these men from it And that it may appear unto Your Lordships how many and of what condition the persons are which by Gods blessing upon my labours I have setled in the true Protestant Religion established in England I shall briefely name some of them though I cannot do it in order of time as I converted them Henry Berkinstead of Trinity Colledge Oxon seduced by a Jesuite and brought to London The Lords and others conceiving him to be Berchinhead the Author of all the Libellous Popish Oxford Aulicusses against the Parliament at the naming of him smiled which the Archbishop perceiving said My Lords I mean not Berchinhead the Author of Oxford Aulicus but another Two Daughters of Sir Richard Lechford in Surry sent towards a NVNNERIE Two Schollers of Saint Johns Colledge Cambridge Toppin and Ashton who had got the French Ambassadors passe and after this I allowed means to Toppin and then procured him a fellowship in Saint Johns And he is at this present as hopefull a young man as any of his time and a Divine Sir William Webbe my kinsman and two of his Daughters And his son I took from him and his Father being utterly decayed I bred him at my own charge and he is a very good Protestant A Gentleman brought to me by Master Chesford his Majesties servant but I cannot recall his name The Lord Mayo of Ireland brought to me also by Master Chesford The Right Honourable the Lord. Duke of Buckingham almost quite gone between the Lady his Mother and Sister The Lady Marquesse Hamilton was setled by my direction and shee dyed very religiously and a Protestant Master Digby who was a Priest Master James a Gentleman brought to mee by a Minister in Buckinghamshire as I remember Doctor Heart the Civilian my neighbours sonne at Fulham Master Christopher Seaburne a Gentleman of an ancient family in Herefordshire The Right Honourable the Countesse of Buckingham Sir William Spencer of Parnton Master Shillingworth The sonnes and heires of Master Winchcombe and Master Wollescott whom I sent with their friends liking to Wadham Colledge Oxford and received a Certificate Anno 1638. of their continuing in conformity to the Church of England Nor did ever any one of these named relapse againe but only the Countesse of Buckingham and Sir William Spencer it being only in Gods power not mine to preserve them from relapse And now let any Clergy man of England come forth and give a better accompt of his zeale to the Church This speech being ended all were commanded to withdraw In the withdrawing Master Hugh Peters who stood near the Archbishop demanded of him whether he was not ashamed to make such a bold challenge in so honourable an Auditory as he had made in the close of his Speech In bidding any Clergy man of the Church of England to come forth and give a better account of his zeal to the Church and conversion of Papists to our Religion then he had done Adding that himself the unworthiest of many hundred Ministers in England was there ready to answer his challenge and to produce a Catalogue not of 22. but of above 120. Papists which he through Gods blessing had converted to our Religion and brought home to God besides making them other manner of Converts then any in his recited Bead-Rol who were made neither good Protestants nor good Christians by him Adding that he and many other Ministers in England were able to produce hundreds of reall Converts to Christ for every of his pretended ones some wherof by his own confession soon turned Apostates and the rest but litle better At which speech of his the Archbishop seemed much offended and some of his friends there present taxing Master Peters as an unmannerly sawcy fellow for using such language to him in this his afflicted condition desired him to trouble his Grace no further with such rude discourse whereupon they parted without more words If we survey this Oration of the Arch-bishop with an impartiall eye we may discover abundance of shamelesse Impudency and Pharisaicall selfe-justification beyond all bounds of Modesty or Verity broached in it so apparently contradicted by his manifold unjust oppressive violent actions and Popish Innovations of all sorts visible to the eyes of all men and so diametrally refuted by the subsequent evidence produced against him during his seventeen dayes tryall that had not his brow been made of brasse and his face of Adamant he could not have justified so many grosse untruths of him selfe before such an honourable publike Auditory and the supreame Judicatory of the Realme with so much shamelesse impudency as hee did But t is the common practise of obdurate sinners and cauterized Delinquents Fortem animum praestant rebus quas turpitèr audent Like the adulterous woman Pro. 30. 20. Who eateth and wipeth her mouth and saith I HAVE DONE NO WICKEDNES This Evening the Lords Ordered the Arch-bishop to appear at their Bar the next morning by 9 of the Clocke at which time they would proceed in his Tryall Whereupon all departing for that time appeared the next day at the appointed houre in the Lords House where the Commons entring upon their evidence proved the Articles in their Order I shall present you with the summe and severall branches of his charge and then prosecute them in the ensuing method The Generall Charge against the Archbishop with the severall branches thereof THe Charge against this Arch-Malefactor consisting of many various particular Crimes of high nature is reducible to one generall head to wit High Treason against the King and Kingdome thus expressed in the 1. Originall and 2. Additionall Articles That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and Government of the Kingdome of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government This Generall is distributed into foure Speciall branches in the Articles of his Impeachment under which all the particular Capitall Offences and grand Misdemenours given in evidence against him at his Tryall are comprehensible 1. His Trayterous endeavours and practises to alter and subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realme and instead thereof to set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry and reconcile us to the Church of Rome the particulars whereof are specified in the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Originall and 6. 7. 8. 9. Additionall Articles 2. His Trayterous usurpation of a Papall and Tyranicall power in the Church of England in all Ecclesiasticall affaires in prejudice and derogation of his Majesties Royall Prerogative and the Subjects liberties comprised in the sixt originall Article 3. His Trayterous attempts and endeavours to subvert the fundamentall temporall Lawes Government and Liberties of the Realme and Subjects of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government against the Law and Subjects liberties expressed in the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 13 Originall and 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. Additionall Articles 4. His Trayterous
himselfe if questioned for it upon any future occasion CHARLES R. CAnterbury See that Our Declaration concerning Recreations on the Lords day after Evening Prayer be Printed By all these Premised evidences it is most apparent that the Archbishop was the principall Actor in the publication of this Licentious Book to Gods and his Majesties dishonour which we shal further evidence by this writing under his owne hand The Declaration concerning Lawfull sports on the Lords day His Majesty Commanded me to se it Printed The motives to it were 1. A generall and superstitious opinion conceived of that day 2. A Booke set out by Theophilus Brabourne 1628. Iudaisme upon Christian principles and perverted many 3. A great distemper in Somerset-shire upon the forbiding of the wakes in the sowernesse of this opinion an Act of a Iudge that rid that Circuit March 15. 1627. And followed by another 1630. And his Majesty troubled with Petitions and motions by some cheife men of that county on both sides 4. His Royall Fathers example upon the like occasions in Lancashire After the publishing of this Declaration the Lord Richardson returning from his Circuit was by the Archbishops means convented before the King and Lords at the Councell Table about the forementioned Passages in his Charge in justification of the order against Wakes according to his duty and for revoking it in such a slight manner as much as in him lay for which he was so shaken up by the Archbishop that comming very dejectedly with tears in his eyes out of the Councel Chamber the Earle of Derset seeing him in such a sad condition and demaunding him how he did he answered Very ill my Lord for I am like to bee choaked with the Archbishops Lawn-sleeves And for this cause alone as he and others conceived he was by the Archbishops means to his great griefe and losse put from Riding the Westerne and enforced to Ride the Essex Circuit reputed the meanest of all others which no Chiefe Iustice but the puny Iudge or Serjeants only used to Ride notwithstanding the Lord Cottington and others earnestly moved His Majesty that he might ride some other Circuit After this the Archbishop intending to make this Declaration for Sports an Engine to insnare suspend silence and root out all conscientious preaching Ministers throughout the Realm by degrees the better to usher in Popery Ignorance and prophanesse enjoyned all Ministers to read this Declaration personally in their Churches in time of Divine Service such who out of conscience refused to read it were by the Archbishops own speciall direction suspended from their office and Benefice Excommunicated vexed in the High-commission and some of them there sentenced and deprived of their livings for this pretended crime though against no Law or Canon of God or man for proofe whereof these ensuing testimonies were produced First Sir Nathaniell Brent attested upon Oath that when he was appointed by the Archbishop as his Vicar Generall to Visit within the Diocesse of Canterbury the Archbishop himselfe gave him a speciall charge to convent all Ministers before him who would not read the Booke for sports on the Lords day and to suspend them for it and that he gave them particular order by name to suspend Mr. Culmer Master Player and Mr. Hieron three eminent preaching Ministers in Kent for not reading the sayd Booke of Sports Whereupon he did much against his will and judgement suspend them all ab Officio Beneficio and forced some of them to allow twenty pound a peice or more to Officiate the Cure during their suspension After which he received another speciall command from the Archbishop to suspend Mr. Wilson for the selfe-same cause whereupon he did accordingly suspend him Master Richard Culmer deposed at the Lords Barre upon oath that he being Minister of Goodneston in the County of Kent Mr. John Player Minister of Kennington and Mr. Thomas Hieron Minister of Hornhill in the said County they were all three convented by the Archbishops direction before Sir Nathaniell Brent for not reading the Booke for Lords-day sports and after that all three of them suspended from their Ministry and Livings in the Archbishops Consistory for the same Whereupon they soone after repaired to Lambeth to the Archbishop and there joyntly Petitioned him for Absolution from this unjust Suspension who reading their Petition and understanding the cause of their suspension for not reading that unwarrantable Declaration the Archbishop gave them this peremptory Answer If you know not how to obey I know not how to grant whereupon they continued thus suspended about three whole yeares and seven Moneths not being permitted to preach or instruct their people to their great griefe and the profits of their Livings were sequestred towards the maintenance of Deboist unedifying Curates who seldome preached And though this Deponent did divers times afterwards Petition the said Archbishop to take off his suspension yet he refused to do it calling him refractory fellow and saying it should continue and so it did he being not only deprived of his Ministry but also of all the profits of his Living having himselfe his Wife and 7. small Children to provide for which suspension and sequestration continued upon him till the Scotts comming in and then the Archbishop Absolved him more out of feare of the Scots than good will so as hee might justly say Gramercy good Scott for his liberty Master Thomas Wilson a godly learned Minister now of the Assembly deposed at the Barre that the Archbishop himselfe sent for him to Lambeth and demanded of him whether he had publikely read the Booke of Sports in the Church to which he answered no whereupon the Archbishop replied I Suspend you for ever from your office and Benefice till you read it whereupon hee was suspended and his Living sequestred for foure years space After which he was brought into the high-Commission at Lambeth by the Archbishops means and there Articled against for not reading the said Booke to his great cost and vexation Master Prynne attested that Mr. Wrath and M. Erbery were brought up out of Wales Mr. William Iones out of Glocestershire and divers others from other parts into the High-Commission at Lambeth for not reading this Declaration for Pastimes on the Lords day and the keeping of Wakes and Church-ales and that hee found this following Petition concerning the same subject among Sir Iohn Lambs sequestred papers with an Answer to it under the Archbishops owne hand manifesting his owne direction for prosecuting of one Henry Page a godly Vicar in the high-Commission for refusing to read this Declaration and expressing his dislike thereof To the most Reverend Father in God William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace Primate c. The humble Petition of Francis Thompson Gent. IN all Duty sheweth That whereas one Henry Page Vicar of Sedbury in the County of Hereford having taken upon him the Cure of Soules there hath many times used divers and sundry scandalous and ignominious
the parties lay there buried And is it not then a far greater madnesse superstition and ridiculous frenzie for this domineering Arch-Prelate to deem these two Chappels prophane places unfit to administer the Sacraments and celebrate divine Service in because never yet consecrated by a Bishop not onely after three but almost three-score yeares use and practise of divine Service Sermons Sacraments in them When as neither his predecessors Whitgift Bancroft and Abbot men very ceremonious and two of them much addicted to superstition ever so much as moved any such question concerning the necessity of their consecration Especially since there is no such Canon Law to enforce the consecration of them now as was to justifie the re-hallowing of S. Maries Church in Queen Maries time which the Popish Canon Law then approved in the case of Bucer and Fagius We read in the Ecclesiasticall Constitutions of Otho the Popes Legat made in an English Synode in the Raigne of King Henry the third that even in those dark times of Popery there were not only divers Parish Churches but some Cathedrals in England which were used as such for many yeares yet never consecrated by a Bishop as appears by these words of the Constitution it self Multas invenimus Ecclesias aliquas Cathedrales quae licet fuer unt ab antiquo constructae nondum tamen sunt sanctificationis Oleo consecrate Whereupon this Popish Legat for his own lucher Enjoyned all Churches then built or to be built to be consecrated within two years space under pain of interdiction from having Masse said in them unlesse some reasonable cause were shewed to the contrary By colour of which Popish constitution this Prelate it seems urged the consecration of these ancient Chappels there being no other shaddow of reason Canon or authority for it After this Archbishop had thus procured a power to himself to visit the Vniversity of Cambridge Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely Decemb. 1. 1639. Sent him up an account signed with his own hand of some things amisse within his Diocesse and that University which he left to his Graces consideration to amend which account was seized by Master Prynne in his study at Lambeth and thus indorsed with the Arch-bishops own hand My Lord of Elyes Account 1639. In which there were these two Passages concerning consecration of Chappels The first concerning a Chappell in Sir John Cuts house in the town of Childerley which Chappell the Knight said was consecrated by Bishop Heton producing an Instrument under seal purporting that on such a day at Childersly Bishop Heton did consecrate a Chappell by saying Service there himselfe and having a Sermon this was all the Solemnity of its Consecration I questioning the whole matter have required him to waiteupon your Grace to see whether that consecration must be allowed of The second concerning some Chappels in Colledges never yet consecrated which is thus expressed in this Account It was presented unto me That in the Colledges of Emanuel Sidney and Corpus Christi there have been Roomes built within the memory of man which are used for common Chappels wherein they have dayly prayers and do Preach there without any faculty or license granted unto them so to do And wherein also they ordinarily celebrate the holy Communion The said places never having been consecrated thereunto Ma. Elie. The Scottish troubles it seems prevented his consecration of these Chappels which were sufficiently hallowed before by the Divine Duties exercised in them The last Chappell we finde consecrated was that in Covent Garden which was hallowed or rather prophaned with all Popish Ceremonies expressed in the Roman Pontificall and far more than were used at Creed-Church The Arch-bishop having thus far advanced his Popish designes in consecrating Churches Chappels and Church-yards proceeded one step further even to set up the exploded Annuall Baccanalian feasts of Dedication whereon Churches were hallowed prescribed at first onely by the Decrees of Pope Felix Pope Gregory recorded by Gratian De Consecratione Distinct 1. who Decreed thus Solennitates Ecclesiarum dedicationem per singulos annos solemniter sunt celebrandae Those Feasts of Dedication turned by the people into meer Bacchanals were exceedingly declaimed against as necessary to be suppressed by Nicholaus de Clemangiis in his Tract De Novis Celebritatibus non instituendis suppressed by the Injunctions of King Henry the S. An. 1536. As the occasion of much idlenesse excesse riot and pernicious to the Souls of men Whereupon they were all of them restrained to the first Sunday in the moneth of October not to be kept on any other day and afterwards totally abolished by the statute of 5. and 6. E. 6. c. 3. Of holy-dayes Which being revived again by degrees with their Baccanalian disorders in sundry places of this Realm under the names of Wakes or Revels and suppressed by some Judges in their Circuits and Justices of Peace in Sessions this Arch-bishop in the year of our Lord 1633. by a Declaration compiled by himselfe but published in his Majesties Name intituled The Kings Majesties Declaration concerning Lawfull Sports to be used revived and enjoyned the Observation of these Wakes and Feasts of Dedication never formerly established by any Christian Prince together with the use of divers Sports and pastimes on the Lords own Sacred day after Divine Service ended to the great Dishonour of God of his Majesty of our Religion the disturbance of the Civill Government encrease of all Licensiousnesse prophanenesse impiety and great griefe of all godly peoples Souls This Book he enjoyned all Ministers to read and publish openly in the Church in time of Divine Service though not commanded by the King and those who out of conscience refused to read it in this kinde were by his means suspended excommunicated prosecuted in the High-Commission Sequestred from their Livings yea many of them enforced to desert their Cures and depart the Kingdome this book being made a snare onely to entrap or suppresse most of the painfull godly preaching Ministers throughout the Realm who were all more or lesse prosecuted about it Yet such was this Arch-Prelates unparallel'd impiety transcending all examples in former Ages that he not onely caused his Instruments Edmond Reeve Dr. Heylyn Christopher Dowe and others to defend the Lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of this prophane licentious Declaration but also to justifie the persecution silencing suspending depriving of those Godly Ministers who out of Conscience refused to publish it in sundry Printed Books authorized by him and his Chaplaines for the Presse Quis talia fando temperet à Lachrymis at leastwise can refrain from the heaviest censures against this prophane Arch-bishop That this Declaration since ordered to be publikely burnt by the common hangman by Order of both Houses of Parliament was Printed published by the Archbishops procurement and upon what Occasion was thus attested upon Oath by Master Edward Richardson and Master Prynne Sir Thomas Richardson Lord chiefe Justice
speeches in the Pulpit and elsewhere and more especially upon the fourth Commandement both by preaching and otherwise he hath in contempt of the Kings most Excellent Majestis Declaration concerning the lawfulnesse of Recreations upon Sundayes and holy-daies after time of Divine Service and in derision and scorne of the Booke set forth by His Majesty to that purpose often amongst other his opprobrious and disgracefull speeches uttered these words following concerning the same viz. Is it not as lawfull to plucke at a Cartrope upon the Sabbath day as at a Bell-rope Is it not as lawfull for a VVeaver to shoot his shuttle in the Sabbath day as for a man to take his Bow to shoote And is it not as lawfull for a VVoman to spinne at her wheele or for a man to go to Plough or Cart as for a man in the Sabbath day to dance that devilish round All which words and divers other of the like kind your Petitioner will be bound to prove unto your Grace and the honourable Court of high Commisiion May it therefore please your Grace for the Reformation of the sayd Mr. Page and satisfaction of his Parishioners consciences and other inhabitants there abouts who daily flocke unto him by reason of inveigling them with such his Doctrine to grant an Attachment or Letters Missive to issue out against him the sayd Page to bring him to Answer to such Articles as shall bee exhibited into the said Court against him And your Petitioner as in duty shall daily pray for your Graces long life and happinesse I desire Dr. Merrick to consider of the suggestions of this Petition and take order for Letters Missive if he see cause Aug. 30. 1638. W. Cant. Among which Papers he likewise met with this Certificate manifesting that not only Sir Nathaniell Brent but Sir Iohn Lambe in the Archbishops Metropoliticall Visitation did peremptorily enjoyne all ministers in the Archbishops name to read this Declaration for sports on the Lords Day to the people in Churches to animate them to prophan it though not prescribed in his printed visitation Articles To the Right VVorshipfull Sir John Lambe Knight Doctor of Law Commissary to the Lords Grace of Canterbury for the Archdeaconry of Huntington c. THese are to certifie that Thomas Gibbs Master of Art and Curate of Hitchin in Hartfordshire within the Archdeaconry of Huntington according to your Injunction at the Visitation there holden did distinctly and treatably read upon the 29th of Aprill being Sunday at Morning Prayer after the reading of the first Lesson appointed for the day most of the Parish then being present the Book intituled The Kings Maiesties Declaration to His Subiects concerning lawfull sports to be used William Lindall D. D. Edward Radcliffe Esque Iohn Skinner Edward Hurst Thomas Draper William Hurste Churchwardens And with 3. Petitions of Mr. Valentines to the Archbishop suspended for not reading the Book of sports referred to Sir Iohn Lambe who endorsed on one of them with his owne hand that he had received inclosed therein A Bribe of five pound Besides in the Abstract of the Archbishops Metropoliticall Visitation in the yeare 1635. found in his Study by Master Prynne there are these Passages concerning the Booke of sports Master Fairfax Curate of Rumborough Charged with inconformity hath faithfully promised to read the Declaration for lawfull sports I suspended one Master Pegges of VVeeford ex nunc pro ut ex tunc in case he did not read the Kings Declaration for sports on Sunday seven-night following There are divers in Surrey that refuse to read the Kings Declaration for lawfull sports on Sundayes besides those that stand suspended for the fault Doctor Howell a very worthy Divine gave me a note of their Names they are Master Whitfield of Ockly Mr. Garth of Wouersh Mr. Ward of Pepper-harrow and Mr. Farroll of Purbright all of them of the Lecture of Guilford and some of them of the Lecture of Darking who were afterwards prosecuted for it All these are unfallible Evidences that the Archbishop was the originall principall Author enforcer of this Declaration upon Godly Ministers against both Law and conscience himselfe his Servants playing some times at Boules upon the Lords own day to give good example unto others and persecuting those with infinit severity to the ruing of their Flocks Families who out of conscience durst not publish it Of which we shal produce one signal example more in the case of Mr. Lawrence Snelling a reverend Godly learned Minister deprived in the High Commission for not reading this Declaration Mr. Snelling himselfe restified upon Oath that he was suspended from his Ministry Living excommunicated and soone after that brought into the High Commission at Lambheth and there sentenced to be deprived from his benefice loosing the profits thereof full foure yeares space only for refusing to read this Declaration for sports That Hee there pleaded in his owne defence the Law of God of the Realme the Authorities of Councells Fathers and late Writers of all sorts That the Declaration it selfe appeared not to be his Majesties though published in his name it being not enrolled in any Court nor published under his great Seale as all Proclamations Briefes to be read in Churches are that there was no command at all of the Kings it should be read by any in Churches much lesse by Ministers no punishment threatned nor prescribed for not reading it no authority given to Archbishops Bishops High Commissioners or any other persons to question suspend or punish any Minister for not reading it and being a meere civill not Ecclesiasticall Declaration not enjoyned by any Ecclesiasticall Canon or Authority but temporall only no Ecclesiasticall Iudges could take cognisans of it much lesse inflict any ecclesiasticall censure for it especially in the high Commission it being no offence with in the Statute of 1. Eliz. ch 1. or the Kings Commission Ecclesiasticall whereby the High Commissioners sit so not questionabl by them Al which particulars he put into his answer defence but the Archbishop gave order not to accept his Answer or defence as he tendred them saying openly in Court That whosoever should make such a Defence as he had don it should be burnt before his face and he laid by the heeles for his paines whereupon the Commissioners expunged what they pleased out of his Answer and defence and then censured him Mr. Gellibrand deposed the same with Mr. Snelling whose censure was there produced out of the High-Commission records and here subjoyned Die Lunae viz. nono Die mensis Februarii Anno Dom. 1637. coram Commissionariis Regiis ad causas Ecclesiasticas apud Hospitium Advocatorum c. Iudicial seden presentibus Stephano Knight Deputato Iohanne Greenhill Notarto publico Officium Dominorum con Laurent Snelling Cleric Rectorem de Paulscrai in Com. Kantii Dr. Ryues The Cause is to be informed in and finally sentenced out of the said Master Snellings answer and
mentioned be not truely observed Vpon condition whereof the Bishop hath condescended unto the humble Petition presented vnto his Lordship from the Major and the other Inhabitants of the said Towne of Brackley for suffering the said weekely Sermon These Orders under my Hand and Seale are to be set up for all those whom they concerne to take notise of the same in some convenient place within the Chappell of S. Iames Brackley or in the Chancell or Vestery of the same Chappell as the Incumbent of the place shall dispose them In testimony whereof we have caused our Seale Episcopall to be hereunto put the day and yeer above written 1. Doctor Sybthorpe Vicar of Brackley 2. Mr. Burden Rector of Aynoe 3. Mr. Yates Rector of Midleton cheny 4. Mr. Losse Vicar of Leas weeden 5. Mr. Osborne Rector of Thenford 6. Mr. Selby Rector of Chipingwarden 7. Mr. Gage Vicar of Culworth 8. Mr. Adams Rector of Ashton in le walls 9. Mr. Burton Rector of Helmedon 10. Mr. Osten Rector of Braddon 11. Mr. Iakeman Rector of Farthingoe 12. Mr. Brocke Vicar of Maideford 13. Mr. Hunt Vicar of Sulgraue 14. Mr. Mander Vicar of Chacombe 15. Mr. Hifeild Vicar of Evenley Jo. Petriburg By these unreasonable conditions to which the consciences of most orthodox godly Ministers could no wayes submit most Combination Lecturers were totally discontinued and such as remained were for the most part supplied only by Prelaticall Superstitious Ceremonious Popish Clergy men of the Archbishops faction whose Sermons and Examples did more corrupt then instruct seduce then reforme the Auditors and onely promote his Popish designes To such slavery misery were both Ministers and People reduced by colour of this Prelates forementioned Considerations Who being afterwards advanced to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury had an annuall Account returned to him from all the Bishops of his Province how these Instructions concerning Sermons Lectures and Lecturers were observed and what Proceedings were upon them as was manifested by the Originals of their Accounts found in his study endorsed with his own hand And not content with his Provinciall Bishops proceedings himself in his Metropoliticall Visiitation gave speciall Order to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar generall to inquire how his Majesties Instructions were observed as appears by a Memorandum touching his Visitation in generall March 6. 1634. written with Mr Dells own hand found in the Archbishops study with other Papers of that nature and likewise ordered him to silence divers Ministers and not suffer them to Lecture We shall give you one memorable instance in Mr Leighe a reverend Minister then of Wolverhampton but now settled in Shoreditch by order of Parliament For whose silencing this Archbishop gave speciall order as appears by a Letter under his Secretary Dells own hand who acknowledged it at the Lords Barr directed to Sir Nathaniel Brent found by M. Prynne among Sir John Lambes Papers Worthy SIR THE Church and Colledge of Wolverhampton in the Diocesse of Litchfield is an Appendix to the Deane of Windsor who by Charter of Edward the fourth is both Patron and Ordinary cum omnimoda jurisdictione And in that regard though they have not been visited by any time out of mind yet now he is content to lay by the Bulls and Charters of Exemption and to admit of my Lords Metropolitan visitation But with all he hath made this humble suit to my Lords Grace that if you visit that Church and Colledge they may not be summoned out of their own Jurisdiction but rather that in your way from Litchfield to Shrewsbury your visitation may be held in that very Place it being a goodly Collegiate Church and every way sit for it In which my Lord wills you by all means to give Mr Dean content in what may conveniently be done And whereas his Grace is informed that the Place is much given to Faction and that the last Summer there were some very good Chapter Acts and other Orders made by my Lord the Bishop of Hereford then Dean to settle things there in a Church way and to curbe the insolency of some men who since upon occasion of this my Lords Visitation are bold to give it out that they will have all reversed c. His Grace hath commanded me to signifie his expresse pleasure to you That no former Act made by the Chapter there nor any Order appointed by the Deane be reversed or any wayes altered without first acquainting his Grace therewith And that you take speciall notice of one Mr Lee a Prebend there who hath been the Author of much disorder thereabouts And if you can fasten upon any thing whereby he may justly be censured pray see it be done and home or bring him to the High Commission Court to answer it there c. But HOWEVER let him not obtain any License to Preach any Lecture there or in another Exempt place hard by at Tetenshall whither those of Wolverhampton do now run after him out of their Parish for the Church hath not much need of such men If you speak with Mr Latham of Litchfield who is the Surrogate there he will informe you more fully concerning this Businesse That he the said Mr Lee hath Churched Refractory Women in private c. That he is averse to all good Orders of the Church As also that in another place thereabouts they caused a Bell-man in open Market to make Proclamation for a Sermon c. One thing more which I may not forget My Lords Grace is informed that at Monkes-Illith in Suffolke there is a Monument placed just at the East end of the Church where the Communion Table or Altar should stand And therefore his Grace wills you notwithstanding you are now past it to take order that it be either removed or demolished And that you be very carefull to do the like in all Churches else where you finde the same Abuse So not doubting of your care in these Particulars and wishing you health and content throughout your Journey I take my leave and am Your Faithfull poor Friend to serve you William Dell. Lambeth April 27. 1635. Mr Dean cannot be at Wolverhampton by reason of his attendance at Windsor the Instalment being about that time and therefore prays you to hold him accused Upon this Letter Mr Leigh was suspended by Sir Nathaniel Brent as appears by an Abstract of the Metropoliticall Visitation delivered by Sir Nathaniel to the Archbishop who thus endorsed it with his own hand Iuly 16. 1635. The Abstract of my Visitation of Norwich Peterborrough Litchfield c. produced at the Barr in which we find mention of above twenty other Ministers suspended from preaching in this his Visitation In his Instructions for his Metropoliticall Visitation in the Diocesse of London endorsed and signed with his owne hand wee finde divers Informations against sundry Ministers inclosed among which this is one Mr. Randall Curate of Tuddington in Midlesex neer Hampton Court preacheth long Sermons and factious on Sundayes
in the Afternoone though he hath beene admonished of it and inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to which the Archbishop underwrites this direction to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Visitor Sir I require you that besides your other Instructions you give me an Account of all particulars within named W. Cant. Of which particular concerning Mr Randall Sir Nathaniel after his Visitation gave this account to the Archbishop MAster Randall Curate of Tuddington noted in the paper confesseth that since he was inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to preach in the Afternoones on Sundayes he hath once offended and no more It was to make a farewell Sermon to that exercise as he saith wherein he rather aggravateth his fault then otherwise Hee saith that this Sermon was much beyond the compasse of an hour and I beleeve it continued more then two houres He now seeth and acknowledgeth his fault protesteth he will be most conformable for the future and humbly desireth to be dismissed with a Canonicall Admonition But I keep him in fear still To this we might add his procurement of Dr Ienningson Lecturer at Newcastle to be questioned in the High Commission at York in the year 1639. whose Articles and Answers were both sent up to Lambeth to his Grace-ship and enforcing to quit that place with the Kingdome too to avoyd his fury His prosecution of Mr Iohn Iemmet Lecturer at Barwicke in causing the Bishop of Durham in December 1639. to send for him by a Pursevant silence him from preaching in Barwick and banish him the Town without any Articles or Witnesses examined against him with other instances of this nature but for brevity sake we shall omit these and proceed to his next stratagem to suppresse preaching which was His publishing of a Declaration for Sports in his Majesties name and silencing suspending excommunicating questioning censuring in the High Commission and elsewhere many hundreds of godly conscientious Preaching Ministers whom the Instructions for Lecturers could not reach so farr as to silence being Incumbents and not meer Lecturers for refusing personally to publish it in their Churches to animate their people to profane the Lords day with unhallowed Pastimes which because we have formerly insisted on and proved to be his designe we shall here but mention and passe by only with this one Addition that Mr Thomas Valentine Minister of Chalford Saint Giles in the County of Buckingham being suspended by Sir Iohn Lambe Deane of the Arches for not reading the Book of Sports from which suspention he appealed and procured time to consider whether he would read it or not Mr Valentine not long after to obtain further time and favour writ a Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe dated April 28. 1636. with 5 l. inclosed and a Petition to the Archbishop on which Letter Sir Iohn makes this endorsment with his own hand Master Valentine 28. April 1636. with 5 l. PEECES inclosed which Petition Sir Iohn recommending to Mr Dell procured him a gratious answer and some longer respite for the present but in December and Ianuary following he was again molested and suspended for not publishing this Declaration in proper person though his Curate had formerly read it in the Church as appears by two Petitions to the Archbishop for his absolution His third design to suppresse preaching was by discouraging conscientious young Schollers and Divines from entering into the Ministry by putting divers clogs difficulties upon them under a most specious pretext which was thus effected No sooner was this Prelate setled in his Archbishoprick but he contrived a Letter drawn by Mr Dell his Secretary but interlined corrected with his own hand as appears by the Originall draught found in his study directed as from his Majestie to himself which he afterwards presented to the King who directed and sent it to him under his Privy Signet to be put in Execution in manner following as the very Letter it selfe under the Kings Signet declares thus endorsed with the Archbishops own hand Rec. Sept. 19. 1633. From his Majesty that no Ministers be made sine Titulo To the most Reverend Father in God our Right trusty and Right entirely beloved Councellor William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England CHARLES R. MOst Reverend Father in God Right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellour we greet you well There is nothing more deer to US then the preservation of true Religion as it is now settled and established in this our Kingdome to the honour of God and the great comfort of our selfe and our Loyall people and there can nothing more conduce to the advancement thereof then the strict observation of such Canons of the Church as concern those that are to take orders in their severall times More especially of keeping that particular Canon which injoyns That no man be made a Priest or a Minister without a Title For we finde that many not so qualified do by favour or other means procure themselves to be ordeined and afterwards for want of means wander up and downe to the scandall of their calling or to get maintenance fall upon such courses as are most unfit for them both by humouring their Auditours and other wayes altogether unsufferable Wee have therefore thought fit and Wee doe hereby streightly require and charge you to call such Bishops to you as are now present in or neer our City of London and to acqulint them with this our resolution And further that you faile not in the beginning of the next Terme to give notice of this our will and pleasure openly in our High Commission Court and that you call into our said Court every Bishop respectively that shall presume to give Orders to any man that hath not a Title and there to censure him as the Canon aforesaid doth injoyn which is to maintain the party so ordered till he give him a Title and with what other censure you in Justice shall think sit And our further will is That nothing shall be reputed a Title to enable a man for orders but that which is so by the ancient course of the Church and the Canon Law so far forth as that Law is received in this our Church of England And as you must not fail in these our directions nor in any part of them so we expect that you gives us from time to time a strict accompt of your proceedings in the same Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the nineteenth day of September in the ninth year of our Raigne Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Upon receit hereof this Archbishop whose project it was directs this Letter following to the Bishops of his Province as is evident by the originall draught thereof corrected with his own hand and thus endorsed by him Octob. 18. 1633. The Copy of my Letters upon this of his Majesties to the severall Bishops of this Province S. in Christo My very good Lord HIS Majestie hath been often and much troubled upon
under his owne hand-writing that Doctor Abbot and the whole University in the yeer 1615. reputed and accounted him a Papist a Papist indeed at leastwise partly Romish and partly English or a mongrell and a compound of a Papist and Protestant one ready upon all occasions to step over to the Papists A Papist in the Doctrine of freewill justificaiian by works inherent righteousnesse concupiscence no sinne after Baptisme certainly of salvation and the Doctrine of the Sacrament and that the papists beyond the seas could say he was WHOLLY THEIRS and the Recusants at home make their brags of him This his temper was the cause of Doctor Hals Letter to W. L. William Laud as is generally conceived long since printed Anno 1608. in the third Decad of his Epistles Epist 5. page 55. for which his works were lately threatned to be called in or this Leter expunged out of them wherein he thus expostulates with him for his unsetlednesse and newtrality in Religion and inclining to the popish party I would I knew where to find you then I could tell how to take a direct ayme whereas now I must rove and conjecture to day YOU ARE IN THE TENTS OF THE ROMANISTS to morrow in ours the next day betweene both against both Our adversaries think you ours WEE THEIRS Your conscience finds you with both and neither I flatter you not this of yours is the worst of all tempers how long will you walk in this indifferency resolve one way and know at last what you doe hold that you should cast off either your wings or your teeth and loathing this Batlike nature be either a bird or a beast c. We shall conclude this part of our Evidence with the deposition of Francis Harris a converted Priest examined upon oath before the Lords who being in the Parliaments Army could not possibly be procured viva voce of which oath was made and thereupon his deposition was read as followeth The Examination of FRANCIS HARRIS of Christ-Church London taken Jan. 9. 1643. before the Lords Committee appointed to take the Examinations in the Cause of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury THis Deponent saith that he being at Paris in France about 24. yeers since meeting with one Ireland who had formerly bin one of the chief School-Masters of Westmin School and then a Priest and discoursing familiarly with this Deponent the said Ireland told him that the now Arch bishop of Canterbury and he were intimate friends and that he had discovered unto him when they were in the University together that the said Arch-bishops resolution was to leave the Kingdome and to reconcile himselfe to the Church of Rome and that he knew him to be a Papist in his heart and wondred why he staid so long behind saying that perchance honores mutant mores And this Deponent further saith That one Leander a Benedictine Fryar and Doctor of the Chaire at Doway by the common report of Papists and Priests both abroad and in England was very familiar with the said Arch-bishop and came over on purpose into England where this Deponent since saw him to negotiate with the said Arch-bishop about matters of Religion to make a reconciliation between the Church of Rome and England And this Deponent was bred up a Roman Catholike and a scholler and a secular Priest and upon better advice reconciling himselfe to the Church of England did often solicite and petition the said Archbi for some mean imployment in the Ministery as having done very good service in discovering Priests and Jesuits to the Messengers appointed to apprehend them but the Archbishop never gave hau any encouragement or countenance This Examination taken before Us Kent Lincolne Francis Harris That he hath been reputed a Papist in heart opinion and practise ever since he left the University is so notoriously knowne to all that we shall produce no witnesses many having been publikely censured and privately questioned by his power for calling and reporting him such a one and many publike papers being pasted up and scattered about the City and Court from time to time proclaiming him such a one of vvhich we have at least a dozen found among his owne and Secretary Windebankes writings and that our English popish priests and Roman Catholikes as well as Protestants beasted of him to be theirs vve have many instances vvhich vve could produce did vve need such evidence and the testimony of tvvo Priests to boot But vve shall rather informe and prove to your Lordships vvhat repute the papists had of him in foraigne parts yea even in Rome it selfe since himselfe hath chalked â—â— out the vvay and furnished us vvith this kind of proofe by procuring Sir Henry Mildmay a Member of the House of Commons very unseasonably and unhappily to testifie for him in this kind vvhat a hard opinion they had of him and hovv much he vvas hated in Rome by the Jesuits and others more then any man breathing the manner of enforcing vvhose testimony is very remarkable The Arch-bishop some fevv dayes before his tryall petitioned the House of Commons that Sir Henry Mildmay of the Jewell House one of their Members might be examined in his behalfe as a speciall witnesse for him how much he was hated and spoken against above all men at Rome for opposing the Popes and Papists designes in England Which being granted the Arch-bishop moved tvvo or three times very unseasonably that Sir Henry might be called to give in his testimony in this kind vvho being then out of Tovvn and not appearing the Committee of Commons who managed the Evidence promised to send for and cause him to appeare the next day at the Lords Bar vvhich he did to wit on June 11. 1644. Whereupon the Archbishop desired him to acquaint the Lords Whether he had not been of late yeers at Rome and what opinion they held of himself there Whether Sir Henry upon his return from thence dining with him at Lambeth did not tell him of his own accord he was the most odiousman of any at Rome and therefore certainely the furthest of any from setting up popery and endeavouring to reconcile us to Rome Whereupon Sir Henry said My Lords it is true J was some few yeers since at Rome not upon any message or designe at all but being somewhat infirme in body J was advised by my physicians to travell for a time into forraign parts to recover my health Wherupon J first travailed into France from thence into Italy and being there to satisfie my owne curiosity and recover my health J travelled to Rome During my abode there J was very inquisitive to know what opinion they had of us in England and of the great men there especially of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and I observed there were some there that were against the Arch-bishop and spake ill of him others that spake very well of him and so much I informed him at Lambeth upon my returne from thence but I deny that ever I
thus enlarged one Davis brought him four pound in money from the said Archbishop as he told him towards the payment of his fees And he further deposed that he hath often met Father Price a Priest Superiour of the English Benedictines and Father Leander a Benedictine Monk and Priest going as themselves said and confessed to Lambeth to the Archbishop to see and speak with him which they oft times spake in a vanting manner and that Leander was commonly reported to have been the Archbishops Chamber-fellow in Oxford That Smith alias Loyd the Jesuit did usually meet at the Lord Cottingtons house in Breadstreet at a Juncto every Friday night where were usually present the said Lord Sir Toby Matthew the Spanish Embassadour Sir Arthur Hopton Endimion Porter James Hammond a great Papist and Secretary Windebank Which Juncto sometimes met at Sir Arthur Hoptons house in the Pallace-Yard at Westminster Francis Newton of Saint Giles Creplegate London Gent. deposed both in writing and by word of mouth at the Lords Bar that he by vertue of a generall Warrant from the Lords of the Counsel for the apprehending of Jesuits and popish Priests among others apprehended one Henry Morse a grand Jesuit and great seducer of his Majesties Subjects who had perverted 500. persons in and about London as appeared by certificats at his Triall who being like to be discharged before his Triall this Deponent by the appointment of Secretary Cooke the Lord Keeper Coventry and Lord Privy-Seale repaired to Lambeth to the Archbishop to desire him to give this Deponent order that the said Morse might not be discharged they saying it is now time to look about us so many being seduced by one person Whereupon he repairing to Lambeth desired Master Dell the Archbishops Secretary to help him to speak with the Archbishop from these Lords about the Priests discharge Master Dell answered that the Archbishop was busie with Sir Toby Matthews commonly reputed a Jesuit and an arch-intelligencer of Rome in the Garden and this Deponent being earnest with Master Dell to have an answer from the Archbishop to return to the Lords he brought answer from him That the Deponent should bring him the next day before the Councell-booâ—d and sent Dell the next morning to Master Secretary Cooke to know whether he had sent the Deponent to him or no. After which the said Priest being sent to Newgate and arraigned upon two Bils found against him was by Order form the King put by his judgement and soone after released He further depâ—sed that one Henry Loyd alias Francis Smith alias Rivers alias Sinâ—us Provinciall of the Jesuites and a chiefe actor in the Gunpowder-treason as this deponent was informed by one Stukely a Priest who bid this deponent remember him of 5. die Novembris meaning the Gunpowder-plot was by the Deponent and one Tho Mayo Indited and Out-lawd of High-treason and afterwards being protected by Secretary Windebank from the arrests of Messengers this Deponent oftentimes meeting of him in the streets on horsback and telling him that a sledg and three horses were fitter for him then one horse to ride on he replyed some two or three times when the Deponent used these speeches holding up his finger well Newton you rogue I have done your arrand to my Lords grace of Cant. already and shall do it to Secr. Windebank also And he deposed that he hath seen the said Jesuit once at Lambeth-house and there entertained by Mr Del the Archb Secretary in a room neer the Archbishops Study where being in familiar conference with the said Mr Del he did whisper to him often cast an eye toward this Depont as if he were speaking of him He likewise further deposed that he hath oft times seen the said Smith the Jesuit at Secr. Windebanks house talking very familiarly w th him and clapping him on the back that he met divers times sundry of the imprisoned popish Priests freely walking without a keeper in Grays-Inne walks and in other places and that they lay abroad out of prison in Towne and in the Country many weeks together he hath gone into the Newprison Clinck where there were about 20 Priests imprisoned and found not above one or two there Richard Dâ—unel Gent. deposed upon oath that he being a prisoner in the New-prison some yeers since the Priests and Jesuits committed thither by the Archbi had the best rooms in the prison a Cook Steward and coÌ„mon table at which they dicted al together Masse said in their chambers divers Ladies GentlemeÌ„ in â—â—â—ches frequently visiting them without restraint and great store of Venison sent them in its season when as Mr Huntly and other godly Ministers there imprisoned by the Archb. were thrust into the worst lodgings denied liberty to diâ—â— together and were not suffered to goe out of prison upon any occasion but with a costly keeper attending on them though they had given bond for their true imprisonment neither had their friends free accesse to them but were many times questioned and restrained Thomas Mayo a Messenger of Saint Andrewes Holborne testified upon Oath That about nine yeers since the Archbishop of Canterbury having committed one John Evans a Minister to the Gate-house for printing of Bils setting forth the use of the Antimonial Cup he did thereupon repaire with a Petition in his behalfe to the Archbishops house at Lambeth where he then saw Master Henry Moore and Henry Loyd alias Smith two dangerous Jesuits in the great Chamber above stairs neer the Archbishops Study waiting there as he conceiveth to speak with the said Archbishop and very familiarly entertained in discourse by Master Dell who carried himselfe very respectively towards them which he well remembreth for that he then delivered an Antimoniall Cup to the said Master Dell to be delivered to the Archbishop from Master Evans And he further deposed that he hath often seen Sir Toby Matthewes whom this Deponent hath seen in Saint Johns Colledge in Lovain in Brabant who there was reputed a Jesuit at Lambeth house and there walking in a friendly manner with the said Archbishop and at other times hath seen Sir Toby riding with him in his Coach once in the Strand and passing with him in his Barge from White-hall to Lambeth that he often assisting other Messengers to discover and apprehend Priests and finding some neglect in them in that service did thereupon desire the said Archbishop That he might have a Warrant for himselfe to apprehend Priests and Jesuits To which the said Archbishop answered You are too hot and nimble for that service saying He had Messengers enough already and refused to grant his request And withall by order from the said Archbishop he was imployed to attend popish Ambassadours houses Denmark-house and the Popes Nuncioes Lodging to view and returne unto him the number of popish Priests and Recusants which resorted thither to Masse which accordingly he did every Munday for the space of halfe a yeer and more
giving the Archbishop a Certificate of their number and quality but he never received any order from him to apprehend any of them nor saw any fruit or reformation thereof That he having a speciall Warrant from the said Archbishop and others of the high Commission to apprehend one Peter Wilford a Priest condemned since the Parliament and now in Newgate and apprehending him by vertue thereof he brought him before this Archbishop to his Chamber in White-hall who sent this Deponent word by Sir John Lamb that he would not meddle with him and the said Wilford having a Protection from Secretary Windebank which he shewed the Deponent was thereupon discharged by the said Archbishops direction signified by Sir John Lamb. Elizabeth Gray of Saint Margarets Westminster Widow deposed That her late husband John Gray being a Messenger to the Lords of the Counsell and having a Warrant from them to apprehend Jesuits and Seminary Priests the said Gray by vertue of that Warrant apprehended one Fisher alias Persey a grand Jesuit and acquainted Master Secretary Cook therewith whereupon he was committed prisoner to the Gate-house there to remaine untill he should put in security to depart the Realme and never to returne againe Soon after which the said Gray and one John Cooke as the Deponent was often informed by them meeting the said Fisher walking in the streets apprehended him whereupon he shewed a Warrant of Secretary Windebanks requiring that no Messenger should apprehend the said Fisher nor search the house or houses where he should frequent upon which Gray discharged him and repairing to Secretary Cook acquainted him with the said Jesuits protection who thereupon commanded Gray and Cook to repaire to this Archbishop of Canterbury and acquaint him with the premises who thereupon went to Lambeth and desired Master Dell the Archbishops Secretary to acquaint the Archbishop therewith as from Master Secretary Cook and to grant them a Warrant to apprehend the said Fisher To which Master Dell replied That he was an idle fellow and bade him move the whole Board for it For his Lord would grant no such Warrant Whereupon Gray replied Lord have mercy upon is all I see how the game goes now I hope to see better days For which words the said Gray was sent for the next day before the Counsell upon the complaint of the said Archbishop and committed prisoner to the Fleet for the same Whereupon this Deponent exhibited many Petitions to the said Archbishop and the whole Board for her said husbands release to which she could get no answer and one day she presenting a Petition to the said Archbishop in the stone Gallery at Whitehall for her Husbands enlargement he looking upon the same and seeing the said Grayes name therein flung it away in an angry manner saying he would have nothing to doe with a Priest-catching knave By meanes whereof her said Husband continued a prisoner in the Fleet for two and twenty weeks and could not be released as Master Read Secretary Windebanks Secretary told this Deponent till such time as he should give Bond and Baile never to apprehend Priests and Jesuits more The next day she going to Secretary Windebank for her Husbands release Master Read his Secretary demanded where his said Bond and Baile was To which she answered That some Gentlemen in the Fleet said That in requiring such Bond and Baile they incurred a Premunire To which the said Master Read replied That the said Gentlemen and the Deponent deserved to be sent to Newgate for these speeches And Secretary Windebank himselfe taking exception at the said speeches gave Order after the said Gray had his Discharge That he should stay in prison till every penny of his Fees were paid That a little before this her said Husbands trouble upon his apprehending of a Priest or Jesuit from whom he took good store of Books to the value of an hundred pounds the said Archbishop commended it for a good piece of service and willed him to bring the said Books to his House at Lambeth and he would well recompence him But he receiving and keeping the Books never gave him any recompence John Goldsmith deposed that about four yeers since he being in the High-Commission Court at Lambeth the Archbishop before the Court sate called all the Messengers of the Court to him and charged them to take heed that they kept not company with one Gray A PRIEST-CATCHER against whom Secretary Windebank had made a complaint at the Counsell Table for discovering Priests and told them that if he heard that any of them had any more to doe with him he would not onely LAY THEM BY THE HEELS BUT LIKEWISE PULL THEIR COATS OFF FROM THEIR BACKS AND TURNE THEM OUT OF THEIR PLACES And he further deposed that he did complaine and indite a Papist for saying THAT OUR RELIGION WAS SPURD OUT OF KING HENRY THE EIGTH HIS CODâ—IECE whereupon the Papist prosecuted him in the High Commission for a defamation John Cook of Rederosse-street London deposed That John Gray a Messenger had a Warrant from the Lords of the Counsell Table for the apprehending of Priests and Jesuits And that the said Gray and this Deponent by vertue thereof did apprehend one Father Fisher alias Piersey a grand Jesuit and brought him before Master Secretary Cooke who wished us to bring him before the Counsell Table the next sitting which we did accordingly in Anno 1634. And after his Examination there the Archbishop of Canterbury and Secretary Cooke went to the King to know his pleasure what should be done with him Who returning to the Board the Archbishop delivered the Kings pleasure to this effect Master Fisher kneele downe upon your knees every morning and every evening and pray for the King for granting you your life And to be short Master Fisher his Majesties pleasure is that you shall be forthwith banished this Kingdome and all at her his Majesties Dominions and you shall remaine prisoner in the Gate-house untill you put in good security before the Kings Attourney Sir John Banks never to returne again Whereunto Fisher replyed If he had a hundred lives be would come hither againe or elsewhere if his Superiour so commanded him and utterly refused to put in any security Whereupon the Board sent him to the Gate-house there to remaine untill he should put in such security as aforesaid Whereupon about four moneths after the said Gray and the Deponent met the said Fisher in Holborn and demanding of him the reason of his going abroad he replied We were Rogues what was that to us and shewed us a Warrant under the hand of Secretary Windebank for his enlargement Whereupon Gray and this Deponent went to Lambeth to the Archbishop of Canterbury and endeavoured to acquaint him by Master Dell his Secretary that Fisher had a Warrant from Master Secretary Windebank for his liberty and desired to know the Archbishops pleasure therein But Master Dell made answer That his Lord would not meddle with
Majesties royal Diadem with at his Coronation 5. He proves not that it was his duty thus to offer up the regalia at the Altar yea the Form of the Kings Coronation found in his own study enjoyned it not and he pretends no command at all for it Therefore it was his own spontaneous act as for the Common Prayer Book surely it prescribes neither this nor any other solemn oblation at all at an Altar And so this charge remains unavoyded Fourthly from Westminster they proceed to the Universities first of Oxford where I was Chancellor next of Cambridge In Oxford they object 1. That there were some old Crucifixes repaired and divers new ones erected in divers Colledges there since I became Chancellour of the University whereas there were none before my time 2. That Communion Tables were railed in Altarwise and bowed to which they were not before 3. That I enjoyned all Schollers by a University Statute and Oath to give due reverence and bow to the Communion Table and that my Letter required bowing and prostation before the Altar 4. That my visitor at Merton Colledge enjoyned the Fellows and Schollers there to bow to the Lords Table and questioned Mr. Chainel and Mr. Corbet for not bowing 5. That they used Copes in some Colledges which they did not before 6. That there was a very scandalous Statue of the Virgin Mary with Christ in her Arms set up in the front of the New Church porch of St. Maries next the street to which Mr. Nixon deposeth he saw one bow and another pray 7. That I enjoyned Latin Prayers all the Lent not used before my Chancellorship since the Reformation 8. That I enjoyned by a Statute all Regent Masters to reade and sing what should be prescribed them in solemn Processions I Answer 1. That there is no proof at all that I knew of the repairing and setting up of these Crucifixes or that any complained of them to me That the Crucifix in Lincoln Colledge was set up by the Bishop of Lincoln and it would have been thought hard if I should have opposed it 2. That the turning and rayling in of the Tables Altarwise is warranted by the Queens Injunctions as I have proved 3. That the Statute enjoyne only due reverence when they come to offer at the Lords Table and that my Letter implies a bowing or prostration only according to the 95 Psalm 4. That Sir John Lamb only questioned Master Chainel and Master Corbet which is nothing to me and Doctor Frewens words are but a hear-say besides they were not punished for not doing it 5. That Copes are warrantable by the 24 Canon 6. That the Statue at St. Maries was set up by Dr. Owen reputed a reverend Orthodox Divine not by me nor is there any proof I had notice of it or of any bowing or praying to it which might be a mistake in Alderman Nixon 7. That Latin prayers have been anciently used in the University on Ashwednesday and being among Schollers who understand the Language there can be no hurt therein 8. That no Processions are intended in the Statute but such as our Law allows in nature of perambulations the Statutes of the University prescribing That nothing shall be done therein but according to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England 9. For the Innovations of like nature in the Vniversity of Cambridge they concern me not I being not their Chancellor and not enjoyning them nor made acquainted with them Whereunto was Replied 1. That all those Crucifixes were erected at Oxford since he became Chancellor of it That his own example in his Chappels at Lambeth and Croyden where he repaired the old broken Crucifixes at his own cost were the primary occasions of setting up those in Oxford by way of imitation That he could not choose but take notice of them being himself several times at Oxford in person where he entertained the King Queen Prince and Prince Elector sundry dayes Besides having constant weekly intelligence by Letters and recourse of Schollers of all sorts to him from the University who acquainted him with all particulars there transacted he could not but take notice and have exact knowledge of them And he being both Chancellor and Visitor of the University his not hindring of their setting up at first not pulling them down when set up contrary to our Statutes Homilies Injunctions was in Law both a commanding and approving of them Nam qui non prohibet malum quod potest jubet That none complained to him of them was his own fault since none durst complain against that then as a crime which himself first practised in his own Chappels as a commendable action His Answer to the Crucifix erected in Lincoln Colledge proves clearly he had knowledge of it and truly it could not have been well taken at his hands to pull that down according to Law unlesse he had pulled them down first in other Colledges and his own Chappel the Bishop of Lincoln perchance setting it up onely to humour his Grace and manifest to the world he was but his Ape in this particular 2. We have already refuted his second Answer as false and therefore shall repeat nothing here 3. That this due reverence was interpreted by himself in his Speech in Star-chamber to be a bowing to the Altar or Lords Table For saith he THERE IS A REVERENCE DUE TO IT Namely of bowing the body not onely towards but to the Altar DEO ET ALT ARI EJVS in the dative case and prostration not simply to God but CORAM ALT ARE DEI Christi ejus is prescribed by his Letter as much worship as the Divel himself required of our Saviour Luk. 4. 7. Si adoraveris CORAM ME as the vulgar Latin or fall down BEFORE ME as the Margin of our English Bibles render it whereas the 95 Psalm requires no worshipping and falling down thus before an Altar but before the Lord our Maker only without any mention of an Altar or Lords Table in the Psalm 4. His Visitors act in questioning those Fellows for not bowing was his own and must concern him since he did it only in his name and right by his Commission in pursuit of his Injunctions and Dr. Frewens words are expresse that the Archbishop sent him to Master Corbet when Proctor requiring and pressing him in his name to bow to the Altar in regard of his place else it would be ill taken And though these fellows were not punished nor suspended for not bowing yet they were often questioned menaced forced to obscure themselves and desert the Colledge for a time and had not the Scottish Troubles intervened would have been severely punished too 5. Copes in Colledges are neither within the words nor meaning of the 24 Canon 6. Neither the Church-porch nor statue at St. Maries being the University Church could or would have been erected there by Dr. Owen without the Archbishops special licence being Chancellour and supream Visitor there
Impeachment But leaves it to his Councell to doe and advise as his Councell shall thinke most fitting Day being given him by this Order to put in his answer till the 13th of Novenmber following this Order was made in pursuance thereof Die Veueris 10. November 1643. Ordered that the Leiutenant of the Tower of London or his Deputie shall bring in safety the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury before their Lordships on Munday the 13th of this instant November by ten of the Clock in the morning to put in his Answer into the House to the impeachment of the House Commons remaining now before the Lords in Parliament and this to be a sufficient warrant in that behalfe To the Gentleman Vsher c. On the 13. of November the Archbishop appearing at the Lords Barre in person put in this following Answer to the Additionall Articles exhibited against him The humble Answer of William Archbishop of Cant. to the further Articles of Impeachment of high Treason and divers high Crimes and misdeameanours exhibited against him by the Honourable House of Commons according to direction of an Order of this Honourable House of the 13. of October last All advantages of exception to the said Articles of Impeachment to this Defendant saved and reserved this Defendant humbly saith that he is not guilty of all or any the matters by the said Impeachment charged in such manner and forme as the same are by the said Articles of impeachment charged Vpon his motion the same day to the Lords this order was made in favour of him Die Lunae 13. Novemb. 1643. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Councell shall provide themselves to advise him in point of Law in all the Articles of the whole Charge And for the matter of Fact when the Cause comes to be presented by the House of Commons as there shall be need their Lordships will give further directions in due time On the 1â— of December 1643. The House of Commons being desirous to bring the Archbishop to a speedy tryall made this ensuing Order 11 December 1643. Ordered that the Committee for the Tyrall of the Archbishop of Canterbury doe meete this afternoone at 2. of the Clock in the Starchamber to prepare the evidence against the Archbishop of Cant. and to summon such witnesses as are need full and prepare the businesse fit for Tryall and to acquaint the House when they are ready and this they are to doe with all the convenient speed they can and have power to send for parties witnesses Papers Records c. And the care thereof is particularly committed unto Serjeant Wild. Here upon the Committee met sundry times to prepare their evidence 3. January following the Lords intending to expedite the Archbishops Tryall according to the Commons desire made this Order Die Mercurii 3. Ian. 1643. It is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that this House will proceed against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Impeachment brought up from the House of Commons for High Crimes and misdemeanours on Munday morning next it ten of the Clock being the eight of this instant Ianuary 1643 At which time the said Archbishop is to prepare himselfe for his defence To the Gentleman Vsher attending this House or his Deputie to be delivered to the Leiutenant of the Tower or his deputie for the Archbishop Whereupon the Lords the same day sent downe this Message to the Commons thus entred in their Iournall 31 Ianuary 1642. A Message sent from the Lords by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page The Lords commanded us to put you in minde that the Archbishop of Canterbury hath put in his Plea to the Impeachment of this House sent up to the Lords sometimes since which they desire you to take into consideration what is fit to be done in it 5. Ianuary The House of Commons desired the Lords to appoint a Committee to examine some witnesses upon Oath against the Archbishop in the presence of the Committee of the Commons which being granted the Commons made this Order 5. Ian. 1643. Ordered that the Committee of this House formerly appointed for the busines of the Archbishop of Cant. shall be the Committee in the presence of whom the witnesses in the case of the Bishop of Cant are to be examined upon Oath by the Committee of Lords On the 6. of Ianuary the Archbishop preferred this Petition to the Lords for the deferring of his Tryall to some longer time written with Mr. Dells hand and subscribed with his owne To the Right Honourable the Lords Assembled in the high Court of Parliament The humble Petition of William Laud Arch-bishop of Cant. Prisoner in the Tâ—wer Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioner having received your Lordships command by your honourable Order of the 3. of this instant Ianuary annexed to attend and Answer the Impeachment against your Petitioner from the honourable House of Commons on Munday the eight of this instant January which is but five dayes distance and at a time when 2. of his 3. Councell assigned 〈◊〉 of Towne and your Petitioner witnesses residing in severall remite places cannot be summoned in so short a time nor willing happily to came up in their summons with out warrant from your Lordships Your Petitioners most humble suit to your Lordships is that you will honourably vouchsafe him some more convenient time to send for his Councell and witnesses to testifie in the matters of fact Charged against him and withall to grant the Petitioner your honourable Order to command the witnesses summoned to attend at the time by your Lordships to be appointed which his humble request your Petitioner had sooner presented to your Lordships but that no sitting hath beene as your Petitioner is Informed untill this day sithence your honourable order in this behalfe made knowne to him And your Petitioner shall pray c W. Cant. Vpon reading whereof the Lords made this Order in his favour to out him of all excuses and prevent all clamons of a surpâ—isall Sabbati 6. Ian. 1643. Whereas the House formerly appointed Munday being the 8th of this instant Ianuary 1643. to proceed against William Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury upon the impeachments brought up against him from the House of Commons for High Treason and high Crimes and misdemeanours Vpon reading the Petition of the said Archbishop it is this day ordered by the Lords in Parliament to the end the Councell and Witnesses of the said Archbishop may have competent time to attend the hearing of the Cause that this House will respit the proceedings against the said Archbishop upon the said impeachments untill Tuesday the 16. of this instant Ianuary 1643. at ten of the Clock in the morning at which time the said Archbishop is peremprorily appointed to provide his Witnesses and prepare his defence unto the said impeachments To the Gentleman Vsher c. In pursuance whereof this Order was afterwards made and entred Die Lune 15. Ian.
1643. It is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that the Leiutenant of the Tower of London or his Deputie shall bring in safty the Archbishop of Cant before their Lordships on Tuesday the 16. of this instant Ianuary by one of the Clock in the afternoone At which time this house will proceed against the said Archbishop upon the impeachments brought up from the House of Commons against him for might Treason and high Crimes and misdeameanours and this to be a sufficient Warrant in that behalfe To the Gentleman Vsher c. The next day the Archbishop being brought to the Lords House at the time appointed about 3. of the Clock that afternoone the Lords sent downe this Message to the House of Commons thus entered in their Iournall 16. Ianuary 1643. A Message from the Lords by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page to acquaint the House that they are ready to heare the Charge upon the impeachment against the Bishop of Canterbury Vpon this Message the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to mannage the evidence against him went up to the Lords House and then the Archbishop being brought to the Barre after he had there kneeled a little space was commanded to stand up which ceremony ended Mr Maynard one of the Committee desired the Lords that the originall additional Articles of impeachment against the Archbishop might be read Which being read accordingly by the Clerke he then prayed that the Archbishops several Answers to these Articles might likewise be read whereupon the Speaker of the Lords House commanding them to be read the Clerk read only his forementioned Answer to the Additionall Articles but noe answer at all to the Originall there being never any Answer put in unto them the Archbishop having not in al the time of his restraint from the 26. of Feb. 1640. till that houre so much as tendered or put in any Answer to his Originall Articles which was his owne meere default and never so much as once Petitioned in all that space to be brought to his Tryall notwithstanding his frequent complaints of his long Imprisonment the delay of his hearing occasioned by his owne neglect and by his Petitioning for longer time when the Commons hastned his Tryall Hereupon Mr. Maynard spake to the Lords to this effect My Lords it new appeares to your Lordships how unwilling the Archbishop is out of a consciousnesse of his owne guilt to come to his Tryall that in all this space from his first impeachment he hath not so much as put in any Answer to the Originall Articles though he had long since Councell assigned him for that purpose My Lords this is none of the Commons fault but his owne for your Lordships well know that the Commons can take no notice what is done in the House of Peeres in a Parliamentary way but by a Messag from your Lordships who after our Articls exhibited were to cal upon the Archbishop for an answer to them your Lordships sending us several Messages heretofore that the Archbishop had put in his Answer to the Articls that you were ready to heare our Charge against him and appointing this day for his Tryall the Commons thereupon conceived that he had formerly put in his Plea answer in due forme to all 〈◊〉 Articles but the contrary now appearing both to your Lordships and as it is impossible for us to proceed at this time in his tryall there being no issue Ioyned upon the Originall Articles for want of an answer to them to 〈◊〉 upon the Additionalls before my answer given to the originalls will be very preposterousâ— therefore â—e humbly prey your Lordships to Order that the Archbishop may forthwith put in his Answer â—â—th to the Originall and Additionall Articles by the advice of his Councill or otherwise in such sort as he will stand to it and then he shall without any delay joyne 〈◊〉 with him proceed on in his Tryall and evidence against him when your Lordships shall appoint The Archbishop having little to reply hereunto desire the Lords that he might advise with his Councell whether the Articles were certaine and particular enough to be answered unto and that if their Lordships should over-rule him to put in his Answer to them he might have convenient time to do it Vpon this all being commanded to withdraw the Lords after some short debate among themselves and upon reading the Archbishops Petition to have Mr. Gorâ—â—rd of Grayes-Inne assigned for his Councell to joyne with those formerly assigned him made this ensuing Order Die Martis 16. Ian. 1643. Vpon the reading the Petition of William Archbishop of Cant. It is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that Mr. Richard Gerrard of Grayes-Inne be added to the former Councell Assigned to the said Archbishop to be likewise of his Councell It is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that William Arch-bishop of Cant. shall put in his Answer in writing into this House to the first and further Articles of Impeachment brought up from the House of Commons against him by Munday morning next peremptorily and that the same Councell formerly Assigned him shall be of Councell with him On the 19. of Ianuary the Archbishop sent this Petition to the Lords To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of William Archbishop of Cant Prisoner in the Tâ—wer Sheweth THat whereas your Petitioner having formerly answered the particular Articles exhibited against him by the Honourable House of Commons and now by your Lordships Order of the 16th of this instant is commanded to put in his Answer to the first and further Articles of Impeachment brought up against him by Munday morning next for doing whereof his former Councell is assigned him That your Petitioner having advised with his Councell concerning the first Articles which were exhibited new almost three yeares sithence finding upon perusall and debate of the same that the said former Articles are such that no answer can be made thereunto nor your Petitioner in my wise enabled to prepare for his defence to the same as they now stand That for as much as the said Articles of Impeachment import no lesse than a Charge of High treason and for as much as your Petitioner is by his Councell 〈◊〉 that especially in Cases of life the Defendant is allowed to offer to the Court where the same depends his exceptions by his Councell before any Plea pleaded Your Petitioner most humbly beseecheth your Lordships to appoint a day for the hearing of your Petitioners Councell concerning the same And your Petitioner shall pray c. VV. CANT Die Sabbati 20. Ian. 1643. It is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that the Leiutenant of the Tower of London or his Deputie shall bring in safety William Archbishop of Cant. before their Lordships on Munday the 22th of this instant Ianuary by ten of the clock in the morning to put in his answer to the
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
them all the dayes of my life so farre as they concerne me as any man hath and since I came into place I have followed them and byn as much guided by them as any man that sate where I had the honour to sitte And of this I am sory I have lost the testimony of the Lord Keeper Coventry and other Persons of Honour since dead And the Councell which attended at the Councell Board can witnesse some of them here present that in all references to the Board or debates arising at the Board I was for that part of the cause where I found Law to be and if the Councell desired to have the cause left to the Law well I might move in some cases Charity or Conscience to them but I left them to the Law if thither they would goe And how such a carriage as this through the whole course of my life in private and publique can stand with an intention to overthrow the Lawes I cannot yet see Nay more I have ever beene of opinion That Lawes binde the conscience and have accordingly made conscience of observing them and this doctrine I have constantly preached as occasion hath beene offered me and how is it possible I should seek to overthrow those Lawes which I held my selfe bound in conscience to keep and observe As for Religion I was borne and bred up in and under the Church of England as it stands established by Law I have by Gods blessing growne up in it to the yeares which are now upon me and to the place of preferment which I now beare I have ever since I have understood ought in my profession kept one constant tenor in this my profession with out variation or shifting from one opinion to another for any worldly ends And if my conscience would have suffered me to doe so I could easely have slid through all the difficulties which I have prest upon me in this kinde But of all diseases I have ever held a Palsey in Religion most dangerous well knowing and remembring that disease often ends in a dead Palsie Ever since I came in place I have laboured nothing more then that the externall publique worship of God so much slighted in divers parts of this Kingdome might be preserved that with as much decency uniformity as might be for I evidently saw that the publique neglect of Gods service in the outward face of it and the nasty lyeing of many places dedicated to that service had almost cast a dampe upon the true and inward worship of God which while we live in the body needs exteriall helps and all little enough to keepe it in any vigor And this I did to the uttermost of my knowledge according both to Law and Canon and with the consent and likeing of the people nor did any command issue out from mee against the one or without the other Further my Lords give me leave I beseech you to acquaint you with this also that I have as little acquaintance with Recusants as I beleeve any man of my place of England hath or ever had sithence the Reformation and for my kindred no one of them was ever a Recusant but Sir William Web grandchild to my Vnkle Sir VVilliam VVeb sometimes Lord Major of London and since which some of his Children I reduced back againe to the Church of England On this one thing more I humbly desire may be thought on That I am fallen into a great deale of obloquie in matter of Religion and that so farre as appeares by the Articles against me that I have indeavored to advance and bring in Popery Perhaps my Lords I am not ignorant what party of men have raised these scandalls upon me nor for what end nor perhapps by whom set on but howsoever I would faine have a good reason given me if my conscience stood that way and that with my conscience I could subscribe to the Church of Rome what should have kept me heere before my imprisonment to indure the libelling and the slaunder and the base usage that hath beene put upon me and these to end in this question for my life I say I would know a good reason for this First my Lords is it because of any pledges I have in the world to sway me against my conscience No sure for I have neither Wife nor Children to cry out upon me to stay with them And if I had I hope the calling of my conscience should be heard above them Is it because I was loth to leave the honour and profit of the place I was risen too Surely no for I desire your Lordships and all the world should know I do much scorn the one and the other in comparison of my conscience Besides it cannot be imagined by any man but that if I should have gone over to them I should not have wanted both honour and profit and suppose not so great as this I have here yet sure would my conscience have served my self of either lesse with my conscience would have prevailed with me more than greater against my conscience Is it because I lived here at ease and was loth to venture the losse of that not so neither for whatsoever the world may be pleased to think of me I have led a very painfull life and such as I would have been content to change had I well known how and would my conscience have served me that way I am sure I might have lived at far more ease and either have avoyded the barbarous Libelling and other bitter grievous scornes which have been put upon me or at least been out of the hearing of them Not to trouble your Lordships too long I am so innocent in the businesse of Religion so free from all practise or so much as thought of practise for any alteration unto Popery or any blemishing the true Protestant Religion established in England as I was when my mother first bore me into the world And let nothing be spoken but truth and I do here challenge whatsoever is between Heaven or Hell that can be said against me in point of my Religion in which I have ever hated dissimulation And had I not hated it perhaps I might have been better for worldly safety then now I am but it can no way become a Christian Bishop to halt with God Lastly if I had any purpose to blast the true Religion established in the Church of England and to introduce Popery sure I took a wrong way to it for my Lords I have staid more going to Rome and reduced more that were already gone then I believe any Bishop or Divine in this Kingdome hath done and some of them men of great abilities and some persons of great place and is this the way to introduce Popery My Lords if I had blemished the true Protestant Religion how could I have brought these men to it And if I had promised to introduce Popery I would never have reduced
Walls Glassewindows or else where within any Churches or Houses the Idolatrous superstitious Pictures set up in times of Popery in the Glassewindowes of the Chapell at Lambeth house were among others defaced demolished in such sort that nought but a few broken imperfect fragments of them remained peeced up with white incoherent Glasse and so continued altogether unrepaired unfurbished and utterly neglected till this superstitious Arch Prelate was translated to the See of Canterbury after the death of Dr. Georg Abbot as was attested by Sir Nathaniel Brent Vicar Generall Dr. Daniel Featly household Chaplin to Archbishop Abbot and Mr. Pryn who had beene out in that Chappel exactly viewed it in Abbots dayes and since But no sooner was the Prisouer at the Bar W. Laud translated from London to Lambeth but with all expedition care to his great cost as appeares by the Glasiers Bills he caused these demolished superstitious Pictures in the Glassewindowes to be repaired furbished beautified and made more compleat and accurate with new painted Glasse then ever before setting them up againe in fresh lively colours according to the very Patterne in the great Roman Missall or Masse Book which he had diligently noted with his own hand almost in every Page so as no Chappel in Rome could be more Idolatrous Popish superstitious in regard of such offensive Pictures then his at Lambeth the particulars whereof after a late double serious view were thus attested before the Lords upon Oath by Mr. William Pryn Mr. Pember the Glasier who helped to repaire and set them up Mr. Dell the Archbishops owne secretary Mr. Browne his Ioyner Sir Nathaniel Brent and Dr. Featley That in the East Window of the Archbishops Chappel at Lambheth just over the high Altar there newly erected consisting of five severall Panes there was in the middle pane in painted Glasse a large Crucifix or Picture of our Saviour Christ hanging on the Crosse under which were the Picturs of a Scul of dead mens bones with a Baskit full of Tooles Nailes and Round about the Crucifix were the High Priests with their Officers an horsebacke and some Souldiers with others who crucified Christ the 2. theeves standing on foot which portrature was taken out of the very expresse patterne thereof in the Archbishops owne Roman Missall printed Salamanticae 1589. p. 304. Vnder this Pane there were these latin verses in the Glasse Ecce Pater Mystes ubi Natus victimatristis Certaque merâ—orum Serpens Medicina Delorum Defignant Iesum mundi pro crimine casum In the two next panes were the two Theeves hanging on two Crosses on either side of the Crucifix standing in the midst Vnder one was written in the Glasse Domine memento mei 1634. Vnder the other Descendat de Cruce 1634. signifying the yeare when the Window was repaired to wit the very first yeare after his translation from London to Canterbury In the two outtermost panes of this Window there were the pictures of Abraham offering up his Sonne Isaac and of the Brazen Serpent elevated on a Pole in the Wildernesse In the uppermost Window on the South-side of the Chappell consisting of three panes of painted Glasse newly repaired there was the picture of Christ rising out of his grave in the middle Pane directly taken out of the portraiture of it in his forementioned Roman Missall p. 326. with the Picture of Ionah comming forth of the Whales belly and of Sampson carrying away the Gates of Gaza in the other Panes In the second Window on the South side having three panes there was in the middlemost of them the Picture of Christ in fresh glorious Colours ascending up into Heaven with his Disciples and others kneeling downe on their knees and praying to him the patterne whereof was borrowed from this Missale Romanum pag. 352. where you may view it to the life In the two other panes was the picture of Enoch translated and of Elias ascending up into Heaven in a fiery Chariot In the third Window on the South side consisting of three panes in the midlemost was a glorious radiant Picture of the Holy Ghost in forme of a Dove descending on the Apostles in cloven tongues the exact Idaea whereof you may view at your leisure in his foresaid Roman Missall pag. 360. whence he tooke this patterne In the other two adjoyning Panes were the Pictures of Gods giving the Law to Moses in Mount Sinai and of fire descending from Heaven at the prayer of Elisha In the fourth Southerne Window of three Panes standing without the Skreene of the Chappell for no seates of Civill Iudicature and so not Christs tribunall but only Ecclesiasticall baudy Courts by this Arch-Prelates Canons must bee kept within the body of any Church under paine of an High-Commission Censure was the Picture of Christ with his twelve Apostles sitting on his judgment seate and judging the world with sundry persons kneeling and adoring before him at the Papists use to paint the same under which there were these latine verses written Munde miser plora Iudex est Christus odora Serve Dei gaude Christo sub Iudice plaude In the two outward panes were the Picture of King Salomon in his throne disciding the controversie betweene the two Harlots who was the true Mother of the living Child and of David passing sentence against the Amalekite who brought him tydings that he had slaine King Saul In the uppermost window on the North side of the Chappell having three Panes there was the Picture of Christ raising up Lazarus out of his Grave and of God Himselfe raining downe Manna from Heaven Extracted out of the Popish Booke of Pictures found in the Arch-Bishops private study intituled Imagines Vitae Passionis Mortis D. N. Iesu Christi Printed by Boetius a Bolswert Anno 1623. With the Picture and story of Elias raising the Widdowes and Elisha the Shunamites Son In the second North Window was the Picture of the Virgin Mary with Christ a sucking Babe in her Armes and the Wise-men comming to and adoring Christ borrowed from the Roman Missall pag. 39. under which was this Inscription in the Glasse Omnes genetes quascunque fecisti venicut adorabunt In the outward panes were the Portraictures of the Queene of Sheba comming to visit Solomon and of the Tribes of Israell comming up to Hebron to Crowne David King with the Picture of Christ administring his last Supper to his Disciples which portraiture was derived from the Roman Missall p. 181. And the picture of an old man with a glory round about his head representing God the Father striking Miriam with Leprosie In the third North window there was the History of the Annuntiation gloriously painted the Picture of the Virgin Mary and of the Holy Ghost overshadowing her and the Angell saluting her together with the History and Picture of the birth of Christ both taken out of the Roman Missall pag. 16. 36 39. Wherein were likewise the Pictures of the burning-bush and of Gedeons
pursue him from Lamb crosse the Thames to the Kings own Royall Chapell at White-Hall where upon his comming to be Dâ—â—e of his Majesties Chapell and after that Archb. of Canterbury he introduced bowing to the Altar himselfe there constantly practising this Ceremony at his ingresse egresse a Lane being made for him to see the Altar and do his Reverence to it and at all his approaches towards or to the Altar which bowing and Veneration his Majesties Chaplaines were there likewise enjoyned by him to practise and by his means in Passion week in the years 1636. 1637. c. a rich large Crucifix imbroydered with Gold Silver in a faire peece of Arras was hung up in his Majesties Chappell over the Altar to the great scandall and offence of many For proofe whereof so experimentally known to most of the Lords and Courtiers who were eye-witnesses of and disliked it Sir Henry Mildmay Knight a Member of the House of Commons and Master of the Jouell House was produced who deposed as followeth That before the Archbishop came to be Deane of his Majesties Chappell there was little or no bowing at all used by any to or towards the Altar except only at St. George his Peast when the Knights of the Gartor going up to offer at it made a civill kinde of obeysance towards it not out of any religious respect but at a 〈◊〉 Ceremony anciently used by them only at this solemnity and by those of the Garter 〈◊〉 But after hee came to be Deane of the Chappell he constantly used bowing to the 〈◊〉 at his ingresse egresse and approaches to the Altar causing his owne and His Masties Chaplaines to doe the like That after he become Deane of the Chappell for two three yeares togegether or more there was in Passim worke a peece of Arras with a 〈◊〉 embroidered Crucifixe the full length of a man hanged over the Altar on 〈…〉 Chappell at White-Hall which was never done before in his memory nor in the memory of any Courtier that he could heare of which Crucifixe he believed was never therâ— used since King H. the 8. his Reigne till of late That this grosse notorious Innovation â—ave great scandull and generall offence to many well-affected Courtiers who spake muâ—â— against it and to himselfe in particular who openly complained of it to the King and spâ—ke to the Archbishop himselfe about it yet it continued there sundry Passion weekes And to manifest the truth hereof more clearely to all the world the very Crucifixe it selfe was by speciall order sent for and brought into the Lords House by the â—erjeant of the Vestry at White-Hall who likewise attested the hanging of it up â—ver the Altar in His Majesties Chappell in the Passion Weekes It was very large rich naked scandalous offensive never used since the Reformation but onely in tiâ—es of Popery yet this most scandalous Idoll did this Arch-Prelate cause to be thaâ— hanged up in His Majesties Chappell as a patterne of imitation for all others well nowing the ancient Proverbe to bean experimentall truth Regis ad exemplum 〈◊〉 componitur orbis c. When he hath thus introduced these Romish Innovations into hs Majesties Chappel then the Altar Crucifix other Innovations in his Royal Chaâ—â—el must be made the Canon whereby to regulate all Cathedrall and Parochiall Churches and so declared publikely in print by himselfe his Confederates both in an Order made at the Councell Table concerning the placing of the Table in Saint Gregonies Church Altarwise 3. Novemberis 1633. by this Archbishops owne procurement published by Doctor Heylen his Greature in his Câ—ale from the Altar page 62. and Antidotum Lincolniense cap. 2. page 62 63. by Peter Heylyn in his Coale p. 27. Antidotum Lincolni cap. 2. p. 29. to 67. his Moderate answer to Henry Burton p. 57. 176. by Christopher Dewe in his answer to Mr. Henry Burton cap 20. p. 191. the New Canons 1640. can 7. Now what a capital transcendent offence this was in this Arch-Prelate principally intrusted with the care of Religion contrary to his trust and dutie to introduce these scandalous Innovations into His Majesties owne Royall Chappell will appeare by these particulare First that hereby he made the world believe His Majesty was a publike countenancer of these Popish Innovations and 〈◊〉 making him a Royall open Patron of them as much as in him lay contrary to his owne printed Declarations to all his loyall Subjects before the 39. Articles and after the dissolution of the Parliament Anno 16â—8 Wherein he professed he would neuer 〈…〉 in the least degree to Popery or superstition Secondly That he hereby give just occasion both to Protestants and Papists at home and in forraigne parts openly to report and believe that wee were now relapsing to those ancient Romish superstitions Idolatries corruptions we had formerly spired one 3ly That hereby he endeavoured to corrupt his Majesty his Nobles Courtiers Chaplaine and by consequence all his dominions in their Religion Fourthly That by this meanes he perverted seduced many thousands of His Majesties subjects who from this patterne fell to a studious practise of bowing to Altars â—â—erecting Altari 〈◊〉 in most Chappell 's Churches by degrees Fifthly That hereby hee scandalited discouraged grieved the well affected Protestants both at home and abroad encouraged hardned Papists in their superstitions and gave them great hopes of a speedy alteration of religion 〈◊〉 they seconded with al their power and pollicy Sixthly That by this practise he ingendred great discontents 〈…〉 misunderstanding 〈◊〉 â—is Majestie and his subjects which could never yet be cordially reconciled since that time but have grown wider every day almost to the utter ruine of our three whole kingdomes To the former evidence this further memorable testimony was subjoyned by way of corroboration and aggravation Mistres Charnock a Gentlewoman of good quality and her Daughter joyntly deposed before the Lords that on Maundy Thursday about 6. yeares since they being at Whitehall with some other of their friends whereof one was a Papist went into the Kings Chapell there to see it where they saw an Altar with Tapers other Furniture on it a Crucifix over it whiles they were in the Chappell Dr. Browne of Saint Faiths Church under Paules then a Deane one of the King's Chaplaines with his Curate came together into the Chappell and bowed three severall times almost to the ground to the Altar and Crucifix as they all conceived and then kneeled down on their knees before them A little after there came two Semenary Priests into the Chappell and bowed downe very low three severall times to the Altar and Crucifix over it as they apprehended just in the very same manner as Dr. Browne and his Curate did and then kneeled downe before the Altar and Crucifix for a little space as they had done At which strange sight Mistresse Charnocke very much admiring said to those in her company J never thought to
such Reliques of Rome to pollute them or corupt young Schollars with the superstitious Rites and Caeremonies of the Babilonish Strumpet but no sooner was he becom a Royal favorite Privy Councellor of state and Dominus factetum in Church and Republik but by his pestiferous influence practises and example these Popish weeds sprung up a pace by degrees in these choycest Seminaries of Piety and literature till they quite over-spread them at the last We shall begin with the University of Oxford whereof by indirect meanes this Prelate procured himselfe to bee elected Chancellour upon the death of the Right Honourable Will Earle of Pembrooke in Apr. 1630. whose Noble brother now Chancellour thereof was then really elected by most voyces though miscalculated by practise in the scrutiny by this Prelates Creatures What alterations were there made upon his advancement and Chancellorship will appeare by these subsequent depositions given viva voce against him at the Lords Barre Sir Nathaniell Brent deposed that before this Archbishop came to have power in this Universitie and to bee Chancellour thereof there were no Copes Altars nor Communion Tables turned and rayled about Altarwise in Churches or Colledges nor any bowing to or towards the Altar nor any Crucifixes but such as were either defaced or covered over with dust and quite neglected but since his being Chancellour the Tables in al or most Churches Colledges were turned into Altars or rayled in Altarwise and usually bowed unto the old Crucifixes repaired adored and new Crucifixes set up where there were none before yet he never heard that the Archb. disliked or reproved the same though he was Chancellour and saw these Innovations but liked them very well That since the Archb. was Chancellour there was a New Church-Porch built to St. Maries Church at the charge of Dr. Owen since made a Bishop where was none before standing in the very heart of the Vniversity towards the street to which Church all the University resorted in the front of which Porch was a statue of the Virgin Mary cut in stone with the Picture of a child in her Armes commonly taken to be the Picture of Christ Master Corbet a Fellow of Merton Colledge deposed that in the Yeare 1638. the Arch-Bishop being Visitor of that Colledge began his Visitation there by Sir Iohn Lambe his Deputy that one Article propounded to the Warden and Fellows was this Whether they made due Reverence by bowing towards the Altar or Communion Table when they came into the Chappell That himselfe and Master Channell were injoyned by the Visitors and Commissioners to use this Ceremonie but they refused to do it Whereupon Sir Iohn Lamb pressed them very much to practise it but they still refused propounding their reasons against it then he threatned him for it in particular After this Dr. Frewin Vice-Chancellour of the Vniversity told him that he was sent to him from the Archb. he being then Proctor pressing and requiring him as from the Archb. to use this Ceremony in regard of his place else it would be ill taken Afterwards the Archb. sent injunctions to Merton Colledge whereof this was one Habeant debitam Reverentiam ad mensam Domini where by hee meant this bowing to the Altar as the Visitors and common practise expounded it the Visitors afterwards questioning those who bowed not That this course continued till this present Parliament and was generally practised at Saint Maries and throughout the Vniversitie He further testified that in Magdalen Colledge there was a Crucifix placed over the Communion Table and Pictures in the Windowes and a new Crucifixe set up in Christ-Church none of which Innovations were there heard of before this Archbishops time Master William Bendy witnessed upon Oath that in the Yeare 1637. Since the Archbishop was Chancellour of Oxford there was a statue of the Virgin Mary With a Child in her Armes set up in the front of Saint Maries Church-Porch towards the open streete which gave great offence to many That there was a Crucifix set up in Lincolne Colledge and a Picture of the Holy Ghost another Crucifixe in Christ-Church another in New-Colledge and the like in diverse other Colledges That Latine Prayers were injoyned to be used in Lent and Studients to be present at them That the Tables in most Churches Colledges were turned into Altars railed in Altarwise and bowed to That in some Colledges they used Copes and hee heard a stranger who had bin a Travailer say that one of the Copes he saw at Oxford was just like that he had seene at ROME on the POPES backe Master Nixon one of the Aldermen of Oxford deposed viva voce that there was a Picture of Stone set up in the New-Church porch at Saint Maries Church towards the high Street of a Woman holding a Babe in her Armes which they cald the Picture of the Virgin Mary and Christ standing almost opposit to his House which was very scandalous offensive both to him others that himselfe had seene some passengers as they rode along by it to bow very low to their Horses manes and put off their Hats unto it that hee observed one Passenger both going and returning to bow thus unto it and put off his Hat who as he heard belonged to the Portugall Embassador and was a Papist that there was one who kneeled downe before this Image and held up his hands as if he prayed unto it He further deposed that not only in sundry Colledges but in the Parish Church of Carfolks the principall Church for the City whether the Major and Aldermen resorted there was a great large Crucifix with the Picture of Christ upon it set up in the Window by Giles Widdowes who was Parson there and one whom the Archbishop countenanced That this Archbishop was both the Author and encourager of all these innovations not heard of there since the Reformation is evident because they sprung up there in the time of his Chancellorship and were introduced by those who were his greatest Creatures enjoyned by his Visiters as you heard before and most of them prescribed in the Vniversity Statutes made by himselfe which all were bound by Oath to observe To cleare this we shall produce this Memorable passage Sect 1. paragr 2. De Precibus solennibus Oblationibus in Die Comitiorum which you may finde in the select Statutes of Oxford there printed in a small volume Anno 1638. p. 79. In die Comitiorum Moris est ut post pulsationem parvae campanae circa hor am nonam matutinam omnes Inceptores in qualibet facultate per Bedellos suae Facultatis à Collegijs Aulis deducti in Capella orientali Ecclesiae B. Mariae Virginis unà conveniant ijsque sic congregatis preces Divinae ab ejusdem Ecclesiae paraecialis Vicario aut illius Deputato solenniter habeautur Quibus peractis primum Vice-Cancellarius posteà singuli Inceptores in Facultatibus deinde Procuratores Bedellis praecuntibus ad Mensam Eucharistiae sacram CVM DEBITA
to tell him what harme this example might doe and how much hereby the secret Papists would be stirred up to rejoyce hoping for that which they have long looked for now to be neere at hand Was there no man had any sparke of Elias spirit to speake a word in Gods behalfe O lamenrable times in which we live that these things are swallowed downe by your Preachers in silence I forbeare to say much till I bee certified from you the truth of all matters I hope it is not so for I cannot thinke your Prebends would be so fainte hearted having also the Law of the Land on their side that it ought not to stand there where the Altar stood as to shrink at the first wetting without any pressing Speedily send me word I pray you and so with my hearty commendations I end Your loving Friend Iohn White Winchcombe 12th of Feb. 1616. A Copy of this Letter which this Archbishop stiled a Lible was soone after found in the Pulpit of Saint Michaels Church and sent up to the Deanes own hands who made much stir at Gloucester and the Court about it as appeares by these three Letters sound in his Study by Master Prynne and endorsed with his owne hand The first is a Letter sent by two of the Prehends to the Now Archbishop when he was Deane of Glocester upon this occasion Right Worshipfull OUr dutifull love remembred Wee have heard somewhat within these two or three dayes and this day more certainly of a certaine Libell or scandalous writing found in the Pulpit of Saint Michaells within the Citie of Gloucester upon the 14th of this instant Februarie about seaven of the Clocke in the morning when the Parish Clarke there did lay the Pulpit Cloth for Master Prior who was then to preach this scandalous writing was taken up by John Wells Curate there and by Thomas Smith the Clarke and by them read and by their meanes divulged so that all in the Citie well neare doe new speake of it The effect of the writing was as we learne a dislike for the Removing of the Communion Table within our Cathedrall Church affirming untruly that it tended to the animating of the Papists that it savoured of superstition that it was translated from a Communion Table to an High Altar and that Worship and obeysance were made unto it The Libeller marveileth that it is suffered as now it standeth and that there is not one Elias amongst us to reforme it Master John Jones one of our Aldermen and Justice of Peace hath examined some of them and they answer that they are advised by their Counsell not to confesse the effect of that Libell if they give not this day a better answer hee saith his purpose is to binds them ever to answer before the Judges at the next Assizes Master Jones his opinion is that it is very fit that there bee a Commission speedily procured from His Majesties High Commissioners for the examining of this matter and directed to some of the Clergie here and to sence Justies of Peace here provided alwayes that there be none such in that Commission of what degree or dignitie so ever they be that favour that schismaticall faction of the Puritans But now we learne that this Libell was presently delivered by the Curate or Clark unto our now Master Sub-Deane and therefore we assure our selves you are enformed of it by him and Master Robinson 5. or 6. dayes before this day If there be not a speedy course taken for the supressing of this their malicious and scandalous dealing it will in short time breed no small inconvenience within this plâ—â—â— c. Assuredly these zealous people are our Precisians the number whereof is great in this place Thus being bold to manifest unto you our love and dutie as we take it in this behalfe We humbly take our leave with our prayers unto God for Your health and welfare and rest Your Worships assuredly at Command Henry Aisgill Elias Wrench Gloucester Febr 21. 1616. The second is a Letter writ by him on this occasion to the Bishop of Glocester to this effect My Lord MY love and service remembered unto your Lordship when I came to doe my duty to his Majesty at Christmas it seemed by the speech he uttered to me that some body had done the poore Church of Glocester no very good office For his Majesty was graciously pleased to tell me He was informed that there was scarce ever a Church in England so ill govern'd and so much out of order And withall required me in generall to reforme and set in order what I there found amisse Hereupon at my being at Glocester I acquainted the Chapter with that which his Majesty had said to me and required at my hands And tooke as good order as in so short a space I could both for repaire of some parts of the edifice of the Church and for redresse of other things amisse Among the rest not rashly and of my selfe but by a Chapter Act I removed the Communion Table from the middle of the Quier to the upper end the place appointed to it both by the Injunctions of this Church and by the practise of all the Kings Majesties Chappell 's and all other Cathedrall Churches in the Kingdome which I have seene This Act since my comming thence as I am by letters informed is very much traduced by some in the City and a libell against it layd in the Pulpit of St. Michaells where Master Subdeane preaches to the great scandall of the Church and the Lawes established Good my Lord let me desire this favour in enquity at your Lordships hands that these things may be ordered and that your Lordship will joyne to reforme such tongues and penns as know not how to submit to any Law but their owne I must upon this of force have his gracious Majesty acquainted both with the thing it selfe and the entertainment which it hath found among turbulent Spirits And I presume his Majesty will be well pleased to heare that your Lordship as in other things so in this is carefull to preserve order and peace after it in the Church Thus not doubting but your Lordship will be carefull to rectifie what is amisse I for this time being full of my businesse for Scotland humbly take my leave and shall ever rest Your Lordships in all love and service WILLIAM LAVD Saint Iohns Feb. 27. 1616. The third was a letter writ by him to the Bishop of Lincolne Dr. Neale his great Patron then at Court MY humble duty and service remembered unto your Lordship c. When I was at London at Christmas to doe my duty unto his Majesty he was pleased very graciously to tell me that the Church of Glocester as his Majesty had been informed was more or as much out of order as any Church in England and to require me to order such things as I there found amisse upon this admonition of his gratious Majesty
beseech you take into your Religious consideration and vouchsafe me such a favourable resolution as the meritts of the cause requireth It is so that Doctor Robert Weston sometimes one of the Lords Justices for the Government of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of the same Realme Grandfather to my deceased Wife and great Vncle to the now Lord Treasurer of England whose memory yet lives by being stiled the good Lord Chancellor of Ireland was buried in the upper end of the Chancell in Saint Patrickes Church whose Daughter Sir Iefferey Fenton maried he having beene principall Secretary of State to Queene Elizabeth and King Iames for many yeares and lived and died in great honour whose onely Daughter I tooke to Wife and hee was buryed in the same grave My Wife drawing towards her end made her last request unto me that her Grandfather her Father and her selfe might be buried together and that I would be at the charge to erect some Monument in memoriall of them all Whereupon in accomplishment of her dying desire who was the Mother of my fifteene Children I propounded unto the Lord Archbishop of Dublin and to the Deane and Chapter of Saint Patricks to purchase a place where I might erect a Tombe over them And they assigned me the ground under an Arch to make a Seller or Vault in to receive dead bodies and three foote of the Chancell adjoyning to the Grave where the Lord Chancellor and Sir Iefferey Fenton had beene buried for which I payd them a Fyne with Rent and other reservations towards the reparation of the Church and by their unanimous consent have a Deed in due forme of Law perfected under their Chapter Seale and so being by generall consent legally interested therein I made a Vault of hewed stone under ground with conveighances therein to free the Church from the waters with which floods and great raynes it was before often anoyed withall and where there was then but an earthen flower at the upper end of the Chancell which was often overflowne I raysed the same three steps higher making the Staires of hewen stone and paving the same through out of the same whereon the Communion Table now stands very dry and gracefully In that Seller I have placed the Corps of my Wives Grandfather her Father and her selfe with a Daughter of mine since deceased that was married to the Lord Digbie and over the Vault I have caused a Tombe of foure storyes to be erected which reacheth two and thirtie foot from the ground which hath cost me a thousand pounds at the least and is the greatest ornament and beautie to that Church that ever was placed therein that being seated under an Arch that in former time was only a passage into the Saint Mary Chappell at the East end of which Chappell the high Altar stood and when that Chappell which hath two other wayes into it the one on the right hand the other on the left fell into ruine that Arch wherein the Tombe is placed to keepe the winde and weather out of the Chancell was made up with slight timber and lathes and plaistred with Clay white lymed over whereon the Commandements were lately written It is three yeares since this my worke was finished and neither during the time of the worke nor since till now of late did I ever heare of any mouth opened against it but many in commendations of it as a great beautie and ornament to that Chancell neither doth it take away or hide any of the lights of the Chancell for they are all above this Fabricke Neither is there any remembrance nor can the oldest man living say that there ever was any Altar placed neere this passage Yet of late it hath pleased my honourable Lord the Lord Deputy to command me to give Your Grace satisfaction herein or else to declare that the Tombe must be defaced which to have done would bee the greatest dishonour and affliction that could bee layed upon me And the more for that before I heard any thing of Your Graces distant thereof I had in the presence of the Lord Prymate given order to the Deane at my ovvne charges for a stately Skrene to be erected within the Quire and upon the pavement raised by my selfe upon which the tenne Commandements are to bee engraven to the great beautifying of Gods House Vpon that notice from the Lord Deputy I made suite to the Lord Prymate and the Lord Archbishop of Dublin to view the place which they vouchsafed together with the Deane and Chapter to doe And doe humbly offer to your Grace their opinions herein which I beseech Your pious consideration of and that you will be pleased to returne me such an answer as may encourage me to proceed herein and in other like building and charitable workes wherein I spend a great part of my estate and time as all that know me and my actions â—an testifie The great God of Heaven blesse Your Grace with a long and happie life in this world and everlasting glory in the world to come vvhich is and ever shall be the prayer of Your Graces most humble and faithfull Servant R. Caâ—he Dublin 20. Febr. 1633. May is please Your Grace VNderstanding from the Earle of Corke that Your Grace hath intimated unto the Right Honourable the Lord Deputie your offence taken against a Tombe lately built by his Lordship in the quire of Saint Patrikes Church neere this Citie of Dublin being informed that it should be situate in the place where the High-Altar anciently stood and that it should darken the East Window of the Quire upon his Lordships earnest request unto mee I have made bold to declare unto your Grace my knowledge thereabouts which is that the place where the Tombe is erected is a spatious Arch which in former times as I conceive served for a passage into the Marie Chappell adjoyning at the East end vvhereof the High Altar stood This Arch was closed up and plastered to keepe the winde as I imagine out of the Quire Saint Marie Chapell being somevvhat decaied upon the plaistering the Declalogue was fairely painted these vvere done before my promotion to this See or comming into this Kingdome The windovves which were of old somevvhat high over the Arch are no way darkened by his Lordships monument but remaine as they were formerly and the monument is so wrought and contrived what in the Arch and the Wall that vvith the grate before it it doth not much diminish the length of the Quire The Earle hath raised that end of the Quire three-steppes higher then it vvas and hath paved it with faire hevven stones being formerly a floore of earth many times upon a fresh drovvned vvith water where novv the Communion Table iâ— placed vvith more decency then in former times And his Lordship is in hand to set up a faire skrine of timber somewhat distant from the monument so that it may take in some other monuments heretofore erected on either side in the which
His Majesty sitting in Councell the question and difference which grew about the removing of the Communion Table in St. Gregories Church neere the Cathedrall Church of St. Paul from the middle of the Chancell to the upper end and there placed Altar-wise in such manner as it standeth in the said Cathedrall and Mother Church as also in all other Cathedralls and in His Majesties own Chappell and as it is consonant to the practise of approved Antiquity which removall and placing of it in that sort was done by order from the Deane and Chapter of St. Pauls who are Ordinaries thereof as was avowed before His Majesty by Doctor King and Doctor Montfort two of the Prebends there yet some few of the Parishioners being but five in number did complaine of this Act by Appeale to the Court of Arches pretending that the Booke of Common Prayer and the 82 Canon do give permission to place the Communion Table where it may stand with most fitnesse and couveniencie Now His Majesty having heard a particular Relation made by the Counsell of both parties of all the carriage and proceedings in this Cause was pleased to declare His dislike of all Innovation and receding from ancient Constitutions grounded upon just and warrantable Reasons especially in matters concerning Ecclesiasticall order and Government knowing how easily men are drawne to affect Novelties and how soone weake judgments in such cases may be overtaken and abused And He was also pleased to observe that if these few Parishioners might have their wills the difference thereby from the foresaid Cathedrall Mother Church by which all other Churches depending thereon ought to be guided would be the more notorious and give more subject of Discourse and Disputes that might be spared by reason of S. Gregories standing close to the wall thereof And likewise for so much as concerns the liberty given by the sayd Communion Book or Canon for placing the Communion Table in any Church or Chappell with most conveniency that liberty is not so to be understood as if it were ever left to the discretion of the Parish much lesse to the particular phansie of any humorous Person but to the Iudgment of the Ordinary to whose place and function it doth properly belong to give direction in that point both for the thing it selfe and for the time when and how long as he may finde cause Vpon which consideration his Majesty deciared himselfe That he well approved and confirmed the Act of the said Ordinary and also gave Command that if those few Perishioners before mentioned doe proceed in their said Appeale then the Deane of the Arches who was then attending at the hearing of the cause shall confirme the said Order of the aforesaid Deane and Chapter This Order being thus obtained and afterwards published in Print by Doctor Heylyn in his Coale from the Altar and Antidotum Lincolniense the designe of removing rayling in and turning Communion Tables into Altars in Parcohiall Churches Chappell 's was much promoted by coulor of it of the reason of conformity to Cathedrall Mother Churches expressed in it And to hasten this worke the more to which the people and Church-wardens in many places were very averse the Archbishop being to keep a Metropoliticall Visitation in all Diocesses and places exempt and not exempt with in the Province of Canterbury by Sir Nathaniell Brent his Vicar Generall others his Commissioners though he made no mention in his printed Visitation Articles of removing and rayling in Communion Tables Altar wise to avoyd the peoples clamours against him yet hee writ a private Letter to Sir Nathaniell Brent after his departure hence to enjoyne him to remove and raile in the Communion Tables in all Parish Churches and gave him order to see it executed With which practise the Archbishop being charged at the Lords Barre by Serjeant Wilde who mannaged this part of the evidence he peremptorily denied it and protested solemnly before the Lords that he never gave Sir Nathaniell Brent any such order or directions by letter or otherwise and that he could prove by sufficient testimonies Sir Nathaniell had openly acknowledged that this Alteration was made by Sir Nath. himselfe of his own head without any order from him adding that he cold not be so unworthy as to deny it Wherupon he desired Sir Nath. might be called to testify the truth upon his Oath who appearing at the Lords Bar for this purpose the Archbishop demanded of him whether ever hee gave him any command or direction by word or writing in his Metropoliticall Visitation to remove or raile in Communion Tables at the East end of the Chauncell telling him hee was now upon his Oath and wishing him to speake nothing but the truth herein whereunto Sir Nathaniell answered My Lords upon the Oath I have taken I received an expresse direction command from the Archbishop himselfe to do what ever I did in this or any other kind else I durst not have don it To which the Archbishop confidently replyed My Lords I protest I never gave him any such command or directions I wonder Sir Nathaniell dares be so bold unworthy as to affirm it here upon Oath since I can prove he hath formerly denied it To which Sir Nathaniell replyed My Lords since the Archbishop so confidently denies that he ever gave me any such command and directions I shall humbly desire that this Letter of his sent unto me when I was visiting at Maidstonin Kent signed with his own hand may be read which will end the controversie and manifest by whose Authority and command I did it whereupon a Letter under the Arch Bishops owne hand directed to Sir Nathaniell was delivered to the Clarke and openly read to the Arch-Bishops great shame and disparagment of all his Protestations which after this some other passages wherein he was taken tripping in like manner were reputed meere vaporing impostures to delude the vulgar voyd of truth and credit The Letter was to this effect Sir I require you to command the Communion Table at Maidston to be placed at the East or upper end of the Chauncell and there railed in and that the Communicants there shall come up to the Raile to receive the blessed Sacrament and the like you are required to doe in all Churches in all other placse where you are to visit Metropolitically c. W. Cant. This letter being read much daunted discredited the Arch-Bishop in the opinion of all the Auditors he having nothing to reply but that he had forgotten he writ him any such letter Vpon the receipt whereof Sir Nathaniell Brent confessed he did give order throughout his Metropoliticall Visitation that all the Communion Tables should be removed and railed in at the upper end of the Chauncell in all Parish Churches and all seates above the Table or equall with it in any Chancell pulled downe and that the Communicants should goe up to the Raile and there receive the Sacrament kneeling which he
pressed as spatingly as he might it being against his owne judgment and thereupon obedience was yeelded in most places and such as refused to Raile in their Tables were questioned and proceeded against by others but as for himselfe he never troubled any for it That the Archbishop himselfe gave both command and approbation for these Innovations was proved by this ensuing Petition to which an Answer was underwriten by Master Dell subscribed with the Archbishops owne hand found among Sir Iohn Lambes sequested Papers by Master Prynne To the right Reverend Father in God William Lord Archbishop of Cant. his Grace Primate of all England and Metropolitan The Petition of Philip Davies Clerke Hunry Demery and Abrah am Cobb Churchwardens of the Parish Church of Hill alias Hull in the Dioces of Glocester Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioners in obedience to your Graces special directions in your Graces Metropolitan Visitation did take care and order for the raysing of the Chancell and Rayling in the High Altar or Communion Table in the said Church for the doing of which with the necessary beautifying of the said Church there were divers rates made by the Churchwardens for the time being and major part of the Inhabitants of that Church for to defray the Charge thereof In which assesements one Henry Heathfield who was and is commonly reputed and taken to be of that Parish was rated after the usuall manner as he and his Predecessors had alwayes beene his divers rates amounting to 28. shillings six pence To avoyd the payment of which the said Henry Heathfield appealed to your Graces Court of the Arches where the cause hath depended for these eleven Monethes last past to your Petitioners great Charge and hinderance May it therefore please your Grace for the better incouragement of your Petitioners in performing your Graces Commands which we have hitherto done in preserving the decency and ornaments of the said Church as much as in us lyes to give order that the said Cause may be speedily determined and that your Petitioners may not be unnecessarily vexed and molested for endeavouring to performe what in your Graces Visitation was publikely enjoyned but so farre as truth shall appears we may shroud our selves under your Graces Protection And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. I desire Sir John Lambe in case he finde the Suggestions true to take care that this Cause may come to hearing with all convenient speed possible Febr. 9. 1637. W. CANT By answering of which Petition the Archbishop acknowledgeth that the rayling in of Communion Tables and imposing illegall Rates for the same was done by HIS GRACES SPECIALL DIRECTION in his Metropoliticall Visitation and thereupon he thus desired Sir John Lambe to expedite the hearing of the Cause yet he had so Little Grace as openly to deny it with solemne protestations The falsity whereof was further evidenced by this Copy of Injunctions given in his Metropoliticall Visitation to the Cathedrall Church of Winchester 19. July An. 1635. by Sir Nathaniell Brent his Vicar Generall found in his owne Study at Lambheth so as he could not be ignorant of them attested by Master Prynne the last whereof was this Deinde Dominus injuaxit Gardianis Ecclesiae parochialis sancti Mauritij infra Civitatem Wintoniae quod duo sedilia ex utraque parte Cancellorum ibidem removeantur quod nullum sedile ibidem collocatur aut erigatur Distuque Dominus ad Petitionem Willielmi Newton unius Parochianorum praefatae Ecclesiae Parochialis decrevit Mensam sacram Eucharistiae decenter circum-sepiendam viz. TO BEE RAYLED ABOVT IN DECENT MANNER citra festum Omnium Sanctorum proximè sequens Moreover A paper of Informations of divers Abuses in the City and Diocesse of London was found in the Archbishops Study attested by Master Prynne whereof this was one There are many Communion Tables in severall Churches of the City of London that are not rayled in and some of them are placed in the middle of the Church when as they may be placed more conveniently at the East end thereof At the Chappel at Highgate the Boyes use to leane on the Communion Table in the time of Divine service under which Mr. Dell the Archbishops Secretary Writ this direction to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Visiter subscribed with the Archbishops owne hand I require you that besides my other Instructions you give me an account of all particulars within named Whereupon an Account was given to him in writing accordingly thus entituled An Account of the Metropoliticall Visitation of the Diocesse of London Aano 1636. found in his Study with the foresaid Informations and indorsed thus with his owne hand 1636. March The Course of my Visitation in London Diocese Wherein are these Particular Passage touching the railing in of Communion Tables Mr. Rogers of Massing mentioned in your Graces Paper came not to me for an order for the setting up of a Raile about his Communion Table But I GAVE A GENERALL ORDER FOR IT BOTH THERE AND IN ALL OTHER PLACES WHERE I PASSED The Communion Table in the Chappell of Highgate mentioned in your Graces paper is already placed at the upper end of the Quire and a decent Raile made about it as J am informed by divers To which the Archbishop with his owne hand adds this Note in the Margin See it be don In the Parish Church of Edmonton a fair Monument is set at the upper end of the Chancell which I have ordered to be taken downe without delay and the Communion Table to be set in the place of it with a comely raile about it Yet had this Archbishop the Impudency to protest to the Lords he never gave any order to Sir Nathaniell Brent for removing or railing in Communion Tables that it was done without his Privity or direction O portet mendacem esse memorem Adde to this that in an Abstract of this Archbishops Metropoliticall Visitation endorsed by himselfe and found among his papers there were these observable informations given to him by his Visitor Sir Nathaniel Brent July 16. 1635. At Lyn in the principall Church called St. Margarets the Communion Table wanted a rayle which I have ordered At Northampton no man boweth at the pronouncing of the name of Iesus in all the Churches in Shrewsbury many things were out of Order especially about the Communion Table But the Officers in every Parish Church most willingly submitted to what I ordered Mr. Speed of Saint Pancrosse in Chicester is very willing the Gallery in his Church should be pulled down which was built to receive strangers as also to remove the seates which stand even with the Altar Besides it appeares by a letter of Wil. Kingsley Arch-deacon of Cant. to this Archbishop dated Aprill 13 16 6. that he gave him order to survay all the Churches in Canterbury and to certine him what Monuments placed the Eastland Galleres were in them to the end they might be removed who gave him this account thereof in writing found
of Lincolne at the Visitation of the Archdeacon there this present year 1637. Printed at London 1637. Artic. 5. Have you adâ—cent Table on a frame for the holy Communion placed at the East end of the Chancell Is it rayled in or inclosed so as Men or Boyes cannot sit upon it or throw their hats upon it Is the said raile or 〈…〉 with sâ—ttles or kneeling hâ—nches at 〈…〉 or bottome thereof no the Communicants way fitly kneele there at the receiving of the holy Communion Artic. 38. Whether any in your Parish have covered his head in time of Divine Service contrary to the â—â— Canon any that do not kneele at the saying of the generall Confession Letany ten Commandements and other prayers read in the said Church â— any that do not stand up at the saying the Beliefe or not how or use reverencâ— when in time of Divine service the name of Iesus is read or 〈◊〉 c. Moreover Dr. Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wels not only prescribes the rayling in of Communion Tables Altarwise under penalties and fines in his Visitation Articles and Courts but likewise appoints Ministers in every Division to see it executed and presents these reasons for it to the Archbishop who endorsed them thus with his own hand Recepi March 9. 1633. L. Bishop of Bath and Wels about placing the Communion Table Reasons why the Communion Table in every Church should be set close under the East-window or wall with the ends North and South and be rayled in 1. It was ordered in Queen Elizabeths Injunctions That the Communion Table should stand where the Altar did 2. There should be some difference between the placing of the Lords Table in the Church and the placing of a mans Table in his house 3. It is not sit the people should sit above Gods Table or he above the Priest when he consecrateth 4. If it stand not thus and he not rayled in it will be subject to many prophanations and abuses Church-wardens will keep their accounts at the Lords Table Parishioners will sit round about it and talk of their Parish businesses whereas the Lords Table is for no other use but only for the Communion and the service and prayers of the Church Schoolmasters will teach their Boyes to write upon this Table and the Boyes will â—ay their Hats Sachels and Books upon it and in their Masters absence sit upon the same and many will sit or learn irreverently against the Lords Table in Sermon time Glasiers will knock it full of mile holes as it is found by experience they have done in many places and Dogs will defile the Lords Table 5. When the Communion Table stands thus the Chancell is the fairer and there â—â— more 〈◊〉 for the Communicants 6. Where the Communion Table stands thus the face of the Priest is seen of all and his voice is 〈◊〉 heard of all which sit on the North side of the Chancel 7. It is sit the Daughters should be like their Mother the Patochiall Churches should be 〈◊〉 the Câ—thedrall Churches that so there may be an uniformity in this respect in every Church At Coventry 〈◊〉 Bishop of that Diocesse by his Chancellour prescribed these Innovations following in the Churches of that City Thursday the 15 of August 1636. at Coventry It is ordered by Mr. Chancellour in the presence of me Henry Archbold principall Register being 〈…〉 by my Lord Bishop to that purpose 1. That the Communion Tables with in S. Michaels and Trinity Churches should be removed up 〈…〉 of the Chancels 2. That the ground at the upper end of the Chancels be handsomely raised by three steps that the 〈…〉 be conspicuous to all the Church 3. That in 〈…〉 which almost stopped up the middle I le be removed according 〈…〉 the Church-wardens in presence 4. That in both Churches all new additions of Seats in the Chancels be taken away 〈…〉 be to the ancient forme 5. 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of Trinity shall hereafter have any Seat to himself within the Church of S. Michael nor any parishioner of S. Michael have any 〈…〉 such no have sufficient interest by Land in the other 〈◊〉 6. 〈…〉 the Churchyard of S. Trinity may be 〈…〉 restored to the Churchyard And the doores opening into the Churchyard be stâ—pped up and the sink and other 〈…〉 7. That the 〈…〉 wives being in both Churches sufficiently accommodated 〈…〉 hence forth content themselves 〈…〉 â—e disposed of to these Gentlemen of quality within 〈…〉 The Church-wardens of both Parishes are admonished to certifie the performance of the precedent Articles to M. Chancelour by the next Court-day at Lichfield being the 27 of September next And that the Desk in the Chancell in Trinity Church whereon the Books lye be removed to the upper end of the North Isle next the Chancell and a Rayle made with a door in the middle thereof to keep out children from tearing the Books Charles Twysden Henry Archbold Registers After which this Bishop in a better mood Ordering the Communion Table only at the time of administring the Sacrament to be brought into the midst of the Chancell being large without the precincts of its impounding rayles thereupon the Archbishops Creatures gave present secret notice thereof by way of complaint to Sir Iohn Lambe and he to the Archbishop in these ensuing Letters found among Sir Iohn Lambs papers by Mr. Prynne endorsed with Mr. Dels the Archbishops Secretaries hand upon the Archbishops perusall of them The first was this Letter from Mr. Bird to Mr. Latham Good Master Latham Being at Mr. Lessons my Lord Bishops accustomed Inne I was there called and sent for to a private room before Mr. Major and some others of the Fraternity the businesse was concerning the removall of the Communion Table fromits ascent of 3 steps unto the body of the Chancel during the administration of that blessed Sacrament and they fearing me and my thwarting it moved my Lord to command me from either troubling them or altering that But how this can be effected without a great deale of inconveniency both to Minister and people I know not the Table and all other ceremonies necessary then to be used being by this means obscured and taken away from the eares and eyes of the people This is all except his Sermon that his Lordship hath done here and so much I thought good to certifie you desiring you to make what use you can of it provided you ever conceale the name of Your assured loving friend Tho. Byrd Covent 21 March juxta compt Aug. 1636. The second this Letter from Mr. Latham to Sir Iohn Lambe Most worthy Sir Our Lord Bishop at his departure from hence left such a terrible noise behind him of threatning against his Chancelour Mr. Ieffraye Archdeacon of Salop and my Selfe as would make men that were any thing obnoxious much afraid but for mine own part I thank God I fear him not but will and shall be ready to justifie my selfe in any thing
his Consecrating of Churches and Chappels after the popish manner wherein the case stands briefly thus The Pope his Romish Prelates had in times of ignorance superstition for their own proper lucre introduced solemn consecrations of Churches Chappels with all furniture belonging to them appropriated these Fopperies to Bishops as a jurisdiction peculiar to them alone though we reade in Scripture that the Tabernacle all the furniture thereto belonging was consecrated only by Moses and the Temple at Jerusalem by King Solomon the chief temporall Magistrates not by Aaron or the High Priests as they were among the Romans by the Senate These formes of consecrations full of Ethnicall ridiculous superstitions exorcismes conjurations were contained only in Roman Pontificals Missals Ceremonials which were wholly abolished upon the reformation of Religion in King Edwards daies by the expresse statutes of 3 4 E. 6. cap. 1. 5. 5 6 E. 6. cap. 1. and after that by the statute of 1 Eliz. cap. 2. 8 Eliz. cap. 1. which abrogited all rites ceremonies and consecrations whatsoever but those comprised in the Books of Common Prayer and Ordination of Ministers where there is not one syllable to be found touching consecration of Churches or Chappels or Church-yards nor any forme of such consecrations reteined or prescribed which by these Acts were wholly discontinued abolished in our Church till this Papish Prelate to renue them and to assume a Papall power of making Churches Chappels Altars and their furniture holier then other places by his solemne consecrations of them as if the meere sequestring of them from a common or prophane to a sacred use were not a sufficient consecration of them without a Bishops Benediction and exercising of those creatures suspended thereunto We shall begin first with his consecration of Churches next of Chappels Anno 1630. St. Katherines Creed-church in London being repaired only by the parishioners not new built from the ground when Mountain was Bishop of London and the Church thought holy enough by him without any new consecration not requisite in such a case by the very Canon law this popish Prelate succeeding Mountaiue in the Bishoprick of London suspended this new repaired Church for a time from all Divine service Sermons and Sacraments till it was re-consecrated by himself of which he writ down this speciall memoriall with his own hand in his Diary read in the Lords House in manner following January 16. 1630. Sunday I consecrated S. Katherine Creed-church in London In what a popish ridiculous bedlam manner was thus attested upon oath by M. Willingham a parishioner there who then took special Notes of all the passages in short-writing thinking some good use might be made thereof in after-times the particulars whereof he thus expressed That the Archbishop then of London on the 16 of January 1630. being the Lords day came in the morning about nine of the clock in a pompous manner to Creed-church accompanied with Sir Henry Martin Dr. Rive Dr. Duck and many other High-commissioners and Civillians there being a very great concourse of people to behold this novelty the Church doores were garded with many Halberders at the Bishops approaching near the West door of the Church the hangbies of the Bishop cryed out with a loud voyce Open open ye everlasting doores that the King of glory may enter in and presently as by miracle the doores flew open and the Bishop with three or four great Doctors and many other principall men entred in and as soon as they were in the Church the Bishop fell down upon his knees with his eyes lifted up and his hands and armes spread abroad uttering many words and saying This place is holy and this ground is holy In the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost I pronounce it holy and then he took up some of the earth or dust and threw it up into the aire as the frantick perseenting Jewes did when they were raging mad against Paul this was done in the great middle Isle several times as they came up Eastwards towards the Chancel which Chancel was then paved when they approached near to the Rayle and Lords Table unto which was an ascent of two or three steps the Bishop lowly ducked and bowed towards it some five or six times and returning went round about the Church in Procession on the inside thereof they saying the 100 Psalme and after that the 90 Psalme prescribed in the Roman Pontificall for this purpose p. 262. and then this Prayer Lord Jesu Christ who art the eternall Word of thy eternall Father God Almighty to be blessed for ever and diddest at first in the beginning of time create man out of the dust of the earth to restore and repair in him the ruine and fall of Angels and when as he by transgression had lost his originall state diddest according to thy threatning returne him againe unto his dust but so that he should not perish everlastingly but should in due time by an omnipotent power be raised againe out of the earth and therefore in assurance of the resurrection the bodies of men the work of thine own hands are in this place to be deposited in their sepulchres graves or vaults as in a repository or resting place untill the end of all things when that mighty Arch-angell shall sound his last Trumpet with Rise ye dead and come to judgement accept we beseech thee this our holy service who doe give and consecrate this beautifull Church unto thee and we separate it unto thee and thy Church AS HOLY GROVND not to be prophaned any more to common use this we beseech thee to accept at our hands for Christ Jesus sake c. Then was read aloud the 23 chapter of Genesis which being read then followed another prayer taken almost verbatim out of the Roman Pontificall beginning thus Merciful God the resurrection and the life of all that trust in thee wee most humbly intreat thee to vouchsafe us of thy grace that all those thy servants who from hence forth shall come into or be intered within the Circuit of this holy and sacred place now by our service HALLOWED unto thee may so lead their lives in thy feare that they may leave them in thy favour and that their bodies resting in their Sepulchres in this Church in peace untill thy comming unto Iudgment may rise again unto immortall life and live with thee for ever in those glorious mantions of eternity Heare us O Saviour for thy passion sake heare us O Father for thy Christs sake heare us O Sanctifying Spirit for thy comforts sake who livest and reignest one God c. Then The peace of God followed c. After all this the Bishop betook himselfe to sit under a cloath of State in an Isle of the chancell neare the Communion Table and taking a written book in his hand in imitation of the Roman Pontificall and the Councell of Trents Decrees therein cited pag. 247 c.
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
such trifling matters Whereupon Gray said He hoped to see better days for he saw now how the game went The next day after Gray was sent for by a Messenger to the Counsel Table and then the Archbishop said at the Table This fellow railed on me and bid them have him away whereupon Gray was committed to the Fleet where he lay twelve weeks upon the Archbishops complaint and after that seven weeks more by Secretary Windebanks Warrant who refused to release him unlesse he would give bond and bail never to prosecute Priests and Jesuits more He further deposed that in his hearing one Loyd a dangerous Jesuit desired Sir Kenelm Digby to tell the Bishop of Canterbury that he could not that day dine with him and bid him remember his love to the Archbishop and desire him to be mindfull of the businesse that they and he had formerly speech about And that he hath often seen the said Loyd Sir Kenelm Digby Sir Toby Matthews and one Gray a great Papist at Lambeth at the Archbishops house Master Thomas Thacher of Barkin Parish London attested upon Oath That he having a Warrant from the High Commissioners to apprehend popish Priests and Jesuits did by vertue thereof apprehend Master Henry Morse a Jesuit and one Gârdiner a Priest great seducers who being committed to Newgate were soon after discharged thence by Secretary Windebank's Warrant to whom he repairing for his fees the said Secretary demanding a sight of his Warrant which he shewed detained it from him and would not restore the same Whereupon he repaired to the Archbishop and desired of him a new Warrant to apprehend Priests and Jesuits who thereupon told him That Secretary Windebank had complained of this Deponent to the Queen and demanded of him if he kept not company with one Gray who gave him intelligence of the persons and lodgings of Priests and Jesuits and wished him not to keep company with him any more for if he did he would lay him by the heels and turn him out of his Place He further deposed that he having a speciall Warrant from the Lords of the Counsel for the apprehending of Sir Toby Matthew a dangerous Papist and apprehending him accordingly the late Lord Strafford Deputy of Ireland sent for this Deponent to bring Sir Toby to him which he did who thereupon discharged Sir Toby by word of mouth and promised to save the Deponent harmlesse who thereupon repairing to the Archbishop acquainted him therewith the Archbishop said it is well I shall speak with him anon John Egerton of the Minories deposed That he being at Lambeth-house upon occasion did see Sir Toby Matthew there two severall times with the Archbishop That he being one of the Searchers of the Custom-house in London did on the 28. of December 1633. seize four hundred Popish books in English written by one Lewes of Puente a Jesuit with divers popish Primmers and Catechismes brought over from beyond the Seas to seduce his Majesties Subjects contrary to the statute of 3 Jacobis cap. 5. which gives the forfeiture of 40s. for every Book so imported against the Importers of them Which Books he carried to the now Archbishop of Canterbury who commanded him to deliver them to Master Mottershead Register of the High Commission which he did and that about a fortnight after he comming to the said Mottershead to demand satisfaction for his pains and charge in seizing the said Books and demanding of him where the said Books were he answered and affirmed to the Deponent That he had delivered them to the owners of them by the Archbishops direction and command and Motteshead appointed him only forty shillings for his pains when the charge he had been at in carrying them from place to place cost him five pounds After which he was troubled in the High Commission for importing English Bibles and there put from his Searchers place imprisoned and fined two hundred pounds when as the Importers of popish books were never questioned In the yeer 1640. May 16. upon the Letter of Doctor Thomas Weeks Chaplain both to the Archbishop and Bishop of London there were eleven Cases of popish Books belonging to one John Weld a Popish Recusant and others delivered out of the Custom-house where they were seized to the owners to be dispersed to seduce his Majesties people contrary to the Statute as Master Jones Master Dent and others of the Custom-house attested under their hands Viz. Holy Courts 456. Key of Paradice 603. Manuels 661. The life of Eleazar Count of Sabri◠259. The following of Christ 116. Popish Catechismes 344. dozens Fronts for Altars 39. Ladies Psalters 24. The Mirrour of new Reformation 134. Offices of our Lady 558. Masse books 9. and two great ones more The Devout heart 101. Vade Mecum 276. A Method to serve our Lady 570. Most of these were very richly bound up and some of them delivered to Knight the Register of the High Commission by the Archbishops order and by him restored to the owners when as on the contrary he was very strict in seizing all puritanicall Books and punishing the dispersers of them witnesse this his subscription to the Petition of one Francis Wallis Gentleman who complaining to him against one Thomas Abbis of London for selling and transporting beyond the Seas an Abstract of the Laws of New-England The whole proceedings against Doctor Bastwick Master Burton and Master Prynne and against the Bishop of Lincoln the Archbishop subscribed it in this sort I desire Sir John Lambe to be very carefull of this businesse and that he imploy a trusty and discreet Messenger for the apprehending of the party here complained of and seizing his Books and let me have an account thereof March 14. 1637. W. CANT For the Archbishops intimacy with Doctor Smith the Bishop of Calcedon we have no direct proof at hand but two very suspicious passages in his own Diary which seem to intimate it wherein we read as followeth Jan. 26. 1631. My neerer acquaintance began to settlewith D◠S. I pray God blesse us in it June 25. 1632. Do. S. with me c. Cum Ma. Which Do. S. we conceive to signifie either Smith the Arch-Jesuit of whose familiarity with him the former witnesses have deposed or Doctor Smith Bishop of Calcedon with whom if not this Archbishop yet his Minion Secretary Windebank at least held strict intelligence as appeares by this Originall Letter to his Sonne at Paris under his owne Hand and Seale found among his sequestred Papers by MASTER PRYNNE TOm c. If you see Doctor Smith Bishop of Calcedon there who is a great Confident of the Cardinals he may be A FIT INSTRUMENT TO MAKE SOME DISCOVERY OF THE INTELLIGENCE THE SCOTS HOLD THERE but this must be done with great caution Your very loving Father FRANCIS WINDEBANK Drury-Lane Decemb. 12. 1630. The benefit of this intelligence being principally to redound to the Archbishop the originall cause and grand fomenter of the Scottish
private Letters to his Vicar General enjoyned all Lords Tables to be placed and rayled in Altarwise yea excommunicated censured fined in the High Commission such Ministers and Church-Wards as opposed or refused to obey his Injunctions herein as the Cases of Master Chancy the Church-Wardens of Beckington John Premly Ferdinando Adams and others evidence Fourthly We reply that the Archbishop in his Starchamber-speech p. 45. 46. makes this averment And yet the Government is so moderate God grant it be not too loose the while that NO MAN IS CONSTRAINED NO MAN QUESTIONED only religiously called upon venite Adoremus Come let us Worship that is bow to and toward the Altar Yet here we have himselfe confessing and others testifying upon Oath that he enjoyned all Schollers in the University of Oxford all Officers Prebends in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches by speciall Statutes to which they were all compelled to sweare Obedience and Conformity to worship God with highest Reverence towards the Altar to bow devoutly to towards it at their approaches thereunto which none were ever thus strictly obliged to do by speciall Lawes and Oathes in the very darkest times of Popery That Doctor Jackson did approve practise this bowing to the Altar for a time it was by force only of these new Statutes and Oath as himselfe deposeth for which he professeth his hearty sorrow and whereas Doctor Blechenden sweares that some Prebends used to bow before these new Statutes it was only by reason of this Archbishops Injunctions and daily practise both at Court and in Lambeth Chappell For his expunging of the prayer for King Henry the 8. after his death out of these Statutes it no way justifies nor extenuates his Injunction of such Popish Altar-Adorations For the 95. Psa it commands us only to worship fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker not towards or before an Altar which is not the Lord our Maker Neither did the Archbishop himselfe not the most superstitious Popish Prelate or Clergie man in England ever yet use to Worship and fall down to God before or towards the Altar just when this Venite Adoromus was read which requiring no such Worship at the very instant it is reading much lesse exacts it after or before its reading For the Knights of the Garters Chapter-Order made in times of Popery in imitation of Popish Priests it is no binding Law to any but those of that Order in their solemnitie which being meerely Civill and if it bee Deo Altars ejus joyntly then certainely superstitious Popish nay Idolatrous too cannot be fit for imitation of Protestants Fifthly We reply that these Crucifixes Images being unlawfull to be made condemned by Our Statutes Homilies Injunctions Writers Church and all sound Antiquity as wee have proved and Constantine the great condemning them their pretended Antiquity or use in the Kings Chappell can no wayes justifie his re-erecting them in Cathedralls And here we cannot but observe the Archbishops Legerdemain and grosse abuse of his Majesties Chappell First himselfe introduced Crucifixes with other Popish Innovations into it which he afterwards by way of imitation prescribed to Cathedralls And then being charged with this practise in Cathedralls he justifies himselfe by His Majesties Chapell where he takes Sanctuary just as if a Cutpurse should justifie the cutting of a mans purse in Pauls Cathedrall because hee formerly picked another mans pocket in Whit-Hall Chapell which is nothing else but to wipe off the present charge by the next preceeding which lyes so heavy upon him and to justify this subseouent crime of his by another anteceeding it But in truth this is a meere devise 〈◊〉 draw an Odium on His Majesty and his Chappell who must Patronize 〈…〉 Popish Traiterly Actions since we have proved these Innovations of his in Cathedralls to bee directly taken out of the Roman Ceremoniall Pontificall and brought in by their prescription not learned from the Kings own Chappell as he falsly pretends Sixthly To his Altar Ornaments and trinkets in Cathedralls which he would justifie by the Kings Chapell too when expresly taken out of the Roman Pontisical and Ceremoniall in imitation of forraigne Popish Cathedralls we shall returne the selfe same answer and close up all with his own sentence in his Star-Chamber Speech pag. 55. where he passeth judgment against himselfe in these following words Nor hath the Kings Chappell any Prerogative if that may be called one above any ordinary Church to disserve God in any superstitions Rites Where give mee leave to tell you that the King and his Chappell are most wrongfully and with scorne abused Undoubtedly they are so by these undutifull answers of his whereby hee hath justified to the utmost each particular of this his charge which he hath in no sort extenuated nor taken off from himselfe in any particle Sixthly They proceeded in the next place from Cathedralls to charge me with Pepish Innovations in Parish Churches and Chappell 's which charge is reducible to these heads First my enjoyning Church-Wardens to remove and rayle in Communion Tables Altarwise as in the case of Saint Gregories and other Parishes Secondly Prescribing the people to receive the Communion at the new rayles kneeling Thirdly Enjoyning Ministers to say Second service at the Communion Table rayled in Altarwise Fourthly setting up of Crucifixes and other Images in Churches Chappell 's Glasse-windowes particularly in the new Chappell by Tuttle-fields in Westminster Fifthly Prescribing these Innovations in visitation Articles by Bishop Wren Bishop Mountague Bishop Peirce and others and forcing Church-Wardens upon Oath to present all those who submitted not to them Sixthly punishing and censuring those in the Star-Chamber High Commission and elsewhere who opposed or submitted not to these Innovations by name Master Peter Smart Master Charles Chancy Master Miles Burkit the Church-Wardens of Beckington Ferdinando Adams John Premly Mr. Henry Sherfeild Mr. John VVorkman Mr. Prynne Mr. Burton and Doctor Bastwick Seventhly my Chaplaines purging out a passage against Images taken out of the very Homilies in Doctor Featlies book Eightly My licensing of Popish Pictures and Crucifixes to be printed in London by one â—â—â—ke and to be bound up with our English Bibles To the first I answer in Generall that this removing and placing Lords Tables Altarwise is warranted by the Queens Injunctions as I have formerly evidenced As for the case of Saint Gregories the Table was not turned by mee but by the Deane and Chapter of Paules And when it came to the Councell Table I did there only deliver my opinion and oppose the Queens Injunctions against Bishop Jewels opinion and Master Fox there pressed and the Order made therein was made by the King and Councell then present not by me alone Secondly I pressed none to come up to receive at the Rayles no further then the Common Prayer Booke prescribes which enjoynes the people to draw weare and take the Holy Sacrament for their comfort 3ly Reading Second service at the Lords table is no
though it stood in most Parish Churches the other way yet whither there be not more reason the Parish should be made conformable to the Cathedrall and Mother Churches then the Cathedralls to them I leave to any reasonable man to judge So as his Innovations begun in Cathedralls were purposely introduced there first of all to draw on Parish Churches to Popish conformity with them in these Innovations Next in particular we reply that the alteration of the standing of the Lords Table and rayling it in Altarwise was no wayes warranted by the Queens Injunctions but contrary to them as wee have largely manifested That though this was not done immediately by himselfe but by the Deane and Chapter of Paules yet he was the Originall author of it and justified it when complained of That he publikely checked the Councell Parishioners and sir Henry Martin before the King and Lords for opposing this Innovation and alleadging Bishop Iewill and Mr. Fox against it desiring his Majesty to take these Bookes out of the Church if they made no better use of them then to oppose this Novelty That he carried himselfe more like an Advocate then Judge in this Cause and when the King himselfe was satisfied and would have it stand as formerly his violence was such that he over-ruled both King and Councell and drew up the Order forecited in their names for establishing this Innovation which favours of his stile and spirit the guilt whereof must rest principally on him 2ly The comming up to the Rayles was pressed by his Visitors Agents authority and those excommunicated who refused to come up and receive at the New Rayle to which certainly it was never the minde of the Common Prayer Book the Communicants should draw neare since there were no Rayles to draw neare and kneele at till this Archbishop enjoyned them to be set up in imitation of the Papists as we have proved but this drawing neare is rather a drawing neare to Christ by faith with our hearts and affections or else a drawing neare to the body of the Church of Chancell where the Lords Table is to be placed to the Minister officiating as it is expounded by the Qâ—eens Jujunctions 28 Canon The Table when the holy Communion shal be administred shal be placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancel as thereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and administration and the Communicants also may more conveniently and in more number communicate with the Minister 3ly We answer that the Lords Table was ordained only to administer the Sacrament thereat not to read second service at it for which the Reading Pew is appointed as the Common-prayer Book the Homilies of the worthy receiving the Sacrament and reparing Churches Queen Elizabeths Injunctions the Canous made 1571. p. 18. and the 82. 83. Canons Anno 1603. resolve Now this Archbishop enjoyned second service now to bee read at the Lords Table when there was no Communion and where it was rayled in at the upper end of the Quite not brought downe into the body of the Church or Chancell contrary to the Rubrick in the Common Prayer Booke which expresly determines That the Epistle and Gospel chiefe parts of this second service shall be read where the two Lessons are with a loud voice that the people may heare the Minister that readeth them the Minister standing and turning himselfe as he may best be heard of ALL such as be present which he cannot be if he read them at the upper end of the Chancell remote from the people where the Churches are great or the Ministers voyce low This innovation then which was never practised in any Parish Church till of late though used in some Cathedralls wherein the Rubrick enjoynes the Communion every Sunday in the yeare at least to be administred which was wholly omitted and the second service at the Table left to supply it is directly contrary to the Rubricke Homilies Injunctions Canon 4ly It is evident that Crucifixes were set up in many Parish Churches Chapells of the Kingdome which though we cannot prove to be done by his expresse particular Command yet certainly it was by his example or incouragement who repaired and set up Crucifixes in his owne Chappell 's at Lambeth Croyden and one over the Altar in Passion week in the Kings owne Chappell at White-Hall Besides those who erected them were either his owne Chaplaines or Faverites who knew his minde and did it for to imitate and please his Grace to gaine some further preferments For the Images set up in the New b Chappell in Tuttle fields we b have proved that the Arch-bishop promised to bestow a new Window on it that thereupon the old was taken downe the Kings Armes removed and those Images with the Archbishops owne Armes as the Donor of it set up that his Chaplaine gave directions about the VVindow and Mr. Sutton sweares that the money for new glasing it was paid since the Archbishops commitment to the Tower by his direction as he believeth A cleare evidence that he was the Author and director of this worke notwithstanding all his shifts to elude it 5ly Though the Archbishop made not these Bishops Visitation Oathes and Articles yet he made all of them Bishops who durst do nothing in their Diocesse or Visitations but by his direction to whom they gave an Annuall Accompt of their proceedings in writing as we have manifested Besides its apparent that all these Visitation Articles were made in pursuance of his owne Archiepiscopall Injunctions Instructions and himselfe approved of these their Oathes Articles never checking nor questioning them for them though their Metropolitan yea himselfe prescribed the selfe same things in his Metropoliticall Visitations by printed Articles written Injunctions or private Jnstructions as these Bishops did in imitation of him Therefore hee must Answer for these their Articles Oathes proceedings as farre forth as they who were but his Instruments Sixtly For his Answer to the particular Cases wee shall returne these Replyes 1. That though Mr. Smart was censured by the High Commission at Yorke yet he was first imprisoned here at London and transmitted from the High Commission here to York by this Archbishops meanes who complyed with Dr. Cosin in his prosecution and disposed of his livings after his deprivation as we can prove by sundry Letters found in his Study As for Mr. Smarts Sermon it was neither scandalous nor factions but Orthodox and Iuditious against the Popish Jnnovations introduced in the Cathedrall of Durham where he was the ancientest Prehend deserving rather applause then any censure as both Lords and Commons have resolved upon a full hearing and awarded him reparations and Damages for his unjust censure 2ly Mr. Chancy spake no contemptuous words at all against the Rayle nor of setting it up in his Garden His suspention was illegall not only without but against Law and Canon As for his submission it was forced and a
meere art to deterre others from opposing his Graces Popish Innovasions the only prosecutor appearing against him And his shaking up or menacing of his advocate an unlawfull act to discourage him from making any defence and subject his Client to a censure Therefore inexcusable 3ly The main Article against Mr. Burkit was only for his and the Church-wardens removing of the Table when the Sacrament was administred into the body of the Church without the rayles according to the Rubrick Queene Elizabeths Injunctions and the 28. Canon the other Articles being but frivilous not insisted on And for this he was molested in the High Commission yea a traditio Satana a turning over of him to Sir John Lamb pronounced against him who used him like a Lyon a Wolfe in a Lambes Skin 4ly For the Churchwardens of Beckingtons most severe illegall harbarous prosecution we have proved by the deposition of Mr. Iohn Ash a Member of the Commons House that the Archbishop himselfe since his Imprisonment in the Tower confessed that Bishop Pâ—â—res their Diocesâ—n did do nothing herein but by his direction If therefore the rule in Law bee true Plus peccat Author 〈◊〉 Actor he must be far more guilty both of their prosecution Excommunication and heart-breaking submission then Bishop Peirce his Instrument 5ly For Ferdinando Adams he was excommunicated in the Archbishops name by Mr. Dade his Surrogate and this Excommunication pleaded in Barre of his Bill in Starchamber The processe Pursivants sent out to apprehend him and the imprisonment of his Attorney till he withdrew his 〈◊〉 were all by the Archbishops procurement His shutting Bishop VVrens Visitors out of the Church at Jpsmich unlesse they derived their Authority by Letters Patens from the King was warranted by the Statut of 1 Eliz. c. 1. Therefore his prosecution only for his duty and allegeance to the King against the Bishops disloyall incroachments was most unjust and disloyall 6ly Iohn Premly was not prosecuted by Sir Nathaniell Brent but by the Archbishop himselfe for opposing his order in the Metropoliticall Visitation in removing the Lords Table placed Altarwise to the place and posture wherein it formerly stood for which he was fined censured imprisoned in the High Commission where the Archbishop sate chiefe Iudge against all Law and Iustice his act being no contempt nor offence in Law but the Archbishops order by Sir Nathaniell Brent his Visitor and Dr. Nevells act a contempt against Law and Canon 7ly Mr. Sherfield was prosecuted principally by the Archbishops procurement for demolishing according to Law an Idolatrous blasphemous false Image of God the Father which was openly Idolized Hee was then a Justice of Peace Recorder of Sarum and had the Warrant of the whole Vestry wherein were six or seaven Iustices of Peace at that time to demolish this Image and take downe the whole Window which all the Kings Subjects and Iustices of Peace especially have authority to demolish by the Statutes of 3. Ed. 6. c. 10. 3. Iac. c. 5. The Book of Homilies and Queene Elizabeths Injunctions n. 23. within their severall Parishes without any speciall order from King or Bishop yea God himselfe gives speciall Commands not only to the supreame Majestrate but to the Common People also to destroy Idolls 〈◊〉 Jmages and Altars Exod. 34 13. 14. Deut. 7. 5. c. 12. 1. 2. â— Isay 17. 78. In pursuance of which commands not only King Asa 2 Chron. 14. 3. King Hezechiah 2 Kings 18. 4. King Manassâ—h 2. Chron. 33. 15. King Josiah and his people a Chron. 34. to â— demolished and brake in peeces Idolatrous Altars and Jmages but likewise ALL THE PEOPLE of the Land went into the House of Baal and brake it downe Altars and Jmages brake they in peeces and â—low Matâ—an the Priest of Baal before the Altars 2 Kings 11. 1â— without any speciall Warrant or command from King Iehoâ—sh or Iehoâ—ada which the Holy Ghost records for their honour yet were they never questioned or fined in Starchamber for it because they had no warrant from either of them â—â— after King Hezechiah his Passeover the Scripture expresly records 2 Chron. 30 13. 14. c. 31. 1. That ALL ISRAEL that were present went out to the Cities of Iudah and brake the Images in peeces and cut downe the groves and threw downe the High places and Altars out of all Iudah and Benjamin in Ephraim also and Manassith untill they had utterly distroyed them all which is recorded to their Eternall honour by God himselfe nor were they ever questioned or fined for a Riot in any Starchamber or High Commission or for going out of their owne limits or doing this without a speciall Commission from the King Therefore Mr. Sherfield being a publike Majestrate both as a Iustice or Peace and Recorder of Sarum might much more by the whole Vestries Order demolish this Idolatrous Picture in his owne Parish Church in such a privat manner as he did without blame or censure having sufficient authority from these Texts and Presidents of Scripture and from the forecited Statutes and Injunctions to warrant it every man in such a case being a lawfull Majestrate without any speciall warrant Thus the common people in Girmany and else where in the beginning of Reformation brake downe the Popish Images and Altars without any speciall Order from the Superior or Inferior Magistrates as Mr. Fox and others record And therefore his Doctrine of the Archbishops that it is unlawfull to break downe the very Image and Temple of Iupiter and Esculapius where the Divell himselfe was worshiped without the speciall command of the supreame Magistrate is a most impious Paradox for if the supreame Magistrate will give no such command these Idols Devills shall still be to erated worshiped to Gods dishonour and Religions slander in despite of all the people and inferior Magistrates As for the place of Eusebius it only proves that Idolatrous Statues Images Temples were demolished by the Emperor Constantines speciall command but that the Christians under him might not lawfully have defaced them without such a speciall command especially after a Generall Statute and Edicts published by him for their demolishing without being lyable to a seveer censure the only thing in question is no wayes warranted by nor deducible from Eusebius nor Saint Augustine Yea had Mr Sherfields zeale out-run his discretion in this act it deserved rather applause then censure from a Protestant Prelate yet this Bishop was so far from excusing extenuating that hee aggravated his pretended offence beyond all bounds of Law Iustice Conscience pleaded as zealously for the lawfullnesse of Images in Churches and of this abominable Idoll of God the Father as the Pope himselfe could have dont yea he abused Master Sherfeild in his speech and censured him with the highest though a Bishop when some temporall Lords excused yea acquitted him And though this censure was not his alone but carried by the Major voyce yet his voyce Speech violence occasioned and aggravated it For his
and that was no extravagancy As for the consecrating of Churches only repaired or somwhat enlarged we know no Law nor Canon in our Church to warrant it And to take sees for it is both Symony and extortion For the restoring of them it is only affirmed not proved and to take them illegally to bestow them on the poore is but to rob Peter to cloath Paul Thirdly For the consecration of Chappell 's and meere private Oratoties there is no president in Antiquity yea Gratian himselfe and the Roman Pontificall allow the use of them without any consecration Therefore to consecrate them is to exceed even Popery and Papists in Superstition As for his Chapell of Aberguilly his owne Diary proclaimes his Superstition both in its consecration and denomination of it For the Patterne and furniture of it his owne notes and papers clearly prove it was the same with that of Bishop Andrews whose forme of conscration himselfe alleageth he punctually pursued And if this were the true patterne furniture of Bishop Andrews owne Chapell Anno 1623. all the world may justly censure him for a professed Papist his Chapell Altar and their furniture being as Popish Superstitious Idolatrous every way as the Pops in Rome yea exceeding the very Roman Ceremoniall and Pontificall For Wafers they are directly contrary to the Rubrick at the end of the Communion in the Book of Common prayer we wonder therefore with what face this Prelate dares justify them That a Bishops breath puts only a badge of reverence not holinesse on Churches is diametrially contrary to what he formerly affirmed Perchance he now remembers that Quicquid effecit tale est magis tale and therefore Bishops cannot make other things holy with their breath who have little or no holinesse at all in their hearts For his solemne consecration prayer at the laying the first stone of Hammersmith Chappell it hath neither Scripture Law Canon Antiquity but the Roman Pontificall to warrant it Therefore it is meerly Popish Wheras he objects by way of jeare that he hopes the consecration of Churches and Chapells is no Treason we answer that we do not charge it to be so in it selfe But we have proved it to be a branch of Popery and a grosse one too and being introduced by him among other things to set up Popery and subvert Religion it will prove Treason in this respect as we shall manifest in due time And so this intre charge remaines unavoyded in any the least particle 8ly The next Charge urged against me Is The Kings Declaration for the use of sports on the Lords day prescribing the observation of Revells Wakes Feasts of Dedication likewise formerly suppressed where I am accused 1. For causing this Booke to be enlarged reprinted in his Majesties name to prevent the petition of the Iustices in Somersetshire and make way for Mr. Prynnes censure 2. For pressing Ministers to read it in their Churches without any Warrant suppressing of Sermons censuring those who refused to publish it as Mr. Wilson Master Player Master Heiron Mr. Snelling with sundry others encouraging other Bishops to suspend silence many Godly preaching Ministers for this cause pressing this Book and ordering Churchwardens to present such who refused to publish it by Visitation Oathes and Articles 3ly For reviving disorder by wakes Revels and causing the Iudges Orders to be reversed To the first of these I answer That the Kings Declaration for sports was printed and published by his Majesties speciall command Yea I had a Warrant under his hand to see it printed and there is no proofe at all that it was printed published or enlarged by my procurement Besides the Declaration is but for the use of lawful Sports and that only after evening prayer ended and the cause of publishing it at that time was partly Barbourous Book of the Sabbath who would revive the Iewish Sabbath and the Iewish rigidities positions of others touching the Lords day whose positions drew Brabourne into that Error In Geneva it self as I have bin ceedibly informed by Travellers they use shooting in peeces long bowes Crosse Bowes Musters and throwing of the bowle too on the Lords day as well before as after Sermons ended and allow all honest recreations without reproofe of their Ministers yea Mr. Calvin the great professor there Instit l. 2. c. 8. sect 34. blames those who infected the people in former ages with a Iudaicall opinion that the morality of the 4th Commandement to wit the keeping of one day in 7. did still continue which what else is it then in dishonour of the Iews to change the day and to affix as great a sanctity to it as the Iewes ever did And that those who adhored to their constitutions who broached this Doctrine Crassa carnalique Superstitione Judaeos ter superant Men may be too strict as wel as prophaneherein Yet I for my part have ever strictly observed the Lords day in point of practise And whereas it was attested by Mr. Prynne that this Declaration was published to prevent the Petition of Somersetshire for the reviving of Iudge Richardsons forecited order Sir Robert Philips and many other Gentlemen of that County complained against the order to the King whereupon the Iudge was ordered to reverse it and the Declaration was not published till after the reversall 2ly The Declaration was ordered to be published in the Church and that was sufficient warrant to enjoyne Ministers to publish it there although no penalty be prescribed in it to such who should refuse to publish the same yet it is implyed otherwise the command were idle in case of disobedience That it was published with intent to suppresse afternoon Sermons that so the people might â—ave more time for Sports This could not be since none were to use any Recreations till after Evening Prayer ended That I gave my Visitor command to suspend those who refused to read it was only within my Diocesse of Canterbury not in my Metropoliticall Visitation throughout my province I suspended but three Ministers in my whole Diocesse who had first time of consideration granted them to wit Mr. Wilson Mr. Culmer and Mr. Player only suspended ob officio for their contumacy being men of factious Spirits For Mr. Wilson and others being brought into the High Commission for not reading this Declaration it was the act of the Court not mine As for Mr. Snelling he was excommunicated by Dr. Woode not me and he was questioned in the High Commission for not bowing at the name of Iesus and as well as not reading this Book Besides I was not present at his censure there neither did I expunge his answer Nor did I presse the reading of the Declaration in my Visitation Articles if other Bishops did it t is nothing to me themselves must answer for it not I. 3ly Feasts of dedication have beene of great Antiquity and in generall use in some Coutries and there is a lawfull use of them for Hospitality and increase of
now adayes THAT WE ARE COMMING ON AND EVERY DAY DRAWING NIGHER UNTO THEM THEN OTHER for the stopping of whose slanderous mouths let this suffice That whatsoever others imagine of the matter I stand fully convinced in my conscience THAT THE POPE IS ANTICHRIST and therefore if I should be so mad as to worship the Beast or receive the marke of his name I must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and justly expect the revenge that is threatned against such Apoc. 14. 10 11. Wherefore for this Arch-Prelat to question it to purge out all passages stiling him Antichrist after such a Letter to suffer such Books to be printed and retaine them in his Study which deny him to be Antichrist without any censure of them or their Authors is a grand offence savourng of his good affection to the Pope Sixtly though himself gives not this title of Supream head to the Pope in direct terms yet he doth it in effect in his owne Book and his Chaplaine licensed it in Sales for which himself must answer As for the papall titles given him by Master Croxton the whole University of Oxford in severall Letters it was certainly with his approbation else he would have reprehended them for it which he never did These titles are such as of later times have been appropriated only to the Pope and were never given to any of his Predecessors in any Age much lesse to any Protestant Bishop And though one of them as Sanctissime Pater may perchance be found in Cyprians and Augustines genuine Epistles yet Sanctitas in the abstract can hardly be shewed in any of their true Epistles nor was ever appropriated to any for many hundred of Ages but to the Pope As for the other exorbitant and blasphemous titles no Father nor ancient Author was ever guilty of giving or affirming them Seventhly for Pocklingtons and Mountagues deriving his pedegree and succession from Rome it is in such phrase and language as was never used by Mason or any else in former times with a meere intention to reconconcile reduce our Church and Prelats to Rome from whence they derive their pedegree the end of all these new positions and objected particulars against the Archbishop the guilt whereof still rest upon him notwithstanding all his Evasions to shake it off The fourth thing charged against me to make good this Branch is my holding intelligence correspondence with the Popes Nuncioes Agents Priests Jesuits by my Favourites and Instruments as by Bishop Mountague and Secretary Windebanke advanced by my meanes the later of them as appeares by many produced Letters and Testimonies holding intelligence with Cardinall Barbarino who entertained his Sonnes at Rome the Popes Nuncioes and with divers dangerous Priests Jesuits whom he protected released out of prison and imprisoned the Messengers who usually apprehended them till they gave bond never to apprehend nor prosecute Priests any more To this I answer First that there is no cleer proofe of Bishop Mountagues advancement by me or intelligence or compliance with the Popes Nuncio Priests or Jesuits but if there were it is nothing to me being without my privity knowledge or approbation Secondly for Secretary Windebanke it is very true I was the meanes of advancing him to the Secretaries place being my ancient friend and acquaintance but not with any intent to advance Popery protect or release Priests Jesuits or hold any correspondency with the Pope or his instruments if he proved so ill an instrument after his advancement it was beyond my expectation himselfe must answer and hath been impeached for it not I For the Letters he received from the Popes Nuncio Panzani the Queens Priests or his Sonnes with their going to and entertainment at Rome they concerne not me who was not privy to them nor their entertainment But it is objected that we continued our friendship still notwithstanding I knew his correspondency with releasing and protecting Priests Jesuits and joyned with him in some Warrants I answer that it is well knowne that he and I were at variance and distance of later times he deserting me in the businesse of the late Lord Treasurer Weston and for my hand to one Warrant jointly with his and others for a Priests release it was but casuall we being then both together at the Counsell Table where his Release was condescended to upon sufficient baile and caution at the Queens request To this was replyed First that Mountagues correspondency with the Popes Nuncio Priests Jesuits his popish inclination and endeavours to reconcile and reduce us back to Rome are abundantly proved in the premises with his good affection to and compliance with him in this designe the end and cause of his advancing him to two severall Bishopricks the last wherof was Norwich In his account from whence to the Archbish himself for the yeer 1638. written with his owne hand endorsed with the Archbishops and found in his Study there is this notable clause concerning King Henry the eighth the first suppressor of the Popes power among us The Bishoprick of Norwich since the totall desolation and dissolution of the former Bishoprick by King Henry the eighth WHO STOLE THE SHEEP AND GAVE NOT SO MUCH AS THE TROTTERS FOR GODS SAKE is a meane thing though worth above one thousand pounds per annum A most ingrate and scandalous expression of an avaritious popish Prelat unworthy of so fat a Bishoprick who instead of being Shepheard became a Wolfe devouring not onely the Sheep but Shepheards of his Diocesse and vexing them more with his popish Visitation Articles then ever KING HENRY the 8. did the Prelates by diminishing their over-large Possessions Secondly for Secretary Windebank it is undeniable First that the Archbishop was the onely meanes of his advancement to that place of trust Secondly that he was his meer creature instrument bosome-friend and privy to all his actions Thirdly this intimacy and friendship of theirs continued till Windebanks flight hence in to France upon the Parliaments impeachment against him for harbouring and releasing Priests and Jesuits and that the transitory short differerence between them about the Lord Treasurer Weston had no relation at all to any thing concerning Priests or Religion wherein they both accorded Fourthly that the same Priests and Jesuits as Sir Toby Mattehw Smith Leander Sancta Clara and Price were intimate and familiar with them both Fiftly that they both concurred in checking discouraging imprisoning Gray Thatcher Waddesworth and others for apprehending Priests Jesuits and in calling Gray a Priest-catching knave Sixtly that they both joyned together in some Warrants for the release of Priests and his excuse that it was by casualty when they were both at the Counsell Table where others joyned with them is no extenuation of his offence where he being the over-potent member should have engaged all the rest to oppose such an illegall scandalous action and not have drawne them on thereto by setting his hand first to the Warrant But it was to
informing him to be so and by the Popes Bull to him common in many Courtiers hands For Sancta Clara his favourite Doctor Lindsey brought him to his Study with his Book to reconcile us to Rome to peruse it of purpose before it went to the Presse after which he came thrice to him writ a Book in defence of Episcopacy by divine Right with an intention to gratifie him and tendred it to him for his license as himselfe confesseth under his own hand in a written paper where he extenuates this fact all he could and is this no intimacy nor correspondency For St Giles his own hand-writing testifies that he knew him to be a Priest yet notwithstanding he permitted him to reside sundry yeers in the University of Oxford where himselfe was Chancellour to have the use of the Library there yea he provided him a large maintainance constantly paid it to him there during his residence he repairing oft times to him to receive it and is all this no intimacy no correspondency For Leander he denies not but that he was with him once or twice and if common reports both among popish Priests Papists or Protestants may be credited he was once his Chamber-fellow in Oxford and most intimate powerfull with him here being purposely sent hither by meanes of his interest in him to compleat our reconciliation and reduction to Rome For Smith a most dangerous Jesuit we have proved his being at Lambeth neere his Study his familiarity with Master Dell his Secretary who used him with great respect his intimacy with Secretary Windebanke the Arch-bishops greatest confederate his sending of messages to the Archbishop by Sir Toby Matthew to remember the businesse he told his Grace of when he was last with him and his frequent threatning of Master Newton the Messenger when he met him in the open streets that he would complaine of him or doe his errand to the Archbishop and that he had done it And are these no badges of his intimacy For his acquaintance and correspondence with the Bishop of Calcedon Doctor Smith it is apparent by his owne Diary and Windebanks Letter to his Son himselfe not daring to deny that Doctor Smith mentioned in his Diary is any other then Calcedon For Price the Provinall of the Benedictines we have proved that he hath been seen at Lambeth talking familiarly with Master Dell and waiting neer the Archbishops Study doore to speak with him in private that he and Leander have been oft times met going as themselves affirmed to Lambeth to speak with the Archbishop who cannot deny but they were with him and by whose means we know not this Price procured the Searchers place at Dover for the use of the Benedictines and put two professed Papists into it for the freer passage of Priests and Jesuits into the Kingdome and more secure conveying intelligence to and from Rome Now lay all this together and we dare confidently averre that all his predecessors since the Reformation put together had not halfe that intimacy correspondency with Priests and Jesuits as he and if the truth were knowne the party or parties who two severall times seriously tendred him a Cardinals Cap avowing ability to performe it was either the Popes owne Nuncio or some Priests Jesuits or popish Agents who had instructions from the Pope himselfe to make this offer to him which none durst nor could without hazard of their lives have tendred so much as once much lesse twice to any of his protestant predecessors That he received no Letters from Priests and Jesuits is a thing not credible the double proffer of a Cardinalship to him from Rome is a stronger evidence that he received Letters likewise from thence then his owne bare word he received none It is true we met with no such Letters in his Study or Closet but the reason was himselfe before his commitment and afterward when he went to Lambeth to fetch papers thence his Closet and Study being not sealed up till some moneths after his commitment had time and wisdome enough to convey all such Letters out of the way or burne them least they should rise up in judgement to condemne him though he removed not others thence wherein he conceived least danger the better to colour his removall and burning of the most dangerous For Master Dobsons Testimony he is but testis domesticus his owne meniall servant a meer single Witnesse and unsworn too therfore not so much to be valued but take it as it is it proves little for him He saith that Archbishop Bancroft received Letters of intelligence from forraigne Priests and Jesuits but he knowes neither their persons nor names much lesse that they were either priests or Jesuits and that any such resorted to his Table he cannot certainly affirme it for he cannot nominate any one priest in particular and conceives onely they were priests but knowes it not but by conceit without other evidence For Julius Maria and the other forraigner who dieted for a time at Archbishop Abbots Table he confesseth he did not know them to be priests but strangers they were and papists who made some shewes and promises to that Archbishop of turning Protestants the onely ground why he thus entertained them to further and perfect their conversion but as soon as they faltred with him they were presently discarded But what is this to this Archbishops case who kept correspondency with these Priests and Jesuits of purpose to pervert and reduce us back to Rome not to convert them unto us certainly neither of these two though Bancroft was none of the greatest enemies to Rome ever entertained a Jesuit or most pernicious known seducers into their Coaches Barges Closets Gardens as he did Sir Toby Matthew and Sancta Clara never maintained any Priests in the University to seduce young Schollers and instruct the Doctors there as he did Saint Giles who professed that the Archb. was very cordiall for their Romish Religion never checked imprisoned pursivants for being too active in apprehēding Priests nor reviled them by the name of Priest-catching kndves as he hath done their cases and his therefore are very different For Master Dobsons not seeing Sir Toby Matthew at Lambeth Ergo he was never there with the Archbishop it is a meer Nonsequitur Master Dobson is ancient perchance his eyes were so dimme he could not discerne him or he was out of the way when Sir Toby was there but divers others sweare they saw him there Master Dell informed Master Newton that his Lord was busie with Sir Toby Matthew in the Garden yea therefore the Archbishop dares not produce him to testifie his knowledge least he should confesse the truth For King James his encouraging Watson and Preston to write against the Jesuits and other of their Orders no doubt it was a lawfull policy and if this Archbishop made use of these Priests Jesuits for the like good ends we should have commended not accused him for it but he makes
in Parliament to the subversion of the Property and Liberty of the Subjects which Sermons were preached and printed by this Archbishops speciall solicitation was on the 14. of June 1628. censured by the Lords in Parliament and thereby perpetually disabled from all future Ecclesiasticall preferments in our Church Of this censure the Archbishop took speciall Notice inserting it into his Diary adding that himself was complained of by the house of Commons June 12. for warranting Doctor Manwarings Sermons to the Presse Yet no sooner was this Parliament ended but in high affront of their publike censure in Iuly following by this Prelates assistance Doctor Manwaring as was proved by the Docquet Booke was presented unto the Rectory of Stamford Rivers in the County of Essex voyd by the promotion of Richard Mountague to the Bishopricke of Chichester he who had right thereto was put by and a dispensation granted to Doctor Manwaring to hold it with the Rectory of St. Giles which made this Doctor in the superscription of a Letter of his to this Archbishop when London about the Commission of Fees in London Churches Jan. 28. 1631 indorsed with the Bishops own hand and found in his study to stile him My singular good Lord And so he proved for soon after as was proved by the Docquet Booke in May 1633. the Deanery of Worcester was granted to this Doctor and the grant signified to the signet office by the Bishop of London Laud who procured him this preferment What service Manwaring did in that Church in setting up a Marble Altar introducing Copes with other Popish Innovations and what Account he gave thereof to the Archbishop his Patriot you may formerly read p. 81. under both their hands which was such a Meritorious Work that in few dayes after the Archbishop procured a Conge d'eslier for him to the Bishopricke of St. Davids in Wales which was signed by the Archbishop himselfe as appeares by the Docquet Booke in the signet office produced at the Lords Bar among the entries of December 1635. After which himselfe consecrated him Bishop of that See as was proved by his own Diary wherein he entred this Memento with his owne hand Feb. 28. 1635. I consecrated Doctor Roger Manwaring Bishop of Saint Davids So that this paire of malignant active Popish Prelates Mountague and Manwaring received all their Ecclesiasticall preferments after the proceedings against them in severall Parliaments by his procurement in highest affront of their Authority and Censures who obtained likewise a Royall Pardon procured for them entred in the Docquet Booke Jan. 1628. Both drawne according to his Majesties pardons of Grace granted to his subjects at his Coronation with some particulars for the pardoning of all Errours heretofore committed severally by them either in speaking writing or printing whereby they might be hereafter questioned But to proceed to others August 1628. we finde in the Docquet Booke a Conge d'sliere and Royall Assent by order from the Bishop of London for Doctor Mawe a known Arminian to be Bishop of Bath and Wells and the like in the same Moneth for Doctor Richard Corbet a professed Arminian and one well-affected to Popery to be Bishop of Oxford by order from this Bishop who afterwards promoted him to Norwich In November 1628 A Conge d'slier by his order too was directed to the Deane and Chapter of Yorke to elect Samuell Harsnet then Bishop of Norwich a professed notorious Arminian well inclined to Popery to the Archbishopricke of York Mart. 25. 1632. we find a Conge D'eslire to the Dean and Chapter of Christ-Church to Elect Doctor John Bancroft Bishop of Oxford and in June following a Warrant for the restitution of the temporalities of this Bishoprick to him both subscribed signified by the Bishop of London and what a corrupt unpreaching Popish Prelate Bancroft was is known to all the University of Oxford In Octob. 1632. We find these four severall Conge D'eslires all procured by order of this Prelate then Bishop of London One to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester to Elect Walter Curle Bishop of Bath and Wells to be Bishop of Winchester Alike to the Deane and Chapter of Coventry and Lichfield to Elect Robert Wright Bishop of Bristol to be Bishop of that See Alike to the Deane and Chapter of Peterborough to Elect Doctor Augustine Linsell an Arch-Arminian and very Popish and Superstitious as was attested by Mr. Peter Smart upon Oath and the Author of most of the Innovations in Durham Cathedrall who joyned therin with Doctor Cosins Bishop of that See Alike to Elect Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wells Now how active all these Prelates were to set up Altars introduce all Popish Ceremonies suppresse Lectures silence Ministers promote the Book of sports advance Arminianisme and Popery hath beene already manifested in the premises And we find that Doctor Lindsell was afterwards translated to the Bishoprick of Hereford Jan. 1633. and this Bishop of Winchester made the Kings chiefe Almoigner in Iune 1637. by Order of this Archbishop In Octob. 1635. we meet with in the Docquet Book a Conge D'eslire and Letter to the Dean and Chapter of Norwich to Elect Mathew Wren Bishop of Norwich both signified by this Archbishop of Canterbury and the like for his translation to Ely March 17. 1637. by Order from this Archbishop Now what an Arminian and Popish Innovator this Prelate was in all particulars the Popish furniture of whose Chappell with Basons Candlesticks Corporalls Altar-cloths A Chalice with a crosse upon it and other Popish Trinkets as appears by his own Book of Accounts costing him 159. l. 4. shil 1. d. and how great a persecutor silencer supresser of Godly Ministers people the world experimentally knows and the premises demonstrate We could instance in sundry English Welsh Bishops more of the same strain who were all advanced by his order means as namely Bi Neal made Archbishop of York by him an Arch promoter of Arminians Popish Clergy men and all Popish Innovations Dr Iuckeson first made Bishop of Hereford afterward of London and Lord Treasurer by this Archbishop A man though of a milde temper yet as Superstitious as Popish as most of the former and his Visitation Articles especially the last enforcing the New Cannons and Etcetera Oath as Superstitious and Vile as any Doctor Duppa Bishop of Chichester a known Arminian and very Superstitious Doctor Skinner Bishop of Bristoll and after of Oxford a man tainted with Arminianisme and very much addicted to Popish Superstitions Innovations with sundry others but these shall suffice Onely we cannot pretermit a notable Letter of Dr. Iohn Towers to Sir Iohn Lamb to be a Mediator to his Grace to confer the Bishopricke of Peterborough upon him which Letter intimates that all Bishopricks and Ecclesiasticall Preferments were then in his disposall Worthy SIR I Intended onely my hearty Thankes to you in this Letter for what I read in your last Letter to my Lord Bishop concerning my selfe and your true Love
in that I shall ever acknowledge with a sincere heart But now Sir I must intreat leave of you that I may joyn an earnest suite to my thankes My Lord Bishop I hear is to be translated to Hereford and I am not thought on to succeed him I dare not write to my Lords Grace of Canterbury But I dare hope of his goodnes to me and that he will commiserate my case when he shall be truly informed of my need and what an utter discredit it will be to me in my Country when I shall be intercepted by whomsoever now the third time after that his Grace did encourage me to pitch upon this Bishoprick in his house at Westminster In truth Sir if I misse of it this third time I shall have no Joy to shew my face in the Diocesse Therfore I beseech you that you will speedily be my earnest Solicitor to his Grace that if for no other reason yet out of meer compassion I may not be so utterly disheartened I could be as glad to see Doctor Sibthorp in the Deanry almost as my selfe in the Pallace Your interest in his Graces Love may be a powerfull Mediator for us both Good Sir delay not the time to commend my cause to his Grace in whose goodnesse I cannot but have great confidence I heartily commend you to Gods grace and will ever be Your very thankefull friend Jo. Towers Peterborough Sept. 30. 1638. What effect this Letter produced appeares by the Docquet Book Octob. 29. 1638. Where we find both a Conge De'slire and Letter to the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough to Elect this aspiring Dr. for their Bishop both drawn up by Warrant from this Archbishop of Canterbury Belike Sir Iohn Lambe found this Doctor very thankfull for his promotion according to his promise the rather because we find in the Docquet Book Novemb. 5. 1638. A presentation of this Dr Towers to the Rectory of Caster in the diocesse of Peterborough by order from the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Who as he disposed of all Bishopricks in England so likewise in Ireland even whiles he was Bishop of London and since as appeares not onely by sundry Letters from Doctor Vsher Primate of Ireland and other Irish Prelates found in his Study but by severall Writings and Warrants under his hand for disposing Bishopricks there we shall instance onely in three The first of them seised in his Study by Mr. Prynne is thus indorsed with the Archbishops own hand Mr. Lancasters Reasons why he should be Archbishop of Cassils though he be thought too young Maii 21. 1629. WHereas the Lord Bishop of London objected against my age as being under 50. Your honâ—our may be pleased if it shall be insisted upon to make known to his Majestie that the lamentable estate of that Church is such that it is requisite hee should be active able and wealthy rather then old and decrepid that should have that Bishopricke to prosecute the recovery of the revenues thereof where the last Archbishop left who spent and spoyled himselfe in the prosecution thereof and so shall any other that shall undertake that unlesse he shall be of competent age and shall have his Majesties gracious favour and furtherance therein Again gravity sobriety sincerity integrity courage counsell goodnesse godlinesse hospitallity and charity are more to be regarded in that Country where they pry with Eagles eyes into our lives and conversations but will not heare our doctrine then old age where he shall not long want grey haires if suites troubles molestations vexations persecutions and afflictions can procure them Againe it is held by most that neither Saint John the Evangelist nor Timothy the first Bishop of the Ephesians were above 30. yeares old and yet our Saviour made choyce of the former and Saint Paul of the latter saith in the first of Tim. 4. and 12. Let no man despise thy youth By this its apparant that the power of disposing the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks in Ireland were in this Prelates hands and that he rejected or advanced whom he pleased there and therefore must be satisfied The second is this Note writ with this Archbishops own hand found among Secretary Windebanks Papers who thus endorsed it Jan. 1634. My Lord of Canterburies Note for George Andrews Dean of Limbrick to be Bishop of Fernes and Laughlin George Andrewes Dean of Limbricke to be Bishop of Fernes and Laughlin To hold in Commendam any thing he hath saving the Deanery The Bishopricke is voyd by the death of the late Bishop thereof You must draw up a Letter accordingly out of hand W. Cant. Thirdly A Warrant thus endorsed with the Archbishops own hand A Warrant for the Bishop of Limericke writ by his Secretary Dell and signed by himself in this forme which will demonstrate the forme of all his other Orders and Warrants to the Signet for the forementioned English Bishops SIR YOu are to prepare a Bill for his Majesties Signature after the usuall manner conteining a grant of the Bishoprick of Limericke in Ireland now voyde by the death of the late Bishop there to George Webbe Doctor in Divinity and one of his Majesties Chaplaines in ordinary And for so doing these shal be your Warrant Septemb. 22. 1634. W. Cant. To the Clerke of his Majesties Signet attending His Authority in disposing the Bishopricks in Ireland was so absolute that William Bishop of Corke and Rosse in his Letter to this Archbishop Aug. 7. 1640. after he had passed through one or two Bishopricks there writes thus by way of acknowledgement to him for his preferments there What I had or have is of your Graces goodnesse under him who gives life and breath and all things and under our gratious Soveraigne who is the breath of our nostrels The like we could prove for Scotland and what kinde of Popish and Arminian Bishops he there preferred themselves have sufficiently declared in their Charge against him and other Writings Not to insist upon his earnest endeavour and contest to promote Dr. Theodor Price Vice-Deane of Westminster to a Welch Bishopricke as the fittest man in his conscience of all others who lived a professed Unpreaching Epicure Arminian and dyed a reconciled Papist to the Church of Rome soon after receiving extream unction from a Popish Priest who missed the Bishoprick onely by the Noble Earle of Pembrooks opposition to which Dr. Owen was preferred in his stead We shall passe from Bishopricks to Deaneries To pretermit his advancement of Dr Manwaring Dr Wren Dr Duppa and others to Deaneries ere they were made Bishops Decemb. 1635. the Deanery of Worcester was granted to Dr Christopher Potter a professed Arminian which Dr. Featly attested by signification and order of this Archbishop of Canterbury as the Docquet Book records to whom he submitted the correction of his Book entituled Want of Charity and imputed his preferments witnesse this Doctors own Letter to the Archbishop the originall whereof attested by M. Prynne was produced and read