kings Edicts and Proclamations are the cause of all disorder and wickednes withall what is it to be contemners and disgracers of the holy Scriptures if this be not to say That they can neither be knowen to bee the Word of God nor distinguished from the Apocrypha and Prophane Authors nor be understood and the meaning of them attayned unto for their obscurity but by the Fathers If this be not to contemne sacred writ then all Orâ—hodox writers both in ours all reformed Churches and King Iames himself have accused the Church of Rome most falsly whom they prove blasphemous against God and disgracers of the Holy Scriptures for the same assertions as all their learned wriâ—ings witnes wiâ—h innumerable Arguments in them for proofe of the same The Defendent desireth to know what it is to prophane and contemne holy Scripture of thâ—s be not to slight and vilyâ—â— the autority of it and to proferre humane authority before it which the Bishops did blasphemously saying that they couâ—d not be knowne to be the Word of God without the help of the Fathers when every page and leafe of those sacred monuments breath a divine Spirit and they are called the lively oracles Act. 7. vers 38. as if the Scripture had lost his ancient luster â—ife and Divinity by its antiquity were inferior to alâ— other things boâ—h Naturall and Artificiall When notwiâ—h standing there is such a Maiesty and Splendor in the Scripture as it dazleth the eyes of all those that looke into it with hiâ— transcendent and heavenly clarity and brightnes the eyes of whose minds the God of this world hath not blinded yea vnder the very law whâ—n there was a vayle before the eyes of men so that they could not so clearly see into them as now Christians may yet then such dignity and excellency was discerned in them that at the first reading of them men cryed out the voice of God and not of man tore their garments for very anguish and feare of the threats in them and never were so ungratious and impious to say How shall wee know these books to be the Word of God For the holy Scriptures had ever such an innate and Domesticall light beauty goodnes in them and caryed such testimony and witnes within themsâ—lves ever able to declare themselves Divine and holyâ— to be the very word of the everliving God that they needed
according to Gods command must svveare in rightâ—ousnes in judgment and in truth Novv by this damnable oath ex officio he can doe none of all this For he knovveth not vvhat to svveare to and by that oath he makes that evill vvhich is good many times and that good vvhich is evill vvhich is great unrighteousnes and untruth he is also to accuse himselfe and his brethren to the utter undoing of them all vvhich is horrible injustice and vvant of vvisdom judgment Besides an oath by Gods ovvne appointment is to bee â—he end of all controversy It is the last thing in a controversy and the conclusion of it vvhere this end is not in an oath it is not to svveare according to Gods ovvne appoyntment but sinfully Now the oath ex officio is not such an oath for that is the beginning of all molestation and strife mischief vvicked debate and the cause of infinit brabbles and needles vexations to â—hemselves and others and therefore ought to be deâ—ested and abominated Further no man is to take the name of God in vaine novv in the oath ex officio every man takes the name of God in vaine For they vvil never beleeve him though he svveare by the day and by the night vvhatsoever he svveareth or sayth in his ovvne defence and justification let it be never so true as dayly experience can testifie but onely make it a trap and a snare farther to intangle and involve him therefore it being an oath against the Lavv of God of charity love nature it is to be detested as the devill and so the Defendent for his part doth abhorre it as he doth the devill and all his vvorks and as he doth all the other cuâ—sed and abominable proceedings of the Prelats vvho spend the vvhole patrimony of their vvit to molest the deare servants of God and the Kings best and loyallest Subjects By all vvhich unrighteous dealing they manifest themselves to bee the enimies of God and the King and as such the Defendent vvrites against them and so he yet vvill for the many reasons above alledged esteeme of them by vvhat names or titles soever they be called or whatsoever place of dignity they are in and in this mind the Defendent will persever till they have acknovvledged their contumacy to God and the King and repented of the same And thus much the Defendent had to say in his owne defence concerning the things hee was charged with in his Apology and with al desireth of this honourable assembly that the oâ—her matters that the informers say are of divers natures in it may be specified For it is an easy thing to pick here and there a word out of best books to doe a man a mischeife all men know Spiders will gather poison where Bees find hony and he knoweth very vvell he hath many malignant enimies and therefore desireth the favour of the honorable Court for his better defence And now he comes to the second booke called the Letany occasioned by the Bishops cruelty for they threatning him not onely to starve him out of his opinion but also vvith the pillory the losse of his eares the one at Colchester the other at London vvith the slitting of his nostrills branding of him in the forehead and he allso hearing that this decree vvas gone out before September last divulged and spread abroad by the Prelats favourits as all the Country vvill testify it put him upon his devotions and made him vvrite a Letany vvherein he prayeth for deliverance from them But vvhether that vvhich is annexed to the information be the same he knovveth not for the informers say that that is a prophane Letany As for the Letany the defendent made it was a good godly Letany and in that ridentem dicere verum Quid vetat And concerning the Christening hee doth confesse he did invite CANTERBURY AND LONDON IN HIS WIVES NAME AND THE WHORE OF BABYLON TO BE WITNESSâ—S Which he vvas constrayned to by reason of the penury of his freinds for the Prelats had driven avvay all his acquayntance so that every body vvas affrayd of them nor no man durst intertayne his poore vvife nor give her houseroome though she vvas then great vvith child and in much misery as the vvhole Country vvill justifie and in this distresse and calamity he did it vviâ—hall he thought he did the Prelats a great deale of honour that he the Defendent should vouchsafe to have such men as they were to his Christening that he did joine so honorable a Gossip as the Matrone of Rome with them whom they so much honoured adored and pleaded for in this Deâ—endents cause as Christs true Church and Spouse and their best beloved Mistris presuming that he could no way disparage them by joyning this Spirituall Mother with these Spirituall Fathers and in this the Defendent thinks he did very much grace them inviting such a Catholicke companie to the baptising of his child who he hopeth will live and die a true Christian Catholick And wonders that the Prelates should be so peevish as to misinterpret his â—eale to them all especiallie when he did give them their titles most magnificently as FATHER WILâ—IAM OF CANTERBVRIE HIS HOLINESSE AND WILLIAM LONDON MAGNIFICVS RECTOR OF THE TREASVRIE Neither did hee see any reason why he should detract from Canterburie his titles for as he is Pope of Canterburie he is holy and for the title of Pope it was given antientlie to all or most Bishops and in speciall to his predecessor Anselmus that rebell as all Histories doe relate and the title of Grace is but the title of a Cardinall Besides that title is now revived if fame be not a liar which is a good plea in their Courts and false copies from both thâ— universities bee not dispersed and spred abroad For the Vniversity of Cambridge in their letters greet him with Sanctissimâ— Pater most holy Father the title of the Pope which onely belongeth to the first person of the glorious Trinity God blessed for ever and from Oxford they give him the stile of Sanctitatis his Holynesse and Edmund Reeve in his exposition of the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer Booke gives the title of Holinesse of times to the Bishops cals them Holy Fathers by their owne allowance and approbation Now he is a Father of the Church and that of Canterbury and he is VVilliam and he is Holy at leastwise vvould bee so reputed and vvould deeme it a Scandalum magnatum to be stiled prophane or unholy Ergo Father VVilliam of Canterburie his Holynesse and the Defendent is resolved never to detract any thing from his Holinesse but shall daily praâ— that hee may grow and evermore increase in Holinesse And for the Prelate of London he should be feeding of Christs flocke in the Pulpit and he is at the receipt of custome telling of mony like Matthew the Publican before his calling to the Apostleship the love of vvhich is the roote of all evill and hath got himselfe no small honour by it vvhich the Defendent vvould not in the least diminish and therefore beeing 〈◊〉 skilfull Hâ—rald nor acquainted vvith the titles of Honour they usually stile men in that place he vvas constrained to make use of a little of his Roman Rhetoricke and called him Magnificus Restor of the Treasury a fiâ—ting honorable title as he conceived vvhich he doth not nor ever shall repute a Scandall nor repent of that invitation And for any other passages that are in the Letany that he made he the Defendent is most assured if the honorable Court heard it all not by peeces and scrips vvhich hee most humbly desireth they vvould vvell perceive the Defendent had good reason for vvhat he hath both done and vvrit For this Honorable Court vvould then vvell perceive that the Defendent never medled vvith any of them nor in the least thing impeached their dignities till they by their delinquency against God and the King did manifestly demonstrate they were fallen from Grace and then as they had proclaimed themselves enimies of God and the King he did set himselfe against their proceedings and vvill continue in so doing though it bee through all misery to the last gasp of breath and vvill continually say LET THE KING LIVE FOR EVER AND THE ENIMYES OF THE KING PERISH and dying he will devoutly pray from plague pestilence famin from Bishopsâ— Priests and Deacons good Lord deliver us Ever meaning from usurping Popish Bishops Priests Deacons and such as challenge their standing and Autoâ—itle jure Divino and not from the King as our Prelaâ—â— do And as to all other the residue of the offences and misdemeanors complayned of in the sayd information examinable in this honorable Court this Defendent saith that he is not guiltie of them or any of them in maner and forme as by the said information is supposed All vvhich matters this Defendent is ready to averte and prove as this honorable Court shall a vvard And humblie prayeth to be dismissed out of the same vvith his costs and charges against the Prelats by vexation in this his former suite in the High Commission most vvrongfullie susteyned FINIS