by the name of Quadragesima but wherefore I confesse I know not Secondly I doe refer to your wisedomes whether it were not fit for some mitigation of the vsuall strictnesse thereof and that some libertie might be granted for the eating of Foules as some were wont to eat of Water Foules and of Conies and some greater meats the eating whereof might not be preiudiciall to the State of the Common-wealth Because some not well able to purchase Licence to eat Flesh are of weake bodies not able to feed of Fish neither is Fish wholesome for them Neither would this hinder the preseruation of Calues and Lambes but rather further the same because there being more libertie of other things men would be the better content to forbeare them Thirdly euen touching this thing also were it not better for some libertie to be giuen to some poore men that cannot well bring vp their Calues or keepe them long especially hauing but two or three or foure and them that haue many to be more strictly tied to the bringing vp of a certaine number euerie yeere If it be obiected that the former strict obsernation of Lent is necessarie for the better maintenance of the Nauie to omit other answers that many of your Honourable Court can make to this obiection may it please you to consider whether for helpe hereof the obstinate Papists being suffered still to liue though their life may be our death and mercie shewed to them may be crueltie to the whole Land then forasmuch as they attribute such holinesse to Fish as not hauing perished in the Flood it were not verie fit for such and other Papists so remaining to be restrained all the yeere long from Flesh and to feed only of Fish I doubt not but that the restraint of them all the yeere from Flesh would be as good for maintenance of the Nauie as the restraint of all sorts only for a time And oh how holy would such Papists be by this meanes Especially if also of their owne accord they would forbeare all Fruit and all things made of Fruit Figs c. Marmalads c. Wine and Beere c. as they which also perished in the Flood Moreouer to proceed now to some other 0146 0436 V 2 marters as all in Parliament are in place of Fathers to this Kingdome Choice of Parliament men to be free and as his Maiestie in his late most gracious Proclamation forbad all choise of Knights Burgesses to be made of any Bankrupts and other greatly indebted as likewise of any suspected not to be sound in Religion and as your Parliament hath alreadie taken some order for the present in such things and ye haue most worthily acquited your selues in dismissing of some vnlawfully chosen by Letters or otherwise so all posteritie shall haue cause to blesse God for some certaine Law now to be made for preuenting of such euils for euer hereafter and for making all vncapable of any place in that High Court that shall vse any such meanes for a place None vnder age to be of the Parliament Why also should any Young men whose Sonnes soeuer be admitted into so great a Councell for making of Lawes for the whole Kingdome that cannot well gouerne themselues and that are so young as their Bils or Bonds for paiment of money are not good in Law Is it not a Iudgement threatned by the Lord viz. that be would appoint Children to be their Princes Isai 3.4 and Babes to rule ouer them If none be admitted into your Vpper House but such as are of Age except perhaps to see the order thereof and to be the fitter for future times why should any of young yeeres be otherwise admitted into the Nether House The longer these grieuances haue hitherto been tollerated the more high time it is now for them to be reformed The like may be said for preuenting of confusion in Election of Burgesses especially of Knights for your most Honorable House This euill may easily be auoided if Election be made by a kind of Scrutinie some principall wise graue and religious Knights and Gentlemen for Shieres and other for Townes being appointed to take euerie mans voice in writing and sworne first to deale faithfully therein In the former consideration oh that your Honourable Senat would be pleased to take some order for more libertie for publike priuate Fasts Publike and priuat Fasts as occasion shall require the same By Gods gracious blessing heretofore vpon such Fasts as in the yeere of the Earth-quake this last Easter one and fourtie yeeres and in the yeere 1588 and at other times we may the more desire the same now and hereafter For certainly all Gods Iudgements being well considered the securitie of all sorts in this behalfe may be well thought to be the greatest Iudgement of all other Did not Dauid command all his people to rent their Clothes to gird themselues with Sack-cloth 2 Sam. 3 3â— 38. and to mourne for Abner because a Prince and a great man was that day fallen in Israel Alas therefore that we hauing seene the fall of some of greater worth then Abner and had many other Iudgements besides should thinke of no such thing Nay rather the performance of such exercises hath been accounted as pettie Treason Many may meet and sit daies and nights eating drinking playing and being drunke and committing many outrages and yet be in no danger in no feare But woe is me that I may say so much for some to meet either to fast and pray or to helpe one another by repetition of Sermons or to confer only priuatly of such things as they haue heard publikely taught c. these meetings are accounted and condemned as conuenticles What a strange thing is it also that all other Churches of other Nations both abroad and here in our Kingdome should haue praiers and fasting for the Prince and Princesse Palatine and yet we should neglect the same that in the Bond of loiall loue to his Maiestie should be most forward in such duties Alas also that in these present great distresses and persecutions in France and in the troubles of almost all other Countreys we should neither helpe them otherwise nor in this kind Oh the Lord keepe vs from that curse before spoken of that the Angel of the Lord inioined against Meroz Iudg. 5.23 and the Inhabitants thereof Especially the Lord keepe vs from such Traitors against his Maiestie against his Princely Sonne against the Prince and Princesse Palatine and their Off-spring and against all his Maiesties Kingdomes as shall secretly and vnder-hand perswade any not only to neglect this holy dutie of fasting for them but also condemn the same altogether in these daies of the Gospel as vnlawfull and no way tolerable but to be seditious and dangerous Doubtlesse there are too many such amongst vs as vnder pretext of loialtie are most pernitious and pest ferous Traitours And such are not all they only that
CERTAINE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHVRCH AND COMMON-WEALTH WELL WORTHY THE SERIOVS consideration of the most Honourable High Court of Parliament late assembled and hereafter to be assembled againe EZRA 7.23 Whatsoeuer is commanded by the God of Heauen let it be diligently done for the House of the God of Heauen For why should there be wrath against the Realme of the King and his Sonnes PSALME 119.46 I will speake of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed CERTAINE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHVRCH and Common wealth well worthy the serious consideration of the most Honourable High Court of Parliament late assembled and hereafter to be assembled againe RIght Honourable and most renowmed worthies of the Lord and of the Lords Annointed our gracious and dread Soueraigne King James I am the bolder to present these my few Obseruations following to your most Honourable and Christian consideration because his most excellent Maiestie in his late gracious Speech vnto you in your Vpper House on March the six twentieth last past hath plainely in Princely and Christian manner testified the publike good of this his Kingdome to be so precious vnto him that no priuate person whatsoeuer were he neuer so deare vnto him should be so respected by him by many degrees as the publike good not onely of the whole Common wealth but euen of any particular Corporation that is a Member of it For by this his most Princely care of the Common wealth we cannot but in all dutie assure our selues of his like most Christian regard of and affection vnto the Church of God both generally within these his Maiesties Dominions and also as the same is particularly distributed into particular Congregations in euerie Shiere and Citie and Towne And as his Maiestie in his said Speech speaketh of the gouernement of the Common wealth by comparison thereof with his Coppices so if it shall please him to take a vew of the Churches wherein some haue perswaded him esse omnia bene I doubt not but that he shall finde the same in the like state that he found his Coppices and by his Coppices the Common wealth As therefore by your helpe he hath receiued further light then before he had touching the corruptions of the Common wealth so I doe humbly craue your most Honourable and Christian ayd for his Royall information of the state and corruptions of the Church with their causes that here I present to your most Christian Senate and by other that your own Christian wisedomes can better shew then any one so simple as I am May it therefore please your Honourable Court to consider The free passage of the Gospel first and principally the free passage and preaching of the Gospel without such heauie burthens as for a long time haue beene imposed vpon the Ministers thereof the which notwithstanding may as well be spared without preiudice to any saue onely to the Episcopall Courts as the paring of a mans nayles Mat. 6.33 Mat. 22.38 Luke 1.75 Tit. 2.12 1 Tim. 2.2 We are commanded first to seeke the Kingdome of God And the first and the great Commandement is the loue of God There can be no righteousnesse towards man without holinesse and godlinesse towards God and both these are the grounds of a quiet and peaceable life This one thing is needfull Luk. 10.41 the which he that chooseth chooseth the good part which shall not be taken away Secondly That the Ministers silenced by reason of the before intimated vnnecessarie burdens Ministers silenced to be well considered be well considered in respect of the innocencie and integritie of their life in all things the matters of subscription and conformitie only excepted as also in respect of their great paines and diligence in their Ministerie and of the fruites thereof apparant vnto all men in their seuerall charges They haue beene indeed and daily are charged with disloyaltie Ezra 4.15 Ester 3.8 Acts 24.16 as the Iewes sometimes were yet they may truly with Paul say they endeauour themselues to haue a cleare conscience towards God and towards men And all that they doe in not subscribing and conforming they doe onely of conscience towards God and may therefore vse the same protestation that the Reubenites Gadites Iosh 22.22 and halfe Tribe of Manasses vsed yea they haue also manifested the same and made it fully knowne by their Doctrine 2 Tim. â— 10 manner of liuing purpose faith long suffering patience persecution by the Prelates and other afflictions Some likewise being as well borne as most of their Aduersaries and hauing in their youth refused great Temporalties offered if they would haue diuerted their Studies to the Law haue now submitted themselues to want and pouertie in their age when they haue most need of plentie And in all that they doe in the promises they plead conscience farre otherwise then Papists that haue alwaies shewed themselues most rebellious and traiterous Those that are contumeliously called Puritans are the best Protestants Puritans the best Protestants in respect of the greater opposition betwixt them and their assertions and betwixt the Papists and their assertions and also of the greater hatred of Papists against them then against the common Protestants And as for the Ministers silenced for not subscribing and conforming they are as good Subiects as any his Maiestie hath yea they doe not subscribe and conforme euen in loyaltie and of conscience towards his Maiestie as also in feare of Gods displeasure as well against his Maiestie as against themselues the sinnes of Subiects prouoking Gods displeasure against Princes as well as against themselues as it is plentifully shewed by Doctor Hall in his Sermon vpon 1 Sam. 12.24 25. 1 Sam. 12.14 15 24 25. Prou. 28.2 Isa 3.1 preached on the 24 of March 1613. The same is also further euident by other Scriptures as likewise by many examples of diuers that in matters apparantly of no great moment hauing conformed themselues to the commandement of their Princes haue prouoked the Lords wrath against such Princes themselues To omit that of Doeg 1 Sam. 22.18 2 Chro. 24 21. 2 Sam. 11.15 and that of some to Ioash as being in deed in great matters worthy of most due consideration is both the first obedience of Ioah against Vriah before he knew the reason of Dauids commandement in respect of the manifold euill consequences thereof and also his second obedience afterward in numbring of the people 2 Sam. 24 in respect of the great Plague that followed Obiections 5 If the smalnesse of the things imposed be obiected First This is but a meere petitio principiâ— Mat. 23.23 it hauing beene often plentifully proued otherwise Secondly As small duties are as well to be performed as great so small sinnes are as well to be refrained as great the rather because as God blessed with good successe Mordecai in not bowing to Haman vpon the Kings command Est 3.3
4 the doing whereof seemeth a small matter and such as might haue admitted a good excuse so he dealt seuerely with Vzza for an act in shew of small account 2 Sam. 6.4 It is sometime better loyaltie not to yeald then to yeald obedience to the command of Princes though good and religious as appeareth by the example of Ioah before mentioned 2 Sam. 18.3 and by them that would not suffer Dauid to goe out with them to battell against Absolom Cap. 21.17 and by the answer of other vnto him after a great danger Especially by them that would not obey Saul's commandement for putting Ionathan to death 1 Sam. 14.44 euen before Saul had euer bewraied so great wickednesse as afterward he did 1 Sam. 22.17 as well as they that afterward refused his like command for killing the Lords Priests If any shall obiect such examples to disgrace our Christian King as making him like to Saul Theodor. Hist Eccl. L. 2. C. 16. he may well be answered as Liberius sometime a good Bishop of Rome now the Seat of Antichrist answered a flattering Courtier Eusebius that charged the said Liberius for alleadging the example of the three Children in Daniel to purge himselfe of singularitie in defending boldly Athanasius against the Emperour Constantius and many Bishops that he compared the said Emperour to Nebuchadnezzer No said Liberius But thou without reason dost condemne a man that hath not beene brought into Iudgement Euen so I say may all such Flatterers and pickthankes be answered that snatch at euerie aduantage against such as plead for the Innocent whereby to bring them into displeasure with their Soueraignes Neither also can it be iustly charged to be seditiously spoken to the encouragement of other Papists or Atheists not to obey iust and lawfull commands Forasmuch as by many Bookes to subscribe and conforme are shewed not to be lawfull by diuers arguments not answered nor answerable and also because the parties not subscribing and conforming doe in all other things shew all alleageance and teach all other so to doe whereas the contrarie is daily seene in Papists and Atheists as they dare and haue any opportunitie and meanes according to their mindes Do not also the parties pleaded for submit themselues to suffer any thing for their not subscribing and conforming That of Samuel Obedience is better then sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 is spoken of obedience to God and not of obedience vnto men as the Text plainly sheweth and it being sayd to the king himselfe euen to Saul for his transgressing the expresse commandement of God and not for transgressing any commandement of man For he being the king was not subiect to any man The premises are the more to be respected in regard of the tendernesse of conscience The tendernesse of conscience apparant by Dauids heart smiting him for cutting only of a Lap of Saul's garment and by the great griefe of Iohn Hus in remembrance of his finenesse in apparell whiles he was young and of his playing at Chesse 1 Sam. 24 6 Acts and Mon. printed 1596. p. 580. Gen. 42 2â— and also by the accusation of the consciences of the brethren of Ioseph for things done against Ioseph long after the doing of them Oh that the Prelats would seriously consider this in time towards their brethren yea also because to oppresse the conscience being well considered is worse then the demand of Nahash the Ammonite for thrusting out all the right eyes of the Inhabitants of Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.2 For if the conscience be wounded the whole mind is blinded And if Ministers be blinde how shall they giue light to their people If the light that is in them be darkenesse Matt. 6.23 how great is their darkenesse And if Ministers be so wounded in their consciences that themselues haue no comfort Pro. 18.14 for a wounded spirit who can beare how can they comfort other Oh that his excellent Maiestie in the Spirit of the Lord would be pleased and moued to relieue such Ministers vpon consideration hereof as Saul in the same spirit was moued to relieue Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.6 That fayling sometime in greater matters is not sufficient to proue smaller things not to be refrained of conscience A good conscience may fayle in greater matters and yet stick at small appeareth by David who notwithstanding he were in his minde troubled for that small matter before mentioned yet afterward many wayes sinned most grieuously against Vriah both in his adulterie and also afterward The greater also and heauier the burden of other sinnes is the more such as so feele the same haue neede to take heed of increasing their burden by any other thing 1 Thess 5.22 yea to abstaine from all appearance of euill They also that do obiect the former do most offend in greater matters themselues as against Gods Word so also against the Lawes of the Land vsing all meanes daily to hinder the proceeding of the Law against themselues and denying the benefit of the Law vnto others thereby bewraying that themselues would rule and raigne as Lords and Kings subiect to no Law and seeking to haue all other subiect to themselues like to that king that Daniel said should do according to his owne will Dan. 11.36 Neyther also do the Ministers molested plead conscience in respect of themselues only Ministers refraine conformitie in conscience to their Rulers but also in respect of their Rulers and molesters and that because to molest such is a thing more dangerous then to be molested In such things it is worse to be agents then patients Though Dauid at the first would not be disswaded from numbring the people yet how wofully and dolefully afterward did he cry out as a child beaten laying it wholly vpon himselfe 2. Sam. 24.10.17 without imputation thereof to any other Oh that such Rulers of their brethren would not be deceiued herein That which seemeth now a small thing may herafter be great and heauie A Gnat is but a small thing a flea lesse yet eyther of both doth trouble the greatest as well as the least the highest as well as the lowest Great persons haue great meanes for solacing themselues but alas who as I sayd before can beare a wounded spirit Pro. 18.14 spirit I doe further in all humilitie beseech your most Honorable Senate The innocencie of Ministers to be tryed euen by the Lawes of the Land that the innocencie of the Ministers before mentioned may be tryed not only by the Word of God but also by the Lawes of the Land and that the learned Iudges and other Lawyers may freely and at large argue their cause before his Maiestie and your Honorable Court being by an oath of the Lord first charged vpon their alleageance truly plainly and fully to deliuer their iudgements touching the Lawes of the Land in that behalfe as also by his excellent Maiestie being enboldned so
the entrance of the Israelites into the earthly Canaan and that 400 yeeres after they had so done and against the two Captaines and their Fifties for comming only by the Kings commandement to fetch Elijah vnto the King 2 Chr. 24.23 24. 2 Chr. 36.16 and against Ioash King of Iuda for putting Zechariah the Sonne of Iehoiadah to death and vpon all the Iewes for their manifold contumelies and other great iniuries against the Prophets from time to time so the Ministers of the Gospel being greater then the Prophets may we not feare some great Iudgement of God against vs for all the former hard dealing against them Mat. 23.37 Mat. 11.9 Doubtlesse we may feare the more because God spared not good King Asa for imprisoning Hanani the Seer for the word of the Lord deliuered by him against Asa 2. Chron. 16.7 c. for his relying vpon the king of Syria Your most Honorable Court may likewise be pleased to remember the great earthquake that followed the vniust depriuation of Athanasius by the first Synod of Antiochia Socra hist Eccles lib. 2. cap. 7. compared with Sozomen Lib. 3. cap. 5. Theodor. lib. 5. C. 34 Sozomen lib. 8. C. 27 Socrat. lib. 6. cap. 17. as also the like after for the like iniurie done vnto Chrysostom And although vpon the same he were recalled home and restored to his place yet not long after for the like cause being againe bannished the Lord pleaded his cause by a very extraordinarie hayle and by the speedy death of the Empresse Eudoxia who had much exasperated the Emperour Honorius against him and finally that that is written of diuers strange accidents after the death and martyrdom of William Gardiner though but a marchant mentioned in our owne booke of Acts and Monuments In all which so honourable wise and iudicious a Court need not any admonition to take heed of such flatterers as shall say no such thing is now to be feared For yee all know them that heretofore in like cases were wont to crye peace peace Iere 6.14 and 8.11 Ezek. 13.18 and to heale the Lords people with sweet words to haue beene accounted false Prophets as also woe was denounced against all them that did sowe pillowes to the armeholes and that did sing a requiem to their owne soules Amos 6.3 Psal 10.14 putting farre away the day of the Lord as likewise that the Lord is now the same God in iustice against the same sinnes that euer he hath beene and the same beholder of mischiefes and wrongs and the same reuenger of iniuries done vnto his Ambassadors that euer he was Yea yee also know that although the Ministers hitherto mentioned by their aduersaries haue beene accounted no better then Asses yet as the Angell of the Lord rebuked Balaam Balaam and his Asse Num. 22.23 c. for smiting his Asse when she turned first out of the waye wherein he would haue had her to goe and then for lying downe vnder him so the tyme may come when the Lord will take their cause into his hands and rebuke their riders the more for all the blowes they haue giuen them because euer since they haue beene called to the Ministerie they haue done as good seruice to the Church as euer Balaams Asse had done vnto him In the meane tyme they thinke they may as well complaine of the manifold blowes wherewith they haue been often smitten as Balaams Asse hauing her mouth opened by the Lord complayned of the stripes that Balaam had giuen her Yea it seemeth they may the more complayne in that behalfe because they haue neuer so crusht the foot of their riders as Balaams Asse had crushed his foot If they haue it hath beene because their riders haue gone that waye for going wherein the Lord was angrie with them or because the sayd Ministers being ridden in such a waye as where they could not turne haue as it were lyen downe and not gone so farre as their riders would haue had them as also because they haue smitten such Ministers with their staffe and threatned to haue killed them if they had had a sword In all which notwithstanding they haue pleaded the sight of the Angel of the Lord standing in the waye with a sword readie drawen in his hand which they haue more feared then the staffe or sword of their riders The wrath of God seemeth the more to be feared for the former hard dealing with such Ministers because of the iudgments threatned against the Princes of Iudah for their hard dealings with their seruants Ier. 34.16 Euen so much the more seemeth such wrath to be feared because the Lord hath not only dignified his sayd Ministers with many great titles and with the preaching of the best libertie but also with the instrumentall effecting of such libertie Galat. 5.1 wherewith Christ hath made men free and charged them not againe to be intangled with that yoake of bondage that sometime God himselfe had made much lesse with the yoake of bondage made only by men yea at the first by the man of sinne and aduersarie of Christ himselfe The chiefe Captaine feared to proceed against Paul because he was free of Rome Acts 22.24 Is nothing then to be feared for proceeding so farre and so long against so many Ministers of the Gospel that are free of Heauen it selfe and haue as I sayd beene the meanes to make other also free thereof How many fearfull things also followed all the Iewes for the hard dealing of their Clergie against Ieremiah notwithstanding the Princes of Iudah tooke his part and pleaded for him as many Nobles of this kingdome haue done for such Ministers as well as for other common sinnes of that tyme Not here to trouble you with repetition of that before touched viz. which the Lord commanded both to be written Exo. 17.14 1 Sam. 15.2 Ierem. 4.19 2 Kings 22.11 and also to be executed without any compassion against Amalek neyther to speake of the bitter complaynt of Ieremiah in the fore-sight of iudgements comming my bowels my bowels 2. Chron. 34.19.24 Amos 6.1 c. c. neyther also of his dolefull lamentation in that behalfe afterward in his Booke of Lamentations nor of the teares and sackcloth of Iosiah at finding the Booke of the Lawe discouering such future euills for the transgressions thereof and to omit the woe threatned to them that were at ease in Zion and that liued in pleasures without remorse of the afflictions of Ioseph as both generally wee doe now in England and particularly many of the Prelats not regarding eyther the heauie distresses of the Churches in France or the hard state of the most Noble and renowned Prince and Princes Palatine though by nature as well as by religion wee are bound vnto them and as we loue the kingdome of Christ Iesus ought to helpe them against their enimies least wee incurre the curse Iudg. 5.23 Iudgements already executed euen the bitter
curse of the Angel of the Lord against Meroz and the inhabitants thereof for the very like cause To omit I say all the former things Oh that your most Honorable and Christian Senat would be pleased to remember and consider the manifolde iudgements of God already executed since the restreint of the Word the arming of all the foure elements against vs of the fire not only often on some few houses but also on many great townes to almost the vtter consuming of them of the aier by great death of manie thousands almost in all parts of the Kingdome through the contagious pestilence from the infection therof of the water by many inundations to the drowning of many whole Parishes especially in the West country of the winds being of a fierie and aierie complexion and efficacie and exercising their force as before so in this by many late tempests both vpon the land and also vpon the seas to the breaking downe of come the scorching and casting downe of trees the ouerthrowing of buildings the losse of many great shipps to the great hindrance if not vndoing of many marchants and other and that according to the Lords like displeasure against most worthy King Iehoshaphat for his too much communion with Ahaziah king of Israel 1 Kings 22 48. 2 Chron. 20.37 Zeph. 1.3 lastly of the earth with the waters by extreame frosts and snow to the destruction as of some men so also of many beasts and foules of heauen and fish of the sea and other waters with all which may be considered many vnseasonable tymes in other respects and the extreame heat of some summers such as in some countries men haue fallen downe starke dead as they haue followed their cattell and as they haue laboured in hay time and haruest Oh will some man say these are old things now past and gone yea and forgotten also as though they neuer had been But alas should they so be Wherefore then doth the Holy Ghost remember vs of the drowning of the whole world of Sodom and Gomorrha consumed by fire from heauen and many other the like Yea of the Lords not sparing the Angels that kept not their standing but casting them downe to hell and binding them there with chaines which was a thing much more ancient then all the former And for reuiuing the memorie of those iudgements aboue mentioned Hath not the Lord this present yeare and these last yeares 1621 and 1622 done great things vpon the seas and vpon the Land by the seas and other waters Oh how many marchants ships haue beene taken by the Turkish pyrats and otherwise lost vpon the seas to the vndoing of many thousands and the great impouerishing of the whole Land How much cattell also hath been lost in diuers quarters by great and extraordinarie tydes of the seas and like floods of other waters Finally how many houses also haue by the same meanes been cleane caried away But are the premises all Not so For hath not the Lord in the tyme of pestilence come neere to the Court it selfe in taking away some therewith that belonged thereunto Hath he not cut of some great counsellers of state extraordinarily when neyther themselues nor any other any whit looked for any such sodayne hand of God vpon them Hath not the Lord euer since the restreynt of the Word whereby his owne Royall seed vpon earth should haue beene dayly propagated restreyned his blessing from our Kings most excellent Maiestie for farther increase of his Royall posteritie Hath he not taken away his Royall issue borne a little before and some since his comming hither What cause also hath the Land to mourne for the death of most Noble Prince Henrie Much more much more then Dauid all Israel had so to mourne for the death of Abner as they did 2 Sam. 3 3â— yea many may say Prince Henrie Prince Henrie would God wee had dyed for thee Prince Henrie Prince Henrie Had not the Lord remembred mercie in iudgement by leauing vs most hopefull Prince Charles we might yet mourne for the death of Prince Henrie The greater the graces were of the late yong Lord Harrington as Master Stock hath noted them in his Sermon at his Funerall and as many other could and can yet testifie the greater was the losse of the whole Kingdome by his death also yet this was nothing to the former May not also the death of our late Queene be reckoned amongst other iudgements The greater Gods mercie hath beene to his Maiestie and to the whole Land in giuing and yet leauing such a remnant of Royall seed by her Prince Charles at home and most vertuous Princesse Elizabeth abroad in many things resembling our late most blessed Queene Elizabeth whose renowne will neuer die as also in giuing so gracious and rich a seed vnto her the greater iudgement doubtlesse wee may account the death of Queene Anne her selfe to haue beene Neither are we here altogether to forget the deadnesse of all Trades and also the great pouertie of most sorts of People daily encreasing thereby In respect whereof though there haue beene such a glut and plentie of Corne as hath not been knowne this many yeeres yet the same is not to be accounted so great a mercie because it hath beene more hard for most House-keepers to maintaine their charges then when Wheat was at a Noble a Bushell and all other Graine of price according The former iudgements to be principally imputed to the restraint of the Gospel As the former Iudgements cannot be denied to be for many great sinnes euerie where abounding so also the restraint of the Word and the hard vsage of the Ministers thereof whereby themselues and their Doctrine are in the more contempt and disgrace with all sorts of men being a principall and maine cause of all other sins must be acknowledged to haue had a great attractiue vertue in drawing down the said Iudgements vpon vs. In all former Ages vpon which the Lord inflicted his Iudgements there were many other sinnes prouoking the same yet were such Iudgements chiefly ascribed 2 Chr. 36.16 Mat. 23.37 to the mocking of his Ministers despising of his Word and misusing his Prophets and to the killing his Prophets and stoning them that were sent vnto them There alwaies also haue been many great and heinous sinnes in the Land but there were neuer so vnknowne and new sinnes and so outragious abominations before as haue beene since this master and capitall sinne of suppressing the Word and contempt of the Ministers thereof Moreouer though other sins were also before yet who can shew so many Iudgements to haue beene in so short a time as haue beene since this mother sinne of the restraint of the Word A mother sinne also it may well be called in respect of many great Errours hatched thereby that either were not broached before or that by all sound Diuines Bishops publique Diuinitie Readers in the Vniuersitie and other were condemned These new Errours
least they should be put out of the Syndgogue or rather the Congregation that is least they should be excommunicated Ioh. 9.22 because the Iewes had made such a generall Canon against any man that should confesse Iesus to be Christ so doe many worthy men consent with the Ministers silenced but feare of some Bishops vnmercifull indeed as some are in signification of their name they dare not bewray their Iudgements for feare of the said danger Yea I am perswaded that some of the most reuerend Bishops themselues doe vnfeignedly desire the reformation of some things that are the causes of the former troubles Yea I say more that I knew a verie learned reuerend and renowmed Bishop not long since deceassed that said to a silenced and depriued Minister of his Diocesse suing vnto him for some enlargement of his Ministerie that he would willingly grant his request but he durst not because he was a man vnder authoritie and must obey But said he I will pray for you that those things may be remooued that doe hinder you that we may all ioyne together against the common Aduersarie for it is high time May it please also your most Honourable Court to consider that your grace craued to further the free passage of the Gospel The remoue of Ceremonies concerneth the whole Land Can. 27. Est 3.2 and to remoue the hindrances thereof doth concerne your selues and yours and the whole Land and not such Ministers onely and that in respect of diuers Canons Such is the Canon of kneeling at the celebration of the Lords Supper in the verie act of receiuing the Bread and Wine not much vnlike the commandement of Ahashuerosh for bowing the knee to Haman whereunto Mordecai would not yeeld though thereby he hazarded his owne state and the state of all the Iewes and though for his yeelding he might haue pleaded that he neither did it religiously according to the manner of the People Exod. 17.14 Deut. 25.17 Est 3.1 10. 9.24 Can. 98. nor in contempt of Gods Commandement for warre and hatred on the part of the Iewes against the Amalekits whereof Haman was one euen an Agagite of the Kings Stocke but only ciuilly in respect of the Kings command still keeping hatred against the Amalekits though he gaue that ciuill outward reuerence vnto Haman The like is the Canon against Appeales to any Iudge ad quem in any case whatsoeuer if the Aduersarie may with any colour plead the other partie to be a Schismatike Such is the Canon touching Diuorcement Can. 4.6.7.8 Such is the Canon for Excommunication ipso facto of euerie one that shall speake any thing against any of the Canons or against any rights and ceremonies established wherby men may be disabled from making their Will or their Wills may be frustrated or at least their Executors much molested Such is the Canon or seueritie vsed for restraining the People from seeking the Word else-where though they haue no preaching at all in their owne Parishes or such only as would grieue any Christian heart to heare it Can. 18. Such is the Canon for the superstitious ridiculous bowing of the knee at the name of Iesus to the disturbance of the whole Congregation and the hinderance both of the Speaker or Reader also of the hearer whereas no such thing is inioined at the name of God the Father or of Christ or of the Lord or of our Sauiour thogh this be all one with the name of Iesus the very meaning therof The like may be said of diuers other canons Many Canons contrarie to our Lawes and although such Canons may be said euen iure humano not to be lawfull and therefore cannot be pleaded in any of his Maiesties Temporall Courts yet herein euerie man is not able to wage Law against their Aduersaries Although also some of the said Canons were not perhaps agreed vpon by the greater part of the Conuocation but onely hatched by some few great Prelats and caried out by strong boisterous hand yet who may make question of these things Much trouble hath been and daily is by such Canons and more will be if by your worthy Senat it be not preuented Many wicked men haue more libertie then ministers of the Gospel Of the restraint also of the before pleaded for Ministers from all benefit of the Law may not vnfitly be said that of Ioel touching the Famine of his time Heare ye this ô Elders and hearken all ye Inhabitants of the Land whether such a thing hath been in your daies or yet in the daies of your forefathers c. Shall all blasphemers contemners of all goodnesse drunkards c. haue the benefit of the Law and shall such Ministers onely be so vile as to be debarred from it The lewdest man that is cannot be so easily dispossessed of a poore Cottage of twentie shillings a yeere as many worthy Ministers haue beene ciected with their Wiues and Children from a Liuing of more then an hundred pound by the yeere and that sometimes for not obseruing a Booke neither established by Law nor inioyned by Canon neither euer tendred vnto them yea also without any presentment in that behalfe The old saying viuat Rex currat Lex importeth the safetie of Kings and Kingdomes to consist much in the execution of Iustice Pro. 20.28 and 29.14.39 the which also agreeth with the wisedome of Salomon Is it not likewise strange that common Players by diuers Acts of Parliament condemned to be Rogues and that are indeed the Lords of much misrule and great wickednesse that these I say should haue libertie to exercise their abominable trade condemned in all well ordered Commonwealths yea with especiall Command to all Officers for their ayd yea further that such base persons should so debacchari against all sorts and disgrace the greatest Peeres in the Land yea sometimes also being bold with his high Maiestie vpon their Stages much more with any Ministers that they shall heare to speake against their roguerie and that such learned and godly Ministers no way scandalous in their life should haue their mouthes stopped Most strange especially is it that his excellent Maiestie should enlarge all Papists and discharge them from Imprisonment and other penalties for any former offences and that without any submission to our Religion and that yet the hearts of the Prelats should be so hardned against their Brethren as not to enlarge them and discharge them from all punishments for their supposed offences but still to continue their seueritie against them Moreouer Examples to moue the Parliament Ier. 26.16 Ier. 38.9 your said most Honourable Court may the more boldly do the more for the enlargement of the Gospel and such Ministers thereof because of many other examples doing the like Of the Princes and People of Juda pleading for Ieremiah against the Clergie of Ierusalem Of Ebedmelech petitioning earnestly for him to the King and preuailing with the King
can deny you nothing as now the aduersaries of the said Minsters pretend they haue the like power from his Maiestie to deale as they haue done hauing no such power by any Law and yet afterward vpon the petition of one only and he no naturall subiect giuing a counter-commission for the sauing of Ieremiah and fetching him out of prison Ier. 38.10 Exo. 32.10.12 Iudg. 10.13 Exo. 32.11 To conclude this argument hath not God himselfe oft denyed helpe to his people and forbidden men to pray for them or them to pray for themselues and yet for all that holpen them Was this any dishonor to his diuine Maiestie Yea rather As Moses pleaded the honor of God therein and as other being as it were forsaken of the Lord Psal 79.9 craued his helpe and to be deliuered out of their trouble for the glorie of his name And as Samuel assured the Israelits being in great distresse and feare that the Lord would not forsake them for his great names sake c. so the Ministers before silenced 1 Sam. 12.22 and still in great distresse doe hope they may now plead for the free course of the Gospel and for comfort and to be made glad according to all the dayes wherein they haue beene afflicted Psal 90.15 for the greater honor of all the States of Parliament and for the greater glory of his gracious Maiestie it selfe As hitherto in the same priuiledge whereby other subiects preferre their complaints and causes to the High and most Honorable Court of Parliament I haue exhibited the former arguments for the enlargement both of the Gospel it selfe and of the Ministers thereof hitherto molested and like daily so to be vnto the graue and wise consideration of your sayd Court so now I will be bold vpon the same freedome and libertie of other subiects to exhibit also some other things to your sayd Court which much likewise concerne Gods glory and the common good both of Church and Common-wealth within his Maiesties Kingdomes First therefore I will beginne with Papists to shew some reasons for the better suppressing or conuerting of them Reasons for suppressing or conuerting of Papists as hauing mentioned them before Now because they are of diuers stamps some plaine Recusants and some Church Papists some obstinat some ignorant and such as are Papists rather to please some other then of any conscience May is please your Honorable Court to consider of all these accordingly Open Recusants and Church Papists are not much vnlike one to another Psal 55.20 21. Prou. 26.18 23.24.15 2 Sam. 3.27 and 20.10 Mat. 26 49 Luk. 22.47 48. Ier. 41.2 Only as a secret enimie is more dangerous then an open one as is manifest by diuers sentēces and examples of the Scripture Abner and Amasa being both vnawares slaine by a false kisse of Ioab as also our Sauiour by the like of Iudas and Gedaliah with all his companie being put to the sword by the pretended friendship of Ishmael As I say secret enemies are more dangerous then open so are Church Papists more dangerous then open Recusants because vnder colour of comming to Church they are more hardly discerned Notwithstanding they that are wise may know them How secret Papists may be knowne First by being from Recusants suddenly conuerted to come to our Churches and exercises of Religion because the kingdome of God is not like to Ionas his Gourd but to a graine of mustard seed Ionas 4.6 Matth. 13.31 and hauing beene conuerted only by some priuat persuasions or by present or hoped for kindnesses of men c. and not by any publike Ministerie Secondly By their late and slacke comming to the Word and by their loose attention therunto whiles it is preached but spending the time in talking and whispering with other or in reading of prayers or of some Popish Booke For he that is of God heareth Gods Word Ioh. 8.47 1 Pet. 2.2 he that is borne againe desireth the sincere Milke of the Word Thirdly By their priuat speeches eyther for Poperie or against the truth or the louers of it as some of the Ephraimits were knowen not to be Gileadits by their tongues Fourthly Iudg. 12.6 By their Farmers and Seruants and companie For Noscitur ex comite qui non cognoscitur ex se and birds of a feather will flye togeather Fifthly By their coldnesse in speaking or doing any thing publikely for the trueth Luk. 7.47 For as to whom a litle is forgiuen he loueth little so to whom much is forgiuen he loueth much Sixthly and lastly if they be great persons By their preferment of Papists to such preferments as are in their power All Papists dangerous All grounded Papists Recusant and other are so much the more dangerous because as Satan by little sinnes preuayleth with men for greater so do they by insinuation into Princes for small matters oftentymes bring their purposes to passe for greater As no humane Lawes also will reclayme Papists without the libertie of the Word so neyther will any clemencie of Princes do them any good without seueritie They can no more liue without treacherie then without eating drinking and breathing Frendshippe doth rather harden then mollifie them These things are manifest by their continuall treasonable practises against our late most Noble Queene and against our present dread Soueraigne as likewise against other Princes in other Countreys The more fauour hath beene shewed them the more they haue lifted vp their heeles against such their fauourers The more that other are for peace and speake thereof Psal 120.7 the more they are for warre Many good Lawes haue beene already made against them and are yet in force But what difference is there betwixt no Lawes at all and no execution of Lawes Little but this that where there is no Lawe there cannot in Iustice be any punishment but where there are Lawes there may be execution when God shall giue the Magistrates hearts so to doe Some of the Lawes alreadie are for death of some offenders in that kind Other are but pecuniarie whether these also are not to be made capitall I leaue to the wisedome of your Court to consider by the expresse Law of God in that behalfe Deut. 13.1 c. Exo. 21.16 Deu. 14.19 and 20.18 and 24.7 against all intisers to Idolatrie as also by other Lawes for death against lesse transgressions both of the First and also of the Second Table And touching that place Deut. 24.7 against men stealers and makers of merchandize of them who do so highly offend in this kinde as Papists that steale men from God from their Soueraignes and make merchandize of their Soules to the Deuil Do they not also rob men of their temporall goods to enrich their Pope and Iesuits whereby the kingdome of darkenesse may be the stronger against all other kings and kingdomes Are not such Papists murderers oftentimes of Princes euen of their owne Religion As also repentance of
Sam. 15.22 1 Kings 2.46 Iosh 7. 2 Sam. 21.1 c. and the doing of such iustice beeing more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifices and the throne of Salomon being then sayd to be established in the hands of Salomon when he had executed iustice euen vpon his brother Adoniiah and vpon Ioab and Shimei Did not Israel also fall before little Aie till iustice was done vpon Achan for his sinne secretly committed And was there not a famine in all Israel till Dauid had granted iustice against seauen sonnes of Saul for his sinne against the Gibeonits which had beene the cause of the sayd three yeares famine How was the Lord displeased with Saul for his mercie to Agag 1. Sam. 15. 1. Kings 20 42. Num. 33.55 Iosh 23.13 Iudg. 2.3 And with Ahab for letting Benhadad a king of another Nation go out of his hands whom he had appointed to die Were not the Canaanites also contrarie to Gods commandement suffered by the Israelites prickes in their Eyes and thornes in their sides O right Honorable I humblie beseech you to consider that the Amalekites withstanding only the Israelites as they were going to the earthly Canaan and the Aramites that oppugned only their outward state and the other before mentioned were not such aduersaries as the Papists be that are all members of the Man of Sinne 2 Thes 2.3 Apoc. 18.20.21 Apoc. 19.1 c. the Child of Perdition who cannot escape that horrible destruction that the Lord hath threatned wherin men and Angels shall reioyce and which are enimies to the euerlasting saluation of all Gods people Seueritie therefore against obstinate Papists is no crueltie but great honor to God and great mercie to our Soueraigne to his Royall Posteritie to all his Kingdomes and to all ignorant Papists themselues Worthy of euerlasting remembrance is the gracious promise of God vnto Iehu for that that he had done to Iezabel and the rest of the house of Ahab and their adherents 2 Kings 10 36. and to all Baals Priests Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right in mine Eyes and hast done to that house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart therefore shall thy sonnes sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation O the flourishing state of this Kingdome and the great honor of Queene Elizabeth in all other Kingdomes with her admirable prosperitie that would not vouchsafe a good countenance to any knowne Papists Many curses she had from the Father of Papists at Rome and from his Imps here at home but the same being causelesse came not to passe Prou. 26.2 so did not their practises against her Yea she and her people prospered the better at home and against all forein Enemies Let it not seeme strange right Honourable worthies that I haue beene so plentifull in this argument The insolencie of Papists since the Powder-Treason By the hellish Powder treasons which should haue destroied good and bad that Hell it selfe doth not a man a meere reasonable man much more a man instructed in the Word of God would haue thought that all Poperie and Papists would here and else-where throughout the Christian World as also with the Heathen themselues haue been had in perpetuall detestation and euerlasting execration But it is one of the greatest wonders of the World that euer since Poperie hath the more encreased and that not amongst persons only of low degree but of high and Noble ranke as also that Papists old and new haue been more insolent and lifted vp their hornes higher then euer since the bitter daies of the late bitter Queene Mary as if by the said most diuelish Conspiracie both Poperie and Papists had preuailed with his most excellent Maiestie and won grace and fauour with him the which God forbid that any true hearted Christian and loyall Subiect should euer haue cause to thinke or imagin The former insolencie likewise of the Papists or at least of some of that faction is now growne to that heighth that such true Christians and loyall Subiects as before I mentioned may now feare the companie of any whom they know not either trauelling by the High-way or in any other place Not long since a lustie young gallant of no small place if persons and state may be iudged by Apparell and Attendance falling into companie of a meane man in the way yet of good vnderstanding and religiously affected and by speech finding hint so to be for a while soothed him vp speaking as he spake and commending preaching as he did but at last he vnmasked himselfe and by diuers words shewed himselfe in his colours to be a friend of Poperie and not only an aduersarie but an enemie to the Gospel and of the preaching thereof verie roughly breaking forth into these bloodie words sutable to the bloodie Religion of the Scarlet Whore and saying It were a good deed to sheath my Sword in thy body O right Honourable doe not such things presage some further fore to be breeding Is it not time to looke to such And haue not all well affected to the Gospel to his Maiestie and to his Kingdomes need to pray much and to looke to themselues and to be wise as Serpents and in their trauels and elsewhere to beware of such Crocodils In all the premises for more seueritie against obstinat Recusant Papists Why nothing hath been spoken against toleration especially known to haue Masses in their Houses for the time to come or to goe to Masses else-where I haue spoken nothing against tolleration First Because if the premises shall take place there needeth nothing in that behalfe Secondly Because his Maiestie hath heretofore by the Lord Chancellor then being publiquely and graciously in his Court of Starre-Chamber signified his Princely resolution to the contrarie and that if he knew his Princely Sonne would encline that way he would doe his best endeuour to disinherit him Thirdly Because he hath not long since but euen lately almost caused certaine Diuines to signifie as much in their publique Sermons at Paules-Crosse in London Fourthly and principally Because the same is testified by that most learned and reuerend Bishop now Prelat of the Garter in his learned answer intituled Tortura Torti to a Booke of one that called himselfe Mattheus Tortus who wrot his Booke against the Apologie of our Kings most excellent Maiestie In the end of page 81 and beginning of page 82. In this answer to the said Book of the said pretended M. Tortus the said reuerend and learned Father writeth thus verbatim word for word Nec in eo Regi audiendus quòd consilium dat de Religione liberè habenda Integrum hoc iam illi non est Nam quod eum ea qua decet reuerentia dictum volo non semel periurus sit quin bis si te audiat Qua enim si qua est fidei bis datae conscientia vel conscientia vel fide ferret in regnis suis
doe vtterly cry down and forbid fasting and thereby that helpe from Heauen as much as in them lyeth that the said Prince and Princesse Palatine need abroad and consequently our King and his most Noble Sonne also and therefore likewise all their Kingdomes the good of the one being the good of the other Such I say are not only all they that so oppugne fasting but they also that doe what they can to with-hold all and of man from them neither so only but that also be Instruments for sending ouer more helpe to their Enemies Num. 33.55 Iudg. 2.3 Spinola and other Thornes in the sides of the Church that bestur their stumps what they can for vp-holding the cursed Kingdome of the Romane Antichrist the Man of Sinne the Child of Perdition now drawing towards his end and therefore gasping striuing and strugling for life and that with all their might oppugne the Kingdome of Christ Iesus and vnder-hand also the Kingdomes of all other Princes aboue whom the said Antichrist exalteth himselfe 2 Thes 2.4 Ps 118.12 Act. 9.5 So they compasse the little Flocke of Christ about like Bees not knowing for all that that they shall all Spinola and his Mates be quenched as the Fire of Thornes because it is as hard for them as before it was for Saul to kick against the prickes Touching Fraies Quarrels Fraies and quarrels Preu 14.28 and Murders within and without the Land I shall not need to say any thing for more seueritie for preuenting the like though the honour of a King consist much in the multitude of the people and by the want of people destruction commeth to a Prince because his Maiestie by publique Proclamation hath signified his Princely indignation against the same since which we haue not heard of so many such things as before yet a Law being more certaine and memorable then a Proclamation it were better to make some more seuere Law against such outrages Hose 6.6 because as mercie is better then sacrifice so crueltie especially sheading of Innocent blood is more odious to God then euer was the neglect of such sacrifices Blood touching blood Hose 4.2 may we not feare a controuersie of the Lord with the whole Land I haue credibly heard of sixe strange Murders tried at one Summer Assizes at Exceter anno 1613. First Of an Husband poisoning his Wife Second Of a Wife murdering her Husband Third Of a Father killing his Sonne Fourth Of a Sonne killing his Father Fifth Of a Master killing his Seruant Sixth Of a Seruant killing his Master How strange also was that threefold Murder at Halsworth in Suffolke committed foure or fiue yeeres since but discouered the last yeere Two of the Murderers were executed the last Summer 1620 and the third repriued for a longer time As by euerie Murder God is bereaued of one of his principall Creatures and the King of a Subiect so also many times a Father looseth his Child the Husband a Wife or the Wife her Husband a Brother and Sister a Brother or Sister many Children their Father or Mother many Friends and Neighbors a Friend and a Neighbor and somtimes the Church a good Minister and the Common wealth a good Magistrate or Officer Can there therefore be too much care for preuenting of such mischiefes All such persons as commit the same doe manifestly bewray themselues to haue no feare of God in them Gen. 20.11 Many times also some wilfull Murders are cleard vnder the name either of chance-medly or at least of man-slaughter All kind of bodily filthinesse euerie where so much abounding Against Adulterie Num. 25.7 8. 1 Cor. 5.6 Heb. 12.15 16. hath not your Honourable Court need to be put in mind of making a Law without further delay for punishing Adulterie with death Who of any zeale can but burne to heare and almost to see as much as Phineas saw If one Incestuous person and one Fornicatour be dangerous for a whole Church oh how much more dangerous are many The more we professe and some of vs boast of the profession of the Gospel and of the glorious state of our Church the more need we haue to purge our Land of such euils As death according to Gods Commandement is the punishment of Adulterie in most other Countreys and so ought to be by the iudgement of most Diuines none almost being so bold as to write to the contrarie so why should it not be in this Kingdome Our Lawes inflict death vpon some transgressions of the eighth Commandement why therefore should Adulterie be so lightly punished By the order of the Commandements and by the testimonie of Salomon Prou. 6.30 Adulterie plainly appeareth to be greater then Theft If the pronenesse of our Nation to Theft doe require the greater punishment of Theft are not the people as prone also to Adulterie and other carnall vncleannesse Oh let vs take need that as now we say that no man shall keepe his goods in safetie were not the punishment of Theft so seuere as it is so the time come not if further seueritie preuent it not when no man shall keepe his Wife or his Daughter or Maid-seruant from the violence of other The Lord that gaue the Morall Law and appointed punishment for euerie transgression 1 Sam. 2.3 being a God of knowledge knew before the inclination of all Nations to one sinne as well as to another And is not our Nation as much inclined to all breaches of the seuenth Commandement as vnto Theft At least to such Theft as by our Law is punishable with death Alas the poore chiefly doe offend in this kind but all sorts especially the greater are most prone to the other Moreouer by the sinne of Adulterie the eighth Commandement is broken in the highest degree Gen. 2.24 For first of all the heart of a mans Wife that is one Flesh with her Husband is stolen Mat. 19.6 Is not the Wife more then any goods Secondly by this sinne the whole state and the name it selfe of a man yea sometimes of Noble Houses is deriued to another euen of most base state and degree Thirdly Are not many Noble Houses and Families ruinated thereby Gen. 34.2 19. The example of Schechem the Sonne of Hamor and Salomon himselfe doe testifie these things Hamor was a chiefe Ruler and the Lord of the Countrey where he dwelt And of what King were there euer so great things spoken as of Salomon Yet the Fornication of Schechem was the ruine of all the Schechemites and the loue of many Wiues by Salomon was the desolation of his Kingdome in his Sonnes daies 1 Kin. 11.1 11.30 31. How many troubles also followed Dauids one Adulterie with Bathsheba Euen to the endangering of the losse of his life and whole Kingdome The Law alreadie made for death as in case of Felonie of any man that shall haue two Wiues liuing togither may the more perswade your Honourable Court to take order for death against
But to omit all these the Magdeburgenses in their Centuries Centur. 11 cap. 6. pag. 346. record out of our owne Histories that our own Nation hauing spent all a night in drunkennesse was the verie next day ouercome by the Normans What shall I say more Hose 4.11 Whordome and Wine and new Wine take away the heart so stupifying and brawning the same that no threatnings or execution of Iudgements neither any exhortations to repentance will pierce it or at least preuaile against it All these things cry in the eares of the Lord of Host and I hope will so cry in your Christian cares that they will be heard and preuaile against this fowle Monster Yea so preuaile that as Amnon hated Thamar with a greater hatred then euer his loue had beene wherewith he loued her 2 Sam. 13.15 and commanded his Seruant to shut her out and to locke or bolt the dore vpon her that she might not return so such order shall now be taken against this sinne that all men shall hate it more then euer they loued it and so shut the doore of this whole kingdome vpon it that it shall neuer preuaile as it hath done I prescribe no particular punishment but leaue it altogeather to your wisedomes Onely I wish some order to be taken who shall be punished for a drunkard and that for as much as rich men care not for fiue shillings though they will hardly giue two pence to a poore man and yet will be drunke as well as other that therefore some greater matter be enacted Neither are other excessiue drinkings altogeather to be neglected Other excessiue drinkings 1. Pet. 4.3 Isai 5.11 the Apostle hauing not only distinguished drunkennes from drinkings but also reckoned the one and the other for sinnes of the heathen and the Prophet hauing denounced a wo as wel to that as to drunkennes it selfe that heathen Emperor Ahashuerosh in his Roiall and magn ficent feast of 180. daies hauing left so noble a president against immoderat drinking and of all so brietie in drinking commanding that all their drinking should be in order and none might compell Oh how doth this condemne many feastmakers among Christians that thinke it their glorie or honour or worship to vrge men to drinke vnto drunkennesse This is so foule a thing that in the most corrupt age of the Church a Councel held at Rome it selfe anno 1215. in which were Ambassadors or Orators at Rome from Constantinople France England Hungarie Ierusalem Cyprus and Arrogan with 412 Bishops and Abbots and Priors aboue 800. Centur. 13. cap. 13 p. 806. and in all of Prelats about 1315. the Pope himselfe sitting for President euen this Councell I say Can. 15. after sentence against drunkennesse in the Clergie saith vnde illum abusum decernimus penitus esse abolendum c. Wherefore we decree that abuse to be altogeather abolished whereby in certaine quarters the drinkers doe binde themselues to drinke equall portions and he by the iudgement of such drinkers is most commended that maketh most drunke and that draweth dry the fullest cups Pag. 940. The like Canon is afterward by a Councell of Colon against the same abuse Such drinking is called drinking of health and it is accounted a great indignitie therefore not to pledge one drinking to the health of his Maiestie but alas it is no health either to soule or body but sicknesse death to both to plead a secret comprecation of health in such drinking is an abomination to God inter plena pocula to mix comprecations Such drinkers also doe seldome or neuer pray at feast as they ought either for the health of them to whom they doe so drinke or for their owne health We are commanded to pray for the health of other but neuer to drinke Some of the antient Fathers haue greatly condemned drinking to the health of the Emperour and haue highly commended praying in that behalfe What health can there be for soule or bodie when some in such drinking haue fallen downe starke dead Sometime also such drinkers drinke themselues in time out of all bodily fashion out of money out of wit out of grace hauing no more money in their purses no more wit in their heads no more grace in their hearts then they leaue wine ale or beere in their cups when they haue drunke ad imum turning the bottomes of such cups and the heeles of themselues vpward O the commonnesse of this sinne in these daies not only in base places but in many great houses yea sometimes in the houses of religious great persons where seruants thinke it a disgrace to themselues and a discurtesie to other great mens seruants if they drinke them not drunke yea so drunke that they can doe no seruice to their masters homeward yea it were well if some great persons themselues yea very great persons did not glorie in this which for all that is their great shame In common Schooles Potations are but once a yeare in Lent and in the afternoones but these wretches these sots make their Potations euery moneth euery weeke euery day as soone as they are out of their beds in the forenoones as well as in the afternoones euen in the night till they be so opprest with drinke that they be forced edormire crapulam Is it not therefore high time to represse this euill More then time If reformation hereof begin in the houses of Nobles Knights and Gentlemen as also of the most dignified Prelates it will be the more easily enlarged further For how can ministerie or magistracie be well executed Isai 28.7 Leuit. 10.9 1. Tim. 3.3 Tit. 1.7 Pro. 31.4 Isai 5.25 1. Maccab. 16.15 by them that are culpable in this kinde Examples of Magistrates ye haue seene before Touching Prelates c. That of Simon the Priest with his two sons Mattathia and Iuda though it be Apocrypha is not altogeather to be despised For they all three hauing drunke largely by the policie of Ptolomaeus the son of â—â—ubush were slaine by the said Ptolomaeus Now here also is to be considered the foule abuse of Tobacco I call it abuse because it may be that for Physike there is some vse of it but Quorum non est vsus eorum non est abusus And this abuse is euen in the Vniuersities themselues yea in all other places Euen such is the abuse hereof that thereby more smoke commeth out of some mens noses then out of many chimnies of some great houses euen of such men as doe most abuse the said Tobacco Hereby also the former sins of drunkennsse and excessiue drinkings are the more nourished Finally hereby though many chimnies are cleane swept yet the bodies of some men deceassed being opened haue beene found as foule and blacke as chimnies are by much soot For the better repressing of the former drukennesse and drinkings may it please you to consider of lessening the number of Innes Against multitude of Innes Tauernes and
Ale-houses Tauernes and Alehouses in all places Yea for making some Act for the stinting of the number of them in euery Parrish of euery Towne and in euery Village of the country and that the number so stinted may not be increased afterward by any whosoeuer Yea also that none be authorized to keepe Inne Tauerne or Alehouse but such as are of good fame and name for their owne sober carriage and behauiour As likewise sufficient to vndergoe the penaltie by you appointed in case they shall offend by suffering any disorder in their houses contrarie to Law But because ye haue alreadie begun to take some order in that behalfe I shall not neede to speake much Notwithstanding there is the more neede to be had for the lessening of the number of them in all places and for reformation of the great resort vnto them especially by such as haue houses of their owne in the same Parrishes and chiefly of the great abuses in them by the former sinnes of drunkennesse and excessiue drinkings by playing at vnlawful games by swearing by singing filthy songs and by many other the like disorders In respect of all these there is the more care to be had for redresse of the premises because such houses are the chiefe bane of many mens children the spoyle of many Seruants the ruine of many yong Heyres the meanes of much whoredome and of many quarrelings and murders the harbors of many Theeues to contriue their Robberies and the places whither to bring their these stollen goods and finally the boothes of all other iniquities Some of them sometimes by some Iustices yea at quarter Sessions for a time are represt but how soone after be they erected againe Such Alehouses also are most dangerous that are in blinde corners farre remote from other houses so also such as are the more needles because they are neere to Market Townes that abound with them and both these are the more dangerous because Constables and other neighbours canot daily see the behauiours in them the one to informe the other to reforme whatsoeuer is amisse yea also touching all Alehouses Innes and Tauernes for the better repressing of them and redressing of all abuses in them it is to be wished that no knowen riotous persons and such as are giuen to play and drunkennesse specially men seruants and sons of parents knowne might be suffered to runne vpon the score and to take more then they presently pay for and that therefore all such ale or beere sellers Innekeepers or Tauerners as should suffer any such Seruants or mens sonnes of age or vnder age so to doe should haue no benefit of Law for recouerie of any such wilfull debts Finally may it please you to consider how conuenient it were for all Tauerners Innekeepers Vinteners Brewers and the like in all Cities and Townes corporate to be restrained from bearing any chiefe magistracie in any such places My reason of this short motion I leaue to your Honorable wisedomes to conceiue Touching playes and players the oftener and by the more Lawes still in force they haue beene condemned Play and Players the more I hope ye will now this once more so strike and wound them that Cities Townes and Villages shall neuer hereafter be so troubled and robbed by them as hitherto they haue beene and yet yeerely are notwithstanding all former Lawes against them the rather because of that intollerable insolencie of them that before hath beene touched euen against the greatest States in the Land as also against worthy Preachers of the Word in such places as where they haue beene suffered to play And who doe most resort to such companions but their like for the most part in all profanenesse The poorest also and most beggerly persons will spare a pennie or two to see and heare their foule sports that haue not so much more in their purses to buy necessarie food for their Families yea such for the most part doe most eagerly resort to such exercises as neuer care for any exercises of Religion priuate or publike Bankrupts Ingrocers of Commodities and all Cozoners of men esppecially in great things Bankrupts c. haue the more need of your seuere animaduersion because by such many are vndone and themselues pretending decay grow rich and when they haue compounded with their creditors for the third or fourth or eighth part sometime of their debt they haue enough left for themselues and for their Children afterward This is much greater robberie then without Murder to take Purses by the high-way These vermin are the more dangerous because many times when they are neerest breaking intend to breake then to deceiue men the more they make the greatest shew of wealth by building by costly apparrel by feasting the like With these may be ioyned those that vpon their second mariages make Ioynters to their second Wiues hauing before conuaied their states to their Children by their first Wiues So likewise they that sell annuities out of their Lands which before they haue secretly conuaied Against ingrocing of Farmes Ingrocers Prou. 23.4 I hope these last yeeres haue made men to cease as Salomon speaketh in like case from their such wisedome and taught them that haue many to desire to be rid of them yea Land-lords to abate rents I hope also that these yeeres of plentie will teach great persons that are Lords of many Farmes to mittigate their rents of their own accord without any further order to constrain them so to do lest if they doe not their Farmers run away leauing them and their Lands in the lurch to their as great losse as before they had gaine by their hard rents in the hardnesse of their hearts looking for their rents but neuer caring with what difficulty and griefe of heart their Farmers labour to maintaine themselues and their Families Ps 127.2 rising early and sitting vp late and eating the bread of sorrowes while their Land-lords liue in ease and pleasures Notwithstanding the woe of such Land-lords will be greater in the end then the present griefe of their poore Tenants Isa 3.15 Psal 14.5 Amos 8.6 7. Amos 4.2 For they beat the Lords people to peices grind the faces of the poore and eat them vp as men eat bread yea they sallow them vp and buy them for siluer and sell them for shooes Will the Lord alwaies beare this No no He hath sworne by the excellencie of Iacob that certainly he will neuer forget such workes by his owne holinesse that the dayes shall come vpon such when he will take them away with hookes that is he will destroy them suddainly and vnawares as the Fish is taken with the hooke Will the Lord be forsworne Yea he threatneth further that although such great ones build houses of hewen stones Amos. 5.11 they shall not dwell in them and though also they plant pleasant Vineyards they shall not drinke Wine of them Yea further which is heauiest of all
Amos 8.7 the Lord threatneth neuer to forget them and to bring such a plague vpon them as out of the which they shall neuer plucke their necke Mich. 2.3 Mich. 3.4 and that although they cry vnto the Lord yet he will not heare them Will the Lord deale thus with them that oppresse the bodies of men Oh then how will he deale with them that are cruell to mens Soules Because also some Executors of last Wills Testaments of the dead are as great oppressors as the former by wasting Orphans goods in suit of Law sometime against such as to whom in nature they are most bound in building purehasing of Lands in their own names and in so renuing of Leases left to their trust for such Orphans and in liuing riotously other like waies so that such Orphans comming to age are frustrated of that which their Parents left them may it please you to consider of doing some thing according to your godly wisedomes for preuenting hereafter of this great euill the father because Executors may die and often doe die before such Orphans be of age The same I wish concerning some that haue ingroced some sums of mony into their hands therewith purchased Lands and then most wickedly laid violent hands vpon themselues to leaue the said land to their heires because lands pay no debts Such I haue known and therefore I do the rather commend the same to your Honourable Court to be preuented for the time to come Touching oppression by Ecclesiasticall Courts in taking greater fees for probat of Wills Letters of Administration for Excommunications and Absolutions for Citations appearances according to such Citations iust or vniust inforcing also men to buy their Bookes of Articles to pay ten or twelue pence for a Book of them deere of two pence and other such waies as ye haue begun a little to pry into them so hoping ye will sift such things further I will spare all further speech of them as also of the extortion of some Bishops themselues in taking much more then they ought for Letters of Orders for Institution Induction and the like Notwithstanding I haue need here to ad something touching Symonie and giuing of money or moneys worth Against Symonie by any Ministers themselues or by any their friends in their behalfe for Benefices or any other Ecclesiasticall preferments to such as doe more loue to see money then to see God Exod. 23.8 Dan. 16.19 and that by such seeing of money haue their eyes so blinded and their words so peruerted though before they seemed righteous that they can neither see that that is right nor like a drunken man speake a right word This is the more worthy your wise consideration because although the Lawes alreadie against the said corruption enacted be so strickt that a man would wonder how that foule and monstrous sinne should be still continued yet such is the wicked wit of man that it hath wayes and wiles enough to elude all alreadie done therein and so to beguile their owne Soules that Symonie to many Patrons or to their Wiues or to their Children or to their Seruants or to their Friends is still as common as rife as vsuall as if there were no Law at all against it And albeit a man would thinke that no more seueritie could be deuised to represse the same yet if ye shall be pleased to entertaine this further motion I doubt not but that your wisedomes will finde out somewhat more then yet hath beene for the curbing and restraining both giuer and taker for the time to come from all such corruption The same I doe likewise commend to your wisedomes for restraint of the like euill in the collating of Academicall preferments especially Schollerships and Fellowships in the Vniuersities For it is lamentable and verie lamentable to see the great change of those places as in other things so also in this from that they were fourtie or fiftie yeeres past when there was no such corruption almost knowne It may be some were chosen of fauour or by friendship and Letters of great persons that were not so worthy as some other that were past ouer but as for money corruption it was not so much as talked of Afterward also for resignation of a Fellowship it may be the Resigner had some twentie Nobles or ten pound at the most But now alas it is come to that passe that Masters of Houses take sometimes fourtie pound sometimes fiftie pound sometimes an hundred Markes sometimes an hundred pounds and more also for a poore Fellowship to the great preiudice of Learning the hindrance of the Poore the disgrace of the Gospel and to such shame and reproch of such takers themselues that Libels are cast out against them for the same If some Masters and late made Fellowes were vpon their Oathes hereof examined they could not if they haue any feare of God or any conscience denie it Neither I am perswaded would they being especially assured of pardon for their offence past in that kind But for the time to come were it not fit that all such takers and giuers as also all friends that shall giue any thing for any in such respect should be seuerely punished by your wisedomes as likewise that all that could detect such dealing should be well rewarded Moreouer because he that loueth pastime shall be a poore man and he that loueth Wine and Oyle shall not be rich Against riotous gaming and vnlawfull pastimes Oh that ye would be pleased to take some order against such things as Salomon there meaneth I meane against all riot in gaming in lauish and costly fare in rich and curious apparell beyond abilitie aboue calling not beseeming their sexe whereby also is to be vnderstood all excesse in Hunting Pro. 21.17 Hawking and the like The which exercises are in themselues lawfull but not conuenient for all sorts of persons yea sometimes they be made vnlawfull being immoderately vsed And by these things how quickly doe many waste their whole states and bring themselues to be hired out for bread 1 Sam. 2.5 Yea such as were borne to great Inheritances In some Countries I haue heard young men prodigally giuen to be confined for their expenses Why may it not be so with vs Prodigall persons to be confined to their expenses Why also should there not a Law be made for all great men no longer to enioy their Titles and Dignities then whiles they haue meanes to maintaine the same As also for some in euerie Countrey to be appointed to haue power for a time euerie yeere or euerie two or three yeeres to call Noble mens heires and other great persons to account after they be of age and to examine them of their expenses and then vpon finding them lauish Christianly to admonish them finding them frugall to encourage them and if they shall not regard the second or third admonition such to be degraded of their Dignitie and