be the greater because it redounds unto the God of glory My Motion is that those Sheets last presented to you may be laid by and that we may proceed to reduce again the old Original Episcopacy If this Gentleman had thoroughly consulted the Church History he would have found both that Episcopacy was ever accounted a Distinct Order from and above Presbytery and that the most Primitive Bishops exercised the same Jurisdiction and Power in the Church even over Presbyters themselves as the present English Bishops did and for their Temporal Baronies and Lordships it was never esteemed any ways Essential to the Office but only a Concomitant Adjunct which by the Fundamental Constitution of the Government by the Kings annexing Temporal Baronies to their Spiritual Office rendred them one of the three Estates of the Realm And indeed it was this Temporal Honor and their Secular Estates Lands and Tenements which raised the envy of some and the Covetousness of others against not only the Persons but the Order it self Sir Benjamin Rudyard also spake as follows Mr. Hide WE are now upon a very great Business Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech concerning Bishops Deans and Chapters at a Committee of the whole House June 21. 1641. so great indeed as it requires our soundest our saddest consideration our best judgment for the present our utmost foresight for the future But Sir one thing doth exceedingly trouble me it turns me round about it makes my whole Reason vertiginous which is that so many do believe against the wisdom of all Ages that now there can be no Reformation without destruction as if every sick Body must be presently knockt in the Head as past hope of Cure Religion was first and best planted in Cities God did spread his Net where most might be caught Cities had Bishops and Presbyters were the Seminaries out of which were sent Labourers by the Bishops to propagate and cultivate the Gospel The Clergy then lived wholly upon the Freewill-Offering and Bounty of the People Afterwards when Kings and States grew to be Christians the outward settlement of the Church grew up with them They Erected Bishopricks Founded Cathedral Churches Endowed them with large Possessions Landlords built Parish Churches gleab'd them with some portion of Land for which they have still a Right of Presentation I do confess That some of our Bishops have had Ambitious Dangerous Aims and have so still that in their Government there are very great Enormities But I am not of their Opinion who believe that there is an Innate ill Quality in Episcopacy like a Specifical Property which is a Refuge not a Reason I hope there is not Original Sin in Episcopacy and though there were yet may the Calling be as well Reformed as the Person Regenerated Bishops have governed the Church for 1500 years without interruption And no man will say but that God hath saved Souls in all those times under their Government Let them be reduc'd according to the usage of Ancient Churches in the best times so restâ—â—â—â—d as they may not be able hereafter to shame the Calling I love not those that hate to be Reformed and do therefore think them worthy of the more strict the more close Reformation We have often complained That Bishops are too absolute too singular Although Cathedral Churches are now for the most part but Receptacles of Drones and Non-Residents yet some good Men may be found or placed there to be Assessors with the Bishops to assist them in Actions of moment in Causes of Importance there is maintenance already provided for them If either in Bishopricks or Cathedral Churches there be too much some may be pared off to relieve them that have too little If yet more may be spared it may be employed to the setting up of a Preaching Ministry through the whole Kingdom And untill this be done although we are Christians yet are we not a Christian State There are some places in England that are not in Christendom the people are so ignorant they live so without God in the World for which Parliaments are to answer both to God and Man Let us look to it for it lies like one of the Burdens of the Prophet Isaiah heavy and flat upon Parliaments I have often seriously considered with my self what strong concurrent Motives and Causes did meet together in that time when Abbies and Monasteries were overthrown Certainly God's hand was the greatest for he was most offended The profane Superstitions the abominable Idolatries the filthy nefandous wickedness of their Lives did stink in God's Noistrils did call down for Vengeance for Reformation A good Party of Religions Men were Zealous Instruments in that great work as likewise many Covetous Ambitious Persons gaping for fat Morsels did lustily drive it on But Mr. Hide there was a principal Parliamentary motive which did facilitate the rest for it was propounded in Parliament that the Accession of Abby-Lands would so inrich the Crown as the people should never be put to pay Subsidies again This was plausible both to Court and Countrey Besides with the Over-plus there should be maintained a standing Army of Forty Thousand Men for a perpetual defence of the Kingdom This was Safety at home Terrour and Honour abroad The Parliament would make all sure Gods part Religion by his blessing hath been reasonably well preserved but it hath been saved as by fire for the rest is consumed and vanished the people have payed Subsidies ever since and we are now in no very good Case to pay an Army Let us beware Mr. Hide that we do not look with a worldly carnal evil Eye upon Church Lands let us clear our Sight search our Hearts that we may have unmixt and sincere Ends without the least thought of saving of our own Purses Church Lands will still be fittest to maintain Church Men by a proportionable and orderly distribution We are very strict and curious to uphold our own Propriety and there is great reason for it Are the Clergy only a sort of Men who have no Propriety at all in that which is called theirs I am sure they are Englishmen they are Subjects If we pull down Bishopricks and pull down Cathedral Churches in a short time we must be forced 〈◊〉 pull Colledges too for Scholars will live and dye there as in Cells if there be not considerable Preferment to invite them abroad And the example we are making now will be an easie Temptation to the less pressing necessities of future times This is the next way to bring in Barbarism to make the Clergy an unlearned contemptible Vocation not to be desired but by the basest of the People and then where shall we find men able to convince an Adversary A Clergy-men ought to have a far greater proportion to live upon than any other Man of an equal Condition He is not bred to multiply Three-pences it becomes him not to live Mechanically and sordidly he must be given to Hospitality I do know my self a
Governour under Sir Thomas Jermyn of the Isle of Jersey having given an Account of the state of the Isle was Ordered to repair to his Charge there and if Mr. Percy Mr. Jermyn c. were there to apprehend them and cause them to be safely conducted to the House of Lords A Conference was this day appointed to be had with the Lords Fri day May 7. Heads of a Conference about the present dangers of Portsmouth and the French to acquaint them that divers persons who were suspected to have a hand in the Conspiracy and that in order to the discovery of it should have been Examined were gone that new Informations were brought to the Commons of several French Forces lay in Piccardy to be Transported into England probably into Portsmouth and to desire their Lordships to joyn with this House for the Discovery of these Practices and that some Forces may be drawn out of Wiltshire and Barkshire for securing of Portsmouth Sir Walter Erle was also ordered to go down into Dorsetshire to take care of the preservation and safety of that County Sir Hugh Cholmley to go to the Lords to desire them to move his Majesty that the Earl of Essex in this time of danger may be made Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire A Proclamation was drawn to bring in Mr. Percy c. WHereas Henry Percy Esq Henry Jermyn Esq Proclamation to bring in Mr. Percy Sir John Suckling Knight William Davenant and Captain Billingsly being by order of the Lords in Parliament to be Examined concerning designs of great danger to the State and mischievous ways to prevent the happy Success and Conclusion of this Parliament have so absented and withdrawn themselves as they cannot be Examined His Majesty by the advice of the said Lords in Parliament doth strictly charge the said Henry Percy Esq Henry Jermyn Esq Sir John Suckling William Davenant and Captain Billingsly to appear before the said Parliament at Westminster within Ten days after the Date hereof upon pain to undergo such forfeitures and punishments as the said Lords shall order and inflict upon them The Earl of Bristol Reported to the Lords House Earl of Bristols Report about disbanding the Irish Army May 7. That his Majesty had taken a resolution for the disbanding of the new Irish Army to that purpose an estimate hath been given in to the King of the Charges that 10000 l. will now do it Whereupon there is order taken for the speedy Raising and Returning of Moneys to that intent And Sir Adam Loftus Vice-Treasurer of Ireland hath engaged himself to repay in September next those Monies shall be disbursed by the Earl of Cork and others in the interim for that purpose That likewise there is care taken how to dispose and imploy the said Soldiers that they may not be troublesome to that Country to that purpose there are Eight Colonels and Captains Nominated who will take off these Men and Transport them to Forreign Parts which his Majesty will give way unto if it be to a Prince that he is in Amity with provided that these Commanders do give the King and Parliament an Account both of their Persons and their Imployers before they have the Command of the Soldiers Mr. White Chair-man of the Committee for Scandalous Ministers Saturday May 8. Reports the matter of Complaint exhibited against Edward Finch Vicar of Christ-Church London Upon which these Votes passed Resolved c. Votes about Mr. Finch Vicar of Christ-Church London That the said Edward Finch is guilty of practising Innovations in the Church Non-Residency foul Extortion neglect of the Duty of his Function and prophaning the Sacrament a Man of prophane Life scandalous in his Doctrine and Conversation and a hinderer of preaching Resolved c. That the said Edward Finch is a man unfit to hold any Benefice or Promotion in the Church Mr. White is Ordered to transmit this Case to the Lords that the Parish may be eased of him Thus early did they begin to strike at Root and Branch of Episcopacy for all those who were obedient to their Governours in the Church or thought God Almighty ought to have bodily Worship and Adoration in those places where he has put his Name and made them Houses of Prayer all those who thought kneeling at the Receiving the Holy Sacrament necessary or any other decent Postures Gestures or Vestments that might outwardly signifie inward Veneration and Homage Lawful and Expedient were upon the slightest Accusations voted Guilty of Innovation Prophaneness and unworthy of any Promotion in the Church And as Mr. Symmons Vindicat of King Charles p. 73. Symmons in his Vindication of King Charles who was an Eye-witness of this terrible Persecution informs us All Accusations against any though the best Ministers by the most malicious and lewdest persons were invited by Ordinance incouraged and admitted of without any proof at all And it can be no wonder that the Orthodox Clergy suffered so deeply both in their Reputation and Estates when not only their Accusers which mostly were the several Sectaries in their Parishes or such others as went about to defraud them of their just Dues were their most inveterate Enemies but their Judges too were frequently both Parties in promoting and managing those Accusations and by their open favouring their Accusers shewed the partiality of Enemies The Faction saw the absolute necessity of getting the power of the Sword into their hands both to justifie what they had already done and to support them in what they intended by their pretended Reformation which was totally to abolish Episcopacy in the Church and to clip the Wings of Prerogative if not wholly to take away the Government of Monarchy it self Now to the accomplishment of this design upon the Militia Navy Forts Magazines and Strength of the Nation all Arts imaginable were used to gain the People the great pretences were Liberty Property and Religion for as Mr. Hambden one of the principal Grandees of the Faction told a private friend without that they could not draw the People to assist them The great Rubb in their way to the gaining of the People they knew would be the Loyal and Orthodox Bishops and Clergy these therefore were to be removed that so Creatures of their own might be introduced into Corporations and especially into the City of London who might from the Pulpit preach the Oracles of Sedition and Rebellion delude the People animate and incourage them to assist the Parliament in this Glorious Reformation by putting the power of the Sword into their hands That they might effect this they did not only obtrude Lecturers by order of the House upon most Churches of Note in London and elsewhere but by their means and the restless malice of the Sectaries were perpetually Petitioning and Articling against the Episcopal Clergy And to encourage this Trade of Parson-hunting as the factious Sectaries called it and which did extreamly tie them to the Parliament a pretended Order of the
subject to Schismes and Seditions Whatsoever other Kingdoms have been I am sure our Histories can tell us this Kingdom hath not and therefore we have cast him off long since as he is forrain though we have not been without one in our own Bowels For the difference between a Metropolitan or Diocesan or universal Bishop is not of kinds but of degrees and a Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishop is as ill able to perform the duty of a Pastor to his Diocess or Province as the Universal Bishop is able to do it to the whole World For the one cannot do but by Deputies and no more can the other and therefore since we all confess the Grounds upon which the Papacy stands are rotten how can we deny but these that maintain our Bishops are so too since they are one and the same In the second place let us consider by what hand this root of Episcopacy was planted and how it came into the Church It is no difficult matter to find this out for is not the very spirit of this Order a spirit of Pride exalting it self in the Temple of God over all that is called God First exalting it self above its fellow Presbyters under the form of a Bishop then over its fellow Bishops under the title of Archbishops and so still mounting over those of its own profession till it come to be Pope and then it sticks not to tread upon the necks of Princes Kings and Emperors and tramples them under its Feet Also thus you may trace it from it's first rise and discern by what Spirit this Order came into the Church and by what door even by the back-door of Pride and Ambition not by Christ Jesus It is not a Plant which Gods right Hand hath planted but it is full of Rottenness and Corruption that mystery of Iniquity which hath wrought thus long and so fit to be plucked up and removed out of the way Thirdly Let us consider the very nature and quality of this Tree or Root in its self whether it be good or corrupt in its own nature We all know where it is said A good Tree cannot bring forth corrupt Fruit nor a corrupt Tree good Fruit. Do men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles By its Fruit therefore we shall be sure to know it and according as the Fruits of the Government have been amongst us either in Church or Common-wealth so let it stand or fall with us In the Church 1. AS it self came in by the back-door into the Church and was brought in byf the Spirit of Antichrist so it self hath been the back-door and in-let od all Superstition and Corruption into the Worship and Doctrine of this Church ano the means of hastening us back again to Rome For proof of this I appeal tall our knowledges in late years past the memory whereof is so fresh I need enter into no particulars A second Fruit of this Government in the Church hath been the displacing of the most Godly and Conscientious Ministers the vexing punishing and banishing out of the Kingdom the most Religious of all sorts and conditions that would not comply with their Superstitious Inventions and Ceremonies in one word the turning the edge and power of their Government against the very Life and Power of Godliness and the Favour and Protection of it unto all Profane Scandalous and Superstitious Persons that would uphold their Party Thousands of examples might be given of this if it were not most Notorious A third Fruit hath bin Schism and Fractions within our selves and Alienation from all the reformed Churches abroad And lastly the prodigious Monster of the late Canons whereby they had designed the whole Nation to a perpetual Slavery and Bondage to themselves and their superstitious Inventions These are the Fruits of the Government in the Church Now let us consider these in the Civil State As 1. The countenancing all illegal Projects and proceedings by Teaching in their Pulpits the Lawfulness of an Arbitrary Power 2. The overthrowing all process at Common-Law that reflected never so little upon their Courts 3. The kindling a War between these two Nations and blowing up the Flame as much as in them lay by their Counsels Canons and Subsidies they granted to that end 4. The Plots Practises and Combinations during this Parliament in all which they seem to have been interested more or less Thus have they not contented themselves with encroachments upon our Spiritual priviledges but have envied us our civil freedom desiring to make us grind in their Mill as the Philistims did Sampson and to put out both our Eyes O let us be avenged of these Philistims for our two Eyes If then the Tree be to be known by its Fruits I hope you see by this time plainly the nature and quality of this Tree In the last place give me leave for a close of all to present to your consideration the mischiefs which the continuance of this Government doth threaten us with if by the wisedom of this Committee they be not prevented First the danger our Religion must ever be in so long as it is in the hands of such Governors as can stand firmly in nothing more then its ruin and whose affinity with the Popes Hierarchy makes them more confident of the Papists then the professors of the reformed Religion for their safety and subsistence Secondly the unhappy condition our Civil State is in whilst the Bishops have Vote in the Lords House being there as so many obstructions in our Body Politick to all good and wholesom Laws tending to Salvation Thirdly the improbability of setling any firm or durable Peace so long as the cause of the War yet continues and the Bellows that blow up this Flame Lastly and that which I will assure you goes nearest to my Heart is the check which we seem to give to Divine Providence if we do not at this time pull down this Government For hath not this Parliament been called continued preserved and secured by the immediate Finger of God as it were for this work had we not else been swallowed up in many inevitable dangers by the practises and designs of these men and their Party Hath not God left them to themselves as well in these things as in the evil administration of their Government that he might lay them open unto us and lead us as it were by the hand from the finding them to be the causes of our evil to discern that their rooting up must be our only cure Let us not then halt any longer between two opinions but with one Heart and Resolution give glory to God in complying with his providence and with the good fafety and peace of this Church and State which is by passing this Bill we are now upon I cannot pass by this Speech of Sir Henry Vane's without a short Animadversion upon that threadbare Topique which he builds the whole Fabrique of his Harangue upon of the Antichristianism of the very Order of
Interpreters both Antient and Later expounded to be the Bishops of those Cities 6. Eusebius and other Ecclesiastical Writers affirm none contradicting them that the Apostles themselves chose James Bishop of Jerusalem and that in all the Apostolique Sees there succeeded Bishops which continued in all the Christian World and no other Government heard of in the Church for 1500 Years and more then by the Bishops and the Canons of Councils both General and Provincial which consisted of Bishops 7. That so many Acts of Parliament and Laws of the Kingdom and Statutes of Colledges of both Vniversities have relation to Bishops that the removing of them especially there having been never no other Government settled in this Kingdom will breed and make Confusion and no Reformation but rather a Deformation in the Church yet it were to be wished That in some things our Government might be reduced to the Constitutions and Practice of the Primitive Church especially in these Particulars 1. That Bishops did ordinarily and constantly Preach either in the Metropolitan Church or in the Parochial Church in their Visitations 2. That they might not Ordain any Ministers without the Consent of 3. or 4. at the least Grave and Learned Presbyters 3. That they might not suspend any Minister ab Officio et Beneficio at their Pleasures by their sole Authority but only with a necessary Consent of some Assistants and that for such Causes and Crimes only as the ancient Canons or the Laws of the Kingdom appointed 4. That none may be Excommunicated but by the Bishop himself with the Consent of the Pastor whose Parish the Delinquent dwelleth in and that for heynous and scandalous Crimes joyned with obstinate and wilful Contempts of the Churches Authority and that for non-Appearances or Ordinances upon ordinary occasions some Lesser punishments might be inflicted and that approved by Law 5. That Bishops might not demand Benevolence for the Clergy nor exact Allowance for their Dyet at the Visitations nor suffer their Servants to exact undue Fees at Ordinations and Institutions 6. That Bishops and Chancellors and Officials may be subject to the Censures of Provincial Synods and Convocations A Bill was Read the first and second time for the speedy raising Mony for Disbanding the Armies Tuesday June 22. Disbanding Bill read twice and Committed to a Committee of the whole House A most Excellent Petition from the University of Oxon for the retaining and Establishing of Episcopacy but alas they did but surdis Canere these Serpents were not to be charmed by their Sovereign much less by the Muses though they could have charmed ten thousand times more powerfully and wisely than they did However it will be for their Immortal Glory That in the worst of Times and even when the Storm was in its most blustring Rage they durst oppose the Tempest and Defend the Truth The Petition was as follows To the High and Honourable Court of Parliament The Humble Petition of the University of Oxford Sheweth THAT whereas the Vniversity hath been informed of several Petitions concerning the present Government of this Church The Petition of the University of Oxon for Episcopacy June 22. 1641. and maintenance of the Clergy which have of late been exhibited to this Honourable Assembly We could not but think our Selves bound in Duty to God and this whole Nation in charity to our Selves and Successors who have and are like to have more than ordinary interest in any Resolution that shall be taken concerning Church-Affairs in all humility to desire the continuance of that Form of Government which is now Established here and hath been preserved in some of the Eastern and Western Churches in a continued Succession of Bishops down from the very Apostles to this present time the like whereof cannot be affirmed of any other Form of Government in any Church Upon which Consideration and such other Motives as have been already represented to this Honourable Parliament from other Persons and Places with whom we concur in behalf of Episcopacy We earnestly desire That you would Protect that Ancient and Apostolical Order from Ruine or Diminution And become farther Suiters for the Continuance of those Pious Foundations of Cathedral Churches with their Lands and Revenues As dedicate to the Service and Honour of God soon after the plantation of Christianity in the English Nation As thought fit and Useful to be preserved for that end when the Nurseries of Superstition were demolished and so continued in the last and best Times since the Blessed Reformation under King Edw. 6. Q. Elizabeth and King James Princes Renowned through the World for their Piety and Wisdome As approved and confirmed by the Laws of this Land Ancient and Modern As the principal outward Motive and Encouragement of all Students especially in Divinity and the fittest Reward of some deep and eminent Scholars As producing or nourishing in all Ages many Godly and Learned Men who have most strongly asserted the Truth of that Religion we profess against the many fierce Oppositions of our Adversaries of Rome As affording a competent Portion in an ingenuous way to many Younger Brothers of good Parentage who devote themselves to the Ministery of the Gospel As the only means of Subsistence to a multitude of Officers and other Ministers who with their Families depend upon them and are wholly maintained by them As the main Authors or Upholders of divers Schools Hospitals High-wayes Bridges and other Publique and Pious Works As special Causes of much Profit and Advantage to those Cities where they are situate not only by relieving their Poor and keeping convenient Hospitality but by occasioning a frequent resort of Strangers from other Parts to the great benefit of all Tradesmen and most Inhabitants in those places As the goodly Monuments of our Predecessors Piety and present Honour of this Kingdom in the Eye of Forreign Nations As the chief Support of many Thousand Families of the Laity who enjoy fair Estates from them in a free way As yielding a constant and ample Revenue to the Crown And as by which many of the Learned Professours in our Vniversity are maintained The Subversion or Alienation whereof must as we conceive not only be attended with such consequences as will redound to the scandal of many well affected to our Religion but open the mouths of our Adversaries and of Posterity against us and is likely in time to draw after it harder conditions upon a considerable part of the Laity an universal cheapness and contempt upon the Clergy a lamentable drooping and defection of Industry and Knowledg in the Vniversities which is easie to foresee but will be hard to remedy May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly upon these and such other Considerations as Your great Wisdomes shall suggest to take such Pious Care for the Continuance of these Religious Houses and their Revenues according to the best Intentions of their Founders as may be to the most furtherance of God's Glory and Service the Honour
Reasons hereafter as they shall think fit The Lords Adjourned their House into a Committee during pleasure to Debate these Matters the Proposition concerning securing Recusants was deferred till the Commons brought up a List of the Particular Names of the Recusants they desired should be Secured When the other Proposition about the Isle of Wight came under Consideration the Earl of Portland affirmed That his Father lived and died a Protestant as he can make it appear by credible Witnesses that were with him when he died if his Wife be one it was against his Will and for himself his Lordship protested That his Father bred him a Protestant and he would ever live and die one Which giving good satisfaction to the House it was Ordered to be put in Writing and delivered at a Conference to the House of Commons Mr. William Crofts was Sworn and Ordered to be Examined before the Deputed Lords The Earl of Holland Reported Message from the Venetian Ambassador That the Venetian Ambassador had been with him and desired That the ill Expressions in his Paper may be Excused for he professes he meant nothing in derogation of any Member of this House but spoke it as what Reputation other States had of such an Action and that he further signified That he hath written a fair Letter to the State of Venice concerning the opening of his Letters which he hopes will satisfie them This day Wall upon his Petition was Released from the Fleet Wall released where he had been committed for neglecting to deliver the Order of the House to search for Priests and Jesuits but with this condition not to be admitted any more to the Service of the House Inquiry after the transporting of Horses It was Ordered in the Commons House That the Knights and Burgesses of the County of Kent and the Barons of the Cinque-Ports do forthwith send to the Officers that do register the Horses that are Transported beyond the Seas and to send up a List of the Number of them that have been Transported within these 12 Months and by what Warrant and by whom such Warrants were obtained Though Disloyalty to the King and Disobedience to the Church which rarely are seen asunder began now to be much in Fashion and Esteem and to depress the Prerogative and oppress the Church were accounted Great Recommendations for men to set up for Patriots of the Country and Reformers of Religion yet wanted there not some Brave Spirits who to their Eternal Reputation darest even in the face of the Breach indeavour to stop the Deluge of Schism and the Inundations of Errors which they apparently saw must overwhelm the Church upon throwing down the Banks of Episcopal Order and Government How Unwelcom these bold Truths were to the Faction appears by an Order of the House of Commons of this Day made purposely to discountenance Petitions of this Nature for maintaining the Church Government as by Law it was Established and to deterr others from attempting to give them any Interruption in their pretended Reformation Order to discourage Petitioners for Episcopacy Ordered That it be referred to the Committee for the Ministers Remonstrance to consider what indiscreet and irregular Wayes and Means have been Vsed to procure Hands to Petitions presented or to be presented for or against Episcopacy This latter clause or against was only for colour to make the other pass more fairly for it is Evident that they themselves were the Great Promoters of Petitions not only against that but for whatever they had a design to obtain as will hereafter upon occasion appear But upon this Occasion I cannot but present the Reader with a Petition which I find in a Collection of Petitions of the like Nature Printed by His Majesties particular Order which though it came from one of the smallest Counties of England yet had not the least Learning or Reason And if it received neither Countenance nor Answer it is not much to be wondred at being indeed Unanswerable The Petition was as follows To the High and Honorable Court of Parliament The Humble Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Householders in the County of Rutland in behalf of our Selves and our Families And of the Parsons Vicars and Curates for the Clergy in behalf of themselves and their Families THat whereas there have been diverse Petitions exhibited to this Honorable Court The Rutland-Shire Petition for Episcopacy Nov. 18. 1641. by Persons disaffected to the present Government for the utter Extirpation of the Apostolical Government of the Church by Bishops they by Sedulity and Zeal supplying the want of fair Pretences for the Abolition of that which we hope no just Reason can Condemn And on the other side many Pious Persons true Sons of the Church of England have represented their just Desires of the continuance of it upon great and weighty Causes both in Divinity and true Policy We also lest We might seem unconcerned and for fear lest our Silence should be exacted as a Crime at our Hands if We be deficient to what We are persuaded is the Cause of God In pursuance of their pious Intendments and in allowance of their Reasons do also press to your great Tribunal to beg of you to do that which is the Honor of Kings to be Nutricii of the Church and her most Ancient and Successive Government We therefore humbly beg of you to leave us in that state the Apostles left the Church in That the Three Ages of Martyrs were governed by That the 13 Ages since them have always gloried in by their Succession of Bishops from the Apostles proving themselves members of the Catholique and Apostolick Church That our Laws have Established so many Kings and Parliaments have protected into which we were baptized as certainly Apostolical as the Observation of the Lords Day as the distinction of Books Apocryphal from Canonical as that such Books were written by such Evangelists and Apostles as the Consecration of the Eucharist by Presbyters as any thing which you will do by upholding the Government of the Church by Bishops which we again and again beg of you to do having Pity on our Consciences and not forcing us to seek Communion as yet we know not where So shall we be bound to pray with a Multiplyed Devotion for the increase of Publique and Personal Blessings to your Honorable Assembly to your Noble Persons We also do with all humility beg leave to represent these our Considerations subjoyned which we hope you will favourably Expound to be a well-meant Zeal and at least a Conscience of Duty and Charity to those our Fathers from whom we have received and daily hope to receive many issues of Spiritual Benedictions 1. We Consider That Christ either left his Church without a lasting Government or else Bishops and Presbyters under them are that Government the former we fear to say lest we might seem to accuse the Wisdom of the Father of Improvidence in the not providing
conjunction can we expect there where the Bishops and Recusant Lords are so numerous and prevalent that they are able to Cross and Interrupt our best endeavours for Reformation and by that means give advantage to this malignant party to traduce our Proceedings They infuse into the People that we mean to abolish all Church-Government and leave every Man to his own Fancy for the Service and Worship of God absolving him of that obedience which he ows under God unto his Majesty whom we know to be intrusted with the Ecclesiastical Law as well as with the Temporal to regulate all the Members of the Church of England by such Rules of Order and Discipline as are established by Parliament which is his great Council in all Affairs both in Church and State We confess our Intention is and our Endeavors have been to reduce within Bounds that exorbitant Power which the Prelates have assumed unto themselves so contrary both to the Word of God and to the Laws of the Land to which end we past the Bill for the removing them from their Temporal Power and Imployments that so the better they might with Meekness apply themselves to the discharge of their Functions which Bill themselves opposed and were the principal Instruments of crossing it And we do here declare that it is far from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church to leave private Persons or particular Congregations to take up what form of divine Service they please for we hold it requisite that there should be throughout the whole Realm a Conformity to that Order which the Laws enjoyn according to the Word of God and we desire to unburthen the Consciences of Men of needless and superstitious Ceremonies suppress Innovations and take away the Monuments of Idolatry And the better to effect the intended Reformation we desire there may be a general Synod of the most Grave Pious Learned and Judicious Divines of this Island assisted with some from foreign Parts Professing the same Religion with us who may consider of all things necessary for the Peace and good Government of the Church and represent the results of their Consultations unto the Parliament to be there allowed of and confirmed and receive the Stamp of Authority thereby to find Passage and Obedience throughout the Kingdom They have maliciously charged us that we intend to destroy and discourage Learning whereas it is our chiefest Care and Desire to advance it and to provide a competent Maintenance for conscionable and preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdom which will be a great Encouragement to Scholars and a certain means whereby the want meanness and ignorance to which a great part of the Clergy is now subject will be prevented And we intend likewise to reform and purge the Fountains of Learning the two Universities that the Streams flowing from thence may be clear and pure and an Honor and Comfort to the whole Land They have strained to blast our proceedings in Parliament by wresting the Interpretations of our Orders from their genuine Intention They tell the People that our medling with the power of Episcopacy hath caused Sectaries and Conventicles when Idolatry and Popish Ceremonies introduced into the Church by the command of the Bishops have not only debarred the people from thence but expelled them from the Kingdom Thus with Eliah we are called by this Malignant party the Troublers of the State and still while we endeavor to reform their Abuses they make us the Authors of those Mischiefs we study to prevent for the perfecting of the work begun and removing all future Impediments we conceive these Courses will be very effectual seeing the Religion of the Papists hath such Principles as do certainly tend to the Destruction and Extirpation of all Protestants when they shall have opportunity to effect it It is necessary in the first Place to keep them in such Condition as that they may not be able to do us any hurt and for avoiding of such connivence and favor as hath heretofore bin shewed unto them That his Majesty be pleased to grant a standing Commission to some choice Men named in Parliament who may take notice of their increase their Counsels and Proceedings and use all due means by execution of the Laws to prevent any mischievous designs against the Peace and Safety of this Kingdom That some good Course be taken to discover the counterfeit and false Conformity of Papists to the Church by color whereof Persons very much disaffected to the true Religion have been admitted into Place of greatest Authority and Trust in the Kingdom For the better preservation of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom that all illegal Grievances and Exactions be presented and punished at the Sessions and Assizes and that Judges and Justices be careful to give this in charge to the Grand-Jury and both the Sheriff and Justices to be sworn to the due execution of the Petition of Right and other Laws That his Majesty be humbly petitioned by both Houses to imploy such Counsellors Ambassadors and other Ministers in managing his Business at Home and Abroad as the Parliament may have Cause to confide in without which we cannot give his Majesty such Supplyes for support of his own Estate nor such Assistance to the Protestant party beyond the Sea as is desired It may often fall out that the Commons may have just Cause to take Exceptions at some Men for being Counsellors and yet not charge those Men with Crimes for there be grounds of Diffidence which lye not in Proof there are others which though they may be proved yet are not legally Criminal to be a known favorer of Papists or to have been very forward in defending or countenancing some great Offenders questioned in Parliament or to speak contemptuously of either Houses of Parliament or Parliamentary Proceedings or such as are Factors or Agents for any Foreign Prince of another Religion such as are justly suspected to get Counsellors Places or any other of Trust concerning publick Imployment for Money For all these and diverse others we may have great reason to be earnest with his Majesty not to put his great Affairs into such Hands though we may be unwilling to proceed against them in any Legal way of Charge or Impeachment that all Counsellors of State may be sworn to observe the Laws which concern the Subject in his Liberty that they may likewise take an Oath not to receive or give Reward or Pension from any Foreign Prince but such as they within some reasonable Time discover to the Lords of his Majesties Council And although they should wickedly forswear themselves yet it may herein do good to make them known to be False and Perjured to those who imploy them and thereby bring them into as little Credit with them as with us that his Majesty may have cause to be in love with good Council and good Men by shewing him in an humble and dutiful
then in taking a true Prospect and Exact Survey of the Transactions and Events of former Times And of all the Historical Landscapes which have been delineated to the Life by the Exactest Hands of the most able Masters those which represent the violent Tempests of State and the dreadful Shipwracks of Kingdoms and Governments afford the most profitable Entertainment The Glorious days of Peace slide Easily and without Noise down the Stream of Time into the Immense Ocean of Eternity and leave behind them very few Traces of any thing uncommon or Extraordinary more then the Remembrance of their happiness and the Emulous Wishes of Posterity to see the return of such Golden Ages But the sullen and lowring Times of Commotions and Disorders the dreadful Inundations of Popular Fury the Dismal Events of Civil Rage Unnatural Rebellions and unexampled Revolutions produce such infinite variety of strange Actions and Prodigious Occurrences as must of necessity bring both the Temptations of Pleasure and Advantage to entertain the Curious and to recompence the Industrious Time is a Magnificent Structure upon which every Age still builds something higher and from the lofty Battlements of this growing Pile every Age has the opportunity of the vast Prospect upon the two Immense Tracts of past and future and by comparing the several Events of distant Times those of the Present are enabled to employ themselves in a very necessary comendable and advantageous Curiosity and Research into the Causes and Effects the Methods and Movements the curious Artifices and cunning Intrigues the outward Pretensions and the inward Designs which produced such remarkable Alterations of Humane Affairs and such wondrous Turns and Changes in Laws Religion and Government and from thence not only to make probable and Rational Conjectures of what is past but to draw prudent necessary and useful Deductions and Inferences and to prepare suitable Antidotes and Precautions against the like dangerous Distempers of the Body-Politick for the Future since nothing carries more clear Evidence and Demonstration along with it then this Aphorisme which has been justified by a thousand Instances and Precedents of most undeniable Matter of Fact That all the Great Changes which have been made in the World by the Violent Methods of Commotions Seditions and Rebellion have ever been mannaged and Carried on by the Specious and Deluding Pretensions of Liberty of the People Redress of Grievances and Reformation either of the Civil or Religious Frame of Government And that it is no less certain That the same Arts Principles and Methods which have been so Successful in former Ages to accomplish the most wicked and infamous Enterprizes must necessarily lead Men to the same Designs and naturally and unavoidably terminate and Centre in the same Ends unless prevented by the timely Application of Suitable and Effectual Remedies And since nothing contributes more certainly to the Cure of a Distemper then the certain knowledg of the Nature and Causes of the Disease and that no Method can be more accomodate to the gaining that necessary knowledg then the Understanding of the true Symptoms and infallible Diagnosticks which are always the fore-runners of the Indispositions in the Body-Politique there can be nothing found more conducing to the attaining this necessary and useful Art then for such Persons whose Birth Quality Station or Ability must certainly command their Service in the Affairs of their Prince and Country throughly to Understand the Nature and Circumstances of such Men and Times Actions and Events as have formerly been the most considerable of their Age. There is nothing generally more inviting and agreeable to the very Genius and Inclinations of humane Nature then variety and consequently nothing that affords a more satisfactory Pleasure insomuch that not only those gay and splendid Scenes of Peace and Tranquility which have Crowned the Smiling Brows of some happy Ages of the World but even the more Cloudy and Tempestuous Turbulent and Tragical Acts which have had their Turn upon the Stage present a delightful and pleasing consideration either that they have had the happiness not to have been then in being when those miserable Revolutions happened or to such as were to have survived the fury of the Storm and the common Shipwrack And certainly among all the Famous Revolutions which have happened in the World no Age or Story is able to parallel those dreadful Overturnings which happened in these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland Never was any Time stored with stranger Events or any Events accompanied with Circumstances more Dreadful and Surprizing Never was any Tragedy Acted more Barbarously or in less time the Raging Flames of Civil Dissention were violently fann'd with the furious Blasts of a Whirlwind of Faction and to that Extremity that such incredible things were Acted in so short a space so many sharp encounters and Bloody Battels so many places before the Wars pleasant as the Garden of God turned into perfect Desart and Wilderness stately Houses into Ruinous heaps and in short the whole Frame of the Government and the Face of Affairs both Civil and Religious so wholly altered and destroyed that it seems absolutely necessary to confirm the truth of them from Unquestionable Monuments and Authentique Records and Remains of those Persons and Times lest Posterity should be apt to suspect such incredible Relations as coming nearer to Fiction and Romance then Reality The Seeds of Discontent and Jealousie which were now ripened into this miserable Harvest of a most Violent Rebellion had been long Sown and industriously Cultivated between the Prince and the People by some Zealous pretenders to a Publick Spirit whose restless industry was continually imployed to set up the Popular Pretence of Liberty against the Royal Prerogative and of Reformation and Piety and Religion against the Established Order and Government in the Church This Fiery Spirit began to appear and to be very Turbulent in the days of Queen Elizabeth and so Formidable and Numerous was the Party then grown that that Princess who is wont to be Magnified by the present State and Church Dissenters of our time with such high Elogies and Encomiums found her self under the absolute necessity of repressing their Insolencies by the severity of Laws and the putting the Laws in Execution as is evident by that Statute of the 35th of Eliz. Enacted as the words of the Statute Expresly declare against Seditious Sectaries and to retain the Queens Subjects in their due Obedience This sharp procedure of the Queens who now found by Experience that the Crown was beset by two dangerous though opposite Factions of Papists and as they were then stiled Puritans did for the Remainder of her Reign Extremely cool the Courage of the Party and Retard their Designs for she found by Experience that their temper was such as was Manageable by Legal Severities but insolent daring and unsatisfiable by Connivence Indulgence and slackning of the Reigns of Government But this sort of People who are wont to Supply what
said Earls command that he should Fight with the Scottish Army at the passage over the Tyne whatsoever should follow notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earl that his Majesties Army then under his command was not of force sufficient to encounter the Scots by which advice of his he did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesties Army then under his command to apparent danger and loss All and every which Words Counsels and Actions of the said Earl of Strafford Traiterously and contrary to his Allegiance to our Soveraign Lord the King and with an intention and endeavour to alienate and withdraw the hearts and affections of the Kings Liege People of all his Realms from his Majesty and to set a division between them and to ruine and destroy his Majesties said Kingdoms For which they do farther impeach him the said Thomas Earl of Strafford of High Treason against our Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity To which the Earl according to the Order of the House of Lords prefixing the 23 of February for that purpose being brought to their House gave in his Answer in two hundred Sheets of Paper an abstract whereof as I find it in Mr. Rushworth's Trial of Thomas Earl of Strafford is here subjoined TO the First Article The Answer of Tho. Earl of Strafford to the 28 Articles of the Commons Feb. 23. he saith He conceives that the Commission and Instruction differ not from those formerly granted but refers to them and that such Alterations and Additions as were made were for ought he knoweth rather for the explanation than for the enlarging of the Jurisdiction the Care whereof was left to the Secretary of that Council and to the King 's Learned Council to be passed for the good of the King's Service and the Publick Welfare of that Province for Legality of the Proceedings divers eminent Lawyers were joyned with the President who for the Legal parts was by them to be directed He did not advise or procure the enlargement of the Commission and Instructions and he believeth nothing hath been practiced since that was not in former Times contained in former Commissions under general words He believeth Sir Conyers Darcy was lawfully Fined for Misdemeanors as a Justice of Peace and hath heard he being in Ireland that Sir John Boucher was Fined for some great Abuse at the Kings being at York going into Scotland to be Crowned to the Proceedings he refers himself He denies that he hath done any thing by that Commission or Instruction other than he conceived he might by virtue thereof lawfully do To the Second Article The little Finger of the Law He denieth the speaking of those words but saith That 30 40 l. or more being returned as Issues out of the Exchequer against some that had compounded for Knighthood for 10 l. or 20 l. so as the Issues far exceeded the Composition and yet would next time have been increased The said Earl upon this occasion said That now they might see that the little Finger of the Law was heavier than the King's Loins which he spake to nourish good Affections in them towards His Majesty and not to threaten or terrifie any as the Article is supposed To the Third Article Ireland a Conquered Nation he saith Ireland is not Governed by the same Laws that this Kingdom is unless it be meant by the Common Laws their Customs Statutes Execution of Martial Laws Proceedings at Council-Board very much differ they spake not the words in the Article to any such intent He saith It might be fit enough for him to remember them of the great Obligation they had to the King and His Progenitors that suffered them being a Conquer'd Nation to enjoy Freedom and Laws as their own people of this Kingdom and it might be that upon some such occasion he said to those of Dublin That some of their Charters were void and nothing worth and did not bind His Majesty farther than He pleased which he believes to be true having been formerly so informed by His Majesties Learned Council upon sundry occasions To the Fourth Lawyers not to dispute the Orders of the Council-Board in the Earl of Cork's Case he saith That the legal and ordinary Proceeding at Council-Table are and time out of mind have been by Petition Answers examination of Witnesses as in other Courts of Justice concerning British Plantations the Church and Cases hence recommended by the King for the time being and in Appeals from other Courts there and the Council-Board have always punished Contempts to Orders there made to Proclamations and Acts of State by Fine and Imprisonment He saith That it might be he told the Earl of Cork that he would Imprison him if he disobeyed the Orders of the Council-Table and that he would not have Lawyers dispute or question those Orders and that they should bind but remembreth not the Comparison of Acts of Parliament and he hath been so far from scorning the Laws that he hath endeavoured to maintain them the Suit against the Earl in the Castle-Chamber was concerning the Possessions of the Colledge of Youghall worth 6 or 700 l. which he had endeavoured to get by causing of unlawful Oaths to be taken and very undue means the matter proceeded to Examination and Publication of Witnesses and after upon the Earl of Cork's humble Suit and payment of 15000 l. to His Majesty and his acknowledgment of his Misdemeanors obtained a Pardon and the Bill and Proceedings were taken off the Files and he remembers not any Suit for breach of any Order made at Council Table To the Fifth he saith Lord Mountnorris sentenced to suffer death by Martial Law The Deputies and Generals of the Army have always executed Martial Law which is necessary there and the Army and the Members thereof have been long time Governed by printed Orders according to which divers by Sentence of the Council of War have formerly been put to death as well in the time of Peace as War The Lord Mountnorris being a Captain of a Company in the Army for mutinous words against the said Earl General of that Army and upon two of those ancient Orders was proceeded against by a Council of War being the Principal Officers of the Army about twenty in number and by them upon clear Evidence Sentenced to Death wherein the said Earl was no Judge but laboured so effectually with His Majesty that he obtained the Lord Mountnorris's Pardon who by that Sentence suffered no personal hurt or damage save about two days Imprisonment And as to the other Persons he can make no Answer thereunto no particulars being described To the Sixth he saith The Suit had depended many years in Chancery The Lord Mountnorris put out of Possession and the Plaintiff Complaining of that delay the said Earl upon a Petition as in such Cases hath been usual calling to him the then Master of the Rolls
advance their Trade and Manufactures could not be very valuable since they made any alteration of their ancient Customs how foolish and unreasonable soever a great Grievance and Occasion of Complaint and there is Extant in the Paper-Office a Petition to reverse an Order of the Council-Board forbidding them to plough with their Horses tyed only to one anothers Tails and to use the English way of Traces for their more commodious performing the service of their Tillage But his last expressions put the Managers into a great heat and Mr. Glyn cryed out My Lords these words are not to be suffered charging the House of Commons with Faction Correspondency and Conspiracy we desire your Lordships Justice in this so watchful were they to catch at any seeming advantage even of an incautelous Expression But the Noble Prisoner with his wonted Temper replyed God forbid I should think there was or could be any thing in that House or any Member of it but that which agrees with Truth Justice and Equity and turning to the Lords protested he had no intention to reflect either upon the Lords House in Ireland or the Commons here but upon certain Persons that were not Members of the Commons House here that held Correspondency with some in Ireland that are no Members of the House there Then the Remonstrance of the Commons House in Ireland was read being in Effect the same with that from the Lords The next thing which was insisted on was the point of the Revenue Sir Edward Warder Sir Robert Pye Lord Mountnorris Witnesses which they endeavoured to prove he had not advanced by the Testimony of Sir Edward Warder Sir Robert Pye and the Lord Mountnorris to which my Lord made appear that he found the Crown indebted 100000 l. at his Entrance but had since improved the Revenue so that Ireland was able to subsist without being as it had been in the time of his Predecessors a burthen to England and that at his coming over he left 100000 l. in the King's Exchequer and in Fine the Managers did as good as give him the point for they confessed that it was not to be denied but the Revenue was encreased by such means as my Lord Strafford hath increased it but that it was not the Natural Revenue but the Bounty of the Country that supported the Charge before my Lord came to the Government so that to say Ireland did not support it self before in the general sence is untrue but to say in a special sence that the King 's proper Revenue did not support it his Lordship says true From whence the Earl inferred that therefore it was not material to insist upon it They then Charged him with receiving 24000 l. of the King's Revenue and making use of it which in Effect he did not deny it being a particular Favour of the King to permit him so to do and that he gave good security for the money and had also repaid it The Managers here took exceptions at the Earl's interlocutory discourses to which he answered applying himself to the Lords That he should willingly submit to the Order of their Lordships only there were some things put upon him which were not in the Charge to which he craved Liberty to recollect himself to make his Defence making protestation as in the Presence of Almighty God and by the hopes he had to be delivered out of his Afflictions that he never had other Intentions then to be true and faithful to his Majesty and the Common-wealth and that he hoped to regain the same good opinion of the House of Commons which he once had when he was once a Member of it being he was still the same person both in Opinion and Intention This the Managers opposed and urged to have him answer immediately desiring if he did not answer then he might be precluded from any future Answer Upon which he renewed his Request but withal desired their Lordships if it could not be granted to bear with many infirmities both of his Body and Mind which were very great and which did plead for a little Favour and Compassion He said the House of Commons proceeded with Justice according to their Information but that he knew it was in the Hearts of all that heard him that he should have time to clear a truth that no person could he thought deny it and therefore humbly prayed he might not be surprized Hereupon the Lords adjourned to their House for half an hour and at their return Ordered him to make his Answer presently which to the Admiration of the hearers he did as followeth My Lords I Shall never do other than readily obey whatsoever your Lordships should please to command me The Earl of Strafford's Speech April 23. my heart paying you Obedience and so in truth shall every thing that proceeds from me The question I observe is matter of Truth or not Truth in the Preamble as they call it of this my Answer and to that with all the Humility and Modesty in the World I will apply my self as not conceiving it any way becoming me to speak any thing of Sharpness in any kind but with all Humility and Reverence to bear all these Afflictions with acknowledgment unto Almighty God and to lay them so to my heart that they may provide for me in another World where we are to expect the Consummation of all Blessedness and Happiness And therefore to lay aside all these Aggravations by words wherewith I have been set forth to your Lordships only with this that I trust I shall make my self appear a person otherwise in my Dispositions and Actions than I have been rendred and shortly and briefly I shall fall upon the very points as near as I can that were mentioned by that Noble Gentleman and if I should forget any I desire to be remembred of them that I may give the best Answer I can on a suddain with this Protestation That if I had had time I should have given a far clearer Answer than on the sudden I shall be able to do I will take them as they lye in Order And the first thing in this Answer is That in Ireland by my means many good Laws were made for increase of the King's Revenue and for the good of the Church and Commonwealth and this I humbly conceive was not denied directly only it was inferr'd That Laws were of no use where Will was put above Law That these Laws were made the Acts of Parliament that are extant and visible things do make appear For though I might express it darkly by reason I understood not matters of Law the Truth of it is before such time as I came there the Statutes of Wills and Uses and Fraudulent Conveyances were not of force in Ireland by which there was a very great mischief that fell many ways both on the King and specially on the English Planters For by want of these Statutes no man knew when he had a good Title
Disloyalties I will omit and passing by as well particular Bishops and Prelates as Stephen Arch-Deacon of Norwich and others as also of them in general I will only relate one villanous passage of Trayterous Disloyalty whereof as good Authors deliver the Archbishops and Prelates were principal Abettors and Conspirers The King being at Oxford the Bishops and Barons came thither with armed Multitudes without number and forced him to yield that the Government should be swayed by 25 Selected Peers Paris Thus one of the greatest Soveraigns was but the Six and twentieth petty King in his own Dominions c. To him Succeeded his Son K. H. 3. who being at Clerkenwel in the House of the Prior of Saint John's was told by him no less sawcily than disloyally if I may not say traiterously That he should be no longer King than he did Right to the Prelates Whereto he answered What do you mean to deprive me of my Kingdom and afterward Murther me as you did my Father And indeed they performed little less as shall hereafter appear But now to take the particular passages in order In this King's Reign Stephen then Archbishop of Canterbury as we read was the Ring-Leader of Disorders both in Church and State and no better was Peter Bishop of Winchester But not to speak of them in particular but of them all in general and that in Parliament at Oxford saith Matth. Paris and Matth. Westm came the Seditious Earls and Barons with whom the Bishops Pontifices ne dicam Pharisei those were his words had taken Counsel against the King the Lord 's Anointed who sternly propounded to the King sundry traiteterous Articles to which they required his Assent but not to reckon all the Points you shall hear what the same Authors deliver of their Intent I will repeat the words as I find them These turbulent Nobles saith M. West had yet a further Plot than all this which was first hatched by the Disloyal Bishops which was That four and twenty Persons should there be Chosen to have the whole Administration of the King and State and yearly appointment of all great Officers reserving only to the King the highest Place at Meetings Primus Accubitus in Coenis and Salutations of Honour in Publick Places To which they forced him and his Son Prince Edward to Swear for fear as mine Author saith of Perpetual Imprisonment if not worse for the Traiterous Lords had by an Edict threatned Death to all that resisted And the Perfidious and wicked Archbishop and Bishops Cursing all that should rebel against it Which impudent and Traiterous Disloyalty saith Matth. Paris and Matth. Westm the Monks did detest asking With what fore-heads the Priests durst thus impair the Kingly Majesty expresly against their sworn Fidelity to him Here we see the Monks more Loyal and Honest than the Lord Bishops we have Cashiered the poor Monks and are we afraid of the Bishops Lordliness that they must continue and sit in Parliament to the Prejudice of the King and People And so we may observe That this * This which he accounts Treason in the Bishops was no more than this Man and his fellow-Members would have imposed upon the King in the 19 Propositions Traiterous Bishop did make this King as the former had done his Father meerly Titular From him I pass to his Son Edward the First In his Reign Boniface was Archbishop of Canterbury and Brother to the Queen what he and the rest of the Prelates did in prejudice to the Regal Authority and Weal Publick I will pass over the rather for that they declare themselves in his Son's Reign so wicked and disloyal that no Age can Parallel of which thus in brief Doth not Thomas de la More call the Bishop of Hereford Arch-Plotter of Treason Omnis mali Architectum and not to speak of his contriving the Death of the late Chancellor and other particular Villanies he is Branded together with Winchester then Chancellor and Norwich Lord Treasurer to occasion the dethroning of this Prince Nay after long Imprisonment his very Life taken away by Bishop Thorlton's Aenigmatical Verse though he after denied it Edwardum Occidere nolite timere bonum est But this Adam de Orleton alias Torleton and his fellow Bishops in this King's Reign I may not slightly pass over Therefore I desire we may take a further view of them First of this Adam Bishop of Hereford we find that he was stript of all his Temporalties for supporting the Mortimers in the Barons Quarrel He being saith Thomas de la More a Man of most subtil Wit and in all wordly Policies profound daring to do great Things and Factious withal who made against King Edward the Second a great secret Party To which Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln for like Causes deprived of his Temporalties joyned himself as also Ely and others Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter a Turn-Coat left the Queen and came to England to inform the King of his Queens too great familiarity with Mortimer which afterward cost him his Head Perhaps some now as Thomas de la More will say he was therein a good Man yet I will take leave to think not do I fear to speak it This was no part of Episcopal Function But I will pass him by not concluding him either good or bad every Man may think as he pleaseth I will declare the Traiterous and Disloyal Actions of the other Bishop formerly mentioned This Bishop of Hereford whom I find called the Queens bosom Councellor Preaching at Oxford took for the Text My Head my Head aketh 2 Kings 4.19 concluding more like a Butcher than a Divine that an Aking and Sick Head of a Kingdom was of necessity to be taken off and not to be tampered with by any other Physick whereby it is probable that he was the Author of that Aenigmatical Verse formerly recited Edwardum occidere c. And well may we believe it for we find that he caused Roger Baldock Bishop of Norwich the late Lord Chancellor to die miserably in Newgate Not much better were Ely Lincoln Winchester and other Bishops that adhered to the Queen Mortimer and others of her part Nor can I commend those Bishops that were for the King and the Spencers The Archbishop of Canterbury and his Suffragans decreeing the Revocation of those Pestilent Peers the Judgment given against them judged as Erronious Thus these Lord Bishops as all in a manner both before and after instead of Feeding the Flock of Christ only Plotted dismal Wars Death and Destruction of Christians I might tell you how in this King's Reign as in others * Certainly this was made a President for such were the Pretences and Practises of this Man and his Associates they perswaded the Lords and Peers of the Realm that they had Power and Right not only to reform the King's House and Council and to place and displace all great Officers at their Pleasure but even a joynt Interest in
and not the whole Body of the Kingdom was as follows Honoratissimis viris Equitibus Civibus Burgensibus Supremae Curiae Parliamentariae Senatoribus Consultissimis summa cum Demissione The Petition of the University of Cambridge May 12. 1641. Senatores Honoratissimi NOn veremur ne volventibus tanta negotia molesti simus Academia Cantabrigiensis cum nihil sit aut ad Religionem certius aut ad splendorem nominis excelsius quam suscipere Litterarum clientelam in quo Studio cum singularis Animi vestri propensio semper eluxerit tum nulla in re magis possit eminere quam si Ecclesiae honestamenta ea quae sub optimis Regibus tam diu obtinuerunt indelibata tueamini Non enim agitur unius Academiae non unius Aetatis causa nam nec industria poterit non relanguescere nec bona indoles ali neque augeri nec vota parentum non in irritum cadere nisi spe non vana suffulciantur Quam praematurum bonis artibus occasum imminere si stipendium idem Militi sit quod Imperatori Sunt qui expediendis Scholasticorum ambagibus evolvendis antiquorum Patrum Monumentis expurgandae faeci Romanae velut Augaei stabulo se totos impenderunt nec aliam mercedem prensant quà m in Ecclesia Cathedrali tandem aliquando quasi in portu conquiescere ita fit ut quod ignavis Asylum inscitiae est id candidioribus ingeniis pro stimulo sit ad optima persequenda nec aequitas judiciorum vestrorum ferret improbitatem nonullorum in publicam Calamitatem redundare Impetigo Romana quam amplam tum sibi nacta videbitur se diffundendi materiam cum non sit nisi imbelles adversarios habitura neque enim certamini vacare possunt qui id unicè agunt ut in rostris concionibus sudent etiamnum persentiscere nobis videmur nudam atque inanem Academiam antiquam paupertatem quasi praeludio perhorrescimus Nec vestra progenies non aliquando ventura est in tantarum miseriarum partes Quin itaque Senatores amplissimi per spes parentum per illecebras industriae per subsidia simul ornamenta pietatis per vincula nervos firmamenta litterarum velitis splendorem Ecclesiae qui longissimis ab usque temporibus deductus est authoritate vestrâ communire Sed quia linqua nativa dolores desideria sua faelicius exprimit annexam Litteris Petitionem benevolis auribus excipietis Datae è Frequenti Conventu nostro Cantabr tertio Idus Aprilis 1641. Honori vestro Deditissimi Procancellarius reliquusque coetus Academiae Cantabrigiensis To the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition of the University of Cambridge Sheweth THat your Petitioners having heard of divers suggestions offered to this Honourable Court by way of Remonstrance tending to the subversion of Cathedral Churches and alienation of those Lands by which they are supported being the Ancient Inheritance of the Church founded and bestowed by the Religious bounty of many Famous and Renowned Kings and Princes of this Land other Benefactors both of the Clergy and Laity and Established and Confirmed unto them by the Laws of this Kingdom and so accordingly have been employed to the advancement of Learning the encouragement of Students and preferment of Learned Men besides many other Pious and Charitable uses May it please this Honourable Court out of their great Wisdom and tender Care for the cherishing of Learning and furtherance of the Studies and Pains of those who have and do devote themselves to the service of the Church graciously to protect and secure those Religious Foundations from Ruine and Alienation and withal to take order that they may be reduced to the due observation of their Statutes and that all Innovations and Abuses which have by some Mens miscarriages crept in may be Reformed that so the Students of our Vniversity which by the present fears both are and will be much sadded and dejected may be the better invited to pursue their Studies with alacrity and the places themselves disposed to the most serviceable and deserving Men according to their first Institution And your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray c This day The Defence of Deans and Chapters heard in the House of Commons for fashion sake those Gentlemen who desired to speak something in defence of the Deans and Chapters were heard before the House of Commons and after Dr. Burgess had inveighed against the singing of the Service alledging That Devotion vanished into Quavers and that St. Paul's Hymns were Legentibus non Cantantibus and had run a long Harangue upon the necessary use of Prayer and the power of Preaching Dr. Hacket made a learned Speech in defence of those Religious Foundations shewing how much they tended to the Glory of God the Advancement of True Religion Promoting of Piety Encouragement of Learning and the good of the Common-wealth The fum of his Defence so far as I can collect from those broken fragments which are Entred in the Journal of the House of Commons was as follows He shewed That in the beginning of the Reformation of this Church from Popery it was Queen Elizabeths great care to place the most Learned and Able Men in the Cathedral Churches and that from thence the great light of the Reformed Religion spread it self over this Nation by the constant preaching that was maintain'd there every Lord's Day besides a weekly Lecture That here were the Nurseries and Seminaries of Learning there being a Grammar-School to every Cathedral that the great Encouragement to Learning was the future expectancy of Rewards without which very few persons would be induced to fit themselves for Sacred Functions that the Labour and Industry must be great and long and the Charges extraordinary to qualifie any Person for the Service of God and the Church and that therefore these Encouragements are not more then enough to invite Men to these chargeable and laborious Studies Then he proceeded to shew the Primitive design of these Structures and Foundations which was That the Colledge of Presbyters might be as a Synod and Council to the Bishop to assist him in the Exercise of his Jurisdiction that they were greatly for the Honour of our Religion being the first Monuments of Christianity in our Nation dedicated to the Service of God and set apart for the continual Exercise of Christianity continual Prayers and Praises being there offered up to God Almighty for all sorts and conditions of Men. Then he proceeded to shew the advantage of those Foundations which the Church enjoyed by the Religious bounty of our devout Ancestors whose Wills ought to be had in Veneration As first to the Churches Tennants who had very advantageous Leases many times not much different from Inheritance paying only one part of Seven rather as an acknowledgment than a Rent Secondly To the Cities wherein they were by the great Resort
Whereas the taking away the Bishops Voices and Peerage in Parliament must of necessity utterly Exterminate one of the three Estates as before was said so de-declared by the Statute Law of the Land Upon Information to the Lords Order of the Lords about Ship-mony remaining in divers Sheriffs hands that divers Sheriffs had remaining in their hands Monies which were collected of the Counties for Ship-mony and undisposed of it was Ordered That these Lords Committees following do consider and think of some way to restore the Ship-mony remaining in the hands of any Sheriff or Vnder-Sheriff and other Officers undisposed of in every Shire unto the several persons from whom it was received or else that it be imployed in some way for the ease and good of the Countries where it hath been Collected viz. Earl of Bath Earl of Essex Earl of Berks Viscount Say and Seal Episcop Winton Episcop Lincoln Their Lordships or any four of them are to meet when and where they please The Petty-Farmers of the Customs Sir Paul Pindar Sir John Jacob Sir Job Harvey Sir Nicholas Crisp and Sir John Harrison got a Petition presented to the House which was read and answered Petty-Farmers of the Customs Petition the House That the House would take the justness of this Petition into Consideration in due time * Saturday June 5th Lay-Preachers One Robinson a Clerk in the Custom-House John Spencer a Horse-Courser Adam Banks a Stockinseller John Durant and one Green being Complained against for Preaching being mere Lay-men were by Order summoned to appear before the House Thus Early the Banks of Episcopal Authority over the Church being broken down did the floods of Ungodly men the deluge of unordained Schismaticks begin to flow in upon the Nation and by the Example of their Superiors who invaded the Crown took incouragement to invade the Priesthood and though one would have thought that this might have given them a fair prospect of the Danger which must accrue to the Church by pulling down the Pillars of it Committee appointed to Expedite the Charge against the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and thereby Encouraging the Factious Schismatiques to lay it wast yet Mr. Sollicitor St. John Mr. Glyn Mr. Selden Mr. Vaughan Mr. Prideaux Mr. Maynard Sir Thomas Widdrington Mr. Peard Mr. Rigby Mr. White Mr. Hambden Mr. Whitlock were ordered to Expedite the Charge against the Archbishop of Canterbury This day the Lord Marquess of Hartford was introducted between the Lord Marquess of Winton and the Earl of Essex all in their Robes Lord Marquess of Hartford introducted 5. Junii 1641. the Lord Great Chamberlain the Earl Marshal and Garter going before and having delivered his Patent of Creation dated 3 o. die Junii 1641. 17 o. Carol. Regis upon his Knee unto the Speaker who delivered it unto the Clark to be read which being done he was brought and placed next below the Lord Marquess of Winton In the Lords House the Bill concerning the Bishops was taken into Consideration and for the better debate of it the House as was Usual was put into a Committee during pleasure but before the House could come to any Result a Message was brought from the House of Commons hereupon the House was resumed and it was Ordered That the further Debate of the Bill concerning the Bishops shall be to morrow morning the first Business and also the Reasons of the House of Commons why Bishops should not Vote in Parliament are to be Considered I will not be positive but I have good reason to conjecture That at this time and upon this occasion the Lord Viscount Say and Seal made one of his Long-winded Speeches against Bishops which was so much applauded by those long Parliamentarians and I am the rather induced to believe it in regard of an Order of the House immediately following the Debate n haec verba Ordered and Declared Order against formal Speeches as unparliamentary That reading of formal Speeches and Answers out of Papers in this House is no Parliamentary Way The House was not yet purged of those Noble and Loyal Lords who were for Monarchy and Episcopacy and the Supporting the Ancient and Fundamental Establishment of Parliaments by the Three Estates of Lords Spiritual Temporal and Commons and these long formal Speeches very much retarded the Proceedings and Debates of the House which seems to be the reason of this Order However take the Speech as I find it in several Prints by which the Reader will see what the Champion of the Age against Bishops was able to say upon the subject My Lords I Shall not need to begin as high as Adam The Lord Viscount Say and Seal his Speech against Bishops Votes c. in answer to what has been drawn down from thence by a * * Bishop of Lincoln Bishop concerning this Question for that which is pertinent unto it will only be what Concerns Bishops as they are Ministers of the Gospel what was before being of another Nature can give no Rule to this The Question that will lye before your Lordships in passing of this Bill is not Whether Episcopacy I mean this Hierarchical Episcopacy which the World now holds forth to us shall be taken away Root and Branch but Whether those Exuberant and superfluous Branches which draw away the Sap from the Tree and divert from the right and proper use whereby it becomes unfruitful shall be cut off as they use to pluck up Suckers from the Root The Question will be no more but this Whether Bishops shall be reduced to what they were in their first advancement over the Presbyters which although it were but a human device for the Remedy of Schisme yet were they in those Times least Offensive or continue still with the Addition of such things as their own Ambition and the Ignorance and Superstition of succeeding Times did add thereunto and which are now continued for several Politic Ends. Things heterogeneal and inconsistent with their Calling and Function as they are Ministers of the Gospel and thereupon such as ever have been and ever will be hurtful to themselves and make them hurtful to others in the Times and Places where they are continued And these things alone this Bill takes away that is their Offices and Places in Courts of Judicature and their Employments by obligation of Office in Civil Affairs I shall insist upon this to shew First how these things hurt themselves And Secondly how they have made and ever will make them hurtful to others They themselves are hurt thereby in their Consciences and in their Credits In their Consciences by seeking or admitting things which are inconsistent with that Function and Office which God hath set them apart unto They are separated unto a special Work and Men must take heed how they misemploy things dedicated and set apart to the Service of God They are called to Preach the Gospel and set apart to the Work of the Ministry and the Apostle saith
Readiness though at the same time the Parliament had sent Orders to him by Commissioners authorized under the Great Seal according to the King's Directions to apprehend him but he pretended the Orders came not time enough And at the same time he took an Oath which was administred by the King's Authority under the Great Seal to be True and Faithful to the King and Parliament and keep the Town of Portsmouth for their Use and not to deliver it but by both their Consents The Plot being made known to the House of Commons they resented it as a thing of very dangerous Consequence and found it necessary therefore that Mr. Goring should own the Discovery of the Design and immediately he was sent for by the House of Commons whereof he was a Member and being present there he was commanded to declare his Knowledg of the Design Upon this Command he Expressed himself in these Terms Having been told that there was an Intention to Unite the Forces of our Army and to put them into a Posture of being aâ—â—e if not purpose of being willing to interpose in the Proceedings of â—â—â—nament I hearkened to the Propositions of soliciting a Redress for the Miseries of the Souldiery being the first step to this in respect of the present Necessities of it not any future consequence of trouble to those that were to procure our Relief But lest the manner of asking this or the Effect of it being obtained might be less just than the thing it self which was desired and I might be involved in their Crime that had further Ends perhaps than merely the Redress of our Armies Grievances I thought it not amiss to take some Witness of my Integrity along with me and spake to a Noble Lord the very same Day when I assured him there were some Officers of the Army that were least thought on that had not the greatest Zeal to the Proceedings of this House and I thought there would be an occasion to let him know more of it within few Days After this Mr. Jermin and I being admitted into a Consultation where we were tied to Secrecy by an Oath in the Company of those Gentlemen I have named in my Depositions where their purpose was declared to us in some Propositions which were to this Effect First putting the Army into a Posture to serve the King Secondly Tendring a Declaration to the Parliament containing That no Act of Parliament should be made contrary to any former Act which was Expressed That Episcopacy should be kept up as it is now Thirdly That the King's Revenue should be Established This I thought unlawful for our undertakings since they intended to interpose in the Determinations of this House and it belongs to an Army to maintain not to contrive the Acts of State I objected therefore against their Propositions and more the Follies and Difficulties than the irregularities of them not only because I thought Reason a greater Argument with them than Conscience but because I was so unhappy of the two to be thought a worse Common-wealths-man than a Souldier and in that quality could procure most Credit for my words I endeavoured to shew them that as the Design would be impious if the most desperate Counsels had been followed so it would have been the weakest that ever was undertaken if they were omitted And whereas I am said to have a part in this Violent Councel till the day before this Meeting I never heard word of it and knew not when I came to the Room whether theirs were not the same with the other This they may witness for me and that I declared I would have to do with neither and that I expressed contempt of our meeting in that manner But I rely upon the Testimony of some Noble Lords of his Majesties Council and others how I protested against all those violent Councels even in the Birth of them and with what Piety I looked towards the Person of his Majesty and the whole Kingdom in this Business I appeal also to them and some Members of this House what my Carriage was towards these Gentlemen that were imbarqued in these Undertakings intending rather to prevent a mischief by abandoning their Councels than to ruin them by disclosing them But mistake me not for had I known of any former Plot proceeded in that could indanger or disturb the Quiet of his Majesty or the Peace of the Kingdom I should not have been contented with declaring mine own Innocency nor have stayed till the Commands of this House or an Oath Extorted from me a discovery but by a hasty open Declaration have broke the Laws of Amity and Friendship and all former Tyes to the present Duty of a Subject and as freely Exposed the Knowledg of all to the View of the World as I have been tender in publishing these Purposes even to my nearest Friends which had weight enough to crush nothing but the Undertakers of it And certainly if they had stayed where I left them there was no Conclusion at all It appears there were two several Intentions digested by others before they were communicated to me and I know not whether my hearkening to them was a fault but I am sure it was no misfortune By what hath been related Thursday June 10. The L. Digby Expelled the House of Commons but made a Baron the Reader will Easily perceive for what Reason my Lord Digby thought himself Obliged to speak so sharply against Colonel Goring as by his own Confession guilty of a Wilful Perjury as Entring into the Oath of Secrecy purposely with an Intention to discover the Confederacy But all this would not Satisfie the Faction who had entertained a mortal displeasure against him for his Apostacy as they called it in declaring so frankly his Opinion against the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford for though their Resentments slept some time it was only to gain a fit opportunity to discover their Revenge to purpose and therefore laying hold of these Expressions against Colonel Goring he was this Day by Vote Expelled the House as unworthy to continue any longer a Member of it and Mr. Speaker was Ordered to give Directions to the Clerk of the Crown to issue out a Writ for a new Election in his Place But this was only to shew their Revenge for this very day he was introducted with the Usual Ceremony into the House of Lords and placed next below the Lord Brook his Writ being dated the 9th of June 17 Caroli Regis And immediately upon this it was Ordered That the Lord Digby be added to all the standing Committees The Names of the Persons complained of Yesterday for Disorders in the Church were this day given in to the House of Lords The Names of those that committed the Disorder at the Communion and the Lords Order about it Those that pulled down the Rails about the Communion Table in St. Saviour's Church in Southwark were William Smister William Shepheard Toby Grotwick Hugh
Repairing the High-ways Bridges and Twenty Pounds yearly to the Poor as is aforesaid But over and besides the said yearly Revenues before mentioned the said Dean and Chapter of Gloucester although but of the last Foundation and one of the least Revenues in this Kingdom yet they have Eighteen goodly Mannors and also divers other Lands Tenements and Heriditaments besides the Mannors Houses and Premises the old Rent of Assize of one of the said Mannors being 80 Pound per annum out of which Mannors and Lands the said Cathedral being to be made a Parochial Church 200 Pound per annum or more may be allowed for a Learned Preaching Minister there and a Hundred Pound a year apiece for two such others to assist him which in few years one of the said Mannors will discharge and also sufficiently Repair the said Cathedral Church and then the rest of the said Mannors and Lands may be employed to other Godly Pious or Charitable uses as the Wisdom of the King and Parliament shall think fit and suitable to this but in a more ample proportion of maintenance will be the allowances of all other Deanaries in England Again this I conceive will answer another Objection raised by a Worthy Knight at the Bar touching the Poverty of the Clergy of England if this Bill should take effect surely my Opinion is quite contrary and to that purpose I call to mind the saying of a Learned Divine Chaplain to a Nobleman upon some Conference with him of our wished desire to remove Scandalous Ministers and to reduce the Impropriations of Bishops and Deans and Chapters to a Preaching Ministry if these things said he take effect the Universities will not be able to supply the Churches and surely Sir if these things take effect I am confident we shall be so far from having a Poor beggerly Clergy as that no Kingdom in the Christian World will have a more Rich and Flourishing Clergy both for Nurseries and Incouragements of Learning and for their maintenance in more plentiful manner then it is at this present Please you therefore to put the Question I am ready to give my aid thereunto Whereupon it was Debated and strongly Urged by the Faction That there should from henceforth be no more Deans and Chapiters Chancellors or Commissaries Arch-Deacons Deans Prebendaries Chanters Canons or Petty Canons or any other their Officers within this Church or Kingdom and that all Lands and Revenues belonging to them should be taken away and disposed of to the advancement of Learning and Piety and that such of them as have no other subsistence but those Places and not Delinquents should have a Competent allowance for the term of their Lives Thus did they cover their Covetous Designs of Devouring the Church Revenues with the specious pretences of advancing Learning and Piety But the Event proved their Hypocrisie for when they had taken these Lands from the Legal Possessors of them Piety and Learning found so little a share of the Booty that even their own Hirelings of the Presbytery who had assisted them with their mercenary Lungs to Rob the Church were so far from getting any thing by it that with much to do they Escaped having their own Skins their Tithes and Glebe pulled over their Ears making good the Apologue of the Lion and his Fellow Huntsmen by their Folly and Indiscretion not to call it Rapine and Sacriledg The House of Commons was this Day wholly taken up with the further Examination of Col. Goring about the matter of the Army Wednesday June 16. Upon reading of a Petition of the Inhabitants of St. Saviours Southwark complaining against William Sonyter William Shepheard The Lords Order about those who committed the disorders at St. Saviours and St. Olavis Southwark Toby Gratwick Hugh Barcock George Ewer George Pitcher Thomas Loe c. for their pressing into the Church of the said Parish and violent breaking and pulling down the Railes about the Communion Table in an Insolent and Tumultuous manner the Parties complained of were brought to the Barr and their Council were admitted to speak for them and after a full hearing of both Parties and several Witnesses Examined on either side it did appear unto the House that the said Parties were guilty of the said Complaints laid against them in the Petition Thereupon it is Ordered That new Railes shall be forthwith set up by the appointment of the Churchwardens of the said Parish about the Communion Table in the same manner as they have been for the space of Fifty Years last past but not as they were for four or five Years last past and this to be done at the Costs and Charges of the abovesaid Delinquents And further That they shall make a Publick Acknowledgment of their faults in the Body of the Church upon a Sabbath Day when the Congregation shall be present And lastly That they shall stand Committed to the Fleet during the Pleasure of this House Also upon reading of the Petition of the Minister and the Inhabitants of St. Olaves Parish in Southwark against Robert Wainman George Bonace Hugh Evans and John Moor for making and causing to be made a great Tumult and Disorder in the Church of the said Parish in the time of the Administration of the Blessed Sacrament and for the hinderance of the performing of the same and for the great abuse of the Minister that administred the same and for using irreverent speeches when the said Duty was performing the Parties aforesaid were brought to the Barr and admitted to speak for themselves and after a full hearing of both sides and Witnesses Examined it appeared to the House that the said Parties complained of were guilty of the Complaints laid against them Whereupon the House did think fit and Ordered That the said Robert Wainman and George Bonace for their said Offences shall stand committed unto the Prison of the Kings-Bench forthwith and there to continue for the space of Six Months without Bail or Mainprize And that they shall stand upon a High Stool in Cheapside and Southwark for two hours together upon two Market-Dayes and acknowledg their Faults publiquely And lastly That they shall pay 20 l. Fine to his Majesty and to be bound to their good Behaviour And it is further Ordered That the said Hugh Evans and John Moor shall forthwith stand Committed to the Kings-Bench until they find Sureties to answer at the next Assizes to be kept for the County of Surrey their Faults and Offences in the disturbing and hindering the Administration of the blessed Sacrament who are there to be proceeded against according to Law And that Robert Osbalston Gent. and Richard Cant shall enter into Recognizance before Sir John Lenthall Knight one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey to appear at the next Assizes and prosecute against the said Hugh Evans and John Moore for their Offences aforesaid The State of the Accounts of the English and Scottish Armies were brought into
a Conscientious way and to yield to one another by the Rules of Charity for the publick Peace of the Church This solid course as it will allay the Heat and Precipitation of passionate Councils so it will have Authority in it self Honor in relation to other Forreign Churches and stability in these resolutions I will be bold to add another Motion that if we may be so happy to settle these troubles and scruples of tender Conscience by imbracing this only Counsel I could wish that an Intimation were made to all the Reformed Churches that if they please to send their Deputies and to assist in this Pious work they shall as Assistants be admitted And I hope there may arise from hence an occasion of re-uniting all the Protestant Churches at least in Fundemantals Leaving to every one a Christian Liberty in those Forms of Discipline which may be most agreeable to their Civil Government which would not only strengthen the General Cause of Religion but take away that strong objection of the publick Enemy of such a Division amongst our selves as make us appear outwardly to be twenty Churches or none at all for from this Branch of division and separation hath flown all the advantages both in the Estate and Church of the Papacy against the Reformation and the Princes professing one truth not fenced about with one Policy A Divine in the City gave his following Opinion upon these Particulars The Opinion of a City Divine concerning the Liturgy Church Government TO satisfie your Demands both Concerning the Liturgy and Episcopal Government First for the Book of Common Prayer it may be alledged 1. That God himself appointed in the Law a set Form of Benediction Numb 6.23 24 25 26. 2. That David himself set Psalms to be sung upon Special Occasions as the Title of them shewtth 3. That the Prophet Joel appointed a set Form of Prayer to be used by the Priest at Solemn Fasts Joel 2.7 4. That Christ not only Commands us to pray after such manner Matth. 6.9 But to use a set Form of words Luke 11.2 When you pray say Our Father 5. The Spirit of God is no more restrained by using a set Form of Prayer then by singing set Hymns or Psalms in Meeter which yet the Adversaries of our Common-Prayer practise in their Aslemblies 6. Of all Prayers premeditated are the best Ecclesiastes 5.2 7. And of premeditated Prayers those which are allowed by public Authority are to be preferred above those which are uttered by any private spirit 8. All the Churches in the Christian World in the first and best Times had their best Forms of Lyturgies wherof most are Extant in the Writings of the Fathers unto this day 9. Let our Service-Books be Compared with the French Dutch or any other Lyturgie prescribed in any of the Reformed Churches and it will appear to any indifferent Reader that it is more Exact and Compleat than any of them 10. Our Service-Book was Penned and allowed of not onely by many Learn'd Doctors but Glorious Martyrs who sealed the Truth of the Reformed Religion with their Blood Yet it cannot be denyed but that there are Spots and Blemishes naevi quidem in pulchro Corpore And it were to be wished so it be done without much Noyse 1. That the Kalendar in part might be reformed and the Lessons taken out of the Canonical Scriptures appointed to be read in the place of them for besides that there is no necessity of reading any of the Apocrypha for there are in some of the Chapters set in the Index passages repugnant to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures as namely in some Chapters in Tobit 2. That in the Psalms Epistles and Gospels all Sentences alledged out of the Holy Scriptures the last Translation of King James his Bible may be followed for in the former there be many Passages not agreeable to the Original as might be proved by many Instances 3. That in the Rubrick whereof of late the word Priest hath been instead of the word Minister it may be Expunged and the word Minister restor'd which is less Offensive and more agreeable to the Languages of all the Reformed Churches and likewise that some Abuses which seem surreptitiously to have crept into it be expunged as namely after the Communion every Parishioner shall Communicate and also shall receive the Sacraments and other Rites according to the Order of this Book appointed which words can carry no good Sence in a Protestant's Ears nor those added against Private Baptisme That it is certain by Gods Word That Children being Baptized having all things necessary for their Salvation be undoubtedly Saved 4. That in the Hymns instead of the Songs of the Three Children some others placed out of the Canonical Scriptures and that a fitter Psalm were chosen at the Churching of Women for those Verses He will not suffer thy foot to be moved and the Sun shall not burn thee by day nor the Moon by night seem not very pertinent That in the Prayers and Collects some Expressions were bettered as when it is said Almighty God which only workest great Marvels send down upon the Bishops c. And Let thy great Mercy loose them for the honour of Jesus Christ's sake And from Fornication and all other deadly Sin as if all other Sins were not deadly and that among all the chances of this mortal Life they may be defended c. 5. And in the Visitation of the Sick I absolve thee from all thy sins and the like 6. That in singing of Psalms Either the lame Rhymes and superfluous Botches as I say and for why and homely Phrases As Thou shalt feed them with brown Bread And Take thy Hand out of thy Lap and give thy Foes a Rap and Mend this Geare and the like may be Corrected or at the least a better Translation of the Psalmes in Meeter appointed in the place of the old Secondly for Episcopal Government it may be alledged 1. That in the Old Law the Priests were above the Levites 2. That in the Gospel the Apostles were above the Seventy Disciples 3. That in the subscription of St. Paul 's Epistles which are part of Canonical Scripture as it is said That Timothy was Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians That Titus was Ordeined the second Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians That Titus was Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians 4. That if Episcopal Ordination and Jurisdiction hath express Warrant in Holy Scripture as namely Titus 1.5 For this Cause left I thee in Crete that thou should'st set in order things that are wanting and Ordain Presbyters that is Ministers in every City And 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man And Vers 19. Against a Presbyter or Minister Receive no Accusation but under two or three Witnesses 5. The Angels to whom the Epistles were indorsed 2 3. of Apoc. are by the Vnanimous Consent of all the best
Affection to My People as I desire My People should shew to Me and not only so but likewise in Eschewing all Occasions of Dispute and in seeking to remove Jealousies And for this particular Bill you cannot but know that I do Freely and Frankly give over that Right which My Predecessors have ever Esteemed their own though I confess disputed yet so as it was never Yielded by any of them Therefore you must understand this as a mark of My Confidence in you thus to put My Self wholly upon the Love and Affections of My People for My Subsistence and therefore I hope in the perfecting of this you have begun you will go on the more Cheerfully And as for those Rumors which have bred Suspitions concerning the Army though I have heard some loose Discourses touching it which I never understood otherwise than as having Relation to the Scottish Army or preventing Insurrections yet they were so slight of themselves that they vanished by their own lightness within few dayes after they were born And therefore having shewed you my Clearness in this I will leave you with the Assurance That I never had other Design but to win the Affections of my People by the Justice of my Government With this flattering Eloquence did they endeavour to impose upon the gracious Inclinations of his Majesty who did in all things apply himself to oblige them representing themselves as most tenderly concerned for the Support of his Royal Crown and Dignity by this small Supply which was in reality nothing more than raising mony by his Royal Authority towards defraying a Debt which they had drawn upon the Nation by the burdensome maintenance of the Army of their Brethren of Scotland Dr. Leighton another such Turbulent Presbyterian as Prin Wednesday June 23. Dr. Leighton inlarged from his Imprisonment in the Fleet. A Bill for punishing Scandalous Ministers read the first time Burton and Bastwick who for his affronting the Government was committed Prisoner to the Fleet was this day by order of the House of Commons inlarged from his Imprisonment A Bill was this Day read the first time for the punishing of Scandalous Ministers By which as it afterwards appeared they intended the Loyal and Orthodox Clergy for indeed to stand up for the Established Government of the Church to defend the Liturgy to maintain the Royal Prerogative or to speak any thing against the violent proceedings of the Parliament for Extirpation of Episcopacy were the greatest Crimes and Scandals in the World against which neither Learning nor Priety were the least Defence A Bill for taking away the Court of Requests read the first time A Bill was also read the first time for suppressing and abolishing the Court called the Court of Requests The King had now upon the pressing importunities of the Scottish Commissioners and in hopes by his presence there at the Parliament to Compose the Affairs of that Kingdom resolved upon a journey into Scotland This sudden turn put the Faction in England to a strange perplexity They were very jealous and fearful lest the King coming to a perfect accommodation with his Subjects of Scotland they might be defeated of the hopes of that Brotherly assistance which they expected from them and which they had purchased at so dear a Rate and that the want of their help might prove a mighty obstacle to the intended progress of their Reformation of the Church and State in England But Mr. Pym who never wanted a Letter of dangerous Consequence though of his own Contrivance to help them out at a dead lift Thursday June 24. Clerk of the Markets Bill passed the Commons Bill for punishment of Scandalous Ministers read a second time Bill to prevent vexatious sults for Knighthood read a second time produced one in the House which being read he moved that a Conference should be desired with the Lords concerning the King's going into Scotland The Bill for the regulating the Clerks of the Markets being read a third time was also this day passed the House of Commons Also the Bill for punishing Scandalous Ministers was read a second time A Bill for the preventing vexatious Suits for Knighthood had also this day a second Reading Then several heads for a Conference with the Lords and several Propositions to the King before he go into Scotland were read The Cessation was also prolonged for a fortnight longer if the Treaty shall so long continue It was Ordered Cessation prolonged Father Philips the Queens Confessor sent for about a Letter intercepted going to Mr. Montague in France That Father Phillips should be sent for to attend the Committee in the Asternoon about a Letter from one Father Philips to Mr. Mountague in France The Messenger coming to White-hall and finding him acquainted him therewith Philips told him He would only go in again and eat something and go along with him But he immediately went and acquainted the Queen with his sending for by the Commons after some stay he returned and told the Messenger That he had been with the Queen who had commanded him not to go till she had spoken with the King and that he would obey her Command before that of the House of Commons Which Message being related to the House it was Ordered That a Warrant should be sent to apprehend him and bring him before the House as a Delinquent A Warrant was also directed to the Serjeant at Arms to bring the Pope's Nuncio before the House but he was not to be found The Bishop of Lincoln Reports the Conference about the Ten Propositions had this morning with the House of Commons The 10 Propositions of the Commons to be presented to the King before he goes into Scotland June 24 1641 which was delivered by Mr. Pym who spake as followeth He told your Lordships that he was Commanded by the House of Commons to present unto your Lordships their continued Care and Endeavour for the good of the Kingdom that as your affections are Vnited with them in one great End to serve God the King and the Commonwealth so your Counsels might likewise jointly Co-operate thereunto There is but one End and one Foundation of all these Affections and Counsels howbeit they spread themselves to many and several Branches for they are so Vnited and Interweaved Duties which we owe to our God our King and our Common-wealth that we cannot duely and truely serve God but thereby we serve our King nor serve God and our King as we ought without our Service to the Common-wealth And as a way to this Common and General End he was to make unto your Lordships several Propositions Because they had lately found out very Malignant and Pestiferous Designs set on foot or plotted to trouble the Peace of the Kingdom The which though they were prevented yet were still pursued which is the Reason why the House of Commons do present your Lordships with these several Propositions in Ten several Heads which have their Branches
flock over the Sea but went not himself Like Nimrod he hath invaded the Laws and Liberties of the Subject he hath been as great a Rober as ever was presented to your Lordships He hath Robbed the King of his Subjects the greatest glory of Kings the Kingdom of Trade of Tradesmen the Supporters of it He that deprives the King of one Subject you know his punishment and what shall be the punishment of him who hath Robbed the King of so many Subjects In the time of King Henry the Third 16 H. 3. F. wast 128. we find a Tenant in Dower punished in Action of Waste because she had destroyed two rich Villains and made them Beggers I appeal to your Lordships what is his offence who hath commmitted so much wilful Waste and Spoil Beggered Hundreds not Villains but Free-born Subjects He Robbed the Souls of that sweet Mannah which is pabulum animarum the Word of God My Lords I have not yet recounted all his Robberies he hath Robbed God of part of his Day makes part of that a Day of sports he hath Robbed his Subjects of their indubitable Birth-right the Laws of the Kingdom The Citizens of Norwich must pay Tithes for their Rents of Houses there 's no Law in England nor Custom in Norwich for it Nay that they may be sure to be Robbed of Justice too the suit for these Tithes must be in his own Consistory from whence there must be no Appeal no Prohibition The true Patrons of Churches they are Robbed of their Presentations others who had none or small pretence of right are admitted upon this unhallowed Maxim That if he should Institute those who had right the pretender was without remedy by this he inverted a Fundimental Law of this Nation to invest remediless Rights with unjust Possessions My Lords I cannot tell you all but you can measure a Lyon by the Paw I am commanded to lay this great Malefactor at your Doors one who hath been a great oppugner of the Life and Liberty of Religion and who set a Brand of Infamy to use his own words upon Ipswich Education In Summ one who is a compleat mirror of Innovation Superstition and Oppression he is now in the Snare of those Articles which were the works of his own Hands The Rod of Moses at a distance was a Serpent it was a Rod again when it was taken into his Hands this Bishop was a Serpent a devouring Serpent in the Diocess of Norwich your Lordships peradventure will by handling of him make him a Rod again or if not I doubt not but your Lordships will chastise him with such Rods as his Crimes shall deserve My Lords I am commanded by the House of Commons to desire your Lordships that this Bishop may be required to make answer to these Articles and that there may be such proceedings against him as the course and justice of Parliament doth admit Articles of Impeachment against Mathew Wren Doctor in Divinity late Bishop of Norwich and now Bishop of Ely THat the said Matthew Wren being Popishly and Superstitiously affected The Articles against the Bishop of Ely did at his first coming to be Bishop of Norwich which was in the year 1635. endeavour by sundry ways and means to suppress the powerful and painful Preaching of the Word of God did introduce divers Orders and Injunctions tending to Superstition and Idolatry did disturb and disquiet the orderly and setled Estate of the Ministers and People and Churches of that Diocess to the great prejudice of His Majesty the great grief and disquiet and hazard of the Estates Consciences and Lives of many of His Majesties Loyal Subjects there to the Manifest bringing in and encreasing of Prophaneness Ignorance and disobedience in the common People as by the particulars ensuing may appear I. Whereas many Chancells of Churches during all the time of Queen Elizabeth King James and of His Majesty that now is had laid and been continued even and flat without any steps ascending towards the East end of the same and are by the Rubrick in the Book of Common-Prayer ordered to continue as they were and so ought to have continued He of His own mind and will without any Lawful Warrant or Authority in the year 1636 being then Bishop of Norwich ordered and enjoyned that the same should be raised towards the East-end some two some three some four steps that so the Communion-Table there placed Altar-wise might be the better seen of the People II. He in the same year 1636. Ordered that the Communion-Table which is appointed by the same Rubrick at the time of the Celebration of the Holy Communion to be placed in the Body of the Church or Chancel where Divine Prayers are usually read and where the People might best hear should be set up close under the Wall at the East-end of the Chancel Altar-wise and not to be removed from thence whereby the Minister who is by the Law to Officiate at the North-side of the Table must either stand and Officiate at the North-end of the Table so standing Altar-wise or else after the Popish and Idolatrous manner stand and Officiate at the West-side of the Table with his Back towards the People III. He in the same year 1636. enjoyned that there should be a Rail set on the top of the new raised steps before the Communion-Table so set Altar-wise as aforesaid which Rail should reach from the South-side of the Chancel to the North within which the Minister only should enter as a place too Holy for the People and some of the People were punished for stepping into it as namely Daniel Whayman and others IV. The more to advance blind Superstition he in the same year 1636. Ordered that all the Pews in the Churches should be so altered that the People might kneel with their Faces Eastward towards the Communion-Table so set Altar-wise as aforesaid And that there should be no Seats in the Chancel above or on either side even up with the said Table V. He in the same year 1636. enjoyned that every Minister after he had finished the reading of some part of Morning Prayer at the Desk should go out from the same to the Holy Table set Altar-wise as to a more Holy place and there when no Communion was to be Administred Read at the said Table a part of the Communion Service now commonly called the second Service whereby the consciences both of the Minister and People have been not only very much offended and grieved but also the Service it self was made very unprofitable to the People who could not hear what was said or prayed in that place VI. That both he in his own Person his Chaplains and others of the Clergy as namely Mr. John Novell Mr. William Guest Mr. John Dunckon and others following his example did ever after the Table was so set Altar-wise use and perform such so many and so frequent bowings and adorations before and towards the said Table as have been
Counties in this Kingdom but they conceive that their Names will be unacceptable and their Persons unwelcome and being thus Impeached to become Judges of Mens Lives and Estates will be a thing of great offence and distraction Therefore the House of Commons desired that all the Commissions granted to the Peccant Judges may be superseded and that their Names may be no more Vsed in Commissions and when the great Affairs now in agitation be dispatched they desired their Lordships to take their Impeachments into Consideration and proceed therein according to Justice Ordered That this House Consents to both these Requests of the House of Commons touching the aforesaid Judges This day the Lord Bruce was introducted with the usual Ceremonies his Patent bearing Date Aug. 2. 1641. Lord Bruce introducted The Earl of March reported to this House The Kings Answer about the Irish Acts. That His Majesty is pleased to like well of the Advice of this House concerning the staying of the Acts of Grace and Favour which were to be passed for the Kingdom of Ireland and will give order it shall be done accordingly until this House hath considered of the Letter sent to the Lord Keeper from the Speaker of the Lords House in Ireland Propositions of the Scots Commissioners and Answers of the English Lords Commissioners August 5. 1641. Propositions for the concluding the Peace with the Scots The Earl of Bristol reported the Propositions and Articles given in by the Scots Commissioners after the Lord Lowdon's return from the Parliament of Scotland which were read as followeth That the Treaty of Peace may be brought to a speedy and happy Close we do offer to your Lordships Consideration the following Particulars I. That as soon as the Scottish Army shall remove out of England to Scotland the English Garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle may remove simul semel II. Lest Malefactors who have committed Murder and the like Crimes crave the Benefit of the Act of Pacification and Oblivion for whom it is no ways intended there would be an Exception from the said Acts of all Legal pursuits intended or to be intended within the space of one year after the Date of the Treaty against Thieves * A Scotch word for Excommunicate Persons Horners Out-lawers Fugitives Murderers Broken men or their Receptaries for whatsoever Thefts Rifes Hardships Oppressions Depredations or Murders done or committed by them and all Lawful Decrets given or to be given by the Parliament or any Commissioners to be appointed by them for that effect who shall have power to Dignosce and take Cognition whether the same falls within the said Act of Pacification or Oblivion or not III. It is desired that the demand concerning the not making or denouncing War with Forreigners without consent of both Parliaments may be condescended unto by the King and the Parliament of England which is Ordained and Universally observed in all mutual Leagues which are both Offensive and Defensive and because the Wars denounced by one of the Kingdoms with Forreigners although made without consent of the other Kingdom will Engage them by necessary Consequence Or if the Consideration of this Proposition shall require longer time then the present Condition of the Important Affairs of the Parliament may permit and lest the speedy Close of the Treaty be thereby impeded it is desired that this Demand with the other Two Articles of the same Nature the one concerning Leagues and Confederations and the other concerning mutual Supply in case of Forreign Invasion may all three be remitted to Commissioners to be chosen by both Parliaments who shall have Power to Advise and Treat thereupon for the good of both Kingdoms and Report to the Parliament Respectively IV. It is desired That the Articles concerning Trade and Commerce Naturalization mutual Priviledge and Capacity and others of that nature already demanded may be condescended unto by the King and Parliament of England and namely that demand anent the Pressing of Men and Ships by Sea or Land Or if shortness of time may not permit the present determination of these Demands it is desired that the same except so many of them as are already agreed unto by the Commissioners for Trade may be remitted to Commissioners to be chosen by both Parliaments who shall have Power to Treat and Advise thereof for the good of both Kingdoms and to make Reports to the Parliament respectively and that the Charters or Warrants of the Scottish Nation for freedom of Shipping in England or Ireland from all Customs Imports Duties and Fees more then are paid by the Natives of England or Ireland granted by King James under the Great Seal of England upon the 11th day of April in the 13th year of his Reign and Confirmed by King Charles upon the 19th of April in the 8th year of his Reign may be Enacted and Ratified in this Parliament V. That the Extracts of Bonds and Decrets upon Record and Registers in Scotland may have the like Faith and Execution as the French Tabellons have in England and Ireland seeing they are of a like Nature and deserves more Credit and if this cannot be done at this time that it be remitted to the former Commission from both Parliaments VI. The manner of Safe Conduct for Transporting the Monys from England or Scotland by Sea or Land would be condescended unto in such way as the Charges be not Exorbitant and may be presently known VII The Tenor of the Commission for Conserving of Peace would be condescended unto together with the Times and Places of meeting and whole frame thereof the draught whereof when it is drawn up in England is to be represented to the Parliament of Scotland that they may make the like Commission and name their Commissioners for that effect VIII The Parliament of Scotland do join their earnest and hearty desires and craves the Parliament of England's Concurrence that none be placed about the Prince's Highness but such as are of the Reformed Religion IX That an Act of Parliament of Publick Faith for payment of the 220000 l. which is Arrear of the Brotherly assistance may be presently framed and expedited according to the Terms agreed upon X. It is desired that the Quorum to whom the Scots should Address themselves for payment of the 220000 l. be condescended upon XI That the Order for recalling all Proclamations made against His Majesties Subjects of Scotland be drawn up and intimate in due Form and Time with the Public Thanksgiving at all the Parish Churches of His Majesties Dominions XII It is desired That the Articles concerning the Castle of Edinburgh and other Strengths of that Kingdom may be understood to be that the same shall be disposed of for the Weal of the Kingdom as the King and Parliament shall think Expedient The English Lords Commissioners Answers THat upon the disbanding the Scottish Army the Garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle shall be removed according to the Articles of the Treaty in that
who invaded England faithful and Loyal Subjects in all Churches and Chappels upon the Thanksgiving Day between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland it was desired by the Commissioners of Scotland that the Loyalty and Faithfulness of his Majesties Subjects might be made known at the time of the Publick Thanksgiving in all Places and particularly in all Parish Churches of his Majesties Dominions which Request was graciously condescended unto by his Majesty and confirmed by the aforesaid Act. It is now Ordered and Commanded by both Houses of Parliament that the same be effectually done in all Parish Churches throughout this Kingdom upon Tuesday the 7th day of September next coming at the time of Publick Thanksgiving by the several and respective Ministers of each Parish Church or by their Curates who are hereby required to read this present Order in the Church Thus did they resolve not only to conquer but to triumph and this was also to be a little kind of Shibboleth for the Clergy for who ever did either speak any thing against the Scots or declined this Declaration of their Loyalty and Fidelity to the King which it was very difficult for Men of sense to believe and therefore more hard for Men of Conscience to declare were certain to be esteemed Malignants and upon the least Complaint were sure to be sent for in the Custody as Delinquents It was also Ordered That Mr. Marshal and Dr. Marshal and Burgess to preach before the Commons upon the Thanksgiving Day A Petition of some Merchants to seize some Parts of America Burgess be desired to Preach before the House of Commons upon the Thanks-Giving Day at St. Margarets Church in Westminster A Petition was presented to the House by several Merchants about the Town consisting principally of three Heads 1 That there might be a certain number of Ships well appointed and stored with Ammunition and Provision for such a Service to be sent to America and some Part to Affrica whereby we might possess our Selves with the Riches of those Countries 2 That the Spanish Party is now grown weak which may induce us with greater alacrity to attempt it 3 That we may thereby become possessed of the Command of both the North and South Seas which will both increase Commerce Shipping Sea-Men and Trade at Home and render us Formidable and Powerful Abroad The Lord Keeper signified to the House that he had received a Letter from the King at Edenburgh by Mr. Anthony Nichols who was the Express sent from both Houses to His Majesty in Scotland The Letter was read in haec verba RIght Trusty and well Beloved We greet you well Whereas We have understood by the Petition of both Houses of Our Parliament in England The King's Letter to the L. Keeper about the Commission to the Committees of both Houses which Anthony Nichols Esquire hath been imployed to Vs from them that they are resolved to send down certain of their Members for to see the Ratification of the Treaty of Pacification by the Parliament here and to that end have desired a Commission under Our Great Seal We do not hold necessary to sign any such Commission but are hereby graciously pleased to give leave to the said Members to come and attend Vs here in Scotland to see the Ratification of the said Treaty and what else belongs thereunto and this We require you to signifie unto both Houses from Vs Given under Our Signet at Our Court of Edenburgh and the 25th Day of August in the 17 Year of Our Reign Such was the Ungovernable Insolence of the Rabble of those who called themselves the Well-Affected Party by their having been indulged because not severely Punished in the Case of the Earl of Strafford that upon every Occasion like a Fire ill quenched they broke out into Disorder and Outrages which was the Occasion of this following Order of the Lords UPon Information this Day to this House An Order of the Lords about the Tumults concerning the French Ambassador Aug. 30. 1641. that the French Ambassador and his Servants hath been lately Assaulted in his own House by a Company of Rude and Insolent People unto the great Dishonor of Our Nation and to his Lordships insufferable Wrong Injury and Dishonor whereof this House is very sensible and do intend that all possible Diligence be used for the finding out of the Malefactors for the Punishment of them to the Example and Terror of others that none may presume hereafter to commit the like Outrages to any Ambassadors of whom this House will always take regard It is therefore thought fit and Ordered by this House That Mr. Hooker Mr. Long Mr. Whittacre and Mr. Shepheard his Majesties Justices of the Peace or any two or more of them shall speedily take this Business into their Examination and by all Dilligence that may be used find out the said Malefactors and to Imprison them until they find out Sureties for their good Behavior and to appear in this House on Monday the 6th of September 1641. to undergo such Punishment as their Lordships shall think fit to inflict upon them for their said Offences and Misdemeanors so committed as aforesaid And that the said Justices of the Peace having throughly examined the Business shall make Certificate unto this House on the said sixth day of September next of all the whole Matter and how they find it that thereby their Lordships may proceed therein according to that which shall be Just And lastly That the aforesaid Justices shall give Order That there shall be Watch set according to Law for the better securing the Safety of the Ambassador and his House and for preventing Disorderly and Tumultuous Assemblies Ordered That the Lord Great Chamberlain Lord Chamberlain Earl Warwick Lord Kymbolton do acquaint the French Ambassador from this House that their Lordships have taken this Business into Consideration The House of Commons also took the Case of Sir John Corbet into debate whe for saying at a Quarter Sessions in the County of Salop That the Muster Masters Wages throughout England were illegal and against the Petition of Right c. had been Imprisoned and Fined by the High Commission Court and it was Ordered That the late Lord Keeper Coventry the Archbishop of Canterbury and others who were the Occasions of it shall make him Reparations for his Sufferings and Damages and a Conference was desired with the Lords upon it where the Managers of the Commons delivered to their Lordships a Transmission of an Impeachment concerning the Cause of Sir John Corbet a Member of the House of Commons against the Earl of Bridgwater the Lord Privy Seal the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Cottington the Lord Newburgh and the two Secretaries of State in which the House of Commons desire that the several Persons whom it concerns may be called to answer and that their Lordships would proceed therein according to Justice and that Sir John Corbet may have Reparation for his Imprisonment
with any Forreign Prince or State their Ambassadors Agents or other Ministers of any Forreign Prince or State concerning raising or transporting any Forces either Horse or Foot to be imployed in the Service of any such Prince or State And it is further Ordered That it shall not be lawful for any Owner or Master of any Ships in either of the said Kingdoms to Contract or Agree for the transporting of any Forces Horse or Foot out of these Kingdoms for the Service of any Forreign Prince or State and that no such Forces shall be Raised Transported or Imployed by any Person whatsoever in the Service of any Forreign Prince or State without the Special License of His Majesty with the Consent and Advice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament It is further Ordered That none of the Ships of any of his Majesties Subjects of England or Ireland which have or shall be imployed in the Service of any Forreign Prince shall be used or imployed against any Forces which shall be any where commanded by his Majesties Commission by Sea or Land but such of his Majesties Subjects as are in any such Service shall forthwith withdraw themselves from the same and refuse to bear Arms in such Case It is likewise further Ordered That whosoever shall Contemn or disobey this Ordinance shall be taken to be a high Contemner of the Authority of the Houses of Parliament and shall be liable to such further Censure as shall stand with their Honor and Justice in that behalf This Order to continue and be in Force unto the first Day of November next and to be forthwith Printed and Published After which Mr. Pym Reports the Declaration of the Commons in Parliament made September 9. which was as followeth A Declaration of the Commons in Parliament made September the Ninth 1641. THe Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House A Declaration of the Commons without the consent of the Lords for Reformation of several Matters in the Church Sep. 9. 1641. having received many great Complaints from the several Parts of this Kingdom of heavy Grievances upon divers of his Majesties Subjects by the excessive pressing of some Matters concerning Religion which are in their own Nature indifferent by Pretext or Colour of the Laws now in force and by the unlawful enforcing other things without any Colour of Law and considering that a full Reformation cannot be made in this streight of time did for the Comfort and Ease of the People frame an Order in manner following Die Mercurii 8. Septemb. 1641. WHereas divers Innovations in or about the Worship of God have been lately practised in this Kingdom by enjoyning some things and prohibiting others without Warrant of Law to the great Grievance and Discontent of his Majesties Subjects For the suppression of such Innovations and for the preservation of the Publick Peace It is this day Ordered by the Commons in Parliament Assembled That the Church-Wardens of every Parish-Church and Chappel respectively do forthwith remove the Communion Table from the East end of the Church Chappel or Chancel into some other convenient Place and that they take away the Rails and level the Chancels as heretofore they were before the late Innovations That all Crucifixes scandalous Pictures of any one or more Persons of the Trinity and all Images of the Virgin Mary shall be taken away and abolisht and that all Tapers Candlesticks and Basins be removed from the Communion Table That all Corporal bowing at the Name JESUS or towards the East End of the Church Chappel or Chancel or towards the Communion Table be henceforth forborn That the Orders aforesaid be observed in all the several Cathedral Churches of this Kingdom and all Collegiate Churches or Chappels in the two Universities or any other part of the Kingdom and in the Temple Church and the Chappels of the other Innes of Court by the Deans of the said Cathedral Churches by the Vice-Chancellor of the said Universities and by the Heads and Governors of the several Colledges and Halls aforesaid and by the Benchers and Readers in the said Innes of Court respectively That the Lords Day shall be duly observed and Sanctified All Dancing or other Sports either before or after Divine Service be forborn and restrained and that the Preaching of God's Word be permitted in the Afternoon in the several Churches and Chappels of this Kingdom and that the Ministers and Preachers be encouraged thereunto That the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities Heads or Governors of Colledges all Parsons Vicars Church-Wardens do make Certificates of the performance of these Orders and if the same shall not be observed in any of the Places aforementioned upon complaint thereof made to the two next Justices of Peace Mayor or Head Officers of Cities or Towns corporate It is Ordered that the said Justices Mayor or other Head-Officer respectively shall examine the truth of all such Complaints and certifie by whose Default the same are committed All which Certificates are to be delivered in Parliament before the thirtieth of October next ANd did upon the eighth of September in a Conference with the Lords desire their Lordships to Consent unto it and to joyn with them in the Publishing thereof whereunto they never received Answer but contrary to their Expectation upon this present ninth of September being the Day intended for the Recess of both Houses they received in a Conference from their Lordships an Order dated January the sixteenth 1640. In these Words Die Sabbati 16. Januarii 1640. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in the High Court of Parliament Assembled That the Divine Service be performed as it is appointed by the Acts of Parliament of this Realm And that all such as shall disturb that wholsome Order shall be severely Punished according to the Law And the Parsons Vicars and Curates in the several Parishes shall forbear to introduce any Rites or Ceremonies that may give Offence otherwise then those that are established by the Laws of the Land And one other of this present ninth of September In these Words Resolved upon the Question this ninth of September 1641. That the obovesaid Order shall be Printed and Published DEsiring that the Commons would joyn with them in publishing thereof which being presented to the House of Commons it was thought unseasonable at this time to urge the severe Execution of the said Laws Whereupon it was voted that they do not consent to those Orders or either of them And they have thought fit to make this Declaration that it may be understood that the last Order of the Lords was made with the Consent only of Eleven Lords and that nine other Lords then present did dissent from it so that it may be still hoped when both Houses shall meet again that the good Propositions and Preparations in the House of Commons for preventing the like Grievances and reforming the Disorders and Abuses in Matters of Religion may be brought to perfection Wherefore
certainly by the informing Sectaries who were very diligent in springing Game for the Committee and Sub-Committees for Religion the Ministers Remonstrance and for Scandalous Ministers Mr. White 's Mr. Corbet's Sir Robert Harlow's and Sir Edward Deering's Committees And then these Godly Informers must be gratified for their Petitions Informations and such like good Service to the Common-Wealth by the Imprisonment Scorn and Contempt Charges and many times utter Ruine of the truly Loyal and Orthodox Clergy of the Church of England And whoever will take the pains to Rake in that Libel of Mr. White 's called The first Century of Scandalous Malignant Priests will find that the greatest Crimes which many of the Clergy were Accused for and turned they and their Families naked to the wide World were the disobeying this Order For Bowing at the Name of Jesus Examples 33 and 43. For setting up the Name of Jesus in the Church Ex. 72.83 Preaching against Sacriledge Ex. 22. Bowing the Body in God's House Ex. 7. But to return to the House of Commons after the Voting of this Declaration they fell upon the business of the Recess and preparing Instructions for the Committee which was to Sit during the time of the Adjournment And Mr. The standing Committee during the Recess of the Parliament Pym Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Franklin Sir John Culpeper Mr. Wheeler Sir Henry Mildmay Mr. Bridgman Sir Thomas Bowyer Sir Thomas Barrington Sir Edward Hales Sir William Litton Sir Richard Cave Mr. Robert Goodwin Sir Samuel Luke Mr. Wingate Sir Robert Pye Alderman Soams Alderman Pennington Captain Venn Mr. Vassal Lord Falkland Capt. Rainsborough Mr. Bence Sir Peter Wroth Sir John Holland Mr. Winwood Mr. John Goodwin Sir Thomas Dacres Mr. Morley Mr. Henry Martin Mr. Arthur Goodwin Sir John Clotworthy Mr. White Mr. Sollicitor Mr. Spurstow Mr. Laurence Whitacre Serjeant Wild Mr. Strode Sir Henry Vane Mr. Glyn Sir Symon D'Ewes Sir William Drake Mr. Beddingfield Sir Gilbert Pickering Mr. Blakston Mr. Waller were appointed to be a Committee during the Recess This Committee to meet on Saturday next in the Exchequer-Chamber at Nine of the Clock in the Fore-noon Directions for the Committee during the Recess and they are to meet every Tuesday and Saturday in every Week and at such other times as they think fit during the Recess and they or any Six of them have power to meet with the Commissioners of the Lords appointed during their Recess at such times as they shall appoint They have Power to receive open and answer such Letters as come from the Committee in Scotland according to former Instructions and Orders of this House To take Care that the Orders of this House be punctually observed concerning Disbanding the Army Train of Artillery and Garrisons and for the Issuing and sending down of Money to those purposes To Recall the Committee in Scotland if they see Cause To go on in preparation of Proceedings against the Principal of such Delinquents as are already Voted or Complained against and to report Vpon any Informations of Riots or Tumults to have Power to send to all Sheriffs Justices of Peace and other Officers to stir them unto their Duties in repressing them and to report To Examine the Entries of the Clerks Books and that the Committee may not mistake any past Actions of the House a Clerk to be left there with the Books To take Care of the Preparations for his Majesties Revenue and to take into Consideration any Accounts to his Majesty To go on in prosecution of the Consideration of a West-Indian Company To take into Consideration the Fishing upon the Coasts of England Scotland and Ireland To take into Consideration the Resolutions of the Abuses in Exchange and Transporting of Money and the Regulating of the Par between this and other Nations To prepare the Irish Laws depending to be either at the Access transmitted to the Lords or recommended to the Irish Parliament To consider about Sal Petre and Gunpowder To send for any Persons Writings and Records To prepare a Discharge for the Earl of Warwick according to those Acquittances he hath given concerning the Northern Counties After which the Speaker desired he might have leave to go into the Country during the Recess which being granted the House was Adjourned till October 20. at Eight of the Clock in the Morning Happy had it been for England had they never met again to be the Authors of the most Dismal Tragedy that ever was Acted upon the Theatre of England but Providence whose Wisdom is unsearchable had Ordained them to be a Scourge to a People Wanton with Long Peace Ease Plenty and Even Religion it self The day to which the Parliament was Adjourned being now come Wednesday Octob. 20. both Houses met And the Lords being sate in their House and divers of them observing the Palace Yard full of Armed Men it was moved That it might be known upon what Grounds and Reasons the Trained Bands of Westminster were in the Old and New Palaces assembled The Lord Chamberlain being Captain General of the South Parts of this Kingdom during the King's absence in Scotland by Command of the House signified That his Lordship received a Desire from the Committee of the House of Commons which sate during the time of the late Recess that there might be a Guard of Souldiers about the Parliament to prevent the Insolence and Affronts of Souldiers at this time about the Town and to secure the Houses against other Designs which they have reason to suspect untill the Parliament meets and gives further Order therein Hereupon it was Ordered The Parliament takes a Guard of the Trained Bands of Westminster That the Lord Chamberlain shall by virtue of this Order continue a Guard of Souldiers to guard the Parliament Houses until the further Pleasure of the Parliament be known and that the Number of the said Soldiers shall be wholly left unto the discretion and management of the said Lord Chamberlain Captain General After this the Lord Keeper informed the House That he had received a Letter from the Lord Howard in Scotland dated the 14th of October which was read The Conspiracy in Scotland declaring That upon Monday Night then last there fell out a great Interruption in the Business there by reason of an Information given to the Marquiss of Hamilton the Earl of Argyle and the Earl of Lannerick That there was a Design to seize upon their Persons that Night whereupon they removed their Lodgings and stayed in the City all Night and relation being made hereof the next day to the Parliament the Earl of Crawford Colonel Steward and Colonel Cockram were restrained and after a further Examination his Lordship will give this House a further Information The first thing that was done in the House of Commons Mr. Pym's Report of what was done during the Recess Mr. Pym Reports what was done during the Recess THE first thing we had in Charge was
better consideration they were returned to submit to the Pleasure of the House I thought it my Duty to make some Privy Councellor acquainted therewith whereupon I went to my Lord Wilmott with them who undertook they should attend the Committee the next Sitting which they did accordingly and in pursuance of the Order and Warrant of the House for the apprehending of them they were both attached by the Sergeant's Deputy so the House may be pleased to send for them and to do therein as they see Cause For the Letters last received out of Scotland from the Committee they speak of something intended to be done there upon the Persons of divers Lords of Scotland and in regard some of the Parties suspected to have a hand in that Design are suspected to be Papists the Committee did conceive it might have Correspondence with the like Party here and therefore Commanded me Yesterday to write to my Lord Mayor of London to place convenient Guards in several places of the City till he received further Directions from the Parliament and the like to the Justices of the Peace for Middlesex Westminster and Southwark and to observe such further Directions as they should receive from the Earl of Essex who in his Majesties Absence is appointed General on this side Trent I forgot to Report one thing That upon Tuesday last was Seven-night the Committee here agreed and so Ordered That the Committee of Scotland should unless they see cause to the contrary return home and lest our Letter might miscarry Commanded me to send an Express Messenger to them and I did so and writ also by the Weekly Post of our Order as also of the Lords Order for their Commissioners to come home The Party I sent who was commended to me for a very honest man should have been there on the Monday following which he Easily might have done if he had been well but on Friday last he was not come to Edinburgh neither could he be heard of in all the Road so that we may justly fear some misfortune is befallen him that he is knocked on the head and his Letters taken from him After this Sir John Berkley was by Order of the House committed Prisoner to the Tower Sir John Berkley and Mr. Daniel Oneal committed and Sergeant-Major Oneal to the Gate-House Then Mr. Pym reports Heads for a Conference with the Lords the Letter from the Committee in Scotland of the 14th of October to be read That there was a design of the like nature in this Kingdom Heads of a Conference about the Conspiracy in Scotland to seduce the King's Army to interrupt the Parliament here and the like design at the same time in Scotland the principal Party in Scotland suspected to be Popishly affected and therefore may have Correspondence with the like Party here That it hath been lately published here that some things were to be done in Scotland before it broke out there and therefore we may suspect some Correspondency here Vpon these Grounds to propose to the Lords that strong Guards be kept in the Cities of Westminster and London Secondly That care may be taken for the future for the defence of the Kingdom The next great step these Men had before them was the Power of the Sword the Command of the Militia of the Kingdom which under the notion of putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence they thought by Artifice to have gained from the King and to put out of all Places of Power and Trust those whom they knew to be their Enemies or suspected might oppose their Anti-Monarchical Designs and to fill the Vacancies with those of their own Party for if they could gain this point they assured themselves of Impunity for the future and the easie accomplishment of their great Affairs and therefore they not only laid hold of all occasions which might Countenance this Attempt but found out many Dangers and Imaginary Fears and Jealousies which had no other Foundation but their own Politick Fancies Before we proceed any further in regard Mr. Pym's report of what was done during the Recess is very concise I will give the Reader an account of some passages which I meet with in the Prints which then went abroad by which he may see what effect this Declaration of the House of Commons had upon the Affairs of the Church and how quietly and without Tumultuous disturbances the Godly Party did according to the last Clause of the Declaration attend the intended Reformation For at St. Giles's Cripple-Gate the Sectaries and the Orthodox were got almost to Daggers drawing the one about Executing the Order of the House of Commons the other for preserving their Church in its ancient condition with the Rails about the Communion Table But in the End it seems the Church was for that time secured and the Church-Wardens and Parishioners presented a Petition to the Committee that the Rails about the Communion Table might not be taken away setting forth among other Reasons An Innovation of 80 years standing for that they have been placed so near upon Fourscore years and the necessary Use Decency and Convenience of them in the Administration of the Holy Sacrament But notwithstanding this Prescription to their quiet Possession they were by the Committee condemned as an Innovation and the Petitioners were referred to the Order of the whole House upon it and dismissed with a menace to submit unto it or to answer their contempt at their Peril Upon Tuesday the 5th of October a complaint was made against a Church-Warden and some others of the Parish of St. George's in Southwark for some resistance made by them about the Rails taking down which were about the Communion Table and they were ordered to attend the Committee on Friday following for where the Zealous Reformers were not strong enough to execute the Order by Force and Violence Rudeness and Tumult they had ever recourse to the Trade of Informing But where they had strength there they carved out their own satisfaction breaking down the Carved work of the Houses of God with Axes and Hammers and in St. Mary wool-Wool-Church London not content to pull down the Rails they fell upon the East Window which was fairly beautified with Painting of several Histories of the Bible and in the height of their Zeal against Innovations made bold to exceed the Limits of the Commons Declaration utterly defacing and beating it in pieces as they did several other Monuments of Antiquity in that Church Complaint was made again Dr. Heywood of St. Giles's Church for not suffering the Order to be read in his Church upon which he was Ordered to attend upon the Committee upon Saturday following There was likewise a Petition delivered against Mr. Booth Minister of St. Botolphs Aldersgate for not permitting the Rabble of Sectaries to pull down the Rails c. Another Petition was preferred against Dr. Fuller Dean of Ely for opposing the Order about Lecturers the Zealots being desirous to
for his Family the Feeder and the Ruler in Scripture being all one in Office in Expression in Person So that if he left no Rulers he left no Feeders the later We are more confident of for that Christ did clearly institute a Disparity in the Clergy which is the main Stone of Offence appears in the Apostles and 72 Disciples to whom according to the Voice of Christendome and traditive Interpretation of the Church Bishops and Presbyters do respectively Succeed and also many Actually did succeed the Apostles in their Chairs being ordained Bishops by the Apostles themselves that did Survive And also beyond all Exception that Christ did institute a Government appears in those Evangelical Words Who then is that faithful and wise Steward whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his Houshold c. Luke 12.42 which Rulers are Bishops and Priests under them or else the Church hath been Apostate from her Lord She having clearly for 1500 Years had no other Rulers then such 2. We consider that Whether there can be a Church or no without Bishops is at least a Question of great Consideration and the Negative is maintained by Apostolical and Primitive Men and Martyrs and by the greatest part of Christendom and those few in respect of the whole that Dissent being most certainly not Infallible to be sure with Episcopacy it may be a Church Eatenùs therefore it is the surest Course to retain it for fear we separate from the Church the Pillar and Ground of Truth 3. No Ordination was ever without a Bishop and if any Presbyter did impose Hands unless in Conjunction with a Bishop he was accounted an Vsurper and Anathematized by publick and unquestioned Authority and so without Bishops no Presbyters then no Absolution no Consecration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and for these Wants no Man can make a Recompence or Satisfaction 4. No Presbyter did ever impose Hands on a Bishop Viz. de jure nec idem de facto till 555 Years after Christ and then but once in the Case of Pope Pelagius and that irregularly and neversince unless by Papal Usurpation which if so famous a Resolve or publick Voice of all Christendom may have an Estimate shews their disparity and that a Bishop hath a Character which cannot be imprinted without at least an equal Hand 5. Without Bishops no Confirmation of Children and yet Confirmation called in Scripture imposition of Hands Saint Paul in his famous Catechism accounts a Fundamental Point and the Church hath always used it and it was appropriate to Bishops by the laudable Custom of Christendom and by the Example of the Apostles in the Case of the Samaritane Christians whom Philip the Evangelist had Converted and is charged upon the Parents of Children that they bring their Children to Bishops to be Confirmed And it was never otherwise but just as in the Case of Ordination videlicet by singularity and Vsurpation till of late that the Jesuits to inlarge their Phylacteries have striven to make Bishops not necessary by communicating Confirmation to Priests of their Order 6. To take away Bishops is against the Wisdom of the State of England ever since the Reformation and having been attempted by Clancular Practises was checked by the Princes respectively and their Council and constantly by the Wisdom of preceding Parliaments and this although the Bishops then were less learned and as much infamed 7. We are sure that Episcopal Government hath consisted with Monarchy ever since the English Monarchy was Christian and we are now to try whether any innovated Government can or will 8. We consider That if it could consist with Monarchy when it was byassed by the Popes prevalent Incroachment much more since the Reformation when the King hath the Reins in his own Hand and can give them Laws and ascertains them by their immediate Dependance both for their Baronies and Election and personal Jurisdiction on the Crown and by the Statute of Submission 9. We consider That St. Hierome pretended as the main Authentick Enemy against Episcopacy yet sayes in Comment in Epist ad Titum That Bishops were constituted as an Antidote and Deletory to disimprove the Issues of Schisme and that by the Apostles who best knew the Remedy And now that Schismes multiply there is more need of Bishops so that they cannot be taken away upon pretence their Regiment is not necessary for the taking them away must multiply Schisms 10. All Learning will be discountenanced if not extinguished upon the Demolition of Episcopacy the Bishops being Parties for the Advancement of Learning and on the other side if the Government should be in the Hands of Presbytery or Lay-Elders We know no Reason sufficient to stifle our Fears lest preferment be given to people unlearned and unfit to have the managing of Souls especially since a learned Clergy will be suspected by their Lay Elders as too knowing to be ruled by their Dictates which will not have so much Artifice and fineness as to command by Strength of Reason our Fears are also increased by considering that by the multiplication of Lay Elders or other Governors their personal Interest being increased partiality must be more frequent and all this is besides their incompetency of Judging the Abilities of Scholars 11. The removal of Bishops would be a Scandal not only to many weak Christians who fear all Innovations as guilty of some ill Intendments upon their Consciences but also to the strongest which shews it to be the fault of the Giver not the Weakness of the Receiver and if we must not Scandalize our weak Brethren much less our Strong since this will intrench upon us in a high measure they not being apt to be Scandalized upon Vmbrages and Impertinences 12 Where Bishops are not there is not an Honorable but fellow-like Clergy against the Apostolical Rule of double Honor. 13. By putting down Episcopacy We deprive our selves of those solemn Benedictions which the Faith of Christendom and the Profession of the Church of England enjoyning the Bishops rather to pronounce the Blessing at the end of the Communion appropriates to Episcopal Preheminence above Priestly Authority 14. Two Parts of Three of the Reformed Churches are governed by Bishops or Superintendents which is properly the Latin Word for Bishops and the other Part that wants them have often wished them as their own Doctors do profess 15. It is against the Liberties of the Clergy indulged to them by the Magna Charta Granted and Confirmed by so many Kings and about 30 Parliaments in express Act and the Violation of any Part of it by intrenchment upon the Right of the Lay Subject justly accounted a great Grievance the Charter it self being as Fundamental a Law as we conceive as any other and any of us may fear lest his Liberties may be next in Question 16. The four great General Councils in Estimation next the four Evangelists and by the Statutes of this Kingdom made the Rules of Judging Heresies were
held by Bishops the greatest Fires and Pests of Christendom the Old Heresies were by their Industry extinct Church Discipline and Pious Constitutions by them Established many Nations by them converted many Miracles done for the Confirmation of the Christian Faith one of the Gospels written by a Bishop St. Mark of Alexandria if we believe as authentick Records as any are extant Three of the Epistles of St. Paul written to Bishops seven Epistles by the Holy Ghost himself recorded in the Revelation and sent to the Seven Asian Bishops as all ancient Fathers accord * * Timotheus Titus Clemens Limus Marcus Dyonisius Onesimus Caius Epaphroditus Jacobus Hierosolimit Euodias Simeon the Names of twelve Men besides Apostles mentioned in Holy Scripture which all Antiquity reports to have been Bishops most of the Fathers whose Works all Posterity embraces with much Zeal and Admiration were Bishops these also in our Apprehensions advance that Holy Function to a high and unalterable Estimation 17. Very many of the fairest Churches and Colleges and Places of Religion were built by Bishops which are fair Characters to shew their prompiness to do Publick Acts of Piety and that Persons so well qualified as they were that is Governors and Clergy and fairly endowed is an excellent Composition to advance publick Designs for the Honor of God in the Promotion of Publick Piety 18. Since it hath pleased this Honorable Court of late to commend a Protestation to Vs which We by solemn Vow engaged our selves to Attest with our Lives and Fortunes the established Doctrine of the Church of England We consider that since the 36 Article hath approved and established the Book of Consecration of Bishops the Abolition of Bishops would nullifie that Article and should We not make humble Remonstrance to the contrary we should suddenly recede from our great and solemn Protestation for maintenance of our Church Doctrine But may it please this Honorable Assembly We consider on the other side 19. The introducing of Lay Elders must bring an insupportable Burthen to all Parishes by maintaining them at the Parish Charge for they must be maintained or else a Transgression is made against the Apostolical Rule Tim. 5. for the principal and indeed only colourable pretended Place for Lay-Elders injoyns their Maintenances so that either the People must be Oppressed with so great a Burthen or else St. Paul's Rule not obeyed or else there is no Authority for Lay Elders as indeed there is not 20. And also there can be no less fear of Vsurpation upon the Temporal Power by the Presbytery then is pretended from Episcopacy since that Presbytery challenges Cognisance of more Causes and Persons then the Episcopacy does so making a dangerous Entrenchment upon the Supremacy and derives its Pretence from Divine Institution with more Confidence and more immediate derivation then Episcopacy though indeed more vainly as We conceive 21. We crave leave also to add this That these two viz. Episcopacy and Presbytery being the only two in contestation if any new Design should justle Episcopacy we are confident that as it hitherto wants a Name so it will want a Face or Form of Reason in case of Conscience when it shall appear Signed by Knights Justices Gentry and Free-Holders about 800 By Ministers about the Number of 40. Though this Number seem but small yet the County is so too and certainly the Reasons which they offered were great and altogether unanswerable But the Word of the Faction was Delenda est Carthago Root and Branch must up though the 12 Apostles themselves had Petitioned them and remonstrated against this Violent and Anti-Christian Enterprize as in reality both they and all Apostolick Men as is well urged in this Petition did This day a Petition was read in the House of Lords Friday Novemb. 19. Officers of the late Army Petition for their Pay Presented by the Colonels and Chief Commanders in the late King's Army shewing That whereas there was a Trust desired by the Parliament of the said Officers for part of their Pay and thereupon an Act was made for their satisfaction to be given positively on the 10th of this Instant November They therefore desire That the Parliament may be moved to make good their Act. Whereupon it was Ordered to be propounded to the Commons at a Conference The Press breaks loose against Church and State The Press now began to break loose as indeed every thing that looked like Order seemed to be wholly Abandoned to Libertinisme both in Church and State for daily Complaints were made of abusive Pamphlets against both particular Persons and the Government Civil and Ecclesiastical Complaint had been some time before made to the House of a Libel against the Earl of Worcester another against the French Ambassador a third for Printing and Publishing a Book Intituled Leicester's Commonwealth upon all which the Honourable House of Lords who had not yet ejected the Bishops and others of the Loyal Nobility had animadverted and this Day it was Ordered That Lewis Hughs a Minister be sent for to attend this House to see if he will avow the making of a Book Intituled The Grievances and Errors of the Service-Book and that the Company of the Stationers do take Care to find out the Printer of the same Ordered Wall restored to his Place That Thomas Wall shall be restored to his former Imployment about the Vpper House of Parliament which although it is in the Gentleman Vshers disposure yet the Lords do presume that he will give way unto it by reason that his Dismission from the Imployment was by Order of this House for the reglect of his Duty to their Lordships only and the Business that concerned the House The Commons were still busy with the Declaration which having been the Work of many Daies and some Nights the Faction watching the opportunity of a thin House when most of the Loyal Party were tired and risen was at last brought to that perfection that it was Ordered to be Ingrossed A Motion was made for encouraging voluntary Contributions for the Relief of the poor English in the Kingdom of Ireland to which Sir John Packer presently gave 100 l. The Lord Brooks acquainted the Lord Thursday Novemb. 20. That he had informed the Venetian Ambassador with the Order of this House concerning Priests and Jesuits and the Ambassador saith he hath none that are the King 's Native Subjects if he had any such he would discharge them as for Father Jones and Father Andrews he saith he knows none such The Petition of Robert Philips the Priest was read Philips the Priest Petitions to be released from the Tower Craving Pardon for having presented formerly to their Lordships such Petitions as have not afforded expected Satisfaction which he humbly beseecheth may not be imputed to his backwardness but rather unto want of Experience in forming Petitions of that Nature And further he beseecheth their Lordships to believe that from his Heart he is
enter into the hearts of this Wise and Honorable Assembly We will not presume to dispute the Right of Episcopacy whether it be Divine or not it sufficeth us to know That the Church Government by Bishops is ancient even near to the Apostles Days and that it hath pleased God from time to time to make them most Glorious Instruments for the Propagation and Preservation of Christian Religion which with their Blood they have frequently sealed to Posterity And how much this Kingdom in particular is indebted to them for their Piety their Wisdoms and Sufferings we trust shall never be forgotten Our Hearts desire therefore is That the Precious may be separated from the Vile that the Bad may be rejected and the Good retained Furthermore having heard that our Common Prayer hath been interrupted and despised of some mis-understanding or mis-led People to the Great Scandal of the Religion professed in our Church We humbly beseech you to take into your Care the Redress thereof as of an Impiety not to be endured as also to take Order for the severe punishment of those Men if they may be discovered who frequently publish Pamphlets under a Veil of Religion yet conducing to Confusion and Rebellion All which we humbly offer to your Wisdoms as the thoughts and desires of this County and as we are persuaded of multitudes of sound Members of the Church of England and his Sacred Majesties most Loyal Subjects Beseeching God to direct and prosper your Counsels and ye to pardon our Errors we rest At your Commands Knights Esquires Divines Gentlemen Free-holders Inhabitants of the County of Somerset none of them Papists but all Protestants of the Church of England and his Majesties Loyal Subjects 14350. Whereof Knights Esquires and Gentlemen 200 Divines 221 Jo. BrowneCler Parliament After which the Huntingtonshire Petition to the same Effect which had been tendred to the House upon Wednesday the 8th of December but then laid aside was also read This being done the High Constable The High Constable and Sheriff questioned concerning the Guards who was sent for to attend the House was brought in and asked by what Authority he gave Order for the Watchmen to Guard this House Who answered That he received Order from the Justices of the Peace Then the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex was called in and demanded by what Warrant the Watch-men are here he said he had received a Warrant from the Justices of Peace of Middlesex which they sent forth by virtue of the Kings Writ directed to them for preventing of Riots Routs and unlawful Assemblies according to the Statute of 2 H. 5. Whereupon the House appointed the Lord Chamberlain Lord Wharton Lord Brook and Lord Roberts to go into Westminster-Hall and other places near this House to see what Company there is whether any unlawful Assemblies or Routs there and these Lords Reported That there was no Face of any Routs or Assemblies nor any greater Number of People then Vsually Whereupon the House discharged the Guards in the King's Name And in regard it appeared that it was the precipitation of the Justices that Caused these Men to come by virtue of their Warrants It was Ordered That those Justices of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster that subscribed the Warrant be sent for to attend the House to morrow to give a Reason why they sent forth those Warrants and what induced them to believe That there would be a Tumult this day in Westminster This day Inigo Jones Esq appeared before the Lords according to an Order of their Lordships to hear the Declaration read which was brought up against him from the House of Commons which was read in his presence in haec verba The Declaration of the Commons upon the Complaint and in thebehalf of the Parishioners of St. Gregories London against Inigo Jones Esquire THE Parish Church of St. Gregories The Declaration of the Commons against Inigo Jones concerning St. Gregories Church by St. Pauls adjoyning to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's in London aforesaid is and from the time whereof the Memory of Man is not to the contrary hath been the Parish Church for the Inhabitants of that Parish lately computed to be 3000 persons for the administration of Divine Service and Sacraments The said Inigo Jones being Surveyor of His Majesties Works and particularly those to be designed for the re-edifying of the said Church of St. Pauls would not undertake the Work unless he might be as he termed it the Sole Monarch or might have the Principality thereof conceiving that the Work would not well be done without pulling down the said Church of St. Gregories presented a Plott to his Majesty accordingly The said Inigo Jones having presented the said Plott his Majesty hereupon signified his Pleasure and in pursuance thereof several Orders also were made at the Council-Board That the said Church should be taken down by the Parishioners for the more convenient Repairing of the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls which the Parishioners refusing to obey as was lawful for them to do the said Inigo Jones in Execution of the Plot and Design by him presented as aforesaid and of his Majesties signification and the Orders at the Council-Board thereupon had in or about March 1639 did pull down and caused to be pulled down part of the said Church and did also threaten That if the Parishioners would not take down the rest of it then the Galleries should be sawed down and with Skrews the Materials of the said Church should be thrown down into the Street And the said Inigo Jones did further threaten the Parishioners That if they did not take down the said Church they should be laid by the Heels Whereby the Parishioners being thus affrighted and to save the Materials which not long before had cost them 1500 l. were inforced to take down some part of the said Church insomuch as it thereby was made altogether useless and the said Parishoners to that great number have been wholly destitute of any Place within their own Parish for the Publick exercising of Religion The Damages the Parishioners have hereby sustained is very great and the Charge of Re-edifying the said Church and restoring it to as good plight as it was in before it was so wrongfully taken down will amount at the least to 3000 l. all which the said Parishioners are ready to prove and Maintain For Remedy therefore and Redress herein and chiefly to the end that the said Church of St. Gregories may be fully repaired and restored to the Plight and Condition wherein it formerly was by and at the Charge of him and them by whose undue Means it was in part taken down or caused to be taken down as aforesaid It is desired That such Proceedings may be used and had against the Offenders herein as to Right and Justice doth appertain This being read the said Inigo Jones desired That he might have some time to answer by his Councel Whereupon It was Ordered That he
Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament The Humble Petition of sundry Ministers intrusted to Sollicite the Petition and Remonstrance formerly Exhibited to this Honourable House and many of their Brethren Most Humbly Sheweth THat the Petitioners do most thankfully value The Petition of the Remonstrating Ministers Dec. 20. 1641. and heartily acknowledge the indefatigable Pains and Piety of this Honorable Assembly manifested in very many things of high Concernment for the Glory of God the Honor of the King the Purging of the Church and the Safety and Prosperity of this and the rest of His Majesties Kingdoms but more especially in procuring that publick Fast at your first Sitting which hath prevented many Mischiefs and drawn down many Blessings upon the Kingdom ever since in your Zeal and Courage for the True Religion professed among us against all Popish Idolatry and Superstitious Innovations expressed by your Religious Protestation and Vow * * And discountenancing the publick Liturgy and the most indispensible Duty of Praying to make room for this Seditious Preaching In countenancing the Sacred Ordinance of Preaching after long and deep contempt cast upon it by too many who had almost Exiled it from divers Parts of this Kingdom In incouraging painful and godly Ministers formerly set aside and now again profitably imployed in many Congregations greatly needing them In discountenancing bold and unmeet Men that without sufficient calling have presumptuously intruded into that Holy Office as also of all Vnworthy and Scandalous Ministers that have been Convented before you In accepting a former Petition and Remonstrance from the Petitioners taking the same into your grave Consideration and vigorously prosecuting some part thereof In freeing divers godly Ministers out of Prison and Exile and many others from heavy Censures unjustly inflicted In preventing the utter Ruin of the Petitioners and of many more by breaking that wicked Yoak of the late pernicious Oath and Canons justly branded by both Houses of Parliament and by taking away the late dreadful Tyranny of the High-Commission Court and other illegal heavy pressures of the rest of the Courts Ecclesiastical In your worthy Orders for removing of all Illegal Rites and Ceremonies superstitious and scandalous Images and Pictures and other Innovations out of all Churches and Chappels In your prudent happy and timely re-uniting without spilling of Christian Blood the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a firm and Religious Peace unhappily disturbed to the apparent endangering of both in your honourable endeavours to relieve and rescue our distressed Brethren in Ireland from the barbarous Outrages and Butcheries of the Popish Rebels there In your constant Vigilancy to discover and defeat the many desperate and devilish Conspiracies against the King Parliament and the Kingdom plotted by Papists and their Malignant adherents implacable Enemies to our Religion and Peace together with all your excellent Labours for Reforming and settling the Affairs of the Common-wealth whereof the Petitioners do also with others Enjoy the comfort and the large and blessed Hopes given to the Petitioners of your further indeavours for perfecting the Reformation of Religion and the Church according to the necessity thereof in a Way best becoming the Honour of such a Grave and Religious Body All of which do much Encourage them to pour out their Souls in all possible thankfulness to God for you and to put up more fervent Prayers publiquely and privately upon all occasions in your behalf at the Throne of Grace But so it is That whereas your Petitioners did in their former Petitions represent unto you divers unsufferable Grievances arising from sundry Invasions made upon the publick Doctrine of this Church from some mixtures and blemishes in the publick Worship of God by Law Established as well as from sundry gross Innovations and Superstitions iâ— Rites and Ceremonies without Law introduced from many Exorbitancies and unsupportable Vsurpations in Ecclesiastical Government and from the scandalous defect of Ministers maintenance in too many places All of which do yet remain in greatest part unremoved by reason of your many necessitated diversions from this great work for the preservation of the very Being of this Kingdom and by means hereof many distractions and disorders about matters of Religion and the Church have to the great scandal and grief of the Petitioners happen'd and are still continued which puts them upon a necessity of renewing their former Suit for redress of the aforesaid Evils and for removing whatever shall appear to your Wisdom to be the Root and Cause of them And whereas further the Petitioners and very many others in whose name and behalf they now humbly supplicate desirous in all things to submit to the Laws so far as possibly they may yet meerly out of tenderness and scruple of Conscience dare not continue as formerly they did the Vse and Exercise of some things as now they-stand injoyned not only because they have more seriously weighed the Nature and Scandal of them and that sundry Bishops and other grave Divines called to their assistance by Order of the House of Peers have as they are informed discovered divers particulars needing alteration in the Liturgy and the Vse thereof and that there is not as they humbly conceive at this day commonly extant any Book of Common Prayer without so many Variations Alterations and Additions as render it in many Parts another thing from that which was by Law Established but chiefly because you also have vouchsafed to be so far sensible of the Defects thereof and of the just Scruples of the Petitioners thereabout as to take the Reformation thereof under Consideration which they hoped would be some shelter against the strict pressing the Vse of it till your pleasure upon the full Debate thereof had been declared in a Parliamentary Way for that it seems most equal that the Consciences of Men should not be forced upon that which a Parliament it self holds needful to consider the Reformation of and give Order in till the same be accordingly done And the Petitioners having been comfortably assured of some ease therein do now to their great sorrow apprehend that the same things are anew reinforced which contrary to the blessed Inclination and Intention of His Gracious Majesty may occasion much trouble and vexation to sundry worthy and peaceable Ministers which the Petitioners have more cause to fear because sundry of their Brethren have since the beginning of this Parliament been Indicted upon the Statute of 1 Eliz. 2. And others threatned for bare omissions of some things complained of to this High Court and still depending before you whiles in divers places your Religious Orders necessarily made and published for removing of things illegal are not observed and in other places where superstitious Rites and Practices had by virtue thereof been laid aside the same are again called back and re-practised without any Check or Animadversion And because the Premisses are of extraordinary Consequence and cannot receive a perfect Cure
but by Authority of Parliament and that a free Synod of this Nation * * That is from the Law which appoints it and gives the Members equal Privilege and Protection with the Members of the H. of Commons differing in the whole Constitution from the present Convocations of the Clergy now in Vse among us might be as the Petitioners apprehend of great Vse for that purpose and that not only this but all other your great Consultations might be much furthered by a more earnest and assiduous seeking of God by the joint and publick Fasting and Prayers of the whole Kingdom in these sad times so full of distractions and Hellish Conspiracies at home and bloody Cruelties of those Popish Rebels against our own Flesh and our Bones in Ireland The Petitioners humbly pray That you would vouchsafe to lay hold upon the first opportunity that your important Affairs will permit of reassuming into your further consideration their former Petition and to proceed thereupon as you shall find cause either by committing the same to the Debate and Disquisition of a free Synod or otherwise and in the mean time to become Mediators to His Gracious Majesty who could not take notice of their former Petition to this Honourable House for some relaxation in matters of Ceremonies and of reading of the whole Liturgy which as the Petitioners verily believe and hope to prove have been of late times urged further then ever the Law intended And a free Synod of Grave Learned and Judicious Divines of this Kingdom the Dominion of Wales and the Islands adjacent may be by the Authority of Parliament Indicted for the more through and fruitful Debate of the Premisses to expedite a full Reformation by the High Court of Parliament for the setling of a Godly and Religious Order and Government in this Church as your Wisdom shall find convenient And that a publick Fast may be Commanded and Religiously observed throughout the Kingdom once in every Month during your sitting in Parliament for the more effectual procuring of Gods protection of your Persons and of his blessing upon your proceedings and till the miseries of our Brethren in Ireland be happily put to an end And the Petitioners shall be ready further to attend the pleasure of this House with their Reasons of their present Suit for a free Synod of this Nation and of a new Constitution thereof differing from those now in Being when they shall be required and to pray without ceasing c. Were I to give Instructions to draw the Exact Pourtraicture of a Non-Conforming-Conforming Church Hypocrite with Peace in one hand and Fire and Sword in the other with a Conscience like a Cockle-shell that can shut so close when he is under the fear of the Law or losing his Living that you cannot Croud the smallest Scruple into it but when a tide of liberty wets him can lay himself open and display all his resentments against that Government in the Church to whose Laws he had sworn obedience and by that horrid sin of Perjury must confess himself a Villain of no manner of Conscience to Swear without due Consideration and to break his Oath without a lawful Determination that it was unlawful I would recommend this Petition as a rare Original to Copy after I cannot tell how it will relish with the Readers Palate but I must profess my self so tyred with this miserable Crambe that I am under the irresistable temptation of refreshing my self with laying aside for one moment the Gravity of an Historian and Burlesquing the intolerable Flatteries of this Petition and these Hypocritical Petitioners by making them speak Truth for in their Courtship to the Faction for whose Goust this delicate Petition was Cook't and Spiced when they recount their wonderful Atchievments in the Work of Reformation there is still I find a Supplement of some material Truth in matter of plain Fact wanting which I will make bold to add They acknowledge the Pains and Piety of the Faction manfested in many things of high concernment for the Glory of God by affronting his Solemn-publick Established Worship the Honor of the King by indeavouring to degrade him and divert him of the Beams of Majesty his Royal Prerogative the purging of the Church by purging it quite out of the Kingdom they commend their Zeal and Courage for the true Religion against all Popish Idolatry and Superstitious Innovations manifested by letting in a whole Flood of Errors Heresies Sects and Schisms at the Breach of the Banks of the Church-Government by tender Conscience in encouraging Preaching of Sedition and Disobedience to Laws Government and Governors and justling out all Praying out of the Church except the Wild Extravagant Dangerous Libelling Extempory Enthusiasms of bold and presumptuous Men who called their own acquired Art of Impudent Non-sence a gift of the Spirit as doubtless it was of that Spirit which rules in the Children of Disobedience in encouraging painful godly Ministers formerly set aside and justly for Preaching Sedition Schism and Faction for good Divinity in discountenancing bold and unmeet Men that darst Preach the Doctrine of rendring to Caesar the things of Caesar and to God the things of God that without sufficient calling presumptuously intruded into that Holy Office by only gently reproving them for the present and afterwards permitting Tagg and Ragg Godly Coblers and Gifted Tinkers Zealous Taylors and the most sordid illiterate Mechanicks to invade the Pulpit to vilifie the Petitioners with the Title of Hirelings dumb Dogs Baal 's Priests c. by Adonibezeck 's Law without Controul or Animadversion from the Honorable Faction for taking away the Tyranny of the High-Commission and Ecclesiastical Courts and setting Mens Tongues at liberty to Rail without Reason to Quarrel with their Superiors without Cause to affront them with impunity and in conclusion to Murther them Religiously and in the Fear of the Lord for their worthy Orders for removing illegal Rites and Ceremonies Superstitious and Scandalous Pictures and other Innovations and setting up in their stead the Bell and Dragon of these Mens Inventions and for bringing in the greatest Innovations a Church without a Bishop a Religion without Divine Service a Minister without Lawful Ordination a Christian without Baptism a Sacrament without Consecration and at last a Heaven without Repentance of any or all these horrid Sins and Incapacities For their Care to suppress the Irish Rebellion and Butcheries of the bloody Papists by imploying the Men and Money raised for that Service to butcher the Loyal Protestants in England who held the Popish and Malignant Doctrine that they ought to Fear God and Honor the King and die at the Feet of their Sacred Sovereign in defence of his Person Crown and Dignity against these Religious Rebels But Manum de Tabulâ I will not Tire my self and the Reader with Epitomizing their Villanies which are able to fill Volumes and with which he will find these stow'd Tuesday Decemb. 21. Message from the
Cohabit July 12. 1641. It was Resolved to pass as a Law Nemine Contradicente UPon Report this Day made unto the House from the Lords Committees for Petitions That William Walter was complained of by the Petition of Elizabeth Walter his Wife for refusing to Co-habit with her or allow her and her 3 Children Maintenance and Supportation for their Lively-hoods although he hath a Good and a Plentiful Estate It was thought fit and so ordered by the Lords in Parliament That the said William Walter shall settle Lands and Tenements cleared from all former Incumbrances other then Leases whereupon the usual Rent is reserved lying in the County of Pembroke upon such Trustees as the said Mrs. Walter shall Nominate to the use of her self and her said 3 Children during the time of her Life And Mr. Justice Foster and Mr Justice Heath's assistance to the said Lords Committees for Petitions are hereby desired by the Lords in Parliament to direct the Counsel of the said Mrs. Walter what security shall be taken in or out of the Premisses and how and in what manner an Estate of and in the Lands and Tenements or Tithes of the said William Walter shall be setled or charged and chargeable with the payment of sixty Pounds per An. to the use of the said Mrs. Walter and her 3 Children the first payment whereof to begin at Michaelmass next ensuing the Date hereof And in Case the said Mr. Walter 's Estate shall encrease by the Death of his Mother or Grandmother or otherwise it is their Lordships Pleasure that the Moiety of the same as it shall fall and accrew to him shall be settled and paid unto the said Feoffees to the use of the said Mrs. Walter and her 3 Children as aforesaid by the Advice of the Judges aforenamed And further that if the said William Walter shall refuse or delay by the space of a Month next ensuing to make such settlement in manner as aforesaid then it is their Lordships Pleasure that a Sequestration shall be awarded to such Person or Persons as the said Mrs. Walter shall nominate to take and receive so much of the Yearly Rent and Profits of the said Lands and Tenements of the said William Walter as shall amount to such proportions and allowances as aforesaid to be answered to the said Mrs. Walter or her Assigns half Yearly for the uses aforesaid UPon Report this Day made unto the House from the Lords Committees An Order of the Lords concerning a Vicaridge in Sir Peter Osborn's Case Plaintiff against Thomas Joyce Clerk July 12. 1641. for Petitions in the Cause of Sir Peter Osborn Knight Plaintiff and Thomas Joice Clerk it appeared unto their Lordships That Sir John Osborn Knight deceased Father of the said Sir Peter was seized in Fee of the Rectory of Hawnes in the County of Bedford to which the Advowson of the Vicaridge did consist only of eight Pounds per Ann. stipend That the said Sir John Osborn did in the 9th Year of King James convey the Inheritance of the said Rectory and Vicaridge together with a new House built upon his own Land to the now Bishop of Durham Sir Thomas Cheek and others for the Increase of Maintenance of such Vicar or Vicars as should be nominated by the said Sir John or his Heirs But before the Gift Sir John puts in Mr. Brightman and Mr. Wilson successively who injoyed the said House and Tythes and after the Gift nominated Mr. Sherley who was only Licensed by the Bishop but never Instituted or Inducted After the Death of the said Mr. Sherley the said Sir Peter Osborn nominated Mr. Buckley who was Licensed by the Bishop without being instituted or Inducted the Defendant Joyce obtains a Presentation by Lapse and gained a Decree in Chancery for the Rectory House and Tythes against which Decree Sir Peter Osborn objected that the Donor intended the said Rectory to him only that was to be nominated by himself or his Heirs and could not intend it to any that came in by Lapse it being then in Lapse when his Gift was made which was denied by the Defendant and affirmed that it was intended to the Incumbent whoever he was otherwise the Charity of the Donor would be overthrown Whereupon the Decree and Deed of the said Sir John Osborn was produced and read before the said Lords Committees who after long Debate by Councel on both Sides were fully satisfied That the Donor intended it to none but such as should come in by the Nomination of him or his Heirs Whereupon it is Ordered and Adjudged by the Lords in Parliament That the said Lay Fee Rectory and House together with all the said Donors Gift setled by the said Deed shall by virtue of this Order go to such Clergy-Man or Men as the said Sir Peter Osborne and his Heirs shall Nominate and Appoint according to the meaning of the said Donor and no other And that the Defendant Joyce that came into the vicaridge by Lapse shall have no Advantage of the Gift so made by Sir John Osborne but shall forthwith upon Notice hereof relinquish the same and shall also Answer to the Feoffees for all the Profits of the said House and Rectory by him taken ever since the said Decree and if the said Defendant Joyce conceives he hath any Right he is left to try the same at the Common Law without taking any advantage of the said Decree or of any thing done by Sir Peter Osborne in Obedience to the said Decree A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Sir Henry Vane Junior to desire that the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage may be delivered unto them to be brought up and presented by their Speaker with the Commission under the Great Seal annexed THeir Lordships taking this into Consideration Message from the Commons about the Bill of Tonage and Poundage and perusing the Commission found by the Tenor of the said Commission that the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage could not pass the Royal Assent by virtue of this Commission if they were separated therefore to avoid all Ambiguities Resolved to send some Lords to desire His Majesty would be pleased to come in Person to give the Royal Assent to the said Bill Hereupon the E. Bath E. Essex E. Cambridge E. Bristol Bill for Tonnage and Poundage passed the Royal Assent went presently to attend his Majesty therein who brought this Answer That the King will be here presently His Majesty being come and satt in the Chair of State the Commons were sent for who came and by their Speaker presented the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage then the Clerk of the Crown read the Title of the said Bill and the Clerk of the Parliament pronounced the Royal Assent thereunto in these words Le Roy remerciant ses bons Subjects accepte Leur Benevolence et ainsi le veult It was this day Ordered in the Commons House Munday July 12. Order for Aftornoon Sermons in all
Parochial Churches That in all Parochial Churches of England and Wales where there is on the Lords Day no Preaching in the Afternoon if the Ministers will maintain a Conformable Lecturer at their own Charge the Parson or Vicar shall give way to it unless he will Preach himself Ordered That this House doth Assent That the Speaker of the House of Lords shall present unto his Majesty in the Name of both Houses the humble Advice of both Houses concerning the Manifesto His Majesty having appointed both Houses to attend him at the Banquetting-House in Whitehall at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon they accordingly attended where the Manifesto and the Parliaments proceedings upon it were read which were as follows The King 's Manifesto about the Palatinate CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all to whom this present Manifesto shall come Greeting TO the end that the Endeavours of Our late Dear Father King James of Blessed Memory and Our Own Proceedings since his Death in the Cause of Our Dear and Onely Sister Brother in Law and Nephews Electors and Princes Palatine of the Rhine may not be forgotten or pretendedly unknown wherein We have studied and laboured nothing more than Peace of Christendom and the avoiding the effusion of Innocent Blood by seeking the Restitution and Re-Establishment of the Electoral House Palatine in their Ancient Rights Dignities and Possessions within the Empire out of which they have been by Violence and Force of Arms and other undue Proceedings expelled and banished contrary to the Ancient Laws and Constitutions of the Sacred Empire We have thought fit for the Vindication of Our Own Honour to call to mind and to publish to all the World both a Summary Relation of Our Actions and Endeavours past and Our present Resolutions in the same Cause IT cannot be unknown to all the Princes and Estates of Europe and more particularly to those who have had any interest or relation to the Publick Affairs of Germany how both Our Self and Our Father have during these Twenty Years past by many and several Ambassages Treaties and other Negotiations to Our great Expence and Charges both with the late Emperour Ferdinand the King of Spain and other Princes and Estates of the Empire endeavoured by all Friendly and Treatable means to procure the Restitution and Re-Establishment of Our said Dear Sister Brother-in-Law and Nephews in their Ancient Rights and Possessions as the only and possible way to settle a good and firm Peace in the Empire and consequently with all Princes interessed therein without which it is impossible to expect or hope for a good durable and honest Pacification of those Troubles which have already almost rent and consumed and involved all the Princes of Christendome in a most Bloody and Destructive War And for a clear Demonstration of Our sincere Intentions not only Our own Pious Inclination and Care of the Publick Peace hath induced Us to omit divers Occasions whereby we might by such Power as God hath put into Our Hands have prevented the Violences and Oppressions used to Our said Sister and Nephews But We have been led on and invited thereunto by divers Promises Assurances and Reversal Letters both from the late Emperor and King of Spain and other Usurpers of the Inheritance of the Electoral House Palatine that they would at last in Contemplation of Our Mediation hearken and incline to a Just and Honest Peace by the Restitution of the Estates and Dignities of Our dear Sister and Nephews whereby we have been drawn not only to pass by Our own and the Publick Interest and to forbear to Engage Our Arms in so just a Cause but also have procured by Our Fathers and Our Authority the withdrawing and disbanding of the Forces of Count Mansfelt out of the Palatinate and advanced divers Truces and Cessations of Hostility or Defence only to prepare the Way of amiable Composition according to the Hopes and Promises to that end given Us and particularly have caused the Surrender and Deposition of some Places of Strength into the Hands of the late Infanta of Spain upon reciprocal Assurances of a final Pacification or Restitution But what Effects all these Our Peaceable and Christian Endeavours have produced and how all Our Pious Negotiations have been either delayed or deluded thereby and by process of Time to root and Establish the Usurpations of the House Palatine and Our Patience and Piety thereby abused is so manifest by the continual Oppression of Our said dear Sister and Nephews that We are forced to Protest that there hath nothing succeeded either to Our Desires or Hopes but a Resolution of Despair of ever obtaining by the Ways of Justice Treaty or Amity that which hath been so often promised to and expected of the Lovers of Christian Peace Notwithstanding We having lately received Advice from Our dear Uncle the King of Denmark that at last by his Mediation and Procurement the present Emperour and Duke of Bavaria have condescended to a Treaty to be held at the Diet at Ratisbone upon the sixth Day of May last past for the Reviewing and the Resetling of the Controversies of the House Palatine as a Preparation and Inducement to a General Peace and Amnestia through the whole Empire And that he with some of the Electors of the Empire is accepted as Mediator of the said Cause and hath received strong and pregnant Assurances of a better Inclination and Disposition toward the re-establishment of the Electoral Eamily in their Rights and Dignities And to that end hath procured convenient safe Conduct from the Emperor to Our Nephew and His Brethren freely to come in Person or to send their Deputies to that Diet at the Time and Place appointed with all other Clauses requisite for their Safeties Going Abiding or Coming from thence and there to plead the Justice of their own Cause and that in Prosecution thereof he hath Instructed and Dispatched His Ambassadors to assist either in Person or by the Deputies of Our Nephews at the said Treaty of Pacification and hath desired Us herein to Comply with him by sending Our Ambassadours Qualified and Instructed to the same Purpose of procuring a Good and Setled Peace within the Empire according to the Intimation of the Princes Electors signified to Him by their Letters thereby desiring Us to Assist in the present Assembly at Ratisbone To which end Our Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine having resolved by Our Counsell and Advice to send his Deputies according to the Invitation and Hopes intimated of a good Issue to be expected by the amiable way of Treaty and Composure We have also thought fit not to be wanting to so good a Design so concurrent to Our own and the Desires of so many Princes and in some Hope of better Fruits then hitherto all Our Endeavours have produced Have resolved to make this Our last Tryal by the way of Treaties and to send
inconstancy in him but it was certainly out of a true and peculiar understanding his power The present State of Christendom is apparent That the House of Austria begins to diminish as in Spain so consequently in Germany That the French do swell and enlarge themselves if they grow and hold they will be to us but Spain nearer hand Alliances do serve well to make up a present Breach or mutually to strengthen those States who have the same ends but politick Bodies have no Natural affections they are guided by particular interest and beyond that are not to be trusted Although it may be good Policy to breed a Militia at the charge of other States abroad for our own use and occasions at home yet that ought rather to be done amongst Friends of the same way and so the Low-Countries have been an Academy to us His Majesty hath now an Ambassador Treating with the Emperor about the Palatinate If we send away our Men it will so damp and discountenance the affairs of the Prince Elector as the World will believe we never had nor ever shall have any intentions to assist him at all I have observed for divers years That England is not so well Peopled but we do want Work-folks to bring in Harvest our Disbanded Soldiers will least dislike that kind of Work and if they be speedily Dissolved that employment will entertain them for the present and inure them to labour for hereafter Upon these considerations Mr. Speaker I cannot give my advice to add more strength to France by weakning both our selves and our Friends As for sending the Irish into Spain truly Sir I have been long of Opinion that it was never fit to suffer the Irish to be promiscuously made Soldiers abroad because it may make them abler to trouble the State when they come Home Their intelligence and practice with the Princes whom they shall serve may prove dangerous to that Kingdom They may more profitably be employed upon Husbandry whereof that Kingdom hath great need Besides it will be exceeding prejudicial to us and to our Religion if the Spaniard should prevail against the Portuguez It were better for us he should be broken into lesser Pieces his Power shivered If the King of Portugal had desired these Irish I should rather have given my Vote for him then for the King of Spain because it will keep the Ballance more even Spain hath had too much of our Assistance and Connivence heretofore I am sure it lost us the Palatinate Now that it is come to our turn to advise I hope we shall not do over other mens faults again If the present Government of Ireland be not able to restrain their disordered People there is a Noble Lord already designed to that Charge who by his knowledge in Martial Affairs and other his great Abilities will be no doubt abundantly capable to reduce them to a due obedience Wherefore Mr. Speaker upon the whole matter My Opinion is that we should not be forward to spend our Men but rather to preserve and husband them for our own use and employments for our Friends for our Religion Whether the Close of this Speech did not cast an Ominous Aspect upon the succeeding Actions of this Parliament what ever the Speaker meant let the Reader judge However there is no doubt but this Prohibiting the Irish Army to pass into the Service of the King of Spain had a most direful Influence upon all the following Miseries which befell these Kingdoms After which the House came to these Votes Resolved upon the Question That this House holds it not fit nor gives Assent that there should be any levies of Men in Ireland for the service of the King of Spain Resolved c. That this House thinks it not fit nor gives Assent that there should be any levies of Men in any of his Majesties Dominions for the French King's Service Upon this a Conference was desired with the Lords which was to this Effect Conference about Soldiers for Forreign Ambassadors That the Spanish Ambassador formerly did move the King that he might have leave to Levy and Transport four Regiments of Soldiers in Ireland for the Service of the King of Spain his Majesty was pleased to declare that he would do nothing herein without the Advice of both Houses of Parliament and since they understand his Majesty hath been informed that the Parliament did Assent to the Levying and Transporting of the said Soldiers to the end that it may appear that the House of Commons are far from giving their Assent therein they have resolved and declared that they hold it not fit nor give Assent that there be any Levies of Men in Ireland for the Service of the King of Spain and hold it fit that there be a suddain stop made of the Ships contracted for by the Spanish Ambassador for the Transporting of the Soldiers out of Ireland And further they hold it not fit nor give Assent that there should be any Levies of Men for the French King's Service within any of his Majesties Dominions for that they know not what Vse this Kingdom may have of Men. Upon which the Lords having debated the Matter passed the same Votes with the Commons and further Ordered Sir John Pennington should stay all the Ships in the Downes which were hired by the Spanish Ambassador to transport these Men as also to stop such Ships as were riding in the River of Thames till the further pleasure of the House be known An Order was also sent to the Lord Newport Constable of the Tower to tender the Protestation to all such Persons as he takes into the Tower for the Guard and Defence of it and if any of them refuse not to admit them to be of the Guard A further Order was this Day pass'd both Houses Monday August 30. concerning the Thanksgiving for the Pacification the Scots it seems being not content after having invaded England in a Hostile manner put the Nation to above a Million of Mony through the Interest they had in the Presbyterian Faction to purchase a Peace even upon their own Conditions unless they might be publickly declared Loyal and Faithful Subjects to such hard Terms did the Obstinate Faction drive his Majesty even while they made him all the Protestations of Humility Duty Loyalty and Allegiance which certainly to a great Monarch who by Proclamation had justly stiled them Rebels and had lead an Army against them was a severe Request not to call it an Imposition and which none but Presbyterians or their Off-Spring would have attempted but such was the Fury and Violence of the Current that there was no stopping or stemming of it and his Majesty found himself under such hard Circumstances and Difficulties that he was even compelled to yield to this most extravagant Request See here the Order WHereas according to the Act of this present Parliament for Confirmation of the Treaty of Pacification An Order to declare the Scots