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
of that Court caused Execution upon the satd Judgment to be stayed and being moved therein and made acquainted with the bad life and conversation of the said Person he said that he had spoken to the Judges for him and that he would never suffer a Iudgment to passe against any Clergy-man by nihil dicit 5. That the said Archbishop about eight yeares last past being then also a privy Councellor to his Majesty for the end and purpose aforesaid caused Sir Iohn Corbet of Stoak in the County of Salop Baronet then a Iustice of peace of the said County to be committed to the Prison of the Fleet where he continued Prisoner for the space of halfe a yeare or more for no other cause but for calling for the Petition of Right causing it to be read at the Sessions of the peace for that County upon a just and necessary occasion And during the time of his said imprisonment the said Archbishop without any colour of right by a writing under the Seale of his Archbishopricke granted a way parcell of the Glebe land of the Church of Adderly in the said County whereof the said Sir Iohn Corbet was then patron unto Robert Vscount Kilmurrey without the consent of the said Sir Iohn or then the incumbent of the said Church which said Viscount Kilmurrey built a Chappel upon the said parcell of Glebe land to the great prejudice of the said Sir Iohn Corbet which hath caused great suits and dissentions betweene them And whereas the said Sir Iohn Corbet had a judgment against Sir Iames Stonehouse Knight in an action of Waste in his Majesties Court of Common Pleas at Westminster which was afterwards affirmed in a writ of Error in the Kings Bench and Execution thereupon awarded yet the said Sir Iohn by meanes of the said Archbishop could not have the effect thereof but was committed to Prison by the said Archbishop and others at the Councell Table untill he had submitted himselfe unto the order of the said Table whereby he lost the benefit of the said Judgment and Execution 6. That whereas divers gifts and dispositions of divers summes of money were heretofore made by divers charitable and well disposed persons for the buying in of divers Impropriations for the maintenance of preaching the word of God in severall Churches the said Archbishop about eight yeares last past wilfully and maliciously caused the said gifts feoffements and conveyances made to the uses aforefaid to be overthrowne in his Majesties Court of Exchequer contrary to Law as things dangerous to the Church and State under the specious pretence of buying in Appropriations whereby that pious worke was suppressed and trodden downe to the great dishonour of God and scandall of Religion 7. That the said Archbishop at severall times within these ten yeares last past at Westminster and else where within this Realme contrary to the knowne Lawes of this Land hath endeavoured to advance Popery and Superstition within the Realme And for that end and purpose hath wittingly and willingly received harboured and relieved divers popish Priests and Iesuits namely one called Sancta Clara alias Damport a dangerous Person and Franciscan Fryer who having written a Popish and seditious Booke intituled Deus natura gratia wherein the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England established by Act of Parliament were much traduced and scandalized The said Archbishop had divers conferences with him while he was in writing the said Booke and did also provide maintenance and entertainment for one Mounsieur St. Giles a Popish Priest at Oxford knowing him to be a Popish Priest 8. That the said Archbishop about foure yeares last past ut Westminster aforesaid said that there must be a blow given to the Church such as hath not beene yet given before it could be brought to conformity declaring thereby his intention to bee to shake and alter the true Protestant Religion established in the Church of England 9. That in or about the month of May 1641. presently after the dissolution of the last Parliament the said Archbishop for the ends and purposes aforesaid caused a Synod or Convocation of the Clergie to be held for the severall Provinces of Canterbury and Yorke wherein were made and established by his meanes and procurement diverse Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiasticall contrary to the Lawes of this Realme the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty and propriety of the Subject tending also to seditior and of dangerous consequence And amongst other things the said Archbishop caused a most dangerous and illegall Oath to be therein made and contrived the tenor whereof followeth in these words That I A. B. doe sweare that I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deanes and Arch-Deacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and sweare according to the plaine and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willing and truely upon the saith of a Christian So helpe mee God in Jesus Christ Which Oath the said Archbishop himselfe did take and caused diverse other Ministers of the Church to take the same upon paine of suspension and deprivation of their livings and other severe penalties And did also cause Godfrey then Bishop of Gloucester to be committed to prison for refusing to subscribe to the said Canons and to take the said Oath and afterward the said Bishop submitting himselfe to take the said Oath he was set at liberty 10. That a little before the calling of the last Parliament Anro 1640. a Vote being then passed and a resolution taken at the Councell Table by the advice of the said Archbishop for assisting of the King in extraordinary wayes if the said Parliament should prove peevish and refuse to supply His Majestie the said Archbishop wickedly and malitiously advised His Majestie to dissolve the said Parliament and accordingly the same was dissolved And presently after the said Archbishop told his Majesty that now he was absolved from all rules of Government and left free to use extraordinary wayes for his supply For all which matters and things the said Commons assembled in Parliament in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England doe impeach the said Archbishop of Canterbury of high Treason and other crimes and misdemeanours tending to the subversion of our Religion Lawes and Liberties and to the utter ruine of this Church and Common-Wealth And
Burtons Wives especially restrained so much as to set footing in the Islands where they were close imprisoned under paine of imprisonment so penall and fatall was it for them to oppose the Archbishop in these his Innovations who detained them thus close prisoners in exile till they were released by this present Parliament That this prosecution was by the Archbishops instigation was evidenced First by the Testimony of Mr. John Cockshute then servant to Sir John Banks his Majesties Atturney Generall to whom he committed the prosecution of all Star-chamber businesses who attested upon oath that the Arch-bishop gave him direction for drawing the Information against Doctor Bastwick Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne and that he was commanded to give an account to him of all the proceedings therein which he did from time to time either to himself in person or to his Chaplains by his direction Secondly by the Copies of Doctor Bastwicks and Mr. Burtons Answers found in his study by Mr. Prynne the first whereof was disalowed and would not be admitted though twice tendred the second expunged by the Arch-bishops direction who had drawn a line with black lead under all that which should stand in Mr. Burtons Answer as appeared by the Coppy it self produced at the Bar giving Order to expunge the residue which was done accordingly Thirdly by the whole Tenor of his speech in Star-chamber especially this latter clause thereof pag. 77. I humbly crave pardon of your Lordships for this my necessary length and give You hearty thanks for Your noble patience and your just and honourable censure upon these men and your unanimous dislike of them and defence of the Church But because the businesse hath some reflection upon my selfe I shall for beare to censure them and leave them to Gods mercy and the Kings Iustice. And by his ensuing Epistle to his Majesty prefixed to this Speech Fourthly by Subsequent Motions and Warrants under his hand for their Exile and close Imprisonment in which he was onely active and inexorable What great encouragement and hope of a relapse to Popery the Archbishops introducing of Altars Crucifixes and other forementioned Innovations gave to Jesuits Papists and what was his reall designe in promoting them we shall evidence by two notable passages in two late English Jesuites printed books The first intituled A Paraphrasticall and devout Discourse upon the Psalme Miserere written by Ch. M. an English Jesuite as appears by the Jesuites Badge in the Frontispiece of it printed and licensed at Doway 30 Maii 1635. wherein there is this passage in the Epistle to the Reader Thesemy Paraphrasticall Discourses and pitifull lamentations of King David I intend for all sinners in England as well Catholicks as not Catholicks of what religion soever I being a debtor to all and because I would have them all peruse these Discovrses I abstaine from controversies in religion lest I should avert any from the reading of them only in paraphrasing the two last verses of this Psalme occasion being offered I speak of the unbloody and daily Sacrifice of the Altar but so that I rather touch it then handle it mention it then treat of it suppose it then prove it in that manner as I might hoping that this doctrine NOW will not be distastfull mark the Reason For seeing now in England in very many Churches Altars which heretofore were thrown down are againe erected according to the laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholick and even Primitive Church to averre a true Sacrifice will not be ill taken because to allow of Altars is to allow of a true Sacrifice which useth to be offered on them an Altar and a true proper Sacrifice being Co-Relatives of which the one inferreth the other and so the one cannot be averred without the other nor the one denied without the other Loe here we have the true reason why the Archbishop was so zealous for Altars even to bring in the Papists unbloody and dayly sacrifice of the Masse The second book was inscribed A direction to be observed by N. N. written by an English Jesuit and printed secretly by him in London as was supposed An. 1636. wherein after some applauses of the Archbishop whom he propounded as a Pattern of imitation for all others in England in prohibiting the sale of books tending to Socinianisme p. 14. which he p. 16. interprets to be Protestantisme p. 20. 22. he proceeds thus And to speak the truth what learned judicious man can after unpartiall examination embrace Protestantisme Which now waxeth weary of it selfe Its professors they especially of greatest worth learning and authority declare themselves to love temper moderation allow of many things which some years agoe were usually condemned as Superstitious Antichristian and are at this time more unresolved where to fasten then in the infancy of their Church For doe not the Protestant Churches begin to look with another face their wals to speak by Images Crucifixes Laymens books with another language their Preachers to use a sweeter tone their annuall publick Tenents in the Universities to be of another stile and matter their books to appear with Titles and Arguments which once would have caused much scandall among the Brethren their Doctrine to be altered in many things and even in those very points for which their progenitors forsook the then visible Church of Christ their 39 Articles the Summe the Confession and almost the Creed of their faith are patient patient that is they are ambitious of some sense wherein they may seem to be Catholick that is of that Romish sense which Franciscus à Sancta Clara thrice printed in England and presented by the Archbishop to his Majesty hath put upon them in his Commentary on them to alleage wife and children in these dayes is but a weak plea for a maried Minister to compasse a Benefice Firy Calviaisme once a Darling in England is at length accounted Heresie yea and little lesse then Treason by the Archbishop and his Brethren in their censure of Dr. Bastwick in the High Commission Men in word writing willingly use the once fearfull names of Priests and Altars nay if one do but mutter against the placing of the Altar after the old fashion for a warning he shal be well warned with a Cole from the Altar over against which there is this marginall note A little book so intituled printed 1636. English Protestants are now put in minde that for exposition of Scripture by Canon they are bound to follow the ancient Fathers And to conclude all in one main point The Protestant Church in England pofesseth so small antiquity and so weak subsistance in it self that they acknowledge no other visible being for many Ages but in the Church of Rome These were the advantages the Papists Jesuits and Popish party made of the Archbishops Romish Innovations formerly proved We shall next proceed to other Innovations of this nature somewhat different from the former to wit to
Peace in the County with the generall consent of the whole Bench and upon view of diverse ancient presidents in that kinde Whereupon Judge Richardson the next Sommer Assizes 1634. in his charge informed the Justices Grand-Jury and Country That hee at their Request together with his Brother Denham had made a very good Order for suppressing unruly Wakes and Revells wherein he thought he had done God the King and Country good service but some ill affected persons had misinformed His Majestie concerning this Order who had given him an expresse command to reverse it which he conceived was hardly in his power to do because it was no Order made by himselfe but by the joynt consent of the whole Bench and a meere confirmation and enlargment of diverse Orders made by the Iudges and Iustices in that Circuit in Queen Elizabeths King James and King Charles their Reignes before ever he came into those parts for which he produced these following Presidents The first was an Order made at a Sessions in Somersetshire in the 38. of Queene Elizabeth Orders made by the Iustices Assembled at Bridgwater Sessions the 10th of September Anno Reg Elizabetica 38. c. THat no Church Ale Clerkes Ale Bid Ale or tipling be suffered And that such only be suffered to tipple as be or shal be lawfully licensed according to the Order made in this Sessions SIGNED Iohn Popham Alexander Popham Iohn Court Henry Waldron Edward Hext George Sydenham Thomas Horner Iohn Colles Iohn May Iohn â—odney The second was this Order of Sessions made at the same place whereto he found the name of one Thomas Philips subscribed but he knew not who he was at which Sir Robert Philips his Sonne who sticled for these Wakes was much incensed as conceiving it a meere jeare against him At the Sessions at Bridgwater the 28th of September 1594. IT is is Ordered and agreed that no Church-Ale be admitted to be kept within any part of this shiere And that by the Justices of the Peace of the Lymits notice thereof bee given to the severall parishes within their Lymits and that such as shall offend in keeping any such be duely punished Iohn Popham Lord â—hiefe Iustice George Sidnam Knight Henry Barkley Knight George Speak Henry Waldron Alexander Colles Iohn Frances Alexander Popham Iohn Lancaster Edward Hext Thomas Phillips The third was an Order of Sessions made in the County of Devon Anno 1599. This Order was agreed on by all the Queenes Majesties Iustices of the Peace at the Chapter House Assembled the 10th day of January 1599. Anno 41. Elizabethae ANd for as much as it appeareth that many enormities that with modestie cannot be expressed heretofore have hapned by Church Ales and Revells in this County of Devon It is therefore Ordered that Church-Ales and Revells shall bee hence forth utterly suppressed And if contrary wise in contempt of this Order preparation be made for any to be kept any Justices of this County forthwith send for such as make preparation to admonish them to make stay thereof and upon their refusall in that behalfe or proceeding therein to bind them that make such preparation to the good behaviour and to appeare at the next Sessions of the Peace to bee holden within this County of Devon then and there to endure such punishment as either by the Lawes of the Realme or Order of this Court shall bee inflicted upon them for their contempt and disobeying this Order The fourth was this following Order made at the Assizes in Devonshire Anno 1615. From the Assizes held at the Castle of Exeter Iuly 24. 1615. Anno 13. Jacobi c. Sir Laurence Tanneld and Serjeant Mountague Justices of Assize c. THe severall Manslaughters committed at two Church-ales within this County since the begining of this present Moneth of Iuly and further advertisements given now unto the Court of the continuall prophanation of Gods Sabbath at these and other such like unlawfull meetings ministers unto this Court just occasion to recite an Order formerly set downe by the Reverend Judges of Assize at the Assizes holden for this County the 19th day of Iuly in the yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraign Lord King James by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. the 11th and of Scotland the 46th that Order being as followeth viz. It is Ordered by the Court in regard of the infinite number of inconveniencies daily arising by meanes of Revells Church-Ales and Bull-baitings that all such Revells Church-ales and Bull-baitings be from henceforth utterly suppressed and if hereafter it shall be made known unto the Justices of the Peace of this County of any such to be set up or hereafter used that then the Justices of the Peace within their severall Divisions take course as well for the speedy apprehending and punishment of idle and lewde people drawne together to such places as for the binding over of the Persons using tipling and for the inflicting of further punishment upon all offenders in such places as in their discretion shall be thought fit And to the end that this Order may be the better observed It is Ordered that this bee speedily published in every Parish Church within this County The fift was an Order made in the same County Anno 1627. An Order made by Sir Iohn Walter Knight Chiefe Baron of his Majesties Exchequer and Sir Iohn Denham Knight Justices of Assize for c. at the Castle of Exon the XXIII of July 1627. WHereas diverse Orders have bin heretofore made by the Judges of Assize for the suppression of all Ales and Revels those same Orders are now confirmed at this Assize and again Ordered by the Court in regard of the infinite number of inconveniencies daily arising by means of Revels Church-Ales Clerks-Ales and publike Ales that they be from henceforth utterly suppressed And if hereafter it shall be made knowne to the Justices of Peace of this County of any such to be kept or hereafter used that then the Justices of the Peace within their severall divisions take course as well for the speedy apprehending and punishment of idle vagrant people drawne together to such places as for the binding over of the persons using such tipling and for inflicting of such punishment upon all Offendors in such places as the Law doth inflict And to the end that this Order may be the better observed it is further Ordered that the Clerke of Assize shall leave a Copy hereof with the Clerk of the Peace and the under Sherriffe and from them or one of them every Constable shall take a Copy for his severall hundred and liberty and shall particularly deliver a Copy to the Minister of every Parish within his severall hundred and libertie and shall take a note of every Minister under his hand of the day upon which hee received it from him and that every Minister which so receiveth it shall publish it yearely in his Parish
Church the first Sunday in February And it is likewise further Ordered that every Constable shall at every Lent Assize present to the Judges of this Circuit a note of the receipt of the said Order under the hands of the said Ministers And for the further avoyding of the concourse of idle people it is further Ordered that such persons as usually carry up and downe Bulls and Beares to baite being Rogues by Statute shal be punished as Rogues for the further prevention of such inconveniences as usually happen upon such meetings Per me Symon Spatchurst Clericum Asiisor The 6. an Order made by Baron Denham at the Assizes in Somersetshire Anno 1627. upon a Petition of divers Ministers To the Honourable Sir John Denham Knight one of the Barons of His Majesties Exchequor and Iustice of Assize for the County of SOMERSET The humble Petition of the Ministers whose names are subscribed Sheweth THat whereas at the last Summer Assizes held for the County of Dorset there was an Order made for the suppressing of all Revells Church-Ales and other publike Ales amongst other things as by the Copie of the said Order hereunto annexed appeareth Your Petitioners therefore humbly desire that Your Lordship would be pleased to grant the like Order at this Assizes for the suppressing of the like Ales and disorders in this County of Somerset So they shall alwayes pray for Your Lordships long health and prosperity Adam Abraham Iohn Ford. William â—yllet Iohn Fathers Ralph Turner George Drake 15. Marcii 1627. Let the Clerke of the Assizes draw up the like 〈◊〉 for his County Iohn Denham Which former Order being warranted by so many Presidents Iudge Richardson said hee conceived hee had no power absolutely to reverse but being commanded to do it by His Majestie he did as much as in him lay revoke it but yet doubted not that if the Iustices of Peace would truly informe His Majesty of the grounds of the former Order and of the great disorders occasioned by Wakes and Church-ales His Majesty would give Order to revive it but how ever he must make this Order for the present which he caused he Clerk of Assizes to enter VVHereas divers Orders have been heretofore made by the Judges of Assize for the suppressing of Church-ales Clerks-ales Wakes Revells and such like within this County of Somerset which were formerly made by the Judges by reason of many disorders and misdemeanours arising upon the meeting of multitudes of people out of other Parishes It is now Ordered by his Lordship that all former Orders heretofore made by any Judges or Iustices for the suppressing of Church-ales Clerks-ales Wakes and Revells be revoked as much as in him lyeth and made utterly voyde And that it may be lawfull for all persons freely to use any lawfull Recreation or Exercise at such meetings but with this advice that they be carefull that no outrages or misdemeanours commonly arising at such Church-ales Clerk-ales Wakes and Revells be done or committed Hereupon all the Justices of Peace then present immediately after they had dined drew up this Petition to His Majesty which they Signed with all their hands and then sent it up to London by Iohn Harrington Esquier then Custos Rotulorum in that County with order to deliver it to the Right Honourable Earle of Pembrook Lord Lievtenant of the County to present it to His Majesty Who repairing to London accordingly shewed the Petition to Master Prynne and the Earle being then in the Country whence he would not returne in twelve dayes space he advised with him what course to take for presenting the Petition to His Majesty in the mean time lest the Archbishop hearing of it should prevent the same The Archbishop having notice of this Petition from Sir Robert Philips and Bishop Pierce to prevent the delivery and expected good effect thereof presently caused the Declaration for Sports published by King Iames with some additions of his owne at the end concerning Wakes and Feasts of Dedication relating the Order of Judg Richardson for suppressing them to be reprinted and published in His Majesties Name before the Petition delivered the Copy whereof is here subjoyned To the KINGS most Excellent Majestie The most humble Petition of the Iustices of the Peace of the County of Somerset MOst humbly Shewing That whereas heretofore there have bin from time to â—e severall good Orders made by the Iustices of Assize and Iustices of the Peace for the County of Somerset for the restraining and suppressing of certaine disordered Assemblies in that County called Church-ales Clerkes-ales Bid-ales Wakes and Revells by reason of many disorders inseperably accompanying the same wherby the said Assemblies have for the most part for a long time beene forborne and not used to the great good and quiet of the said County Now so it is may please Your Majesty that by occasion of a Declaration published the last Assizes by the Lord Chiefe Iustice of the Kings-Bench for restoring of Wakes and Revells and Revering of all Orders made against them and by reason of a rumour thereof spread in the Countrey since the last Lent Assizes not onely all the disorders aforesaid of Prophanation of the Lords Day riotous tipling contempt of Authoritie Quarrells Murthers c. frequently over-flowing the said Assemblies have increased this Summer but even the other disorderly Assembliss of Church-Ales Bid-Ales Clerkes-Ales condemned by the Lawes have againe beene set up to the great prejudice of the Peace plenty and good Government of the County May it therefore please Your most Excellent Majestie to grant us some more particular Declaration herein That Your Majesties Command concerning Revells may not be thought to extend farther then to the upholding of Civill Feasting betweene Neighbour and Neighbour in their Houses and the orderly and seasonable use of manly Exercises and Activities which we all shall be most ready to maintaine And that we may have Your Majesties Favour and Allowance to suppresse all the forementioned unlawfull Assemblies of Church-Ales Clerks-Ales and Bid-Ales and to punish all the forementioned disorders as heretofore we have done Wherein Your Petitioners have no other end than to do Your Majestie faithfull service and to preserve the good Government of the County John Lord Pawlet William Portman John Stowell Ralph Hopton John Symmes William Frauncis John Harrington Robert Cuffe Richard Cole Edward Powlet William Every Anthony Stocker William Capell George Powlett Francis Popham Edward Rodeney Francis Dodington John Horner William Bassit John Windham Robert Hopton George Speke Thomas Lutterell William Walrond Gerrad Wood. The delivery and good effect of this Petition was prevented by the publishing of this Declaration by this Archbishops meanes who to justify himselfe herein ex post facto procured this ensuing Warrant without any Date at all written with his own hand and found in his Study by Mr. Prynne together with the Printed Declaration for Sports endorsed with his owne pen to be Signed by His Majesty to justifie
1624. His Appello Caesarem London 1625. His Originum Ecclesiasticarum Pars prior Londini 1636. and Pars Posterior Londini 1640. His Anti-Diatribae Londini 1625 and Visitation Articles Printed at Cambridge and London 1638. Master Iohn Cosens his Houres of Prayer London 1627. Edmund Reeves Communion Catechisme expounded London 1635. Henry Cholmly His State of the Now Roman Church London 1629. Master Butterfield His Maschil London 1629. Doctor Iohn Pocklington his Sunday No Sabbath licensed by Doctor Bray the Arch-Bishops Chaplaine 24. Febru 1635. and his Altare Christianum licensed by the same Doctor Bray 7. March 1636. both printed at London Ann 1636. and 1637. Doctor Peter Heylyns History of Saint George London 1630. His Coale from the Altar London 1636. His Antidotum Lincolniense with His Moderate Reply to Henry Burton London 1637. and History of the Sabbath London 1636. Francis Sales A Popish Prelate his Introduction to a devout life licensed by the Archbishops Chaplaine Doctor Haywood 3. Febr. 1636. An Epistle or Exhortatory Letter from Jesus Christ for every faithfull Soule devoutly affected written by a Friar and licensed by Doctor Weekes both his and the Bishop of Londons Chaplain 3. Febr. 1636. The Female Glory by Anthony Stafford London 1635. Master Yates his Tract of the Honour of Gods House London 1637. Sparrowes Sermon of Confession London 1637. The Churches Authority asserted by Samuell Hoard Lond. 1637. Mortification Apostolicall by William Watts London 1637. Doctor Thomas Laurence his Sermon preached before the King at White-Hall London 1637. Iohn Elborow his Evodias and Syntyche London 1637. Robert Shelford his five Treatises Cantabrigiae 1635. Richard Tedder his Sermon preached at Wimondham Anno 1637. Collectiones Theologicae by Chunaus London 1634. Christopher Dow against Master Henry Burton London 1637. Iohn Browning concerning publike Prayer and the Fasts of the Church London 1636. Sir Thomas Ridleys his Review of the Civill Law Oxford 1634. Iohn Swan his Redde debitum London 1640. Bishop Halls Reconciler his Episcopy by Divine Right with infinite other Books Sermons and Treatises of this kinde which we pretermit Before wee proceed any further in this subject we must acquaint Your Lordships with one memorable Passage concerning the Licencing and printing of Francis Sales his Introduction to a devout life and Christs Epistle to a devout Soule The first of these Bookes being written by a Popish Prelate having many Doctrinall and Practicall points of Popery interlarded with good meditations and Devotions comprised in it was translated into English by J. Y. a Priest and Jesuite dedicated by him to Mistres Anne Roper a Popish Recusant and twice printed by Papists in forraigne parts in the yeares 1617. and 1622. with all the Popery in it about which time it was likewise translated into English by a Protestant who lest out all the Popery and superstition couched therein reteining only what was Orthodox and Pious which was licenced for the Presse and printed by Nicholas Oakes On the 3. of February 1636. Doctor Hayward the Archbishops Chaplain at the instigation of some Popish persons licensed the very Popish Translation of this Booke by I Y the Iesuite for the Presse most likely by the Archbishops approbation who had one of these Bookes formerly printed in his Study produced by Master Prynne endorsed with his owne hand which was forthwith entered in Stationers Hall for one W. Brookes a Popish Stationer and presently sent to the Presse to be printed One part of it comming to Nicholas Oakes his House to be printed he perceiving divers dangerous Popish Passages in it and among others one touching the Popes supremacy repaired to Doctor Hayward who licensed it and acquainted him therewith desiring him to purg out these Popish Passages else he durst not proceed to print it Whereupon the Doctor checking him for making such a scruple bid him go on and say nothing and he would beare him out and save him harmlesse from any danger that might befall him for printing it adding that he himself would preach as much as that he complained off before the King and therefore he needed not feare to proceed Whereupon Oakes went on and the Book with the Epistle Dedicatory to Mrs. Anne Roper a Papist was printed published about Easter 1637. neare the time the Archbishop caused an Information to be Exhibited in Star-chamber by Sir John Banks his Majesties Atturney Generall against D. Bastwick Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne one of the Copies whereof comming to Mr. Pryns hands he finding it full of Popery superstition and the very same with the old English Popish Edition and being informed by Oakes others of Dr. Haywards words to Oakes when he complained to him of it he inserted the Licensing and printing of this Popish Booke among others into his Crosse Bill in Starre Chamber against the Archbishop his Chaplaines and others his Popish Confederates which Bill he tendring to the Lord KEEPER Coventry to admit the Archbishop getting possession of it upon view thereof and some complaints at Court against this Popish Booke by the Right honourable Earle of Pembrook and other well-affected Courteours thereupon to colour his owne and his Chaplaines practicall knavery in Licensing and promoting this Booke by laying all the blame and punishment upon others and the poor Printer Ooaks who complained against it and would have stopped it at the Presse to give som shew of satisfaction to the people much offended at the printing of this Popish Booke especially in that nick of time when he had brought Dr. Bastwick Mr. Burton Mr. Pryn into the Star-chamber for charging him with introducing Popish Doctrines and Innovations into our Church caused his Majesty to publish this following Proclamation for calling in and burning the said book wherein he falsly suggested to his Majesty and his Subjects that his Chaplaine purged out diverse Passages therein tending to Popery which the Stationer and Translater afterwards inserted againe when as there was no such thing but his Chaplaine licensed all of them at first and would not purge them out at last when Oakes complained of them The Proclamation was this By the King A Proclamation for calling in a Booke entituled An Introduction to a Devout life and that the same be publikely burnt VVHereas a Booke entituled AN INTRODVCTION TO A DEVOVT LIFE was lately printed by Nicholas Oakes of London and many of them published and dispersed throughout the Realme the Copy of which Booke being brought to the Chaplaine of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for Licence and allowance was by him upon diligens perusall in sundry places expunged and purged of divers passages therein tending to Popery Neverthelesse the same Book after it was so amended and allowed to be printed was corrupted and falsified by the Translater and Stationer who betweene them inserted againe the same Popish and unsound passages And the Stationer is now apprehended and the Translator sought for to be proceeded against according to Justice His Majesty out of His pious and
as followeth My most honoured Lord I Humbly thanke your Grace for very many Demonstrations of your Love to me and particularly for your last favourable mediation to his Majesty in my behalfe for a Prebend in Windsor The conveniency of that preferment if my Soveraign Master please to confer it on me I shall value much more then the profit But how ever resolve not to prescribe to your Grace much lesse to his Majestie or with immodesty or importunity to presse you I blesse God for what I have and hope he will give me the grace to rest well contented with my present condition what soever it is In the means while my Lord the Obligations which I have to you are such as I can never satisfy but with my prayers which shall be constant that your Grace may long live with honour and comfort to serve God his Majesty and this Church which daily feeles the benefit of your wisdome and goodnesse c. Your Graces in all humility Chr. Potter Octob. 6. 1633. Queenes Colledge In April 1635. We find in the Docques Book a Presentation of Dr Richard Bayly generally reputed an Arminian and Popishly affected to the Deanery of Sarum by Order from this Archbishop In October 1638. Dr Thomas Jackeson a professed Arminian as Doctor Daniel Featly his fellow-Collegian attested was made Dean of Peterborough by the order and procurement of this Archbishop By his meanes Bishop Wren was made Dean of his Majestics Chappell And to conclude with one notable instance more instead of all others October 16. 1640. the Deanery of Peterborough was granted to Doctor John Cosin by signification and order from this Archbishop who promoted him to this dignity by his own confession thâ—â— written with his own hand attested by M. Prynne I presented four of his Majesties Chaplaines in ordinary to his Majestie for the Deanery of Peterborough His Majesty pitched upon Doctor Cosia in regard his meanes lying in the Bishoprick of Durham was in the Scots hands and nothing left to maintain him his wife and children but a poor Headship worth 40. l. per anuum And out of the same consideration and no other did I put his name with the rest to his Majesty What an Arch-Promoter of Popish Doctrines Ceremonies Innovations this Dr Cosin was appeares by the premises and Master Peter 〈◊〉 testimony of him upon Oath and what a recall intimate friend this Arch bishop was to him what a Patriâ—t and Protector of him against al Prosecutions might be evidenced by sundry Letters passing between them over tedious to recite the Originals whereof found in the Archbishops Study we have ready to produce For Clergy men infected with Arminianisme Popery and devoted to Popish Ceremonies 〈◊〉 by him to be Chaplaines in ordinary to his Majesty the Prince his Highnesse to corrupt their Persons Courts in the Theory and Practise of Religion we shall instance only in these ensuing Dr Richard Bayly Deane of 〈◊〉 Dr Thomas Turner Dr William Heywood Dr Richard Marsh Dr William Hutchinson all formerly his own Chaplaines as appears by a list of his Chaplaines since he was Bishop written with his own hands Dr Peter Heylin Dr William Brough Dr William Lewes Dr Thomas Laurence Dr Samuel Baker Dr Richard 〈◊〉 Dr Iohn Cosin Dr Walter Raleigh Dr William Watts Dr Benjamin Layney Dr Thomas Bletchenden Dr William Beal Dr Iames Browne advanced to be Deane of Hereford by his means of whose Popish Practises we formerly gave evidence Dr Andrew Clare Dr Christopher Dow Dr Lushington and Dr John Pocklington How much many of these were addicted to Arminianisme Popery and all Popish Ceremonies hath been formerly attested upon other occasions that the rest of them were of the selfe same strain is so notoriously known in the Court our Universities the places where they live to your Lordships and the Archbishop himself that it needes no other proofe That these were made his Majesties and the Princes Chaplaines by this Archbishops procurement who usurped upon the Lord High Chamberlaines office to nominate Chaplaines in ordinary to his Majestie which stone of his Predecessors did since the Reformation was attested by Mr Oldisworth a Member of the Commons House who deposed That upon his knowledge for 25. years space it did belong to the Lord Chamberlaines office to nominate and appoint the Kings Chaplains in ordinary and so it continued all the old LordWill Earle of Pembrookes Chamberlainship And this the difference of the Warrants proves For where the Kings Warrant runnes These are to signifie his Majesties pleasure there the King is to be consulted with before the place is granted as in the Warrant and case of the Bedchamber-men But where the Warrant is These are to Will and require you to admit such a one as in the case of the Kings Chaplains there the Lord Chamberlaine doth all by his owne authority without consulting with the King That since the present Earle of Pembrooke was Lord Chamberlain the Archbishop took upon him to recommend all Chaplaines to the King and many of them were his own Chaplaines first which the Earl of Pembrooke himselfe seconded Mr Oldisworth likewise delivered in a list of the Kings and Princes Chaplaines in ordinary as they stood Feb. 12. 1640. produced at the Barre Two of these Chaplaines to wit Doctor William Heywood and Doctor Samuel Baker with his owne Arminian Chaplaines Doctor Edward Martyn Doctor William Bray and Doctor Thomas Weekes whom he openly denyed to be his Chaplaine before the Lords till Mr Prynne proved the contrary by a list of his Chaplaines under his owne hand affixed to the end of his Written Diary were the Licensers of all the forementioned Arminian and Popish Bookes published in our Realme and the Purgatory Doctors who obliterated all the fore-cited Passages against Popery Arminianisme Popes Jesuites Papists out of our orthodox Writers Others of them were Authours of sundry Arminian licentious Popish Impressions As Doctor Heylin Doctor Laurence Doctor Cosin Doctor Watts Doctor Dowe and Doctor Pocklington Whose Bookes were some of them written others of them printed by the Archbishops command some of them with others without the Authours privity Amongst these we shall instance onely in Doctor Pocklingtons Bookes the most Popish Impious and profane of any other Who though lately dead before this Triall yet speakes loud enough to this purpose in his Petition to the House of Peeres before his censure here remaining upon the File of Petitions A Copy whereof we have here subjoyned compared with the Originall by which you may clearly discerne by whose command his Popish Impressions were Printed and Published even by this Archbishops who perused them before they were printed To the right Honourable the Lords spirituall and temporall now Assembled in the High Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of John Pocklington Doctor in Divinity and Rector of Yevelden in the County of Bedford Most humbly sheweth THat he is right hearty sorry for doing or bringing any thing
proof of the fifth and sixth Originall and ninth Additionall Articles and in the Answers and replyes upon them The third part touching Religion contained in the 7 8 9 10 11 12 Originall and 6 and 7 Additionall Articles was carried on and managed by Iohn Wilde Serjeant at Law of the Commons House for 4 whole dayes to wit May 20 27. Iune 6. 11. and then by reason of Mr. Serjeants sicknesse and infirmity pursued by Master Nicholas 5 intire dayes more viz. Iune 17. 20 27. Iuly 20 24. The fourth and last part of the evidence in proof of the 14 Originall and 1 and 10 Additionall Articles was given in by Master Nicholas on the 29 of Iuly and concluded the same day So as the very evidence it self which was excellently well pressed by these learned Gentlemen took up seventeen whole days morning and evening besides 12 dayes attendance more whereon other pressing publike affaires enforced the Lords to adjorn the tryall when both the Committee of Commons were ready with their witnesses and the Arch-bishop present with his Councell ready to receive his charge After all the evidence answers and replyes thereto fully given the Arch-bishop had liberty granted to make a Recapitulation of his whol defence before the Lords which accordingly performed on the second of September 1644. To which Samuel Brown Esquire a member of the House of Commons replyed on the 11 of September summing up the principall parts of the evidence given against him at the Lords Bar. On the 11 of Octob. 1644. the Arch-Bishops Councell were heard at the Lords Bar on this point of Law to which they were formerly directed to speak Whether in all or any of the Articles charged against him there were any Treason contained Which Mr. Iohn Hern onely argued as the mouth of the rest of his Councell Soon after the Commons having drawn an Ordnance of Attainder of high Treason against the Archbishop upon the Evidence given in against him on the second of Novemb. following the Arch-bishop after its second reading was brought to the Commons Bar where Mr. Sam. Brown in his presence summed up the evidence given in against him before the Lords to which the Archbishop by order gave his answer Vivâ voce at the Commons Bar Nov. 11th whereunto Mr Brown replyed the 13th of the same Novemb. after which the very same day the Ordinance for his attainder of High Treason passed the Commons House without any dissenting voyce but one and that not upon the matter of his charge High Treason of which all Voted him guilty but manner of proceeding onely This Ordinance being transmitted to the House of Peeres because some of the Lords were not present at all the evidence given in against him during his long Tryall thereupon Decemb. 4. 1644. they Ordered That all Books Writings Docquets and evidences concerning the Arch-bishop of Canterbury his tryall before the Lords in Parliament should be brought in to the Clerk of the Parliament by 9 of the Clock in the morning on Saturday next which being done accordingly the Lords among themselves seriously re-examined all the heads and principall parts of the evidence formerly urged against him at the Bar debating weighing and then voting each particular as they went after this most serious review their Lordships upon most mature deliberation voted him guilty of all the Articles and matters of fact charged against him and also that of High Treason to notwithstanding the argument of the Archbishops Councel upon a conference with the House of Commons which satisfied them in the point of Law Whereupon they passed the Ordinance for his Attainder of high Treason by vertue whereof he was soon after executed whereof more fully in its due place Thus you have the summe of the Lords and Commons most deliberate fair moderate just though tedious proceedings against this Arch-Traytor not to be presidented in any preceding Age nor fit to be imitated for the future in regard of length and expence of time against which calumny and malice it selfe can take no just exceptions on his behalfe the rather because himselfe would have tried condemned executed above an hundred Paritans in halfe the time wherein he was but trying without the least mercy or moderation had they beene brought before his Tribunall for farre more pettie Treasons then those of which hee was attainted and voted guilty upon most full and pregnant evidence Having given the world this briefe account of the fairenes and deliberatenesse of his Tryall so long delayed partly by his own neglect in not pleading to his Articles of impeachment and not once petitioning to be brought to Tryall during all the time of his restraine partly by his owne forementioned Petitions to the Lords for longer time when the Commons pressed to expedite his hearing partly by the death of Mr John Pym and some other Members of the Commons House who were trusted to prepare and mannage the evidence against him part whereof miscarryed by their decease but principally by reason of the great intervening urgent affaires distractions and bloody Wars in the Kingdomes of Ireland and England occasioned by his Majesties deserting the Parliament and this Arch-Prelates plots to set up Popery not through any neglect or default in the Lords or Commons We shall next endeavour to yeeld you a full satisfactory true account of the proceedings and evidence given in against him at his Tryall which will really render him the Archest Traytor the most pestilent Malefactor in all kindes of Villany Tyranny Oppression Mischiefe that was ever arraigned condemned in any Parliament Pierce Gravestons Archbishop Arundles Cardinall Wolses Empsons Dudlies and the Earle of Straffords Treasons Conspiracies Oppressions and grand Misdemeanours layd together being far inferiour to his both in he inousnesse multiplicity and variety as shall be undeniably demonstrated to all the world by substantiall proofes On Thursday the 12. of March 1643. the day designed for the comencement of this great Tryall about three of the Clocke in the afternoon the Arch-bishop was brought Prisoner by the Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Usher of the blacke Rod to the Bar in the Lords House where after he had kneeled down on his knees for a litle space the Lord Gray of Warke then Speaker of that honourable House commanded him to rise up which done the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to mannage the evidence at his Tryall demanded that the severall Articles of their Impeachment against him might be read whereupon one of the Clerkes of the Lords House read both the Originall and Additionall Articles fore-mentioned and after that his Answer Plea and Demurrer to them All which being read the Archbishop then desired the Lords that the House of Commons might give in all their Charge and Evidence to all the Articles against him together before he should be put to give his Answer to any particular Charge because he was ancient his memory very short and the Articles Generall and that he might
but that it may lye by him that when you speak with his Grace about this among other businesses his Grace may have recourse to my papers if he think fit There are in my Diocesse 469 Churches and Chappels or thereabout and the Communion Tables are placed already in above 140 of them as the Communion Table is placed in our Cathedrall Church here I have begun and proceeded herein in a perswasive way some parishes were no sooner spoken to but they obeyed other Parishes refused at the first but they were quickly satisfied and then submitted only the Churchwardens of Beckington being encouraged and back'd by divers of the parish not so well affected to the government and rites of the Church as they should be are become obstinate and will have the Chancell ordered and the Communion Table there placed as the parishioners shall think fit who also bear the charges of these Churchwardens as they have confessed unto me which was the cause why they hasted so speedily to London and stayed so long there about this businesse If these men have their wils the example will do a great deal of harme for then many of the Parishes which have already conformed themselves to the Cathedrall will fall back and other Parishes will never come on to this conformity who are now at a stand to see what will be done in the Chancell of Beckington I know your judgement and affection to the Church concurres with mine and therefore I am assured you will do nothing herein but that which shall be for the good of the Church and preservation of authority in all things just and lawfull I pray If D. Duck desire to read the coppy of the proceedings and reasons which I have sent you let him borrow it of you for it is fit my Chancelour should be acquainted with these things whose counsell and assistance must be used therein And so with remembrance of my true love and best wishes to you I commend you to the grace of God and rest Your very affectionate and faithfull friend Guil. Bath and Wels. Wels 2 Ian. 1635. Hereupon the poor Churchwardens being destitute of all relief continued excommunicated about a whole year after which they were taken and imprisoned in the common Gaole a long time upon a Capias Excommunicatum from whence at last they were released by the Bishop upon this ensuing submission and pennance worse then any imprisonment A true Copy of the Pennance that Iames Wheeler and Iohn Frye were enjoyned unto by my Lord Bishop of Bath and Wels examined by those whose names are underwritten Thomas Iles Iohn Bailly George Long William Webb Whereas the right reverend Father in God William by Gods permission Lord Bishop of Bathe and Wels hath heretofore lawfully required and commanded James Wheeler and John Frye late Churchwardens of the Parish-church of Beckington within the Dioces of Bathe and Wels aforesaid to remove the Communion Table in the Chancell of their said parish-Church and to place it close under the East wall of the said Chancell in the same manner and forme as the Communion Table standeth in the Cathedrall Church in Wells aforesaid and to remoue the seats placed above the said Table And likewise whereas they the said James Wheeler and John Frye contemned and wilfully disobeyed the command of the said Reverend Father and have in most contemptuous manner stood excommunicated for their said contempt for the space of one whole yeare now last past or there abouts not regarding nor fearing the dreadfull Censure of the Church And have likewise some dayes last past stood aggravated and have been signified unto the Kings most excellent Majesty for the apprehending their bodies and committing them to the Common-gaole of the County of Somerset the rather to compell them to their due obedience to the lawfull command of the Church now upon the earnest request and submission of the said Wheeler and Fry the said Reverend Father hath absolved them from the said sentences and enjoyned unto them that upon Sunday the 25 day of Iune in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred thirty seven they in their usuall apparell shall stand first in the middle Ally in the Parish-church of Beckington aforesaid and there immediately after the reading of the Gospell shall openly and penitently with an audible voice make this acknowledgement following repeating the same after the Minister viz. We James Wheeler and John Fry do here before this Congregation assembled acknowledge and confesse that we have grievously offended the Divine Majesty of Almighty God and the lawes Ecelesiasticall of this Realme of England in that we have in contemptuous manner refused to remove the Communion Table in the Chancell of the Parish-church of Beckington and to place it close under the East wall of the said Chancell in the same manner and forme as the Communion Table standeth in the Cathedrall Church in Wels and to remove the seats placed above the said Table being thereunto lawfully and judicially monished and warned by the right reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wels. And in that for our contempts and disobediences in not performing the said lawfull command of the said reverend Father we have suffered our selves to be lawfully excommunicated and so to stand for the space of one whole yeare last past or thereabouts not fearing nor regarding the dreadfull censure of the Church And in like or rather more contemptuous manner have suffered our selves to be lawfully aggravated and signified according to the laudable laws â— statutes of this Realm thereby in a legall manner to compell us to our due obedience to the lawfull command of the Church And we do hereby protest that we are right heartily sorry for the same and we do faithfully promise never from henceforth to offend in the like againe but to demeane our selves as shall become good Christians and dutifull subjects and we doe ask God forgivenesse for this our sinne and offence and you all here present for our evill example And we doe desire you all to pray for us and with us to Almighty God that it may please him of his infinite goodnesse to forgive us of this our offence And then humbly and penitently kneeling downe must devoutly rehearse the Lords Prayer and they must certifie hereof at Wels in writing subscribed to these presents under the hands of the Minister and Churchwardens of Beckington aforesaid on Tuesday the 27 day of Iune aforesaid together with this Schedule And the like pennance is to be performed by the within named James Wheeler and John Fry for the same offence in the Parish-church of Froom-felwood within the Dioces aforesaid before the Pulpit or Ministers seat there in manner and forme prescribed on Sunday the 2 day of Iuly Anno predict And certificate must be made of the due performance thereof as abovesaid under the hands of the Minister and Churchwardens there upon Tuesday the fourth day of Iuly aforesaid
man and shall live and die in the suffrage of that Reverend Synod and doe confidently a vow that those other opposed opinions cannot stand with the Doctrine of the Church of England But if for the composing of our differences at home which your Lordship knowes to be far different from the Netherlandish there could have beene tendered any such faire propositons of accordance as might be no prejudice to Gods Truth I should have thought it an holy and happy project wherein if it bee not a fault to have wished a safe peace I am innocent In my Lord Bishops of SARVMS Answer Dated Ianuary 30. 1628. This passage was expunged AS for the aspertions of Arminianisme I can testifie that in our joynt imployment at the Synod of Dort you were as farre from it as my selfe And I know that no man can imbrace it in the Doctrine of Pradestination and Grace but he must first desert the Articles agreed upon by the Church of England nor in the Point of Perseverance but he must vary from the common Tenet and received opinion of our best approved Doctors in the English Church I am assured that you neither have deserted the one nor will vary from the other and therefore be no more troubled with other mens groundlesse suspirions then you would be in like case with their idle Dreames Thus I have c. Nathaniell Butter the Stationer perceiving these two letters not only extreamly mutilated but made altogether uselesse and his Book lesse vendible by these Purgations of the Licencer adventured to print these expunged passages in them whereupon he was apprehended and brought before Bishop Laud by a Pursevant committed Prisoner by him to the Fleet without Baile or maineprize contrary to the Petition of Right though he tendred baile his Bookes seized and afterwards Articled against in the High Commission and there almost ruined only for printing those deleted Passages in two of our owne Bishops Letters as was proved by the Testimony of Master Henry Burton and Michaell Sparkes senior committed to the Fleet by the Bishop at the same time by the Warrant of his commitment under the Bishops owne hand the Articles in the High Commission against Butter Artic. 4. 5. and his Answer thereunto produced in Court About the same time Nathaniell Carpenter Chapline to Archbishop Vsher published a Book intitled Achitophel or the Picture of a wicked Polititian printed at Oxford by Lycence wherein were divers passages against Arminianisme averring it to be planted among us by Iesuiticall Polititians to undermine our Religion by degrees and covertly to introduce Popery it selfe which Booke was presently called in and all the Passages against Arminianisme expunged by this Bishops Agents which done it was reprinted at London without them Anno 1629. to the great injury both of the truth and Author as was attested by Mr. Prynne Michaell Spark Senior and evident to all who will compare these two Editions What other passages against the Arminians and their Tenet have beene expunged in other Authors shall be given in evidence elsewhere We shall next produce some memorable Instances what countenance was given to Arminian Bookes and Sermons notwithstanding his Majesties Declarations and Proclamations to the contrary by this Archbishops meanes Doctor Thomas Jackson Chapline in Ordinary to his Majesty even sitting the Parliament soone after the Kings Declaration and Proclamation published A Treatise of divine Essence and Attributes part first printed at London 1628. for John Clerke Licensed by this Prelates Chaplaine dedicated to the Right honourable William Earle of Pembrooke in the very Epistle Dedicatory to this Noble Peere hee professeth himselfe AN ARMINIAN and Patron of their Tenets And Chap. 8. to 20. he professedly maintaines A mutability in Gods eternall Decrees of Election and Reprobation depending upon the actions and wills of men Universall Grace and Redemption with other Arminian Errors This Book though publikely complained of was never called in by the Bishop but the second part thereof printed by Licence An. 1629. and the Author of it advanced to the Presidentship of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford by this Bishop yea by him designed to bee Doctor of the Chaire though he missed that preferment to poyson the Vniversity of OXFORD with his Arminian Drugges An. 1630. Doctor Brookes of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Writ an Arminian Treatise of Predestination with which he acquainted Bishop Laud who encouraged him in the worke recommending it to the perusall of Doctor Lindsey and Doctor Beale two great Arminians promising to peruse it himselfe as appeares by sundry Letters Whereupon Doctor Brookes returned this answer to him concerning it in Answer of this Bishops Letter to him seized in his Study by Mr. Prynne dated from Cambridge Dece 15. 1630. wherin there is this desperate passage worthy Observation MY LORD c. I Dare say That their doctrine of Predestination is the roote of Paritanisme and Puritanisme the roote of all rebellions and disobedient intractablenesse in Parliament c and of all Schisme and Saucinesse in the Country nay in the Church it selfe this hath made many thousands of our people and to great a part of the Gentlemen of the Land Laytons in their hearts Besides where nothing is done the weeds will over-grow the Corne as they doe For last Parliament they left their word Religion and the cause of Religion and began to use the name of Church and our Articles of the Church of England c. and wounded our Church at the very heart with her owne name And by pretence of putting downe Arminianisme and defence of that Church against which indeed they tooke up Armes so that now they that hold the very opinions of Penry and Wâ—gington of Hacket and Coppinger in their beginning and others of whom some were hangd most imprisoned many deprived and some censured in the Starre-Chamber for seditious persons and Enemies to the Church of England they I say that hold the same opinions cry out now the Church of England and will have the Church of England to be theirs I could justifie this and much more but your Lordship knowes these things to be so better then I c. What grosse aspersions he here casts upon the Parliament and Anti-Arminians is so apparent as needs no explanatory or aggravating Commentary On the 27. of Novem. 1630. Doctor Martin this Bishops houshold Chaplaine a professed Arminian licensed a Booke for the Presse intituled An Historicall Narration of the judgment of some must learned and Godly English Bishops holy Martyrs and others concerning Gods Election and the Merits of Christs death set forth by I. A. of Ailward a late Seminary Priest and printed for Samuell Nealand 1631. The whole scope of this Book was to prove the Martyrs and first Reformers of our Church in K. Ed. the 6. and Q. Maries dayes and the beginning of Q. Elizabeths Raigne to be Arminians and Arminianisme the established Doctrine of our Church The first 66 pages of this Booke
conteine The Coppy of an Answer unto a certaine Letter wherein the Answerer purgeth himselfe and others from Pelagius Errors and from the Error of Free-will or Justification of Workes wherewith he seemed to bee charged by the said Letter And further hee sheweth wherein he differeth in judgment from certaine English Writers and Preachers whom hee chargeth with teaching false doctrine under the name of Predestination This Treatise writes he was published about the second or third yeare of Queene Elizabeth by a Protestant Divine who florished both in the time of King Edward and Queene Elizabeth and in the time of Queene Mary for his Conscience endured voluntary exil but he names not the Author in particular nor produceth any warrant for this Encomium of him The residue of the Booke are some mistaken perverted fragments called out of Bishop Hoopers Preface upon the Commandements and Father Latymers Sermons concerning which Booke Master Prynne gave in this evidence upon his Oath That it was the greatest affront and imposture ever offered to or put upon the Church of England in any age deserving the highest Censure of the first discovery whereof God made him the only Instrument For as soone as this Book was printed one Coppy of it was brought him by a Friend who informed him that it was licensed by Master Martin the Bishops Arminian Chaplaine that the Bishop himselfe had given order the Booke should not be published till he had presented one of them to the King and gained his Royall approbation thereunto That a day or two after the Booke was published by the Bishops direction One Copy whereof comming to the late learned Sir Humfrey Linds hands he was very much troubled thereat upon its perusall whereupon hee repaired to Master Prynne at Lincolnes-Iaue with the Booke desiring him to take some paines to give a speedy answer to it being as he averred a most dangerous Book making more for the spreading and justifying of Arminianisme then any Booke formerly published To which Master Prynne replyed that he had no leisure and lesse encouragement to answer it being then just before vexed in the High Commission for his Perpetuity and other of his Bookes written against Arminians Wherefore Sir Humfrey himselfe who had more leisure friends and abilities then himselfe might doe well to returne an answer to it Who thereupon replyed to Master Prynne that none was so fit to answer it as himselfe who had perused more ancient English Writers and was better versed in them then any man he knew Whereunto Master Prynne rejoyned That he conceaved there was no need at all for himselfe or any man else to answer this booke for that there were two answers to it already in print To which Sir Humfrey replyed it was impossible for that this Book came forth but that morning unto which Mr. Pryn answered that the greatest part and maine substance of this Narration was answered Verbatim in two printed Books long before either of them was born and to give him fall satisfaction therein hee shewed him two printed answers thereunto and discovered the whole Imposture to him in that manner as he related it at the Lords Barre First he produced to him now to the Lords the Originall printed Copy of the foresaid answer made unto a certaine Letter c. which had all the symptoms of an unlicensed Pamphlet there being neither Authors nor Printers name nor place where nor yeare when it was printed to be found in the Title or any other part of the Book nor the least mention where or by whom it was to be sold Therefore it was doubtlesse printed by stealth in a Corner and not by any publike allowance its entry not being extant in the Stationers-Hall Next he produced two ancient answers in print to this pernicious Pamphlet The first of them written by Iohn Veron a very learned man Chaplaine to Queene Elizabeth and Divinity Lecturer in the Cathedrall of Pauls in the beginning of her Raigne to whom he Dedicated his answer to this Pamphlet Imprinted at London by John Tysdale by publike authority In which answer intituled An Apologie or Defence of the Doctrine of Predestination set fort by the Queens Highnesse her most humble and obedient servant John Veron and Dedicated to her Majestie wee have the name of the namelesse Author of this Arminian Pamphlet the occasion of compiling it and the quality of the Author expressed to the full together with a compleat answer therunto The Authors name is therein averred to be one Champeneyes f. 20. 31. 37. 40. 41. 42. His condition and quality is therein thus expressed f. 16. But in this I comfort my selfe that his tongue is known to be no slander For the like did hee most proudly attempt in your most Gratious Brother good King Edward the sixths dayes AGAINST ALL THE GODLY PREACHERS OF THAT TIME calling them marked Monsters of Anti-Christ and men voyd of the Spirit of God for none be they never so Godly never so earnest and faithfull labourers in the Lords Vineyard have the Spirit of God or doe know the efficacy of it but he only as many godly persons be able to testifie to his face that he did therefore and for MANT OTHER ABOMINABLE ERRORS which he then stoutly maintained BEARE AT THAT TIME A FAGGOT AT PAVLS CROSSE Father Coverdale making then the Sermon there Belike fearing now the like punishment and that he should be compelled to revoke his Pelagian-like opinion hee durst not for all his proud boast set his owne name to his rayling and venemous bookes nor yet suffer them to be sold openly or publikly in the Booke-binders shops but cowardously suppressing both his owne name and the name of the unwise and foolish Printer got the whole Impression into his hands that so he might in hugger-mugger send them unto his privie friends abroad whom be like he suspected to be of his Affinity and damnable opinion How be it this could not be wrought so privily but that within a while some of his bookes came into my hands whereby shortly after the Printer was knowne and brought to his Answer whom this stout Champion of Pelagius hath left in the bryars and least he himselfe should be faine to shew a reason of his Doctrine doth keepe himselfe out of the way still and dares not once shew his face If he be able to maintaine his Doctrine against my booke to let him come forth and play the man I am ready at all times to yeeld unto the truth and unto the sincere teachers thereof After this f. 20. he stiles Champenyes The blinde guide of the freewill men f. 37. Champenyes a very Pelagian and consequently a ranke Papist p. 40. hee suffereth the Divell by such Sectaries as Champenyes is to sow his lyes abroad c. And f. 41. Champenyes is the Standard-bearer of the freewill men What an abominable Imposture was it then for this new Pamphleter to stile him A Protestant Divine who flourished
some bold expressions against the Arminians and their errors under the Titles of Pelagians and Demi-Pelagians for which being convented before the Vice-Chancellor Doctor Smith and others of the Arminian party as Offendors against the Kings Instructions and being ordered to bring in the Copies of their Sermons to him when those who preached Arminianisme were neither questioned nor reproved but applauded advanced for it they thereupon perceiving the Vice-Chancellors partiality and Injustice appealed from him to the Proctors as they might do by the Vniversity Statutes who received their appeales Hereupon Bishop Laud complaines of their Appeales to the King who on the 23. day of August following heard the whole businesse at Woodstocke where by the Bishops procurement there present these three young hopefull Divines were ordered to be expelled the Vniversity and the two Proctors for receiving their Appeal deprived of their places a President with out paralell in any former Age whereupon they were all three in full Convocation on the 26. of August accordingly banished expelled the Vniversity as was evidenced by the sentence of their Banishment and deprivation recorded in the Vniversity Register fol. 32. to 39. That this sentence of theirs was the Bishops owne Act was manifested by the Copies of their Accusations by transcripts of their Sermons found in his Study endorsed with his owne hand by their severall Petitions to him for restitution to the Vniversity likewise by these Passages in his Diary Dayes of observation to me The great hearing of the Oxford disorders at Woodstocke by King Charles August 23. 1631. A sentence so gratefull to him so advantagious to the Arminian faction that both in his Diary and Booke of privat Devotions hee make the day on which it was given a kind of Anniversary holy day of speciall observation to him After which it thus followes in his Diary August 23. 1631. In this June and July were the great disorders by appealing from Doctor Smith then Vice-Chancellor the chiefe ring-leaders were Mr. Ford of Magdalen Hall and Mr. Thorne of Baylioll Colledge The Proctors Mr. Atherton Burch and Mr. Iohn Doughty received their Appeales as if it had not beene Parturbatio pacis c. The Vice-Chancellor was forced in a Statutable way to appeale to the King The King with all the Lords of his Councell then present heard the Cause at Woodstocke Aug. 23. 1631. being Tuesday in the afternoone The sentence upon the hearing was That Ford Thorne and Hodges of Exeter Coll should be banished the Vniversitie And both the Proctors were commanded to come into the Convocation House and there resigne their Office that two others might be named out of the same Colledges Doctor Prideaux Rector of Exeter Colledge and Doctor Wiskinson Principall of Magdelen-Hall received a sharp Admonition for their misbehaviours in this businesse viz. for opposing the Arminian party and favouring these Orthodox Schollers being of their owne Houses True it is that after this sentence of Banishment pronounced and executed against these parties one of them to wit Master Hodges upon his most humble Petition to His Majestie and submission to the Archbishop with promise to be his faithfull obsequious Votary for the future was restored to the Vniversity for one yeares space only as a Probationer to bewaile his offence and learne obedience yet upon these two harsh conditions First That he should make a publike Recantation Sermon in Saint Maries Church in Oxford before the Vniversitie confessing his great offence in preaching contrary to His Majesties Declaration which hee did accordingly on the first of January following the Copy of which Sermon hee sent up to the Bishop in whose Study it was seized Secondly That he should make this ensuing submission and Recantation in the Convocation House before the whole Assembly of the Doctors Procters Regent and non-regent Masters on his bended Knees and with a minde officiously devoted which hee did accordingly 15. Decem. 1631. as is manifest by the Vniversity Register where his submission is recorded in these words Fol. 42. I William Hodges doe freely and sincerely acknowledge before this venerable Assembly of Convocation that in a Sermon by me preached in Saint Maries upon the 26. of June last past I fell upon the delivery of those points which by His Majesties Royall Injunctions were forbidden mee to meddle withall and therein I with hearty sorrow confesse that I did let fall some passages which might bee taken to the disparagement of the Government of the Church in making Erronious and hereticall opinions the way to preferment All which with the maine currant of my discourse might sound to sedition in the eares of the present Assembly By this my great and unexcusable offence I doe freely acknowledge that I have deserved the sharpest of censures and severest of punishments And therefore that his Royall Majestie hath justly rewarded me for-the same it being an offence of so high a nature And I have nothing at all to pleade but the Royall Mercy of my Gracious Soveraigne for my restitution to this famous Vniversity This my confession and submission I doe most humbly tender to the favourable acceptance of this venerable house craving the pardon as of the Vniversitie in generall so more specially of our most Honourable Chancellour whom with all humility I beseech to present this my acknowledgement unto his Majesties sacred hand as the pledge and engagement both in present and for the future of my readiest obedience William Hodges This done after a full yeares probation and bewayling of his disobedience he was upon his Petition to His Majestie fully restored and his censure at Woodstocke discharged as the Vniversity Register manifests which records both his Petition and Restitution pag. 50. 51. Master Thorne likewise made a most submissive Petition to the Archbishop desiring his favour pardon and readmission to the Vniversity but yet he found no fruits thereof As for Mr. Ford he refused to make any addresses to him and returning into Devonshire some friends of his intended to elect him for their Lecturer or Vicar it the Towne of Plymouth of which the Bishop being informed presently procured a Letter from His Majesty to the Major and Corporation of Plymouth not to chuse Mr. Ford for their Lecturer or Vicar upon any termes under paine of his Royall displeasure and another Letter to the Bishop of Exeter not to admit him to be their Lecturer or Vicar in case they should elect him notwithstanding His Majesties Letter as appeares by the Docquet Book in the Privy signet Office September 1631. Wherein we finde these two Entries A Letter to the Major and Aldermen of Plymouth requiring them to forbeare either to make any election of one Thomas Foard unto the Lectureship of that Towne or any ways to assist him in procuring the Advowson of the Vicarage there be being lately expelled the Vniversity of Oxford for a notable disobedience by him shewed procured by the Bishop of London dated 12. Sep. 1631. A like to the
Lord Bishop of Exeter signifying His Majesties pleasure that in case the said Thomas Foard should be elected to the said Lectureship or procure the said Advowson he doe not give any approbation thereof procured ut supra dated 12. Septem 1631. These Letters were drawne by the Bishops owne direction not by the Secretary of State or Clarkes of the Signet being not entred at large in the Letter Signet Booke but only this note of them entred in the Docquet Booke by which his implacable transcendent malice appeared against the opposites to Arminianisme that not satisfied with their unjust banishment out of Oxford he endeavoured by indirect means to hinder them from Ecclesiasticall preferments in the Church whereas hee advanced those of the Arminian faction to places of highest eminency in the Church as wee shall manifest in due season After these severe proceedings against these Anti-Arminians in the Vniversitie the Arminians there grew very numerous insolent few or none dating to oppose them but Doctor Prideaux with two or three more in some passages in their Sermons for which they were presently questioned by the Arminian Faction and enjoyned publike Recantations witnesse the Recantation of William Hobbes Fellow of Trinitio Colledge the 25. of January 1632. for preaching against falling from Grace contrary to the intent and purpose of His Majesties Declaration in a Sermon on a Tuesday at St. Maries Recorded in the Oxford Register f. 54 The Recantation of Master Thomas Cooke of Brase-Nose the 19th of July 1634. for using some passages in a Latine Sermon in Saint Maries which by consequence might imply connivency and partiality in the Vice-Chancellour Doctor Duppa towards some of the Arminian party that had violated the Kings Edicts concerning such points of controversie as are forbidden Registred in the Vniversity Register pag. 90. with the convention and submission of Master Kichard Kilby of Lincolne Colledge before Doctor Bayley Vice-Chancellour and others March 13. 1637. for reviving some controversies concerning Arminianisme contrary to His Majesties Declaration entred in the Vniversitie Register fol. 152. About September 1632. there were some Satyricall Verses scattered abroad in Oxford against the Arminians thus intituled The Academicall Army of Epidemicall Arminians To the tune of the Souldieur wherein Doctor Corbet Doctor Duppa Doctor Iackeson Doctor Marsh Doctor Turner with others of the Arminian faction were mentioned and Bishop Laud as their Generall who receiving a Coppie of them December 19. 1632. writ this endorsment on it Oxford Libell against such as they will needs call Arminians Who were all backed by Bishop Laud their grand Patron and preferred to the highest Ecclesiasticall preferments How the Arminian party prevailed in the Vniversitie of Cambridge by this Arch-Prelates abetment so farre as to procure Barrets Recantation of the Arminian Tenets solemnly made in that Vniversity in 37. of Q. Elizabeths Raigne and then printed to be rased out of the Vniversity Register where it was Recorded and to prosecute Mr. Bernard whom he caused to be censured ruined in the High-Commission for preaching against the increase of Popery and Arminianisme of which hereafter is so well knowne to most that wee shall not insist upon it most of the heads of Houses there as Doctor Brookes Doctor Beale Doctor Martin Doctor Paske Doctor Cosens Doctor Lany c being professed Arminians and this Archbishops Creatures to prosecute his designes How diligent the Bishops were by colour of His Majesties Declarations and Instructions to suppresse all preaching against all Arminianisme in their Diocesse by this Arch-Prelates instigation will appeare by their printed Visitation Articles for this purpose particularly by the Articles of enquiry and direction for the Diocesse of Norwich in the first Visitation of Rich. Mountague Bishop of that Diocesse An. Dom. 1638 Tit. 5. Artic. 22. in Church-Wardens Doth your Minister commonly or of set purpose in his populer Sermons full upon those much disputed and little understood doctrines of Gods eternall Predestination of Election antecedaneous of Reprobation irrespective without sinne foreseene of Freewill of Perseverance and not falling from Grace points obscure unfoldable unfoordable untractable at which that great Apostle stood at gaze with Oh the height and depth of the riches of the Wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11. 33. By the Archbishops Injunctions prescribed to them in His Majesties Name whereof this was one That they should take speciall care that no Minister nor Lecturer in their Diocesse should preach upon the prohibited controverted points contrary to His Majesties Declarations and Instructions and that they should give an yearely account to the Archbishop of their proceedings herein which they did accordingly By meanes whereof the Arminian Errors were freely vented in all Diocesses without any publike opposition and those who out of zeale to truth durst open their mouthes to refuse them were silenced suspended and brought into the High Commission by this Archbishops practise to their undoing whiles the Arminians on the contrary had free liberty to broach their Erronious Tenets without controle and were advanced to the greatest benefices and Ecclesiasticall Dignities Besides this Arch-prelate not satisfied with propagating these dangerous Arminian Novelties throughout the Realme of England endeavoured to infect by degrees the whole Church of Irel therewith To which end he not only caused Bishop Downehams book of perseverance there printed against the Arminians to be suppressed as you heard before but the very Articles of the Church of Ireland made in a full Nationall Synod and Convocation held at Dubline 1615. and ratified by King Iames wherein all the Arminian Errors are terminis terminantibus condemned as Erronious to be repealed the L. Deputy Wentworth by high hand being but the Archbishops instrument herein enforcing the Convocation at Dublin An 1634. by sundry threatning Messages full fore against their wills to condescend to the repealing of them under pretext of establishing the 39. Articles of the Church of England comprised in the former for the only Articles of that Church for Vnity and Vniformity sake as was attested by Dr. Hoyle a Member of that Irish Convocation at the Lords Ear long since published in print with the Archbishops privity if not command by Dr. Heylin in his History of the Sabbath Part. 2. chap. 8. sect 9. pag. 259. in these very tearmes And here unto they were encouraged a great deale the rather because in Ireland what time his Majesties Commissioners were employed about the settling of that Church Anno 1615. there passed an Article which much confirmed them in their courses and hath been often since alleaged to justifie both them and their proceedings the Article is this The first day of the weeke which is the Lords Day is wholy to be dedicated to the service of God and therefore we are bound therein to rest from our common and daily businesse and to bestow that leasure upon holy exercises both private publique What moved
into his said Church without the direction of his Reverend Diccesan and dares not goe about in any sort to justifie his doings But waving all manner of defence hee most humbly casteth down himselfe at your Lordships Feet beseeching you for Christs sake to look upon him with the eye of mercy who with a most penitent and sorrowfull heart confesseth his mis-doing in the Premises c. And whereas your Petitioner is charged to have set forth and published two Bookes wherein he defends not only Innovations in Religion but divers Popish Wicked and Antichristian points and casteth reproach upon our English Martyrs in Mr Foxes Callender and magnifieth Popish Canonized Saints for true Martyrs Hee doth most humbly give your Lordships to understand That order was given for their Printing and setting forth without your Petitioners procurement motion or knowledge who composed them for his own private satisfaction and to be the better satisfied was willing to have them presented to the consideration of the Reverend Governours of our Church to receive their Opinion and Judgement about them And for the Contents of the said Bookes If any Popish Wicked or Antichristian points be in them Hee is ready and most desirous from his heart utterly and openly to abandon and abjure them But hopeth that because the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace did see and read all or a great part of them as his Chaplain Dr Bray could your Petitioner and did without any suite of your Petitioner give order and allowance for their Publishing That no such detestable points are conteined in the said Bookes and for our English Martyrs in Mr Fox his Calender There is no mention or any word or syllable in either of those Writings about them Wherefore again and again he casteth down himselfe before this most Honourable Assembly and beseecheth you who upon earth represent the God of mercy to shew mercy to him who is altogether innocent in moving to have the said Beekes Published And it truely penitent for what he hath done without his Diccesans Directions and most humbly beseecheth his Lordship now present to admit his Submission and to be a meanes to obteine the favour of this most Honourable House and to procure his freedome and dismission who voweth by Gods grace to be ever hereafter so carefull of all his words and actions that neither the Church nor any Member thereof shall take any offence or displeasure at him Vera Copia And your Petitioner shall ever pray for the happi successe of this present Parliament John Pocklington Now what a Capitall Crime and transcendent misdemeanour it is for this Arch-Prelate to place such Arminian Popish Prelates and Chaplaines in ordinary about his Majestie the young Prince more infectious then Cardinall Wolsies breath to King Henry the 8. when infected with the great Pox to seduce poyson them as much as in them lay with Arminian and Popish Errours Superstitions Ceremonies and in and by them their whole kingdomes and Nationall Churches and that not onely by transient verball Sermons which infect only the eares of the Auditors for the present but by pestilent printed Treatises which corrupt the eyes judgement of the Readers and universally seduce both the present and future generations more then any publike verball Sermons though never so pernicious to the Auditors for the present let all wise men judge For his promoting of Arminians of persons addicted to Popish Ceremonies Errours Innovations to Offices and Headships in our Universities to poyson those fountaines of Piety and Learning we shall instance in these few Particulars During the time of his Chancellorship in the University of Oxford from April 1630. till Anno 1641. it is observable that he nominated only five Vice-Chancellors to governe the University under him namely Dr Smith Warden of Wadham Colledge Doctor Brian Duppa Deane of Christ-Church whose further promotions he procured Doctor Pinke Warden of New-Colledge Doctor Bayly President of Saint Iohn Baptist Colledge Doctor Frewen President of Mary Magdalen Colledge Dr Christopher Potter Provost of Queenes Colledge as the University Register undenyably proves and all Oxford Schollers can attest all deeply tainted with Arminianisme great Promoters of all Popish Innovations Superstitions Ceremonies in that University as we have formerly manifested Besides he promoted Doctor Thomas Iackeson a professed Arminian to the President-ship of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford and afterwards to the Vicaridge of Witney as appeares by the Docquet Booke to omit his advancement of Doctor Laurence and other such like Popish Doctors there What heades of Houses hee promored in the University of Cambridge and what professed Arminians and Well-wishers to Popery they were you have already heard in part we shall onely repeate the names of some of them Doctor Brookes Doctor Beal Doctor Martin Doctor Cosin Doctor Layny Doctor Sterne men very infamous both for Arminian and Popish Errors And not content to corrupt our English Academies he promoted Master Chapple the Archest and most notorious Arminian in the University of Cambridge who leavened all his Pupels and many hopefull Schollers with Arminianisme as Mr Walker and others witnessed to the Provost-ship and Government of the Colledge and Vniversity of Dublin in Ireland as appears by sundry originall Letters thence endorsed with his own hand and himselfe must needs acknowledge whom he brought into that place with an high hand where he did much hurt by venting his Arminian druggs and maintained Justification by Workes Exemption of the Clergy from the Secular power and was very active in the Synod there in suppressing the Articles of Ireland against Papists and Arminians as was Doctor Bramhall too his grand Arminian Popish Instrument there as was attested upon Oath by Dr Hoyle a Member of the Assembly and Divinity Reader in that University His advancements of Persons tainted with Arminianisme Popery and Popish Superstitions to Benefices Prebendaries and other Ecclesiasticall preferments are almost numberlesse as wee finde by the Docquet Bookes all or most of the Ecclesiasticall Preferments belonging to the Crowne being disposed of by him alone of latter times not by the Lord Keeper and Master of the Wardes as formerly upon whose Presentations he encroached We shall instance in some few of many In September 10. 1628. Doctor Augustine Lindsey by order from this Bishop and a Letter by him procured from the King in his behalfe to the President and Chapter of Litchfield was promoted to a dignity in that Church as appeares by the Docquet Booke Mr George Walker the Minister attested upon Oath that this Lindsy whom the Archbishop afterwards made a Bishop was reputed one of the chiefe heads of the Arminian faction and that Dr Bastwick writing against the Arminians bowing at the name of Jesus was sent to him by this Archbishop to be instructed and refuted as the ablest of that party Mr Peter Smart a Reverend Divine deposed That this Doctor was an Arch-arminian to his knowledge with whom he had
frequent disputes a defender and setter up of Images and Altars That he said in his hearing That none but ignorant Calvinist Bishops did put down Altars at the beginning of reformation and that they were worse then Jesuites That he was much offended with the Homilyes against the Perill of Idolatry against setting up Images in Churches and said that he would have these Homilyes put out of the Homily-Book and wondred why they were suffered to continue in it so long A fit Cathedralist to make a Bishop afterwards and a great companion and friend of Sancta Clara. In Octob. 1631. Peter Heylin this Arch-Prelates great Creature and Votary who resigned himselfe to his directions and command in all things as appeares by an Epistle in a Manuscript Sermon of his found in the Archbishops study was by his order and procurement presented to the Rectory of Hemingford and in November following to a Prebendary in Westminster and in November 1632. he procured him a Presentation to the Rectory of Haughton in the Diocesse of Durham In September 1631. Dr Thomas Bletchenden by his order and procurement was promoted to a Prebends place in the Cathedrall of Canterbury and Dr William Bray to another Prebendary in the same Church November 13. 1637. by his order too Mr Thomas Lushington was by his order presented to a Prebendary in the Cathedrall Church of Sarum in June 1931. Dr John Weekes in December 1633. was by his order presented to a Prebendary in the Cathedrall of Bristol Dr Brian Duppa Jan. 1633. was by his order presented to the Chancellorship of Sarum and the Prebendary of Bridgenorth thereto annexed and May 19. 1638. to the Rectory of Petworth Dr Iohn Bramhall June 1632. was by his order presented to a Prebendary in York Cathedrall Dr William Beale Octob. 1637. was by his order and procurement presented to the Rectory of Pauls Perry of which two others were unjustly deprived in the High Commission to make way for his promotion to it Dr William Brough Jan. 19. 1938. by his order was presented to a Prebends place in the Church of Windsor In May 1639. by his order Dr Samuel Baker was preferred to a Prebends place in the Cathedrall of Canterbury and Tho. Brown to a Prebends place in the Collegiate Church of Windsor July 29 1640. Dr Mumford by his order was presented to the Rectory of Anesby what other Arminian Popish Superstitious Scandalous Persons were advanced to livings by him and how he poysoned our Church with such almost in every place the World may see at large in Mr John Whites first Century of Scandalous Ministers We shall only add this one thing more that even after his Commitment for high Treason he still interposed in preferring Superstitious Episcopall Clergy men of his faction to his Majesties livings as well as to those in his own gift as we shall evidence by this Letter of his to the King seised by Mr Prynne among his other Papers all written and thus endorsed with his own hand For the Kings most Excellent Majestie which was answered by the King himselfe in the Margent with his own hand in this ensuing forme May it please your Majestie I Conceive the Great Seal being left as it is your Majestie will bestow all such livings as shall be voyde and were usually in the gift of the Lord Keeper of what value soever they be You are right This I tooke my duty to put your Majestie in minde of since it in part belongs to the service which your Majestie was wont to trust me with And I am the more bold to put your Majestie in minde of this because by this meanes if you please to make use of it you may the sooner provide both for the Scottish-men which suffer and for other men which have served your Majesty at sea At this time I am informed that the Rectory of Ashen in Northamptonshire is voyd and in your Majesties gift It is thought not to exceed one hundred pound a year The Bishop of Brechen hath a sonne if your Majestie please that is ready to take Orders and may be fit for it Give Order accordingly C. R. And by that meanes may be some helpe to his father who certainly needes it If your Majestie like of this and let me know so much I shall give warrant for it accordingly But I submit all this and my own unhappy condition to Gods will and your Majesties Your Majesties most humble servant though unfortunate W. Cant. Jan. 3. 1640. What a Plague and Poyson these Arminian Popish Prelates Deanes Prebends Heades of houses Parsons and Vicars thus advanced by him proved to our Church how near they had reduced us back to Rome and how much they endangered the utter extirpation of our Protestant Religion is so experimentally knowne to all men so plentifully evidenced in the premised proofes that we may confidently averr had not God himself miraculously from heaven by the late Scottish Troubles and happy convention of this present Parliament retarded prevented and utterly frustrated their dangerous proceedings and Jesuiticall designes in these three kingdomes in all probability we had long ere this been totally over-run with Popery and the zealous Professors of the Protestant Religion in all three been either totally extirpated and massacred as some hundred thousands of them have been of late in Ireland or banished their own Countrey into forraigne Climes or left to the mercy of the bloody Papists and these their Popish Confederates whose tender mercies are but cruelties This crime then of his is no lesse then treasonable and capitall being so destructive both to Church and Kingdome As he thus preferred Popish and Arminian Clergy men to the chiefe Ecclesiasticall preferments in our Church so on the contrary following the counsell of Contzen the Mogountine Jesuit in his Politicks he discountenanced suspended silenced suppressed censured imprisoned persecuted most of the prime orthodox diligent preaching Ministers in the Realme and forced many of them to fly into America Holland and other forraigne places to avoyd his fury only for opposing his Popish Innovations and expressing their feares of the change of our religion by the encrease of Popery and Popish Superstitions Not to trouble you with any forementioned instances of Master Peter Smart Mr Henry Burton Mr Snelling and others we shall instance in some fresh examples Mr Samuel Ward of Ipswich a most reverend orthodox and learned Minister of speciall eminency was by this Archbishops meanes on the 26. of Novemb. 1635. as appeares by the High Commission Records censured in the High Commission at Lambeth and there suspended from his Lecture and Ministry and every part thereof till absolved by his Majesty enjoyned a publike submission and recantation such as the High Commissioners should prescribe condemned in expences and costs of suite and committed to prison For preaching in some of his Sermons at Ipswich against Bowing at the name of Iesus the Booke of sports on the Lords day and saying that
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
Jan. 10. Les plus Grands du Berray rapporterent au Roy qu'il troubloit le repose du publie qu'il S'emparoit contre toute la Justice de son domaine c. Il depublia la Bulledecernee par le Pape pour faire la guerre aux Albegiois auec tant de zele de fruict que plusieurs a sa parole S'y croâ—serent courageusement La guâ—rre eut une issue houreuse car les Heretiques furent tellement deconfits qu'ils ne purrent depuis seremetter on campagne c. Ribadeniera Flures des Vies des Saincts p. 124. Note Note * Page 14. 15. 25. Note * See the Kings Cabinet opened * Officium Beatae Mariae secundum Vsum Sarum Paristis 1919. p. 12. Bishop Jewels Defence of the Apology part 2. c. 18. Divis 1. p. 295. 296. Object 1. Answ 1. Object 2. Answ 1. Object 3. Answ * See his late Libell intituled Innocency and Truth Justified Answ 2. Note Note Note * See the Irish Cabinet * Note f Jer. 31. 23. c. 50. 7. g Deut. 33. 21. h Psal 82. 3. i Iohn Lilburn in his late Libels Englands Birth-right with others k Isa 59. 4. 9. 14 l I say 5. 7. m Eccl 3. 16. n Isa 1 21. o Ier. 9. 22. Ier. 9. 22. q 2 Sam. 8. 15. r Deut. 16. 18. 19. 20. a Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 10. c. 63. a See the Breviate of his Life p. 1. 2. 3. b Se his Conference with Fisher p. 171. A necessary Introduction to his Tryall p. 148. 149. c Annaliuâ—â— Pars posterior p. 680. b Claudian in Eutropium l. 1. p. 67. c Rerum Ang. licarum l. 4. c. 14. d 1 Tim. 3. â—ir 1. 7 8. * Ovid Metam l. 2. * See the Breviate of his life pag. 22. and Diurnall Occurrences pag. 13. and 14. the Commons Journall NOTE f Clandian in Rufinum I. 2. p. g Pag. 23. 24. Master Pyme Speech See the Charge of the Scottish Commissioners against Canterbury * Which Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wels in his speech to his Clergy to set on this contribution stiled Bellum Episcopale adding that what ever his Majesty had expressed in his Declarations to be the cause of this warre yet in truth this warre is FOR VS Bishops NOTE * NOTE NOTE * Therefore the fitter to make a Popish Priest Prelate Cardinall * He knew he could not have done them half the service by going over from hence to Rome as by staying here to promote their designes and that made him stay * In secular imployments inconsistent with not in preaching and paines in his Calling Note this impudent asseveration here abundantly refuted * In secular imployments inconsistent with not in preaching and paines in his Calling Note this impudent asseveration here abundantly refuted * Belike he was born a Popeling * It was onely by bringing Rome home to them or meeting them more then halfe way in their journey thither * A great Actor in the late Irish Rebellion against the Protestants * All know what a good Protestant he lived and died * Both desperate Apostate Papists Mr Chainels Sermon at his Funerall informe us how good a Protestant he lived and dyed * Cambdens Britannias p. 229. * Artit Orig. 7. Additionall 7. * Artit Orig. 210. 1. His Popish superstitious Innovations in Lambheth Chappell * Bishop Iewels his defence of the Apology of the Church of England 5. Part c. 5. Diuis 1. to 3 p. 551. c. Reply to Harding Artit 14. p. 496. to 518. Thomas Becons Reliques of Rome Catechisme on the second commandement Mr. Fox Acts Monuments vol. 1. p. 167. 168. 255. vol 2. p. 388. 389. 394. 658. 669. 409. 410. vol 3. p. 992. to 993. with infinit others * Bochellus Decreta Ecclesiae Gallicanae lib. 4. Tit. 1. c. 80. p. 556. 557 NOTE * See Ribadeniera Flevers des vies des Sainctes pars â—ap 104. Apres Compline et Matines il visi oit tous les Rutols de 〈…〉 Eglile faisant a chacun vne Prostration et reverence * Apud Bochellum Decreta Eccles Gal. l. 4 Tit. 1. c. 81. p. 558. Salamantinae 1588. 8. 9. 21. * See the Archbishops speech in Star chamber p. 47. 48 49. * De Hey Iyns Cole from the Altar and Antidonum Lincolniense Dr. Pocklington Reeue Shelford and others * See Lame Giles his Haultings Anti-Armianisme p. 191 Appendix and Queeres concerning Bowing at the name of Iesus * Laurentius Surius concil Tom. 3 p. 6. 741. 810. * Platina in vita ejus Volateran Thomas Beacons Reliques of Rome ch Of the Ornaments of the Church Of plain-song Prick-song Organs and singing in Churches Histriomastix p. 283. to 287. * See A Necessary Introduction to his Tryall p. 15â— to 164. * Exod. 20 4 5 Lev. 26. 1. Deut 4. 14. to 25. 1. 5. 8 9. Isay 2. 20 c. 30. 27. c. 31. 7. c. 44. 9. c. Hoses 14. 8. Rom. 1. 23. 24 25. 1 Iohn 5. 21. 2. His Popish Innovations in his Majesties Chapell at White-Hall * Claudian His Popists Innovations at Westminster Abbey at his Majesties Coronation †See the Breviat of his life p. 7. †Page 69. 70. 9. 43. 78. 110. 157 162. 165. 4 His Popish Innovations in the Vniversities of Oxford and Cambridge * Dabis fidem ad observandum statuta istius Vniversitatis c. Statuta selectae Corpore statutum Vniversitatis Oxon Tit. 9. Sect. 6. Paragr 1. p. 114. * Acts and Monuments Edit 16. 40. â— vol. 3. p. 773. Edit 1610. p. 1781. His Popish Innovations in the Vniversity of Cambridge Object Answer * De summo Bono l. 2. c. 20. †Cicero de legibus l. 3. * Gratian distinct 86. * Foutes venero inficere est non tantum contra morem Majorum sed etiam contra fas Deorum Florus Historiae lib. 1. Grotius de Iure Belli lib. 3. c. 4. Sect. 16. p. 444. See 22. H. 8. c. 10. 5. His Popish Innovations and superstitions in Cathedrall Churches NOTE NOTE NOTE * This was then a grosse untruth for it then stood not so in any Cathedralls NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE * See Master Francis Rouse his printed Speech at the Transmission of Master Smarts cause to the Lords Innovations in Canterbury Cathedrall Innovations in VVinchester Cathedrall NOTE Innovations in Litchfield Cathedrall Innovations at Hereford NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE * A notorious untruth of an Arch-Prelate NOTE NOTE * Doctor Heylyns Antidotum Lincolniense pag. 37. 39. 65. c. his Coale from the Altar p. 26 27. with Pocklington Dow Reeve Shelford Bishop Pierce and others Innovations in Parish Churches Chappell 's The case of St. Gregories Church NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE 19. 20. 21. NOTE 22. NOTE 23. 24. 18. 19. 20. 21. 21. 22. 23. NOTE 24. NOTE NOTE Note Note