la Royante S'il est de peu ou bien Communante Ayme l'aussi car Dieu t'y a faict naistre Love thou thy Country's State whether it be A Common-Wealth Senate or Monarchy All Change is fatal count then that the best In which thy Country finds most Peace most Rest AN ABSTRACT OF THE PREMISES IN A SHORT CONCLUSION 'T Is evident then by his own Shewing That there was no Ecclesiastical Courts distinct from the Hundred-Courts and Lay-Courts till the Pope's Champion brought over that New French and Italian Mode with a long Sword into England and Odo Bishop of Bayeux Brother to the Conqueror assisting to set up the Pope's Usurpations in Spiritual Courts or Spiritual Tyranny forbid by Christ and his Holy Apostles who pretended not to this Hierarchy or Frelacy Names as Unknown as arch-Arch-Bishops or Arch-Deacons Chancellors Officials Surrogates Advocates Proctors Sumners and the rest of that kind to the primitive-Primitive-Church Secondly That it is great Impudence for the Clergy much more for the Frelacy to call themselves the Church as if the Lay-People were not as much Members of Christ nay as Learned Prudent Modest and Honest as the best of them I will not except the Pope himself And that to Style the Clergy alone the Church or Holy Church is contrary to the constant Style and Dialect of Holy-Writ as appears by Mat. 16.18 Act. 2.47 5.11 8.1 11.26 13.23 14.27 14.23 15.3 22 41. 16.5 20.17 28. Rom. 16.1 4 5 16 23. 1 Cor. 4.17 10.32 14.4 5 23 33 34. 1 Cor. 16.1 19. 2 Cor. 1.1 8.1.18 19.23 24. 11.8 28. 12.13 and in all other places which are numerous throughout the Holy Scripture Thirdly That by the Oath given alwayes to Excommunicate persons before they be Absolv'd namely Stare parere mandatis Ecclesiae to stand to and obey the Commands of the Church by Church they alwayes mean themselves the Prelacy or Governing Men of the Church And by Holy-Church being free in Magna Charta was and must be meant the Clergy and the Pope their Head but how Holy they were in those Times what Symonists and consequently Perjur'd Persons appears fully in the Premises By the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.1 8. the Prelates say by Angel there is meant the Bishop or Presbyter by the Church there them must be meant the Christian People of Ephesus and if these Clergy in Edw. 1. such as Old Nich. Pap. and Arch-Bishop Peckham c. were Angels they were black ones surely Fourthly That from the Reign of William the Conquerour to Hen. 8. The Clergy or Ecclesiastical Men had one Head namely a Forreign Head the Pope and the Laiety another Head the King Fifthly These Two Heads namely The Pope the Head of the Church and the King the Head of the State were ever and anon knocking one against the other and the English-Clergy alwayes sided with their Head the Pope to make the other Temporal Head bow down and submit to this Spiritual Head Sixthly That when this Spiritual Head would not submit to the Temporal Head and Gratify the King's will in the desired Divorce betwixt King H. 8. and His Queen who had been Twenty Years his Wife He caus'd this Pope his Spiritual Head and Forreign-Power to be Beheaded and cut off till it was restor'd and patch't on again by 1. Phil. and Mar. 8. And indeed what ever that resolute King Henry did will that will soon became a Law if the King would have Queen Katherine Divorc't and her Daughter Mary declared Illegitimate Yea quoth the Stature 25. H. 8.22 when His Will was to have the Princess Elizabeth Legitimate and inheritable of the Imperial Crown of this Realm Yea quoth the Statute 25. H. 8.22 Again when he was minded to make her uncapable of the Crown Yea quoth the Statute 28. H. 8.7 And Lastly when his Will and His Mind was changed and that both the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth though it was Impossible but one of them was Illegitimate and both of them so declared Illegitimate in the said Statutes should be capable to Inherit as they both did the Imperial Crown of this Realm Yea quoth the Parliament 35. H. 8.1 when the Bishops grumbled that they had not their old Procurations out of the Dissolved Monasteries and Consequently could not pay him their First-Fruits and Tenth's though the King knew it was against their own Laws and Canons to have any yet the King willing to stop their Mouths and knowing that to take some Men by the Pocket is as bad as to take them by the Throat rather than he would disoblige them he being also at variance with the Pope he allows them these little snips out of his large New-Conquests and Acquests by the Statute 34. and 35. H. 8.19 But made them only recoverable in Ecclesiastical-Courts and only such as were paid Ten Years before the Dissolution of Monasteries which now is a thing Impossible to prove their own Registers being no competent Witnesses being Parties and their Register-Books no Records 7. That all the remaining Years of the Reign of Hen. 8. after the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction here in England had no dependance of the Pope they had no Laws no known Canons nor Rule to Proceed upon and if they kept Courts these Ecclesiastical Courts could take no Cognizance but of Three or Four things namely Causes Testamentary Matrimonial Tyes and Obventions and such perhaps they have cognizance of at this Day if they have Authority for keeping Courts and have any Laws or Canons other than Acts of Parliament to direct them which I think they have not 8. That when the Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdiction had got a Protestant-head it also had a Protestant-face by 1. Edw. 6.2 and 't is senceless to Imagine that that Statute was not constantly put in Execution and all Processes in the Name and Style of the King 9. This Protestant-face of Ecclesiastical Authority was Blasted by 1. Mar. and in its Room was again set up the Pope's head and the Popish-Church by 1. Phil. and Mar. 8. and Forreign Powers and Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical after the Old Italian or Romish Mode 10. This Popish Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Foreign Powers were Defeated in 1. Eliz. 1. by repealing 1 Mar. and 1 Phil. Mar. 8. that had repealed 1 Edw. 6.2 which had been under restraint and made of no Force by the Repeal aforesaid and thence resum'd its former Vigour and Vertue but of that Quere All the Reason in the World for it as Mr. H. Cary learnedly insists 11. When 1. Eliz. 1. had cancel'd all the Popish Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Spiritual-Courts there was none till the same Statute gave the Queen and Her Heirs and Successors Power by Commission to settle a new Form and Face of Government Ecclesiastical 12. That Branch of 1 Eliz. 1. that gave the Queen and Her Heirs this Power and Authority being repealed by 13. Car. 2.12 For my Part I must say It is beyond my Apprehension to find out where the
Common-Law nor Civil-Law in England to justifie such Citations and Visitations Indeed there is old Canons in times of Popery to justifie that there has been Ecclesiatim Visitations namely for the Visitor or Bishop to come to your Churches and see how you do but it is against all Law Equity and Conscience to see how your Pockets do Therefore if they come Ecclesiatim Visits give them such poor fare as the Vicar feeds upon if they be hungry feed them do not fat them do not feast them and I 'le secure you shall not be often troubled with them thence following but give them not a cross of money and fear not that ever they 'l disquiet you very often As it is in the Naked Truth if their visitationes morum prove not to be visitationes nummorum I 'le be your warrant you shall not need a new Act of Parliament to stave them off So if they call upon you and cite you to prove a Will or take an Administration though the Sumner or Appariter come Forty Miles do not give the knave a Groat but for him and his Masters and the Citation or Process give him Three Pence and no more as by Statue 23. Hen. 8.9 1. Eliz. 1. If they ask or demand any more sue them upon the said Statute inan Action of debr or qui tam five Pounds due to the King and five Pounds to the party grieved The like penalty upon them if you sue them for taking more for Administrations or Probat of Wills than is allowed by Statute nay if they will not give you back your Will when proved into your own keeping upon demand there lies a swindging Action against them as Baron Weston declared at Chelmsford the last Assizes in open Court to the Countrey exhorting them to bring such Actions against those Ecclesiastical fellows so he stil'd them and if they brought such Actions before him he would make examples of them The cry the common-cry against the extortions of these Ecclesiastical fellows was loud and clamorous all over England and reacht the ears of the King and Parliament in Henry 8ths time as in good time it may again which occasioned the Statute of 21 Henry 8.5 as appears by the Preamble of that Statute against their extortions in these very words namely Where in the Parliament holden at Westminster in the 31st year of the Reign of the Noble King of Famous Memory Edw. 3. upon the complaint of his people for the outragious and grievous fines and sums of money taken by the Ministers of Bishops and of other Ordinaries of Holy Church for the Probat of Testaments and for the Acquittances by the said Ordinaries to be made concerning the same The said Noble King in the same Parliament openly charged and commanded the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops for that time being that amendment thereof should be had and if no amendment thereof should be had it was by the authority of the same Parliament accorded that the King should thereof make inquiry by his Justices of such oppression and extortions c. And where at the Parliament holden at Westminster 3 Hen. 5. it was recited that the Commons of this Realm had oftentimes complained there in divers Parliaments for that divers Ordinaries do take for the Probation of Testaments and other things thereunto belonging sometimes XL. s. sometimes LX. s. and sometimes more against Right and Justice where in time of King Edw. 3. men were wont to pay for such causes but 2. s. 6. d. or 5. at most by which unlawful exactions c. Then it follows in the Statute and is enacted that none of these Bishops Ordinaries Archdeabons Commissaries Chancellors Officials Registers Scribes Praisers Summoners Appariters or other their Ministers shall take or demand for Probation Writing Sealing Registring making of Inventories or giving of Acquittances or for any other manner of cause concerning the same any more than what follows namely Where the goods of the deceased amount not to more than 5. l.  l. s. d. To the Register For the Probat of the Will 00 00 06. To the Register Or if an Admistration then also 00 00 00. To the Register And to the Judg 00 00 00. Where the goods of the deceased amount to more than 5. l. and yet under 40. l.  l. s. d. To the Bishop or Ordinary 00 02 06. And to the Register 00 01 00. For such Probat Inventory or Administration Where the goods of the deceased amount to above 40. l.  l. s. d. To the Ordinary or Judg Ecclesiastical 00 02 06. And to the Register for Probat of such a Will 00 02 06. And for Administration of such goods of that value to the Register 00 00 00. Or the Register or Scribe may refuse the said 00 02 06. And if he please may take and demand a penny for writing every ten lines of such Testament each line to contain ten Inches For Inventories they usually take 40. s. a Press as they call it that is the length of an ordinary sheet of Parchment But by this Statute for Inventories not one farthing Here 's now one would think a Law to keep them in awe but it signifies nothing they have got so many cunning starting-holes to creep out 't is hard to catch a Fox For if they be Indited for extortion or that you bring an Action of Debt upon the Statute or a qui tam namely  l. s. d. Due to the King for every such extortion 05 00 00. Also to the party grieved 05 00 00. But here too you will be baffled again except you punctually observe these following Conditions If it be a Will that is to be proved 1. You must bring the Witnesses along with you to prove the Will and that it is the true whole and last Testament of the Testator and that the Executor also believes the same to be the last Will and Testament of the Testator 21 H. 8.5 2. You must bring Wax also soft Wax ready for the Judg to put to and affix the Seal of the Court if the goods of the deceased amount not to five pounds 21 H. 8.5 3. You must bring two Inventories fairly written and Indented the one to be left with the Ordinary the other to be carried away by the Executor or Administrator 21 H. 8.5 4. The very Individual Will and Testament of the Testator you must carry away with you again so soon as it is Registred as 21. H. 8.5 5. You must carry with you good Witnesses of the Tender of the said Fees And keep but to these Conditions which are plain and easie and there is never a Register or Chancellor or Sumner of them all that will give many hundreds of pounds for the Place nor will you be much pestered with these Ecclesiastical-Courts or Ecclesiastical fellows for that now belike is the word Ecclesiastical fellows nor with Archdeacons although they had never so good Authority for keeping Courts and sending Citations
in their own names and not in the name and stile of the King their head and the head of the Church as well as State and as all other his Majesties Courts are kept in England Indeed the Courts-Baron and Courts Leet c. are kept in the name of the Lord of the Leet Hundred c. they being the Lords-Courts properly and not the Kings-Courts no more than his Lands or Mannors are properly the Kings Lands and Mannors But the Courts of Justice whether Ecclesiastical or Civil ought surely to be open to all the Kings Leige people and have the Kings Authority name and stile not only for their Warrant and Authority but to give them thereby life vigour power Granduer and Majesty And 't is strange to me that men who have taken the Oath of Supremacy have bid desiance to the Pope and do not pretend to set up a Commonwealth in a Common-wealth nor any Government independent of the Crown Imperial of this Realm nor have no privy designs at some time or other to stand as of old upon their own legs without dependance upon the King whom both Papists Presbyterians Fift-monarchy-men c. endeavour to subjugate to their discipline should be so aukward and loath to have their Processes and Citations go out and run as other Writs in the Kings name and stile and it were but for their own ends to agrandize their Processes and Proceedings except as formerly the Clergy do take care to have as little dependance upon a Lay-man as possibly may be and I say again it will never be well nor our differences cemented until Lay and Ecclesiastical men be one and the same with one and the same ends and designs in this Kingdom where all Ecclesiastical and Lay-power is united and one and the same in one Head our Soveraign Lord the King 'T is this Bigottism that undoes us and wars upon the score of Religion that above all other things has blooded all over the woful face of Christendom But let me hear of no more Extortions for Visitations Procurations Synodals Institutions Inductions Ordinations Licenses to Preach Sequestrations Pilling and Polling the Clergy nor in Probate of Wills the Laity and in Visitations Church-Wardens And when they have done and Performed their said Great Duties if after that they cry out for want of work and Employment let them also sit upon as many Benches as shall be thought fit It is acknowledged also That Convocations are alwayes have been and ought to be Assembled by the King 's Writ only no doubt on 't for else they are an Unlawful Conventicle And there let them Sit together 'till I or any Body else disturb them or meddle with them The Power to make Laws for the Church was ever in the King and Parliament only and who ever denyes the same 't is fit they should severely Answer it in a Parliament Have a care of a Parliament Mr. Arch-Deacon Have a care of a Praemunire War-Hawk I will not say War-Buzzard I had almost forgot to touch upon one String with which he makes a great Sound and Noise in his Proem and that is to prove That Chancellors Registers Sumners Officials Commissaries Advocates Notaries Surrogates c. ejusdem farinae are all Church-Officers Jure Divino and according to Holy Writ Ay! But where What Chapter What Verse It follows as close as any thing In 1 Cor. 12.28 Helps in Government The Registers are but to Make I thought that had been the Judges Office to Make and keep the Acts of Court c. Advocates and Proctors to Order and Manage Causes And Apparitors to Serve Process and Execute Mandates c. Then this Remark Mr. Hickeringill is a Man of great Experience in Spiritual Jurisdiction and need not be told of these plain Matters having said in the first words of this Paragraph But How Witless and Quaker-like is this And How unlike Mr. Hickeringill Sometimes he makes Mr. Hickeringill a Hobbist a Papist a Statist and a Man of great Experience in Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and now a Witless Quaker Even just what the Good Old Gentleman pleases But sure Mr. Arch-Deacon does mistake and Mr. Hickeringill is not a Man of so great Experience but he had need to be told of these Plain Matters again and again before it can be beaten into his Head That the Apostle who never had Register Surrogate Apparitor nor Commissary Official nor Advocate nor the Primitive Church no not so much as an Arch-Bishop or an Arch-Deacon should ever intend or mean any such Creatures when he told the Corinthians of Helps in Government Well of a D. D. 't is an Incomparable Finder a Piercing and Quick-sighted Commentator for a Man of his Age that cannot see without Spectacles For Proctors Sumners and Apparitors are just such Helps in Government in the Church as Squire Dun and Gregory in the State namely Helps to Ruin many Alas Poor Primitive Church of Christ That made a Shift to subsist many Hundreds of Years by Miracle surely and yet never had these Ass-sistants or Helps in Government Such Helps in Government God knows Plut. Lives p. 940. as are far more fit to People the City that Plutarch speaks of called Poneropolis God grant them a good Shipping they 'l meet with many of their Brethren in Spain and Italy And it is as sensless to Defend these Ecclesiastical Fellows by Magna Charta because such as They if they still be Papists as those were were then Members of Holy-Church and brought hither from Rome by William the Conquerour For by that First Clause of Magna Charta That the Church of England shall be Free and have all Her Liberties c. can never be meant as the Arch-Deacon would insinuate that it is a Sin to alter that Frame of Government and the Rights and Libertyes of Holy Church For Peter-Pence First Fruits and Tenths to the Pope Investiture of Bishops c. with many other were then the Right and Liberties of Holy Church as aforesaid when Magna Charta was Made I have not willingly omitted to give Answer to all and every the idle Cavils and Exceptions in his Book Once for all by way of Conclusion for I am quite tired with his Impertinencies let the Reader Read the Statute of 1. Eliz. 1. and he will find 1. That the Popish Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church at the Making of that Statute was cut off utterly by the Name of all Forreign Powers Repealing the 1. and 2. Phil. Mar. 8. whereby the See of Rome had been again set up in England from whence that Statute confesses with great Contrition to use the Words of that Statute They had a long while wandred and strayed abroad and in which Statute the Protestant Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction set up by Edward 6. is Disanulled 2. That therefore by 1. Eliz. 1. it appears there was then neither Popish nor Protestant Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical 3. That therefore full Power and Authority is granted to the Queen Her
to let his Majesty into the Church but he will not trust him wich the Keys as who should say we will open the Church doors to your Majesty and come in and welcome whilst we continue good friends But they that keep the Keys and can open the Church-doors to let his Majesty in can also whilst they have the keeping of the Keys upon displeasure lock him out well for this very trick and for another late Scotch trick If I were a Privy-Councellour I would advise his Majesty as Head of the Church and Governour thereof to keep the Keys of the Church in his Pocket or hang them under his Girdle if it be but because this Prelatical Champion this same pittiful Archdeacon like another Pope or St. Peter will keep the Keys of the Church and will keep his Majesty from them and would fain perswade him that our Laws to use his words p. 2. of the Proeme Exclude this purely Spiritual power of the Keys from the Supremacy of our Kings except it be to see that Spiritual men do their duty therein Belike this same Archdeacon carries the Leges Angliae the Laws of England in his belly and greedy gut for I am sure he carries them there or no where he carries not these bulky Laws of England in his Brains he has no Guts in his Brains For I pray good D.D. where does our Laws exclude this purely Spiritual power of the Keys from the Supremacy of our Kings if our Kings like good King David or wise King Solomon should have a mind to be Ecclesiastes In the days even of Popery I never heard of a King shut out even from the Topping-Pulpit if he had a mind to climb so high stout King Henry the 3d. made bold to Invade the Pulpit took his Text Psal 85.10 Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other and then in his Sermon ad Clerum to the Learned Monks of the Cathedral Church of Winchester when he had a little self-end too as some Pulpiters have also had in the case namely to Cajole the said Monks to Elect his Brother Athelmar Bishop of Winchester Bak. Chron. p. 82. Paraphrasing and enlarging upon his Text and saying to use his own words To me and other Kings who are to govern the people belongs the rigour of judgement and Justice to you who are men of quiet and Religion Peace and Tranquillity And this day I hear you have for your own good been favourable to my request with many such like words I do not know whether the King had got a License to Preach from a Bishop It seems the Clergy then too would favour Kings in what was for their own good and if it were for their own good would also permit the King to take a Text and Preach in their cathedral-Cathedral-Church how hard-hearted or strait-lac't soever our Archdeacon proves and will not suffer our Kings to have the Keys neither of the Church nor Pulpit I say therefore some Kings would therefore keep the Keys of the Church themselves and trust never a D. D. of you all with them no not the Pope himself But what if I prove that our Kings at their Corronations have at the same time been ordain'd Clergymen they are no more excluded then by our Laws from the power of the Keys then Mr. Archdeacon or the Pope himself What is Ordination but the ordering designing or setting a Man a part to some office if to the Ministry then there are certain significant Words to that purpose and what more significant Words for Ordination to the Priesthood or making a Man a Clergyman then those the Bishop uses to our Kings namely with Unction Anthems Prayers and Imposition of hands as is usual in the ordination of Priests with the same Hymn Come Holy Ghost Eternal God c. The Bishop saying also amongst other things Let him obtain favour of the people like Aaron in the Tabernacle Elisha in the Waters Zacharias in the Temple give him Peters Key of Discipline and Pauls Doctrine Which last clause was praetermitted in times of Popery from the Corronation of Hen. 6. Bak. Chron. 742. till Charles 1. and Charles 2d lest it should imply the King to be more a Clergyman and Ecclesiastical person then these Archdeacons could afford him but our Gracious King Charles 2d and his Father at their Corronations had the antient forms of Crowning Kings reviv'd and in the Anointing the Bishop said Let those hands be Anointed with Holy Oyl as Kings and Prophets have been Anointed and as Samuel c. Then the Archbishop and Dean of Westminster put the Coif on the Kings Head then put upon his body the Surplice saying this prayer O God the King of Kings and Lord of Lords c. And surely of old the very Pope himself look't upon our anointed Kings as Clergymen else why did the Pope make Hen. 2. his Legate De Latere here in England the usual office of the Archbishop of Canterbury usually styled Legati Nati Therefore Mr. Archdeacon you talk like an unthinking Black-coat stockt with a little superficial Learning when you say our Laws exclude the King from the Keys of the Church to which he has as good right as your D. D. Divinityship And indeed to give the Man his due he is glad afterwards to confess that Constantine and the Eminent Christian Emperours called Councels and approv'd their Canons Then by your leave dear D. D. They also for the same reason might upon occasion and if they had seen cause also disprove the same who then was Papa of old Pa-ter Pa-trum surely no other but he that is Pa-Pa I mean Pa-ter Pa-triae Into a volumn beyond mine or the Readers Patience or leisure must this Vindication swell if I should trace him in all his Extravagancies Impertinencies and nauseous Repetitions and therefore I must quit my first design and summarily contract the crazy Principles and Postulata on which his mighty Fabrick of the Laws of England is Eâ—â—â—â—ed CHAP. I. In his first Chapter after a great deal of prattle to no purpose he Sets up the Propositions suggested by Mr. Hickeringill and then he Batters them The Propositions suggested by Mr. Hickeringill are these following 1. THat before Hen. 8. All Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in England was derived from the Pope as Mr. Cary. p. 6. 2. That Hen. 8. When he annex'd the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to the Crown he took it wholly away from our Ecclesiastical Ministers 3. That the Church had no Jurisdiction after Hen. 8. had annex'd it to the Crown till 1 Edw. 6.2 4. That if there be any Ecclesiastical Power in our Church it canot be executed but in the name and with the stile c. of the King according to 1 Edw. 6.2 5. That all our Ecclesiastical Power was lately founded in 1 Eliz. 1. as it Established the High-Commission-Court And that Act being repeal'd All Ecclesiastical Power was taken away with the Power of that High-Commission Then most insultingly concludes in
these Words On a Rock consisting of these Sands stands our mighty Champion triumphing with his Naked Truth c. And truly if our mighty Champion stand thus Triumphing upon a Rock made of Sands It is the first Rock made of Sands that ever was seen in the World before I have seen great hills of Sands but never a Rock consisting of Sands before for lively and natural expressions and tough and sinewy Arguments 't is the very None-such of the D. D Come confess ingeniously Is there not more and better Heads then your own in this Elaborate Work Is it not the Six Months labour of a Prelatical Smectimnuus or Club-Divines Now for his Rancounter CHAP. II. Wherein very Majesterially he asserts contradictorily In defiance of the said Propositions and Rocks of Sand That Our Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in England was not derived from the Pope but from the Crown before the Reformation by Hen. 8. Sed quomodo probas Domine D. D First by begging the Question Petitione Printipij And asking sternly and demanding in 8 bold Questions first Dare any Protestant stand to the contrary c. So that he has got Mr. Hickeringill upon the Lock and upon the Hugg the Devonshire and Cornish Hugg Hang or Drown'd there 's no escaping yield or confess your self a Papist concluding that to say so is not more like a Hobbist than a Papist I thought I had caught a Hobby but War-Hawk To which I 'le onely say that as Seneca in his Epistles to his dear Lucillus speaking of Harpast his Wives Fool a poor ridiculous creature That if he had a desire to laugh at a Fool he need not seek far for he could find cause enough at home to laugh at himself so you Mr. quibling Archdeacon need not be at charge to keep a Jester you may find one ridiculous enough within the Corps of your own Archdeaconry Hobby-War-hawk But then he falls and grows calm and leaves this bold Italian way of Regginâ—… and comes to his proofs First Then our Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction was not derived from the Pope but from the Crown before H. 8. because it was a known Law 25. Edw. 1. and 25. Edw. 3. long before Hen. 8. that the Church of England was founded in Episcopacy by our Kings c. and not in the Papacy 1. I always thought till now that our Church of England I know not for his Church of England was neither founded upon Episcopacy not the Papacy but on Christ the Rock of Ages 2. The Popish Episcopacy in the said two King Edwards time and the Papacy were one and the same piece the Pope the Head they the Members and derivative from him influenc'd by him and would never obey our Kings further then they list as appears by stout Robert Archbishop of Canterbury another Becket And though the Kings made bold to recommend an Archbishop or a Bishop to the Pope yet the Pope Invested and chose whom he list the greater Usurper he but who did or could help it till stout King H. 8. did behead the Pope and made himself by Parliament Head of the Church 'T is true Rome was not built in a day and neither did nor could extend its Suburbs and Commands as far as England till William the Conquerour the Pope's Champion and who fought under the Popes Banner which he sent him for the Invasion of England did with his French and Normans and all Gatherings bring with his French and Italian Troops the French and Italian Laws and the French Mode of Ecclesiastical Polity and Jurisdiction And therefore 't is rightly noted that 'till Will. the Conquerour there was no Bishops Courts or Ecclesiastical Courts but the Hundred-Courts the onely Courts of Justice in England in all Causes Ecclesiastical and Temporal But the Pope made his Champion Will. the Conquerour and all succeeding Kings after him till H 8. set up such Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdiction as were at Rome wherein they Judged and proceeded according to the Popes Canon-Laws and he himself was the Head and Supream of those Courts and nothing more frequent then Appeals to Rome till the 24. Hâ—n 8.12 ordain'd that there should be no Appeals thither where he had emptied so much of his purse and yet could not obtain a Divorce to his liking if appeals to Rome from our Ecclesiastical-Courts then they were onely Romes Inferior Courts And was there ever any Statute made from Will. the Conquerour or rather Hen. 3. to Hen. 8. but by the consent of the Popish Clergy that is to say the consent of the Pope their Head whose Laws they obey'd in defiance of their Leige-Lords and Soveraign Kings I know there was old Tugging frequently betwixt our Kings and the Popes and sometimes the staring people cryed Now the Pope then in hopes Now the King has got is but if any stout King did as they did try for Mastery with this Whore and who should wear the Britches yet Pope Joan or Pope John or howsoever nam'd always got the better at long run Of which I will Instance in some few particulars that first occur and come to mind for I scorn to spend so many days as this D. D. with his Smec-conjoyn'd has been Months in Labour for the production of his Ridiculus mus Robert Kildwardby Archbishop of Canterbury 6. Edw. 1. Fleec't the whole Province of Canterbury namely the greatest part of the Kingdom of England by his Provincial-Visitation not by down-right plundering of the Clergy Church-wardens and the poor and rich Sinners he knew a way worth two on 't the other had been the ready way to be hang'd for Edward 1. was neither Bigot Antiq. Brit. Ec. p. 196. Fook nor Coward for He saith Mat. Parker being the Popes Creature went a visiting as some do now a days without any Commission from the King no strange thing in those days more strange in our days now that they have not as formerly a Pope to back them and whose Creatures they were in despight of the King But this crafty Robert Kildwardby play'd the Fox in his Visitation and Se donis saith the Historian non imperitando sed artificiose ut fratres sui ordinis solebant suadendo locupletavit that is He enrich'd himself and fill'd his pockets but how not by an open violent way of force and command but craftily with sleight of Hand and Tongue as the Brethren of his Order are wont to do pick'd their pockets with a parccl of fair words Why that 's better yet then the Hectoring way Come Clergy-man deliver your Purse your Purse for Procurations Visitations c. The Naked-Truth on 't was the Pope Nicholas 3d. had a Cardinals Capp at Robert's service if he would come up to the price on 't and bid like a Chapman but all the craft lay in the catching the Money to day the purchase Whereupon Kildwardby does not go in the old Road of Procurations Synodals and Vilitations that even in those times were not onely grumbled at by the Slaves
humble Servant when where and in what he list For presently after he brings that of Isa 10.1 to vanquish the King and Parliament that made him Recant his own Canons two years before Isa 10.1 Dicente Domino per Prophetam Vae qui condunt Leges iniquas c. Wo unto them that Decree unrighteous Decrees c. meaning the Statutes made by the King and Parliament for so he goes on quia igitur ab antiquo tempore inter Leges Magnates Angliae ex parte unâ Archiepiscopos Episcopos Clerum ejusdem Regniex altera duravit amara dissensio pro oppressione Ecclesiae contrà Decreta summorum Pontisicum contra Statuta Conciliorum contra Sanctiones Orthodoxorum Patrum in quibus tribus summa auctoritas summa veritas summaque sanctitas consistunt supplicamus Regiae Majestati c. huic periculosae dissentioni dignemur finem apponere salutarem cui finis alitèr imponi non potest nisi vos sublimitatem vestram praedictis tribus scilicèt Decretis Pontificum Statutis Conciliòrum Sanctionibus Orthodoxorum Patrum juxtà Domini beneplacitum cùm Catholicis Imperatoribus dignemini inclinare ex his enim tribus sunt Canones aggregati jura Coronae vestrae Christi Coronae supponenda cujus sunt Diadema Sponsae suae monilia universae Ecclesiasticae Libertates All which are most emphatical words and most apt for our purpose to stop the Arch-deacon's Mouth that would have the present Church of England and its Jurisdiction derivative from Edw. 1. and Edw. 3. Nor do I know any man more able in all History to write all that could be said for Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Canon-Law or Civil-Law than the said Peckham nor can any thing better represent the posture of Affairs in England as to Ecclesiastical matters than the said Letter which I will English faithfully as followeth Because quoth the Archbishop there has been of old and long has continued a bitter Dissention betwixt the King and Parliament of England on the one part God grant they may alwayes be so as they ought to be but one part and the Archbishops Bishops and Clergy of this Realm on the other part to oppress the Church contrary to the Popes Decrees contrary to the Canons of Councils contrary to the Sanctions of the Orthodox Fathers in which three consists the Supream Authority the greatest Verity and the choycest Piety We intreat your Royal Majesty that we should vouchsafe together to put an end to this dangerous Dissention and Differences which can never be concluded except you will please to submit your highness to the said three things namely the Decrees of Popes the Canons of the Synods and the Opinions of the ancient Orthodox Fathers according to the Command of the Lord and after the Example of Catholick Kings For of these three are the Canons made and the Rights of your Crown must submit to the Crown of Christ the Churches Rights and Liberties being the Diadem of Christ and the Ornament and Jewels of his Spouse c. Whence I make these plain Remarks 1. That as the Devil Tempting our Blessed Saviour accosted him with Holy Scripture in his Mouth so does this filthy Symonist talk Scripture Language to the King and Parliament whilst he himself hated to be Reformed 2. That there was and has been an old Feud Difference and Dissention and cannot possibly be otherwise where the Layety are Governed by one Law and the Clergy by another the Layety a distinct and peculiar Party on the one part and the Clergy with other designs a party in Opposition to the Layety on the other part The Devil and the Pope brought in that distinction of Layety and Clergy not God and Scripture and it was never a quiet World in Christendome since that time of making that distinction which God never made 3. That when the King and Parliament Thwarts the Clergy and the Canons of their own devising and made to gratifie as those of Rading aforesaid only their Avarice Ambition and Revenge yet that is called Oppressing the Church of God 4. That Kings must alwayes under the notion of submitting to God and Christ submit their Scepters Crowns and Dignities to Religious Zealots and Bigots when they get the Power and they 'l have it too or they 'l want of their will 5. That the Clergy Archbishops and Bishops accounted themselves and were taken and accepted for the Church of England 6. That the Pope was Head of this Church his Decrees their Rule and Canons to walk by and carry on their Ecclesiastical-Courts and Jurisdiction 7. That their Laws were contrary to the sence of the King and Parliament 8. That the King and Parliament were sometimes though but a little little time too hard for those Archbishops Bishops and Clergy of whom the Pope was Supream head 9. That it is impossible that our present Archbishops Bishops and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction can derive their Authority for Ecclesiastical Courts from the Popish Arch-bishops Popish Canons Popish Bishops that had the Pope for their head since our Clergy Archbishops and Bishops do renounce the Popes Supremacy 10. That the Ecclesiasticals before Hen. 8. whilst the Pope was their head look't upon the Kings of England as their Inferiours and that the King and Parliaments Sentiments and Decrees should truckle to theirs And if some had not some strange Reliques they would not dare as this Archdeacon does to write and defend a Jurisdiction and Courts in England without special Authority and Commission from the King And for him to say They Keep Courts by Common-law is the idlest of all his dreams 1. Because before Will. the Conqueror there was never any Spiritual Courts Kept distinct from the Hundred-Courts and if they have right to keep them there at the Bayliffs house let them come but instead of Chancellours Surrogates and Officials and Archdeacons must sit for Judges there as now and of Old two honest Freeholders let them come then with their Ecclesiastical Courts founded in the Common-law before William the Conquerour 2. The Common-Law this D. D. calls p. 51. long and granted Use in the whole Land but then if they plead for their Ecclesiastical Courts according to ancient use and custome they must keep them in Places Times and by such Laws and Judges as were of the ancient use and custom 3. The Common-Law of England is ancienter than our Christianity but Bishops as now in England much less Archbishops for Austin the Monk sent hither by the Pope was the first Archbishop and much less Archdeacons are the Inventions of men and the favour of Kings at first of Popish Kings for before Austin the Monk Anno Dom 〈◊〉 England had neither Lord Bishops nor Lord Archbishops after the manner they are now therefore neither they nor their Courts as now kept have any foundation in Common-law 4. By his own shewing that Edict of William the Conquerour enjoyns that no Bishop nor Archdeacon hold Pleas any longer in
Heirs and Successors to set up the High-Commission-Court the Soul and Life of all the other Inferior Ecclesiastical Courts 4. That this High-Commission-Court might for the Greatness thereof for the Novelty thereof and for the Grievous Vexations thereof be called Extraordinary yet all the Inferior and Subordinate Courts were all of a Piece It was the Head-Court whither all Appeals at length might come and it animated all the Rest and when it was Disanulled and that Head Beheaded by 13. Car. 2.12 all the little Inferior and Ordinary Ecclesiastical-Courts were held Dead in Law and Spirit-less And when we shall perswade the King and Parliament to Revive Them God only knows But let us suppose that they have Right in their Ecclesiastical Courts to take Cognizance of causes Testamentary Matrimonial of Tythes and Oblations and by 1. Eliz. 2. for not coming to Divine Service What 's this to Visitations Church-Wardens and the Oath of Church-Wardens Procurations c. In Causes Testamentary whether Men be cited or not cited I will as I am an Ecclesiastical Judge give my Country-men this honest Councel without a Fee meerly for the Publick Weal Bring your Will if you be Executor and Inventory as aforesaid as also make the same application to them if you be next of Kin to the Deceased and have Right to take Letters of Administration keep to the former Instructions and Tender them the afore-said Fees And if you be an Administrator then according to a late Act for an Administration-Bond tender them One Shilling more If they Refuse to Dispatch you without Frustratory Delay go away And what ever you are Damnifyed thereby the Law will give you Right and Satisfaction and Reparation upon them And if they be thus held to Justice and to take no more than due and legal Fees there needs no Act of Parliament to Discountenance the Ecclesiastical Courts And indeed they cannot afford to buy their Offices and yet get no more than legal Fees for the value of Mony is so different from what it was in Henry the Eighths time when a Harry-groat was the chiefest Silver-Coyne and would have bought as much Victuals as Half-a-Crown will now that they cannot afford to keep Clarks nor to write and Register Wills at this day for the Legal Fees But who dare Make himself wiser than the Law when the High-Commission-Court was up there was no dealing with them nor with their extortions And ever since that Court has been defeated no Parliament has as yet thought them worthy of larger Fees and why should men be wiser than what is written and enacted in the Statutes of this Realm No doubt but the settling of these Ecclesiastical-Matters and the Curbing these Ecclesiastical Fellows are things of weight and great Consequence deserving the most serious debate of the highest Judicature a Parliament But till they have time or till they think fit to take some Order herein I have shown you how to do their business Nor have I done this out of Malice and Spleen against these Ecclesiastical Fellows that do so Huff the Countrey and the Inferior Clergy but in Detestation of their Avarice and Extortions Aggravated with such insufferable Insolence that I speak but the sense of the Common-Cry of the Country against them as Loud and Obstreperous and for the same exorbitances as in the Reigns of Edward the Third Henry the Fifth and Henry the Eighth when those three Statutes were made on purpose to check their Insufferable Pride and Greediness And for an Example to them I 'le only Instance in the said Popish King Edward the First how he made an Example of them 1. In England 2. Scotland 3. Ireland 1. In England when John Roman Arch-Bishop of York Excommunicated Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham for Imprisoning John de Amelia and william de Melton publick Notaries sent by the Arch-Bishop to Summon before him and the said Bishop then employed in the Kings-Service in the Northern parts the Arch-Bishop admonishing him thereunto Once Twice Thrice and still the Bishop or his Ministers refusing to release them the Arch-Bishop thunder 's out the Curse against him of Excommunication to the Prior of Boulton in Craven to cause the same to be published in the Churches of Alverton and Darlington begining Claus 20. E. 1. m. 2. Dorso Brevia Regis Johannes Permissione dia Eborac Archi-Episcopus Angliae primas Dilecto in Christo filio Priori de Boulton c. Dat. apud Sanctum Martinum juxta viterbium 13. Kal. Maii Anno Gratiae 1292. Pontificatus nostri Septimo In the seventh year of our Popedom For Papa or Pope was the Common Complement every little Bishop past upon his brother Bishop in those dayes of which I can Instance in many Records if needful This difference was decided by Parliament See placita Parliam An. 21. Ed. 1. nu 17.18 Johannes Archi-Episcopus Eborum Attachiatus fuit ad respondendum Domino Regi de placito quare cum placita de Imprisonamento alijs transgressionibus in Regno Regis contra pacem Regis factis ad Regem Coronam Idem Archi-Episcopus per Johannem Priorem de Bolton in Cravene Commissarium suum in venerabilem Patrem Antonium-Episcopum Dunelm c. Die mercurii prox ante festum S. Jacobi Apostoli Anno vicessimo apud Derlington c. Sententiam Excommunicationis in dictum Antonium c. fecerit fulminari c. In Regis contemptum c. in despectum ipsius Regis 20. Mill. Librarum hoc offert Rioardus de Bretenil pro Domino Rege verificare c. Et Archi-Episcopus venit defendit omnem contemptum totum c. dicit quod Ipse nihil fecit in contemptum Regis nec contra dignitatem suam c. dicit quod de sententia a Canone lata per ipsum declarata in curia Domini Regis non debet respondere sed tamen salva libertate Ecclesiae suae ob Reverentiam Domini Regis vult plane declarare factum suum c. Et Richardus de Bretenill qui Sequitur pro rege dicit quod Praedictus Episcopus Dunelm Habet duos status viz. Statum Episcopi quoad Spiritualia et Statum Com. Palatii quoad Ten. sua Temporalia c. too long here to Recite I can shew the whole process in Parliament where the Arch-bishop was voted to be committed to Prison to Absolve Bishop Anthony and to pay what fine the King pleased which was Four Thousand Marks of Silver an Immense Sum in those dayes but the Arch-bishop was vastly Rich and though the Son of a whore a poor Chamber-maid yet she had the wit to lay the Bastard at a Rich Man's door Fathering it upon one John Roman Treasurer of York who educated him very well made him a Schollar and * H. de Knighton de event Aug. l. 3. c. 7. Col. 2507. Henry De Knighton sayes he was a right Roman for he inherited the Roman Avarice of those dayes as well as
the Name being the first Arch-bishop that wheedled himself into the estate of the deceased that died Intestate or that gave Letters of Administration in England and yet this deep-read Arch-Deacon makes the common Law depose and Justify their proceedings in Spiritual Courts Pretending that since the Poor Soul died without a Will and so Consequently had not taken care to Redeem his Soul out of Purgatory by giving the Priests his Goods Mony or Lands for so many Masses to that purpose therefore the Archbishop Piously took that care upon him yet he himself hapned to dye though not Intestate yet so suddenly for two judgments in Parliament against him namely the aforesaid and presently after for endeavouring to defraud the King of Three-hundred pounds of Money belonging to one Bonamy a banish't Jew and which he would have been fingering for himself knowing that the Money lay in the Priory of Bridlington within his Jurisdiction Broke his heart his Executors would not or durst not meddle with his Goods Executores enim sui se intromittere noluerunt Ibid ita quod non proprio sed potius alieno fiebant expensae funerum in ecclesia sua cum honore simplici repositus est non enim panis vel obolus pro anima ipsus dabatur unde justo dei Judicio contigit ut qui subditorum bona maxime ab Intestatis sitiret subita quasi morte praeventus nullum vel modicum ex Testamento suo proprio consecutus est Emolumentum That is saith Henry De Knighton His Executors would not meddle with the Execution of his Will so that his Funeral expences were defrayed out of other Men's rather than his own Estate he was buried in his own Church after a very homely manner for not a bit of bread was given to the poor nor one farthing to pray for his Soul by the just Judgment of God upon him that he that did so thirst after Intestates Estates especially dying in his province being prevented by a sudden death got none or very little benefit by his own last Will and Testament The second Instance shall be in Scotland for King Edward the first was King thereof at least by conquest King Edward the Conquerour of Scotland when the Bishop of Glasgow having a spight and a pique against a Minister of his Diocess Deprived him of his Living Tortiously and Arbitrarily whereupon King Edward the first by his Letters to his Lieuetenant or Guardian of Scotland restor'd him upon the Petition of John Comyn in these words Al Tres honorable prince e noble In Bundel Breviâ—…n petic in Tur. Load An. 24. E. 1. e a son Trescher signur lige sire Edward par la grace Dieu noble Roy Dengleterre le ce ou si luy plest Johan Comyn Kaunk il set e poet de Honur e de Reverence Com a seon seignur lige Chire sire si vus plest io vus pri especialment ke vus deyngnet mander vostre Lettre au Gardeynde Escoce pur mettre mesh Robert Mounsycitien partur de ceste Lettre en la eglice de graunt Dalton de la quele sire Robert Evesk de Glascou c. 't is too tedious further to recite The last Instance is a Record of a Fine set upon the Bishop of Cork in Ireland for holding Plea in the Spiritual Courts of things belonging to the King's Crown and Dignity for which he was amerced 140. l. Claus 20. E. 1. m. 13. Hibern pro Roberto nuper Corcagensi Episc to be Levyed upon his Goods and Chattels in these words Cum venerabilis Pater Robertus Cortagiensis Episcopus huper coram venerabill patre S. Tuamensi Archi-Episcopo tunc Justis Regis Hiberniae amerciatus esset ad centum libras pro contemptu idem Episcopus Amerciatus esset postmodum coram eodem Justic ad quadraginta libras pro eo quod advocavit se tenuisse placita in Curia Christianitatis and Coronam Dignitatem Regis spectantia c. Teste Rege apud Westm primo die Decembris 20. R. R. E. 1. And 't is observable this great Fine was set by an Arch-Bishop of Tuam then the Kings Lord-Chief-Justice in Ireland For indeed in those dayes The Clergy were the greatest Lawyers and had the greatest places Bak. Chron p. 50. and yet they would not suffer any Clergy-Man to be subject to temporal Magistrates by a Canon made B. Steph. in a Synod held at London by Henry Bishop of winchester the Pope's Legate 'T is true King Henry the Second opposed this Canon and Thomas Becket Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that stood up for it and the Contest almost ruined them both But no King like King Henry the Eighth Bak. Chron. p. 95. and Edward the First for keeping the Crown safe from the usurpations of the Clergy this latter not suffering any Prelates to sit in the Parliament at Saltsbury Anno. 1274. and took their great Treasures hoorded up in Churches and Monasteries and put it in the Exchequer And though stout King Edward the Third strugled hard and a long time tug'd with John Stratford Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who threatned the King that he would exercise his Ecclesiastical Authority and proceed to Excommunication of his Officers though not of himself Queen or Children yet the great Offices of the Realm were executed by Clergy-Men in his Reign for at one time when Simon Langham was Arch Bishop of Canterbury he was also Lord Chancellor of England a Place that Becket resigned when he was made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury denying to be at the Helm of the Common Wealth and the Church both at once william Wickham Arch-Deacon of Linclon was Keeper of the Privy Seal David Willer Parson of Sommersham Master of the Rolls Ten Benesis't Ministers Civilians Masters of the Chancery William Mulse Dean of S. Martins Le Grand chief Chamberlain of the Exchequer Receiver and Keeper of the Kings Treasure and Jewels William Aksby Arch-Deacon of Northampton Chancellor of the Exchequer William Dighton Prebendary of St. Martins Clark of the Privy Seal Richard Chesterfield Prebend of St. Stephen's Treasurer of the Kings House Henry Smatch Parson of Oundel Master of the Kings Wardrobe John Newnham Parson of Fenny-Staunton one of the Chamberlains of the Exchequer John Rawsby Parson of Harwick Surveyor and Comptroller of the Kings Works Thomas Brittingham Parson of Asby Treasurer to the King for the part of Guifness and the Marches of Callice John Troys a Priest Treasurer of Ireland But certainly a Gospel-Minister may find work enough though he be a Bishop or Arch Bishop in the Works of his Ministry and most Honour I am not for Alterations and great Changes yet certainly the Face of our Church of England is not only comely but beautiful and well guarded by the Statutes of Uniformity and Confining all Places of Honour and profit in the Kingdom to the Son 's of the Church and to such only as can Conform to Her Liturgy and Administration of the Blessed Sacraments And
bit and a knock nay when he had above all others dis-arm'd the Phanaticks of their old Weapon that lay ready at hand to make use of and take up by writing Curse ye Moroz for which at least this same Step-mother might at least have made him a Courtesie and thank't him for his great pains no such matter too much envy and Ingratitude reigns amongst a sort of unthinking Black-Coats the Lumber of the Ship of the Church that pester it in a Calm and onely help to sink it in a Storm Nor has he any share in her Government nor never will till they show as good Authority for their Government and Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical as he can for his namely 4 Patents from 4 Kings of England granted with all Royalties Immunities Jurisdictions and Priviledges in the exempt Jurisdiction of the Soken in the County of Essex and the Inheritance of the most Noble Earl Rivers but in no Diocess nor subject to any Archbishop or Bishop and of which Mr. Hickeringill is Commissary lawfully Constituted and he and his Predecessors have been the only Ordinaries from whose Sentence there is no appeal but to the King in Chancery or the King in the greatest Court of Judicature in England or perhaps in the world the House of Lords But for this he has so little cause to thank the Bishops that I believe they would take it from him if they could and by privy whispers and Fictions and Stories do him all the mischief good Catholicks that in them lyes for opposing their Usurpations and Encroachments at least of some of them and for vindicating the ancient Immunities and Royalties of the many-ages enjoy'd Inheritance of that Noble Earl and from Nasauces and Encroachments of greedy Neighbours that think they can never have enough though God knows this Exempt Peculiar is but 3 Parishes a Puinsul almost encompassed with the Sea and is not worth five pounds per Annum to Mr. Hickeringill who values the favour and good will of that Noble Lord in conferring it on him without his seeking or Petition more then twenty times the profit thereof It being usually bestowed as the most Signal mark of favour upon such whom that Noble Family had a mind to Grace But enough of the Pelican Mother or Step-mother and also of the Frontispiece with which trifle I have too much busied my self and the Readers Now for the Title Leges Angliae The Laws of England But by what Title his pittiful Pamphlet can challenge or lay claim to so swelling a Title shall be consider'd only by the Sequel Next his Epistle to the Reader Wherein at first dash he endeavours to preoccupate and prepossess his Readers with an opinion of his Modesty good man he cannot wail nor whip his Adversary That 's pitty And yet he begs pardon that he is such a Doe-little he has not chastiz'd so spightful an Adversary according to his Merits and provocations for he verily wants the Talent and dislikes the Sport As if he should say Time was in his Juvinile years when he was as indeed he was a furious chastizing Paedagogue another Whipping-Tom that took pleasure to lash and slash but those merry days are done that 's happy for Mr. Hickeringill He now verily wants the Talent and dislikes the Sport What a Tarmagant Whipster would this have been if he had taken pleasure and made a sport of whipping men according to their Merits and Provocations But why he should at first step fall down of his knees and beg his Readers pardon for not chastizing Mr. Hickeringill for not being cruel to him for not bringing him to the Whipping-Post I cannot imagine I am sure if he cannot slash and lash and chastize if his Bridewel-Accomplishments have now forsaken his old wither'd Arm he yet retains his Billing sgate Old men can prate however and Scold and so does he He calls Mr. Hickeringill all to naught he calls him Papist in the very next Page I suppose for writing the Naked-Truth and exposing the wickedness of Papists and their Popes in p. 2. of the Naked-Truth nay he makes another Hugh Peters of him and that 's somewhat strange that Hugh Peters should be a Papist and more strange that Mr. Hickeringill should be Hugh Peters and also afterwards he makes a Quaker of Mr. Hickeringill nay p. 6. He calls him both Papist and Hobbist and most unmercifully tears him with Pun and quibble for which a very Barber ought to be kickt saying I thought I had caught a Hobby but war-hawk And a great deal of bad Language this Archdeacon and D. D. does very liberally bestow upon Mr. Hickeringill in almost every page the wonted Attaques of such feeble and effeminate Disputants Well even what he pleases he brings Mr. Hickeringill within two strides of the Gallows saying he takes him to be at Hugh Peter's Game I supose for Preaching on Curse ye Meroz and drolling upon Hugh peter's Sermon and running his wicked race I see there 's no remedy at present against such a Cursing Railer the next now and all that remains is to make Mr. Hickeringill Infidel Pagan Atheist Turk and great Magul and yet this Modest Archdeacon cannot nay has not the Talent to Rail and dislikes the Sport Then lastly he says for Pride Envy wrath Malice Spight and Revenge some say he Mr. Hickeringill is a very Angel of light and somewhat more excellent Bless thy seven Wits dear D. D for thou art the first that has made an Angel of Light old excellent Pride Envy Wrath Malice Spight and Revenge The only modest expression in his Book is the last clause To the Reader where he confesses his unparalel'd shallowness of Conception saying If others can find Truth in the man he cannot So that what has already got a verdict all England over except amongst the Archdeaconry and men Byas'd with Interest its Grace is stopt by a sorry D. D. that confesses his Ignorance and hates the Truth that thwarts his Gourmaudizing would lessen his Paunch animus in Patinis Thus much for his Epistle It 's well it 's no worse The Proem This Proem takes up all the sense and also almost one quarter of doughty Pamphlet Indeed it takes up too much Room And Arbitrary Government of Will. the Conquerers Long Sword and Proclamation is all the Reading he has shown throughout the whole Book citing an old Edict out of Spellman but he conceales the Plagyary and will not loose the Worm-eaten honour of some ambitious Antiquary whilst he quotes the Record and puts us to our Trumps to guess how or when or where he came honestly by it Well much good may it do him when we come to it And first like a Church-man of the old stamp he will permit his Majesty to come into the Church that 's more kindness then old St. Ambrose Bishop of Milan would show sometimes to the great Emperour Theodosius when he did not do as he would have him to do nay This Archdeacon opens the doors himself