might not have done before the year of our Lord 1639. or to abridge or diminish the Kings Majestics Supremacy in Ecclesiastical matters or affairs nor to confirm the Canons made in the year 1640. I say upon these words some are ready mistaking questionless the words and meaning of that Act to renew that old exploded Opinion or rather groundless Fancy That a several Royal assent to the executing of every particular Canon is required Hereto Doctor Cosin answers That admitting this were true then all the other opinions of those that oppugn the ordinary Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical stand in no stead and might be spared because this would cut off all at once For none that exercise ordinary Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical have it in particularity which by the oppugners seems to be meant otherwise then by permission of Law to every of their proceedings and impossible were it by reason of the infinity of it and troublesomness to procure such particular assent to the execution of every Canon His Majesties Delegates when Appeals are made to His Majesty in Chancery would signifie nothing could not exercise the power to them delegated by reason of the want of such particular assent and it is a gross absurdity to grant as even the Oppugners and Innovators do That Testamentary and Matrimonial causes are of Ecclesiastical cognizance to say nothing of the rest of Ecclesiastical causes and yet cannot by reason of this want be dispatched nor can be dealt in by any other authority according to any Law in force This would speak a defect in the publick Government that the Subject should have a right but no likely or ready mean to come by it and great offences by Law punishable and yet no man sufficiently authorized to execute these Laws Since the abrogation of Papal pretended Supremacy when the ancient rights of the Kings of England of being Supreme Governors over all persons within their Dominions as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction power superiority preeminence or authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm and so forth as in the Act and the Oath Since these rights were as it were ex postliminio restored and declared to have been as they ever ought to have been in the Kings of England many Laws have been made in several Parliaments for the strengthning of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the more effectual execution thereof and some of the Ecclesiastical Laws were enlarged astered and explained * 25 H. 8.19 The Statutes for Delegates upon Appeals †27 H 8 130. 32 H 8.7 Not long after two Statutes for assistance of ordinary Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and for the speedier recovery of Tithes in Courts Ecclesiastical * 34 35 H. 8 19. The like for the recovery of Pensions Procurations c. †1 Ed. 6. c. 2. In the time of Edw. 6. in a Statute since repealed by Queen Mary a great number of particular causes of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical are there by the way rehearsed that Ordinaries and other Ecclesiastical Judges might and did then put in execution So 1 Mar. c. 3. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz c. 23. 9. That Perjury or Subornation in a Court Ecclesiastical shall and may be punished by such usual and ordinary Laws as heretofore have been and yet are used and frequented in the said Ecclesiastical Courts Which proveth the usual practice of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical hitherto used without any special assent to be lawful So 13 Eliz. c. 4. c. 10. and many more in the same Queens time and King James and King Charles the First that blessed King and Martyr I say many are the Laws that have been made for the strengthning of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the more effectual execution of it and some of these Laws were enlarged altered and explained But never was there any Law Custom or Act of Parliament that required a several Royal assent to the executing of every particular Canon Many are the reasons which Dr. Cosens gives in the first Chapter of his Apology against that particular Assent wherein he shews his great candor and ingenuity and desire to give abundant satisfaction to all Opponents though never so unreasonable that were it not as clear as the Noon-tide light that no such particular assent is needful some might think that he fear'd his cause and be ready to say that Defensio nimis operosa reatum quasi arguit But touching the validity of the Ecclesiastical Laws there needs I conceive no more be said then what is expressed in that Act of Parliament 25 H. 8.19 the Ecclesiastical Laws that were in use and practice before that Statute are thereby established thus Provided that such Canons Constitutions Ordinances and Synods Provincial being already made which be not contrariant nor repugnant to the Laws Statutes and Customs of this Realm nor to the damage or hurt of the Kings Prerogative Royal shall now still be used and executed as they were before the making of this Act untill such time as they be viewed c. by the 32. persons mentioned in that Act which is not yet done The Ecclesiastical Laws which have been made since that Act and all that ever hereafter shall be made so long as that Statute stands in force the requisites in that Act being observ'd are thereby I conceive confirmed or to be confirmed The Submission and Petition of the Clergy mentioned in that Act is That they would not enact or put in ure any new Canons c. in their Convocation without the Kings Royal assent and authority in that behalf There it is said That the Convocation in the time coming shall alwayes be assembled by authority of the Kings Writ and that the Clergy must have the Kings most Royal assent and licence to make promulge and execute such Canons Constitutions and Ordinances Provincial and Synodal else they may not enact promulge or constitute any such Canons c. And this course hath ever since been observed Every Convocation called by His Majesties Writ and the Clergy had especial license from His Majesty to enact such Canons c. and to execute them The Provision following being observed which is this Provided that no Canons Constitutions or Ordinances shall be made or put in execution in this Realm by authority of the Convocation of the Clergy which shall be contrariant or repugnant to tho Prerogative Royal or the Customs Laws or Statutes of this Realm any thing contained in that Act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding If any be put in execution contrary to this Proviso and contrary to any after-Acts of Parliament whereby His Majesty hath further power acknowledged in causes Ecclesiastical then 't is illegal but that is much sooner alledged than proved The particular Ecclesiastical Laws in force have by Dr. Cosens and others been sufficiently demonstrated I humbly conceive In case any Jurisdiction
Ecclesiastical or Civil within this Realm be not derived or claimed from the Crown as to the execution of it at least then the former objection were of force but another Act of Parliament 8 Eliz. c. 1. shews the contrary sufficiently where all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is acknowledged United to the Crown as there fully and that very clause 1 Eliz. 1. together with His Majesties Letters Patents directed forth for confirming Archbishops and Bishops is brought in the preamble thereof as a strong proof without scruple or ambiguity that the authority and jurisdiction by the Clergy executed is thereby given them from Her Majesty This also were there nothing else were sufficient to entitle them the Kings Majesties Ecclesiastical Laws as well as other Laws are called the Kings Majesties Laws But they are up and down in the Acts of Parliament called the Kings and the Queens Ecclesiastical Laws 1 Eliz. c. 2. 5 Eliz. c. 25. 25 H. 8.27 c. and even by the Note-gatherer that great oppugner against whom the Doctor writeth they are called the Ecclesiastical Laws of England And in this late Act above mentioned they are called the Kings Majesties Ecclesiastical Laws Yet for executing of these Laws by the Ecclesiastical Judges what out-cries were made against them especially in the beginning of the late Long Panliament by His late Majesty of blessed memory called the Black Parliament Summa imis miscendo and what favours were then afforded to those Boutefeu's as we have since had sad experience of them God grant we may be cafeful of them for the future I am unwilling to recite Ecclesiastical Judges are not onely tyed by their offices and * Canon 117. Canon Constitut 1604. Oaths but at least in some particulars for which they have though most unjustly been much clamour'd against are most severely by Act of Parliament charged to see the execution of if not of others too yet of one especial Ecclesiastical Law for their care wherein some of them have been well-nigh ruined that is that according to that Act of Parliament 1 Eliz. c. 2. For uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments every person should diligently and faithfully resort to their Parish Church or Chappel where Common prayer and such Services of God shall be used upon every Sunday and other dayes ordeined and used to be kept as Holy-dayes and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of Common prayer Preaching or other Service of God to be used and ministred c. Then follows thus And for due execution hereof the Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled doth in Gods name earnestly require and charge all the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the utmost of their knowledge that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Dioceses and charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting this good and wholsome Law Who would think had we not sadly felt their designs that the great Magnifiers of Parliaments for which I discommend them not so they keep within due compass would have been so bitter against those that acted but according to these strict Parliamentary charges CHAP. III. The Heads of the several Chapters in that Apologie of Doctor Cosens Part 1. C. 1 THe particular distribution of causes proved to be of Ecclesiastical cognizance besides Testamentary and Matrimonial With a discourse of C. 2 Bishops Certificates against persons excommunicated being a special point of their voluntary Jurisdiction where there is no party that prosecuteth C. 3 That matters in the former Chapter adjoyned to Testamentary and Matrimonial causes though properly they be not of Testament or Matrimony are of Ecclesiastical cognizance and how far C. 4 General proofs out of Statutes that sundry other causes besides Testamentary and Matrimonial are of Ecclesiastical cognizance C. 5 That Suits for Tithes of Benefices upon voidance or spoliation likewise that Suits for Tithes Oblations Mortuaries and Pensions Procurations c. are of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is proved by Statutes especially C. 6 That Suits for right of Tithes belong to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and how far is shewed out of the books and Reports of the Common Law so of places of Burial and Church-yards and of Pensions Mortuaries Oblations c. C. 7 Of right to have a Curate and of Contributions to Reparations and to other things required in Churches C. 8 Proofs in general that sundry crimes and offences are punishable by Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and namely Idolatry Heresie Perjury or Laesio fidei and how far the last of these is there to be corrected also of disturbance of Divine Service or not frequenting of it and neglect of the Sacraments C. 9 That Simony Usury Defamation or Slander beating of a Clerk Sacrilege Brawling or Fighting in Church or Church-yard Dilapidations or waste of an Ecclesiastical Living and all Incontinency are punishable by Ecclesiastical authority and how far C. 10 Several other matters reckoned in this tenth Chapter as ordeining of real Compositions and disannulling of them suspension ab ingressu Ecclesiae c. Interdiction of a Church Sequestration Excommunication Parish-Clerks fees Goods due to a Church deteined Blasphemy Idolatry Apostasie from Christianity violation and prophanation of the Sabbath Subornation of Perjury Attestation of a womans chastity Drunkenness filthy speech violation of a Sequestration or Induction hindering and disturbance to carry away Tithes enjoyning of Penance corporal contempt of obeying the Decrees of the Ecclesiastical Judge Fees due in Ecclesiastical Courts Curates and Clerks wages Forgery in an Ecclesiastical matter as of Letters Testimonial of Orders of Institution burying of excommunicate persons communicating with excommunicate persons frequenters of Conventicles digging up of Corps buried and generally for any matter Ecclesiastical indefinitely by the Articuls cleri may be cited All these are of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and proofs that any Subjeet Lay or other may be cited in any cause Ecclesiastical C. 11 That Lay-men may be cited and urged to take Oaths in other causes then Testamentary and Matrimonial C. 12 The grounds of the opinions to the contrary examined and confuted C. 13 That judgment of Heresie still remaineth at the Common Law in Judges Ecclesiastical and that the Proviso touching Heresie in the Statute 1 Eliz. 1. is onely spoken of Ecclesiastical Commissioners thereby authorized C. 14 That by the Statute Her Majesty may commit authority and they may take and use for Ecclesiastical causes Attachments Imprisonments and Fines Herein he writes also how the Law was at that time C. 15 That an Ecclesiastical person may be deprived of his Benefice without indictment or prosecution of party C. 16 That after forty dayes an excommunicate person may be otherwise punished then upon the Writ De Excommunicato capiendo and that the said Writ may and ought to be awarded
proceedings touching them which in the late Usurpation were out of all places brought to London and no Record thereof in the County or Diocese where the deceased dyed so that the Subject is put to great trouble and charge sending to London when he hath occasion to use any of them and may be forced to sue at London when he would recover his right thereupon That all such Wills Inventories Bonds Accompts and all other proceedings concerning the same or true copies thereof to be made valid and authentick by Act of Parliament be transmitted at the charge of the Register at that time into the Registry of the Bishop of that Diocese where the party deceased dyed or had his principal mansion or dwelling house at the time of his death or rather in regard of the largenesse of some Bishops Dioceses including many Archdeaconries and many Counties they should be so transmitted into the respective Registries of every Archdeacon or Commissary of the said Archdeaconry and that every person concerned may sue for their right thereupon before the Bishop of the Diocese or his Chancellor or such Commissary or Archdeacon or his Official During the late troubles the Episcopal and Archidiaconal power having been de facto abolished or suppressed the Subjects have been forced to their great charge and trouble to prove all Wills and take Administrations c. at London before Commissioners or pretended Judges there for proving of Wills and granting of Administrations c. Degrees of Marriage That the Act of 32 H. 8. about the prohibited degrees of Marriage be by Act of Parliament explained Traytors heads That the late Traytors Heads and Quarters of the Murtherers of our late Soveraign of blessed memory and the others that are set upon wooden stakes should be set upon Iron pikes or stakes as Piercy and Catesby's Heads were upon the Parliament House Touching the suppressing of all Books and Writings published against the Regal Rights or the Right of the Subject About the suppression of seditious books SOme have advised if it be thought sit that a most choice and able Committee be appointed to enquire after all Books and Writings whatsoever which have spoke against the Regal Right or the Right of the Subject that they may as many as can be got either be purged or burnt and declared against by Authority and not remain as apt fuel for a new flame but be buried as far as can be in perpetual oblivion And perhaps in the first place as most pestilent those Tracts that have been writ about that ridiculous contradiction in adjecto of the two Houses coordination with the King the Monarch when as before is specified the King is the Head the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons the three Estates by several Acts of Parliament specified Lippis tonsoribus notum yet urged for designs mischievous abominably as we have felt Spensers Treason As also that trayterous distinction of the Spensers 'twixt the Kings Person and Office by two Acts of Parliament declared Treason yet in these late times maintained by too many Goodwins book justifying the murther of the King Goodwins book for the justification of the murther of the late King and many other of that kind Mr. Bucks book of Richard 3. Mr. Bucks book of Richard the third wherein he seems to impugne the right of the King from the daughter of King Edward the fourth wife to King Henry the seventh too much leaning to if not affirming Richard the thirds right by that monstrous Act of Parliament that illegitimates Edward the fourths issue In Sir Edward Cooks book entituled The third part of the Sir Edw. Cooks Writings Institutes of the Law of England concerning High Treasen and other Pleas of the Crown 1658. Printed at London by M. Flesher for W. Lee and D. Pakeman § Le Roy pag. 7. he puts it down there for Law upon the Statute of 25 E. 3. c. 2. De proditionibus That if Treason be committed against a King de facto and non de jure and after the King de jure cometh to the Crown he shall punish the Treason done to the King de facto and a Pardon granted by a King de jure that is not also de facto is void Strange would have been the consequence of this if Cromwell had been made King as some desired and a loyal man should have killed him in order to the restitution of the true King de jure our dread Soveraign King Charles the second Or should a loyal man for the same end have killed him though he had but de facto non de jure the title of Protector how far would that have extended by the words in the same sect may be considered where he sayes that Statute of E. 3. is to be understood of a King regnant and as follows there and as he sayes most truly a Queen regnant is within these words Nostre Seigneur le Roy for she hath the Office of a King So perhaps it deserves to be examined whether some of note and power in the time of Cromwells Usurpation did not affirm that Cromwell was within these words Nostre Seigneur le Roy. In regard Sir Edward Cooks Writings are by many held in high repute and some have not stuck to style him the Oracle of the Law therefore his Writings require to be more strictly looked into and that if any errors be found therein they may be detected and expunged as being more dangerous then in other mens Writings not of so great repute Corruptio optimi est pessima Illegal and seditious speeches Also it was advised if it shall be thought fit that such Speeches as have been publickly made by any Judges or noted Lawyers upon the Bench or in any publick Assemblies against the Regal or Subjects Right or the Law of Nations which may give just offence to our Neighbours may be taken notice of and publickly declared against Such us that when that Act of 25 E. 3. was alledged to justifie Cromwells Usurpation and that Seigneur le Roy in that Statute included Cromwell the usurping Protector And that speech of a great Lawyer at the tryal of the Portugal Ambassadors brother when it was alledged that he was by the Law of Nations to be sent back cum postulatu to his Master the King of Portugal to be by him punished for his offence committed here and that that Commission for trying him here without the consent of the Portugal Ambassador was the first Commission that ever was granted here to try any Ambassador or his servant without the Ambassadors consent Even the Bishop of Ross Ambassador from Mary Queen of Scotland though she was de facto deposed or forced to renounce the Crown there when he had committed a great offence yet was onely dismiss'd and not further questioned But to all this and much more that Lawyer replied What have we to do with the Law of Nations if it be contrary to the Law of England One
upon contempts arising on other causes Ecclesiastical then any of those ten crimes mentioned in the Statute 5 Eliz. 23. C. 17 Of a Prohibition what it is where it lyeth not and where it doth and how it ceaseth by a Consultation and of the Writ of Indicavit C. 18 An Analysis or unfolding of the two special Statutes touching Praemunire with sundry questions and doubts about that matter requiring more grave resolution Then in the second part of his Apology the Doctor sets forth his Proofs together with his Answers to the objections made against the manner of practice of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical by those that oppugn it C. 1 Of the distinction of Offences and several kinds and ends in punishing them with the necessity of punishments C. 2 Of two sorts of prosecution of crimes and offences viz. by a party and of office the practice of them in Scripture and in the several Courts of this Realm C. 3 Of the sundry kinds of objecting crimes by a party mentioned in the Civil Law as by reason of a mans publick charge and function also by way of Exception Supplication Complaint Delation and Accusation The true signification of the word Accusatio its divers acceptions definition and exposition thereof with some reason of the frequency of Accusation in Courts of the Civil Laws in former times is also declared C. 4 That the prosecution of crimes by way of Accusation is in most places forbidden or grown into disuse The reasons hereof be partly the danger to the Accusers and partly the hatefulness of that course Therein also is disputed whether all Accusation be unlawful and certain points delivered to be observed by all them that will accuse others C. 5 Of the several acceptions of the word Officium the signification of the words Inquisitio Questio crimina ordinaria extraordinaria the reason why enquiry by office came in place of Accusation Of Enquiry in general and special of-Enquiry special Ex officio nobih sive mero mixto promoto and of the privileges of proceeding ex mero officio above the other C. 6 Of Denunciation a special means of stirring up the office of the manifold use thereof on the other side the Sea The general acception of that word and of four kinds of Denunciation how they differ one from another what is required in them and when a Denouncer is to be condemned or excused of expences and what course of dealing against crimes and offences is holden both in Courts of the Ecclesiastical Commission and in ordinary Courts Ecclesiastical of this Realm C. 7 That the Civil and Canon Laws allow sundry means to ground a special Enquiry of office against a crime besides Accusation and Presentment therein is also conteined an Answer to a supposed Rule end declared how from general they descend to special Enquiry And that besides those two either a fame or clamosa insinuatio or private judicial Denunciation or Canonical Denunciation or Indicia or taking with the manner or other notoriety of the fact or impeachment by some of the Complices or collusion of the accuser or the not objecting in due time or when the Enquiry tendeth but to a spiritual punishment may severally any of them serve to warrant such enquiry with some observations touching the nature of most of these C. 8 That to proceed sometimes against an offence otherwise then upon Accusation or Presentment or then upon an Appeal or Indictment which two at the Common Law have respective correspondence unto the two former is no diverse much less any contrary or repugnant course to the Laws Statutes and Customs of this Realm This is proved by Common Law Statutes and practice in proceedings informative and punitive with answer to certain objections made to the contrary C. 9 How the second opinion here to be treated of is that no Lay-person may be cited of office in any cause but Testamentary or Matrimonial and that the drift of that opinion is against proceeding of office in matters criminal The necessary use and equity of proceeding somtimes criminally by the Judges office in Courts both Temporal and Ecclesiastical C. 10 Conteineth an Answer to some further objections made against the conveniency and reasonableness of proceeding against crimes of office C. 11 That the Laws of the Realm do use Enquiries and Proceedings ex officio that they allow it in Courts Ecclesiastical with answer to some objections that are made to the contrary C. 12 Is set down a Reply to the Note-gatherers answers given to certain reasons that have been made long ago for to shew the like course to be also practised in Temporal Courts and an answer to his reasons brought to prove that in proceeding of office there is some contrariety unto the Laws of England C. 13 That the Enquiry ex officio against crimes is allowed both in Civil and Temporal Courts and in Ecclesiastical also by the two Laws Canon and Civil C. 14 Conteineth an answer to such objections as upon the Civil or Canon Laws are brought against all proceedings of office in causes criminal by the Treatisor and the Note-gatherer C. 15 Enquiry and proceeding of office without an accuser and grounded upon some other of the means afore proved sufficient to enter into such enquiry is approved by sundry examples of Scripture C. 16 An Answer is made to such objections as out of Scripture or Ecclesiastical Writers be made against criminal proceeding of office by the Note-gather and others In the third part he concludes upon the whole matter for which his Apology was made C. 1 Of the lawfulness of Oaths What an Oath is and the reason or original formal cause of the use of Oaths C. 2 An Answer to certain doubts made concerning oaths as namely why in Scripture God is said to have sworn how by Oath he is said to be called to Witness An Oath no tempting of God but a part of his Worship Why nevertheless some are repelled from taking Oaths Whether Adjuration be lawful After whose meaning an Oath is to be understood Whether every promissory Oath be simply to be kept Whether an Oath may be dispensed with and how far and whether a Christian may by mutual Oaths contract with him that sweareth by false gods C. 3 Division of Oaths according to the outward form of taking them according to the matter and inward form of them with plain description of every kind of Oath C. 4 That the Ceremonies used in taking and giving of corporal oaths with laying hands upon the Bible or Testament and swearing by the Contents of it are not unlawful C. 5 The true issue of the next Opinion in question Two sorts of crimes and offences prohibited In what causes an Oath here spoken of may not be ministred and the manifold convenience and necessity of an Oath sometimes to be ministred in a cause criminal and penal unto the party with some few objections touching inconveniences thereof answered C. 6 That Oaths of men touching
that these Oaths Ex officio and Purgation should continue in proceeding at Common Law and not in the Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Courts or Courts Christian as at Common Law by the Laws of the Land they are styled a Title we like well and surely that Nick-name suitable to such debauched and dissolute persons that gave it because in these Courts their unclean crimes were punished and that did commovere bilem though they were punished there onely as before Medicinally to acknowledge their crimes to aske God and the congregation forgivenesse and to take away the evil and scandal and not mulcted or corporally punished by imprisonment or otherwise I say that Nick-name should it be given at all to any court as it ought not it would rather lean to such courts as inflict corporal punishments and mulcts upon such criminous persons by Imprisonment keeping the Bastard children whipping or otherwise corporally punishing them I wish and hope that as both the professions of both Robes sit as sisters under one Crown derive from one and the same head and draw from one and the same Fountain so each knowing their certain bounds and limits of Jurisdiction which if not clearly and explicitely settled I wish and hope will be may proceed christianly charitably and friendly in their several spheres of activity without clashing or the least dissention to Gods glory the good of this Church and Srate and the just distribution of Justice to the benefit and comfort of all the Subjects in His Majesties Dominions Let us all remember that not long since there was a generation of men then too much in power that had an equal tooth against both the Professions would gladly have seen the destruction of both and made too great a progresse in it The noble Professon and Professors of the common Law could then expect little more favour then Polyphemus promised Vlysses that he should be the last that should be devoured And probably enough some of them stirred up some of the lesse-considerable common Lawyers and such as favoured their side too much for in all Professions there is good and bad to be iustrumental in the abolition of the Civil Law and when that was done when the out-works were taken in then to have a bout with the Fort it self They have shewed their Method No Bishop no King But concord and peace it is to be hoped will duly and indissolubly cement these two Professions if amongst our selves we do not ponere obicem and dis-joyne the union Let us never forget St. Pauls good counsel and caution All the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed ye he not consumed one of another For the Civilians if they have many enemies and but few friends as was said by one that 't is hoped hath no disaffection to that profession or professors of it but rather in a just resentment of their oppression sutable to his birth and noble disposition if so I say they may comfort themselves in this that they were put to the test in the beginning of the Long Parliament when their factious Accusers were sufficiently numerous and virulent and had they been found guilty they had not then escaped punishment severe and infamous enough They could not easily have been highlier justified then that way which made it appear to all the world that that clamorous party through the sides of the Civilians intended to strike at and wound their Superiors and so serve turns and ends and compasse their long-weav'd design If the Civilians do their parts in their Functions uprightly and diligently which their own consciences doubtlesse will prompt them to and the vigilancy of their factious Adversaries over their actions may serve to keep them awake 't is to be hoped they will every way find comfort and encouragement However that peace at the last and the continual Feast in the interim will buoy them up above the greatest waves of envy or malice Good men will be their friends though the contrary be their enemies and one Cato is better then a Theaire And we cannot but be confident that we shall never have cause to say as some said in another case Non nos Resp. sed defuit nobis Respublica We have a gracious KING whom God protect blesse and prolong his dayes Et Spes Ratio studiorum in Caesare He we doubt not will as before him his Royal Father Charles the first King and Martyr and his Grandfather King James of blessed memory look upon us with a favourable eye according as he finds we endeavour faithfully and diligently to serve the Church and State that is to serve him they who faile therein deserve not to be remembred And besides the general His Sacred Majesty hath in particular demonstrated his gracious favour that way by the addition of honour and honourary revenue to the Masters of the Chancery Civilians for the most part an act that if possibly there can be an addition adds to the just obligation of duty service and gratitude which they owe his most excellent Majesty And all due thankfulnesse and honour the same Profession must ever acknowledge and render to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellor of England for his special favours to that Profession and Professors and for his mediation and being instrumental as none I believe can suppose otherwise in the obtaining that favour and bounty to the Masters of the Chancery and by furthering the continuance of His Majesties gracious inclination towards them We blesse God and His Majesty and his Lordship for it and are I hope and ever shall be most thankful for it and rejoyce and comfort our selves in it and Rumpatur quisquis rumpitur invidia Now as in the Preface I thought fit to subjoyn that little Manuscript touching the Oath ex officio with that Determination touching the same by that glory of our Church the late Lord Bishop Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester A Manuscript treating of the Oath Ex officio said to be Doctor Davenants late Lord Bishop of Sarisbury 1. THat which the Commons House complained of is that the Commissioners Ecclesiastical proceed Ex officio that is say they without a known Accuser 2. And that they cause men to answer upon their oath that which they would have is this 1. That no man should be dealt with but an Accuser should stand forth and that no Oath should be ministred to a man in his own cause That which your Lordships have enjoyned me is to shew my opinion whether the courses complained of be warrantable by the Word of God or no. Two parts there are distinctly to be spoken to the one of proceeding without a known Accuser the other of proceeding by way of Oath I begin with them generally at large and after as they concern Ecclesiastical proceedings 1. The end of all Judgments in all Courts is to remove evil The
were in agitation and some then passed and some stayed supposed that they will be resumed and considered of at the next meeting of Parliament that I say this Act should not stay as some would have had it till that next meeting but rather pass now though with these Proviso's on it I can say no more then this that Certa incertis praferenda if they could not have all they would have yet to have something that in a manner wanted all was but reasonable prudence it had perhaps savoured of morosity to have done otherwise especially considering that those that have long fasted would be glad to eat though I hope these that administred this food to them did not fear they would as hungry men use to do feed too fast to their hurt not to their nourishment and therefore did set the less meat before them but upon a pause after this refreshment there may be a supply Neither need I humbly conceive any thing that is already done hinder the review or alteration of this Act in that point For it is no new thing nor discommendable but contrary to make Laws upon present reasons or emergencies and yet upon future accidents or contingencies and variation of the times and occasions and other necessary requisites which could not well be foreseen at the making of these Laws nor perhaps dreamt on till they happened to alter change or repeal the former Hereof many instances might be given but in so plain a case I shall mention but one and that in a matter of Ecclesiastical cognisance touching Precontracts of Matrimony in 32 H. 8. c. 38. 32 H. 8. cap. 38. What Marriages are lawful and what not WHereas heretofore the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome hath alwayes entangled and troubled the méer jurisdiction and regall power of this Realm of England and also unquieted much the subjects of the same by his usurped power in them as by making that unlawfull which by Gods word is lawfull both in marriages and other things as hereafter shall appear more at length and till now of late in our Soberaign Lords time which is otherwise by learning taught then his predecessors in times past long time have béen hath so continued the same whereof yet some sparks he left which hereafter might kindle a greater fire and so remaining his power not to seem utterly extinct Therefore it is thought most convenient to the Kings Highness his Lords spirituall and temporal with the Commons of this Realm assembled in this present Parliament that two things specially for this time be with diligence provided for whereby many inconveniences have ensued and many moe else mought ensue and follow as where heretofore divers and many persons after long continuance together in Matrimony without any allegation of either of the parties or any other at their marriage why the same matrimony should not be good just and lawful and after the same Matrimony solemnized and consummate by carnal knowledge and also sometime fruit of children ensued of the same Marriage upon pretence of a former contract made and not consummate by carnal copulation for proof whereof two witnesses by that Law were onely required béen divorced and separate contrary to Gods Law and so the true Matrimony both solemnized in the face of the Church and consummate with bodily knowledge and confirmed also with the fruit of children had betwéen them clearly frustrate and dissolved Further also by reason of other prohibitions then Gods Law admitteth for their lucre by that Court invented the dispensations whereof they alwayes reserved to themselves as in kindred or affinity betwéen Cousin-germans and so to the fourth and fourth degrée carnal knowledge of any of the same kin or affinity before in such outward degrées which else were lawful and be not prohibited by Gods Law and all because they would get money by it and kéep a reputation of their usurped jurisdiction whereby not onely much discord betwéen lawful married persons hath contrary to Gods Ordinance arisen much debate and suit at the Law with wrongful vexation and great damage of the innocent party hath béen procured and many just marriages brought in doubt and danger of undoing and also many times undone and lawful heirs disherited whereof there had never else but for his vain-glorious usurpation béen moved any such question since fréedom in them was given by Gods Law which ought to be most sure and certain But that notwithstanding Marriages have béen brought into such an uncertainty thereby that no Marriage could be surely knit and bounden but it should lye in either of the parties power and arbiter casting away the fear of God by means and compasses to prove a precontract a kindred and aliance or a carnal knowledge to defeat the same and so under the pretence of these allegations afore rehearsed to live all the dayes of their life in detestable Adultery to the utter destruction of their own souls and the provocation of the terrible wrath of God upon the places where such abominations were used and suffered Be it therefore enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same That from the first day of the Moneth of July next coming in the year of our Lord God 1540. all and every such Marriages as within this Church of England shall be contracted betwéen lawful persons as by this Act we declare all persons to be lawful that be not prohibited by Gods Law to marry such being Marriages contracted and solemnized in the face of the Church and consummate with bodily knowledge or fruit of children or child being had therein betwéen the parties so married shall be by authority of this present Parliament aforesaid déemed judged and taken to be lawful good just and indissoluble notwithstanding any Precontract or Precontracts of Matrimony not consummate with bodily knowledge which either of the parties so married or both shall have made with any other person or persons before the time of contracting that marriage which is solemnized and consummate or whereof such fruit is ensued or may ensue as afore and notwithstanding any Dispensation Prescription Law or other thing granted or confirmed by Act or otherwise And that no reservation or prohibition Gods Law except shall trouble or impeach any marriage without the Levitical degrées And that no person of with estate degrée or condition he or she be shall after the said first day of the Moneth of July aforesaid be admitted to any of the Spiritual Courts within this the Kings Realm or any his Graces other Lands and Dominions to any processe plea or allegation contrary to this foresaid Act. Rep. 1 2 P. M. 8. Rep. 1 El. 1. This Act was not many years after repealed as followeth 2 3 Ed. 6. cap. 23. Part of the Statute of Precontracts repealed Whereas in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of the late King of famous
memory King Henry the eighth because that many inconveniences had chanced in this Realm by breaking and dissolving good and lawful marriages yea whereupon also sometime issue and children had followed under the colour and pretence of a former contract made with another the which contract divers times was but very slenderly proved and often but surmised by the malice of the party who desired to be dissolved from the marriage which they liked not and to be coupled with another there was an Act made that all and every such marriages as within the Church of England should be contrcted and solemnized in the face of the Church and consummate with bodily knowledge or fruit of children or child being had betwéen the parties so married should be by authority of the said Parliament déemed judged and taken to be lawful good just and indissoluble notwithstanding any precontract or precontracts of Matrimony not consummate with bodily knowledge which either of the persons so married or both had made with any other person or persons before the time of contracting that marriage which is solemnized or consummated or whereof such fruit is ensued or may ensue as by the same Act more plainly appear Sithence the time of the which Act although the same was godly meant the unrulinesse of men hath ungodly abused the same and divers inconveniences intolerable in manner to Christian ears and eyes followed thereupon women and men breaking their own promises and faiths made by the one unto the other so set upon sensuality and pleasure that if after the contract of Matrimony they might have whom they more favoured and destred they could be contented by lightnesse of their nature to overturn all that they had done afore and not afraid in manner even from the very Church door and Matriage feast the man to take another spouse and the espouse to take another husband more for bodily lust and carnal knowledge then for surety of faith and truth or having God in their good remembrance contemning many times also the commandment of the Ecclesiastical Iudge forbidding the parties having made the contract to attempt or do any thing in prejudice of the same Be it therefore enacted by the Kings Highnesse the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled that as concerning Precontracts the said former Statute shall from the first day of May next comming cease be repealed and of no force or effect and be reduced to the estate and order of the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm which immediately before the making of the said Estatute in this case were used in this Realm so that from the said first day of May when any cause or contract of marriage is pretended to have béen made it shall be lawful to the Kings Ecclesiastical Iudge of that place to hear and examine the said cause and having the said contract sufficiently and lawfully proved before him to give sentence for Matrimony commanding solemnization cohabitation consummation and tractation as it becometh man and wife to have with inflicting all such pains upon the disobedients and disturbers thereof as in times past before the said Statute the Kings Ecclesiastical Iudge by the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws ought and might have done if the said Statute had never béen made any clause article or sentence in the said Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Provided alwayes and be it enacted that this Act do not extend to disannul dissolve or break any marriage that hath or shall be solemnizated and consummated before the said first day of May next ensuing by title or colour of any Precontract but that they be and be déemed of like force and effect to all intents constructions and purposes as if this Act had never béen had ne made any thing in this present Act notwithstanding Provided also that this Act do not extend to make good any of the other causes so the dissolution or disannulling of Matrimony which he in the said Act spoken of and disannulled But that in all other causes and other things there mentioned the said former Act of the two and thirtieth year of the late King of famous memory do stand and remain in his full strength and power any thing in this Act notwithstanding Stat. 1 Eliz. 1. By these the inconveniency appeareth of taking away or altering an ancient long-settled Law practised long in all Christian Countries as this was which had it not been good probably the inconveniency and hurt of it had appeared in so long a time and the Law for the Oath Ex officio and Purgation is of like antiquity and practice in all Christian Countries without inconvenience or hurt thereby arising as yet that I ever could hear of therefore such Laws ought to be deeply weighed and considered of before they be repealed or altered And now that I am speaking of repealing and altering old Laws and making new I thought fit to close this Tract with some Notes of mine drawn up almost all of them in the time of the usurped Government and some after His Majesties restauration and communicated to the sight of some of Quality touching the repealing or altering of some old Laws and making new Some are already past and effected as that for the Lords the Bishops sitting again in the Lords House in Parliament and other things These I offer with all humility to be considered of if it shall by those in Authority be thought fit otherwise to be as unsaid Protesting that I retract as before any thing which is here mentioned that shall appear contrary to Gods Word His Majesties Prerogative or the Laws of the Land or the just policy and government of any of His Majesties Dominions Touching Parliaments Parliament proceedings AS a Parliament well constituted and acting regularly conduces much to the happinesse of King and Subject so any exorbitancy or deviation therein of which surely all unbiassed men cannot but confesse we have had too much sad experience in the Long Parliament works the contrary corruptio optimi pessima In the time of the Long Parliament some as it were idoliz'd it even almost to an opinion even of Infallibility of which they have made too much advantage to the misery of King and People Some advised then that that great Wheel that great Court should have had its sphere of activity it s known certain bounds publickly declared and not have been like a great River prodigiously overflowing all its banks and bounds Such a Parliament acting regularly is' t not probable the Members thereof would not so much have thirsted to lengthen much lesse to perpetuate it They were called up to consult may not he that calls his Counsellor forbear consulting him when he pleases and dismisse him Ordinance of Parliament The extent of an Ordinance of Parliament having by some been tentor'd then even almost to Infinity might it not have been precisely circumscribed and the exact definition of an Ordinance given Privileges of Parliament As
pretended afterwards to excuse him and that he spoke but according to the words in the Statute of 21 H. 8.21 where it is said We are free from any subjection to any mans Laws but onely to such as have been devised made and ordeined within this Realm for the wealth of the same c. which words are intended against the Papal Usurpation imposing Laws upon us The illegal Preface to the Propositions at the Isle of Wight As also if it be thought fitting that that Preface to the Propositions sent by the House to the late King at the Isle of Wight which seem to strike at if not to take away the Kings Negative voice in Parliament expresly contrary to many Acts of Parliament the Kings most known Prerogative and the most known Custom and Law of the Land be declared illegal and derogatory to His Majesties Prerogative and just right Rectifying of translation of some words As also if it shall be thought fitting that the translation of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Rom. 13.1 to higher powers altered to the supreme powers for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.13 is translated whether to the King as supreme The two Houses and Powers inferior many degrees to them have by some been interpreted to be meant by higher powers and strangely hath it been wrested if not exclusive of the King As also if it shall be thought fitting that that expression Illegal Declaration about the time of His Majesties coming over in one of the Declarations or Remonstrances that the Government was by the King Lords and Commons being derogatory to His Majesties Prerogative and Legislative power and the Government being in him radically and but derivatively and subordinately in any others for and under him Therefore to be considered of altered and amended The Printing-press As also if it shall be thought fit that the Presse be carefully looked into that no seditious Books or Pamphlets be vented to poyson the people or to confirm any in their bad principles The want of this care hath grown into a great Seminary of mischief which if nothing but our sad experience of it should make us more wary for the future A body of the Law to be framed As also if it shall be thought fit that according as was begun by the late Lord Chancellor the Lord Viscount St. Albanes which as 't is said King James put him upon a Body of the Laws should be digested and compiled and then by authority of Parliament be ratified Further touching Ecclesiastical matters Ecclesiastical Courts to be Courts of Record The Ecclesiastical Courts proceeding according to His Majesties Ecclesiastical Laws sitting under the same Crown with all other Laws some advise if it shall be thought fit that to all intents and purposes of Law they should be Courts of Record as well as any other Courts Reading the Articles of Religion By the Statute 31 Eliz. c. 12. the Incumbent is to read the Articles of Religion within two moneths after his Induction and 't is said some have not taken Induction at all because they would not read the Articles Had the Statute limited it within that time after Institution it had met with that fallacy Signing with the Cross in Baptism In the form for Private Baptism when the child privately baptised is afterwards brought to the Church to have the Baptism published at the receiving the child then into the Congregation there is no Interrogatory whether in the private Baptisme it had been signed with the sign of the Crosse as commonly if not altogether they are not neither is there any mention then at the publishing of the Baptisme of so signing it And it hath been found that some persons have pretended weaknesse in the Infant when it was not so onely to avoid the signing of it with the Crosse Churching of women privately There being no Law that allowes private Churching of women it is wished it might be alwayes publick in the Church and with a Vail and if within the moneth the woman be not able to come to Church to defer it till the recovery of her health Touching Absolution In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches usually one of the Singing-men though in orders gives the Absolution and the Blessing at the end of Service which some wish might be done by the Bishop if present or Dean or some Dignitary or more eminent person present And that the Anthems and other parts of the Service which are performed singing or in a singing tone may be made more intelligible to all the Auditors who many of them are scandalized by the contrary which might be helped by some small alteration in the composure so that as sometimes was practised and that without any hinderance to the harmony first one of the Singing-men to declare out of what Chapter and Verses or part of the Scripture that Anthem is taken or what Hymn or Spiritual Song it is and then immediately before the singing each Verse with a clear audible voice to read it This would help much but the best way were that the Singing-men and Choristers were taught exactly to sing most articulately clearly and plainly and not to drown the words in their mouths that they cannot be understood but openly and distinctly sound forth every syllable that they might be as well or better understood then when they onely read them And this hath been most commendably done by some expert Artists that way and might by all Mr. John Frost late Westminster and one of the Gentlemen of His Majesties Chappel Royal gave a most clear and most deservedly worthy to be imitated precedent hereof then whom never any man read more plain and clear and yet what he sung was if possible more plain and clear then what he read Touching the Writ De excommunicato capiendo By the Statute for the tryal De Excommunicato capiendo the person excommunicate is to be published in his Parish Church which sometimes the Minister refuses or there is no Minister In which case 't is wished it might serve to have it fixed upon the Church dore upon the Lords day or a copy left at his dwelling house and the forty dayes to commence from that time FINIS A Table of the Particulars contained in the Notes touching alteration of some Laws TOuching Parliament proceedings Page 97 Ordinance of Paerliament ibid. Privilege of Parliament ibid. The Bishops Protestation Page 98 The King none of the three Estates ibid. Proceedings of the House of Commons Page 99 Age of Parliament-men Page 102 Election of Parliament-men Page 103 The great number of Boroughs and Corporations ibid. Touching the manner of proceeding in Parliament Page 104 A competent number of Parliament-men to be at every debate Page 107 The manner how it may be constantly observed ibid. Fees of the Officers of Parliament Page 108 Touching new Laws ibid. Acts of Oblivion c. Page 109 Restitution of some goods where the property is not altered Page 110 Reparation to persons spoyled Page 111 Touching the Long Parliament ibid. The keeping the Records of the Tower Page 113 The Militia ibid. Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy explained ibid. Robbery the Law to be altered Page 114 Against condemnation upon a single testimony Page 115 Touching Juries Page 116 New Laws to be made upon new accidents Page 117 Making of Eunuchs ibid. Stealing of Winding-sheets ibid. Stealing of men Page 118 Against delayes in Courts ibid. Fees in all Courts ibid. About examination of witnesses in defence ibid. Against the examination of witnesses in the hearing of one another Page 119 Reparation to persons wrong fully accused Page 120 The Act touching the Court of Wards and Tenures to be repeated Page 120 Rates to be set for buying commodities Page 121 About dignity and precedency ibid. Against the Act for limitation of Actions Page 122 Against multiplicity of Statutes upon the same subject ibid. The Clergies Proctors in the House of Commons Page 123 About augmentation of Vicaridges ibid. Against Mensals Page 124 Touching the bounds of Jurisdictions Page 125 The Ordinaries power about distribution of portions ibid. Against concurrence of Jurisdictions ibid. Wills to be transmitted into the several Counties Page 126 Degrees of Marriage prohibited ibid. About the suppression of seditious books Page 127 Spensers Treason ibid. Goodwins book ibid. Bucks book ibid. Sir Edward Cooks writings Page 128 Illegal and seditious Speeches ibid. The illegal Preface to the Propositions at the Isle of Wight Page 129 Rectifying the Translation of some words ibid. Illegal Declarations Page 130 The Printing-press ibid. A body of the Law to be framed ibid. Ecclesiastical Courts to be Courts of Record ibid. Reading the Articles of Religion ibid. Signing with the Cross in Baptism ibid. Churching of women privately Page 131 Touching Absolution ibid. Touching the Writ De excommunicato capiendo Page 132 FINIS