Deposition in the Arches taken January 1669. Inter Jones Appellant Ridge Jones Episcopum Bangor Appellat touching the rise and Occasion of the Action of Scandalum Magnatum in the Courts Temporal and controversies about Reading Pew in Courts Ecclesiastical THe said Appellant the Third day of October last was Twelve-month went to the said Simon Lloid's House to wait on the Bishop and render him an account of the Letter he had formerly received from him whereby the appellant was requir'd to read in the most usual Reading seat in the Church and being asked by the Bishop why he did not obey the said Letter of his the Appellant answered he did obey him by Reading where his Predecessors Rectors of the said Parish had formerly Read whereupon the Bishop said he intended the Curat 's seat the Appellant replied his Lordship had condemned the same as unfit and undecent giving him to understand where and when and upon what account which the said Appellant Related to the Effect following that is to say for that he had acquainted his Lordship that some of the most Eminent Persons in the Parish had complained unto him they could neither see nor hear him read in the said Curates Seat and withal that he had Forty Shillings given him by a Person of Quality in or about St. Jams's Court to be disposed off in the said Church to supply what was wanting therein and that after the Bishop had Enquired what was wanting therein and being told by the appellant the Curat 's seat was undecent and dislik'd and complain'd of as aforesaid his Lordship Ordered the Appellant to publish the unfitness thereof and that the Parish should erect a new Decent Seat more towards the Body of the Church and that such as should be aggrieved thereat should repair to his Lordship to Ruthin where a Correction or Visitation was to be kept to give him the reason of their grievance and also that the Parish should contribute Twenty Shillings more to the said Forty Shillings for the Purpose aforesaid which publication the said Simon Lloyd said was not true saying we should have heard of it if it had been so or words to that Effect whereupon the Bishop asked the Appellant whether he had such Order under his Hand And the Appellant answering he had not under his hand but by word of Mouth the Bishop replyed and said I deny I gave you such Order my Word shall be taken before your Oath meaning the said Appellants and told the said Appellant Three times over he Lyed and said unto him you must contend with great Bishops I will Order you whereupon the Appellant said that the Bishop of Winchester had provok'd his Lordship against him for he the said Bishop of Winchester said to his Lordship in presence of the Appellant that he the Appellant was the Erranst Rogue in England or else he the said Bishop was use him accordingly when he comes to his Living which sayings or words to that Effect the Bishop of Bangor did then admit where spoken by the Bishop of Winchester wherupon the Appellant desired to be Examined before some competent Judicatory touching a great concern of the Church of England to which the Bishop answered and said what will you make me an Informer or the like Effect past then between them And further saith and believes it to be true that the said Bishop long before this causless Trouble and Molestation sent his Chaplains Gethin and Lloyd unto him desiring him to Exchange his Rectory for another Benefice the said Bishop would give for it which offer the Appellant refusing was the occasion of his Persecution as this deponent verily believes and the said Bishop having often times decalred a liking to the said Rectory as this Deponent was credibly informed by several of the best of the Parish by all which proceedings and practices it is manifest what wrong the Appellant hath had Occasioned as this Deponent believes for refusing to Exchange his Rectory aforesaid and lastly this Deponent saith and believeth that the said Appellant did not at at all disobey the Bishops Commands but in respect of the Contradictions thereof he knew not how to obey him without displeasing or rendring himself Guilty of Publishing an untruth at the Altar which if the Appellant had yeilded unto this Deponent believes the Bishop would soon have taken the Advantage thereof to expell him his Rectory so much desir'd by the Bishop and if this Deponent had not been Privy to most of the aforesaid proceeding he would hardly have believed a Reverend Person would have acted such things William Jones Gentleman When I could not prevent the trouble to prevent the scandal of this Controrversy on my side I declared in my Church on a Sunday about the the latter end of October 1668. That it was the Duty of a Clerk by his Oath to be Obedient to his Diocesan That I left Reading in the Curate Seat in Obedienceto my Diocesan who judg'd it Unfit to Read Prayers in That I continued to Read Prayers in this Upper Seat in obedience to my Diocesans present monition to Read Loco consueto maxime Convenienti in the Accustom'd and most convenient place as all of you agree this Seat to be that I was ready and willing to Officiate in any other Third place the Bishop and the Parish shall agree which declaration is attested by Numbers of my Parishoners upon their Oaths in the Arches ut supra Yet by the Influence of the Two great Bishops and their Creatures Sir Leolin Jenkyns B. R. and others I was condemned and censured ab Officio beneficio at the Arches and Delegates as well as at the Court of Bangor and no acknowledgement of a Possible mistake would be admitted to restore me unto my calling unless I did confess and acknowledg an absolute disobedience to my Diocesan which I knew whither it tended and I resolved to appeal to Heaven by patient suffering against such Diabolical contrivance as it seem'd to me till God relieved me by the Death of my Diocesan and an Act of Grace in 1672. whereby both Censures and the conditional costs were extinguished as the Bishop of R. acknowledged being the only Judge Delegate saving one other surviving and favouring at first my Diocesans-side but yet my present Diocesan insisted I should take Absolution before I Officiated in his Diocess which I ever refused to do before either the Act of Oblivion or the Death of my former Bishop because Innocent My Diocesan chusing rather to proceed against me in the matter of the Reading Pew than to assist me to be Examin'd touching the Churches Danger which I suspected Hearing of the Meeting of another Bishop in the Neighbourhood I delivered to both the following Paper May 26. 1669. Mr. Jones his Case Rector of Landurnog in Wales Chaplain attending his Royal Highness at St. James and abroad humbly presented to the Right Reverend Fathers in God the Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph
Innocence nor Submission nor Intercession nor satisfaction nor the Example of His Majesty in Pardoning nor any method whereby God is reconciled to man or men to one another could in Seven years appease or reconcile If it be expected that I am to bear false Testimony against my self and acknowledge my self guilty where I know and am known to be innocent to justify any thereby that have accused me wrongfully and against their knowledge of my innocence to my Prince and Master meerly to prevent the effects of his fresh favour towards me or for some other intrigue then I plainly declare that I hold this to be unnatural and slavish and sinful for me to do and Satanical for any to expect it And do remit and quit the hopes of your Highnesses favour if it is to be obtain'd upon no other terms Nevertheless in common ordinary justice between any Master and Servant your Highness may well grant me these Three requests following which I humbly make to your Highness 1. My arrear of Salary and also of Chamber Rent which are about â— l. for I have not had 6 d. allowed me from my Living these 2 or 3 years to buy me Bread nor the Liberty of my calling to Earn it 2. Your Highness Pass Certificate or dimissory letter to look out a New Patron for otherwise men fear and shun me for fear of some personal displeasure in your Highness towards me 3. Some Equitable Compensation for my detriment and loss for it is well known that I am in all probability about 600 l. per annum the worse by accepting your Hignesses Service and waving the present Primate of Irelands and about 500 l. out of Purse the worse by the Living in Wales and the snares and contrived troubles that attend it more intollerable than Death lasting upon me about 7 years which is Life in Law under the Pretences of a Reading-Pew and rash words manag'd by Power against me And I shall c. I added to Sir A. A. to make him witness of this Address That I am and was of opinion ever from 1665. that the true causes of my Troubles were not any of those things Objected against me by my Lord of Winton or any other but my excecuting her late Highnesses Orders against Popery in her Family and my beginning to be considerable in his Higenesses Favour after my attendance at Sea The Dukes Answer to me by Sir A. A. and my Lord C. August 14. 1673. The Duke is willing but is not able to do any thing for you but as the Bps direct him c. I delivered likewise to Sir A. A. a Certificate of Mr. Wren Secretary to the late Chancellor Hide touching my Actings and sufferings in times of Usurpation as also a state of my Accounts and arrears which I left with him A Letter to the Bishop of Winton July 6. 75. My Lord YOU were pleased for some occult cause to continue an endless enmity against me now about Ten years like the Goddess in the Poets quam nec longa Dies Pietas nec mitigat ulla c. though Innocent and Infinitely an unequal Match to your Lordship and all along kneeling to your Power Neither do I remember any advantage or Victory you ever gain'd over me but when I laid down my defence and guard at your feet trusting to your Lordship and your R. Brethrens words and Counsel out of entire respect to your Dignities and Persons and being now necessitated to be Plt. and to take a little benefit of the Law against you you presently take Sanctuary in your Priviledges against me tho' in a controversy first begun by your Lordship And after disowning your Messages by Mr. Markham and Mr. J. Apothecary through your Secretary which they still avow you lately sent another to me by my R. Diocesan the Bp. of Bangor which if it be stood to by your Ldp. or Rightly understood by me implies that your Ldp. is willing to forgive me your verdict Moneys if I acknowledge that I wrong'd your Ldp. which signifies to me in effect that if I wrongfully accuse my self to justifie your Ldp. who have so accused me to the Duke to my greater prejudice than you are now able to repair that then your Ldp. will bestow that Monys upon me which you declared at Kings-Beneh and by other Acts and Deeds to have bestowed on Bangor Church My Lord I am ready to do my Duty without Hire and any thing Else to recover your Ldps. Peace and Charity but sin as you find in my Letter by Mr. Markham for your Ldps satisfaction My Ld. I have lately made 2 or 3 requests to his Highness that his Highness would be pleased to pay me the remaining part of my Salary and Grant me a Dimissory Letter or recommend me to some new Patron that he would make me some equitable reparation for my great detriment occasioned by his Service and Favour His Highnesses gratious Answer was that he could do nothing for me but as he was directed by the Bps. meaning I suppose your Ldp. I hope therefore that if your Ldp. will not allow his Highness to readmit me to his favour which his Higness ever was and is willing to that you will not Ecclipse his justice from July 6. 75. Your most Humble Servant Tho. Jones For the Right Reverend Father in God George Lord Bishop of Winton at his House in Chelsey these with Reverence The Bishop return'd Answer to this Letter by Mr. Isaac W. to Dr. J. that I might have my Moneys restor'd and what else I desir'd if I submitted to him Some Submissions tendered in the Controversy about Reading Pew THe Bishop in his answer upon Oath Affirming he never gave me order to Publish the Curate seat as unfit to prevent all colour of Disobedience I desired my Advocate to draw such a submission as might fully satisfie the Bishop of Bangor and Sir Leolin Jenkins who it enuously appeared against me at Doctors Commons though neither Judge nor Advocate in the Cause but as Amicus Curiae as he term'd it whereupon Dr. L. Now Sir R. L. Drew for me this draught ensuing of which he said no Person or Court on Earth could require more And this I did because Sir Leolin told me the Duke was offended with me because I submitted not to the great Bishops nor to my own Diocesan As the case stands between my Lord Bishop of Bangor and Mr. Jones Rector of Landurnog He having published at the Altar his Diocesan s Order for Condemning the Reading Seat in the Church of Landurnog as undecent and inconvenient which Order his Diocesan denieth in his Answer in the Arches Court to have given him This is humbly proposed in behalf of Mr. Jones as a way to extinguish all Imputations of Disobedience and to end all differences between his Diocesan and him viz. in regard he is convinced in his Conscience that he published but the Truth he may be allowed to declare it at the same
Altar upon his voluntary Oath That he delivered nothing to his Parishioners but what his Diocesan gave him Order to do or what he apprehended to be his Diocesans Order which done he shall openly acknowledge in the same place that it is his Duty to Read in the Seat in question or in whatever other Seat his Diocesan shall think more convenient But no submission of this Nature for Peace sake would be admitted though it was tendered in the Courts of Bangor and Arches and Delegates and judg'd sufficient by Persons of all Qualities Divines Civilians Gentlemen Noblemen Bishops But it was expected and insisted by Sir Leulin and his party that I should acknowledg that I had absolutely disobeyed my Diocesan and was sorry for it which I and my Parishioners knew to be false and I saw it rended to make me Guilty of the violation of my Canonical Oath and thereby to Invalidate my Testimony for ever against the Bishop whom I suspected of Perverting the late Dutchess in her Religion c. Therefore I was resolved to adhere to my Innocence and the Truth to the End against all prospect of Relief from Man In fine when they had Wrested my Estate and Galling from me and I still refused to submit notwithstanding all threats and kind offers they proceeded at last to deprive me of my Liberty and when I was Informed of their Writs of Excomunicato capiendo issued out into the Country in order to put me to farther Charges and to seize me at last here at London I prevented that trouble to them and my self by this Surrender to the chief Bishop-Delegate and my unkind old Friend Sir Leolin Jenkins one of the Chief Sollicitors in this Cause July 2. 1672. Whereas I stand Excommunicate and Liable to Imprisonment for not paying certain Charges recovered against me in the Honourable Court of Delegates to the Bishop of Bangor and Wardens of Landurnog and it is well known that my Living of Landurnog hath been for these two years and above sequestred by the said Eishop for the use of the Bishop of Winton so that I receive not one Peny of the Profits thereof and have no other Benefice or preferment to subsist on This is humbly to signify to the Honourable Court of Delegates that in submission to their Sentence I shall at there call because of my present Disabilities to deposite ready Mony Surrender my Self to Prison at their Pleasure that they may not use Bayliffs or force to take me for I hear Writs are Ihuing forth to that purpose Or be willing that the said Bishop of Bangor pay himself the said Charges out of the first Profits as shall be due to me out of the said Living or sooner if my Lord of Winton give leave And I do further most humbly Declare that I am very sorry it is conceived or imputed to me to have disobeyed my Diocesan in the least it being against my Oath and Principles to be disobedient to Superiors And shall therefore when restored to my Living be willing to leave my own Seat again and as far as sight and light will give Leave Read Prayers again in the other Seat which as I now apprehend is determined to be the intended and most convenient place to Read Service in by the Bishops Affirmation I before apprehending in my Conscience before God that my Diocesan gave me his Command to Publish the same in my Church to be undecent and unfit to Read Prayers in upon the complaint of me and my Parishioners And I do promise to use all care and waryness to prevent the like mistake of my Diocesans Orders for the future For the Right Worshipful Sir Leolin Jenkins at Doctors-Commons Noble Sir I Was forc'd to take notice that in the Grand Controversie about Reading Pew parallell'd of late to the Transgression in Paradice as if it requir'd a new Messiah you were greatly intrusted and engaged against me by my Adversaries not only by your voluntary Pleading without a Call but also by your restless egging on the slow-pac'd Sollicitor to hunt me out of my Livelyhood whereof the one seem'd below your Dignity and neither part well agreeable with that converse or friendship which on my part towards you was ever sincere You left room thereby to conjecture that you were acted herein by an Obligation to which Morality and Inclination were in worldly prudence to give place Tantaene animis Coeleslibus irae Can Grace and Serenity be so implacably bent for about Seven years together to oppress and ruine for no original Cause or Provocation but that the kind Prince was inclined to exalt one's Sheaf O! ye Judges and Gods Learn to do as you would be done by though there were no Adonibezek for an Example To prevent Charge and trouble and the Indignity of being pursued with Swords and Clubs I have directed to you the enclos'd surrender who stand so near my chiefest Adversaries to give your Instrumental activity and Powerful intermedling the honour of the last Stroke and final Conquest over me For being by Arts and Power interrupted of the Prince's countenance and external reputation of all maintenance and livelyhood which is Life and Blood of Function and Communion which is dearer than Life I had nothing left to part with to satiate my enemies thirst but my Liberty which being now surrender'd betokens a near approach of detection and deliverance if Truth and Innocence and Trust in God can never be suppressed as I believe they cannot I shall therefore be ready to obey your call or those that entrust you within what warning you please to send or leave at the Eagle and Child in the Strand where you shall find or hear from July 2. 1672. Your c. The Death of my Diocesan and an Act of Oblivion shortly ensuing delivered me from this present trouble about the Reading Pew and likewise from the Costs which the Delegates declar'd at the time of their Sentence should not be allowed at all to the Church-Wardens nor to the Bishop of Bangor but on Condition to be refunded again to me upon my submission which the Bishops death and the Act of Grace supplied as was acknowledged Orders from her Late Highness in 1664. to me to prevent the growth of Popery in her Family deliver'd to me by the R. Bishop of Winchester to Transcribe and the Original to be restored to him for Reasons best known to himself I. TO enter upon Reading Prayers every Morning at Seven a Clock beside the other hours of Ten. II. To procure a List of all the Family that are Book'd from Sir H de Vic's Office or Sir Allen Apsly III. To make another List of those that are not Book'd and of all Children and Servants that pertain to any of the D's Family IV. To know distinctly the Profession of each person whether of the Church of England or the Roman V. To oblige all the Servants c. whose imploiment will not permit them to attend the other hour to
Elymas the Sorcerer OR A MEMORIAL Towards the DISCOVERY Of the Bottom of this Popish-PLOT And how far his R. HIGHNESS's Directors have been Faithful to his Honour and Interest or the Peace of the NATION Publish'd upon occasion of a Passage in the Late Dutchess of YORK's Declaration for changing her RELIGION BY THO JONES sometime Domestick and Naval Chaplain to his R. Highness the Duke of York Cur aliquid vidi Cur noxia Lumina feci 2 Cor. 12 9. My Strength is made perfect weakness LONDON Printed for H. Jones MDCLXXXII A Memorial towards the Discovery of the Original of this Popish-Plot c. MOnsieur Maimbourg in his History of Calvinisme very lately put out this present year 1682 in several Editions recites therein with great Catholick boast and hopes A Declaration of her late Highness the Dutchess of York of the Reasons and Motives she had to change her Religion I regarded one passage therein more upon my own experience than the credit of a Stranger which justified a suspition I endur'd long trouble for many years to adhere to out of fidelity to my Church and Country though severely lash'd with the Imputations of Pride and disobedience for it for which I am to bless The passage is this J'ay este particulierement fortement convaincue de la presence reele de Jesus-Christ au Saint Sacrement de l' Autel de l'infaillibilite de l' Eglise de la Confession de la priere pour les morts J'ay voulu conferer de ces marieres par maniere dentretien avec les deux plus habiles Evesques que nous ayons en Angleterre tous deux m'ont avoue ingenument qu'ily a bien des choses dans l'Eglise Romaine qu'il seroit a desirer que l' Eglise Anglicane eust toujours observees comme la Confession qu'on ne scauroit desavouer que â—ieu mesme n'ait commandee la priere pour les morts qui est une des plus authentiques les plus anciennes pratiques de la Religion Chrestienne que pour eux ils s'en servoient en particulier sans en faire une profession publique Comme je pressois un de ces Evesques sur les autres points de concroverse principalement sur la presence reele de Jesus Christ au Saint Sacrament de l' Autel il me repondit librement que s'il estoit Catholique il ne voudroit pas changer de Religion mais qu'ayant este eleve dans une Eglise dans laquelle il croyoit avoir tout ce qui estnecessaire au salus y ayant receu son Baptesme il ne croyoit pas la pouvoir quitter sans un grand scandale Tout ce discours neservit qu'a augmenter le desir ardent que j'avois de me rendre Catholique je sentis des peines interieures d'horribles inquietudes ensuite de la conversation que j'eus avec ces deux Evesques I was particularly and strongly convinced of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar of the Infallibility of the Church Confession and Prayer for the Dead I was willing to conferr of these matters by way of Discourse with the Two most able Bishops that we have in England and both confest to me ingeniously That there are many things in the Church of Rome which it was to be wished that the Church of England had still observed as Confession which it could not be denied but that God had commanded it and Prayer for the Dead which is one of the most authentick and Antient Practices of the Christian Religion but as to themselves they made use thereof in private without making publick profession thereof As I pressed one of these Bishops upon the other points of Controversy and principally on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar he answered me freely that were he a Catholick he would not change Religion but that having been educated in a Church in which he believed there was all that was necessary to Salvation and there having received his Baptisme he thought he could not quit it without great Scandal All this discourse served but to increase the Ardent desire which I had to become a Catholick and I felt inward Pains and horrible disquiets after the conversation I had with these Two Bishops The Author of the Apology in behalf of the Papists Printed in 1666 who well knew me and the cause of my sufferings dropt an Early Intimation of the like Import We dare with submission say Let a Publick Invitation be put up against any Party whatsoever Nay against the Reverend Bishops themselves and some malicious in his Lordships sense Informer or other will alledge that which may be far better to conceal There are but few to be found so forsaken of God and their own Reasons as are not able to discern and allow that Secret Enemies are far more dangerous to all Men and Communities than open and profesl'd and that Men hate to be betrayed worse than to be Destroyed They therefore that countenance or cover the Masquerade Enemies of the Church of England prove themselves to be of the same pernicious conspiracy the greater they are in Place and Power the greater is the danger to the Publick from them and their detection therefore the greater service and Glory Her late Highness expresses not what Bishops those Two were in Particular whom all sober Protestants must look on as the betrayers of her Soul and this Church It seems duty and fidelity to our Church and Nation to contribute Intelligence and Observations to detect them farther They are not in Reason Fathers who are condemned Persons in Law And the danger and scandal of their ill example is the less because they never shewed so much Learning and Integrity as to justifie before the world their new Perswasions by Pen or open Practice or Resignation A Papist or a Mahometan that is sincere and Resolute in the profession of his errour shews more Religon and vertue than the most Reverend two fac'd Renegado that 's false to his Faith and trust and Countrey for wordly Interest And Indeed he that is so false to himself will hardly be true to any other Therefore Campanella advises to chuse for confessor non qui te diligit sed qui diligit animam Suam such who loves his own Soul not thee To these Judas's amongst our Apostles is cheiflly owing the present misery and Redivision of these flourishing Kingdoms by new Fears and fewds and not a little perhaps to the Eternal Frailties of great ones that had rather be Pleas'd than Lovd How happy were it for the Nation if such carnal compliers for the sake of Grandeur were as hateful to our Princes as they are to God and the rest of Mankinde I have no better account to give to God and the World of the latter part of my life than some zeal and Adventures against such Betrayers which
I have preferred before all worldly offers and Peace I should therefore hide my Candle under a Bushel If I did not give some acount and communicate to the world these ensuing Passages at east which have passed from me to his R. H. Chaplains and Officers and several Reverend Bishops before and long before Maimbourg's Book came out which I humbly recommend to all true hearted and Generous Sons and Fathers of the Church of England to peruse and freely to judge of their own and countries concerns and my weak but sincere Endeavours as their Consciences shall direct being ever firm to their Loyal Communion and resolv'd through Gods Grace to persevere though with some difference from other pretenders or this Invincible infirmity as always to believe though never much for Persecution any R. Bishop who were false to his Church where he enjoys such maintenance and honour to deserve Hanging infinitely better than any lawless trayterous Jesuit who would avowedly destroy it out of Blind Zeal and sidelity to his own A Letter to Doctor W. Chaplain to his R. H. Dated April the 5th 1682. Reverend Sir YOu have had now time enough from February 23 and some of your Brethren in the same mystery monish'd alike much longer space to consult your Duty and safety I shall not and I think ought not to publish any of your Letters that you have or may send in answer without your leave and desire nor my second part as yet consisting of more particulars from first to last as long as I find so little exception against the first or indeed none at all that either is or can be with any Truth Which I see no reason therefore why I may not Print as well for publick Information and Benefit with submission to be tendered above all smaller respects as for necessary Private vindication of my good name before I dye which next to good Conscience hath an Immortal Spiritual existance to be fairly preserved in minds against all Temporal hindrance as also for a Lawful and laudable Interest and fellow-feeling from Innumerable True Protestants throughout the Nation upon knowledge of my Case which by two much Patience and tenderness toward unnatural and disguis'd Beings I have so long disregarded and wav'd Because you may apprehend me as an Enemy for minding and setting you upon ungrateful Truth I shall therefore forbear to advise you But the Apostle directs us to suffer if Gods will be so in a good work rather than in an Evil And I take it to be a better work to contribute to save Church and Countrey though with Trouble and Danger than to be wanting to either with Peace and Plenty Which choice hath been my support and solace for many years against the subtel and Merciless assaults and pressures of Catholick Zeal trampling Antichristianly as usual upon the Laws of God and Man on Faith and Truth and Conscience and Honour and Civility and Humanity and fair and Generous Hostility For what greater satisfaction to a Subject or Glory to a Prince let France now be judge than to be Gods Instruments to deliver our Church and Country from Spiritual Captivity or what greater blot or Curse than to be Slaves to Knaves to betray a delivered Nation anew into it If I therefore reccomend to you the same hazards and comforts I my self have chosen and preferred before all offers and Sums and greater Princely favour and Interest than all can well pretend to wherein can you complain of any unworthiness in me but that I have discharged the part of an honest and a Loyal Subject and because Protestant is not so pleasing to you of your Dated April 5. 82. For the Reverend Dr. Chaplain to his R. H. Rector of near Malborough Christian Friend THO. JONES Another to the same Person Dated February 1681. Reverend Sir I Suppose I have given sufficient proof to you and the world of patience and quietness under long hard usage from 1664 to this present without the passion of a Troden Worm Not for want of life or sence but out of regard and tenderness to Adversaries and Desertors and a dumb grief and astonishment at the sad condition of this Chuch upon its recovery to have as I much suspected disguised Wolves amongst its chief Pastors and Watchmen not to be concealed without great danger nor discovered without greater scandal and confusion The oppression it self though reaching not directly to blood but to several more precious Lives was not so fore and insupportable as the unkindness and treachery and the everlasting wrath and reprobation that attended it without bounds or Sun-sets or any visible cause or Provocation the Spirit and cloathing of Calvin dexterously concealing from me and others the killing Red Letter within Neither was it a pleasant Riddle to find the Fathers of my own Church to Execute Popish threats and predictions against me and that in a mysterious prevalent opposition to his R. Highness who overruled several times for me against them and his late Duchess and Commanded me to depend upon his favour and protection to the end in so much that my Lord of W. sent for me on purpose to declare that the Dutchess desired him to trouble me no more because the Duke was so firm unto me and desired me to acquiesce and he would acquiesce and being taken off my watch and guard I was immediately destroyed for my Faith Neither was it easie then with me to believe what principles might necessitate or legitimate such methods till subsequent revolts gave some light first of her late Highness wondered at in 1670. by her Father in his Letters and foretold by me to several Private Friends in 1666. from some passages in concurrence with him and my Lord of W. to suppress and discourage and at last to Sacrifice me to some of the other Chappel at St. James's for no other cause but my executing her Orders against Popery in her Family whereby I conjectured and inferred her own Religion would be her next oblation But that of his Highness when rumoured shortly after I could not so easily believe because he was or seemed ignorant of their designs and defended me against their assaults though his Guiders and Directors unless it may be thought that they who were able to make him quit his Promises might also be able to make him quit his Faith taking an old Proverb to their assistance My Mother loves to be killed The pain and smart of suffering being well over and worn out by long use and familiarity the unfading comforts of Integrity remain And I bless God that he hath given me Grace to chuse Affliction rather than Sin and to suffer in Innocence and for no other cause but my fidelity to this Apostolical Protestant Church providentially Restored and Re-established by our Renowned Princes of Brittish Line which God may order for its strength in his time and that I was no Scandal or Stumbling-block to my Prince by carnal complyance with his frailties for
a haire of his head or line of his Picture but have very strong desires to be effectually safe in their dearest concerns from the sworn Enemies of their Religion and Country too much hearkned to I know a person that was torn and like to be destroyed by a tame and generous Mastiff when a little Childe for dallying too long and withholding his bit from him when he was hungry I know no greater Enemies to the Duke than your servile parasfitical party who by Loyal complyance with all his feavorish appetites for their advantage have betrayed him into this disease and perplexity and danger and strange revenge not against Enemies but best friends and the Glory of his Fathers memory by loading it with an odious and obvious new discovery of a probable cause of his sad difaster permitted by providence which overrules the Malice of Men and Devils to this Glorious ends while all will easily see and judge that the Revolt of the Son the sorrow and trouble of all good men the open boast and shelter of Papists c. the Secret joy and mockery of Republicans was the likely effect of his unequal marriage and the Blood and Massacre and confusion that is feared the likely effect of this revolte All foreseen and disliked by the omniscient Wisdom which chasteneth in whom it loveth any root or cause of mischeif there being besides a particular Remarkable providence over this Isle which makes kind Aspects towards Popery inauspicious to our British Crown and an effectual sincere Zeal to suppress it Fortunate and Glorious to our Princes as I offer to consideration pag. 373. Hearts Soveraigne But the truth is when I was well fitted by His Highness's extraordinary Favour and good opinion as is well known to all about then him to direct or retard him by love or argument or supplications from such hazardous and degenerate motions upon mistaken Zeal against our Church and Kingdom and Himself in all his Interests Temporal Moral and Eternal and to recommend to him the Example of Queen Elizabeth to be gloriously useful and dear to GOD and his Country as I do in my Book or of Queen Christina to merit a Heaven and kinde tribute by being civil which I leave to others to advise How did your party never rest to hazard their Honour and Salvation by multiplying false testimonies to remove such Lumber from about His Highness though I observed none of the Bed-Chamber that joyned in this Intrigue against me but only one Sir A. A. but rather of their own accord did intercede often for me nor indeed any within or without the House but the Relations and Creatures and Subcreatures of an unfortunat Grandee then in very great Power and your old P. if I well remember Could any English man or Christian refrain to oppose or testify to his power against such wrongs and abuses to his Prince and Nation from bosome Friends Seek the Peace of the City faith the Prophet and pray unto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof ye shall have peace Jer. 27.7 Therefore in 1668. after the remove of the Lord Chancelor H. the head of your party and designe upon the score of matches as I imagined and felt I applyed my self upon a just occasion to some Reverend Bishops met near my Parish to desire their assistance to have this matter searched and examined least there were a Plot laid against this Church hoping by the sounder part to detect and work out the more unsound with less scandal and danger then by any other method I could use or think of but instead of being holpe or directed I was oppressed and betrayed and instead of being produced a witness for the Publick made a defendant to an action of Scandalum magnatum by wilful misconstruction of my discourse against a paper to the contrary lest with them under my hand to proceed on which they concealed from that time to this the coppy whereof can be produced And in December 1678. after the breaking out of this Popish Plot In obedience to his Majesties Proclamations I communicated what light I could thereunto by a a-breviate of my sufferings and for what cause delivered to an Honorable and fit Person of the Privy-Council but nothing was made thereof nor I enquired after any more Only I observed an unexpected retrograd motion like a Resurrection from the dead from Farnham to London thereupon to joyn with other great Bishops to recover the Duke to the Church or perhaps to cover one of their number from contrary suspition by a kind absolution of which boast hath been made but what ever was the design the event of the meeting as I heard was to let the World see that his Highness neither was nor would be directed by the Bishops in some contrariety and check to his last answer to me as afore wherewith I was crushed and tantalized by their directions for so many years so much their care was more for some of their own safeties then of His Highness's honour but I observed no such displeasure against them for shutting the Stable door so late as from His Highness and one of them against me without end for giving the alarme and warning before the Steed was gone By all I have nothing to boast but that I have made good my innocence and Loyal integrity against all exceptions and colours whatsoever and neither promises nor protection nor justice nor equity nor mercy nor truth nor any plain-dealing have been made good save only from your self unto me to this day and I have Overcome Evil with Good and have not been overcome by it to GOD I give the Praise Such being the harmless victory of Martyrs over Heathenish Powers as St. Hierom notes Non cessisse vicisse est But now the most open publication of this dark Mystery to the consideration of Authority and the World is sufficiently safe and seasonable and necessary the whole Nation being now known to it self to be entirely united and resolved against Popery in which point both Addressers and Excluders and his Majesty all agree and the danger of Fanatical Confusion and Sacriledge and striking at the Antient Order for the faults of Persons litle feared or the like defect and danger better to be rectified and remedied another way without wrong to the King and Publick Councils or wound and scandal to Religion So that your masquerad party appear very small and contemptible and mistaken and easily to be blown off to publick Satifaction who while undiscerned and unremoved were for divers years very considerable by their neerness to vitals great influence and power especially over the Clergy and Universities to help or hurt or corrupt or as in my case to vex and oppress to death by a new colour and mystery of a through-paced obedience required to superiours right or wrong and leading the Lord knowes whither as in a string contrary to the Tenor of Canonical Oaths which bind only to things lawful and just
which is the present trust or shall ever be as is ought the daily Prayer and Study and Patience of Your Royal Highness most Humble most Dutyful and Faithful Servant Thomas Jones For the Right Reverend Dr. Barrow Lord Bishop of St. Asaph At Ely House My LORD I am inform'd that your Lordship concerns your self with other Reverend Persons in other parts to bring new trouble and disgrace upon me since my Restoration to Landurnog which is within your Diocess and Neighborhood but out of your Jurisdiction and to begin to give directions to your Clergie to avoid and shun my company and converse as a perfidious Person I trust I am no way guilty of that hard Character or any other Crime haveing lived all my days just to all men and firm to my King and Church though wholly a stranger to your Lordship I was born and brought up at Oswestry in Shropshire and lived in the late times at Castle in Montgomerishire both within your Diocess where it is well known and well attested by the Principal Gentry and Clergy of those parts how far serviceable I was to King and Church against their Enemies Bradshaw and the Propagators with considerable success though with Persecution Whither I repair'd at the request and advice of the Loyal Gentry and Clergy thereabouts and particularly Dr. Griffiths afterwards one of your Lordships predecessors and left a fellowship in University Colledg and took Holy-Orders in 1654. and studied the welsh Tongue to serve those parts when the Orthodoxe Clergy was miserably consum'd by an act of Propagation so called The Title stood thus as represented to me upon best enquiry Puleston the last Lawful incumbent dyed Anno. 1645. Wyn the next was put in by Parliament Committees put out again by the same powers for scandal about 1651 And the Church shut up till 1654. when I and others were desired to come from Oxford to the assistance of the Country to prevent Taylors and Weavers c. setling upon the Parishes Upon his Majesties Restoration Wyn discovers a dormant Title simoniacally procur'd about 1646 the Commissioners for consirming and restoring with the advice of Bishop Griffiths upon their hearing of the cause between Wyn and me setled me because Wyn had not read the 39 Articles Wyn afterwards at a tryal at Law at Bridgenorth had one to prove his reading the Articles and I was Ejected Then Bishop Griffiths deprives Wyn in his consistory for scandal and confers Castle on Langford a monyed man c. Wyn appeals and overthrows the Bishop who lived not long after This Rectory being worth 140 pound per Annum I abode the loss thereof with much arrears rather than I would recover the same by bringing the frailties of such Patrons upon the Stage whereof I had good proofs offerd me and have them by me From thence I removed to the service of the Lord President and Councel of Wales at Ludlow Castle Recommended by the R Bishops of Gloucester and St. Asaph about 1661. and thence to His R. Highness the Duke of York in 1663. upon no interest or acquaintance but after some Sermons Preached by me in Westminister-Abby and about the same time waved an Invitation from Dr. Margetson the most R. Primate of England to be His Graces Chaplain thinking it not fit to desert the Duke on a suddain for advantage in all which places which are the stages of my life I lived in good Name and Fame and Love untill I fell into the displeasure of the Reverend Bishop of Winton and my Lords Grace of Canterbury upon his score to whom I was as much a stranger as to your Lordship saving that I was recommended by an Eminent hand unto the one for Loyal actings and sufferings in the late times who became inexorable towards me from 1666 and before to this present time for no real cause as I could ever find or conjecture but recommending one De Macedo being In great distress and want upon his leaving the Church of Rome to Her late R. Highness's Charity then very zealous for Protestantisme who proving a great Eye-sore to the Romish Chappel at St James's upon Her Highness's countenancing of him was strangely removed out of the way after I went to Sea to attend the Duke in 1664 and 1665. But if he through provocation or discouragement or scandal given him carried himself unworthy of his maintenance and respect which he received from the Dutches and also from my Lord of W. he might surely have been laid aside with English Christian fairness being a stranger without arts and Snare and the fowl imputations of being burnt for Sodomy in Paris about ten years before he died and without annexing my distruction to his escape at Portsmouth whore he had like to have been conveyed to be more really burnt in his own Country By whose means this was contriv'd deserves enquiry but my fall was manifestly then wrought by the means of the said Bishop of W. through her said Highness whose reputed Confessor he then was against the Dukes mind and inclination when I was newly returned from Sea with the special and publick approbation of his Highness Vide S. Cressy Epistle Apologetical Pag. 115. Apology for the Papists answered pag. 36. A presage and proem to this trouble was the late Lord high Chancellor H. desiring me not to take my degree of Dr. when I moved him for his letter As Chancellor of the University granted of Course to any being recommended to his favour by the Duke a little before Shortly after the great Bishops accuse an innocent Servant to his Prince and Master who had but newly before recommended me to them The exceptions were 1. That the Bishop of W. having adviz'd the Duke to have no Preaching at Sea I should speak irreverently hereof to a friend as contrary to a Fleet Statute and Sea mens needs as well as out of present pique against me 2. That I scorn'd to Administer the Sacrament to the Family in the absence of the Dutches. 3. That I was an enemy to the Governours and Government of the Church But they were soon waved and quitted as soon a I pleaded innocence and desired to be tryed upon any of them or any other and the Duke acquainted that now my Cross was without a Title But though I was cleard I was nevertheless remov'd whether I would or no to Landurnog usually held in commendam and resided upon by the Bishops of Bangor under coulour of preferment and reward for service Her Highness being inform'd as she was pleas'd to declare to me before the Duke that I could not hold the Dukes service and my living together with a good Conscience whereupon His Highness commanded me to go to a great Bishop to desire him as from his Highness to see me setled by Law in both and the great Bishops answer to His Highness message was that he had not learning enough to satisfy His Highness how by Law one body could be in two places but
Duty with him at Sea and especially when his Majesty and Highness were pleased to point at him in the Royal Chappel in time of Divine Service in view of many my Lord of Winton from that time never ceas'd to imploy his utmost Power and Interest to ruine Jones in Court and Country Jones therefore doth humbly desire the right Reverend Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph to cause this Matter to be search'd least there be any design laid against this Church or Judgments he multiplied upon this Nation by unsincere Oaths or the Presbyter party bearian away the Glory of Defending the Protestant Interest and the late glorious Kings Cause and Martyrdome recieve wrong and old Fears and jealousies be justified And Particularly least by any misinformation Jones be oppressed by the Church for his fidelity to the Church as well against the Schismatical party when it formerly prevail'd as against the Popish when it began Clandestinely to prevaile May 26. 1669. Tho. Jones Neither was there any thing made of or upon this Information in writeing saving the sending a Copy attested by a Public notary to the great Bishops for the compass of a whole Year my Lord Ch. H. being now out of the way c. But in the Year 1670 when I was pursuing my appeal to the Arches against my Diocesan touching the said reading Pew my Diocesan and my Lord of W. Consulted upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum which my Lord of W. Commenc'd against me in Easter Term of the said Year 1670 for words pretended to have been spoken by me at Lanynnis Octob. 3. 1668. and whatever their Importance were so long conceal'd The words of my Lord of W. Declaration put in Trinity Term following where these My Lord of W. hath engaged you Bishop of Bangor to do me all the mischief you can for his part he hath discountenanc'd my Catechizing at St. James's and my Preaching in the Fleet he is a Promotor of Popery and a Subvertor of the Church of England Which words I mean the last Clause as soon as I met them in the Declaration I was amaz'd thereat and declared to my Lord of W. Agents and Friends for I could not be admitted either before or after to speake with his Lordship that I never spoke those words neither did I own them I and an other then and there present would take our Oaths upon it what I did speake of my Lord of W. I gave the same under my hand in writing which I did own and stand to my Lord of W. notwithstanding would proceed upon these words But in Michaelmas Term he was not ready and I had an opportunity to be dismiss'd upon motion being the third Term as I was informed and my Lord of W. could never have renewed this suite any more because of the Statute of limitation Here my Lord of W. is beholding for his verdict and conquest to my respects to the late Bishop of London where of both were told betimes who pretending kindness to me and good Will did advize and prevaile upon me to desist Hillary Term 1670 the Bishop of Bangor and his Chaplain and Mr. S. Ll. Swore the words aforesaid at Kings Bench before Lord Chief Justice Keeling Middlesex and Mr. Ll. ex abundante Swore that I there said I delighted to contend with great Bishops which was a great Collusion for I had us'd those words there by way of disowning and charge against the said Mr Ll. for raising in the Country such a false report concerning me who delighted not to contend with any sort of men either superiors or Inferiours or equalls for reasons which I then and there gave to them both My Lord of W. having recover'd a verdict of 317 l. against me for the words so proved seiz'd upon my Living of Llandurnog which was all my preferment for three Years together for the same being worth 200 l. per annum at least in those years wherein there hapned a dearth in those parts not allowing me 6 d. thereout towards my maintenance being silenc'd also from my calling the said years in the Ecclesiastical Courts upon the score of reading Pew aforesaid My Lord of W. and his Friends about the said three years end by trick about 20 l. being my own moneys in over-plus for which they gain'd a receipt from under my hand by craft have raised a report thereupon that he secretly maintained me in those years wronging my next Relations who solely did to whom I am to Lease Llandurnog from time to time for their reimbursements yet my Lord of W. Lawyers affirm'd at the King's Bench that he had bestowed the verdict moneys saving 50 l. upon Bangor Cathedral the said Court wondring at so cruel a Charity neither of which vain glorious reports were true most of the moneys being still in the hands of his Sequestrators towards uses limited by a Deed kept secret as I have been credibly inform'd Though his Lordship had received or might have received all his moneys well nigh twice over yet he still withheld my Living from me till I mov'd the Court of Kings Bench Trin. 1674 where the late Bishop of Bangor his principal Witness being detected in Illegal malitious proceedings escap'd being fined by the Court for the same by a Plea of Death in his behalf Neither was I wanting to tender my Lord of W. through Persons of Quality and honour such a Submission betimes as was due foro soli upon such words prov'd against me which I can well swear I never spoke and upon his refusal of the same yielded to pay him his Monyes quietly rather then make any accknowledgment against my Conscience which he expected The Duke of York the same time vz 1671 was graciously pleas'd to intercede through the late Bishop of Worcester for remission of his verdict and an end of troubling me And my Lord of W. promised by his secretary Mr. Garrard to the Bishop of Worcester that he did remit the same upon the Duke's Account as the Bishop told me but then went soon off from that promise sequestring me a new as it were in my belief and hopes Now it is to be observ'd my Lord of W. never made any manner of vindication against the said paper which I did always own and have been since more Confirm'd in by the Rumour'd Instability of her late Highness in 1671 whereof I had Apprehenfions to my self in 1666 and as I adhaer'd to my opinion deliver'd in the said paper from the date thereof to this present amidst variety of Deaths so God helping I shall continue in the same Martyrially to my lifes end unless I be convinc'd there from by better Methods then have hitherto been used Vid. Mercyless pressures without any end upon wilful misconstruction of my words offers of great preferments Dukes favour and sums of monies in my streights if I make some confession against the Truth and my self to clear my Lord of W. which hath been term'd Submission and due Obedience
at Lannunnis in Dyssrin Cluid May 26. 1669. THat on the first of July 1666. at a Consecration Dinner at Lambeth it pleased the Right Reverend Father in God George Lord Bishop of Winton to incense and provoke the Bishop of Bangor Mr Jones his Diocesan in these or the like words That he was the Errant'st Rogue in England and that my Lord of Bangor should use him accordingly when he came to his Living That from that time and especially from August 1668. after other Attempts fail'd upon a pretence about a Reading seat in the Parish Church of Landurnog my Lord of Bangor did sufficiently answer and gratifie my Lord of Wintons pleasure touching Mr. Jones by all manner of unfavourable proceedings Excommunications Censures ab ingressu Ecclesiae ab Officio Beneficio and other defamations against Mr. Jones the Living being in my Lord of Bangors own Gift and Patronage That Mr. Jones upon Appeal being restored to his Church March 14. 1668. Did by way of Appology Verify his Life and Innocence from his Infancy at the Altar for the satisfaction of his Parishoners in point of Loyalty and Principles and conversation and particularly his Obedience to his Diocesan touching the Reading Seat declaring therewithal that my Lord of Winton who had privately accused Mr. Jones to his R. Master and diligently incens'd several great Persons in Church and State against him was driven to wave and clear Mr. Jones from all manner of Charge and exception against him before he was willing to accept or repair to his Living at Landurnog the usual Residence by Commendam of the Bishop of Bangor he having before refused the Bishoprick it self preferring his R. Highness Rays and Service before an untimely Dignity That the same time Mr. Jones did and doth submit his whole life for Thirty Years Backward to the strictest Examination of my Lord of Winton and Bangor who have sufficient jurisdiction and Power over him and If in all that time no Flaw or blame can be found in his Loyalty conversation or Principles He then did and still doth Declare that the true cause of my Lord of Wintons Wrath and War against him was First his introduction of a Portugues Nobleman and convert to her R. Highness Favour and Charity who complains and Mr. J. conceives not without Ground of wrongs and snares from my L. of W. against his Life who for his quality and unblameableness confessed by his Adversaries was useful while encouraged to prevent the growth of Popery which Mr. Jones had special Orders to Endeavour in his R. Highness's Family whereof he had Charge of Souls by that other Instances did effect with Gods assistance in good part 2dly when his R. Highness began kindly and frequently to mention Mr. Jones his performance of his Duty with him in his Dangers at Sea and especially when his sacred Majesty and R. Highness were pleased to take notice of him in the Royal Chappel in time of Divine Service in view of many my Lord of Winton from that time never ceased to employ his utmost Power and interest to ruine Mr. Jones in Court and Country Mr. Jones Therefore doth Humbly desire the Right Reverend Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph to cause this matter to be search'd by competent Authority as in their Wisdoms they shall think fit least there be any Design laid against the Church or Judgements be multiplied upon the Nation by unsincere Oaths or the Presbyterian Party bear away the Glory of defending the Protestant interest and the late glorious King's Cause and Martyrdom receive Wrong or Old Fears and jealousies be justified And particularly least by any misinformation Mr. Jones be oppressed by the Church for his Fidelity to the Church as well against the Schismatical Interest when it formerly prevailed as against the Popish when it began clandestinly to prevail Tho. Jones But my Diocesan made no regard notwithstanding of this Information under my hand only sent up a Coppy thereof attested by a Publique Notary as the Notary himself told me In Hilary term following I went to London to pursue my Appeal where after some space I was Arrested by the Bishop of Winchester upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum and coursely used In Eâ—â—sâ—â—â— Term he put in his Declaration for the words He is a Promotor of Popery and a subverter of the Church of England as spoken by me at Lanunnis October 3. 1668. I told his Agent that I did not speak nor own such words But the Bishops proved them for him at Kings-Bench and a Verdict of 317 l. recovered thereupon against me in February 1670 and my Rectory Sequestred also my House seiz'd and abused and Family turn'd out of Doors by an obsolete Writ vi Laica Amovenda to supply their Writ of Sequestration and Glebelands plowed and all held from me for Three years without any Contenement or Allowance whatsoever whereby I was much disabled to maintain my Appeal till his Agents received near Twice his Verdict as was prov'd at Kings-Bench When they had wrested my Calling and Living from me they set friends upon me to perswade me to submit and ask forgivoness for the words I never spoke nor own'd and to recede from the Paper under my hand which I over own'd and was now more confirmed in by the Rumour'd Apostacy of the Dutchess in 1671. which I did suspect and fear from 1666. And such importunities of Friends and Superiors with offers of Remission and restoration I never could shake off till I declared my Resolution to his Highness in this Paper following My last Address to the Duke April 20. 1673. The Submission of Tho. Jones with his humble request to his R. Highness HAving serv'd your Highness with my utmost love and fidelity to the best of my Skill and judgment as I ought it was my fate to be approv'd by your Princely knowledg and suddenly destroyed upon hear-say Neither find I any hope left after many years patience of recovering your promised favour as long as your Highness is politickly possessed that I refuse to submit to the Bishops against all that I have or can speak or act to the contrary unless your Highness would admit me to submit to their Lordships or their Proxies in your Highness presence that your Highness your self may see and be satisfied as well with my submission as I hope you are with my Innocence and Integrity The number of my Submissions tender'd from time to time esteem'd satisfactory in the judgment of Gentry Clergy Lawyers Civilians Bishops Nobles I have made known to the R. Bp. of Worcester as also my manner of Life and Loyalty for 20 or 30 years past and the passages of my calling with Bradshaw in his Circuits against his execrable Act to support the Loyalty of my Country-men against him which was not the way in those days to thrive But his Lordship is slow or loath to make his report to your Highness in a concern of his Reverend Brethren whom neither