depending in the King's-Bench Hah where Sir John Shaw had no Authority to give or take an Oath Hah in private Hah against the Laws of the Land Hah and made them ready against the Bishop came down to set the Bishop to Roil Mr. Hickeringill whom he knew would not tamely suffer himself and his Reputation to be illegally and publickly brought in question by any Bishop in Christendom Hah This was the Sum and Substance of those two Letters which the Defendant writ to the said Bishop that were never answered but only as Men are when they are prest to Death with more Weight more Weight The Defendant in vain opposed the reading of his private Letters saying it was not genteel civil nor manly to produce such Evidence and nothing to the present Declaration and that tho there was nothing in them but what was modest and true yet private Letters are and ought to be sacred in their Privacy and that Si liceat parvis componere magna King Charles 1. If it be lawful to compare great with small did justly upbraid the Parliament with the Incivility of publishing his private Letters taken at Naseby tho there was nothing in them nor in this Defendants Letters for which any Man need blush or be blam'd But this is the Ecclesiastical-Candor any Method to expose the Defendant no Vengeance is great enough no Fine or Verdict outragious enough to crush one that dares as the Defendant has discover the Mystery of Iniquity Ecclesiastical in Extortions illegal Fees Oppressions and Courts kept in dessance of the Statutes of this Realm Excommunications Absolutions Prophanations Procurations Visitations namely Vexations c. There 's a Villain indeed Plague him All Hands aloft all 's at Stake down goes if you do not help This Fellow is another Germana illa Bestia quae non curat Aurum a German Beast that regards not Preferment as the Cardinal told the Pope when he chid him because he could not by tampering with Luther and the proffer of Gold and a Cardinal's Cap prevail with him nor take him off from writing and preaching against the Abominations and Corruptions of the Church and Church-men Church and Church-men Ay set but the Clergy upon a Man and you need not set any Dogs upon him to worry him Church and Church-men Ha! do you know who you speak against what Find fault with Oppressions and Extortions of Ecclesiastical-Courts with Apparitors Registers Commissaries and all that Fry of Lay-Elders Church and Church-men Ha! Do you speak against Prelacy Say that Word again say it again before Witness Sirrah Villain Rogue How dare you at this time of day speak Scripture dangerous Scripture Scripture against Statute-Law 2 Rich. 2. 5. which Statute makes a Prelate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 8. 9. some great One and you Sirra would have him as your Saviour and the Gospel would have him as lowly as Christ or his Apostles you Sirra do you speak Scripture in a Court of Law Ha! what do you produce a Bible instead of a Breviate Do you plead Gospel against Law and Christ and his Apostles in defiance of Rich. 2 An Aggravation an Aggravation as Sir Francis Withins said the Defendant justifies in a Plea of Non-Culp this is rich indeed These Errors will be committed when you suffer Parsons to be Pleaders and plead their own Cause and understand not the Punctilio's and Methods of nice-pleading very fine What suffer Scripture to be quoted instead of Law and Christ and his Apostles instead of Cook and Littleton for Shame And yet the Defendant ignorant Man did not understand the mischief of urging a little Scripture in this Cause betwixt two Church-men and already there decided namely that of Christ St. Paul and St. Peter against all Prelacy Pride Lordliness and Dominion one Brother over another not Lording it over God's Heritage But Christ and St. Paul and St. Peter were poor Men Silver and Gold had they none they were meek humble and lowly and when they were reviled reviled not again nor brought an Action of Scandalum Magnat nor did Fee a pack of Lawyers to mouth it upon an old Statute made in the time of Popish Prelacy and when Antichrist was Rampant and when the Devil raigned a time as the Defendant told the Court when the Prelates did all and all ill a time when the Prelates were grand Rebels as ever were in England For then in the Raign of Rich. 2. was this Statute made when the Clergy were as very Rebels as Wall the Priest Wat. Tyler or any of that wicked Crew 'T is true Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich was General for the King both in England and France did not Armour disgrace Bishop Henry's Lawn-Sleeves The Bishop of Ely was Lord Chancellor Countez Two Tho. Arundel Bishop of Hereford Countez Three Lord Treasurer Nicholas Abbot of Waltham Lord Privy-Seal Four William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Five Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Countez Six William Bishop of Winchester Seven And Thomas Bishop of Exeter Eight Good Men and True that 's a Lye a Pack of damnable Villains and Rebells as ever were in England for taking upon them by Commission to rule the King and Kingdom and so the Judges concluded that Commission of thirteen Persons to rule the King and Kingdom of which eight were Prelates with five Lay-men for fashion-sake for the Prelates could out-vote them when they list a Devilish Rebellion abominable Prelates in Rich. 2d's time when the Statute of Scandalum Magnatum was made and struck at it has been by the last Parliament at Westminster and others as a Statute obsolete or in the Judgment of the Wisdom of the Nation the Honourable House of Commons to be repealed being made in the wicked time aforesaid when the Devil danc'd and Simon Magus vaunted himself to be one of the Magnat some Great One and yet also the Successor of Simon Peter who was a poor Fisher-man and a Fisher of Men not a Pick-Pocket nor a Promoter of Law-Suits nor did he mend his Market by turning Church-man as some have done too well known but to his dying day was poor and pennyless having his Faith and Hope in another World and being a Disciple of him whose Kingdom is not of this World All this and more the Defendant told the Court and the Men that were sworn for to give the Judge his due he gave the Defendant sufficient leave and leisure for three hours to defend himself against the crafty Suggestions and dirty Language thrown at him on purpose to vilify him with Dirt which the Counsel had rak'd up together and in two set-Speeches made on purpose fetch'd it far and not at all to the purpose or to the matter in hand villifying him with the Miseries and Vexations with which they had loaded him in the Barretry and Supplicavit as if his Sufferings were his only Crime But something they must say for their Guinies and for their Lord Prelate and in hopes of Preferment and his
not well how to avoid it And therefore Powel being first ask'd the Question and the rest of them after him one after another was at a stand and knew not what to say Let 's have no Pumping no Pumping I beseech you good Mr. Powel answer directly said the Defendant Is it not an ill thing for a Minister to be Non-Resident ever since before Mid-Summer last Yes replyed he and they there was no help for it Well then Has not Mr. Harris been non-Resident and deserted his Flock ever since Mid-summer last Yes replyed Mr. Powel and the rest of them and yet before they knew no ill thing But says Mr. Powel there has been some Differences and Contentions about the Parishes of St. Buttolphs and St. Leonard's in Colchester which the Bishop gave to Mr. Harris by Sequestration But replyed the Defendant What is that to Fingringhoe to which Vicaridge Harris is Instituted and Inducted to your knowledg for you were present at his Induction and so was Thompson and Shelton the other Witnesses which all of them confest for they could not avoid it by any Evasion or Equivocation only said there was no Vicarage-House at Fingringhoe to whom the Defendant retorted That it might be a good excuse for not residing upon his Vicarage if he resided in any other House of the Parish but what is that to his leaving his Flock at the distance of fourty Miles namely at London and taking upon him another Cure and Charge as Curate under Mr. Grove and leaving none to supply the place for three quarters of a Year nor four Sermons from Mid-summer to Michaelmas and those preach'd by a quondam Logg-river one Mr. Sills Rector of Dounyland a good Rectory but the Man tho a Rector never yet could nor ever was able so much as to read his Accidence yet he that knows not how to supply his own Cure as he ought must for cheapness mumble to boot a little for this prime and single Episcopal-Witness good doings the while This 't is to be in Favour with a Prelate and this 't is to incur the Displeasure of a Prelate and tell bold Truths behold the difference The Defendant silenc'd stigmatiz'd bely'd and slander'd vilify'd as a Common-Varlet and Common-Barretor paid off with Indictments Informations Actions and Accusations in Spiritual Court in Temporal Courts Henry Bishop of London Promoter Suspensions Supplicavits Excommunications Fines outragious Verdicts Plots and Complots Conspiracies and Horrid Plots to ruine him and his Family by enriching the Rich Bishop and all for what For a little Naked-Truth Sir George Jefferies brought the Books and pointed with his Index to the two last Lines of the Black Non-Conformist namely A Bishop sayest Thou lyest Him Cornet call Of the Black-Regiment that Jayles us all The Welsh-man looking merrily at the Defendant and glaring in his Face For Sir George insisted more to the Jury concerning the Defendant's Books and his writing and speaking against Lordly Prelacy than upon the Declaration producing two Letters writ by the Defendant to the Bishop wherein he complain'd to the Bishop how hardly he was used I wish they would Print those Letters as well as produce them to the Jury as if it were a Sin to groan when a Man is pinch'd and tormented First they make us sigh and then accuse us for sighing to ease our Hearts But first Sir George insisted upon the Title and Superscription of those Letters To the Bishop of London which was descanted upon notably by that Critick in Law Sir George Jefferies namely this To HENRY Lord Bishop of LONDON These Do you see Gentlemen quoth Sir George Henry Lord Bishop no more I Sir quoth he to the Defendant It might have become you to have styl'd him Reverend Father in God you have not said To the Right Reverend Father in God Henry Lord Bishop c. That quoth Sir George is omitted and seems to be an Aggravation at least if not another Scandalum Magnatum nothing but plain Henry Lord Bishop A Gentleman of a noble Extract and Pedigree I hope the Jury will take notice of this Omission here is no Reverend Father in God That is replyed the Defendant the very Naked-Truth on 't you say right Sir George there is no Reverend Father in God in the case who denies it But said the Defendant I am not innur'd nor desire to be innur'd to Court-Complements I think to say Henry Lord Bishop is pretty fair for him and pretty fair from me Sir George makes little or nothing of a Lordship belike whereas the Bishop of London's Grand-Father William Compton liv'd the greatest part of his Life without the Title of Lordship For indeed William Compton this Bishop's Grand-Father was the first of the Compton's that ever was an Earl since Adam And King James created him Earl of Northampton I could tell the Reader how and for what too Anno Dom. 1618. There are thousands alive that remember the Business But no doubt but the Bishop did come of a noble Extract But if Sir George had not taken notice of it the noble Family would have been never the worse for when Men are always dung in the Teeth with the same and the same Bastinado Self-Preservation makes them stand upon their Guard and perhaps take the length on 't and as it happens this Pedigree that Sir George did so bluster with is not so long neither not so long as a Welsh-Pedigree ap Lewis ap George ap Morgan ap Taphee ap Lloyd is a Pedigree more than twice so long But I should have wondred if the Welsh-man on this occasion too you 'll say had not vapour'd with his Extract and Pedigree But to the Business Here 's no Reverend Father in God 'T is readily granted nor is the Omission a Sin of Omission 't is no Crime For a younger Brother to be a Lord that 's pretty fair and more honour than his Grand-Father arriv'd unto at his Years For a Man that was but the other day a Cornet in Captain Compton's Troop in the Earl of Oxford's Regiment I think by the King's Grace to be made a Prelate and a Lord Bishop there 's no reason in the World that he or any Body else should take it so in disdain to be called only Lord Bishop since that old Complement of Popish-Times namely Reverend Father in God was never given 'till Priests grew abominably and loathsomely Proud and Ambitious when Pride and Prelacy came in Fashion The Defendant in his Epistle Dedicatory to the Arch-Bishop to avoid offence in his Book called the Black-Non-Conformist does give that old Father The Stile namely the Stile that Sir George does so want and does so stare about to the Jury to find it missing To the Reverend Father in God William c. But the Bishop of London is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 newly come to the Faith as being young in Years and a Cornet of Horse within the memory of Youth and unmarried and much a younger Brother to the
past if he had had no other work but to fence and ward off the Blows made at him Then six Proctors they swear against him Articles in the King's-Bench and procure the Writ of Supplicavit against him a Writ seldom granted against any in these Days as we are told by the Compleat Sollicitor p. 73 74. He says he remembers that about eight Years ago in the days of Usurpation for his Book was printed Anno. Dom. 1666. a troublesome malicious Priest sued one namely a Supplicavit against some of his Neighbours but he had not heard of any since and the Parties craving it should take their Corporal Oath that it is not desired for any Malice Hatred or Envy to the Party surely if the said six Proctors swore it they swore it freely heartily and clearly Besides tho 't is a Writ rarely granted yet when it is granted it is more rarely granted against any but common Rogues and Villains common Barretors and Man-Catchers Is there greater Indignity than to be crucified amongst Thieves and Rogues It has been the Lot of his Betters tho the Defendant offered an Affidavit in his behalf made before Judg Dolben by three Worthy Citizens and desired with all Humility that as the Bench had heard of one side Affidavits against him that they would please to leave one Ear open to hear some Affidavits for him and some Pleas in his Defence intending to insist upon the Statute of 2 Edw. 6. 1. which if it be in force then the Ecclesiastical Courts sit not legally nor can they be called by Names bad enough and if that Statute be not in force then why did the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton insist upon it so lately at the King's-Bench Bar and also Mr. Rotherham for their Client Mr. Weald of Much-Waltham in Essex about the time that the last Parliament sate at Westminster telling the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs that he would not urge it warmly or Words to the like Effect because he perceiv'd his Lordship was not prepar'd at that time to give an answer to that Statute or Words to the like Effect A moot-Case belike then and a hard Case to bind a Man to the Good-Behaviour or threaten him with a Jaile when not wiser in the construction of the force of a Statute than the Lord Chief Justice But nothing would be admitted to be pleaded in the Defendants Defence but utrum horum that is not false Latin whatsoever quisquis is Sad choice alas Bail or a Jail There is no fence against a Flail They that will hear but of one Ear here shall be made to hear on both Ears one Day the Day of Judgment And tho Mr. Shepherd in his Office of a Justice of the Peace pag. 83. says that in taking a Recognizance upon a Supplicavit the ordinary Sum is ten or twenty Pounds and difficultly enough too to be procured by a poor Rogue tho a great Rogue yet since the time and Sum is Arbitrary and in the Breast of the Justices no less than a hundred Pounds must Mr. Hickeringill be bound in for affronting the Men of Doctors-Commons if the Proctors swore through-stitch nay one of the Bench stood stifly for 200 Pounds that the Principal should Recognize but in that he was over-ruled and four Sureties in 50 l. apiece whereas a poor common-Rogue could hardly have procur'd two Manucaptors Ay Ay he that will have Honour must sometimes pay for his Ambition But as if all these troubles were too little for the Defendant besides the Weekly Affronts By the Weekly News-mongers in their Tantivy-Pamphlets not to mention those familiar little friendly Courtships and Caresses of Villain Rogue Colchester-Hick the great Scribler of the Nation Daring Nat. Thompson reports him to be convict of Perjury tho Nat. hides his viler Head for the same and dare not give an appearance for himself and his Consort to Mr. Godfrey Woodward Attorney who has long been prepar'd for him if he could come at him for villifying and aspersing such a Man as Mr. Hickeringill with so pernicious and false a Slander all the Kingdom over But these are small Matters loss of Reputation and to be called and accounted a common Rogue common Barretor common Villain a small matter Oh! But in the Neck of all comes me decima unda the tenth Wave an Action of 5000 l. thick brought by a great Bishop too of great Interest great Power great Friends great Parts great Learning and great all over against a poor Priest or younger Brother a Minorite to Reform him if any Body could tell how and make him better Nay it will be dangerous this whole long Year for Mr. Hickeringill to say as did the Emperour at a General Council when at the first setting out and opening thereof the good Fathers were gravell'd and at a loss where first to begin to 'mend the Ecclesiastical Frame being so horribly out of Frame â Minoritis cries one of the great Ones very politickly no quoth the Emperour rather a Majoritis let us first begin to 'mend the great Ones The Naked Truth with ease we tear Not such as Vizor-Masques do wear For Vizors sconce and skreen Men here But will not always last I fear This fam'd Trial came on March 8 1681. at the Nisi prius Bar before the Lord Chief Justice Sir Francis Pemberton The Jury by the Sheriff of the County of Essex were thus return'd viz. Essex ss Nomina Jur. inter Henr. Epis Lond. qui tam c. Quer. Et Edmond Hickeringill Cler. Defend Andreas Jenner de Dunmow Magnâ Bar. Ricardus Everard de Waltham Magnâ Bar. Edwardus Smith de Thoydonmount Bar. Willielmus Appleton de Shenfield Bar. Johannes Bramston de Roxwell Miles Balnei Marcus Guyon de Coggeshall Magnâ Miles Johannes Marshal Miles Willielmus Maynard de Waltham Stow Ar. Willielmus Glascock de Farnham Ar. Jacobus Milbourn de Dunmow Magnâ Ar. Alexander Prescot de Mountnessing Ar. Willielmus Pert de eâd. Ar. Samuel Hare de Leigh Ar. Anthonius Abdey de Kelvedon Ar. Ricardus Ballet de Hatfield Broad-Oak Ar. Johannes Meade de Wenden Ar. Johannes Tendring de Baddow Magnâ Ar. Willielmus Petre de Stanford Rivers Ar. Henricus Paschal de Baddow Magnâ Ar. Henricus Humfreys de Westhamingfield Ar. Ricardus How de Ingate-stone Ar. Ricardus Stanes de Altâ Ongar Ar. Aurelius Piercey Wiseman de Wimbish Ar. Edwardus Taverner de Canfield Ar. None of the Jury were challenged by either side Most of the Gentlemen first named in the Pannel appear'd and serv'd being sworn a little Councel tremblingly made a shift to read the Heads of the Declaration viz. The Declaration in English faithfully translated out of the Lawyers Latin was to this Effect viz. Trinity Term xxxiii R. R. Carol. 2. HENRY Bishop of London one of the Prelates of this Realm of England as well for our Soveraign Lord the King as for himself complaineth of Edmond Hickeringill Clerk in the Custody of the Marshal of the Marshalsea for that whereas in
the Statute made in the Parliament of King Richard the Second after the Conquest at Glocester in the Second Year of his Raign held amongst other things it is Enacted and strictly Charged under great pain That none should be so bold as to devise speak or relate of the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and other Nobles and Great Men of the Realm of England nor of the Chancellor Treasurer or Clerk of the Privy Seal Steward of the King's House Justice of the one Bench or other nor of any Great Officers of the said Realm any false News Lyes or any such Falsities whereof any Scandal or Discord within the said Realm may arise And whosoever this should do should incur the Penalty otherwise thereof ordained by the Statute of Westminster the First as in the said Statute more fully it is contained Yet the said Edmond Hickeringill the Statute aforesaid not regarding nor the Penalty of the said Statute any ways fearing but craftily designing the Good Name State Credit Dignity and Honour of the said Bishop to hurt and blacken and him the said Bishop into great Displeasure Distrust and Discredit of our said Lord the King that now is and of the great Men and great Officers of this Realm of England and also of divers worthy Persons Subjects of our said Lord the King that now is to bring the fourth day of April in the three and thirtieth Year of the Raign of our said Lord the King at Chelmnesford in the County of Essex divers false News and horrible Lyes of the said Henry then and yet being Bishop of London and one of the Prelates of this Realm of England in the presence and hearing of divers of the Subjects of our said Lord the King falsly maliciously and scandalously devised spoke related published and proclaimed in these English Words following viz. The Lord Bishop of London meaning himthe said Lord Bishop of London is a bold daring impudent Man for sending some Heads in Divinity to all his Clergy in those parts meaning the Clergy within the Diocess of London in those parts which are contrary to Law meaning the Laws of the Realm And of his further Malice the said Edmond afterwards to wit the said fourth day of April in the three and thirtieth Year abovesaid at Chelmnesford in the said County of Essex scandalously and maliciously and further to defame and scandalize the said Bishop likewise devised spoke related published and proclamed of the said Henry then and yet Bishop of London upon a Discourse of the said Bishop then and there had these other false News and horrible Lies in these English Words following that is to say His Lordship meaning the said Henry Lord Bishop of London is very ignorant And the said Edmond further craftily designing not only the good Name State Credit Dignity and Honour of the said Bishop to hurt and blacken and him the said Bishop into further great Displeasure Distrust and Discredit â—our said Soveraign Lord the King that now is and of the great Men and â—â—eat Officers of this Kingdom of England and of divers other worthy Subjects of our said Lord the King to bring but also to cause him to endure the pain and peril of the Laws and Statutes of this Realm against Traitors and such Malefactors made afterwards to wit the said fourth day of April in the said three and thirtieth Year of the Raign of our said Soveraign Lord the King that now is at Chelmnesford aforesaid in the said County divers other false News and horrible Lyes of the said Henry then and yet Bishop of London and one of the Prelates of this Realm in the presence and hearing of divers of the King's Subjects scandalously falsly and maliciously devised spoke related published and declared in these English Words following viz. I meaning him the said Edmond Hickeringill can prove His Lordship meaning the said Henry Lord Bishop of London to be concerned in the Damnable Plot meaning the Popish Plot to destroy the King and subvert the Government of this Realm late discovered By Means of which said several false News and horrible Lyes the said Bishop is not only hurt and scandalized in his Reputation Honour and Dignity and the said Bishop hath lost the Favour good Opinion and Esteem which our said Soveraign Lord the King and other great Men and Prelates of this Realm afore towards him did bear and divers Rumors and Scandals between divers of the Nobles of this Realm and great Men and other the King's Subjects upon the Occasion aforesaid within this Realm are risen and spread abroad and great Scandals and Discords by reason of the Premises between the said Bishop and others of this Realm are risen and daily more and more are likely to arise to the great disturbance of the Peace and Tranquillity of the Realm to the Contempt of our said Lord the King and great Scandal of the said Bishop and against the Form of the said Statute of Richard the Second to the Bishop's Damage 5000 l. and therefore he brings this Suit Issue Non Cul This Trial of so great expectation came on about nine a Clock in the Morning Wednesday the 8th of March 1681. To prove the Declaration only one single Witness was produced for the Plantiff namely one Samuel Harris Clerk Witnesses sworn on the behalf of the Defendant were The Right Honourable Edward Earl of Lincoln Mr. Benjamin Edgar Mr. Ambrose Flanner Robert Potter Henry Bull Christopher Hill and Daniel Howlet all except that Noble Earl Parishioners of the Parish of St. Buttolph's in Colchester and present when the Words were pretended to be spoken Actions for Words ought to be precisely and punctually prov'd and all the Words together without addition or diminution otherwise as the Defendant who pleaded his own Cause told the Court the Sense must differ except they be taken together with the antecedent and subsequent Discourse in sensu conjuncto not diviso jointly and not severally adding that he had a thousand times said that there is no God and yet that saying that looks so scandalously Atheistically and Blasphemously taken disjointed and severally from the foregoing Words are really innocent and harmless and have been spoken a thousand times by every Man that has a thousand times read or repeated Psal 14. 1. The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God So also in infinite Instances as to say It is not lawful to love God nor to 〈◊〉 our Neighbour dissemblingly or hypocritically take away the last Words and 〈◊〉 looks scandalously and most prophanely but taken altogether no harm all but good and true and like that of the Apostle Let Love be without Dissimulation The said Harris Witness for the Plantiff had got the Words pretty well by Heart but yet did not swear them so roundly off as was expected For as to the first Words namely The Lord Bishop of London is a bold daring impudent Man for sending some Heads of Divinity to all his Clergy in these
converted art ' tic well Thour't in the way to Heaven they to Hell And what tho' many of the Saints do fear Thou do'st dissemble because they do hear How thou did'st persecute the Saints and hale Their Persons innocent unto the Jayl What tho' at present they be shy of thee Yet thou proceeding in thy Zeal to be A Convert true it will rejoice their Hearts That God hath raised thee to take their parts And what tho' Priests do wait by Writ of Cape Yet by some Basket thou shalt have escape Their Ruffins sworn to take thy Life away By Providence shall miss their hoped Prey Tho' some may question thinking that thou art No true Disciple from thy very Heart Yet when it shall be known what thou hast writ And preached too thou wilt be quite acquit When by thy Naked-Truth the Church hath ease It will the Brethren in all places please But let me tell thee Mr. Hickeringill Tho' many Grave Divines approve thy Pill Prelats and proud Priests say thou hast no skill The Gout the Strangury and such Disease May by a Velvet Couch receive some ease And Golden Chariots rocking them doth please A Body full of Humours all can tell Disgusts that Physick that will them expell Because it makes them keek and vomit up Their sweetest Morsels like a bitter Cup. Sick Physick they don't like tho' that must cure This they resolved are not to endure Thou purgest Head the Reins and Liver too Fluxeth the Body and makes such ado That all their Rottenness will be discovered They like not this thy way to be recovered But will keep rather their Distemper still Than Purge and Vomit thus to make them ill Diseases foul Physicians will conceal And gross Distempers they will not reveal The Credit is the Patient's Gain's their own This thou regardest not but makes all known Tho' they tormented are and full of pain Yet they have Riches Profits Honour Gain And they are courted too have great Retinues To wait on them and they have great Revenues Now this they love and will not change their state For all thy Pamphlet-printing and thy prate They say a Mungrel-Mountebank thou art That mounts the Stage but hath no real Art Thou runs from Town to Town to show thy Feats And vend thy mouldy Drugs which are but Cheats Thou railst against the Cross but dost purloin Picking Men's Pockets both of Cross and Coin Thou hast no Licence to be thy Defender Therefore against the Law thou art offender If this be true there 's ground enough I trow By Scandalum Magnatum to o're-throw And bring thee down upon thy bended Knees To ask Forgiveness and to pay thy Fees Therefore the Scribes do lay for thee their Snares And do consult to take thee unawares The Officers of Doctors Commons meet Together often and their Heads do beat What course to take The Learned Chancellors Crafty Civillians foul-mouth'd Registers Arch-Deacons Surrogates are in a Huff The Proctors and Appariters do snuff Our Wealth is gone if we let this alone We must with th' Irish cry Ohone Ohone They all combine and never will give out Until they have giv'n Hickeringill the rout Their Cobweb-Canons and their Lime-twig-Laws Thou valuest no more than rotten Straws Thou fearest not their hollow Pot-gun noise Being good for nothing but to fright the Boys They therefore now appeal and crave the aid Of Statute-Laws to help them in their Trade Look to thy self they are resolv'd now in To lose the Saddle or the Horse to win They strive to make Pilat and Herod Friends And then the Consistory have their Ends. Now Velvet Saddl's offer'd with Gold Fringe Richly adorn'd with splendid Trappeling And when the Saddle's on their Back they 'l get A Snaffel in their Mouths with Iron Bit Except God give them Grace and better Wit For when they 'r mounted they will spur them on Unto their own and thy destruction It is by this means they support their hope To get thy Neck into a Hempen Rope The Cross thou likest not and will not have A Gibbet's good enough for such a Slave If they can get the Learned Lawyers in To take their part as they now do begin This was the way they dealt with Christ him kil'd And poor St. Paul his Back with stripes was fill'd But it is hoped that will be forbidden For honest Lawyers will not be Priest-ridden For they will show no Mercy switch and ride Till they have got unto the Romish side Lawyers themselves at last will yoaked be Becoming Traitors to their Liberty For if the Statute do their Canons draw They 'll keep the King's Liege-Subjects in such aw By raising up a Spanish Inquisition Bringing all down to ruin and perdition They 'll set the Mitre up above the Crown And bring all Law and all Religion down O the Confusion that will follow then But I forbear and will hold in my Pen And so conclude with England's Letany Defend us Lord from French and Popery And God send thee a safe Delivery SOL. SHAW We are commanded to love the Truth and Peace well put together for Truth seldom meets Peace without tho it always makes Peace within Truth seldom gets in this World external Peace but never misses internal and eternal Peace The Word of Truth Truth it self our blessed Saviour and his Apostles never failed of inward Peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy-Ghost never fail'd neither of external Ruffles and War from without and therefore he said He came not to send Peace on Earth but a Sword It always was so from the beginning is now and ever shall be that War should be betwixt the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent But there can be no Peace saith my God to the Wicked neither Peace external internal nor eternal For Truth is the Essence of Peace the Life and Soul of Peace it ceases to be Peace when Truth is absent and is meer War Confusion and Conspiracy How I have studied the Way of Truth let good Men judg and how I have studied the Way of Peace this following Letter to Henry Bishop of London will evince And not further to displease Sir George Jefferies for I hate this vain Jangling about Words and Titles and Genealogies as it happens the Welsh Knight will now be pleased for the last Letter sent from this Defendant to the Bishop was as smooth docile courtly and Alamode as the best Courtier of them all can write And that the Defendant absit invidia verbis has been as great a Traveller as St. Taphee or as that great Welsh-man and Kill-Cow Hero Capt. Jones himself that said he had a Priviledg or Patent whereby he could lie by Authority wonderful Preferment the Welsh-man was proud on 't tho The Letter verbatim thus Viz. To the Reverend Father in God Henry Lord Bishop of London at London House in Aldersgate-Street May it please your Lordship THis is the second humble Address that
take care Sufficient for the day its Evils are But enough of this at present at least let us in the next place consider the Doughty Articles sworn by six Doctor's-Commons Reverend Fellows called Proctors on which was bottom'd and founded a Supplicavit namely ARTICLES OF THE Good Behaviour Exhibited in the Court of our Lord the King before the King at Westminster against Edmond Hickeringill Rector of All-Saints in Colchester in the County of Essex Clerk for several Misdemeanours by him committed Imprimis THat in Trinity Term last Articles were Exhibited against the said Edmund Hickeringill in the Arches Court of Canterbury for Clandestine Marriages at the promotion of Henry Lord Bishop of London of which high Crimes he still 〈…〉 and he said Edmund Hickeringill did several Court days make his 〈…〉 said Court and behaved himself irreverently and did affront 〈…〉 said Court and more particularly 20th of Jan. Anno vicessimo tertio of 〈◊〉 King did again make his Appearance in the said Court then held in the common â—â— all of Doctors-Commons London by Sir Richard Lloyd Knight Doctor of Laws then sitting judicially in the said Court with many persons along with him or following him to the number of thirty or twenty Persons as they do verily believe Tho. Tillot Tho Smith Jur. ad predict primum Articulum Tho. Tyllet Tho. Smith in cur die predict Hillar Anno xxxiii o coram codem Rege 2. Item That the said Edmund Hickeringill did on the said twentieth of January then and there behave himself in the Court of Arches then sitting as aforesaid very indecently and insolently to the Court keeping his Hat on tho by the Judg of the same Court several times monished to the contrary and then the Officer of the said Court by the Judg his Command taking off his Hat he put it on again in a contemptuous manner Tho. Tyllot Tho. Smith Cha. Tuckyr Jur. ad predict secundum Articulum Tho. Tyllet Tho. Smith Carolus Tuckyr in cur die Anno supradict 3. Item The said Edmund Hickeringill then very sawcily and impudently declaring to the Judg of the said Court of Arches That if the Arch-bishop himself was there he would not stand uncovered Jo. Miller Tho. Stoker Char. Turkry Jur. id predict tertium Articulum Johannes Miller Tho. Stokes Carolus Tucker in cur die Anno supradict 4. Item That the said Edmund Hickeringill in the open Court there among other opprobious and abusive Language then used by him to the Court said it was no Court by Law and that they had no power to call him before them and that perhaps the Court of Arches might do him a Mischief but that they never had done any good or he used words to that Effect Tho. Stoker John Coker Jurad predict quartum Articulum Tho. Stokes Johannes Coker in cur die Anno supradict 5. Item That the said Edmund Hickeringill did then in a moct opprobrious manner tell the Judg of the said Court that Toads had Poison in them but had an Antidote also that Vipers had Poison in them but their Flesh was an extraordinary Medicine or to that effect and that every the vilest or worst of God's Creatures had something of good in it saving that Court which he then said never did any good nor ever would or to that effect and that the Persons or many of them that came into the said Court of Arches with the said Edmund Hickeringill laughed aloud at what the said Hickeringill said and followed him out of the said Court with great Noise and laughed to the great Disturbance of the said Court Tho. Smith John Coker Jur. ad predict quintum Articulum Tho. Smith Johannes Coker in cur die Anno supradict In Banco Regis Westminster Dominus Rex versus Edmund Hickeringill Clericum JEremy Ives Cheesmonger and Citizen of London Joseph Ashhurst Draper and Citizen of London and Samuel Wells Mercer and Citizen of London do depose as followeth viz. That on the twentieth day of January in the three and thirtieth Year of this King these Deponents were personally present in the Court commonly called the Arches held in Doctors-Commons London when Mr. Edmund Hickeringill Rector of the Rectory of All Saints in Colchester made his Appearance there and heard the whole Discourse and saw the Actions and Demeanours that passed betwixt Sir Richard Lloyd Official there and the said Mr. Hickeringill during his stay there and that the said Sir Richard commanded the said Mr. Hickeringill to put off his Hat which he refused to do whereupon the said Sir Richard commanded an Officer to take off Mr. Hickeringill's Hat which he delayed to do saying he was afraid that Mr. Hickeringill would have an Action against him for so doing but the said Sir Richard again and again encouraging him at length he pull'd off Mr. Hickeringill's Hat two or three times the said Mr. Hickeringill putting it on so often as his Hat was return'd to him mildly telling the said Sir Richard at the same time that it was not Pride Insolence nor any design to affront them that made him then to be covered but a sence of his Duty except they would own their Court to be the King's Court and that they sate there by the King's Authority and Commission and consequently would make out their Citations Acts and Processes in the Name and Stile of the King according to the Statute and that then but not till then no Man should pay them more Reverence and Respect than He but the said Official not asserting their Court to be the King's Court and as aforesaid to be kept in the King's Name and Stile and by his Authority Mr. Hickeringill would not be uncovered saying That it was against the Oath of Canonical Obedience against the Oath of Supremacy against the Canons and the Statutes to own any Court Ecclesiastical but what sate by the King's Authority and Commission and acted in the Name and Stile of the King And if that Court of Arches was only the Arch-bishop's Court He the said Mr. Hickeringill durst not nor would he be uncovered before the Arch-bishop himself if he were present because it is contrary to their own Canon-Law and the Oath of Canonical Obedience for a Presbyter to stand bare-headed in presence of any Bishop or he used words to the like effect Saying that if they could argue his Hat off his Head by Statute-Law Canon Law Civil-Law or Common-Law it should be at their Service and he would stand bare-headed before them or he used words to the like effect And the said Mr. Hickeringill during his whole stay there used no other Actions nor Speeches that might give just Offence unless the said Sir Richard took Offence when he at the same time said That every Creature that God made was good and had some good in it that a Pearl was sometimes found in the Head of a Toad and the Toads Flesh is an Antidote against its own Venom And the best Cordial
of danger This Light-house now will shew the way Which may secure any stranger It was your Wisdom and your Care This rare contrivance to invent No Pains no Charges you did spare Our Dangers that you might prevent Old Strombolo that burns to light Seamen unto Messinas Phare With Agnes flames that shine so bright For usefulness cannot compare That future Ages will record Who did this Stately Fabrick raise And to your glory tell abroad This deed to your immortal Praise Come fellow Seamen 't is the night We use clean linnen to put on He'rs to our Wives it is a right Them once a week to think upon The Bishops and his Clerks no more Shall Shipwrack bring as in late years And as they us'd to do of Yore Now the light-house of Naked-truth appeares Men love darkness rather then light because their Deeds were evil For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light lest his Deeds should be discovered But he that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Jo. 3. 19 20 21. By their fruits you shall know them if they be mischievous and bring forth nothing but sharp pricks then they are Briers and Thisles and Thorns and nigh unto a curse whose end is to be burned They loved cursing and Anathema's so let it come unto them saith Holy David Any sober-man would think that a Reasonable man might well enough be contented if he were not very Ignorant and very Impudent to enjoy quietly the Pleasures the Riches the Honours the Grandieur and the Pomp that now attends Bishops of so cheap too and easy acquest or purchase and Stately and Prince-like as may be temporal and wicked lay-Princes of the Gentiles nay as many the Princes and Peers of the Nation who by Inheritance come by the same and Rights to which by Gods Providence Nature and Birth they are born unto nay in their City houses for ease their Country houses for delight far Transcending the most Peers of the Realm one would think I say such Bishops after so full a Meal might say Grace and bless God for his goodnss to them and never disturb themselves nor the Neigbourhood with being Promoters Inventers Action-drivers exacters of Penalties and utmost Rigour of old Statutes for which crimes Empson and Dudley were hanged What an odd sight it is to see Lawn-sleves surrounded with Procters and Jaylors and Apparitors and Promoters and Serjants and Bayliffs Affidavit men and hung about with Articles Writs Labels and Libels Declarations Informations Indictments and then Proctors and a little Black-Coat at his elbow hungry for a living and ready to swear through-stich when his own Interest and the favour of a Bishop is in the case What wanton pride as well as cruelty and hard heartedness to delight in Visitations Vexations when he might well enough content himself one would think with his exceeding many flocks and herds which the Piety and Charity of our devout Ancestors and the cunning and avarice of others has Monopoliz'd to them leaving the poor now quite out of their old and primitive share thereof and good right unto ' without the wanton Boulimy and greedy Appetite after his Neighbours little Ewe-lamb and all the substance and subsistence of a man and his house no though he should pretend to dedicate his Neighbours little Ewe-Lamb to God as a Sacrifice or an Anathema or a Corban by grand Hypocrisy as if God Almighty did not hate Robbery much more Cruelty under colour and by the help of Summum jus or the rigour of Law for a Burnt offring And if no less will serve the Bishop of London's charity then to give 2000l towards the building of Pauls it is more honour to take it out of his own numerous flocks and herds which once the poor had as much Title unto as the Rich Prelate before Avarice and Pride came in fashion-Ecclesiastical And not go to rob the Spittle for a deodand and by force or rigour of Law I have known a Gentleman that had one odd humour and you will say it was a very ill humour that after dinner when his Belly was full of good Victuals and Wine and strong drink the Fop grew so wanton and the Ape wasso mischievously gamesy and with good chear half drunk or so half-Tipsey that he so far forgot himself that instead of saying Grace he would be pinching and nipping those that sat nigh or within his reach especially if he had any old Pique against them he would nip and pinch 'till he made all black and blew or left the Print of his Nayles in their flesh Ecce Signum I 'le conclude this essay with an Epitome of the most considerable Parts and passages in this long Book that has swelled beyond the Primitive intention and will best serve those that will not find leisure to read the whole in this following-letter long yet most compendious most Emphatical most Humble and most Submissive letter writ by Mr. Hickeringil himself verbatim To the Right Reverend HENRY Lord Bishop of LONDON at London-Howse My Lord SO little success has attended all my former Addresses that I am almost hopeless of this but understanding that your Lordship expected my application no deficiency should be on my part Though I must confess that had it not been for this worthy Gentleman Mr. Firman the Bearer hereof I was not readily perswaded to write to you Because you carry my Letters to your Lawyers for them to pick ' vantages and accordingly two of my Letters to your Lordship most disingenuously were read against me at the Tryal But the Judg told them they were no proof of your Declaration yet Sir Francis Withins he made mimick and dumb signs to the Jury at every word nay my very Books were brought into Court and Sir George Jefferyes just such another man as the woman said that other-hopeful Council he pointed at my Books with his Index as not knowing what to say against them without blushing of which yet he is not very guilty and onely made dumb shows too which were not capable of answer or vindication yet were sufficient hints to a willing Jury that knew their meaning by their mumping and their gaping and accordingly gave a Verdict contrary to all mens expectations against me and dammages 2000 l. a good round sum two Horse-loads and therefore would break the back of one Horse no wonder then a single Parson should shrink or sink under the unconscionable load Yet I understand that this unreasonable Verdict is so pleasing to you that in the jollity of devotion you have made it a Deodand and intends to Dedicate the Trophee of your Victory towards the building of Pauls If so I fear your Piety is not of the Cabal or Cabinet-Councel with your charity nor will you find that it is pleasing to God to make a man an Offender for a word and no such mighty words neither if