yet be expresly prohibited to pray for the Queens conversion in particular to whom we have so neere relation the want of whose conversion hath brought so many mischiefs wars on our Church and Kingdomes Certainly this was an Act of the greatest impiety that ever was committed by any christian Prelat if he really beleeved the Queen to live in a false Religion and may justly brand him for an Atheist being diametrally contrary to Gods precept 1 Tim. 3. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made FOR ALL MEN for Kings and ALL THAT ARE IN AVTHORITY that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Therefore he must needs beleeve her popish Religion to be the true ours the false else he would have encouraged rather then prohibited Ministers to pray for her conversion unto us and our Religion whom it seems by this inhibition he would have converted to her and hers Thirdly this inhibition manifests at the least that the Archbishop was a very cordiall friend servant not onely to her Majesties person but her popish Religion too that he desired her un-interrupted continuance in it without the least opposition not onely by way of dispute but prayers too Fourthly this publike prohibition in his own Metropoliticall visitation was of it self a great encouragement to a strong confirmation of her Majesty and all the popish party in their false Religion giving them great advantages to seduce others to it as the true because this Injunction intimated it to be the true Religion wherein they might safely persevere But did this Prelate stop here only openly to inhibit men thus to pray for her Majesties conversion No verily for both before and after this he imprisoned questioned and censured some in the High Commission for such prayers Master Bernard as we proved formerly was questioned censured in the High Commission as a grand offender for such a Prayer Master Hugh Peter was apprehended by a Pursevant imprisoned for a time in the New-prison silenced here from his Ministry and forced into Holland by the Arch-bishop onely for praying at Sepulchers Church for the Queen in these words That as shee came into a Goshen of safety so the light of Goshen might shine into her soule that shee might not perish in the day of Christ as himselfe and sundry others will depose But we shall insist onely on two other instances in the High Commission The first is one Master William Jones a Gloucestershire Minister who as Master Prynne attested upon oath was brought into the High Commission Anno 1636. and there prosecuted by the Arch-bishops meanes for not reading the Booke of Sports and for praying thus for the Queen in his Pulpit to God To shew unto the Queene the light of Goshen and to bring her to his true worship What worship said the Arch-bishop to him as if her popish worship were Gods true worship Nor did he onely persecute and trouble Ministers thus for praying for the Queens illumination and conversion to Gods true worship but likewise for praying to God to keep the Prince from the infection of popery witnesse the case of one Master John How Minister of Loughborough in the County of Leicester who on the sixth day of November 1634. as was proved by the Register book of the High Commission Court there produced and read was censured in that Court where the Archbishop was chiefe Judge and Dominus fac totum attached committed during his Majesties pleasure suspended from the execution of his Ministry and every part thereof fined five hundred pounds to the Kings use ordered to make a submission to the Court and condemned in expences and costs of suit onely for praying but once in the Pulpit That the young Prince might not be brought up in Popery whereof there was great cause to feare for that as was alleaged these words did much derogate from his Majesties known approved Religious care in maintaining propagating the true Religion here established professed within this Realme and caused a causelesse jealousie of the education of the young Prince his Sonne in the popish Religion When as he onely intended it of the danger of his education in respect of the Queen his Mother and those many seducing Priests Papists then about her who by many policies devices endeavoured as much in them lay to draw him to and educate him in the popish Religion it being provided by the sixteenth Article of the Kings marriage with France That the children which shall by reason of the said marriage be borne and live shall be nurst and brought up NEER THE SAID LADY AND QUEEN from the time of their birth untill they come to the age OF FOURTEEN YEERS In respect whereof there was great cause to feare the Princes infection by and seducement unto Popery without Gods extraordinary mercy and therefore great need of our frequent prayers to prevent it His rigorous proceedings therefore against these Ministers on the one hand for praying for the Queens illumination with and conversion to our Religion and his severe censuring them on the other hand for praying That the young Prince might not be brought up in Popery compared with his intimacy favour with the Queen his redinesse to serve her Majesty upon all speciall services and commands are a most pregnant evidence not onely of his conusance of but powerfull concurring assistance in promoting this grand dangerous designe of introducing Popery and reconciling us to the Church of Rome And that which may further satisfie your Lordships and the world herein is his extraordinary dignifying of Queen Maries his depressing King Edward the sixth his Reigne in his very Preface to the new Statutes compiled by him for the Vniversity of Oxford the Originall whereof was produced and this clause read out of it Edwardo sexto ad clavem sedente novo sundatum est molimine c. Prascribente Rege lenocinante NOVITATE primo visum opus admitti c. Paulo post potiente rerum Maria sub Cardinalis Poli auspicijs idem recruduit labor Novae exindè data leges sed pari cum prioribus angustiâ Interim tamen inter incerta vacillans Statuta viguit Academia colebantur studia enituit Disciplina OPTANDA TEMPORUM FAELICITATE Tabularum defectum resarcivit innatus Candor quicquid legibus deerat Moribus suppletum est Decurrente temporum serie vitijs legibus pariter laboratum est In which passage he brands King Edwards dayes of Reformation with Flattering Novelty applauds Queen Maries under the government of Cardinall Pool as those wherein the University of Oxford did most eminently flourish in learning Discicipline manners and magnifies the desirable felicity of those times under another Qu. Mary of the same Religion depressing Queen Elizabeths reign and her successors as more abounding with vice and more defective of good laws and government in our Oxford University at least then Queene Maries This
Commons of England and to desire that hee may bee forthwith sequestred from Parliament and be committed and that within some convenient time this House will resort to their Lordships with particular acsations and Articles against him Mr. Hollis is appointed to goe up to the Lords with this Message Vpon this his accusation diverse notable Speeches were made against him in the Commons House among others one by Master Grymstone published soone after in print which I shall here subjoyne Master Grymstones Speech IN PARLIAMENT Vpon the Accusation and Impeachment of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury of High TREASON Mr. Speaker THere hath beene presented to the House a most faithfull and exact Report of the conference wee had with the Lords Yesterday together with the opinion of the Committees that were imployed in that service That they conceived it fit the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury should hee sequestred I must second the motion and with the favour of the House I shall bee hold to offer my reasons why I conceive it most necessary wee should proceed a little further than the desire of above sequestration Master Speaker long introductions are not sutable to weighty businesses we are falne upon the great man the Archbishop of Canterbury Looke upon him as hee is in his Highnesse and hee is the stye of all pestilent filth that hath infected the State and Government of the Church and Common Wealth looke upon him in his dependanties and hee is the man the onely man that hath raised and advanced all those that together with himselfe have beene the Authors and causers of all the raines miseries and calemities we now groane under Who is it but he onely that hath brought the Earle of Strafford to all his great place and imployments a fit instrument and spirit to act and execute all his blouay designes in these Kingdomes Who is it but he onely that brought in Secretary Windebanke into the place of Secretary and trust the very Broker and Pander to the Whore of Babylon VVho is it Master Speaker but hee onely that hath advanced all Popish Bishops I shall name some of them Bishop Manwaring the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Bishop of Oxford and Bishop Wren the least of all but the most uncleane one These are men that should have sed Christs Flocke but they are the Wolves that devoured them the Sheepe should have fed upon the Mountaines but the Mountaines have eaten up the Sheepe It was the happinesse of the Church when the zeale of Gods House did eate up the Bishops glorious and brave Martyrs that went to the flaks in defence of the Protestant Religion but the zeale of these Bishops hath beene to eate up and persecute the Church VVho is it Master Speaker but the great Archbishop of Canterbury that hath set at the Helme to guide and steere them to all the managing of their Projects that have beene sit on foote in this Kingdome these tenne yeares last past and rather than hee would stand out hee hath most unworthily trucked and chaffered in the meanest of them As for instance that of Tobacco wherein thousands of poore people have beene stripped and turned out of their Trades for which they have served as Apprentises wee all know hee was the Compounder and contractor with them for the Licences putting them to pay Fines and Fee-Farme rents to use their Trades Certainely Master Speaker hee might have spent his time better and more for his Grace in the Pulpit then thus sharking and raking in the Tobacco shoppe Mr. Speaker we all know what he hath beene charged withall heere in this House Crimes of a dangerous consequence and of transcendent nature no lesse than the subversion of the Government of this Kingdome and the alteration of the Protestant Religion and this not upon bare information onely but much of it comes before us already upon cleare and manifest proofes and there is scarce any businesse Grievance or Complaint come before us in this place wherein we doe not finde him intermingled and as it were twisted into it like a busie and angry Waspe his sting is in the taile of every thing VVe have this day heard the report of the Conference yesterday and in it the Accusations which the Scottish Nation hath charged him with all And we doe all know he is guilty of the same if not more in this Kingdome Mr. Speaker he hath beene and is the common enemy to all goodnes and good men and it is not safe that such a Viper shall be neere to his Majesties person to distill his poyson into his sacred eares nor is it safe for the Common-wealth that hee should sit in so eminent place of government being thus accused We know what we did in the Earle of Straffords case This man is the corrupt Fountaine that hath infected all the streames and till the Fountaine be purged we cannot expect to have any cleare Channels I shall be bold therefore to offer my opinion and if I erre it is the error of my Iudgment and not my want of zeale and affection to the publicke good I conceive it most necessary and fit that we should now take up a Resolution to doe somewhat to strike whilst the Iron is hot And goe up to the Lords in the name of this House and in the name of the Commons of England and to accuse him of high Treason and to desire their Lordships his person may be sequestred and that in convenient time we may bring up the Charge After the House had this day voted the Arch Bishop a Traitor Mr. Hollis the same day was sent up to the Lords to accuse him of High Treason which he did immediatly in the generall without any particular charge assuring the Lords that in convenient time there should be a particular charge exhibited against him by the Commons to make good the accusation Wherefore he desired the Lords that the Arch Bishop might be sequestred from the House and committed hereupon he was forthwith committed to the Gentleman Vsher but yet permitted to goe in his company to Lambeth for some books to read in and such Papers as pertained to his defence against the Scotts charge And what papers of greatest consequence he then conveyed away thence burned or defaced is worthy inquiry Master Hollis his report from the Lords I finde thus entred in the Commons Iournall 18. December 1640. Master Hollis reported that according to the command of this House hee had delivered to their Lordships the Message that my Lord Keeper said Their Lordships had considered of the Message and accordingly they had sequestred the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury from Parliament and had committed him in safe custody to the Gentleman Vsher of their House The Lords Order for his commitment is thus entered in their Journall 18. December 1640. It is this day Ordered that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury being accused of high Treason by the house of Commons in their owne names and in the name of
these men from it And that it may appear unto Your Lordships how many and of what condition the persons are which by Gods blessing upon my labours I have setled in the true Protestant Religion established in England I shall briefely name some of them though I cannot do it in order of time as I converted them Henry Berkinstead of Trinity Colledge Oxon seduced by a Jesuite and brought to London The Lords and others conceiving him to be Berchinhead the Author of all the Libellous Popish Oxford Aulicusses against the Parliament at the naming of him smiled which the Archbishop perceiving said My Lords I mean not Berchinhead the Author of Oxford Aulicus but another Two Daughters of Sir Richard Lechford in Surry sent towards a NVNNERIE Two Schollers of Saint Johns Colledge Cambridge Toppin and Ashton who had got the French Ambassadors passe and after this I allowed means to Toppin and then procured him a fellowship in Saint Johns And he is at this present as hopefull a young man as any of his time and a Divine Sir William Webbe my kinsman and two of his Daughters And his son I took from him and his Father being utterly decayed I bred him at my own charge and he is a very good Protestant A Gentleman brought to me by Master Chesford his Majesties servant but I cannot recall his name The Lord Mayo of Ireland brought to me also by Master Chesford The Right Honourable the Lord. Duke of Buckingham almost quite gone between the Lady his Mother and Sister The Lady Marquesse Hamilton was setled by my direction and shee dyed very religiously and a Protestant Master Digby who was a Priest Master James a Gentleman brought to mee by a Minister in Buckinghamshire as I remember Doctor Heart the Civilian my neighbours sonne at Fulham Master Christopher Seaburne a Gentleman of an ancient family in Herefordshire The Right Honourable the Countesse of Buckingham Sir William Spencer of Parnton Master Shillingworth The sonnes and heires of Master Winchcombe and Master Wollescott whom I sent with their friends liking to Wadham Colledge Oxford and received a Certificate Anno 1638. of their continuing in conformity to the Church of England Nor did ever any one of these named relapse againe but only the Countesse of Buckingham and Sir William Spencer it being only in Gods power not mine to preserve them from relapse And now let any Clergy man of England come forth and give a better accompt of his zeale to the Church This speech being ended all were commanded to withdraw In the withdrawing Master Hugh Peters who stood near the Archbishop demanded of him whether he was not ashamed to make such a bold challenge in so honourable an Auditory as he had made in the close of his Speech In bidding any Clergy man of the Church of England to come forth and give a better account of his zeal to the Church and conversion of Papists to our Religion then he had done Adding that himself the unworthiest of many hundred Ministers in England was there ready to answer his challenge and to produce a Catalogue not of 22. but of above 120. Papists which he through Gods blessing had converted to our Religion and brought home to God besides making them other manner of Converts then any in his recited Bead-Rol who were made neither good Protestants nor good Christians by him Adding that he and many other Ministers in England were able to produce hundreds of reall Converts to Christ for every of his pretended ones some wherof by his own confession soon turned Apostates and the rest but litle better At which speech of his the Archbishop seemed much offended and some of his friends there present taxing Master Peters as an unmannerly sawcy fellow for using such language to him in this his afflicted condition desired him to trouble his Grace no further with such rude discourse whereupon they parted without more words If we survey this Oration of the Arch-bishop with an impartiall eye we may discover abundance of shamelesse Impudency and Pharisaicall selfe-justification beyond all bounds of Modesty or Verity broached in it so apparently contradicted by his manifold unjust oppressive violent actions and Popish Innovations of all sorts visible to the eyes of all men and so diametrally refuted by the subsequent evidence produced against him during his seventeen dayes tryall that had not his brow been made of brasse and his face of Adamant he could not have justified so many grosse untruths of him selfe before such an honourable publike Auditory and the supreame Judicatory of the Realme with so much shamelesse impudency as hee did But t is the common practise of obdurate sinners and cauterized Delinquents Fortem animum praestant rebus quas turpitèr audent Like the adulterous woman Pro. 30. 20. Who eateth and wipeth her mouth and saith I HAVE DONE NO WICKEDNES This Evening the Lords Ordered the Arch-bishop to appear at their Bar the next morning by 9 of the Clocke at which time they would proceed in his Tryall Whereupon all departing for that time appeared the next day at the appointed houre in the Lords House where the Commons entring upon their evidence proved the Articles in their Order I shall present you with the summe and severall branches of his charge and then prosecute them in the ensuing method The Generall Charge against the Archbishop with the severall branches thereof THe Charge against this Arch-Malefactor consisting of many various particular Crimes of high nature is reducible to one generall head to wit High Treason against the King and Kingdome thus expressed in the 1. Originall and 2. Additionall Articles That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and Government of the Kingdome of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government This Generall is distributed into foure Speciall branches in the Articles of his Impeachment under which all the particular Capitall Offences and grand Misdemenours given in evidence against him at his Tryall are comprehensible 1. His Trayterous endeavours and practises to alter and subvert Gods true Religion by Law established in this Realme and instead thereof to set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry and reconcile us to the Church of Rome the particulars whereof are specified in the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Originall and 6. 7. 8. 9. Additionall Articles 2. His Trayterous usurpation of a Papall and Tyranicall power in the Church of England in all Ecclesiasticall affaires in prejudice and derogation of his Majesties Royall Prerogative and the Subjects liberties comprised in the sixt originall Article 3. His Trayterous attempts and endeavours to subvert the fundamentall temporall Lawes Government and Liberties of the Realme and Subjects of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyranicall Government against the Law and Subjects liberties expressed in the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 13 Originall and 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 10. Additionall Articles 4. His Trayterous
REVERENTIA which they by words and practise interpreted to be a lowly bowing to or towards it OBLATIONES FACIANT Quod si quis I Precibus sole nuibus OBLATIONIBVS absens fuerit aut praesens CUM DEBIT A REUERENTIA AD MENS AM EUCHARISTIAAE SACRAM accedere recusaverit puniatur pro arbitrio Vice-Cancellarij ac insuper mulctetur 5s Here we have bowing to the Table or Altar prescribed by a Law as a REVERENC DVE VNTO IT AND OBLATIONS at it enjoyned to all Graduates whatsoever of any kind of faculty to be acted solemnly in the Vniversity Church of St. Maries in the Act time under pain of such arbittary punishments as the Vice-Chancellour should inflict 5. s. Fine upon such who refused or neglected this solemne oblation at or bowing to the Altar both which they were bound by Oath to perform and observe being one of the Statutes of the Vniversity to which all Graduates swore obedience Yea this their ceremony of bowing to and prostration before the Altar was so well pleasing well known to the Archbishop himselfe that in one of his letters sent to the Vniversity of Oxford Dated at Lambheth 28. Ianuary 1639. recorded in their Publique Register f. 166. he importunes them to pray for him as oft as they should prostrate themselves before the Altar in these very termes Quoties CORAM ALTARE DEI Christi ejus PROCIDATIS videte sitis inter orandum memores mei Peccatoris sed Amici Cancellarij vestri W. Cant. Whence the Archbishop took his Patterne for enjoyning Graduates thus by new Vniversity Statutes and the Fellowes Schollers of Merton Colledge by his Visiters to bow and yeeld due Reverence to the Altar is worthy speciall observation doubtlesse it was from none other but his owne Popish Predecessor Cardinall Poole Archbishop of Canterbury in Queene Maries dayes who reduced reconciled our Kingdomes of England and Ireland to the Popes obedience and superstitions which they had formerly cast off in King Edwards dayes For this Cardinall Archbishop Visiting the Vniversity of Cambridg by his substitutes whereof Ormanet the Popes Datary was one among other Lawes and Injunctions as Mr. Jo. Fox Records prescribed every Scholler there AFTER WHAT SORT HE SHOVLD BOW HIMSELFE TO THE ALTAR there being no other ancient president extant in any of our owne Vniversities Statutes nor for ought I finde in forraign Academies prescribing bowing to the Altar unto any Academians but this of Cardinal Poole alone And must not he be a meere Popish Prelat and Chancellor in good earnest who thus makes his Popish Cardinall Predecessors Injunctions in Queen Maries bloody Reigne the sole Rule whereby to reform the Vniversity of Oxford in King Charles his dayes Finally this Archbishop in hope that solemne Popish Processions might in short time creepe up into use againe in our Vniversities as well as Crucifixes Copes Latine service and bowing to Altars among other his new Oxford Statutes continued and revived this whereby all Regent Masters were bound to read and sing in solemne Processions as the Proctors should assigne them be it right or wrong witnesse this Clause in the large Leger Parchment Booke of this Vniversities new Statutes Tit. 9. Sect. 1. paragr 5. Iurabis quod Leges Cantabis IN SOLENNIBVS PROCESSIONIBVS secundum assignationem dispositionem Procuratorum vel si recusaveris solves Vs. in usum Vniversitatis per Procuratores exigendos Resp Iuro which was read Now thus to oblige men by Oath to read and Chaunt in Processions what the Proctors should appoint be it the very Masse it selfe or a Popish hymme or prayer taken out of the Roman Missall Caeremoniall or Pontificall how farre it trencheth upon the liberty of mens consciences extends to the Alteration of Religion and conduced to corrupt the Vniversitie was humbly submitted to the serious considerations of the Lords and all others We have thus given you a briefe account of this Arch-Prelates Popish Innovations in the Vniversity of Oxford where he was then a reall Chancellor and ought in duty to have suppressed them the summe whereof is this that in most Churches Colledges Chappell 's both in this Vniversity and City during the time of his Government Communion Tables were turned railed in Altarwise changed into Altars schollers of all sorts and degrees injoyned by Statutes and Oathes especically in the puplique Act solemnities to bow themselves downe and yeeld due reverence to the Altar to present their oblations thereat which they must neither refuse nor neglect under paine of 5. s. fine and other Arbitrary punishments Latine service with the Chaunting of it and solemne Precessions introduced enjoyned Copes used Crucifixes repaired beautified where formerly defaced and new erected where none were before a New Statue of the Virgin Mary with Christ a babe in her Armes set up in the most publike noted place of all the Vniversity where all passengers might behold it yea publike adoration Capping bowing kneeling yeelded to it without the least checke dislike yea with the highest approbation of this pretended zealous Protestant Chauncellor to the poysoning of many Graduates Students in this most famous Academy What Romish Alterations Innovations of like nature hee by his Instruments Favorites Chaplins brought into the Vniversity of Cambridge of which he was more then halfe Chauncellor in reality though the Earle of Holland had the Title and afterwards sole Visitor by a Decree at Councell Table as meere Archbishop of Canterbury we shall in the next place evidence by substantiall Proofes In the Vniversity of Cambridge the Archbishop since his greatnesse by his extraordinary power brought in divers of his Creatures Chaplaines to be heads of houses and Vice-Chauncellors as Dr. Martin Dr. Cosins Dr. Beale Dr. Laney with others Popishly affected who within the space of ten yeares introduced the severall Popish Innovations Ceremonies specified in the following depositions Mr. Wallis a Scholler and Graduate of this Vniversity deposed That Altars Pictures Crucifixes were there of late set up in most Colledge Chappell 's and in some Churches particularly that in Peter house Chappel there was a glorious new Altar set up mounted on steps to which the Master Fellowes Schollers bowed were enjoyned to bow by Doctor Cosens the Master who set it up that there were Basons Candlestickes Tapers standing on it and a great Crucifix hanging over it That in the Vniversity Church of St. Maries there was an Altar raised in to which the Doctors Schollers and others usually bowed That these Altars Crucifixes Candlestickes Tapers and bowing to Altars continued till after this Parliament and were brought in since the Archbishops time by meanes of Bishop Wren Doctor Cosens Dr. Martin and others all Canterburies great fauorites Master Nicholas le Greise late Student in Cambridge witnessed upon Oathâ— that in St Iohns Colledge Kings Colledge Trinity Colledge and Peter house there were Altars Candlestickes Tapers and Crucifixes newly set up That in St. Iohns and Peter House Chappell 's there
of our reducement to Rome yea the discovery of Andreas ab Habernfield to the Archbishop informes both him and ns That one of Endimion Porters Sonnes of the Bed-chamber now in armes against the Parliament was promised a Cardinals Hat if this designe succeeded well and that Sir Kenelme Digby Master Walter Mountague and other active Instruments who promoted that designe among us attended the sixteen Cardinals Caps that were vacant which were therefore detained vacant for some yeers to impose a vaine hope on those who expected them And Master Widford in his Letters from Rome to Secretary Windebank Novemb. 10. 1640. informes him that Master Sommerset and Master Brudenell were come to Florence aiming at our English Cardinals Caps which then by reason of the Popes Catarre were like to be disposed of All which particulars are a most cleere demonstration of the Pope and his Conclaves endeavours to reduce us back to Rome and of this Archbishops privity to if not assistance in it The sixth Evidence we shall mention to prove the Archbishops not onely intelligence of but compliance with the Popes and his Instruments Plots and proceedings to usher in Popery and reduce our Kingdomes to the Antichristian Religion and Church of Rome is his conusance and furtherance of this their design in Ireland which we shall thus demonstrate The House of Commons June 11. 1628. presented a Remonstrance to the King concerning the extraordinary encrease and growth of Popery of Papists both in England and Ireland and the extraordinary favour which they found from some great persons in his Court wherein they had this notable clause concerning Ireland IT doth not a little also encrease our dangers and feares this way to understand the miserable condition of your Kingdome of Ireland where without controle the Popish Religion is openly professed and practised in every part thereof Popish jurisdiction being generally exercised and avowed Monasteries Nunneries and other superstitious houses newly erected re-edified replenished with men and women of severall Orders and in a plentifull manner maintained in Dublin and most of the great Townes and divers other places of that Kingdome Which of what ill consequence it may prove if not seasonably repressed we leave to your Majesties wisdome to judge But most heartily beseech you as we assure our selves you doe to lay the serious consideration thereof to your Royall pious heart AND THAT SOME TIMELY COURSE MAY BE TAKEN FOR REDRESSE HEREIN Had this pious prudent timely advice been then harkned to and followed to purpose it might no doubt through Gods concurrence with it have prevented that horrid Rebellion those bloody Massacres of some hundred thousands of poor English Protestants in and devastation of that distressed Kingdom which have broken forth and been perpetrated there of late almost to the utter extirpation of the English and Irish Protestants the ruine of that Kingdome and infinite losse yea eminent danger of this our Realme to boot But this Popish Prelate though he then certainly knew this Remonstrance to be most true out of an inveterate hatred to the Parliament and a desire to promote the Catholikes designes there instead of perswading his Majesty to hearken to this true information and wholesome advice of his faithfull Commons drew up a most pernitious malepert Answer with his owne hand in his Majesties name against this Remonstrance which he presented to his Majesty wherein he incensed him against the Commons charging them not onely with misinforming but traducing his Majesties government by this clause concerning Ireland in this dishonourable language produced and read under his owne hand out of the Originall draught attested by Master Prynne FOR Ireland We think in case of Religion 't is not worse then Queen Elizabeth left it and for other affaires 't is as good as we found it nay perhaps better and We take it a great disparagement of Our government that it should be urged that new Monasteries Nunneries and other superstitious houses are erected and replenished in Dublin and other great Townes in this Our Kingdome for we assure Our Selves Our Deputy and Our Counsell there will not suffer God and Our government so to be dishonoured but We should have had some account of it from them and We may not endure thus to have Our good People misled with shewes Which in plaine tearmes is but a giving the House of Commons the Lye and a slandering of them as false Informers both to the King and people By which wicked practice their Remonstrance was rejected as a slanderous Libell and their Councell not pursued the dolefull effects whereof we now experimentally feele and rue That this Prelate when he made this Answer certainly knew of the grand encrease of the Papists in Ireland and that they had then upon the matter obtained a publike toleration will appeare by a paper found in his Study produced at the Barre thus endorsed with this Archbishops own hand 1626. The Bishops of Ireland about a Toleration feared The Judgement of the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning toleration of the Papish Religion by publike Protestation THE Religion of Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erronious and hereticall their Church in respect of both Apostaticall to give them therefore a toleration of Religion or to consent that they may-freely exercise their Religion and professe their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sinne and that in two respects First it is to make our selves accessary to their superstitious Idolaries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the deluge of the Catholike Apostacy Secondly to grant them a toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the soules of the people whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sinne so it is a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we leave to the wise and judicions beseeching the zealous God of truth to make those who are in authority zealous of Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry There were likely to be granted to the Papists in Ireland many priviledges and withall a toleration for their Religion in the consideration of the payment of a great summe of mony This Easter tearme 1626. there was a great meeting of all the chiefest of the whole Kingdome and the Archbishops and Bishops c. and it was likely to be concluded Doctor Dâ—wanm Bishop of London-Derry April 11. preached at Dublin before the Lord Deputy and the State his Text was Luke 1. at the 79. In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation above written subscribed by the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland and at the end he boldly said And
sentire corpus quod suo simillimum videt c. Paulo post Plus valent simulaâ—hra ad curvandam infaelicâ—m animam quodos ooulos aures pedes habent quà m ad corrigendam quòd non lequuntur neque vident neque audiunt neque ambulant Haec sanè videtur causa esse cur Johannes non tantùm à simulachrorum cultu sod ab ipsis quoque simulachris cavere nos voluerit Et nos horribili insania quae ad totius ferè pietatis interituÌ„ orbem ante hac occupavit plus nimio sumus experti simulatque in templis collecantur imagines quasi signum idololatriae erigi quia sibi temperare non potest hominum stultitia quin protinus ad superstitiosos cultâ—m delabatur Quòd si nec tantum periculi immineret quam tumen expendo in quem usum destinata sint templa nescio quomodo indignum mihi videtur eorum sanctitate ut alias recipiant imagines quà m vivas illas iconicas quas verbo suo Dominiâ— consecravit Baptismum intelligo Coenam Domini â—um aliis ceremoniis quibus oculos nostros studiosius detineri vividius affici convenit quà m ut alias hominum ingenio fabrefactas requirant En incomperabile imaginum bonum quod nulla pensatione resarciri potest si Papistis creditur This Author hath many such like Passages in his other works and therefore the Archbishops citing of him to justifie his Chappel Images argues either extreme Ignorance or Falshood Sixthly Whereas he would pray in ayd from our Homilies to justifie the Historical use of these Images in his Chappel The Homilies are so point-blank against it as we have proved that Impudency it self would blush to cite them to such a purpose especially since the Third Part of the Homily against the Peril of Idolatry pag. 41 42 43. expresly resolves it unlawful to make the picture of Christ or any person in the Trinity much lesse to set them up in Churches Seventhly That the Primitive Christians approved of Images and had the picture of Christ in their Churches and engraven on their Chalices is a most notorious Falshood For Justine Martyr Clemens Alexandrinus Irenaeus Tertullian Minutius Felix Origen Arnobius Cyprian Lactantius Geegory Nyssan Athanasius Ambrose Epiphanius Eusebius Hierome Augustine Hilary Chrysostome Theodoret Theophylact and other Ancients unanimously agree That the Primitive Christians had no Images at all in their Churches together with the Councels of Eliberis Constantinople Toledo Francford and Constantine the Great Constantinus Caballinus Nicephorus Stauratius Philipicus Anthemius Theodosius the second Leo Armenus Valens Michael Balbus Theophylus Charls the Great with sundry other godly Emperors utterly demolished and cast them out of Churches as Ecclesiastical Authors our own Homilies church- Writers prove at large against the Papsts Lactantius and other Primitive Christians write expresly That without doubt there can be no Religion at all in that place wheresoever any Image is whereupon Epiphanius rent the Image of Christ or some other Saint which he found in a Church painted in cloth out of holy indignation as contrary to the Authority of the Scriptures In few words Our own Homilies against the peril of Idolatry part 2. p. 38. expresly resolve That when Images began to creep into the Church they were not onely spoken and written against by godly and learned Bishops Doctors and Clerks but also condemned by WHOLE COVNCELS OF LEARNED MEN assembled together yea the said Images by many Christian Emperors and Bishops were defaced broken and destroyed Which Mr. Calvin in the place objected by the Bishop affirms likewise And therefore it is a most desperate Impudency in the Archbishop thus falsly to affirm the contrary point-blank against our Homilies and his own subscription to them And whereas he cites Tertullian to prove that the Christians in his dayes had the picture of Christ upon their Chalices We Answer That if the Book de Pvdicitia be Tertullians own of which some doubt yet his words import no such thing which are these A parabolis licebit incipias ubi est evis perdita à Domino acquisita humeris ejus revecta Procedant ipsae PICTVRAE CALICVM VESTRORVM not nostrorum si volle nillis perlucebit interpretatio pecudis illius utrumne Christiano vel Ethnico peccateri de restitutione colliniet If this place intimate any thing it is onely this That the Phychici and other Hereticks against whom he writ this Book not the Orthodox Christians as this Prelate dreams had the picture of the lost sheep graven on their cups will it therefore follow hence Ergo The Orthodox Christians had Crucifixes and Images of Christ God the Father the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary in their Churches in their Chappelss as he hath set up in his Lambeth Chappel windows Certainly this is a grosse Nonsequitur Yet this is his learned Argument from this Authority rightly stated And that he hath most grosly abused Tertullian your Lordships and his Auditory in alleadging Tertullian for defence of Images and their use among the Primitive Christians certainly Tertullian is so far from any such opinion that he hath written a whole Book de Idololatria next before this de Pudicitia wherein he expresly condemns not onely the having but making of any Image or Picture for any use and the very Arts of carving and painting Images as contrary to the second Commandment as the * Jews Iosephus Philo and others did before him the very Turks and Persians at this day Take but this Sentence of his insted of many Omnis forma vel formula Idolum se dici exposcit Idolum TAM FIERI quam coli Deus prohibet Quanto praecedit ut fiat quod coli possit tantò prius est NE FIAT si coli non licet Propter hanc causam ad eradicandum scilicet materiam Idololatriae lex divina proclamat Ne feceris Idolum conjungens Neque similitudinem eorum quae in coelo sunt quae in terra quae in mari TOTO MVNDO EJVSMODI ARTIBVS INTERDIXIT SERVIS DEI. Artifices statuarum Imaginum DIABOLVS seculo notulit c. Which he prosecutes at large throughout this eloquent Book And therefore his Impudency and Sophistry in citing Tertullian for defence of Images in Churches who is thus point-blank against the making of any Image whatsoever even for civil uses is an intolerable inexcusable Boldnesse Eighthly Whereas he Answers That the setting up of these Glasse-Images is no High-Treason by the Statute We grant it not to be so simply in it self neither do we urge it to be so but as it tends to subvert our Religion Laws and set up Popery concurs with his other practises of this nature so it may and will prove High Treason The second Part of the Homily against the peril of Idolatry Page 37. assures us That the maintenance of Images hath brought in a sea of mischiefs horrible Schisms Rebellions TREASONS and his maintaining of them hath
to infuse feares and jealousies of the increase of Popery into the peoples mindes and casting aspersions upon the Governours of the Church For Master Bernards prosecution it was upon the Complaint of Doctor Cumber Vice-Chancellour of Cambridge Fiftly for other Ministers that were questioned or fled from hence to New-England they were Non-conformists questioned upon just complaints and most of them fled hence out of a consciousnesse of guilt or of a panick feare before they were questioned or pursued To this was replyed first that we must not follow a multitude to doe evill and injustice done by a whole Court is a greater crime in every particular person who votes or concurres in it then if he had done an act of Injustice alone because more dangerous more inexcusable a greater perverting of Justice framing of mischiefe by a Law and making the very throne of Justice a throne of wickednesse Yea since the injustice of the whole Court flowes from the injustice of each particular Members vote and is the Act of each particular man who concurres in or consents to it he may no doubt be justly censured for it and others concurrence with him will be no excuse If twenty men joyne in a Treason Felony or Trespasse any one of them may by Law be severally arraigned and condemned for it as well as all of them together We have a notable President to prove this in the Judges censured and condemned in Parliament in King Richard the seconds time for delivering their opinions contrary to Law against the Members of Parliament and in the Judges questioned impeached this present Parliament for their false Judgement given in the case of Ship-money who might have pleaded as well as the Archbishop each for himselfe the judgement we gave in these cases was the Act and Judgement of the whole Bench therefore we ought not to be severally impeached for it but none of them were so inconsiderate as to make such a childish plea which himselfe refused to admit in the High-Commission in the case of the men of Gloucester censured for granting an Annuity to Master Workman their Minister under the City Seale an Act of the whole Corporation yet they were there Sentenced for it in their naturall capacities as single men And if this Plea should be admitted no corrupt Judges in any Court of Justice should be severally proceeded against for any illegall Judgement or proceedings of the Court which would be the very bane of publicke Justice and encourage ill Judges to doe what they list Secondly the objected Act of Parliament leaves the Judgments of both Courts as it found them neither better nor worse and the Judges that gave them in the same condition as before not in a better If the Judgment be unjust it leaves both them and the Judges as far forth liable to examination repeal censure as formerly as appeares by divers of them now questioned in Parliament for unjust Sentences therein given Thirdly the Proceedings Sentences against these persons were certainly most unjust being onely for Preaching necessary Truths and that which is but a Misdemeanour in others simply considerated as a single offence may prove high-treason in him being conjoynedwith and done in pursuit of his other Treasonable practises to subvert Religion Lawes Liberties introduce popery an arbitrary tyrannicall government which we have fully manifested Fourthly the passages for which they were censured were neither scismatical nor seditious nor scandalous but necessary for those secure times to mind the people of the dangerous covert encrease of popery Arminianisme and undermining of our Religion which all now visibly discerne but few then observed and to ruine godly Ministers for discharging their consciences duties in warning men of those dangers and speaking for the safety of that endangered Religion which we all professe was a most unjust and monstrous misdemeanour especially in an Arch-prelat who should have encouraged rewarded advanced them for this their faithfulnesse as for the aspersions pretended to be cast upon the Governours of the Church therein they were in truth meer generall censures without particularizing of such who justly deserved them And it is no calumny but a necessary duty for Ministers to tell negligent or unfaithfull Prelates of their duties and reprehend them for their supinesse when they are faulty as well as other men For Master Bernard and the rest they were prosecuted onely by this Archbishops own instigation for all the passages and proceedings against them were found in his study endorsed with his own hand he was the person to whom they made their humble addresses though without relief and the only inexorable enemy they met with their unjust censures therfore must rest principally on him who though he voted last in their condemnation yet appeared first in their prosecution and pre-directed their censures in private before they were given in open Court Fiftly all the forementioned godly Ministers were unjusty molested by him and few fled from hence but such who were actually prosecuted or threatned with ruine ere they left the Kingdom most of them being then conformable to all Rites and Ceremonies by Law established in our Church though not to his popish Innovations Ceremonies and Book of Sports against our Lawes and their consciences too This charge therefore still rests entirely upon him notwithstanding his evasions The fifteenth charge objected against me is my endeavours practises proceedings to suppresse preaching Lecturers Lectures on Lords-dayes and week-days and that first by a paper of Considerations which I tendred to the King Secondly by Instructions extracted out of them and sent as the Kings in his name and authority to both the Archishops and all Bishops of the Realm to be put in strict execution by colour whereof many Lectures Lecturers were suppressed in my owne Diocesse of London and in other Diocesses especially by Bishop Mountague Bishop Wren and Bishop Peice as appeares by their Articles and proceedings Thirdly orders for Combination Lectures Fourthly the Kings Letters that none should be ordained without a Title Fiftly the silencing of Master Leigh and others by my own direction and Letters signed by me Sixtly by suppressing the Feoffees for Impropriations alledged to be my act and project To this I answer first that these Considerations were originally drawne by Bishop Harsnet not me who onely transcribed them out of his Copy Secondly that these Instructions of the King were before I was made Archbishop and were sent unto me by my Predecessour in the Kings name to be put in execution in my Diocesse whereupon I was bound in duty to see them executed being good and necessary the intent of them being principally to bring all Lecturers to conformity to suppresse single Lecturers where there were Preaching Ministers to preserve peace between the Minister and people betwixt whom Lecturers in many places made great contentions alienating the peoples affections from their Ministers person Ministry and raising divers Schismes to the disturbance of the Churches
seduce him to popery and reconcile our Churches and Kingdomes to Rome by this meanes contained in their mutuall Articles of Impeachment the Copies of which Letters and Articles were found in his owne Study by Master Prynne must needs concerne him since he could not be ignorant that the Pope and his Instruments would use their utmost diligence to seduce the Prince to their Religion when they had him thus sent and betrayed into their power for that very purpose and his Letter to Bishop Hall though written but of late long after that intended Match yet fully relates his privity to the most secret Instructions before it to gratifie and please the very Pope himselfe and prevent his Objections against the Match or King James For the French Match the Evidence proves he was both privy consenting and assisting to it even after he knew the danger of it in point of Religion both to the King and Kingdome by the proceedings and Articles in the Spanish Treaty being both the very same in substance whereas his intimacy power with the King Duke and quality of his place as he was a Bishop yea Confessor to one or both of them should have engaged him had he been a reall Protestant to have used his utmost endeavours to disswade the King and Duke from both these Popish Matches as most perilous destructive to our Religion the sad effects whereof we now visibly behold in our civill wars and read In Characters written with our owne blood For his intimacy with the Queen it favours of farre more then civility or duty and her extaordinary favours to him proceeded from no other cause but his compliance with her Majesty to introduce popery and reduce us back to Rome as appeares by his proceedings against Master Gellibrand in the High Commission for his Almanack wherin the popish Saints were expunged and our Martyrs inserted at her Majesties request by his prohibiting Ministers to pray and censuring them for praying for her conversion to our Religion which we have punctually proved and of Master Howe for praying to God to preserve the young Prince from being brought up in Popery of which there was great feare a harmlesse yea necessary prayer both in respect of the Queen Mother then too neer him and the Queen who by the Articles of the Match was to have a great hand in his Education till he was fourteen yeers of age as also in regard of the Popes Nuncioes the seducing Jesuits Priests and Capucines about the Queen Court Him and childrens naturall prouenesse unto errour Which prayers admit they had been an oversight yet proceeding from a godly Christian Zeale deserved onely a private admonition not open prosecution or High Commission censure but his making of them so publickly criminall and censuring those so severely for them of purpose to deterre all others from praying for the Queens conversion or against the Princes perversion is an undeniable argument of his good affection to Popery and attempts to reduce us thereunto For his extolling Queen Maries and depressing King Edwards and Queen Elizabeths dayes the words sufficiently declare it was as well in reference to the Religion then professed as to the Vniversity Statutes and the Preface it selfe is of his owne making as well as the Statutes as we shall more fully manifest in due place by his own letters Secondly to the particular instances the Commons made this reply First that their maine end in producing them was onely to demonstrate that the Pope and his Instruments had a reall Plot and designe to introduce Popery and reduce us back to Rome and that the Archbishop could not but know and take speciall notice thereof by all these particular Letters Papers Books found in his owne Study sent written to himselfe endorsed with his owne hand or recorded in his Diary which should have engaged him with greater vigilancy care animosity to have opposed them and their designes In which regard the three first of them with all the rest most neerly concerned him neither doth nor can he plead ignorance of them Secondly that though all these particulars prove not that he promoted confederated with them in their designes yet some of them directly prove it as his countenancing of Sancta Clara his Books his maintaining of Saint Giles a most dangerous seducing Popish Priest many yeers in the University of Oxford his opposing answering the Commons Remonstrance against the dangerous open encrease and practises of Papists in Ireland to set up Popery there and branding it as a scandalous untruth Thirdly for Habernfields plot we shall prove how it makes against him in due time and for Sancta Clara his Book of Reconciliation we have proved First that he knew of it and had both the Book and Author brought to him by his Favourite Doctor Linsey before it was printed this we have under his owne hand therefore it is monstrous impudency in him to deny it Secondly that this Book when printed was presented to reserved by him in his study and the Author with him there some three or four times afterwards Thirdly that it was printed and publickly sold here in Londō without controll Fourthly that his creatures both abroad and at home much applauded it Fiftly that Saint Giles was the Author of it a popish Priest whom himselfe sent to and maintained in the University of Oxford to pervert and seduce Schollers there That he had the Kings Warrant for it is no excuse and the Warrant being without date written with his owne hand and signed by the King to help at a dead list savours of meer fraud circumvention and will amount to an aggravation but no extenuation of his crime Fourthly the proffer of a Cardinalship twice unto him even at Court so soon as he was nominated Archbishop proves the good opinion that the popish party had of his inclination to their party and Religion his concealing the names of the parties that made him the offer which he will not disclose and his not prosecuting and complaining against them to bring them to publique justice prove that he deemed this proffer no injury nor disparagement if a poor Puritan did but write against Popery or Popish Innovations he presently prosecuted him in the High Commission or Star-chamber where he was sure to be fined imprisoned pillored stigmatized scourged banished but he that seriously tendred him a Cardinals Cap twice one after another escaped scot-free without so much as being once questioned for it As for his informing the King thereof it was not by way of complaint but advice and his answer to the King if true is no absolute rejection of the Dignity but rather an adjournment for the present his ambitious itching desire of being a Pope and Patriarch throughout his Majesties Dominions testified by Sir Henry and Master Anthony Mildmay with Master Challoner making him refuse the present offer not any detestation of Popery or reconciliation with Rome To the sixt was replied that it appeared by the Bishops Protestation in
use of them the quite contrary way to poyson corrupt our Universities to sophisticate our Articles of Religion to put such a Roman glosse upon them as might make them seem to be Roman Catholiques and to reconcile us speedily to Rome not Rome to us as Sancta Clara his Book written in England and shewed to his Grace by the Author himselfe accompanied with his great favourite Bishop Linsey before its publication as himselfe acknowledgeth under his owne hand-writing manifests past all contradiction therefore the case of Preston to whom he himselfe hath given a protection under his hand and Seale as well as Abbot is altogether impertinent Thirdly for his correspondency with Sir Toby Matthew Sancta Clara Saint Giles Leander Smith and Price we have so fully proved it that impudency it selfe would blush to deny it OurWitnesses have sworne all of them to be popish Priests himselfe under his hand confesseth Saint Giles to be such a Priest and that he was charged not to exercise his Priestly Function during his residence in Oxford it is strange audacity therefore in him to deny that he knew any of them to be Priests when he infallibly confesseth he knew him and no doubt knew all the rest to be so too especially Sancta Clara who stiles himselfe so in his Book yea Father Price and Leander too were most notoriously knowne to all to be such and to exercise their Priestly Function in London if not in the Court it selfe sometimes therefore knowne no doubt to be priests to him Fourthly for the Witnesses produced we very much wonder at his exceptions against them most of them as Master Waddesworth Newton Mayo Thatcher Goldsmith and Cooke being persons imployed by the Lords of the Counsell himself and the high Commissioners to apprehend Priests and other Delinquents who cōtinued in that imployment after the pretended complaints against them If they were men so dishonest so uncredible as he pretends why thē did himself the Lords and high Commissioners make choice or imploy such for their Messengers commit so great a trust unto them If they be persons worthy to be trusted with such an employment by persons of honour quality and himselfe too then certainly most competent Witnesses attesting onely that they know with reference to the Arch-bishop in the very execution of their Office about the apprehending of Priests and Jesuits wherein none can give so full or punctuall testimony as themselves who are most privy to their own Actions For the pretended abuses committed they concerne onely two or three of them not all that they are guilty of ought complained against them there is not the least shadow of proofe offered by the Archbi and admit there were yet it would no wayes invalid their testimony being not in the things for which they were accused and fortified with other concurrent testimonies as Master Thatchers Master Deuxels and Elizabeth Grayes against which there is no just exception for Mr Egertons censure in the High Commission it was most unjust and illegall he was sentented there to be deprived of his Searchers place and fined forty pounds onely for giving way and conniving at the importation of some ENGLISH BIBLES with GENEVA NOTES and selling some of them to others A dangerous crime which will rather improve then impeach his testimony in all honestmens opinions Secondly for his particular answers we shall returne this replication First that the Warrant under the Kings hand for Saint Giles his residence and maintainance in Oxford is without date written with the Archbishops owne hand and a meer circumvention yea it seems a very strong argument of his guilt for if himselfe did not place and provide for him in Oxford what need he procure such a Warrant from the King to doe it and if he had been cordiall to our Religion he would never have accepted such a Warrant nor intermedled with such a dangerous scandalous Designe as this to poyson and seduce the whole University who took publick notice of it in such a time of generall defection and backsliding unto popery Secondly for his intimacy with Sir Toby Matthew and knowing him to be a Priest our Witnesses evidences are so cleere we shall rather pitty his impudency in denying it then trouble your Lordships in repeating them Master Dobsons not seeing him at Lambeth is no proofe he was not there and the Earle of Straffords releasing him was seconded with his owne approbation who said it is well Thirdly for Smiths Leanders and Price their resorts unto him we have formerly cleered it and shall not repeat Sancta Clara his addresses to him with his Books to reconcile us is confessed under his owne hand we need no other testimony Fourthly that Sancta Clara and Saint Giles were Aliens is no extenuation of his guilt but aggravation for they were therefore the fitter the likelier to be imployed hither by papall authority to reduce us back to Rome But admit them Aliens which he hath hath not as yet proved yet Sir Toby Matthew Leander and Price were native Englishmen and so within the Statutes of 23 Eliz. c. 1. 27 Eliz. c. 2. which he would evade Fiftly for Master Waddesworths testimony it is very full the Designe was to send him over-sea or to imprison him till he should enter into bond never to prosecute or apprehend Priests more to which plot the Archbishop was privy whose name was used to him himself confessing he sent him four peeces to be rid of him He pretends it was because he pretended himselfe a convert Certainly this is but a pretext he being a convert many yeers before and one imployed to apprehend Priests long before his imprisonment his diligence herein being the cause of his troubles Sixtly his refusall to commit Wilford a most dangerous seducing Priest before he knew he had any protection and discharging him afterwards onely because he had a protection from Secretary Windebanke with Master Dels answer that his Lord would not meddle with such trifles shewes the coldnesse of his zeale to our Religion and his good affection to popery If a godly Protestant Minister had but scrupled at the reading of the Book for Sabbathday-sport or omitted the lest Ceremony or preached but a Sermon on a Lords-day after-noon these were such hainous crimes and matters of so grand importance that they must be forthwith suspended committed deprived and all businesses set aside to prosecute them notwithstanding any protection of Law or Gospell but if a dangerous Priest who had perverted above two hundred soules be brought before his Grace alas his zeale is so frozen he will not meddle with the businesse and his friend Secretary Windebanks Warrant must set him free and secure him against all lawes and prosecutions A plaine proofe of a confederacy between them to protect these Traytors and reduce us back to popery by granting liberty to such pernicious seducers Seventhly for Gray his onely fault as our Witnesses depose was that he complained against his