Change or Subversion of RELIGION is grounded upon the daily increase of Papists the only professed Enemies thereof for the reasons formerly mentioned so are the hearts of Your Subjects no lesse perplexed when with sorrow they behold a daily growth and spreading of the faction of the Arminians that being as Your Majestie well knowes but a cunning way to bring in Popery and the professors of those opinions the common disturbers of the Protestant Churches and Incendiaries of those States wherein they have gotten any head being Protestants in shew but Jesuites in Opinion and practise which caused Your Royall Father with so much pious wisdome and ardent zeale to endeavour the suppressing of them as well at home as in our Neighbouring Countries and Your Gratious Majestie inimating his most worthy example have openly and by your Proclamations declared your mislike of those persons and of their opinions who notwithstanding are much favoured and advanced not wanting friends even of the Clergie neere to Your Majestie namely Doctor Neale Bishop of Winchester and Doctor Laud Bishop of Bath and VVells who are justly suspected to bee unsound in their opinions that way And it being now generally the way to preferment and promotion in the Church many Schollers do bend their Studies to maintaine these Errours their Bookes and opinions are suffered to be printed and published and on the other side the impressions of such as are written against them and in defence of the Orthodox Religion are hindered and prohibited and which is a boldnesse most incredible this restraint of Orthodox Bookes is made under colour of Your Majesties formerly mentioned Proclamation the intent and meaning whereof we know was quite contrary c. To which Declaration Bishop Laud returned a Peremptory answer in His Majesties Name written and endorsed with his owne hand the Originall whereof attested by Master Prynne was reade at the LORDS Barre in these following words so farre as concerned the charge of Arminianisme THe next feare is the daily growth and spreading of the Arminian faction called a cunning way to bring in Popery But We hold this charge as great a wrong to Our selfe and Our Government as the former For our People must not bee taught by a Parliament Remonstrance or any other way that We are so ignorant of Truth or so carelesse of the profession of it that any opinion or faction or what ever it be called should thrust it selfe so far so fast into Our Kingdomes without Our knowledge of it This is a meere dreame of them that wake and would make Our Loyall and loving People thinke We sleepe the while In this charge there is great wrong done to two eminent Prelates that attend Our Person for they are accused without producing any the least shew or shaddow of proofe against them and should they or any other attempt Innovation of Religion either by that open or any cunning way we should quickly take other order with them and not stay for Your Remonstrance To helpe on this Our People are made believe there is a restraint of Bookes Orthodoxall But wee are sure since the late Parliament began some whom the Remonstrance calls Orthodox have assumed to themselves an unsufferable liberty in printing Our Proclamation commanded a restraint on both sides till the passions of men might subside and calme and had this beene obeyed as it ought wee had not now been tossed in this tempest As for any distressing or discountenancing of good Preachers Wee know there is none if they be as they are called good But Our good people shall never want that spirituall comfort which is due unto them And for the preferments which VVee bestow Wee have ever made it our great care to give them as rewards of desert and paines but as the preferments are ours so will wee bee Judge of the desert our selfe and not bee taught by a Remonstrance After which the Commons in pursuance of their Opposition against the growing Arminian Faction On the 28. of January 1628. but 11. dayes after the forementioned Proclamation concerning Mountagues Booke and prohibiting books against it passed this notable Vote in Parliament after a large debate which the Archbishop in his indorsment on it stiles The Challenge of the lower House in matters of Religion An Order made by the lower House of PARLIAMENT the 28th of IANVARY 1628. WEE the Commons now Assembled in Parliament doe claime professe and avow for Truth the sence of the Articles of Religion which were established in Parliament the thirteenth yeare of Queene Elizabeth which by the publike Acts of the Church of England and the generall and currant exposition of the Writers of our Church have beene delivered unto Vs and we reject the sence of the Iesuites Arminians and all others wherein they doe differ from Vs. To which Challenge of theirs this pragmaticall Bishop then returned this bold peremptory answer written with his owne hand produced attested by Master Pryn and read at the Lords Barre in Evidence against him 1. The publique Acts of the Church in matters of Doctrine are Canons and Acts of Councells as well for expounding as determining the Acts of the High Commission are not in this sence publike Acts of the Church not the meeting of few or more Bishops Extra Concilium unlesse they be by lawfull Authority called to that worke and their decision approved by the Church 2. The Currant exposition of writers is a strong probable Argument de sensu Canâ—nis Ecclesiae vel Articuli yet but probable The Currant exposition of the Fathers themselves hath sometimes missed sensum Ecclesiae 3. Will ye reject all sence of lesuit or Arminian may not some be true may not some be agreeable to our writers and yet in a way that is stronger then ours to confirme the Article 4. Is there by this Act any Interpretation made or declared of the Articles or not If none to what end the Act If a sence or Interpretation be declared what authority have lay-men to make it for Interpretation of an Article belongs to them only that have power to make it 5. T is manifest there is a sence declared by the House of Commons the Act sayes it wee avow the Article and in that sence and all other that agree not with us in the aforesaid sence wee reject these and these goe about misinterpretation of a sence Ergo there is a Declaration of a sence yea but it is not a new sence declared by them but they avow the old sence declared by the Church The publike authenticke Acts of the Church c. yea but if there be no such publique authenticke Acts of the Church then here 's a sence of their owne declared under pretence of it 6. It seemes against the Kings Declaration 1. That sayes we shall take the generall meaning of the Articles this Act restraines them to consent of VVrighters 2. That sayes the Article shall not be drawne
authorized by his Chaplain Dr Bray presented to and accepted by himselfe when published as appears by two faire gilded printed copies thereof with his Archiepiscopall Armes engraven on the Covers found in his study by Mr Pryune printed An. 1640. since these Propositions of Bishop Hall were sent him resolving that there can be not only no Church but no Ministers at all without Bishops to ordain them in these terms Non est Sacerdotium nisi in Ecclesia non est Ecclesia sine Sacerdotio Illud autem intelligo per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Episcopalem ordinariam Neque euim admittenda consneus extraordinariam aliquam sen vocationem seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi miraculosam Oportet omnino miraculis agant suam confirment functionem signo aliquo qui non ab Episcopis derivata ab Apostolis per successionem institutione in Ecclesiam inducuntur sed velorti à sese vel nescio unde intrusi sese ingeruâ—t Nâ—m quod pretendunt ordinariam vocationem retinendam adhibendam eique adherescondum nisi in casu necessitatis absurdum est suppositione innititur impossibilitatis Neque enim talis casus an t extitit aliquando aut contingere potest nisi fallat not Dominus qui promisit Porta inferorum non pravalebunt Ecce sum vobiscum ad consummationem mundi By which Position the forraigne Protestant Churches are resolved concluded to be no Churches their Ministers no Ministers their Sacraments no Sacraments their Ordinances no Ordinances of Christ which perchance made Mr John Dury ordained in one of those Churches to be re-ordained a Minister here by the Bishop of Exeter Dr Hall before he was admitted to his Benefice as appeares by their severall Original Letters found in the Archbishops study And then what are they but meere Pagan Conventicles farre worse then Papists and the Church of Rome We shall only adde to this that whereas Bishop Hall in his Treatise of Episcopacy pag. 18. excused the forraign Protestant Churches from being unchurched by these Positions only in this regard that the reason why they renounced Bishops was meerly out of necessity because their Bishops would not suffer them to enjoy the Gospel Adding pag. 19. That it is very considerable whether the condition they were in doth absolutely warrant such a proceeding which is somewhat too hard a censure of them yet the Archbishop in his forecited Letter to Bishop Hall taxeth him for this his overmuch lenity towards them in these termes You are a little more favourable to the forraigne Churches and their Authors then our cause will beare and yet in the very same Letter he mislikes and blames this Bishop for his overmuch sharpnesse towards the Pope in his second Book for bestowing the Title of Antichrist upon him wherewith he was so highly offended that out of a zeal to his Holinesse he presently complaines to the King himselfe of this indignity offered to the Pope and procures a speciall Mandate from his Majesty to Bishop Hall to qualifie his expressions in this particular with his owne pen which he did accordingly Notwithstanding the Generall confessions of all forraign Protestant Churches The authorized Impressions of all their eminentest Writers Our own Homâ—lies Writers of all sorts and the very Act of Parliament for the Confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergy 3. Iac. penned by all the Prelates and Clergy of England in full Convocation give the Pope this Title and stile the Iesuites and their Adberents THE UNSHAMEFACT BROOD OF ANTICHRIST This his indulgence therefore to the Pope Priests and Church of Rome and professed emnity against the forraigne Reformed Churches in unchurching them in making their Ministers no Ministers at all and them no Christians nor Christian Assemblies discovers his very Intrals and inward bent of his soule to Popery to the Church of Rome yea his inveterate hatred to these Protestant Churches and their Religion too The next thing wee shall fully evidence 2. Though this Archbishop was so zealous an Advocate for the Church of Rome as both in his publick Speeches Writings to maintaine That her Religion is the same with ours as we have formerly proved yet he could by no meanes endure that the Religion of the forraign Protestant Churches and Ours should be termed one and the same Whereupon he presumed to countermand alter and purge his Majesties Letters Patents under the Great Seale for a Collection for the poore distressed Ministers of the Palatinate Ann. 1634. because it termed their Religion The true Religion which we together with them professe to maintain This wee shall make good by two substantiall witnesses and the printed Letters Patents themselves The witnesses are Mr Wakerly then Secretary to Mr Secretary Cook and Mr Hartlib who deposed at the Lords Barre upon Oath That in the yeare 1634. the Queen of Bohemia sent over one Mr Ruly a Palatinate Minister into England with Letters of recommendation to the Archbishop to desire his mediation and assistance to the King to grant Letters Patents under the great seale for a generall Collection towards the reliefe of the exiled Ministers of the Palatinate and their families who were then in great distresse which Letter Mr Ruly presenting to the Archbishop among whose Papers Mr Prynne found the very Originall after the reading thereof the Archbishop promised out of respect to the Queen of Bohemia who writ to him with her own hand to move the King in it which he did and then informed him that it was the Kings pleasure there should be Letters Patents drawn for a generall collection for those Ministers as was desired Wherupon Mr Ruly requested the Archbishop in regard he was a stranger and knew not our proceedings to give him some directions how to get the Letters Patents drawn and sealed who answered that he needed no instructions herein for it was a thing of usuall course and willed him to repaire to the Officers of the King his Secretaries and Attorney generall who would draw and procure them to be sealed Whereupon he repaired to Mr Wakerly who went with him to the other Officers and procured Letters Patents to be drawn according to former Presidents both in King James and King Charles reignes and namely verbatim according to Letters Patents for a like Collection dated 29 Ian. 3. Caroli which being drawn engrossed and passed the Great Seal of England without any scruple the Lord Keeper both reading and approving the same before the sealing Mr Ruly carried the Patent over to Lambeth to desire the Archbishops assistance for the printing dispersing and promoting therof where meeting with Mr Dell his Secretary he acquainted him with his businesse and shewed him the Patent who casting his eye thereon took some exceptions thereat because it made our and their Religion to be both one saying Are your Church and Religion and ours one which done he carried the Patent to the Archbishop who after he had perused it calling for Mr Ruly demanded
Court of Parliament in this Realme WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CLERGY IN THEIR CONVOCATION Fourthly that I did not alter or rase out those passages but onely left them to the Doctors owne consideration who thereupon of himself amended and left them out To this was replied First that Doctor Potter writ to him onely to correct or alter by his servant Master Dell or others any thing in his Booke OFFENSIVE TO HIM To which he returned this answer I have done that which you have so desired c. So as these very passages against the Pope and Papists were offensive to him as well as to them at which as it seems by the Doctors Letter he had formerly taken some offence else why should he thus write to him to alter and correct any thing in his Booke offensive to his GRACE It seemes by this that whatever offended the Pope or Papists be it but an harsh expression offended his Grace too who was all for Charitable expressions towards them who are so uncharitable towards us Secondly for the expressions themselves The first of them is not so harsh as true and fitting since Papists not onely beleeve the Pope but beleeve in him too viz. That his Exposition of Scripture is infallible that he cannot erre in his chaire that this Lord God the Pope cannot onely pardon sinnes and release soules out of purgatory at his pleasure but infallibly save all such who adhere to beleeve in and trust upon him for salvation The latter of them the Idol of Rome is a proper Periphrasis or Character of the Pope himselfe who is there idolized adored sundry wayes Thirdly the deleting his exposition on Matth 18. 17 18. upon the reason rendred by him is both derogatory and destructive to the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction of Parliaments in Ecclesiasticall causes and affaires which our Parliaments have alwayes judged setled established in all Ages oft times without yea against the Clergies consent the Convocation onely propounded advised and submitted wholly to the Parliaments judgement Yea our Parliaments have made Lawes concerning Heresie its punishment and matters of Religion sometimes without the Clergies consent as it is evident by the Statutes of 25 Hen. VIII c. 14. 28 Hen. VIII c. 10. 35 Hen. VIII c. 5. 1 Edw. 6. c. 1. 2. 12. with others Sometimes upon their Petition and earnest request as 5 Ric. II. c. 5. 2. Hen. IV. c. 15. repealed though never truly a Statute since the Commons never consented to them 2 Hen. V. c. 7. Sometimes by their request and advice too as 31 Hen. VIII c. 14. 34 Hen. VIII c. 1. 1 k 2 Ph. Mary c. 6. As for the Statute of 1 Eliz. c. 1. it no wayes inferres that the Parliament it selfe cannot adjudge or determine any Ecclesiasticall matters without the assent of the Clergy in the Convocation for then they had never cast our Popery and the Popes usurped authority which the Clergy still maintained nor wrought any reformation of Religion in our present or former Parliaments but onely Enacts That the High Commissioners shall adjudge nothing to be Heresie not formerly resolved to be so as this Act expresseth but what the Parliament shall adjudge â—rder and determine to be Heresie by assent of the Clergie in their Convocation from whence no argument can be deduced but this Nonsequitur The High Commissioners can judge no new opinion to be nor punish it as Heresie unlesse the Parliament of England first adjudge it to be Heresie with the assent of the Clergy in Convocation by the expresse provision of this Act Ergo the Parliament can make no Ecclesiasticall Lawes meddle with no Church affaires nor determine ought to be Heresie unlesse the Clergy in Convocation first assent thereto Pretty incoherent Logick and Anti-parliamentary Divinity Fourthly that Doctor Potter himselfe voluntarily corrected them upon his Letter appeares not but if he did it was to please this Archbishop in deleting those passages which he signified to be displeasing to him the better to obtaine the Prebendary he sued for to him in this Letter Wherefore these purgations must rest still upon his score To the Popish Alterations and Delections under his owne hand made in the SCOTTISH COMMON-PRAYER BOOKE which the Commons desired to presse he pleaded the ACT OF PACIFICATION AND OBLIVION against the very reading of them Whereupon they did forbeare and wave the reading of them for the present though cleane out of the ACT alleaging onely that this Plea of his was a plaine confession of his Guilt The fifth sort of purgations objected to me are those in SIR ANTHONY HUNGERFORDS Books which DOCTOR BAAR my Chaplaine would have expunged Of which SIR EDWARD HUNGERFORD his Sonne complained to me as he deposeth after he had expostulated with my Chaplaine who would crosse them out or not license the Bookes Whereupon I told him I having many other imployments had trusted my CHAPLAINES with those things which I wholly referred to them therefore what they thought fit to leave out you must Submit to And thereupon would not redresse his Grievance herein To this I Answer First that if there were any Errour herein it was not mine but my Chaplaines since dead who if he were alive and might have been heard to speake for himselfe would doubtlesse have given a good account and reason to your Lordships why he thought these passages unfit to be printed Saint Augustine saith that oft times infinite harme did accrew to the Church per temerarios veritatis assertatores and every Treatise written against Papists is not so satisfactory but that it may prove so disadvantagious to the Cause as to be unfit to be printed It may be these were such however God be thanked the Books were printed with those passages in them and so no harme done by my Chaplaine Secondly for my answer to Sir Edward it was true I had so many publick businesses then upon me that I had no leisure to peruse Books for the Presse and thereupon referred that trust wholly to my Chaplaines therefore if they offended they onely must answer for it not I and should I herein controll what my Chaplaines had done in this kind it would have so discouraged them that none of them have undertaken the office of a Licenser afterwards Besides I should have been perpetually troubled with clamours against that which my Chaplaines thought fit to be blotted out of Books tendred to them to be licensed for them every man would have appealed from them to me in this kind so as I should have had no quiet To this was replied First that we have formerly proved at large that his Chaplaines errours and delinquencies in this kind are his owne because the care of licensing Books was originally vested in himselfe and they were but his entrusted servants for whom he must be responsible at his perill and the rather in this case because he confesseth his Chaplaine is dead and cannot be punished for it
Commons of England and to desire that hee may bee forthwith sequestred from Parliament and be committed and that within some convenient time this House will resort to their Lordships with particular acsations and Articles against him Mr. Hollis is appointed to goe up to the Lords with this Message Vpon this his accusation diverse notable Speeches were made against him in the Commons House among others one by Master Grymstone published soone after in print which I shall here subjoyne Master Grymstones Speech IN PARLIAMENT Vpon the Accusation and Impeachment of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury of High TREASON Mr. Speaker THere hath beene presented to the House a most faithfull and exact Report of the conference wee had with the Lords Yesterday together with the opinion of the Committees that were imployed in that service That they conceived it fit the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury should hee sequestred I must second the motion and with the favour of the House I shall bee hold to offer my reasons why I conceive it most necessary wee should proceed a little further than the desire of above sequestration Master Speaker long introductions are not sutable to weighty businesses we are falne upon the great man the Archbishop of Canterbury Looke upon him as hee is in his Highnesse and hee is the stye of all pestilent filth that hath infected the State and Government of the Church and Common Wealth looke upon him in his dependanties and hee is the man the onely man that hath raised and advanced all those that together with himselfe have beene the Authors and causers of all the raines miseries and calemities we now groane under Who is it but he onely that hath brought the Earle of Strafford to all his great place and imployments a fit instrument and spirit to act and execute all his blouay designes in these Kingdomes Who is it but he onely that brought in Secretary Windebanke into the place of Secretary and trust the very Broker and Pander to the Whore of Babylon VVho is it Master Speaker but hee onely that hath advanced all Popish Bishops I shall name some of them Bishop Manwaring the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Bishop of Oxford and Bishop Wren the least of all but the most uncleane one These are men that should have sed Christs Flocke but they are the Wolves that devoured them the Sheepe should have fed upon the Mountaines but the Mountaines have eaten up the Sheepe It was the happinesse of the Church when the zeale of Gods House did eate up the Bishops glorious and brave Martyrs that went to the flaks in defence of the Protestant Religion but the zeale of these Bishops hath beene to eate up and persecute the Church VVho is it Master Speaker but the great Archbishop of Canterbury that hath set at the Helme to guide and steere them to all the managing of their Projects that have beene sit on foote in this Kingdome these tenne yeares last past and rather than hee would stand out hee hath most unworthily trucked and chaffered in the meanest of them As for instance that of Tobacco wherein thousands of poore people have beene stripped and turned out of their Trades for which they have served as Apprentises wee all know hee was the Compounder and contractor with them for the Licences putting them to pay Fines and Fee-Farme rents to use their Trades Certainely Master Speaker hee might have spent his time better and more for his Grace in the Pulpit then thus sharking and raking in the Tobacco shoppe Mr. Speaker we all know what he hath beene charged withall heere in this House Crimes of a dangerous consequence and of transcendent nature no lesse than the subversion of the Government of this Kingdome and the alteration of the Protestant Religion and this not upon bare information onely but much of it comes before us already upon cleare and manifest proofes and there is scarce any businesse Grievance or Complaint come before us in this place wherein we doe not finde him intermingled and as it were twisted into it like a busie and angry Waspe his sting is in the taile of every thing VVe have this day heard the report of the Conference yesterday and in it the Accusations which the Scottish Nation hath charged him with all And we doe all know he is guilty of the same if not more in this Kingdome Mr. Speaker he hath beene and is the common enemy to all goodnes and good men and it is not safe that such a Viper shall be neere to his Majesties person to distill his poyson into his sacred eares nor is it safe for the Common-wealth that hee should sit in so eminent place of government being thus accused We know what we did in the Earle of Straffords case This man is the corrupt Fountaine that hath infected all the streames and till the Fountaine be purged we cannot expect to have any cleare Channels I shall be bold therefore to offer my opinion and if I erre it is the error of my Iudgment and not my want of zeale and affection to the publicke good I conceive it most necessary and fit that we should now take up a Resolution to doe somewhat to strike whilst the Iron is hot And goe up to the Lords in the name of this House and in the name of the Commons of England and to accuse him of high Treason and to desire their Lordships his person may be sequestred and that in convenient time we may bring up the Charge After the House had this day voted the Arch Bishop a Traitor Mr. Hollis the same day was sent up to the Lords to accuse him of High Treason which he did immediatly in the generall without any particular charge assuring the Lords that in convenient time there should be a particular charge exhibited against him by the Commons to make good the accusation Wherefore he desired the Lords that the Arch Bishop might be sequestred from the House and committed hereupon he was forthwith committed to the Gentleman Vsher but yet permitted to goe in his company to Lambeth for some books to read in and such Papers as pertained to his defence against the Scotts charge And what papers of greatest consequence he then conveyed away thence burned or defaced is worthy inquiry Master Hollis his report from the Lords I finde thus entred in the Commons Iournall 18. December 1640. Master Hollis reported that according to the command of this House hee had delivered to their Lordships the Message that my Lord Keeper said Their Lordships had considered of the Message and accordingly they had sequestred the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury from Parliament and had committed him in safe custody to the Gentleman Vsher of their House The Lords Order for his commitment is thus entered in their Journall 18. December 1640. It is this day Ordered that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury being accused of high Treason by the house of Commons in their owne names and in the name of
hath wickedly and traiterously advised His Majestie that he might at his owne will and pleasure leavie and take money of his Subjects without their consent in Parliament and this hee affirmed was warrantable by the Law of God 2. Hee hath for the better accomplishment of that his traiterous designe advised and procured Sermons and other discourses to be preached printed and published in which the Authoritie of Parliaments and the force of the Lawes of this Kingdome have beene denyed and absolute and unlimited power over the persons and estates of His Majesties subjects maintained and defended not onely in the King but in himselfe and other Bishops against the Law And he hath beene a great protector savourer and promoter of the publishers of such false and pernicious opinions 3. Hee hath by Letters Messages Threats and promises and by diverse other wayes to Judges and other Ministers of justice interrupted and perverted and at other times by meanes aforesaid hath endeavoured to interrupt and pervert the course of Justice in His Majesties Courts at Westminster and other Courts to the subversion of the Lawes of this Kingdome whereby sundry of His Majesties Subjects have been stopt in their just suits deprived of their lawfull righte and subjected to his tyrannicall will to their ruine and destruction 4. That the said Archbishop hath traiterously and corruptly told ustice to those who have had causes depending before him by colour of his Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction as Archbishop High Commissioner Referree or otherwise and hath taken unlawfull gifts and bribes of His Majesties Subjects and hath as much as in him lies endeavoured to corrupt the other Courts of justice by advising and procuring His Majestie to sell places of Judicature and other Offices contrary to the Laws and Statutes in that behalfe 5. He hath traiterously caused a booke of Canons to be composed and published without any lawfull warrant and authoritie in that behalfe in which pretended Canons many matters are contained contrary to the Kings Prerogative to the fundamentall Lawes and Statutes of this Realme to the right of Parliament to the propriety and libertie of the Subject and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence and to the establishment of a past unlawfull and presumptuous power in himselfe and his successors many of which Canons by the practise of the said Archbishop were surreptitiously passed in the late Convocation without due consideration and debate others by feare and compulsion were subscribed by the Prelates and Clerkes there assembled which had never beene voted and passed in the Convocation as they ought to have beene And the said Archbishop hath contrived and endeavoured to assure and confirme the unlawfull and exorbitant power which he hath usurped and exercised over His Majesties Subjects by a wicked and ungodly oath in one of the said pretended Canons injoyned to be taken by all the Clergie and many of the Laitie of this Kingdome 6. He hath trayterously assumed to himselfe a papall and tyrannicall power both in Ecclesiasticall and Temporall matters over his Majesties Subjects in this Realme of England and in other places to the disherison of the Crowne dishonour of His Majestie and derogation of his supreme authoritie in Ecclesiasticall matters And the said Archbishop claimes the Kings Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction as incident to his Episcopall Office and Archiepiscopall in this Kingdome and doth deny the same to bee derived from the Crowne of England which he hath accordingly exercised to the high contempt of his Royall Majestie and to the destruction of divers of the Kings liege people in their persons and estates 7. That he hath traiterously indeavoured to alter and subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realme and in stead thereof to set up Popish superstition and Idolatrie And to that end hath declared and maintained in Speeches and printed books diverse popish doctrines and opinions contrary to the Articles of Religion established by Law Hee hath urged and injoyned diverse popish and superstitious Ceremonies without any warrant of Law and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same by corporall punishments and Imprisonments and most unjustly vexed others who refused to conforme thereunto by Ecclesiasticall censures of Excommunication Suspension Deprivation and Degradation contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome 8. That for the better advancing of his traiterous purpose and designe he did abuse the great power and trust His Majestie reposed in him and did intrude upon the places of diverse great Officers and upon the right of other His Majesties Subjects whereby he did procure to himselfe the nomination of sundry persons to Ecclesiasticall Dignities Promotions and benefices belonging to His Majestie and divers of the Nobilitie Clergie and others and hath taken upon him the commendation of Chaplaines to the King by which meanes he hath preferred to His Majesties service and to other great promotions in the Church such as have been Popishly affected or otherwise unsound and corrupt both in doctrine and manners 9. Hee hath for the same trayterous and wicked intent chosen and imployed such men to be his owne Domesticall Chaplaines whom he knew to be notoriously disaffected to the reformed Religion grosly addicted to popish superstition and erroneous and unsound both in judgement and practise and to them or some of them hath he committed the Licensing of Bookes to be printed by which meanes divers false and superstitious bookes have beene published to the great scandall of Religion and to the seducing of many His Majesties Subjects 10. Hee hath traiterously and wickedly endeavoured to reconcile the Church of England with the Church of Rome and for the effecting thereof hath consorted and confederated with diverse Popish Priests and Jesuites and hath kept secret intelligence with the Pope of Rome and by himselfe his Agents and instruments treated with such as have from thence received authoritie and instruction hee hath permitted and countenanced a Popish Hierarchie or Ecclesiasticall government to bee established in this Kingdome by all which trayterous and malicious practises this Church and Kingdome hath beene exceedingly indangered and like to fall under the Tyrannie of the Roman See 11. He in his owne person and his Suffragans Visitors Surrogates Chancellors and other Officers by his command have caused divers learned pious and Orthodox Ministers of Gods Word to be silenced suspended deprived degraded excommunicated and otherwise grieved without any just and lawfull cause and by diverse other meanes he hath hindered the preaching of Gods Word caused divers of His Majesties loyall Subjects to forsake the Kingdome and increased and cherished Ignorance and profanenesse amongst the people that so hee might the better facilitate the way to the effecting of his owne wicked and traiterous designe of altering and corrupting the true religion here established 12. He hath traiterously endeavoured to cause division and discord betwixt the Church of England and other reformed Churches and to that end hath supprest and abrogated the Priviledges and Jmmunities which
Articles of Impeachment brought up from the House of Commons against him according to the former Order of this House of the 16. of this Instant Ianuary To the Gentleman Vsher c. On the 22. of Ianuary the Archbishop personally appearing at the Lords Barre according to the former Orders did then put in this following Answer both to the Commons Originall and Additionall Articles The Answer of the Archbishop of Cant. to the first and further Articles of the House of Commons dilivered in the 22th January 1643. The humble Answer of William Archbishop of Cant. to the first and farther Articles of Impeachment brought up by the Honourable House of Commons against him and by Order of the right honourable the Lords in Parliament of the 16. of this Instant directed to be put in As to the 13. Article of the said first Articles and the matters therein Charged allmatters or things in the same or any of the rest of the said Articles contained which concern any Act of Hostility whether between the King his Subjects or between Subject Subject or which may be conceived to arise upon the comming of any English Army against Scotland or the comming of the Scotish Army into England or upon any Action attempt assistance Councell or devise having relation thereunto and falling out by the occasion of the late troubles proceding the late Conclusion of the Treaty and returne of the Scottish Army into Scotland this Defendant saith that it is enacted by an Act made during the sitting of this present Parliament that the same and whatsoever hath ensued thereupon whether treuching upon the Lawes and Liberties of the Church and Kingdome or upon his Majesties Honour and Authority in no time hereafter may be called in Question or resented as a wrong Nationall or Personall and that no mention be made thereof in time comming neither in Judgement nor out of Judgement but that it be held and reputed as though never such things had beene thought or wrought as by the said Act may more at large appeare with this that this Defendant doth averre that he is none of the persons excepted by the said Act or the said offences charged upon this Defendant any of the offences excepted by the said Act. And as to all the rest of the said first and further Articles this Defendant saving to himselfe all advantages of exception to the said Articles humbly saith he is not Guilty of all or any the matters by the said Articles charged in such manner and forme us the same are by the said Articles charged against him VV. Cant. The same day I find this entry in the Commons Iournall to wit on the 22. Jan. 1643. The Lords by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page sent downe the Answer of William Archbishop of Cant. to the first and further Articles of impeachment brought up by this House against him which was read and ordered to be referred to the Commitmittee appointed to manage the evidence against the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and accordingly delivered to Serjeant Wilde After this the House of Commons to expedite his Tryall on the 22. February 1643. ORdered that the Committee appointed to mannage the evidence at the Tryall of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury doe peremptorily meete this afternoone at three of the Clocke in the Court of Wards upon the distribution of the parts of the evidence The Commons and Lords being all ready for his Tryall and having given him as much convenient time to prepare himselfe and his witnesses as he could desire to prevent all clamours of the Prelaticall and Canterburian party began now to thinke of a peremptory day for his Tryall and thereupon I finde this Order entred in the Commons Journall 4. Marcii 1643. A Message to be sent to the Lords to desire them to appoint a day for the Tryall of the Bishop of Canterbury Master Serjeant Wilde went up to the Lords to appoint a day for the Tryall of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Serjeant Wilde brings answer that the Lords have appointed to morrow senight for the tryall of the Archbishop of Canterbury For which purpose the Lords made this following Order Die Lunae 4. Marcii 1644. Ordered that the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury shall appeare before their Lordships on Tuesday the 12th of this instant March at nine of the Clock in the morning At which time this House will proceed against the Arch-Bishop upon the first and further Articles of Impeachment brought up from the house of Commons against him for high Treason and high Crimes and misdemeanours whereof the said Arch-Bishop is hereby to take notice and provide himselfe accordingly After this the Arch-Bishop Petitioning the Commons House that Sir Henry Midmay a Member thereof might bee examined as a witnesse for him at his tryall this Order was thereupon conceived 9. Marcii 1644. The humble Petition of William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury desiring that Sir Henry Mildmay may be examined as a witnesse in his businesse he being to come to his tryal on Tuesday next was this day read And it is Ordered according to his Petition that he shall be examined as a witnesse at the tryall of the said Bishop accordingly It was likewise then ordered that diverse Members of the House of Commons shal be examined as witnesses against him And that the Lords be moved by Serjeant Wilde that some Members and Attendants of the Lords House be examined at the Arch-Bishops Tryall And that it be referred to the Committee of Sequestrations to consider of some convenient recompence for such Clerks Sollicitors and others as have been or shall bee imployed in the transscribing of breviats and other services done by them to the Committee for the Bishop of Canterbury his tryall On the 12. of March his Tryall according to the former Order was entred upon of which I shall give you this summary account Never was there in any age such a deliberate solemne patient impartiall hearing of any case in the High Court of Parliament nor in any Court of Justice else in our own or any other Kingdom whatsoever as there was of this Archbishops The first day of his Tryall began the twelfth of March 1643. wherein the whole time was spent in reading the Articles of Impeachment his answers to them and introductory Speeches to the charge and evidence against him made by Serjeant Wilde and the Arch-bishop himselfe The first part of the evidence upon the 1 2 3 4. Originall and 2 3 4 10. Additionall Articles was managed by Iohn Maynard Esquire one of the Commons House wherein foure whole dayes namely March 13. 16. 18. Anno 1643. and March 28. 1644. were spent the forenoons of them in the evidence and proofs the after-noons in the Arch-bishops Answers and Master Maynards replyes unto them The second part of the evidence was prosecuted by Robert Nicholas Esquire a Member of the House of Commons which took up three whole dayes viz. Aprill 16. and May 4. 16. morning and evening in
money too But howsoever his Lordship hath get a very full estate in that Kingdome and hee doth very wisely to fortifie it as well as hee can But besides these I have long since heard though you now mention it not that his Lordship hath done greater service to the Church in some other particulars as namely to the Bishoprick of Lismore and the Colledge of Yong-Hall for which it is great pitty but that his Lordships memory should bee preserved in the Church Thus I have given Your Grace a distinct answer to all the Particulars in Your Letter But for the Tombe which occasioned all the rest I will not take upon mee to judge unlesse I were upon the place how fitly or unfitly it stands there but shall wholly leave it to the view and resolution which shall thereupon bee taken in that place So I leave you to the Grace of God and rest Your Lordships very loving friend and Brother Will Cant. Lamb. March 1633. But some may perchance inquire what was the ground of this Archbishops introduction of these Innovations first of all into Cathedrall Churches Certainly one principall cause of this his method was to make these Mother Churches as he stiled them patterns of imitation for all Daughter Churches and Chapells within the the whole Diocesse that so the Proverbe in Ezech. 16. v. 44. 45. might be verified of them Behold every one tht useth Proverbes shall use this Proverbe against thee saying AS IS THE MOTHER SO IS HER DAVGHTER Thou art thy Mothers Daughter That this was one chiefe end of his to corrupt all Parish Churches and Chappell 's by these Cathedralls examples was infallibly manifested First by the very words of the Order made at the Councell Table at White Hall the third of November 1633 concerning the standing of the Communion Table in Saint Gregories Church neere Paules printed in Dr. Heylins Coale from the Altar and in his Antidotum Lincolniense Sect. 1. c. 2. p. 62. which order was thus printed by the Archbishops direction the chiefe stickler in the procuring and prime Clerke in the penning of it wherein it is positively resolved That all other Churches ought to be guided by the Cathedrall Mother Church whereon they depend and that the Communion Table in Saint Gregories Church removed from the middle of the Chancell to the upper end and there placed Altar-wise in such manner as it standeth in the Cathedrall and Mother Church of St. Paul should so continue that so there might be no difference betweene it and the said Cathedrall Mother Church Secondly by diverse bookes published in print by the Arch-Bishops speciall direction and app obation expresly averring That all Parochiall Churches ought to be guided by the patterne of the Mother Church upon the which they doe depend The Arch-Bishop himselfe in his discourses and these creatures of his in their Bookes applying and urging this leaden rule of theirs in particular for the rayling in of Communion Tables placing them Altarwise against the East end of the Quire and bowing unto them in all Parish Churches because this was done and practised in all Cathedrall Churches by vertue of his New Statutes and Injunctions though not in former times This foundation being layd in our Cathedralls for the like Popish Innovations in all Parochiall Churches wee shall in the next place prosecute this pursuite of his Innovations from our Cathedralls to Parochiall Churches and Chappell 's Wee shall begin with Saint Gregories Church neare Paules where the case was thus About tenne yeares since this Church was repaired by the Parishoners to their great cost at which time the Deane and Chapter of Pauls under whose jurisdiction it is caused the Picture of Saint Gregory to bee set up in the Church and the Communion Table to bee removed rayled about and set Altarwise against the East-end of the Chancell Whereupon Master Wyan and diverse of the Parishioners being offended at it appealed from the Deans and Chapters Order as being against Law to the Arches upon which by the Archbishops means an Order came from Secretary Windebank to call the Parishioners to the Councell Table concernning this Appeale the removing of the Table where they appeared at the appointed time with their Councell The King himselfe the Arch-Bishop and many of the Lords were then present where the businesse being debated before them the Archbishop stood up and with great earnestnesse more like an Advocate then Judge justified maintained this removing and rayling in the Table reading Queene Elizabeths Injunctions to warrant it but left out this most materiall clause that made quite against him Saving when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be administred at which time the same shall be so placed in good sort within the Chancell as whereby the Minister may bee more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and ministration and the Communicants also more conveniently and in greater number communicate with the said Minister And after the Communion done from time to time the said holy Table to be placed where it stood before The King said hee liked it well that the Table should stand as it used to do heretofore to which the Archbishop answered that if it stood so the Minister could not so well see who kneeled at the Sacrament and who kneeled not To which the King replied then let the seates bee pulled downe Then the Councell for the Parish alleadged that Bishop Jewell in his Reply to Harding Artic. 3. Diuis 26. and Artic. 13. Diuis 6. and Master John Fox in his Acts and Monuments Edit 1610. pag. 1211. 1212. both which Books were enjoyned to be kept in every Church for the people to read in as containing the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England and nought repugnant thereunto maintained and asserted That the Communion Table ought to stand in the MIDST OF THE CHVRCH AMONG THE PEOPLE and not Altar-wise against the wall Hereupon the Archbishop stood up in an angry manner and sayd If this be the use they make of these Books Jewell Fox I desire they may be taken out of Churches and Sir Henry Martin saying merrily that this Table placed close along the wall would make a good Court-cupboord The Archbishop therupon replied that Sir Henry was a stigmaticall Puritan in his bosome All which particulars were proved upon oath by Master Wyan Mr. Clearke and Captain Stackhouse Wherupon by the Archbishops violence this Order was then made against the Parishioners for the standing of that Table Altar-wise as it was situated by the Deanes and Chapters Order and appointment At Whitehall the third day of Novemb 1633. Present the KINGS most Excellent Maiestie Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Keeper Lord Archbishop of Yorke Lord Treasurer Lord Privy Seale Lord Duke of Lenox Lord Chamberlaine Earle of Bridgwater Earle of Carlile Lord Cottington Master Treasurer Master Comptroller Lord High Chamberlain Earle Marshall Master Secretary Cooke Master Secretary Windebanke THis Day was Debated before
of England and Baron Denham riding the Western Circuit in the Lent Vacation 7º Caroli there being at the Assises in the County of Sommerset many persons indicted for murthering Bastard children begotten at Wakes and Revels with sundry other grand disorders occasioned by these intemperate meetings the Justices of that County earnestly importuned the Judges to make a severe Order for the suppression of these disorderly Wakes and Revels as divers of their Predecessors had done without which they could never keep the Country in good Order nor prevent the multitude of Bastards murthers bloodsheds drunkennesse quarrels and other disorders occasioned by them whereupon these Judges made this ensuing Order in the publike Assises An Order made by the Judges of the Assises for the suppressing of all Ales and Revels the nineteenth day of March Anno Regis Caroli nunc Ang. c. Sept. WHereas divers Orders have been made heretofore by the Judges of the Assise for the suppressing of all Ales and Revels the same Order is now confirmed at this Assises and again Ordered by the Court In regard of the infinite number of inconveniences dayly arising by means of Revels That such Revels Church-Ales Clerks-Ales and all other publick Ales be henceforth utterly suppressed and if hereafter it shall be known to the Justices of the Peace within this County of such to be set up hereafter to be used That then the Justices of Peace within their severall divisions take course as well for the speedy apprehending and punishing of Idle and lewd persons drawing together at such places as also for the binding over of such persons using tipling inflicting such punishment upon all offenders in such places as the Law doth inflict And to the end this Order may be the better observed it is further Ordered That the Clerk of the Assises shall leave Coppies hereof with the under-Sheriffe and from the under-Sheriffe every Constable of the hundred shall take a Coppy for his severall Hundred and Liberty and shall deliver a Coppy to the Minister of every Parish within his severall Hundred and Liberty and shall take a note of every Minister under his hand the day when he received it and shall publish it yearly within the Parish Church the first Sunday in February and likewise the two Sundayes before Easter yearly And it is further Ordered That every Constable every Lent-Assises present unto the Judges of the Circuit a note of the same Order under the hands of the said Ministers And for the avoyding the concourse of idle people it is further Ordered That Minstrels and such other persons as usually carry up and down Bulls and Beares to bate being Rogues by the Statute shall be punished as Rogues for the further preventing of such inconveniences as usually hapneth at such meetings This is a Copyy of the Order To Lawrence Musgrave Constable The now Arch-Bishop being informed of this good Order was very much netled at it both in regard of the subject matter of it the suppression of Church-Ales Wakes Revels commonly kept on the Lords Day and likewise of the manner of publishing it by the Ministers in the Church which he conceived to be an Vsurpation upon the Bishops Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and an injury to the Church Upon which grounds he had formerly quarrelled with Sir Nicholas Rainton when he was Lord Mayor of London for prohibiting an Apple-woman to sell Apples on the Lords Day within Pauls Church-yard threatning to complaine of him to the King and his Councell for usurping on his Jurisdiction and telling him she should sell Apples there on the Sunday notwithstanding his Command to the contrary and let him punish her if he durst as he likewise excepted against this pious Order of Richard Deane Lord Mayor of London Anno 1629. found in his study by Master Prynne thus endorsed with his own hand Aprill 20. 1629. The Lord Mayor of London his Warrant against breakers of the Sabbath MY JVRISDICTION INTERESSED WHereas J am credibly informed that notwithstanding divers good Laws provided for the keeping of the Sabbath day holy according to the expresse Commandement of Almighty God divers Jnhabitants and other persons of this City and other places having no respect of duty towards God and his Majesty or his Laws but in contempt of them all do commonly and of custome greatly prophane the Sabbath day in buying selling uttering and venting their Wares and Commodities upon that day for their private gain Also Jnholders suffering Markets to be kept by Carriers in most rude and prophane manner in selling Victuals to Hucsters Chandlers and all other commers also Carriers Carmen Clothworkers Water-bearers and Porters carrying of burthens and Watermen plying their Fares and divers others working in their ordinary callings And likewise that J am further informed that Vintners Alehousekeepers Tobacco and strong Water sellers greatly prophane the Sabbath day by suffering Company to sit drinking and bibbing in their houses on that day And likewise divers by cursing and swearing and such like behaviour contrary to the expresse Commandement of Almighty God his Majesties Laws in that behalf and all good Government For the Reformation whereof J do hereby require and in his Majesties name straightly Command all his Majesties loving subjects whatsoever and also all Constables Headboroughs Beadles and all other Officers whatsoever to be ayding and assisting to I. S. the bearer hereof in finding out and apprehending all and every such person and persons as shall be found to offend in any of these kinds and them and every of them to bring before me or some other of his Majesties Justices of the Peace to answer to all such matters as shall be objected against them and to put in good security for their good behaviour whereof fail you not as you or any of you will answer at your perill Dated Aprill 20. 1629. To all Constables and other his Majesties Officers Ministers whatsoever within the City of London and liberties thereof and to every of them Rich. Deane Major The Arch-bishop much vexed at the Judges forementioned Order against Ales and Revels complained of the Judges and it to his Majestie as he had formerly done of the Lord Mayor of London and procured a Commission to some Divines of that County and Bishop Pierce to enquire of the manner of publishing this Order in Churches and what was done therein and of the Lord Chiefe Justice Richardsons carriage in this businesse Notwithstanding which Commission this chiefe Justice the next Assizes gave a strict charge against these Ales and Revels required an Account of the publication and execution of the foresaid Order and punished some disorderly persons for breach thereof Wherewith the Archbishop then of London being acquainted by Sir Robert Philips and others he thereupon complained again to the King of the Judges and writ the ensuing letter to the Bishop of Bath and Wels to make the better way for the publike authorizing of Wakes and Revels even on the Lords own Day and his
constant care to uphold and maintaine the Religion prefessed in the Church of England in its purity without Error or Corruption Doth therefore hereby declare His Royall Will and pleasure to be and doth straightly Charge and Command all persons of what degree quality or condition soever to whose hands any of the said Bookes are or shall come that without delay they deliver or send them to the Bishop or Chancellor of the Diocesse whom His Majestie requireth to cause the same to be publikly burnt as such of them as have beene already seized on have beene by His Majesties expresse Commande And to this His Majesties Royall Pleasure he requireth all his loving Subjects to yeeld all doe Conformity and Obedience as they will avoid the censure of high Contempt God save the KING Given at Our Court at White-hall the fourteenth yeare of Our Reigne Vpon this Proclamation some few of these Bookes were seised and publikely burnt in Smithfield the poore Printer Oakes imprisoned divers Monthes almost to his utter undoing though he proved he complained of it to Doctor Haywood who commanded him to proceed but the Stationer was brought Ore tenus to the Star-Chamber and charged with the insertion of the Popish Passages after the Doctor had expunged them which he denied where the Archbishop made a Speech to cleare himselfe and his Chaplaine in which there was not one word of truth after which the Stationer was ordered to be committed to Prison and to find out the Translator which he affirming he could not do if he were imprisoned thereupon his imprisonment was respited and no further examination had of this foule businesse then to cleare the Archbishop and his Chaplaine by this devise in the meane time Mr. Prynnes Crosse Bill which truly related all the carriage of the businesse was suppressed that so the truth of it which he thou could would have manifested by sundry punctuall witnesses had he been permitted might never come to publike knowledge to the Archbishops and his Chaplaines shame who abused his Majesty and the People with false representations of this businesse which was now charged proved and testified against him at the Barre by Mr. Prynne Mistresse Oakes Michaell Sparke Senior and others to his shame The Epistle to a devout Soul written by a Friar then newly translated into English was licenced the selfe same day for the same Stationer that Sales book was being as full of Popery as it vvhich Mr. Prynne likewise charging in his Crosse Bill thereupon some of the Bookes were seized by the Stationers and the rest vented in private But Sales to make the Papists ammends was soone after reprinted here withall the Popery in it and sould publikely without restraint notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation which was but a meere Pageâ—â—â— and devise of the Archbishops to cleare himselfe and his Chaplaine Having thus given you a summary Catalogue of the Popish Bookes Sermons licenced and published by him his Chaplaines and Agents we shall next present you with a List or Extract of the severall Popish Errors Doctrines Positions Paradoxes authorized and maintained in them most of them so grosse so execrable that they never durst appeare in any of our Impressions from the infancy of Reformation till this Arch-Prelate became their Patriot We shall begin with Auricular Confession and the power of Priests to remit sinnes the summe whereof is this 1. That Priests have not only a Ministeriall but an Authoritative and Juditiall Power to râ—mit sine confessed And that we ought frequently to confesse our sins to our Priests and Confessors at least once every Month especially in Lent We read in the Popes Nuntio compiled by the Venetian Ambassador concerning the Negotiation of Signior Panzanioes p. 12. That an English Doctor told Panzanioes friend that the King did approve of Auricular Confession was willing to introduce it and would use force to make it received were it not for feare of Sedition amongst the people Certainly all who shall read these ensuing authorized passages touching Auricular confession of Sins to Priests Confessors of Priests not only Ministeriall but Iuditiall Power to remit sinnes will undoubtedly beleive that at least our Popish Priests Prelates and this Archbishop in particular had a plotted resolution to introduce Auricular confession and set up an Authoritative Iuditiall power in Priests to receive confessions and remit sinnes confessed in all his Majesties Dominions The Passages to this purpose are these Mountagues Gagge p. 78. 83. 84. It is confessed that all Priests and none but Priests have power to forgive sinnes It is confessed that private confession unto a Priest is of very ancient practise in the Church we urge it and perswade it in extremis ut supra we require it in case of perplexity and likewise before the receiving of the Lords Supper according to which Doctrine and Injunction our Bishops do or should enquire of it in their Visitations touching the use and neglect of this so good an order VVhich he thus seconds in his Appeale p. 299. My words are It is confessed that private confession unto a Priest is of very Ancient practise in the Church of excellent use and benefit being discrectly handled We refuse it to none if men require it if need be to have it we urge and perswade it in extremis Wee require it in case of perplexity for the quieting of men disturbed in their consciences This is my Popery per partes for wariant whereof I bring my witnesse and authority the Injunction direction and practise of the Church and of the Bishops accordingly in the Church that which their Mother holy Church hath commanded in that sort and case to be observed pag. 312. Priests have power not only to pronounce but to give remission of sinnes which seemeth to be the Doctrine of the Communion Book in the Visitation of the sicke where the Priest saith And by his Authority committed unto me I absolve thee from all thy sinnes It is Justifiable it is the Doctrine and practise of the Church of England Pag. 315. 316. Informers it is confessed that all Priests and none but Priests have power to forgive sinnes And is it not so confessed when by publique warrant in ordination that power is given unto all Priests to doe soe in those solemne words of Ordination whose sinnes you forgive they are forgiven c. But with you Puritans this Doctrine and practice of the Church is held to bee Popery And here you inferre that Priests have no more power to do this than Laymen here you cast confession upon both one and other and Laymen may heare it aswell as a Priest and therefore it is probable you will not be very precise for Absolution to conferre it on a Layman as well as on a Priest But such absolution is a part of that Priestly power which could not be given by men or Angels but onely and immediatly by Almighty God himselfe a part of that Paramount power which the
Dedicated to the Archbishop and Licensed by Heywood his Chaplain August 26. 1634. cap. 16. p. 45. 46. determines thus Quaenam sit Romana Ecclesia Cum constet Romanam Ecclesiam in primariis temporibuss velut inter ignes Luna Minores caeteris Ecclesiis praeluxisse caeterisque Maechantibus castam pudicam veritatis conservatricem extitisse nec in pessimis usque eo degenerasse censemus ut in primariis fundamentalibus Religionis capitibus aberrasse videatur quidniquamvis in caeteris forsan vitiatam temeratam Ecclesiae tamen nomine honestandam censeam c. This passage Doctor Bastwick taking exception against at his censure in the High-Commission read it openly in Court where the Arch-bishop publikely justified it in his speech affirming That the Church of Rome was a true Church and that it never erred in fundamentalls in which we differ not but onely circa fundamentalia This distinction of his was afterwards thus justified in Print by Christopher Dome in his Innovations unjustly charged pag. 48. Nor is it an absurd distinction as he unreverendly and absurdly termed it that a great Prelate used in the High-Commission at the censure of Doctor Bastwick when he said That we and the Church of Rome differ not in fundamentalibus but circa fundamentalia pag. 49. The distinction is not absurd but it may most truely and fitly be said that we may and do differ about and not in fundamentals which Doctor Heylin likewise seconds in his Moderate Answer to Henry Burton p. 6. 124. 125. No difference between the Church of Rome and England in fundamentalls Suppose a great Prelate in the High-Commission 〈…〉 had said openly that we and the Church of Rome differ not in â—â—â—â—amentalibus yet how comes this to be an Innovation c. The Church of Rome hath done more against the Heretickes of this age than you or any of your Divines be he whom he will But for the Church of Rome it is a true Church and that we differ not from them in fundamentalls see the Reconciler Doctor Potter in his booke which he submitted to the Arch-bishops censure concludes thus pag. 62. 77. The most necessary and fundamentall truths which constitute a Church are on both sides unquestioned We hope well of those holy souls who in former ages lived and dyed in the Church of Rome c. Nay our charity reacheth further to all those this day who in simplicity of heart beleeve the Roman Religion and professe it Doctor Pocklingtons Altare Christianum pag. 114. Termes Rome by the name of Holy Church and applauds her canonized Popish Saints stiling them The Holy Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Christ whose names are written in heaven And our Protestant Martyrs Traytors Murderers Rebels and Hereticks The Archbishop himselfe was a professed maintainer of the truth and visibility of the faith and Church of Rome not only in his Speech in the high Commission at Doctor Bastwicks censure there and in his Speech in Star-chamber pag. 36. but likewise in his late Reply to Fisher Epist Ded. p. 16. And were not this so we should never be troubled with that idle and impertinent question of theirs Where was your Church before Luther For it was just there where theirs is now One and the same Church still no doubt of that one in substance but not one in condition of State and purity Their part of the same Church remaining in corruption and our part of the same Church under Reformation In the Reply it selfe pag. 370. 371. Rome but with all particular Churches and no more than other Patriarchall Churches was and is radix existentiae the roote of the Churches existence The Church of Rome and every other particular Church c. Indeed Apostolike she is as being the See of one and he a prime Apostle but not the onely Apostolike Visible I may not deny God hath hitherto preserved her And p. 376. Secondly if the Religion of the Protestants be in conscience a known false Religion then the Romanists Religion is so too for their Religion is the same Nor do the Church of Rome and the Protestants set up a different Religion for the Christian Religion is the same to both but they differ in the same Religion and their difference is in certain grosse corruptions I shall close up this with a publike Recantation drawn up and prescribed by Godfry Goodman Bishop of Glocester to one Mr. Ridler Minister of Little Deane about 7. miles from that City who having many Papists in his Parish and preaching in a Sermon there That Papists as Papists were damned and that the true Protestant Religion was the onely true and safe way to Salvation he was upon the complaint of some Papists convicted before this Bishop and by him enjoyned to make this following Recantation prescribed to him in writing in the Cathedrall Church at Glocester on Jan. 2. 1636. and for refusing to make it he was afterwards on the 5. of March next following suspended from his living IHS IN the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Whereas I did deliver in a Sermon lately preacht in this Diocesse That if we are saved the Papists are damned I am right heartily sorry that I should deliver any such doctrine wherein I must acknowledge mine owne errour and my great fault and offence First against his Majesties Instructions thus rashly and unadvisedly to affirme That Papists are damned Secondly it is an offence against the laws of the Kingdome For in the eye of the Law we are still one with the same Catholike Church for were we of a distinct or severall Church Then our Church could claim no right or Title to those Priviledges Charters Foundations and Revenues which it enjoyes at this day for these were granted to Papists and for many hundred yeares possessed by them and since there hath beene no new Law for transferring them upon a different or contrary Church But this is made much more manifest by the expresse words of the Statute as it appeares by the Act of Parliament which was made upon the first breach with the Papists the words are these That they do not thereby intend to seperate themselves from Gods Catholike Church but onely for some politicall respects to preserve the Kingdome from Ruine This was made the 25. of Hen. 8. and it is in force at this day so that to make such a difference between these two Churches as is between damnation and salvation certainly is against the Common Lawes and the Statute Law of this Kingdome besides many acts of State which being above my element I will not presume to touch upon Thirdly against the Church of England It is imposible there should be any greater offence in regard of the affinity that is between both Churches for we have the same Holy Orders the same Church Service the same Ceremonies the same Fasts the same Festivals and we have generally the same Canon Lawes and therefore
some other passages in my said Sermon I was as I understand conceived by some not onely to cast aspersions upon the present State of our Church and some principall Members and parts thereof thereby to bring it and them into scandall and dislike But even under some ambiguous words to move to take up armes for redresse although with recalling or restraining the same in termes afterward and saying thus Let us pray these men either to conversion if it be Gods blessed will or to their destruction Fiat justitia pereant illi and calling them crafty Achitophells c. I doe here acknowledge and professe I had no such Intentions neither doe I know any cause why my selfe or any other should so bitterly invay against any in our Church I am therefore heartily sorry that I gave cause to any of the hearers to conceive so And I humbly crave pardon for it For refusing to make this strange prescribed Recantation this godly Minister though he in generall termes professed his syncere sorrow and penitency for any Oversights and unbeseeming Expressions in his Sermon both in his Petitions and Letters to the Bishop which would not suffice was for a long time deteined in the New Prison there miserably abused by the Keepers of which he oft complained without redresse and in conclusion utterly ruined for speaking out the truth Wee shall close this branch of our Evidence with this observation That as Rewards and Punishments rightly distributed are the greatest incentives to vertue piety learning and retractives from vice error superstition so when they are perverted misplaced they become the grandest discouragements to Piety Religion the strongest attractives to Heresie Popery and all kinde of Superstitions Schollers commonly looke most of all after preferments yea make it their principall study to comply with those mens Opinions and Practifes who are the chiefe Bestowers of them No wonder therefore that our poor Church was sodainly overspread with a generation of Arminian Popish Superstitious Ceremonious prophane Prelaticall Clergy-men when all or most Ecclesiasticall preferments were in this Arch-Prelates disposall who for the most part advanced none but such but discountenanced suppressed persecuted kept back from preferments most orthodox zeal us preaching Divines who would not comply with his Popish Innovations and Designes It is very observable that the Archbishop himselfe records in his Diary April 5. 1625. How he presented to the Duke of Buckingham by his command a Schedule wherein the Names of Ecclesiasticall persons were written under the Letters O. that is orthodox in his sence to wit Arminians or persons addicted to Popish Errors and Superstitions and P. that is Puritans who was to deliver them to King CHARLES Ever since which time Mountague Manwaring Wren with such like unorthodox Clergy-men have been advanced and all Puritans as they termed them kept from preferment And it is as considerable what Mr Chaloner deposed to this purpose That being in Rome about five yeares since Friar John the great agent there for our English Benedictines and Catholiques was very inquisitive and demanded seriously of him Whether the Archbishop of Canterbury had not the bestowing of all Ecclesiasticall preferments and livings in England especially those in the Kings gift Seeming to be confident they were all then in his dispose and thereupon assuring himselfe that he would advance such persons to them as should be most favourable most plyable to Popery and Papists to drive on their designes as they did indeed with a witnesse till this Parliament imployed their diligence and power to weed them out by Degrees And therefore his advancement of such unsound corrupt Popish Clergy-men on the One and suppressing good Orthodox Preaching Ministers on the other side must necessarily import a most desperate design in him to supplant our established Religion by such a Generation of Vipers who would eat out the very bowells of their own Protestant Mother Church and Religion by Degrees The sixth Branch of the Commons Evidence to make good their first Generall Charge of the Archbishops endeavours to subvert our Religion and introduce Popery WEE shall now advance our progresse from this to the sixth Branch of our Evidence to make good our generall Charge of this Archbishops Traytorous Practises and Endeavours to subvert our true Protestant Religion and introduce Popish Superstition and Idolatry to wit His Iesviticall Practises Plots and Proceedings by himselfe and his Instruments to suppresse the frequent and powerfull Preaching of the Gospel on Lords-dayes Weeke-dayes with all Lecturers and Lectures throughout the Kingdome and the Feoffees for Impropriations a principall meanes to maintaine the same and his silencing suspending many godly Ministers in all parts upon frivilous illegall Pretences that so Popish Errours Superstitions might flow in and grow up the faster with none or little publique Opposition This is fully charged against him in the eleventh Originall Article and sixth Additionall which were read upon this occasion The first and most pernicious Plot this Prelate layd to suppress Preaching Lectures and Lecturers was drawn up by himselfe under his own hand soon after the Parliaments dissolution in tertio Caroli and presented by him to the King under this specious title which he gave it Considerations for the better settling of the Church-Government The Originall draught whereof written with his own hand and found in his study by Mr Prynne was produced and read in forme following Considerations for the better settling of the Church-Government That his Majesty would be graciously pleased 1. TO Command the Lords the Bishops to their severall seas excepting those which are in attendance at Court 2. That none of them reside upon his Land or Lease that he hath purchased or on his Commendam if he hold any but in one of his Episcopall Houses And that hee wast not the woods where any are left 3. That they give charge in their Tryenniall Visitations and at other times both by themselves and the Archdeacons that the Declaration for settling the questions in difference be strictly observed 4. That a speciall Charge be given them against frequent and unworthy Ordinations 5. That a speciall Care be had over the Lecturers in every Diocesse Which by Reason of their pay are the peoples creatures and blow the Bellowes their way Sedition For the abating of whose power these wayes may be taken 1. That the afternoon Sermons in all Parishes may be turned into Catechising by Questions and Answers according to an Order set out by King Iames of blessed Memory If this cannot be then 2. That every Bishop ordain in his Diocesse that every Lecturer doe read Divine service in his Surplisse before the Lecture 3. That where a Lecture is set up in a Market Town it be read by a Combination of grave and orthodox Divines neer adjoyning 4. That if an Incorporation do maintain a Lecturer he be not suffered to preach till he take upon him Curam Animarum within that Incorporation 6. That the Bishop do
shall pretermit for brevity sake only we shall insert the Copy of his owne Letter to the Merchants at Delfe found in his study dated Iune 17. 1634. AFter our hearty Commendations c. We are commanded by his Majesty to signifie unto you that this Bearer Mr Beaumont chosen by joynt consent of your Company to be your Preacher at Delfe or where else you shall at any time reside is a man learned sober and conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline established in the Church of England And that you are to receive him with all decent and curteous usage fitting his Person and Calling and to allow him the usuall ancient stipend which Mr Forbes lately or any other before him hath received And farther we are to let you know that it is his Majesties expresse Command that both you the Deputy and all and every other Merchant that is or shall bee residing in those parts beyond the Seas doe conforme themselves to the Doctrine and Discipline setled in the Church of England And that they frequent the Common Prayers with all religious Duty and Reverence at all times required as well as they doe Sermons And that out of your Company you doe yearly about Easter as the Canons prescribe name two Church Wardens and two Sidesmen which may look to the Orders of the Church and give an Accompt according to their Office And Mr Beaumont himselfe is hereby to take notice that his Majesties expresse pleasure and Command to him is that he doe punctually keep and observe all the Orders of the Church of England as they are prescribed in the Canons and the Rubricks of the Liturgy And that if any of your Company shall shew themselves refractory to this Ordinance of his Majesty which we hope will not be he is to certifie the name of any such Offender and his offence to the Lord Bishop of London for the time being who is to take order and give remedy accordingly And these Letters you are to register and keep by you that they which come after may understand what care his Majesty hath taken for the well ordering of your Company in Church affaires And you are likewise to deliver a Copy of these Letters to Mr Beaumont and to every Successor of his respectively that he and they may know what his Majesty expects from them and be the more inexcusable if they disobey Thus not doubting but that you will shew your selves very respectfull of these his Majesties Commands we leave you to the Grace of God and rest Your very loving friend W. Cant. By all which premises compared with his forementioned judgement of the Forraign Churches that they were no true Churches of Christ because they had no Bishops their Ministers no Ministers and their Religion not the same with ours it is infallibly evident that his designe was to suppresse and subvert the Dutch and French Churches by degrees at home and to embroyle them and our English Congregations abroad for the better advancement of the Roman Catholike Church and Religion both at home and in Forraign parts And so we have fully made good the twelfth Originall Article against him in all particulars Our eigth and last Evidence to prove his trayterous design to subvert the Protestant Religion and bring in Popery is comprised in the 13 Originall Article That he hath trayterously and trecherously plotted and endeavoured to stirre up warre and enmity betwixt his Majesties two Kingdoms of England and Scotland and to that purpose hath laboured to introduce into the Kingdom of Scotland divers Innovations both in Religion and Government all or the most part of them tending to Popery and Superstition to the great grievance and discontent of his Majesties Subjects of that Nation and for their refusing to submit to these Innovations he did trayterously advise his Majesty to subdue them by force of Arms c. Nay joyned in confederacy with the Papists Priests Iesuites and employed Popish Captains and Commanders to make warre against them all which we can abundently prove by sundry Papers under his own hand by Originall Letters found in his study and sundry Additions Alterations in the New Scottish Liturgy elsewhere recorded the Originall Copy whereof we have ready to produce under his own hand But because he hath pleaded the Act of Pacification and Oblivion made since his Impeachment in barre of this Article and the Scottish Liturgy which doubtlesse it extends not to and thereby hath tacitely acknowledged the truth of this Article of which he dares not abide the triall we shall forbeare to give any evidence thereon till his plea be over-ruld which the Commons did not presse the Lords to do because they would avoyd expence of time and conceived their forementioned evidence very full to convict him guilty of the first branch of his first generall Charge abundantly proved by all the premises That he hath trayterously endeavoured to subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realm and instead thereof to set up Popery Superstition and Idolatry The second BRANCH of the first generall CHARGE concerning the ARCH-BISHOPS endeavours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of ROME WEE shall now passe on to the second Branch of the Arch-bishops first generall impeachment touching Religion thus expressed in the tenth originall Article That he hath traiterously and wickedly endeavoured to reconcile the Church of England with the Church of Rome and for the effecting thereof hath confederated with divers popish Priests and Jesuits and hath kept secret intelligence with the Pope of Rome and by himselfe his Agents and Instruments treated with such as have from thence received authority and instructions he hath permitted and countenanced a popish Hierarchy or Ecclesiasticall government to be established in this Kingdome by all which traiterous and malicious practises the Church and Kingdome hath been exceedingly endangered and hath been like to fall under the tyranny of the Roman Sea Which is somewhat amplified in the seventh additional Article which we shall conuex thereto To prove this Article we shall lay downe and make good two ground-workes which the precedent Evidence hath sufficiently cleered First that this Arch-bishop hath beene generally reputed a Person popishly affected and a Papist in heart both whiles he was resident in the University of Oxford and ever since and that he was beleeved reported to be such a one by the popish party both at Rome and elswhere beyond the Seas No wonder therefore if he endeavoured to reconcile and reduce the Church of England to the Church of Rome To prove the Arch bishop a reputed Papist whiles he was resident in Oxford we shall produce two Witnesses of credit who knew him very well there and have had some neere relation to him since The first is Doctor Danel Featly who deposed viva voce at the Barre That the Arch-bishop whiles he was remaining in Oxford was generally reputed to be popishly affected and one addicted to the popish party and that he
and there discoursing with an English Gentleman who had been an ancient traveller touching the then late rooting out of sundry English able and orthodox Ministers for not complying with the Bishops in divers new idolatrous ceremonies this Gentleman assured me that he had often heard of strange reports of matters likely to befall England both from English and Irish papists which he gave no heed unto supposing them to speake rather as they would have it then as it was in verity But now that he had heard so much from me he did much suspect that there was some plot in hand to change the Religion in Eng. wherof he would diligently enquire assuring me that he had as good means to know it as any man of our Nation that lived on that side of the Seas At our next meeting he told me that he had dived into the plot That ere long we must all of necessity be papists in Eng. that the best wits both in Eng. and on that side of the Seas were interested therein That it was so politickly laid that he did not see how in the judgment of man it could possibly be prevented That the Archb. and some other Bishops were of the plot and that the rest of the Bishops and Clergy partly for feare of losing what they had partly for hopes of geting more would undoubtedly comply That the refusers if they could not be corrupted were to be turned out of their livings banished imprisoned or forced to live in obscurity That it was to be done by gradations to bring in this point of Popery in one quarter of a yeer and the rest in another and if not direct popery yet so neer thereunto as the common people themselves would slide into it unawares that nothing but the King of Sweden's prosperity did hinder the sudden effecting of it Lastly that if we resisted not we should be cheated and cozened of our Religion and if we resisted we should be compelled thereto perforce I replied that I thought the Papists in England were not of any considerable number to effect their ends by force and that they were also dis-armed He told me the Papists were more in number and better armed then I conceived them to be many going now to Church who would then declare themselves papists besides a world of Newters who for hopes of preferment would be easily drawne to their party that they vvere all united and besides armed with authority He affirming that for many yeers vve had vvholly been governed by Papists most men in highest authority being either vvholly so or at least as serviceable unto them for private ends as if they vvere so indeed I replied that if we should be compelled to defend our Religion by force their authority would not be regarded He told me the Irish vvould be brought in I answered that I had spent some yeers in Ireland and knew them to want both courage and meanes to effect so great a businesse so that unlesse they were backed by the King of Spaine in a better manner then I conceived he was able at that time to doe they durst not undertake it He told me they should have a better back and more encouragement then the King of Spaine could give them and that both France and Spain should assist therein I replied that I thought France and Spaine were likely to disagree and therefore unfit for such a businesse He told me that since J vvould needs have it the greatest introducers of popery should be the Protestants themselves Whereat vvhen J vvondred as seeming to me a paradox he told me that the vvar should be so disguised under false notions and pretences as the Protestants should ignorantly become the Jesuits servants and by the effusion of their ovvne blood set up popery by force Thirdly that being in Rome seven or eight yeers since one Father John of the Order of Saint Benet was very tnquisitive of me to knovv vvho bestovved the livings in England and vvhether the Arch bishop did not doe it I answered that the livings were in the donation of such as had the Advousons of them whether it were the King Arch bishops Bishops Deanes and Chapters Colledges Corporations Noble men Gentlemen or others He asked me if the Arch-bishop did not bestow the Kings livings I said no but the Lord Keeper if they were under such a value if above the King himselfe He seemed very much agrieved that the Arch-bishop did not bestow them and told me that he did not despaire of seeing England to be very suddenly Catholike And though be were by reason of his Order tyed more strictly to the Pope then others were yet he was carefull to have both Kings and Kingdomes priviledges preserved and more particularly that the Benefices in England might not be bestowed upon Italians as formerly but that the Arch-bishop should have the ordering thereof All this I have oft related some yeers since to divers persons of quality for which I incurred some trouble by the Jesuits and this Arch-bishops meanes This Testimony is so home and punctuall that we shall adde no more thereto it informs us of a long since plotted and actuated confederacy between this Archbishop and other English Prelats and the Popes Instruments at Rome and in other forraigne parts to introduce popery and reduce us back to Rome It chalks out to us the manner and method of their proceedings in all particulars and the politick contrivances of all sorts to effect their intended designe all which we have by wofull experience seen punctually acted pursued accordingly to this very moment in which pursuit this Archbishop hath been the Archinstrument since then we visibly behold these reports of theirs verefied to the view of all the world we must no longer look upon them is empty rumours or discourses but as reall Evidences beyond all exceptions The second groundwork we shall lay and prove is this That there hath been for many yeers last past a dangerous damnable Plot and serious endeavour of the Pope and his Instruments to reduce and reconcile the Church of England to the Church and Sea of Rome and that this Arch-bishop was privy to and had notice of it This Plot was first laid about the yeer 1617. when the Spanish Match was set on foot and King Charles then Prince of Wales fent into Spaine of purpose to reconcile him and in him our Kingdomes to the Church of Rome the prime end the Pope and Catholikes intended in that Match and Treaty as appeares by the severall Articles passages and proceedings in it well knowne to this Prelate by the Popes Letter to the Prince whiles in Spaine to reconcile him to Rome and make him a dutifull Sonne of that Church by the Popes Letter to his Nuncio the Bishop of Conchen when the Prince was in Spaine to endeavour his conversion to their Church upon this occasion by a Jesuits Oration to induce his Highnesse to that Religion and by the
a dead lift since his troubles Charles R. CAnterbury Master Saint Giles by serving Vs and this State hath lost all his hopes in France and desires to spend his time here at his private studies I would have you think upon some way for his maintainance and to place him in Oxford that he may have use of that Library which he much desires And he may so order it that his profession in Religion may doe no harme What the service was that this Fryar had done for the King and State for which he lost his hopes in France we could never learne unlesse it were the penning and publishing of this book which some Jesuits and their faction onely disliked What it was that this Archbishop did for him upon this warrant as he pretends is thus expressed in a paper written with his own hand by way of excuse seized by Master Prynne in the Tower and by him produced at the Lords Barre where it was read as followeth MAster Saint Giles was a man well reputed of in France and placed about the Queens Majesty at her Majesties first comming hither After upon some services and those in a very faire way done to this State he lost ground in France and when some other French men were sent away from the Queens service he durst not goe thither but chose to live here in a very low condition for safeties sake rather then adventure thither All this while the man was unknowne to me but comming one day to wait upon his Majesty at Saint Jamses his Majesty was pleased to ask me Whether I knew Master Saint Giles I answered I did not Hereupon his Majesty tooke occasion to tell me the condition of the man and his wants and withall told me which way he conceived some reliefe might be given to his necessities and prescribed me a way how to order it that he might receive for his maintainance a hundred Marks a yeere This in obedience to his Majesty I did and I have his Majesties Warrant for it But I never allowed or gave him one penny of my owne Not long after this partly that the poore man being a stranger might live the cheaper and partly that he might have the use of the publike Library resolving as he pretended to follow metaphisicall learning and not engage himselfe in the controversies of the times His Majesty moved me againe that he might live in Oxford and in some Colledge or Hall there In this I humbly besought his Majesty to pardon me because it would be dangerous to the youth bred in that Colledge and scandalous to his Majesty this Church and the Vniversity and bring danger upon my selfe being Chancellour there After much importunity used by me his Majesty was gnaciously pleased to be satisfied that he should not be admitted to live in any Colledge or Hall among the Students but required me not to hinder his going to Oxford and the making use of the Library provided that he kept no company with any young Schollers that he lived privately in some Towne-house and that he did not presume to exercise his Priestly function or doe any thing against the lawes This he undertook to performe and I could never find by any the spies which I put upon him that he brake this in any particular but lived there without offence given to any In all times of his recourse to me for his pension I never spent one houre with him nor had I ever any discourse with him at all but once onely and that was about a dangerous opinion of Pompanatius At that time he told me he had a desire to labour in that Argument and to confute him I told him I could not approve any medling with that question in these times for that I thought few would be able to understand the subtilty of that dispute and that the stirring of it in these times would doe a great deale of mischiefe and this is all that ever past between him and me all my life This Saint Giles by this Prelats meanes continued in the University of Oxford sundry yeers and had the use of the Libraries there where he did much mischiefe Master Broad of Oxford deposed that Saint Giles continued in Oxford foure yeers or more that he was a very dangerous insinuating person that Doctor Turner Doctor Johnson and others of the Vniversity usually resorted to him and familiarly conversed with him though he were there knowne to be a popish Priest that when Master Prynne Master Burton and Doctor Bastwick suffered at Westminster on the Pillory this Saint Giles speaking of their sufferings told this Deponent in whose Kinswomans house he lay that though the Archbishop and other Bishops WERE CORDIALL FOR THE ROMISH RELIGION yet he doubted their cruelty would rather hurt then further their cause because it lost them much in the affections of the people Now what a capitall offence it was for this Archprelat to harbour such a dangerous seducing Priest reputed one of the greatest Schollers among the Papists in this famous University to seduce the Students there and as the Queens Apothecary a great Papist reported of purpose to instruct the Doctors there as Master Godfrey a quondam converted popish Priest averred and to lay the blame of it thus wholly on his Majesty to excuse himselfe we humbly submit to your Lordships consideration To prove this Saint Giles now Priest to the Venetian Ambassadour resident in London where he doth much mischiefe the Author of Deus Natura Gratia c. what repute it had among Papists abroad how the Archbishops Agents applauded made use of it and certified him from time to time how it was entertained by Papists in forraigne parts what they thought of him and other great persons in England how they stood affected to popery we shall produce two Originall Letters from Master William Middleton then Chaplaine to the Lord Fielding Ambassadour at Venice sent thence to the Archbishop in whose Study they were found by Master Prynne endorsed by Master Dell and the Archbishop the first of them beares date in Septemb. 1635. and was received by the Archbishop Octob. 9. wherein he thus writes Right Honourable and most Reverend I Thought it no little happinesse I had performed that duty of writing it pleased your grace â—o lay upon me c. While I was writing there came a Franciscan Fryar to my selfe his businesse was this A mind he told me he had to leave these parts and with them the Religion here in use that I should doe him a great favour would I procure him a passage to England either by Sea or Land that there he had formerly beene and was in love with place persons and Church as there ordered and established Vpon which words how I dealt with him I will relate to your Grace I asked him how long he had been of this resolution and what moved him to it He answered the time since he had taken this resolution was two monethes and
Master Pryme IF you heare Fa. Francis his Booke or person touched let them know that we understand assuredly that it proceeds from the Jesuits most likely also by this last Letter of Mr. Midleton to the Archbishop who imploy others in it as they did against Father Leanded till it cost him his life and if that upon their informations they proceed against such persons who THOUGH IN ALL THINGS CATHOLIKE yet are more discrect and temperate and not intermedling in matters of State THE KING WILL BE MUCH OFFENDED Thus much for this Book of Sancta Clara and the Author of it The fifth Evidence we shall pitch upon to prove a designe to reconcile and reduce us back to Rome is the Popes and his Agents promises tenders of Cardinals Caps and Places to some prime English men and to this Archbishop himselfe in particular the end whereof could be no other but to enthrall us againe to the superstitious jurisdiction of the Papall See The first proffer we find of a Cardinals Cap made to any English Prelat since the Reformation was to this Archbishop who thus records the time and manner thereof with his owne hand in his Diary Aug. 4. 1633. Sunday news came to Court of the Lord Archbishop of Canterburies death and the King RESOLVED PRESENTLY to give it me which he did Aug. 6. That very morning at Greenwich there came one to me seriously and THAT AVOWED ABILITY TO PERFORME IT AND OFFERED ME TO BE A CARDINALL I went presently to the King and acquainted him both with the thing and person It is very considerable that Master Anthony Mildmay deposed that Con the Popes Nuncio told him at Rome before Archbishop Abbots death that Bishop Laud should succeed him and that he would be more favourable to the Catholikes then Abbot By which it appeares that Bishop Laud was long before Abbots death designed to the place if not at the solicitation yet at least by the approbation of the Roman party No sooner comes newes to Court of Archbishop Abbots death but the King presently resolves that Bishop Laud should succeed him and no sooner is this known at Court but that very morning as himselfe records he is thus seriously offered to be a Cardinall by one who avowed ability to performe it and that at Greenwich in the Kings own Court. Who it was that made this offer were worth the discovery but this mystery he couceales The Plot against the King discovered to him by Habernfield informes us That Con the Popes Nuncio had a command to offer A CARDINALS CAP TO THE ARCHBISHOP in the name of the Pope of Rome and that he should allure him also with greater promises but this first offer was before Con's arrivall here Were the person an English Subject of what rank soever this proffer of his to to revive this popish dignity of a Cardinall among us and to receive it from the Popes exploded forraigue power which drew Cardinall Woolsey into a Premunire if not under the guilt of high Treason though this honour was procured him not only by King Henry the 8th his assent but solicitation deserved the severest exemplary punishment especially since it tended to engage the Primate and Metropolitan of all England most obliged by his place and office against all Popish power offices superstitious doctrines to submit unto them and become the Popes sworne vassall If the Popes owne Nuncio Panzani which is probable or any other forraigne Agent the affront had been so great both to the Archbishops person place had he been cordial to our Church our Religion being both a Privy Counsellour the Kings grand favorite and he who steard our Churches helm to the honour of our Church Religion of the King himselfe and his Royall Court that it could not patiently be put up or pretermitted without some eminent satisfaction But be the person one or other certaine it is he was never once questioned or molested by the Archbishop for this proffer who took it so well at the parties hands or rejected it so coldly that on the 17. day of the same Moneth he had a second serious offer made to him of the selfe-same dignity most probably by the same person which himselfe thus Registreth in his Diary Aug. 17. 1633. Saturday I had A SERIOUS OFFER MADE ME AGAIN TO BE A CARDINALL I was then from Court but so soon as I came thither which was August 21 I acquainted his Majesty with it But my answer againe was that somewhat dwelt within me which would not suffer that till Rome were other then it is What it was that dwelt within him which made him not absolutely but for the present only to refuse this offer till Rome was other then it is we may learn from Sir Hen. Mildmay's Mr. Anth. Mildmay's Mr. Challoner's depositions forementioned and his owne Reply to Fisher pag. 171. to wit an ambitious Papall spirit he would like his worthy Predecessor Saint Anselme so he stiles him be both in Title and Jurisdiction Papa alterius Orbis Pope of our British world and Vniversall Patriarch of all the Churches within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions which Rome as it then was and the Jesuiticall party there as these witnesses have deposed distiked and would not suffer and for this cause onely he refused this dignity which would have more enthralled him to the Popes and Romes jurisdiction not to their Religion then his ambitious spirit could well brook This double serious proffer of a Romish Cardinalship to the Archbishop is an infallible Argument First that the Pope and his Conclave at Rome had an extraordinary good opinion of his favour his good affection to Popery and their Antichristian Church else they would not have profered him such a dignity incompatible to any Protestant English Prelat Secondly that they deemed him the aptest activest Instrument to reconcile and re-unite us to Rome of all other in respect of his favour at Court power with the King and inclination to Popery as Sir Henry Mildmay Master Anthony Mildmay Master Challoner have attested therefore they would honour him with a Cardinals Hat to the end that as his Predecessor Cardinall Poole Archbishop of Canterbury the last English Cardinall of any of our Prelats reconciled our revolted Kingdom to Rome in Queen Maries dayes as appeareth at large by the Statute of 1. 2. Phil. Mary ch 8. So he invested with the same Papall dignity and fitting in the self-same See might once more as easily reduce us to the bosome of the Roman Church in the dayes of this Queen Mary as Popish as the former as he did then As this Archbishop so Master Walter Mountague not long after had good hopes given him at Rome to be made a Cardinal as the Archbishop himself was informed by Mr. Middleton's forecited Letter which dignity he should have lately received thence had he not been imprisoned if Sir Kenelme Digbies Letter may be credited to help on this work
of our reducement to Rome yea the discovery of Andreas ab Habernfield to the Archbishop informes both him and ns That one of Endimion Porters Sonnes of the Bed-chamber now in armes against the Parliament was promised a Cardinals Hat if this designe succeeded well and that Sir Kenelme Digby Master Walter Mountague and other active Instruments who promoted that designe among us attended the sixteen Cardinals Caps that were vacant which were therefore detained vacant for some yeers to impose a vaine hope on those who expected them And Master Widford in his Letters from Rome to Secretary Windebank Novemb. 10. 1640. informes him that Master Sommerset and Master Brudenell were come to Florence aiming at our English Cardinals Caps which then by reason of the Popes Catarre were like to be disposed of All which particulars are a most cleere demonstration of the Pope and his Conclaves endeavours to reduce us back to Rome and of this Archbishops privity to if not assistance in it The sixth Evidence we shall mention to prove the Archbishops not onely intelligence of but compliance with the Popes and his Instruments Plots and proceedings to usher in Popery and reduce our Kingdomes to the Antichristian Religion and Church of Rome is his conusance and furtherance of this their design in Ireland which we shall thus demonstrate The House of Commons June 11. 1628. presented a Remonstrance to the King concerning the extraordinary encrease and growth of Popery of Papists both in England and Ireland and the extraordinary favour which they found from some great persons in his Court wherein they had this notable clause concerning Ireland IT doth not a little also encrease our dangers and feares this way to understand the miserable condition of your Kingdome of Ireland where without controle the Popish Religion is openly professed and practised in every part thereof Popish jurisdiction being generally exercised and avowed Monasteries Nunneries and other superstitious houses newly erected re-edified replenished with men and women of severall Orders and in a plentifull manner maintained in Dublin and most of the great Townes and divers other places of that Kingdome Which of what ill consequence it may prove if not seasonably repressed we leave to your Majesties wisdome to judge But most heartily beseech you as we assure our selves you doe to lay the serious consideration thereof to your Royall pious heart AND THAT SOME TIMELY COURSE MAY BE TAKEN FOR REDRESSE HEREIN Had this pious prudent timely advice been then harkned to and followed to purpose it might no doubt through Gods concurrence with it have prevented that horrid Rebellion those bloody Massacres of some hundred thousands of poor English Protestants in and devastation of that distressed Kingdom which have broken forth and been perpetrated there of late almost to the utter extirpation of the English and Irish Protestants the ruine of that Kingdome and infinite losse yea eminent danger of this our Realme to boot But this Popish Prelate though he then certainly knew this Remonstrance to be most true out of an inveterate hatred to the Parliament and a desire to promote the Catholikes designes there instead of perswading his Majesty to hearken to this true information and wholesome advice of his faithfull Commons drew up a most pernitious malepert Answer with his owne hand in his Majesties name against this Remonstrance which he presented to his Majesty wherein he incensed him against the Commons charging them not onely with misinforming but traducing his Majesties government by this clause concerning Ireland in this dishonourable language produced and read under his owne hand out of the Originall draught attested by Master Prynne FOR Ireland We think in case of Religion 't is not worse then Queen Elizabeth left it and for other affaires 't is as good as we found it nay perhaps better and We take it a great disparagement of Our government that it should be urged that new Monasteries Nunneries and other superstitious houses are erected and replenished in Dublin and other great Townes in this Our Kingdome for we assure Our Selves Our Deputy and Our Counsell there will not suffer God and Our government so to be dishonoured but We should have had some account of it from them and We may not endure thus to have Our good People misled with shewes Which in plaine tearmes is but a giving the House of Commons the Lye and a slandering of them as false Informers both to the King and people By which wicked practice their Remonstrance was rejected as a slanderous Libell and their Councell not pursued the dolefull effects whereof we now experimentally feele and rue That this Prelate when he made this Answer certainly knew of the grand encrease of the Papists in Ireland and that they had then upon the matter obtained a publike toleration will appeare by a paper found in his Study produced at the Barre thus endorsed with this Archbishops own hand 1626. The Bishops of Ireland about a Toleration feared The Judgement of the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning toleration of the Papish Religion by publike Protestation THE Religion of Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erronious and hereticall their Church in respect of both Apostaticall to give them therefore a toleration of Religion or to consent that they may-freely exercise their Religion and professe their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sinne and that in two respects First it is to make our selves accessary to their superstitious Idolaries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the deluge of the Catholike Apostacy Secondly to grant them a toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the soules of the people whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sinne so it is a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we leave to the wise and judicions beseeching the zealous God of truth to make those who are in authority zealous of Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry There were likely to be granted to the Papists in Ireland many priviledges and withall a toleration for their Religion in the consideration of the payment of a great summe of mony This Easter tearme 1626. there was a great meeting of all the chiefest of the whole Kingdome and the Archbishops and Bishops c. and it was likely to be concluded Doctor Dâ—wanm Bishop of London-Derry April 11. preached at Dublin before the Lord Deputy and the State his Text was Luke 1. at the 79. In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation above written subscribed by the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland and at the end he boldly said And
upon the Lord Keepers and Master of the Wards Rights of presenting to the Kings livings with my preferment of divers Arminians and persons popishly affected to Prebendaries and Benefices of best value as Doctor Heylin Doctor Weekes Doctor Baker Doctor Bray Doctor Heywood and others To this I answer First that I encroached not upon either of their rights True it is there being a difference between the Lord Keeper Coventry and the Lord Cottington Master of the Court of Wards about the presentation towards livings in the Kings gift I took occasion thereupon to informe his Majesty that till the controversie were decided between them he might doe well to dispose of these livings himselfe for the encouragement and reward of such young Schollers that went to Sea as Chaplaines in his Ships who had nothing to live on after their returne from Sea till they went forth againe which motion the King approving of very well committed the disposing of these livings accordingly to my charge without my desire or suit Secondly I disposed of livings to divers good and orthodox men as to Doctor Jackson of Canterbury and others as well as to the persons objected who were not all preferred by me for Doctor Heylin was promoted to his livings by the Earle of Danby Doctor Baker and Doctor Weekes were preferred by the Bishop of London To which was replyed First that most of the living belonging to the Lord Keeper and Master of the Wards were bestowed by him of which both of them oft complained therefore he encroached upon both which none of his Predecessors did For those belonging to the Mastership of the Wards he confesseth he disposed of them by the Kings appointment but that it was upon the pretended occasion without his seeking or desire though occasioned onely his motion we know not how to credit his bare word without better evidence who hath had the impudency to deny his owne hand-writing very often since his Tryal and afterwards been enforced to confesse it Secondly his collation of Livings upon orthodox good men are so few that he names but one Doctor Jackson of Canterbury and that when he had so farre prevailed upon his weaknesse by a new Cathedrall Statute and Oath as to induce him to Bow to the Altar c. as frequently as other Prebends which he hath deposed to his great shame and re-greet since this one Swallow therefore will prove no Spring no proofe of his ordinary preferring orthodox godly men to livings which he commonly bestowed on the most rotten Arminians and popish Clergy-men he could cull out Thirdly the Docquet Booke is expresse that Doctor Heylin was promoted to his livings and Prebendary by himselfe not by the Earle that Doctor Baker and Weekes too were preferred by him not by the Bishop of London and Weekes being his owne Chaplaine and Baker made a Prebend of Canterbury where no man durst interpose but he no doubt they were both preferred by him as the DOCQUET witnesseth on Record against his impudent Deniall without other proofe or truth The fixt Objection is that I usurped to me the conferring of most Bishopricks and Ecclesiasticall preferments in Ireland I answer first that I preferred none there but at the request of the Primate of Armagh and others of that Kingdome who first recommended them to me by their Letters Secondly that I was a meanes at their request to recover the Patrimony of the Churches in that Kingdome which had been long defrauded of it to restore Impropriations and increase the Revenues of Bishopricks and Church-livings there for the encouragement of Learning and better maintenance of Preaching in which regard they were desirous I should be acquainted with the persons they thought meet to have recommended to them This appears by the substance of most of the Letters that passed between the Lord Primate and other Bishops of Ireland and me To which was replied First that we instanced in his bestowing Bishopricks Deaneries and other Church-preferments in Ireland onely to demonstrate the Papall usurpation and Patriarchicall Jurisdiction he there encroached even whiles he was Bishop of London and to evidence his power in disposing of all Ecclesiastical preferments then at home since he disposed of these in Ireland where he had no Episcopall or Archiepiscopall Jurisdiction Secondly that most of those he there preferred were never recommended from thence though some of them perchance were Thirdly that although the recovery of the usurped depopulated Patrimony of that Church in Ireland was a commendable worke if done in a Legall way yet to recover it per fas nefas as he did it by the meere arbitrary power of the Lord Deputy Councell Table there by oppressing ruining dispossessing men of what they had lawfully purchased against their wils without any consideration or legall proceeding was a most unjust and wicked act Fourthly justly to recover and get in Impropriations to maintaine Preaching was a very good worke had this beene his end but certainly this was but a meere pretence for would he thinke you set up sincere Preaching in Ireland who suppressed it all he could in England Would he who subverted the Feoffees for purchasing in Impropriations to the Church to support Preaching and Preaching Ministers in England recover and get in Impropriations to the Church in Ireland to support Preaching and Preaching Ministers there No verily He did it onely to maintain the Pompe Power Pride State of the Prelates and Clergy there as he did in England not to maintain or set up godly Preaching Ministers which he both here and there suppressed all he could The fourteenth thing objected against me is my prosecution and severe proceedings against godly Ministers for Preaching against Arminianisme Popery and its dangerous increase among us as namely against Master Samuel Ward Master Chauncy and Master Bernard To this I answer first that these persons Censures were the Act of the whole High-Commission which is but one body aggregate for whose Act no one particular man is liable to be questioned but the whole Court not mine alone as an Act of Parliament is the Act of both Houses not of any particular Member who gave my voyce alwayes last or last but one and so could not sway the Court with my opinion not knowne to the Court till I delivered it after all had declared theirs Secondly that the Act of Parliament which lately abolished the Star-chamber and High-Commission hath no retrospect to nullifie the Sentences given in them but admits them good and valid in Law not subjecting the Judges who gave them to any punishment Thirdly their Sentences appeared to me to be just upon just grounds and admit the Sentences or Proceedings unjust yet it is but a misdemenour in others of the Commissioners that gave them therefore no Treason in me Fourthly the Passages and Sermons for which they were Sentenced were partly Schismaticall against the laudable Ceremonies of the Church and the Kings Declaration partly Seditious
he purged it out because it intimated the Pope to be Antichrist and subjection to him an Antichristian Yoke of bondage both which compared with his Purgations out of Bishop Hals Book of Episcopacy to the same effect proves him a Papist with a witnesse and a speciall friend to the Popes Holinesse of whose honour among us he is extraordinary tender That the Pope is the Antichrist all Forraign Domestick Protestant Divines and some Papists too unanimously agree except Mountague and Shelford his creatures And whereas he pretends no Councill hath so determined We answer that the Synod of Gape in France Anno 1603. the whole Synod and Convocation in Ireland Ann. 1615. in the very Articles of their Religion Num. 80. with the whole Convocation and Parliament of England in the Act for the Subsidy of the Clergy 30 Jacobi to omit others define the Pope to be the Antichrist and Popery Antichristian more fully then those Letters-Patents and why these new Letters-Patents should not determine them to be such as well as the old ones both in King James and in King Charles their Reignes but must now be revoked after they had passed the great Seale of England because this Archbishop would have it so transcends any mans capacity to guesse at any other probable reason except onely this Prelats affection both to the Pope and Popery or enmity against the reformed Churches and their Religion For his incivilities to Master Ruly by reason of this clause our Witnesses testimoniall will outsway his bare deniall of them Fiftly the premises abundantly manifest to all that the Archbishop invaded diminished the ancient Immunities and Priviledges of the Dutch and Walloon Churches in all parts not their pretended encroachments onely upon our Churches Priviledges and that he was so farre from being their friend that they esteemed him then their greatest enemy If they formerly returned him any thanks by way of Court-complement for not taking away all their priviledges as well as some of them after many yeers hot contest we are certaine they justly complained of him ten times more for invading depriving them of sundry of their ancient Immunities which almost brought their Churches to utter ruine In few words his owne forecited Papers and Monsieur Bulteels Booke of the manifold troubles of those Churches by this Arch-Prelats prosecution will abundantly falsifie this his pretended friendship towards them and remaine as a lasting Record against him to Posterity All which considered the whole Bulk and every particle of all the proofs and evidences produced by us to make good the first branch of the Commons first generall Charge of High-treason against him remaine altogether unshaken unavoyded maugre all his sophisticall evasions protestations and shifting answers to them And so much for the first branch of his first generall Charge The Archbishops Defence and Answers to the COMMONS Evidence in the maintenance of the Second Branch of their first Generall Charge touching his Endevours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome and the Commons Reply thereunto I Proceed now to the Archbishops Defence against the Second Branch of the Commons first Generall Charge to wit his Endevours to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome To this he gave some general Answers in his Generall Defence at the Lords Barre Septemb. 2. 1644. to this effect My Lords said he I am charged for endevouring to introduce Popery and reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome I shall recite the sum of the Evidence and Arguments given in for to prove it First I have in my first Speech nominated divers persons of Eminency whom I reduced from Popery to our Church And if this be so then the Argument against me is this I converted many from Popery Ergo I went about to bring in Popery and to reconcile the Church of England to the Church of Rome Secondly I am charged to be the Author of the c. Oath in the New Canons parcell of which Oath is to abjure Popery and that I will not subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome A more strict Oath then ever was made against Popery in any age or Church And then the argument against me is this I made and tooke an Oath to abjure Popery and not to subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome Therefore I was inclinable to Popery and endeavoured to subject the Church of England to the Church of Rome Thirdly the third Canon of the late New ones was made by me which is against Popery and then the Argument is I made a Canon against Popery Ergo I was inclinable to and endevoured to introduce it Fourthly I was twice seriously offered a Cardinalship and I refused it because I would not be subject to the Pope and Church of Rome Ergo I was addicted to Popery and endevoured to reduce the Church of England into subjection to the Church of Rome Fiftly I writ a Booke against Popery in Answer to Fisher the Jesuit and then the Argument is this I writ a Book against Popery Ergo I am inclinable to Popery and laboured to introduce it Sixtly it is alledged I concealed and cherished the Plot of the Jesuits discovered by Habernfeild and therefore I intended to bring in Popery and reduce the Church of England to the Church of Rome I amswer either this Plot was not reall and if so then Romes Masterpeece is quite blowne up and published in vaine Or else it was reall then I was really in danger of my life for opposing Popery and this Plot. Then the Argument from it must be this I was in danger of my life for cherishing the Jesuites Plot of reducing the Church of England to the Church of Rome Ergo I cherished and endevoured to effect this Plot. Seventhly I laboured to make a reconciliation between the Lutherans and Calvinists Ergo I laboured to introduce Popery and make a reconciliation between the Church of England and the Church of Rome This generall defence and scoffing answer of his at the Lords Barre seemed very specious to some ignorant Auditors who took these feined objections of his owne forging to be the arguments and maine strength of the Commons Evidence produced to convict him of a serious endeavour to subvert the Protestant Religion introduce popery and reconcile the Church of England unto Rome when as the Commons made no such objections from the Evidence and proofs against him Wherupon they replyed that he did but fight with his owne shadow and absurd arguments of his owne framing as he did in his Sear-chamber Speech instead of repeating and answering their reall Objections and proofs against him transforming his owne defence into their Charge and Evidence a meer sophisticall Jesuiticall practice of which he made use throughout his Tryall to which we shall reply in order First the Commons never objected that ever he reduced any from popery but that many were seduced
to and hardened in it by his meanes Their Objection being He was a meanes of seducing many to and obdurating thousands in popery by his introducing popish Doctrines Innovations Ceremonies c. Ergo he went about to bring in popery and reduce us back to Rome That he reduced any from popery is but his owne bare allegation in his first Speech and generall Defence without any proofe at all but his owne bare word which the Commons denied himselfe confessing that some of the eminentest of them presently relapsed after their conversion and lived and dyed Papists See then the falshood and fallacy of this mis-repeating Sophister in the very first entrance and principall argument of his generall Defence Secondly to his second and third arguments we retort That the Commons never gave in evidence against his making or imposing the c. Oath or third new Canon to prove him guilty of introducing popery or endeavoring to reconcile us to Rome but to two other different purposes which he wholly pretermits therefore his two arguments from them as the Commons own are meer forgeries impostures of his owne As for the c. Oath it hath no such clause in it as is pretended indeed it hath this clause That I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is established which is but a meere pretence and policy all or most popish Doctrins and Ceremonies being introduced licensed established among us when this Oath was made as the premises evidence and no Doctrine being then esteemed Popish but what the Archbishop pleased though truly such As for the third Canon it enjoynes onely private conference with popish Recusants and presentments excommunications of such of them who are obstinate and if they conforme not then that their names shall be presented to the Judges of the Assiâ—e which is no more then other Canons formerly enjoyned to no purpose or 〈◊〉 at all and was but a meer State-policy to stay the present elamours of the people and Scots against the Prelats for their connivance at popery and confederacy with Papists against those they stiled Puritans and a thing not really intended but pretended onely Thirdly his fourth fift and fixt arguments are of the same nature meer Chimeraes of his owne forging which he would father on the Commons who pressed these particulars against him in a far other manner to which he gives no answer His refusing of a Cardinals Cap was onely because he desired to be an absolute independent Patriarch and Pope within the Kings Dominions His Book against Fisher was published in his owne name upon entreaty of others onely to blind the world and stop the clamours against him in making them beleeve thereby he was no friend to Papists or popery when as we have proved the contrary out of that and other of his books To that of Habernfield we shall answer in due season some deeming it onely a forgery or plot of his owne devising to justifie himselfe others a reall truth Fourthly his seventh argument is a most wilfull perversion of the Commons charge who expresly impeach him for endeavouring to cause division and discord between our owne and other reformed Churches that so Papists might have the more advantage which we have abundantly proved And he makes the charge to be that he endeavoured a reconciliatiou between the Lutherans and Calvinists of which good act he was never guilty in the least degree for ought he makes appeare but of the quite contrary Ergo to reconcile the Church of ENGLAND to the Church of ROME By which strange prevarication and Jesuiticall sophistry the world may cleerly discerne the sophistry fallacy and apparent Legerdemaine of this his generall Defence and impertinency of his Answers encountring onely his owne ridiculous fictions not the Commons reall Objections Having recited these his generall Answers we shall pursue him to his particular evasions to the evidence and proofes produced to make good the second Branch of his first generall Charge wherein he thus proceeded The first thing objected against me is That I have ever been generally reputed a Papist or person popishly affected both in the University of Oxford whiles resident there and ever since as likewise in Rome and in other forraigne parts for proofe whereof the testimonies of Doctor Featly Sir Nathaniel Brent Doctor Abbots Sermon Doctor Hals Letter Francis Harris his Deposition with the testimonies of Sir Henry Mildmay Master Anthony Mildmay and Master Thomas Challoner have been produced To this I answer First that all these are but hear-sayes or reports and no convincing Evidence that I was really a Papist or inclined unto popery Doctor Featlies testimony is but a report from one who said he was my Pupill and that at Paris many yeers since in forraigne parts Sir Nathaniel Brents testimony is but a report from Master Dale of a thing long since that my supposition was taken out of Bellarmine which I deny His further testimony is onely this That Browne with whom I kept company was but a reputed not an actuall Papist during his life and what he subjoynes that he was found to be such a one after his death is very consecturall for it appeares not that the Book objected was of his owne penning though it were his hand-writing for it might be a transcript That I petitioned to King James that I was traduced to be a Papist is true and I had good reason so to doe when I was thus traduced and upon my Petition the businesse was referred to the examination of divers worthy persons and I cleered upon full hearing by the King For Doctor Abbots Sermon I complained of it as I had cause as being traduced by it he was knowne to be my enemy and to doe me wrong herein therefore his words are not to be valued in this case nor Doctor Hals Letter to W. L. which might be to some other as well as to me who am not nominated therein For Francis Harris his testimony I never knew nor saw the man to my knowledge and it is but a hearsay from one Ireland many yeers since and that beyondthe Sea for Ireland himselfe I onely knew but had nofamiliar acquaintance with him Secondly for Sir Henry Mildmayes testimony it is onely a bare rumour and report from some persons at Rome unknowne both to me and him purposely raised by the Papists to blast or wound my reputation and what he now attested is quite contrary to that himselfe informed me at my Table at Lambeth immediatly after his returne from Rome as I am ready to depose upon my corporall Oath if I may be permitted His Brother Master Anthony Mildmay his testimony is but an incertaine report from I know not whom at Rome that I was somewhat more favourable to their Religion then my Predecessors and what he heard from Father Fitton is but his report and a false one too of purpose to slander
Pope corrupt Ordinances Sacraments and a meere Idolatrous supersticious wil-worship Thirdly no true Ministry nor government of Christs institution Fourthly she yeelds no true Subjection nor Obedience to Christ his laws word spirit but opposeth him and them in all Fiftly she is over-spread with a Leprosie of damnable Errours in Doctrine corruptions in Faith Manners Ordinances Government Sixtly the definition of a true visible Church in our Homilies and Writers agrees not to her Seventhly our Homilies Writers define her to be a false Church not a true who are all mustered up together by Master Burton in his Babell no Bethell where she is largely proved to be no true Church For his distinction that she is a true Church Veritate Entis though not Moris as a Thiefe is a true man it is a meere childish evasion For it is not the meere entity and being of a company of men that makes up a Church or true Church for if so the Turks Pagans or any assembly else should be a true Church as well as the Protestants but a company of men rightly qualified to wit professing the true Christian Faith among whom the Word of God is truly Preached and the Sacraments duly administed To set then the distinction and comparison right If one should demand of the Archbishop Whether a Theefe be a true man or no as this phrase true man in our ordinary language signifies an honest just-dealing man with reference to his qualities morals not his Entity or being as a meer man himself grants that he is no true man but a false one in this sense in this very distinction and to answer that he is a true man in regard of his essence therefore a true man in respect of his Morals were a meer impertinency Nonsequitur By the selfe-same reason when we demand of him Whether the Church of Rome be a true Church and he answers She is so Veritate entis for she consists of a company of persons or reall men not veritate moris for that they are not so truly qualified in those Morals or rather supernaturall principles which makes them to be a true Church Himselfe must needs grant that his distinction is fallacious in applying this veritas entis to them as they are a Church not men or else yeeld that they are a false but no true Church because his not veritate Moris can be applyed to nothing else but to such morall and divine qualifications as should make them a true Church so as his owne distinction directly subverts this his false conclusion of her being a true Church and his charging her with grosse Corruptions Errors Superstitions to the endangering of salvation doth the like Secondly it was retorted that his distinction of her erring onely circa fundamentalia not in Fundamentalibus was a falshood For first her affirming the Church to be built upon Peter and the Pope not Christ the chiefe corner-stone Her denying the Scriptures to be Scriptures but as they are grounded on confirmed and expounded by the Authority of the Church and Pope Her making Apochryphall Scriptures Canonicall and so adding to the Scriptures Her giving the Pope power to null and dispence with things against the Scriptures Her resolving the foundation of all our Faith into the Church To beleeve as the Church beleeves not into the Scriptures themselves Her deifying of the Virgin Mary Saints Images in praying to and adoring them with divine worship Her joyning of Saints Merits and Mediations with Christs and making them joynt Saviours Mediators Advocates with him Her turning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper into a Propitiatory Massing Sacrifice of as great or greater Merit as Christs own Sacrifice on the crosse adoring the consecrated Bread as their Lord God and Christ himselfe Her taking away the Sacramentall Cup from the Laity point-blanke against Christs owne Institution Her giving Christ an ubiquitary body on earth instead of a glorified body in heaven her tying people to pray to God in an unknown tongue with her creating a new head of the Church in Christs stead the Pope who hath the Keyes of Heaven Hell and Purgatory too and can pardon sins release Soules out of Hell and Purgatory at his pleasure with her abolishing the second Commandement out of the Decalogue What are they all but Fundamentall Errors nullifying that Church which maintaines them and not Errors onely about the foundation For his foure instances that circumstances may undermine and destroy the Foundation We answer First that neither of all these instances concerne the Papists or Church of Rome the subject in question therefore altogether impertinent Secondly they are not meer circumstantials but fundamentals because directly contrary to the expresse words of Scripture and Articles of our Faith of which they are unseparable parts which if false in any part may and will be false in the whole and no ground of Faith at all For the rule of the Schools we agree it but how he applyes it to his distinction or the Church of Rome we cannot yet discerne Thirdly it was replyed That the Religion of the Church of Rome and England is not one and the same For that which they repute the maine part of their Religion is no Christian Religion at all nor part of the Christian Religion but meere Antichristian Errour Superstition corruption Idolatry And in his Booke he doth no more charge her with some grosse corruptions endangering Salvation then she chargeth us as the perusall of his words demonstrates Fourthly his justifying salvation to be had in this false Antichristian Church and Religion denying the foundation is contrary to the opinion of all Otthodox Protestants who make her damnable Errours the ground of their separation from her And though some affirme that divers in the Church of Rome are saved yet none are saved by being of that Church or by that Faith and Doctrine which she properly cals her Faith and Religion wherein she differs from us but by their relying onely on Christs merits which she disclaimes Fiftly his deleting all phrases clauses calling or intimating the Pope to be the Antichrist is a cleer evidence that he holds him not to be so Else his sinne fault will prove the greater in purging out that as Heterodox and scandalous which himselfe beleeves to be a truth For our Statutes Homilies Writers they define the Pope either in direct termes or equivalent expressions to be Antichrist and our Church yea State in them at leastwise in our forecited Statutes and the Subsidy Act 3. Jac. penned by the Convocation As for the Articles of Ireland though they bind us not yet being taken out of the Articles and Homilies of England they sufficiently declare the resolution of our Church as well as theirs that the Pope is Antichrist and Doctor Vsher Primate of Armagh in a Letter of his to the Archbishop himselfe Jan. 4. 1635. the very day of his birth writes That this conceit is so rife in the minds and mouths of the Papists
a halfe the motives the same that first moved us at the first to leave Rome I answered him it could not be resolve I did that I might the more deeply dive into the sincerity of his intentions as strongly as my poore ability would suffer me to plead for Rome because she had reformed Missals Monasteries sundry Corruptions in conferring of Orders and Benefices that all had not received the Councell of Trent that of those who had some did mitigate harder expressions and were upon courses of Conciliation of both harts as appeared by a Booke of Franc. â Sancta Clara c. I fell then to question him Whether and when he had been at Rome He told me in June and July last I askt him how the affaires went there He told me their opinion of us was that his Majesty was favourable to the Catholikes that some great ones about him were so too or in heart were ONE HE NAMED concerning whom as at home so abroad as of old of the best of men there was much murmuring among the people for some said he was a good man others said nay he deceiveth the people Now if some might interpose their judgements they would pronounce a good man he is because he deceiveth both here and there but both to their own good Concerning the Fryars he told me some were very good but most otherwise and that in excesse especially for Sinnes of uncleannesse which generally raigne in Italy Three severall times I had discourse with him in the last of which falling into discourse of Fran. â Sancta Clara he told me he was HOMO NEQUISSIMUS by whose meanes yeerly there was sent to the Catholikes in Flanders ten thousand pounds The Author of that Booke which goes under his name was Father Giles PADRE AEGIDIO who lives at the Venetian Ambassadours c. Since I came to Venice I have procured the acquaintance of Padre Fulgentio who is Teologo de Stato called by the Colledge to Counsell when there is any businesse between them and the Pope c. I sent to him Fran. â Sancta Clara after discoursing with him he told me it was impossible to concile Trent and England and yet men sooner then Articles He likt his intention in the generall his judgement and temper in most of the Problems before he came to the Articles There is as I am informed by a discreet Gentleman at Florence a Jesuit lately returned from England to Rome who pretends to have made a strict discovery of the state of England as it stands for Religion how King is disposed how Queene what Lords are of the Puritan faction what not but by name his Honour of Dorset and Pembroke are strong for Precisians He sayes That the Puritanes are shrewd fellowes but those that are counted good Protestants are faire conditioned honest men and think they may be saved in any Religion I am promished the the Relation written if it come to my hands and there be any thing in it worthy your Graces view I shall hereafter humbly present it to you as now my selfe Your Graces most humble and most obedient servant WILL. MIDLETON The second Letter is dated December 21. 1635. in which there are these observable clauses Right Honourable and most Reverend c. WHen I was in France I fell acquainted with one Father Talbot a Jesuit with whom I had many discourses but among others this about the Book of Franciscus â Sancta Clara. I askt his judgement of it and the rest of the Catholiks He answered it relisht not with them I fell presently into a comendation partly of the book but more of the intention of him who writ it He seconded what I said but withall told me there was a certaine Consultation held what they should doe with it some exrema suadebant and cried ad ignem but himselfe talking with the Popes Nuncio at Paris thought the best course was to let it dye of it selfe to which the Nuncio a very moderate man so he told him was very inclinable From which I did gather that though they did pretend a dislike the Booke was not disallowed by them above which collection of mine then is now confirmed for this very day I received a Letter dated from Rome Decemb. 11. and it is in these words Father Francis his book upon the exposition of the Articles contrary to what I have told you is licensed here in Rome and I have it Sent it was from one Master House lodging in the house of one Master Pitton a kind of Agent from the English Priests In Rome there is great talk of an English Cardinall and the man who is already Roman Catholike must be the man Master Mountague Your Lordship I know will smile if not at this yet at that I shall now write A Catholike discoursing with me let a word fall and this it was That within this twelve moneth the Pope did wish that his Sacred Majesty of England were as once his trusty Sonne for then he would not be so used as he is either by French or Spaniard The same party did not ask the question but onely thus I wonder whether my Lord of Canterbury have any hand in sending S. Major Bret to Rome I answered because I saw he was fishing Surely no because as you know it is written he comes from the Queen and in her name ROME IS VERY KIND TO OUR ENGLISH GENTLEMEN I humbly entreat your Graces pardon if in a desire to let nothing I hear scape your knowledge I most lowly offer unto you such things as will make you lose so much time as you shall read the Letter But though your Lordship lose a little time yet not me I beseech you lose that good opinion which I hope you have conceived of Your Graces most really devoted and obedient servant WILL. MIDLETON December 21. 1635. By these Letters it is most apparent that Saint Giles was the Author of Sancta Clara's book that though the Jesuits seemed to dislike it yet it was at last authorized and printed at Rome where they had a good opinion not onely of the Kings favour to the Roman Catholikes but of the Archbishops inclination to their party their Religion and conceived he had a hand in sending Major Bret to Rome to negotiate with the Popes c. This last Letter is thus endorsed with Mr. Dels hand Recep Jan. 10. 1635. from Venice from Master Midleton The allowance of Saint Clara his Book at Rome to which the Archbishop himselfe addes with his owne hand This is not so therefore it seems he had better intelligence here from Rome then Master Midleton had at Venice The English Cardinall The English Agent How farre this Book was approved countenanced here in England by the King and Archbishop will appeare by these Instructions under Secretary Windebankes owne hand to his Sonne when he was at Paris to solicite the Palsgraves enlargement found among his sequestred papers and attested by
the hearing And whereas he pretends he was not present at his censure which he proves not we know he was vertually if not personally present thereat yea his unjust suppression of his tendred Answer and defence was the onely cause of his censure which if received were so learned solid satisfactory that prophanenesse and injustice it selfe could not have imposed such a censure on him Thirdly annuall Feasts of Dedication of Churches are not so ancient but that we know their Originall The Feast of Dedication of the Altar instituted by Judas Maccabeus was the first of this kind we read of Indeed Solomon kept a Feast for seven dayes space when the Temple was dedicated And Constantine the great with some others in his dayes when Churches were dedicated made a great Feast but that those Feasts continued annuall in perpetuity I find no mention in any approved Antiquity These annuall Feasts of dedication were first invented by the spurious popish Decrees of Pope Felix and Gregory thus recorded by Gratian Solennitates dedicationum Ecclesiarum Epissoporum Saterdotum per singulos annos sunt celebrandae Solennitates Ecclesiarum dedicationum Sacerdotum per singulos annos solenniter sunt celebrandae ipso Domino exemplum dante qui ad festum dedicationis Templi omnibus id faciendi dans formam cum reliquis populis eandem festevitatem celebraturus venit sicut scriptum est Facta sunt Encoenia in Hieru olymis hyems erat ambulabat Jesus in Temple in porticu Solomonis Quod autem octo diebus encaenia sint celebrando in libro Regum perfecta dedicatione Templi cernas Other Decrees then these of these two Popes the latter whereof is built upon cleer mistakes of Scripture cannot be produced These Bacanalian feasts are thus censured by Aretius Problem 126. Hodie verò Solennitates instituuntur tote die bibitur tote die luditur saltatur lascivi cantus audiuntur quae omnia magis spirant Bacchi quoddam festum à Maenadibus celebrandum quam piam Christianismi antiquitatem And were wholly abolished among us by the Injunctions of King Henry the eighth and Statute of 6 Edw. 6. c. 3. by reason of the idlenesse excesse and great mischiefes they produced to mens soules Yea many Judges riding the Westerne Circuit suppressed the Wakes and Revels kept upon them from time to time for these abuses and other weighty Reasons Yet this prophane Arch-prelate revives re-establisheth them by this DECLARATION causeth those Judges Orders to be reversed with a strong Hand by a Plot and Certificate from Bishop Pierce and others checks nay punisheth Chiefe Justice Richardson removes him from that Circuit and le ts loose the Reines to all Licentiousnesse prophanenesse whereby infinite mischiefs ensued as we have fully proved So that this whole Charge sticks still upon him Ninthly from these ceremoniall and practicall they proceed to doctrinall innovations in matters of Religion wherein I am charged First with an endeavour to introduce and propagate Arminianisme in our Church the rediest inlet to Popery and a part thereof though I knew it to be a plot of the Jesuits to subvert our Religion as appears by the Jesuits Letter and that principally First in being a common Patriot of Arminians together with their Books Tenets and a preferrer of such by name of Bishop Mountague and his Appeale complained of in Parliament Doctor Jackson and others for which I was taxed by a Declaration of the Commons in Parliament Secondly in censuring the Commons Declaration in Parliament against the Arminians and their Vote too Thirdly in calling in and suppressing Books against Arminianisme though licensed and questioning censuring the Authors Printers dispersers of them in the high Commission as Bishop Carltons and Bishop Downames Books Doctor Featlies Doctor Goads Master Rouses Doctor Sutcliffes Master Prynnes Master Burtons Books and others when as the Arminian Authors went unquestioned and their Books printed by authority as Doctor Jacksons Book and the Historicall Narration licensed by my owne Chaplaine Doctor Martin Fourthly In abusing his Majesties Proclamation his Declaration before the 39. Articles of our Church with the subsequent Instructions prohibiting controversies against the Article especially in the controverted points of Arminianisme to suppresse all preaching against Arminian errours and punish such as durst oppose them by silencing suspending censuring them in the high Commission or elswhere and conniving at the Arminians to vent and preach their errours freely under pretext thereof without restraint or opposition both in the University and City Fiftly for purging passages against Arminianisme and Arminians out of Books tendred to the Presse and particularly out of Bishop Hals and Bishop Davenants Letters with some other incident particulars which fall under these heads Sixtly in repealing the Articles of Ireland against Arminianisme which King James declaimed against as damnable heresie To this I answer in generall that I never endeavoured to introduce Arminianisme into our Church nor ever maintained any Arminian opinions For the Jesuits Letter it is nothing at all to me it layes nothing to my charge in particular and it was lawfull for me to read and keep it it containes many strange vile things in it against the Parliament which I approve not but detest To the particulars I answer First that I did neither protect nor countenance the Arminians persons books or tenets for Bishop Mountague I had no hand in his Book I countenanced it not it was suppressed and called in by Proclamation he was preferred by Sir Dudly Carltons meanes not mine who was then a stranger to me True is is I was in a Declaration of the Commons house taxed as a favourer advancer of Arminians and their opinions without any particular proofe at all which was a great slander to me Secondly I answer that being publickly traduced in that Declaration I did returne an answer to vindicate my owne innocency as was necessary for me to doe to free my selfe from that scandall without any derogation to the Parliaments authority Neither did I this till I was expresly commanded by the King himselfe as appeares by the endorsment whose command it was lawfull yea necessary for me to obey and I durst not have done it without such his Royall command After which I penned it with all due respect to the Parliament and it was never published For my answer to the Parliaments Vote it was onely a private paper kept in my Study and communicated to none written for my owne private satisfaction and derogating noting from the power of Parliaments it belonging properly to the Convocation and Church of England by the Lawes and Statutes of the Land to make Canons and settle controversies in Religion as the Statute of 25. Hen. 8. c. 19. 1. Eliz. c. 1. evidence Thirdly the calling in and suppressing of these Books and prosecuting the Authors Printers of them in the High Commission was the Courts act not mine For Bishop Carltons Book it was called
in by the High Commission and attested onely by Master Sparke a single Witnesse Bishop Downhams Book was called in by the Kings speciall command both in England and Ireland because published contrary to the his Royall Proclamation and Declaration For Master Prynnes Perpetuity I doe not know that it was burnt in private if it were it was by the censure of the Court there being some things in it liable to just exceptions Doctor Sutcliffes Book is not proved to be called in by me For Master Prynne Master Burton and those that printed their Books they were not censured in the High Commission but dismissed thence without censure For Doctor Jackson he was a learned discreet man I licensed not his Book nor doe I know he professed himselfe an Arminian True it is the Historicall Narration was licensed by my Chaplaine Doctor Martin without my privity for which I turned him out of my service and the Book it selfe was called in and suppressed Fourthly the Kings Proclamation and Declaration before the Articles were his owne not mine both published to settle peace in the Church by silencing those controversies which disturbed it by printing or preaching which unquiet spirits would not submit to and the Authors of the Books forementioned among others with some other Preachers about the City and University for which they were justly questioned suspended and some that broached Arminian Tenets in Oxford were brought in question and ordered to recant as well as those that preached against it The censure of Master Ford and his complices in Oxford was by the King and Counsell upon a solemne hearing at Woodstock not by me and they well deserved it for kindling such a fire in the University as was like to set all in combustion For the University of Cambridge I medled not with it The considerations was not my paper but Bishop Harsnets who drew them and I did but transcribe them and the end of them was not to supresse preaching against Arminianisme but to preserve peace and order in the Church For the Instructions they were the Kings not mine and they were sent to me in a Letter by my Predecessor Archbishop Abbot and brought to me by his Secretary Master Baker with command to see them put in execution within my Diocesse of London to prove which I have produced the testimony of Master Dobson who affirmed it to be true Fiftly for the purging some passages out of Bishop Hals and Bishop Davenants Letter and imprisoning Master Butter for printing them I answer that the same was done by my Chaplaine as being contrary to his Majesties Proclamation and Declaration and Bishop Hall himselfe at last consented to it and was well satisfied upon the reason given him by my Chaplaine that it was for the quiet of the Church and therefore for the Printer of his owne head to put it in deserved exemplary punishment Sixtly there is no proofe that the Articles of Irreland were reversed by my procurement it was done by the Convocation there where I was not present To this was replied in generall That his endeavours to introduce Arminianisme were so fully cleered by the premised evidence and his protection both of the Authors and fomenters of it that impudency it selfe would blush to deny it That the Jesuits Letter which he had in his custody endorsed with his owne hand did fully discover to him that the planting and introducing Arminianisme here in England was their Plot and chief Engine to subvert our Religion And though it makes no particular mention of him yet it informes their Superiour and others that the Arminians had locked up the Dukes eares already a Periphrasis of himselfe the Dukes Earwig as he was then stiled who had his eare more then any His compliance therefore with the Arminians notwithstanding they were but the Jesuits instruments to drive on their designes as he certainly knew by this Letter much agravates his crime and makes exceedingly against him True it is there are some strange passages concerning Parliaments in this Letter but himselfe hath as bad or worse in his Diary and Answer to the Remonstrance of the Commons Anno 1628. therefore certainly he disliked not these in this Letter Particularly this replication was retorted to these his answers First that he was a professed patriot of the Arminians persons Books Tenens and particularly of Bishop Mountagues of whose cause he was most anxious and inquisitive whom he acquainted with his Majesties speciall favour to him while he lay under the cloud of the Parliaments displeasure his receiving all informations or speeches against his Erronious booke whose proceedings in Parliament when there questioned were daily represented to and reserved carefully by him whose ill book and opinions were in sundry conferences particularly justified by him whose preferments proceeded originally from him and with whom he held most intimate correspondency till his death as the forecited passages in his owne Diary and alleaged evidence proves most fully For his advancement by Sir Dully Carltons meanes it is but a bare surmise contrary to the Dockquet Book to excuse himselfe The Proclamation for calling in his book proceeded from the Parliaments prosecution of him not from this Bishops care who ordered it so that it proved the chiefe instrument of promoting Arminianisme by hindring all writing and preaching against it what in him lay he informing the world in the very Proclamation it selfe that the Author was punished onely with a good Bishoprick for writing this Book highly advanced maugre three severall Parliaments complaints and opposition In briefe the Commons Remonstrance is a sufficient evidence of his guilt and no slander at all as he slanderously tearmes it being verified by so many proofs Secondly his answer to the Remonstrance of the Commons is full of bitternesse sawcinesse scandals against the Parliament charging them with untruths in the highest degree onely for speaking that which was most true That he was commanded to returne this answer to it by the King himselfe without any suit of his owne is very improbable and rests on him to prove which he hath not done However he proves not that he did exceed his Commission And whereas he alleageth by way of excuse that his answer to it was never published truly this was his griefe as appeares by his owne endorsment of it and no act of his who desired to have it printed then Whereas he pretends he durst not have answered it had not the King commanded him certainly he that durst controll the Kings owne Letters Patents under his Seale as he did in the case of the collection for the Palatinate and sundry other particulars given in evidence against him revoke the Kings own pardons and prohibitions to the high Commission saying they should not serve the turn yea deprive the King of his Soveraignty that he should not relieve nor pardon any man censured in the high Commission though never so unjustly that hath presumed so frequently to break off Parliaments yea to