done it will be time to take into consideration the breakers and oftendors against this rule in the next place But before we have laid downe that our worke will be in vaine therefore first to lay downe the proposition wherein we differ from the Arminians and in that I shall be ready to deliver my opinion and this is my humble motion It was ordered that a Committee should be appointed to pen an answer to his Majesties messages and to shew him that it is their resolutions to give him all expedition in his service and that they hold it not onely fit to give him thankes but rather to shew what perills we are in and that Tonnage and Poundage is their owne gift and it is to arise from themselves and that they entend not to enter into any thing that belongs not to them Thursday the 29. of Ianuary The former part of the day was spent in debating of the transportation of Corne and Victuals into Spaine and it was ordered that a message should be sent to his Majestie That it is now evident that divers Ships are bound for Spaine and to desire a stay of them after the House sate at a Committee about Religion After long debate it was resolved by the Commons House of Parliament concerning Religion as followeth That We the Commons now in Parliament assembled claime professe and avow for the Truth the sence of the Articles of Religion which were established in Parliament in the 13. yeare of our late Queen Elizabeth which by the publique Acts of the Church of England and by the generall and current Exposition of the Writers of our Church have beene delivered to us as we erect the sence of the Articles of Religion which were established in Parliament in the thirteenth yeare of our late Queene Elizabeth which by the publique Acts of the Church of England and by the generall and current Exposition of the Writers of our Church have beene delivered to us and we reject the sence of the Jesuites and Arminians and all other wherein they differ from us The House received an answer from his Majestie touching the Ships which was that he would consider of it and send them word in due time Friday the 30. of Ianuary A Committee of the Lower House went to the King in the Privy Chamber with the Petition of the â—ast and the Archbishop of Yorke after hee had made a short Speech presented it to his Majestie in the name of both Houses The Petition of both Houses for the Fast. Most Gratious Soveraigne It is the hearty and very earnest desire of us your most dutifull and loyall Subjects the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled that this our meeting be abundantly blessed with all happy successe in the great and urgent affaires of Church and State upon which we are to consult and that by a cleare understanding both of your Majesties goodnesse to us and of our ever faithfull and loyall hearts to your Person and service all feare and distractions which are apparant signes of Gods displeasure and of ensuing mischiefe being removed there may be this Session and for ever be a perfect and most happy union and agreement between your Majesty and all the estates of your Realme but humbly acknowledging that this nor any other blessing can be expected without the favour of Almighty God upon the observation of the continued and encreasing miseries of the reformed Churches abroad whose cases with bleeding hearts we compassionate as likewise of those punishments already inflicted and which are likely in great measure to fall upon our selves We have just cause to conceive that the Divine Majesty is for our sinnes exceedingly offended with us We doe in these and all other pious respects Most Deare Soveraigne humbly beseech your Majestie that by your Royall commandement not onely our selves but all the people of your Kingdomes may be speedily enjoyned upon some certaine day by your Majestie prefixed by publique Fasting and Prayer to seeke reconciliation at the hands of Almignty God so that the Prayers of your whole Kingdome joyned with your Majesties most Princely care and the faithfull and hearty endeavours of this great Councell now assembled may procure glory to Almighty God in the preservation of his true Religion much honour to your Majestie prosperitie to your people and comfort to all your Majesties friends and Allyes The Kings Answer to the Petition for the East My Lords and Gentlemen The chiefest motive of your Fast being the deplorable estate of the reformed Churches abroad is too true and our duties are so much as in us lyeth to give them all possible helpe but certainly fighting will doe them much more good then fasting though I doe not wholly disallow of the latter yet I must tell you that the customes of Fasts every Session is but lately begun And I confesse I am not fully satisfied with the necessitie of it at this time yet to shew you how smoothly I desire your businesse to goe on eschewing as much as I can Questions or I doe willingly graunt your requests herein but with this note that I expect that shall not hereafter be brought into president for frequent Fasts except upon great occasions As for the forme and time I will advise with my Lords the Bishops and then send you a particular answer to both Houses The Declaration of the Commons Most Gratious Soveraigne We have within these three dayes received from your Majestie a message putting us in minde of our present entring upon the present consideration of a grant of Tonnage and Poundage but the manner of the possessing the House therewith being disagreeable to our orders and priviledges so that we could not proceed therein and finding our selves in your Majesties name pressed in that businesse and that we should give precedencie thereunto we cannot but expresse some sence of sorrow fearing least the most hearty and forward affections wherewith we desire to serve your Majestie are not clearely represented unto you besides such is the sollicitous care we have of preserving our selves in your Majesties most gratious and good opinion that it cannot breed but much trouble in us when ever we finde our selves as now we are enforced to spend that time in making our humble Apologies from whence doe usually arise long debates which we conceive might be very profitably applyed in the great services of your Majesty and the Common-wealth which we did with all humble diligence apply our selves unto and finding the extreame dangers wherewith our Religion is threatned clearely presenting themselves to our thoughts and considerations we thinke we cannot without impiety to God disloyaltie to your Majesty and unthankfullnesse to those from whom we are put in trust retarde our proceedings untill something be done to secure us in this maine point we preferre our lives and all earthly things whatsoever And here we doe with all humble thankfullnesse acknowledge your most pious care and Princely intentions to
to us now M. Coriton Let us not doe Gods worke negligently We receive his Majesties messages with all duty for our proceedings let us so proceed as it may soone conduct us to his Majesties desire Religion concernes the King aswell as us The unitie of this House is sweet especially in Gods cause Let us cry and cry againe for this Let us be resolved into a Committee and presently to debate hereof M. Pymme There are two diseases the one old the other new the old Popery the new Arminianisme There are three things to be enquired after concerning Popery First of the cessation of the execution of Lawes against Popery Secondly how the Papists have beene imployed and countenanced Thirdly the Law bringing of superstitious Ceremonies amongst us For Arminians be advised First that a way be opened for the truth Secondly that by the Articles set forth 1502 and by the Catechisme in King Edward the sixths dayes and by the writing of Peter Martyr and Martin Bucer Wickliffe and others and by the constant profession sealed with the bloud of so many Martyrs Cranmer Ridley and others and by the 36. Article set forth in Queene Elizabeths time and by the Articles set forth at Lambeeth as the Doctrine of the Church of England which King Iames sent to Dorte and to Ireland as the truth professed here and by his Majesties Declaration and Proclamation to maintaine unitie in the settled Religion as appeared by his Proclamation and other courses tending that way which were perversted and abused to the ruine and subversion of Religion which bred a feare of Innovation as also by the preferment which such have received since the last Parliament who have heretofore taught contrary to the truth Then to consider againe for what act these men have beene countenanced and advanced what pardons they have had for false Doctrines what Preachings hath been lately before his Majestie what prohibiting of bookes as have beene written against their doctrine and permitting such bookes as have beene for them It belongs to the duty of the Parliament to establish true Religion and to punish false And howsoever it is alleadged that the Parliament are not Judges in matters of Faith yet ought they to know the established and fundamentall Truths and the contraries unto them For Parliaments have confirmed generall Councels which have not beene received untill they have beene so authorized and Parliaments have enacted Lawes for tryall of Heretiques by Jury The Parliament punished the Earle of Essex for countenancing of Heretiques and there is no Court can meet with this mischiefe but Courts of Parliament The Convocation cannot because it is but a Provinciall Synod onely of the Jurisdiction of Canterbury and the power thereof is not adequate to the whole Kingdome and the Convocation at Yorke may perhaps not agree with that of Cunterbury The High Commission cannot for it hath its authority from Parliaments and the decivatiâ—e cannot prejudice the originall The judgement of Parliament being the judgement of the King and of the three Estates of the whole Kingdome Wednesday the 28 of Ianuary Master Secretary Cooke delivered another Message 〈◊〉 his Majestie viz. His Majestie upon an occasion of dispute in this House about Tonnage and Poundage was pleased to make a gracious Declaration wherein he commended to the speedy finishing thereof and to give a precedencie thereunto And since his Majestie understands the preferring the cause of Religion His Majestie expects rather thankes then a Remonstrance yet he doth not interrupt you so that you doe not trench of that that belongs not to you But his Majestie still commands me to tell you that he expects precedencie in Tonnage and Poundage assuring himselfe he hath given no occasion to put it backe and so you will not put it off M. Long. I cannot but with much sorrow see that we are still pressed to this pount I hoped that those neare the Chaire would have informed his Majestie of our good intentions But we see how unhappy we are still some about his Majestie makes him diffident of us Sir Thomas Edmonds I am sorry this House hath given occasion of so many Messages about Tonnage and Poundage after his Majestie hath given us so much satisfaction You may perceive his Majestie is sensible of the neglect of his businesse We that know this should not discharge our duties to you if we should not perswade you to that course which should procure his Majesties good opinion of you Your selves are witnesses how industrious his Majestie was to procure your gracious Lawes in his Fathers time and since that what inlargement hath he made of our Liberties and still we give him cause to repent him of the good he hath done consider how dangerous it is to alien his Majesties heart from Parliaments M. Coriton When men speake here of neglect of duty to his Majestie let them know we know no such thing nor what they meane and I see not how we doe neglect the same I see it is all our hearts to expedite the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage in due time our businesse is still put backe by their Messages and the businesse in hand is of God and his Majestie Things are certainly amisse and every one sees it and woe be to us if we present them not unto his Majesty Sir Iohn Elliott I have alwayes observed in the proceedings of this House our best advantage is in Order And I was very glad when this noble Gentleman my Country-man gave occasion to stay our proceedings for I feare it would have carried us into a sea of confusion and disorder And having now occasion to present my thoughts unto you in this great and weighty businesse of Religion I shall be bold to give a short expression of my owne affection and in that order that I hope will conduce best to the effecting of your worke and direct our labours to an end To enter into a particular disquisition of the writings of Divines I feare it will involve us in a Labyrinth that we shall hardly get out and perchance hinder that way and darken that path in which we must tread before wee know what other men declared It is necessary we presently lay downe what is the truth and as I presume we come not hither now to dispute of Religion farre be it from the thought of the Church that hath thus long confessed it now to dispute it Shall posteritie thinke that we have enjoyed our Religion fourescore yeares almost and are now doubtfull of the sence God forbid It may be Sir and out of some thing lately delivered I have not unnecessarily collected that there is a jealousie conceived as if we meant to deale in matter of Faith it is our profession this is not to be disputed neither will that truth be receded from this long time held nor is that Truth decayed it is confirmed by Parliament because it was Truth And as this Sir before I shall come to deliver my selfe more particularly give
added unto us Let us consider the times past how they flourished in honour and abundance when Religion flourished amongst us but as Religion decayed so the honour and strength of this Kingdome decayed When the soule of a Common-wealth is dead the body cannot long over-live it If a man meet a Dogge alone the Dogge is fearefull though never so fierce by nature but if the Dogge have his Master by him he will set upon that man from whom he fled before This shewes the lower natures being backt by higher encrease in courage and strength and certainly man being backt with omnipotence is a kinde of omnipotent thing All things are possible to him that beleeveth and where all things are possible there is a kinde of omnipotence wherefore let us now with an unanimous consent of us all resolve to make a vow and covenant henceforth to hold fast our God and our Religion and we shall from henceforth certainly expect prosperity unto this Kingdome and Nation and to this covenant let every one say Amen Sir Francis Seymor If Religion be not a rule to all our actions what policie can we have if God fights not our battels the helpe of man is in vaine In our defects the cause thereof is our defect in Religion and the sinne thereof is Idolatrie and Popery Papists encrease more now then ever neither doe they want their Priests and Masses Nay his Majesties name is used to stop proceedings against Papists and that since the Parliament contrary to his Majesties goodnesse and publique profession and contrary to his many Proclamations and many Instructions to the Judges and whatsoever is done in the Country is undone above M. Kirton Master Speaker This businesse that we have in hand concerning our Religion is of dangerous consequence if it bee not throughly looked into I thinke that no man that sits here but is sensible in what danger now it stands if this Honourable House doe not finde some speedy remedy for it It was apparant to every man that new opinions are brought in by some of our Churchmen to disturbe our peace and the meaning of these Churchmen can be no other then to bring in the Romish Religion amongst us for it hath ever beene Jesuiticall policie first to worke a disturbance then afterward a change we must seeke the cause I shall briefely speake my opinion that is that this proceedeth from the ambition of the Clergie that are neare his Majestie for it is well knowne that at first the Church of Rome and that we professe were all one and that the ambition of the Clergie begot and brought in all these differences that are now betwixt us The highest dignitie they can here attaine unto is but an Archbishopricke but a Cardinals Cap is not here to be had I beleeve some of them affect that too well and in some we see the effects how they change their opinions for advancement and then they will turne white into blacke and blacke into white This being so our endeavour must be to take away the roote and then the branches will decay themselves It is not the calling of the Appeale to Caesar will doe it for if they can get Bishopricks for writing such books we shall have many men that will write bookes in that kinde It behoves us all every man according to his ability to imploy himselfe for the search of these things and that we may finde out the matter and the men that we may present them and the danger that this Kingdome stands in by them to his Majestie And for mine owne part as God shall enable me I will doe my best herein M. Sherland We have a Religion that is worth the loving with all our hearts it was setled by the bloud of Martyrs and kept by Miracles To have our noses wiped of this would grieve my heart to see more to behold our Religion goe away and designes daily made on it and Arminianisme still to encrease as it doth I admire I perswade my selfe the greater part of the Clergy Nobility and Gentry are firme but it is the desires of some few that labour to bring in a new faction of their owne and so they drop into the eares of his Majestie That those that oppose them oppose his Majestie and so they put him upon designes that stand not with publique liberty That he commands what he lists with Lives Goods and Religion and doth as he pleaseth And so they involve all true hearted Englishmen and Christians under the name of Religious Puritans and so involve his Majesties quarrels to be theirs which is Treason of the highest qualitie Tuesday the 27. of Ianuary A Petition was exhibited against one Lewis that said that about the 25. of December The Devill take the Parliament which was avowed by two witnesses and though it was spoken our of Parliament yet it was resolved to be an offence to the Parliament and it was ordered that he should be sent for Sir Nathaniel Rich tendred a Petition concerning the Fast which was agreed to be preferred to the King as followeth It was ordered that conference should be dosired with the Lords about this Petition who desired to joyne with the Commons The King sent a message by Secretary Cooke to this effect viz. His Majestie understanding that the Remonstrance was called for to take away all quesition commanded me to deliver it to you but hoping you proceed with the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage and give precedencie to that businesse and to give an end to further dispute betweene some of his Subjects or else he shall thinke his Speech which was with good applause accepted had not that good effect that he expected But before the message a report was made by M. Pymme from the Committee of Religion where a motion was made about the Remonstrance last Session concerning that part which concerneth Religion and the Clerke answered that by command from the King he delivered it to the Lord Privie Seale and so the Committee proceeded no farther Sir Walter Earle replyed to the message the last part of the message calls me up for point of Precedencie Religion challengeth Precedencie and Right of our best endeavours Vbi dolor ibi digitus I know Justice and Liberty is Gods cause but what good will Justice and Liberty doe if Popery and Arminianisme joyne hand in hand together to bring in Spanish Tyranny under which those Lawes and Liberties must cease what hath beene done for Religion since the last Session we know what Declarations have beene made what Persons advanced what Truths confirmed by all authority of Church Councels and Kings for my part I will foregoe my life estate and liberty rather then my Religion and I dare boldly affirme That never was more corruption then is at this time Humana Consilia castigantur ubi caelestibus se praeferunt Let us hold our selves to this methode and that God that carried us out of so many difficulties the last Session will not be wanting
me leave that have not yet spoken in this great cause to give some apprehension to have a feare For it is in the Parliament to make a new Religion I hope shall it be in any to alter the body of the Truth waich we now professe I must confesse Sir amongst all these feares we have contracted there ariseth to me not one of the least dangers in the Declaration which is made and published in his Majesties name And yet Sir this conclusion exclusively let me say that I may not be mistaken what ever in that or other things shall appeare to carry mention of his Majestie we have not the least suspition or jealousie of him We have that comfort in his Pietie and Goodnesse as if there be any misprision or errour I hope it is by those Ministers about him which not onely he but all Princes are subject unto And to cleare that that Princes are subject to misinformation and many actions may be entituled to their names when there is no suspition of it to bee done by themselves we leave to looke backe to Presidents and other times and what I finde in our Stories may be usefull in this Antiochus King of Asia sent his Letters and Missives to his Provinces c. That if they received any dispatches in his name not agreeable to Justice Ignoto s◠litera◠esse scriptas ideoque eis parent I finde by Plutarch of great King Antiochus of Asia who faith that Princes are obnoxious to abuses of Ministers and yet could not at all times be prevented and therefore he sent Messengers and Letters to all his Provinces that if there were any Letters or Dispatches sent under his name that came to them that were not warrantable by Law and agreeable to Justice it could not be conceived to be done by him and therefore they should not give way to it Sir I finde in another Booke and beseech you let it be apprehended Gratian did not onely note and confesse the same but added the reason also which the Masters of the Civill Law can testifie from their Bookes wherein is thus expressed Quòd verecunda poenitentium inchoatione Principes saepe restringantur ut non concedenda concedant Because that oftentimes with importunitie of Ministers and those about them Princes are drawne to grant things by them not fit to be granted as it was in that so it may be in this I speake it to this end to draw this conclusion That if there be any thing that bars the Title of his Majestie it may be his Ministers farre be it from me to have any suspition of him And now to that particular in the Declaration wherein I confesse with me an apprehension of more feare then we have in all the rest for in all the particulars we heard what is said of Popery and Arminianisme it is that our Faith and Religion is in great danger but it is by degrees Here Sir like an Inundation it doth breake in at once that we are in danger to be ruined and overwhelmed For I beseech you marke the ground of our Religion it is conteined in the body of these Articles If there be any difference in opinion concerning the sence and interpretation the Bishop and the Clergie in the Convocation have power admitted to them to doe any thing that shall concerne the continuance and maintenance of the truth being conteined in these Articles being different in the sence so as if there be any dispute about it it is in them to order which way they please And for ought I know Popery and Arminianisme may be a sence introduced by them and then it must be received Is it a slight thing that the power of Religion should be left to the power of these men I honour their Professions and honour their calling in Reverend Bishops but I honour not these men give leave unto me to say the truth that we professe is not mens but Gods and God forbid man should be made to judge of the Truth Looke upon the conclusion they have made and from thence draw their arguments I remember a character I have seene in a Diary of Edward the sixt that young Prince of famous memory wherein he doth expresse the conditions of the Bishops and Clergie of his time under his owne hand-writing That some for sloath some for age some for ignorance some for luxury and some for Popery they were unfit for discipline and government I hope it is not so with us Nay give me leave to vindicate the honour of those men that openly shew their heart to the truth There are amongst our Bishops such as are fit to bee made examples for all ages who shine in vertue like those two faithfull witnesses in Heaven of whom we may say that Elegie which Seneca did of Caius that to their memories and merits No hoc quidem obstet quod nostris temporibus nati sunt To whose memory and merit I may use the saying that others faults are not prejudiciall to their vertues are so industrious in their workes that I hope posteritie shall know that they are men that are firme for the Truth But Sir that all are not such so free sound and orthodoxe in Religion as they should witnesse the men complained of and you know what power they have Witnesse the man nominated lately in Master Montagues I reverence the Order I honour not the man others may bee named as bad I apprehend such feare that should be in their power we may be in danger to have our whole Religion overthrowne But I give this for testimonie and thus farre expresse my Religion against all the power and opposition of these men or whensoever any opposition of these men shall come we shall maintaine the Religion we professe for that we have beene borne and bred nay Sir if cause be in that I hope to die Some of these Sir you know are Masters of Ceremonies and they labour to introduce new Ceremonies into the Church some Ceremonies are usefull give me leave to joyne with you in one that I hold necessary and commendable That at the repetition of the Creed we should stand up to testifie the resolutions of our hearts that we should defend the Religion we professe And as in some Churches it is added they did not onely stand upright with their swords drawne but said if cause were they did hope to defend their Prince Countrey and Religion and would draw their swords against all that opposed This I speake out of that care I have to preserve the honour of our King who I feare by these Innovations of Religion may have sought to undermine it But to come to the manner and methode of our proceedings having made the expression wherein if I have transgressed the rule propounded I receive your pardon I desire to avoid confusion and distraction that we may goe presently to the ground of our Religion and lay that downe a rule on which all others rest Then when that is
and particulars and by petitioning him to remove all Papists and Popishly affected from the Court from places of Trust from places of Power Fourthly by examining the dangers and inconveniences of those late Commissions and instructions granted forth for the compounding with Recusants for their estates and forfeitures Fiftly by framing a charge to usher up Master Montague to the Lords not to his seat amongst the Reverend society of Bishops but to the Barre as an offendor against that House this and the whole Church of God But what good hath this our zeale brought to Religion what profit to the Church we all know and with thankfulnesse acknowledge That his Majesty gave a most gracious and pious answer to our Petition of Religion and to some particulars as fully as wee could desire which raised our hopes to the expectation of much good and some hath followed for it is true Master Speaker that the promised Proclamation to command Judges and other Ministers of Justice to put the Lawes in execution against Recusants their Priests and Jesuites is now extant which yet seemes to me to have beene so long kept by some back-friends to Religion and I am induced to thinke thus for these Reasons My first Reason I draw from common fame it being generally reported that in stead of life and motion to the Lawes in force against Recusants the Judges had in charge before the last Circuite to deale sparingly with them My second Reason I draw from the time when this Proclamation came forth which was five weekes after the ending of the Sessions when some of the Circuites were ended or so neare conclusion that the Judges could take little or no notice thereof And Thirdly from consideration of a former Proclamation dated the 7. of Iuly which though that passed not the Seale yet it did the Presse and in my poore opinion would never have gone so farre knowing the resolution of Counsells to be more certaine had not some men hoped to have prevented the latter by procuring the former as satisfaction which falls farre short of his Majesties pious intentions expressed in that his religious Answer And if with reverence I may speake my humble thoughts they doe both of them in conclusion too much encourage the worst of subjects to hope for his Majesties best favour too fairely invite them to compound for their forfeitures which course this House was bold to stile little lesse then a Tolleration Againe is the course of Recusants as yet restrained from the Court Nay doe they not since our Recesse frequent it with more confidence and greater alacrity doe not their hopes daily increase and themselves grow more insolent their feares ended with the Sessions Is the promised wrath as yet appointed to keepe them from Embassadours Houses Had the Judges in charge to informe themselves in their last Circuites and after their returne his Majesty of all such Papists and Popishly affected as they shall finde to bee in authority I have not yet heard it and to me those are all the knowne effects of that Religious Petition Next take notice of the abortion of that necessary Bill against Recusants which when wee hoped would have received life and perfection by the Royall assent perished in Embrion suddenly vanisht as being too cruell too mercifull Consider what fruit wee have reaped from that Petition and Information whereby we let his Majesty know the particulars of such Papists and Popishly affected as were in such Countey in Commission of the peace of Lieutenancie c. Are any of them since remooved Nay it is well if their numbers bee not encreased Oh Master Pymme this breakes the heart if God be God let us follow him And if Baal be God let us follow him and no longer hault betweene two opinions for whilst wee are thus carelesse in standing for God that wee dare scarce owne our owne Religion Is it any marvell that God estrangeth himselfe and will not owne us and by too woefull experience wee have cause to suspect since wee finde he goes not out with our Armies since so ill successe attends all our actions Wee have not yet made our peace with God And Master Pymme to these griefes and discouragements I finde an addition of that nature that threatens very ruine and desolation if not dissolution of Religion in this Land unlesse God himselfe take his own cause into his own hand And that is the countenancing and preferring of a plotting undermining and dangerous sect of upstart Divines when Arminians shall be grac't preferred before honester men when such desperate Divines as have fired a part of Christendome almost ruined our neighbours kindled their fire-brands and cast their dangerous sparkes abroad in our Church shall be encouraged to goe on in planting their damnable doctrines and positions which already have taken too deep footing too fact rooting in our Universities and many other parts of this Land You remember Sir what care and paines this House tooke as a matter of great consequence to frame a charge against Master Mouniague which was ready with the first oppertunity to have transmitted him to the Lords but those many interruptions we had gave breaking to that as to many other businesses of weight yet was this man shortly after the ending of the Sessions dignified with the sacred title of Bishop and Bishop of the See wherein his Predecessour a Grave Divine and Orthodoxe Prelate had laboured by his pen and directions to strangle those errours and to confute Master Mountague whose ready way to obtaine a Bishopricke is to undermine Religion and set the Church in a combustion Another also of his owne profession little better then himselfe I meane time-pleasing Mannering hath also tasted extraordinary favour This man attempted to make his holy function a meanes to seduce the Kings conscience to misguide his judgement to dis joynt his affections from his people to avert his minde from calling a Parliament The particulars of his damnable doctrine are yet fresh in your memories What could a man have done worse for hereby he did as much as in him lay violently to breake in peeces that coard to wrest in sunder that chaine which linkes and tyes and unites the hearts and affections of the Prince people together verily he that shall goe about thus to seduce or corrupt a Prince deserves to be hated of all men as much as those that attempt to poyson a publique spring or fountaine whereof all drinke for which offence of his hee received a just but moderate censures one particular whereof was that he should be disabled from holding any Ecclesiasticall dignity in the Church And although it bee confessed that the Doctor justly brought upon himselfe the censure of Parliament yet was this man after our rising released from his imprisonment reported to have the honour to kisse the Kings hand obtained his Pardon in Folio preferred to a rich Living and if fame say true cherished with assured hopes of future dignity in the Church
it no small degree derogatorie to the very foundation of Nobility it selfe which is the step and circle that compasseth your Royall Throne that those who beare a Title and claime a precedencie before many of us should fall so low in the peoples eyes and esteeme as to be daily subject to Arrests of their persons and all other circumstances of disrespects which your meanest subjects undergoe being in the eye of the Law but Commoners To conclude this our cause of griefe being in our opinion the practise of it new and unusuall in the consequence of it not without danger and discontentment to your Realme and subjects of all degrees in the nature of it contrary to the foundation of the grounds of Honour laid in this Kingdome and in the whole course of it breeding ill effects to the service of your Majestie and the publique and dis-value and contempt to Nobility it selfe which is the degree interposed immediately betwixt your Majesty and your people Wee can no where so justly appeale as to your Majesty the fountaine of Honour for a timely remedy against this great and growing inconvenience both for the present and future And as your Majesties Honour is equally discerned in this with the interest of your Kingdomes and Subjects so wee doubt not but it shall appeare to the world that your Majesties gracious care to reduce and maintaine your Nobility in their ancient lustre shall equally tend to your Majesties service and happinesse and to our contentment Sir Nathaniel Rich. I am confident the grace of the King hath beene abused in this that therefore the Privy Counsellours of the House may know whether it was his Majesties direction It is moved that Secretary Cooke must first declare his knowledge in this One Crosse gave intimation first of the persons to the Secretary Super totam materiam It is evident that the Colledge at Clarkenwell is a Colledge of Jesuites holden under a forreigne supreame head Sir Francis Seymor taxeth Master Attornies affection and judgement in this and also declareth continuall Letters from Master Attorney in stay of proceedings against Recusants You see in this House how sleightly Master Attorney hath put over a businesse of this weight M. Long. Crosse the Pursevant saith there were eleven men in the Prison and the Keeper of that Prison saith they were delivered by Warrant from the Councell board Sir Iohn Elliott No man could finde a way on which to vent mischiefe against the Church and State so much as by protecting these men that this may be fixed on that great Lord the Lord of Dorset that hath I feare soyled his fingers too farre in this businesse And on Master Attorney at whom I am sorry to nominate so often in this case of Religion in stopping of proceedings against Recusants Master Recorder is ordered to be sent unto to be examined in this rather then to bee sent for having formerly had the honour to sit in the Chaire Secretary Cooke saith we shall desire the King being mercifull in case of bloud to give direction for the reprieving the condemned Priests Sir Iohn Elliott I doubt not but when we shall declare the depth of this to his Majestie but he will render them judgement that gave him advice herein Sir Nathaniel Rich. These Jesuites are bound by sureties to answer further at Councell Board I wish those bonds may produce those men that by the examination of them we might out with the whole pack of Benefactors and Countenancers Master Long saith that hee offering at the Sessions the evidence by order from Master Attorney the Lord chiefe Justice Richardson interrupted him and told him he must speake to the point in issue whether Priests or no Priests and hereupon the Judges consulted amongst themselves Master Selden saith he was present at the Sessions and plaine Treason proved and nothing done in it The further examination of this is referred to a select Committee Monday the 16. of February Anno 1628. A Petition of complaint against Sir Henry Martin for the taking the goods of one Browne who dyed intestate to his owne private use Sir Henry Martin If I prove not my selfe as cleare in this as Saint Iohn Baptist let me be accounted a Jew Referred to the Committee for course of Justice At the Committee for Religion Master Strowde That the Lord Chiefe Justice may be called to give accompt of his stay of Justice in the execution of the condemned Jesuite which he ought to have done though his Majestie signified his pleasure to the contrary Chancellour of the Dutchie That this was a thing so ordinary for a Chiefe Justice to doe in Queene Elizabeth and King Iames their time as also a Declaration in Starre-Chamber that all condemned Priests should be sent to the Castle at Wisbitch and from thence though the King had given no order for the Replevy hee might have taken this Warrant for his proceedings Master Selden reported from the Committee the further examination of Master Long concerning the proceedings of Newgate against the Jesuites whereby it plainly appeareth that the evidence tendered in Court at Newgate did plainly testifie these men to bee Priests yet the Lord Richardson did reject the same against the sentence of the rest of the Judges and Justices present whereby it is plaine that he dealt under hand to the same Jesuites Ordered that two members shall bee sent to each Judge that were present at the Sessions at Newgate who were said to bee the Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench the Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas Justice Whittlocke Justice Iones and Justice Crooke Thursday the 17. of February Anno 1628. Master Chambers preferred another Petition in complaint of a Warrant newly proceeding from the Councell Board for the stay of the Merchants goods unlesse they pay the duties that were due in King Iames his time Sir Iohn Elliott You see as by the last answer from the Exchequer the Merchants were bound within that Court from all means of comming by their owne goods It is ordered the Customers shall attend the House on Thursday in the meane time it is referred to the former Committee Ordered a Committee of six to take all the names of the Fast and to meet at Church by eight of the clocke in the morning Ordered that a Committee shall consider of the speediest way to put the Merchants into possession of their goods without which it is conceived wee sit here in vaine Sir Thomas Hobby reported from the Lord Chiefe Justice Hide That he doth not remember any papers tendered by Master Long were rejected or that he affirmed they were dangerous persons and a Colledge of Jesuites But howsoever Master Long tendered nothing to prove them so but that he held divers papers in his hands Master Wansford reported from the Lord Chiefe Justice Richardson who said Master Long did discourse of the place and House but did not presse the rending of the papers neither doth hee know what were in the papers