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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91187	A fresh discovery of some prodigious new wandring-blasing-stars, & firebrands, stiling themselves nevv-lights, firing our church and state into new combustions. Divided into ten sections, comprising severall most libellous, scandalous, seditious, insolent, uncharitable, (and some blasphemous) passages; published in late unlicensed printed pamphlets, against the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and power of parliaments, councels, synods, Christian kings and magistrates, in generall; the ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament, in speciall: the national covenant, assembly, directory, our brethren of Scotland, Presbyterian government; the Church of England, with her ministers, worship; the opposers of independent novelties; ... Whereunto some letters and papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands, are subjoyned, relating the schismaticall, illegal, tyrannical proceedings of some Independents there, in gathering their new-churches, to the great distraction and prejudice of that plantation. / Published for the common good by William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P3963; Thomason E261_5; ESTC R212456	96,461	90

written or preached against their seditious wayes and Libels 10. Seditious Queres Passages and Practises to excite mutinies and popular commotions against the Parliament and disobedience to its commands Section I. Containing divers seditious scandalous libellous passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods and temporall Magistrates in generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires in the late writings of several Independent New-lights and Firebrands I Shall begin with a Copy of a Letter written by John Lilburne Lieu Colonell the Ringleader of this Regiment of New-Firebrands to William Prynne Esq upon the comming out of his last book intituled Truth triumphing over Falsehood Antiquity over●Novelty Of which Letter there have bin three Impressions made by him without license contrary to the Ordinance of both Houses restraining the printing or dispersing of unlicensed libellous seditious Pamphlets whre he p. 4. writes thus Sir in your last book that you put out you spend a great deale of paines in citing old rusty Authors to prove that Kings Councels Synods and States have for so many hundred yeares medled with matters of Religion I grant you they have but I demand of you by what right or by what authority out of the Word of God they have so done Hath God the Father or Jesus Christ his Sonne given them any allowance in this Or have they not hereby rather fulfilled the prophesies of the Scripture which saith Rev. 17. 17. That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the Word of God be fulfilled which they have done in assisting the Popes to joyne the Ecclesiasticall and Civill State together making the Golden Lawes of Christ to depend upon the Leaden Lawes of Man yea upon such Lawes as was just suitable to their tyrannicall lusts and which might the most advance their wicked ends and designes and in the doing of this they have set up a perfect Antichrist against GOD'S CHRIST yea England is not free from this And to hold that Kings Parliaments Synods States have any thing to do in matters of Religion and Church-Government he concludes pag. 5. to be a setting of the Potentates of the earth together by the eares with Christ who is to rule all Nations Rev. 12. 5. to pluck his Crown from his head his Scepter out of his hand and his person out of his throne and State that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in Which is thus backed by Henry Robinson the supposed Author of the Answer to Mr. William Prynnes 12. Questions concerning Church-Government pag. 6. Particular Churches members of a Kingdome and Nation are not obliged in point of Conscience and Christianity to submit unto whatsoever publike Church Government Rites and Discipline a Nationall Councell Synod and Parliament shall conceive most consonant to Gods Word unlesse it prove so in the whole Kingdomes Nations and those very particular Churches Judgement pag. 8. The grounds of Independent Government attribute nothing to the Magistrate in Church affaires further then the Magistrate is a member of their Churches and Assemblies pag. 12. You can no more Justifie a Nationall Church of Christians shall likewise go up to the Temple of Jerusalem from whence by the same Prophesie they are also to receive the Word of God and not from Parliament Pope Synod or Presbytery Mr. Henry Burton in his Vindication of Churches commonly called Independent c. p. 49 50 51 c The Church is a spirituall kingdome whose only King is Christ and not Man It is a spirituall Re-publick whose only Law-giver is Christ and not Man No man nor power on earth hath a Kingly power over this kingdome No earthly Lawgiver may give lawes for the government of this Republick No man can or ought to undertake the government of this communion of Saints No humane power or law may intermeddle to prescribe rules for the government or form of this spirituall house NOT COUNCELS NOT SENATES This is Christs Royall Prerogative which is uncommunicable to ANY TO ALL THE POWERS ON EARTH c. he adds p. 60 61. We challenge you to shew us any Parliament Councell Synod ever since the Apostles that could or can say thus It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us to determine controversies of Religion to make and impose Canons to binde all men c. Shew this to us at this time and we will obey But if you cannot as you never can never let any man presse upon us that Scripture that Synod which hath no parallell in the whole world and so is no precedent or patterne for any Councell Synod Parliaments A short Answer to Adam Stewarts second part of his over-grown Duply to the Two Brethren with certaine difficults questions easily answered printed without license 1644. supposed to be written by Mr. Iohn Goodwin p. 13 17. But perhaps you 'l say there is an Act of Parliament a Civill law declaring heresie or any different from the State opinions such as for the present are in fashion to be censurable by the civill power I answer not without all due respect unto the lawes and such as made them that if there be any distinction between a church-Church-state and a civill-civill-state which all Christians hitherto acknowledge the enacting civill lawes to punish spirituall offences is not only a solecisme or impropriety in state but an incroaching on the Churches power a profaning of the Keyes and injurious to the offender who by this meanes is punished both beyond the degree and nature of his offence If the blessed Spirit should at any time bear witnesse unto your spirit or unto the spirit of a whole Parliament and Synod what were this to the spirits of other men must not they wait with patience untill the blessed Spirit be pleased to visit their spirits likewise before they can joyne with yours or the Assemblies spirit But if the Synods determination of this or that controversie should seem good unto the holy Ghost as the Churches decrees of Jerusalem did must they therefore be imposed upon the Countrey the whole world Is not this to equallize your Synodall Canons with those decrees of the Apostolicall Church of Jerusalem and to make Scripture of yours as well as theirs is not this to adde to Scripture nay to alter it p. 28. But if King and Parliament may not force a new Religion or Sect suppose Presbyterian upon the kingdome much lesse can the Synod which neither has not yet pretends as is alleaged to use the materiall sword And if for matters of religion all power originally is in Christ as you sometimes acknowledge How can King Parliament or Synod wrest it from him Nay what think you is it not secondarily in the people as well as civill power which you affirme in the same page and so doubtlesse is spirituall power unlesse you will make God to have provided mankinde better of a safegard or liberty to defend their bodies than their soules If then the spirituall power be so inherently in

the people next under Christ as that they cannot so well renounce and part from it in many respects by what they may of civill how can it be thought by any one that the King Parliament Synod though never so much importun'd by a thousand such Asses should goe about to settle a new Presbyterian Scotch government with an intention to force a conformity of the whole Kingdome three quarters whereof cannot as yet be thought to submit unto it willingly or for conscience sake Pag. 32 33 34 35 36. Qu. 5. Is it not an ungodly thing to suffer men to be of any Religion Ans No For both our Saviour his Apostles and the Primitive Christians did the same neither is it in the power of flesh and blood to hinder it Qu. 6. Is it not the most unseemely sight to see the people of one Citty run seambling from their Parishes to twenty Conventicles where so many severall doctrines are taught An. No but farre more monstrous and abominable in the eyes of God for people of twenty severall opinions for feare or favour to assemble and Joyn together hyprocritically in one way of worship or Church discipline Q. 8. Ought we not then at least to keepe our different opinions and Religion unto our selves in obedience to the Civill Magistrate that commands it An. No because it is better to obey God then man Qu. 9. If Jesuited Papists and other subtile Hereticks be suffered will they not likely seduce many unto their erronious by-pathe Ans Though a Tolleration of erronious opinions may gaine some to sathan yet truth being therewith to be published and improved will in all probabillity not onely gaine so many more to God but any one thus wonne to God unto his truth is worth thousands of those that fall from it Qu. 10. But may not the multiplying of Heresies stifle or expell the truth like as the abounding of tares and weedes often choake the wheate and for this cause not to be permitted An. Though it seeme to be many of the first yet our Saviour in the parable of Tares Math. 13. teaches us a quite contrary doctrine and forbids Heresies the Tares to be pulled up before the day of Judgment the harvest v. 30. 39. least the wheate the children of the Kingdome true professors v. 30. 39. be therewith rooted up Qu. 21. Is it not a pious Act to compell a Company of carelesse Idle people to heare a good sermon to do a good worke whether they will or no Ans No more pious an Act then for Papists to use the like compulsion towards Iewes and Protestants inforcing them to heare their sermons Masse or Vespers Q. 24. May not the Civill Goverment interpose to punish such Church members with whom the spirituall by reason of their refractorinesse cannot prevaile Answ Nothing lesse since the Civill State or government has no more power nor vertue to make a Papist turne Protestant in England then it can prevaile to make a Protestant become a Papist in Spaine Qu. 29. But can there be any hurt in forceing refractory people to be present at Religious orthodox assemblies where if they will they may be informed of the truth An. Yes first because there can come no good thereof through want of willingnesse which God onely reguards in him which is thus compelled and secondly because this forceing is a doing evill that good may come thereof which is prohibited Rom. 3. 8. The Falshood of M. W. Prynnes Truth triumphing c. printed in London 1645. without license written by H. Robinson who hath set up a private unlicensed printing Presse determines thus p. 19. 20. 26. But did the only wise God think we resolve to create man after his own Image to estate him in such a sad and execrable condition worse then that of beasts wolves Bears Tigres as that he must necessarily tyrannize or be Tyrannized over both in soul and body and yet it cannot possibly be otherwise if you will grant a power to Kings Parliaments or Synods to require conformity from others in any thing which is not agreeable to their consciences for if such a Latitude and height of Iurisdiction be granted but to the more orthodox Kings Parliaments and Synods both Papists Lutherans Calvinists and Independants pretending and really takeing themselves to be the most orthodox are bound in conscience to lay Clayme to and put in Execution this power of Compelling all the world unto their uniformity and so infallibly produce the most cursed enmity and hatred betwixt all the people but differing in opinion exceeding that of Cannibals or the profoundest of Antipathics betweene any rationall creatures whatsoever You say the oposites to Parliaments Ecclesiasticall Jurisdictions have formerly and more especially in this Present Parliament addressed severall Petitions to this High and honorable Court for Reformation of the Church c. wherein under favour I conceive you have mis-apprehended their proceedings Intentions which doubtlesse was for the most part or best affected that the Parliament in whom they acknowledge the Soveraigne power to reside would permit Cou●tenance and encourage all godly men of gifts in preaching down Heresies Errors Idolatry Popery c. Many whereof had either beene formerly established by Law or not permitted to be preached downe through the Prelates corruption contrary to the Law This is the best even all the Reformation which the Civill Magistrate as Civill has a Capassity of compassing against all Heresies and Errors which must necessarily be vanquished by the sword of the Spirit and cannot possibly be suppressed by carnall weapons or the civill sword they may destroy the flesh but cannot properly be said to touch and worke upon the Spirit T is no small dis-service which you do both Parliament and Assembly in thus exposing their proceedings to be questioned by no little and that the most conscionable and best affected party of the kingdome such spirits of contention as this of yours were those which made the first great breach among the Parliaments friends Master John Goodwins Theomathia pag. 48 49 50. The generality and promiscuous multitude of the World who have a right of nominating persons to a Parliamentary trust and power are but a Secular Root out of which the Independent Brethren conceive an impossibility that a spirituall extraction should be made A man may as well bring a clean thing out of an unclean in Jobs expression as make a spirituall extraction out of this secular root who have no Authority nor power from Christ to nominate or appoint who shall be the men that shall order the affaires of Christs kingdome or institute the government of his Church Therefore there is an impossiblity that a legitimate Ecclesiasticall power should according to the minde of Christ or any precept or president of Scripture be by them conferred upon any man or that the persons so elected should have a power by vertue of such nomination or election to enact Laws or Statutes in matters of religion

A Fresh DISCOVERY Of some Prodigious New Wandring-Blasing-Stars Firebrands Stiling themselves NEVV-LIGHTS Firing our Church and State into New Combustions Divided into Ten Sections comprising severall most Libellous Scandalous Seditious Insolent Uncharitable and some Blasphemous Passages published in late UnlicensedPrinted Pamphlets against the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and Power of Parliaments Councels Synods Christian Kings and Magistrates in Generall The Ordinances and Proceedings of this present Parliament in speciall The Nationall Covenant Assembly Directory our Brethren of Scotland Presbyterian Government The Church of England with her Ministers Worship The Opposers of Independent Novelties and some Seditious Queres Incitations Practices to stir up the Commonalty rude Vulgar against the Parliament Assembly Ministery worthy both Houses and all Sober-minded Christians serious consideration detestation and crying for speedy exemplary Justice on the Libellersand Libels to prevent our Churches Religions Parliaments Kingdomes eminent ruine Whereunto some Letters and Papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands are subjoyned relating the Schismaticall illegall Tyrannicall proceedings of some Independents there in gathering their New-Churches to the great Distraction and prejudice of that Plantation Published for the Common good By WILLIAM PRYNNE of Lincolns Inne Esquire Take heed therefore that the Light which is in thee be not Darknesse If thine Eye be evill thy whol body is full of Darknesse If therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkenesse how great is that Darknesse Luk. 11. 25. Mat. 6. 23. These filthy Dreamers despise Dominion and speak evill of Dignities These are raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame WANDRING STARS for whom is reserved the Blacknesse of Darknesse for ever Jude 8. 13. LONDON Printed by John Macock for Michael Spark senior at the sign of the blue Bible in Green Arbour 1645. TO The High and Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT MOst Religious and Judicious SENATORS I here present to your saddest thoughts and serious deliberations an abstract of sundry most scurrilous scandalous seditious railing Libels lately published to the world in Print by some Anabaptisticall Independent Sectaries and New-lighted FIRE-BRANDS wherein the undoubted Priviledges Ordinances just Proceedings of Parliament the Reverend Assembly of Divines our Brethren of Scotland the Church of England with her Government Ministers Worship the Nationall Covenant Directory Presbytery professed Defenders of the Parliaments Priviledges Ordinances against their Licentious Schismaticall Practises according to their Solemn Vow and Covenant are so audaciously affronted oppugned slandered railed against and the Common people so earnestly excited to mutiny against the Parliament Assembly Presbytery Government and Ministers of our Church of England that I am confident no former Age did ever produce such Monstrous Insolencies such detestable virulent Libels which neither the Honour Justice nor Wisdome of that Soveraigne Court of Justice wherein you are Assessors nor the Peace and Safety of our Religion Church State nor your own personall security nor the Nationall Vow and Covenant engaging both your Honours and all others who have taken it against these pernitious Mutiniers can any longer suffer you patiently to tollerate as hitherto you have done without exemplary proceedings against and punishments upon the Authors Printers Publishers Dispersers of these most scurrilous and mutinous Pamphlets Wherein they most injuriously and falsly revile traduce all such for Persecutors Fighters against Christ and his Kingdome Enemies to the wayes of Christ pulling his royall Crown from off his head his kingly Scepter out of his hand Oppugners of the most religious conscientious Godly best-affected Party as they Pharisaically and falsly terme themselves dividers betweene the Parliament and their best their faithfullest Freinds Prophane Apostates Popish Jesuiticall Incendiaries haters of Gods people and the like who out of conscience solid Judgment and cordiall affection to the safety tranquility of Religion Parliament Church Kingdome dare openly by word or writing maintain the undoubted Jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods Magistrates in Ecclesiasticall affaires or oppose their factions schismaticall Independent wayes and Innovations destructive both to Magistracy Ministery Vnity Parliaments and that blessed Reformation so much desired For my owne particular I have with much Patience and Contempt endured without any Reply at all their false unchristian Invectives against my self only for Writing in Vindication of the undoubted Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction directive and coercive power of Christian Emperours Kings Magistrates Parliaments in matters of Religion and Church-government in my Truth triumphing over Falsehood Antiquity over Novelty published with Your speciall approbation and my Independency Examined which have much incensed this waspish Generation unable to give any satisfactory answers to them and I should have continued silence still had my own private interest only been concerned But when I discerned them to be so audaciously licentious presumptuous as To set their mouth against the Heavens to revile the very Gods themselves and curse the Rulers of the people to despise Government and speak evill of Dignities to bring railing accusations against and resist the Higher Powers publishing Libell after Libell against the Proceedings Ordinances and Jurisdiction of the present Parliament and Assembly yea with Antichristian pride to oppose and exalt themselves above all that is called God or that is wershipped as they have lately done in the Pamphlets hereafter mentioned and in the Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter c. freshly published since the rest every of these latter Libels being more seditious and pernitious then the former and Barrabas like to stirre up sedition and insurrection among the people against the Ordinances Votes of Parliament and that Ecclesiasticall reformation and Pre-byteriall government You have resolved to establish My bowels my bowels were pained within me at my very heart so that I could not hold my peace nor keepe silence any longer because thou hast heard O my soul the sound of these seditious Trumpets and the alarme of this Schismaticall Anti-Parliamentary war Yea should I now refraine from writing the very stones themselves would immediately cry out against their most infamous Libels and mutino●s presumptuous Practises opposite to all publike Order Government Authority And the rather am I necessitated to this ungratefull worke because their very Libels actions speeches proclaime a plotted avowed Confederacy among some furious Ringleaders of these Independent Sectaries though I presume the more moderate are not guilty of it against the Parliament Assembly and all their Resolves in matters of Religion or Church-Government yea against our very Church Ministers and Tithes the meanes of their support as their Libellous Passages against the Ecclesiasticall Power proceedings of the Parliament and Assembly their publike oppositions against the Nationall Covenant Directory the Ordinances prohibiting disorderly unlicensed Printing of Libellous Scismaticall Pamphlets against Lay-mens preaching in the Army or else-where for due Payment of Tythes c. recited in the ensuing Sections will at large declare And that which further confirmes me in this opinion is First the New

Seditious Covenants which the Members of some Independent Congregations enter into To adhere defend maintain to the utmost of their powers and contend for even unto blood the establishment of that Independent form of Church Government which themselves have set up and submitted to and oppose the Presbyterian in contempt of the Parliaments Authority in truth meere Anti-covenants of the Nationall League and Covenant which they utterly refuse to take and rayle against 2. Their menacing predictions to the Assembly and Presbytery in their two last Libels wherin they print That the time hastens the people will call them to an Account and repell and confound them by the sword That the life of Sir Iohn Presbyter is like to be neither long nor good That he wil be brought to a sudden untimely end Perhaps HANGING That Presbytry shall live but a short time to do mischeife and then THE COMMON PEOPLE will beg in to sing Her Tosse The Devil 's dead Presbytery will quickly dye the Synod be dissolved the divell chained up and therefore follow the advise of old Cat● Spem retine Rejoyce O heavens sing aloud O earth clap thy hands for Joy O England-post nubula soles thou shalt have a time of Quietnesse of pence of content for Presbytery will have never a Child to vexe thee to Imprison thy free Denizens to sucke up thy fatte devoure thy good things and eat up thy bread out of thy Childrens mouthes and himselfe is not long lived as I shewed before and then farewell persecution for conscience farewell Ordinance for Tithes farewell Ecclesiasticall Supremacy farewell Pontifical Revenue farewel Assembly of Divines dissembled at Westminster you shall consult together no more farewell Sr. Simon Synod and his son Presbyter Iacke Gens antiquaruit multos dominata perannos c. Which passages presage and intimate nought else but a plain conspiracy confederacy against the Assembly Presbytery and presbyterian party 3. Some late seditious speeches of two preaching Captaines of this Schismaticall Confederacy who being apprehended and questioned by Sr. Samuell Lukes Officers for preaching in Newport-Pannell and other places neare adjoyning in contempt of an Ordinance of Parliament made the 26. of April 1645. which ordaines That no person be permitted to preach who is not ordained a Minister threatning condigne punishment to the offenders against it for their contempts enjoyning Sr. Thomas Fairfax the Lord Major the Committee of Militia for London the Governours Commanders and Magistrates of all Garrisons Castles Places of strength Citties Townes Forts Ports and the respective Committees of each County To see the same duly observed in the Army and places aforesaid and make speedy representation to both Houses of such as shall offend therein These Captaine preachers far wiser then that devout Centurian Cornelius who feared God with all his house and prayed to God alwaies yet never turned Preacher to his owne Band for ought we read but by Gods own direction from heaven sent for the Apostle Peter to instruct him and his family Acts 10. among other speeches averred That they were illegally used by Sr Samuel in being apprehended for their contempt against this Ordinance most fasly and seditiously affirming That the Generall all the Colonels in the Army were deeply engaged IN THEIR DESIGNE That they would acquaint their FRIENDS IN THE HOVSE OF COMMONS of their bad usage that they had done nothing but taught the Word of God among other things that wee had no true Church not Ministry and that the children of Beleevers had no more right to Baptisme then those of Infidels c. which they would justifie and those friends likewise That they had Commission from the Parliament for what they did c. Whereupon one Capt. Oxford answering them That he was confident there were few or none in the House would uphold them against an expresse Ordinance of both houses and that the Generall and Collonels would not side with them in this case The said Pedicant Captains replyed That should be tryed speedily For they were resolved to make this businesse THE LEADING CASE OF THE KINGDOME FOR ALL THE GODLY PARTY adding That if the godly and wel-affected party were thus persecuted they should be forced TO MAKE A WORSE BREACH THEN WHAT WAS YET WHEN THEY HAD DONE WITH THE KINGS PARTY and telling Ensign Ratford and his Souldiers that they were worse then Cavaliers and that when they had made an end of the war with the Cavaliers THEY SHOVLD BE FORCT TO RAISE A NEW ARMY TO FIGHT WITH THEM Certainly these seditious privy Covenants Libels Speeches compared with the ensuing Sections Letters discover and portend no lesse then a strong conspiracy among some Anabaptisticall Sectaries to oppose the Power Ordinances and Proceedings of Parliament to extirpate all other Governments but their own and to set it up by the sword or popular commotions in despight of your Authority And is it not then high time for your Honours with all other well-affected Persons to look about you to Vindicate your own Power Honour Justice against these most seditious audatious contemptuous libellers against your Soveraign Authority your most Religious Ordinances proceedings in the desired waies of Reformation and to make some of them Exemplary Monuments of your Impartiall severity to deter others from the like unparalleld Insolencies not read nor heard of in any preceding Age nor practised by any Generation of men but these New furious Sectaries who to engage all sorts of people in their Quarrell proclaim a free Toleration and Liberty of Conscience to all Sects all Religions whatsoever be it Judais●e Paganisme Turcisme Arianisme Popery as all their Pamphlets manifest And to interest the female Sex and draw them to their party they contrary to the Apostles precept allow them not only decisive Votes but Liberty of Preaching Prophesying speaking in their Congregations yea power to meet in their Nocturnall Conventicles without their Husbands Parents Ministers Privitie the better to propagate Christs Kingdome and multiply the Godly party Which what confusion and Ataxy it will soon produce in Church and State if not prevented by your Honours extraordinary speedy Diligence Wisdome Power I humbly submit to your deepest Judgements I am certain your Honours have read the Histories of the Tragicall Wars and Commotions of the Anabaptists in Germany whose Opinions where-ever they predominate are fatall to the Government Magistracy Ministery of all States Churches and bring in popular Tyranny and licentiousnesse the worst of evils O then let not your Honours Patience or Indulgence to such Anabaptisticall Libellers involve both you us our Realm in like German popular Sedicions Devastations and bloody Massacres which they threaten but if these New seditious Lights and Fire-brands will needs set up New Churches Heresies Church-governments and vent their new errors or opinions against your Power and Authority let them doe it onely in NEW-ENGLAND or other NEW-FOVNDLANDS since OLD ENGLAND needes them not unlesse it be to set her all

in their own Fancies not yet fully discover'd nor set down in writing nor agreed on among themselves nor published to others for their better satisfaction The serious Consideration whereof may happily reclaime our Independents here from the error of their seperating destructive ways and ease the oppressed Planters of those Islands from that Independent yoake of Bondage under which they so much groane as to cry out to You for releife of their sore oppressions in their Letters which I shall beseech your Honors in their behalfe since they have made their addresses to your Tribunall by my mediation seriously to lay to heart and seasonably to redresse Thus humbly craving Pardon from your Honorable Assembly for my true-hearted Zeale to do you faithfull service by this unburthening of my conscience and presenting You with this Fresh discovery of those New Wandring-starres and Firebrands who revile oppugne your Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction Proceedings Ordinances disturb the much-desired peace of Church State which we should all earnestly endeavour in these distracted Times I humbly recommend all your faithfull undertakings for the security tranquility of both to Gods owne blessing with my devoutest Orisons to the throne of Grace and ever remaine Your Honours the Republikes Churches most devoted Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE A fresh Discovery of prodigious New-Wandring-Blasing-Stars and Fire-brands stiling themselves NEVV-LIGHTS Firing our CHURCH and STATE into New Combustions THe Apostle Paul led by a Propheticall Spirit hath left us such an exact Character of the last times and of the exorbitant tempers of many Christian Professor living in them as never suited with any age so fitly as this wherein we live nor with any generation of people so well as those New-Lights and Sectaries sprung up among us who being many of them Anabaptists have all new-christned themselves of late by the common name of Independents This character we finde recorded 2 Tim. 3. 1. to 10. This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shall come and what times were ever more perillous then the present For men shall be lovers of themselves coveteous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents Naturall Civill Ecclesiasticall unthankefull unholy without naturall affection trace-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce dispisers of those that are good Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures of their own bellies lusts wayes opinions fancies more then lovers of God having a form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof FROM SVCHTVRNE AWAY But some might demand of him by what distinguishing marke may we know who these persons are The Apostle therefore subjoynes such a symptome as suits most exactly with our new Separating Lights Conventiclers who forsake the publike assemblies and creep into private houses working principally as the * Devill did at first upon the weakest Sex For of this sort are they WHICH CREEP INTO HOVSES thus interpreted by the Apostle Heb. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together or the publike Assemblies as the MANNER OF SOME IS and of our Sectaries now and lead Captive SILLY WOMEN laden with sinnes led away with diverse lusts EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRVTH as those Independent Seekers are who like * Wandring Stars gad every day after New-Lights New-fashions of Church Government wavering like empty Clouds without wa●er or waves of the sea driven with the wind and tossed not knowing yet what Government they would have or where to fix Believing and practising all things with a reserve to alter their opinions and practise every day upon discovery of further light 〈◊〉 the Independent Apologists professe for themselves and advise all others to do Now because such House-creepers and New-lights have usually lofty conceits of their own opinions judgements wayes as if the truth of God were monopolized unto them and therefore all the World should speedily submit to their foolish dictates and erronious by-paths the Apostle immediately passeth this censure of their persons and proceedings Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt mindes reprobate or of no judgement concerning the faith but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was The very detection of their abominable seditious seducing practises shall put a stop to their proceedings and frustrate all their expectation Now if any man should doubt whether this prophesie of the Apostle were really intended of Separatists and Sectaries the Holy Ghost hath resolved it in direct termes in the generall Epistle of Jude v. 17 18 19. But beloved remember that the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ and among others of the Apostle Paul in the for ecited Text How that they told them there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts not after the Spirit and Word of God which they most pretend to and would you know who these are These be they who SEPARATE THEMSELVES sensuall having not the Spirit To which the Apostle Peter addes these further descriptions of them 2 Pet 2. 10 11 12 14 18 19. That they despise government are presumptuous felfe-willed speak evill of Dignities bring railing accusations against them speak evill of the things they understand not beguile unstable soules having hearts exercised with covetous practises being clouds carried with a tempest Wels without water who when they speak great swelling words of vanity allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnes of spirit as well as flesh those who are clean escaped from them who live in error While they promise them liberty the liberty of conscience to professe what Religion they list to use what Church government they please without controll of Parliament Synod or Magistrates they themselves are the servants of corruption and as Iude v. 13. prove Raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame wandring starres to whom the blacknesse of darknesse is reserved for ever All which descriptions how properly they suit with our NewIndependent-lights and Incendiaries I shall clearly demonstrate out of severall clauses in their late seditious Anti-Parliamentary Impressions betraying the rottennesse of their hearts the pride sedition and rebellion of their spirits which I shall reduce to these ten Sections 1. Seditious scandalous libellous and uncharitable passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods and temporall Magistrates in generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires 2. Against sundry Ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament in particular 3. Against the Nationall Covenant prescribed by Parliament 4. Against the present Assembly of Divines sitting and acting by order of Parliament 5. Against the Directory ratified by Ordinance of Parliament 6. Against our Brethren of Scotland whom of late they much applanded 7. Against Presbyterians and Presbyterian government in generall 8. Against the Church of England her Worship Ministers and Government in generall 9. Against such who have out of conscience

God-fathers and God-mothers Pers My Lord Master Ecclesiasticall supremacy and Master Scotch-government are my God-fathers Mistris State-ambition and Mistris Church-revenue are my God-mothers and I was sprinkled into the Assembly of Divines at the taking of the late SOLEMNE LEAGVE AND COVENANT Judg. 'T is strange that at the making of the late solemne League and Covenant blood-thirsty persecution should be anabaptized present Reformation then HERE 's A DESIGNE OF BLOOD IN THE COVENANT if under the name of Reformation the Clergy have infused the trayterous blood-thirsty spirit of persecution into it J. Human. My Lord there was never any Nationall or provinciall Synod but strengthned the hand of persecution and that under the vizor of Religion J. Reason As soon as these underling Divines are from under their Episcopall Taskmasters and beginning to encroach upon your Lordships power they presently take this notorious bloody traytor persecution stript by your Lordship of his High-commission habit and out of their zeale dresse him in a divine synodicall Garbe and change name from persecution and christen him Reformation so to engage your Lordship and the Kingdome of England and Scotland in blood to settle and establish bloody persecution BY COVENANT over the Consciences of honest and faithfull men to the State under the specious and godly pretence of Reformation page 39. By the late SOLEMNE LEAGVE and COVENANT good Lord deliver us The sacred Decretal runnes in the same straine page 13. 19. When we had introduc'd the Brethren of the holy League we so joyned their hands in the Synodian hands of Presbytery that their League could not be inviolate their COVENANT the bed of their contract undefiled if our presbitry were not concluded Martyn will tell the people that we contrive Oaths and COVENANTS meerly to ensnare and catch the people in our wiles make them carry a face of Reformation according to the Word of God and thereby betray their innocent subscription to our presbyterian construction John Lilbourne in the unlicensed printed Reasons of sending this Letter pag 4. complaines against the Parliament that the COVENANT was as earnestly prest upon tender consciences though their faithfulnesse were no what doubtfull as upon Newtrals and Malignants and refusing because of some expressions put from Offices of trust and publike imployments Yet most of our sectaries and Independents in immitation of the Cavaleers have entred into Ants covenants against this SOLEMNE COVENANT in their private Congregations to defend● and maintaine their owne Independent government even to blood c. whatever forme of government the Parliament shall establish the very extremity and height of seisme and sedition if not of professed rebellion against supreame Authority which makes them thus to villifie traduce and contemptuously refuse the taking of this SOLEMN COVENANT and plead exemption from it for feare of dis-ingaging so faithfull considerable A PARTY as they have in the Army who in time perchance will prescribe their new Church-covenants unto us or else exclude us from our Native soyle as now they doe from their Independent Congregations and the Sacraments unlesse we will submit unto them Section IV. Containing sundry scurrilous seditious libellous railing and blasphemous Invectives against the Assembly of Divines the Presbyterian Members of it and their proceedings though summoned nominated continued and directed in all things by Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament BEfore this Assembly met by Order of both Houses or had given intimation what kind of Ecclesiasticall Government they intended to fix upon our Independent sectaries not only petitioned for such an Assembly to be called but made meanes that as many of their party as possible might be elected Members of it But when at last they discerned the Assembly and Parliament to dis-affect their anomolous absurd Independent way as having no foundation in Divinity nor Policy and tending to utter confusion in Church State and thereupon to incline to a Presbiteriall government embraced by all reformed Churches in the Christian world upon this they presently begin to declaime against the Assembly and their proceedings in private and soon after to libell against them in-publike with such unchristian uncivill approbrious Billingsgate termes as I am confident no Oxford Aulicus or Satyricall cavaleere is able to paralell their very tongues and pens being doubtlesse set on fire of hell And not contented herewith they lately conspired together to exhibit a petition to the Parliament for present dissolving the Assembly and sending them hence to country cures to prevent the setling of any Church-government to which end they met at the Windmil Taverne where Lievteu Col. John Lilbourne a fit instrument for such a seditious designe sate in the chaire and Master Hugh Peter suggested the advice which was accordingly inserted into the Petition but the counsell-men smelling out the designe when the Petition came to their hands most discreetly left out that request as seditious and unjust which yet the libellous Author of Martyns Echho page 15. hath since in wish renewed in these scandalous termes You have as neere as you can made a third party in labouring by your Jesuiticall machiavilian subtilty to divide the Parliament contrary to the trust reposed in them from the godly party who have assisted them with their estates and blood and to deny those their faithfull friends of their just deservings their purchased freedomes which should they doe they would be branded as infamous to posterity even unfaithfull ungratefull c. at meliora spero I hope better of them if your wicked Machiavilian Assembly were but taken from them and sent to their particular charges In what sort they have libelled against them hath partly appeared in other Sections but I shall give you a more particular account thereof in this I shall begin with that most infamous seditious railing Libell intituled The Arraignment of persecution the whole scope whereof against the Assembly is thus boldly expressed in the very Title page The Arraignment of Master Persecution presented to the consideration of the House of Commons and to all the Common people of England In the prosecution whereof the Iesuiticall designes and secret encroachments of his Defendants Sir Simon Synod and the John of all Sir Johns Sir John Presbiter upon the liberty of the subject is detected and laid open by reverend young Martyn Marpriest sonne to old Martyn the Metropolitan printed by Martyn Claw-Clergy Printer to the reverend Assembly of Divines for Bartholinew Bang-Priest and are to be sold at his shop in Toleration-street at the signe of the subjects liberty right opposite to Persecution-court 1645. The seigned License and Epistle Dedicatory to the Assembly before it are altogether libellous as is the whole book against the Assembly and its Members I shall give you only a taste of some phrases and epithites in it viz. Such a holy such a reverend Assembly such a Quagmire of croaking skip-jack Presbiters A reverend synodian disguised with a sophisticall paire of breeches saving your presence in

that he may Synodicate a full resolution to these ensuing Queries 1. Whether it doth not as much conduce to the subjects liberty still to be subjected to Episcopal usurpation as to be given over to Presbyterian cruelty Whether Saint Peters chaire doth not become a Presbyter as well as a Bishop c. As for Sir John Presbit●r this Court hath voted him to the uncleane filthy impious unholy dark and worldly Dungeon called jure Humano c. as for Persecution the sentence of this Court is that thou shalt return to the place from whence thou camest to wit the noysome and filthy Cage of every uncleane and hateful bird The Clergy of Christendome there to be fast bound with inquisition synodical classical Pres●byter al chains untill the appearing of that great and terrible J●dge of the whole earth who shall take thee alive with Sir Simon and his sonne Sir John and cast thee with them and their Confederates into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the false Prophet are there to be tormented day and right 〈◊〉 ever and ever Here is the Independents incomparible charity to the Assembly Presbyters and their Adherents to adjudge them thus to eternall torments in the fiery Lak● I fear their New-Lights originally sprung upthence without more charity sobriety will undoubtedly be extinguished in this fiery region which they allot to others the rest of the Invectives against the Assembly and Presbytery in this persecuting Arraignment I shall passe by in silence and proceed to some fresher scurrilites of this kind I find another most scurrlous Libell against the Assembly and their proceedings thus intituled A sacred Decretall or Hue and Cry from his superlative Holinesse Sir Simon Synod for the apprehension of reverend young Martin Ma●-priest wherein are displayed many witty synodian conceits both pleasant and commodious printed by Martin Claw-Clergy Printer to the reverend Assembly of Divines for Bartholmew Bang-Priest and are to be sold at his shop in Toleration-street at the signe of the subjects Liberty right opposite to Persecution● Court and it concludes thus Given at our Court of Inquisition in King Henry the sevenths Chappel June 6. 1635. William Twisse Prolocutor Cornelius Burges Assessor Iohn White Assessor Adoniran Byfield Hen. Roborough S●ibes This Libell brings in the Assembly blasphemously abusing the sacred Scripture Names of God as El Eloim Jah Theos Adonas c. in Synodicall Convocation classicall and Presbiteriall Exorcismes pag. 2. Gives the Assembly and Presbiters these most scurrilous railing Epithites classicall Bore-p●gges divine white-faced Bull-calves Presbyterian Turkey-cocks bidding them advance their learned Coxcombs c. Church-owles Jack-dawes blind Bats Presbyterian Wood-cockes Presbyterian Hangmen cruell executioners terrible tormenters synodian Canibals the ravenous tythe-panched numerous headed Hydra of Divines The holy ravenous Order of Syon-Jesuits absolute Jesuites onely a little worse It begins thus page 1. We the Parliament of Divines now Assembly in holy Convocation at Westminster taking into our grave learned and pious consideration all the goodly fat Benefices of the Kingdome the reverend estimation honour and supremacy due unto the Clergy and out of a godly care and pious providence as becommeth Divines for our owne guts having used all subtilty and policy we in our divine wisdomes could devise to take a goodly possession of the dearly beloved glorious inheritance of our Fathers the late Lord Bishops their divine supremacy their sweet their wholsome and nourishing revenues their deare delicate toothsome tythes most supernaturall and pleasant to a divine pallate After which it cals them The p●issant Assembly of Divines Lords Paramount over Church and State in Parliament Assembled at Westminster divine Merchants c. Avers p. 18. That the Order Jesuits may become Disciples to the Order of presby●ers for equivocations mentall reservations dispensations of Oathes Covenants c. Chargeth the Assembly p. 6. For dealing craft●ly with the Parliament and cheating the State Adding this most scandalous seditions passage extreamly derogatory to the Parliaments honour As the way of a serpent upon a rock is unknowable so have our circumventions underminigs and subtill contrivances beene ever invisible insensible to them and so silently secretly and gradually have intic'd them with the bait of Religion and caught them with a synodian hooke we held out the League and Covenant the Cause of God and the like to the Kingdome and at length plucks up a fish called a Parliament out of their proper Magisteriall Element into our synodian spirituallity and thus neatly wrested the Scepter out of their bands that they neither know nor perceive it that in truth the Assembly is Dissembled into the Parliament and the two Houses made but a stalking horse to the designes of the Clergy They say it is decreed and ordained by the Lords and Commons c. but in plaine English it is the Assembly of Divines 't is true 't is the Lords and Commons in the History but the Assembly of Divines in the Mystery as Martin wisely hinted in his License before the booke of the Arraignment for we are become the whole directive and coercive power both in Church and State a supremacy due unto us as well as to the Pope and though we give them as men doe bables to children the title of making and judging of Lawes to please them yet with such distinctions and limitations to speak this under the Rose that we intend for our selves that which we give unto them even as our Brethren of the society of Iesu doe concerning his Holinesse the Pope in the infallibility and temporall power this honour and priviledge was of divine right given and anciently enjoyed by our reverend Fathers the Bishops and why should not we be heires unto it by our legitimate lineall descent All Lawes Statutes and Ordinances both concerning Church and State were Decreed Ordained and enacted by the Lords spiritual and temporal c. And why not now by the Assembly of Divines and Parliament now Assembled at Westminster this is not yet in the History for indeed our matter is not yet ripe for such a discovery c. As all other wicked men so these seditions Libellers grow worse and worse their next most seditious Libell against the Assembly and Parliaments proceedings being intituled Martins Eccho or a Remonstrance from his holinesse reverend young Martin Mar-priest responsory to the late sacred synodical Decretal in all humility presented to the reverend pious and grave consideration of the right reverend Father in God the universall Bishop of our soules his superlative Holinesse Sir Simon Synod It begins thus Whereas his Holinesse reverend young Martin Mar-priest taking into his grave and learned consideration the insufferable arrogance of our ambitions aspiring Presbytery their super-prelaticall supremacy their ravenous blood-thirsty malice against the poor Saints of the most high God their inordinate insatiable covetousnesse after the fat things of the Land their unparallel'd hypocrisie their plausible pretences their incomprehensible policy craft

own case it was never mine What I have done against the unjust usurpations and illegall excesses of either I did it in a just and Legall way upon such grounds and Authority as was never yet controuled and this I dare make good without vainglory that I have done more reall cordiall service with my pen against the Usurpations of Regality and Prelacy in defence of the Subjects Liberties and Parliaments jurisdiction then all Independent Sectaries whatsoever and that only out of a zeal to Gods glory and the publick good without the least private end or Interest which never yet entred into my thoughts having suffered as much as any man of your Sect if not more for the Publick without either seeking or receiving the least recompence or reward having spent not only my time and Studies but some hundreds of Pounds in the Republicks service since my inlargement without craving or receiving one farthing recompence in any kinde whereas if I had sought my self or been any way covetous or ambitious I might perchance have obtained as advantagious and honourable preferments as any Independents have aspired to if not challenged as their right for lesse meritorious publick services and sufferings then the least of mine As for my importuning the Parliament for continuance of their favours to that people you speak of surely when I finde them more obsequious to the Parliaments just Ordinances and commands lesse willfull and more conscientious I shall do them all the offices of Christian love but whiles contumnacy obstinacy licentiousnesse uncharitablenesse and Schisme are most predominant in them the greatest favour I can move the Parliament to indulge them is to bridle these their extravagances with the severest Laws and to prefer the publike safety of Church and State before their private Lawlesse conceits and phantasticall opinions He addes That I am in this as cruell a Task-master as Pharaoh and that the Son of God and his Saints are but little beholding to me Surely to confine Licencious lawlesse consciences to the rules of Gods word the justLaws of the Realm and rectified reason can Proclaime me no Egyptian Task-master but rather decl●re your Sect meer Libertines who will not be Regnlated by nor confined within these Bounds yea I trust the Son of God and his true Saints are as much beholding to me in your sense as to the greatest Patriarchs of your Independent Tribes be they whom they will This Libeller being questioned before the Committee of Examinations concerning this Letter by their speciall favour returned his Reasons why he sent it in writing which he no sooner exhibited but published in Print the next day after to defame and slander me among his Confederates who give me now no other Epithites in their discourses but a Papist a Persecutor of Gods Saints an Enemy of Christs Kingdom vvho deserve to lose my head for opposing them in this cause c. which I no more value Then the Moon doth the barking of a lousie Cur. In this new unlicensed Paper first he vaingloriously relates his own sufferings and deserts Secondly Traduceth the justice of the Parliament and others against some seditions Sectaries misreciting many of their proceedings to the scandall of Publick justice and the Parliament pag. 3 4. Thirdly pag. 5. He pretends my Books against Independents Licensed by Authority of a Committee of Parliament to be the principall causes of the rigid Proceedings against Separatists especially my Truths Triumphing over Falshood which being subsequent in time to all the particulars he recites could certainly be no occasion of them and therefore he playes not only the Sophyster but Slanderer in this particular Fourthly pag. 5 6. He misrepeats and misapplies some Passages of mine to all of his Sect in generall and to HIMSELF and SVCH AS HE IS in the ARMY and ELSEWHERE Whereas there is not one Syllable in my Passages to that purpose but only against some particular Authors I there mention and such of their Confederates who maliciously and audaciously oppugne the undoubted Rights Priviledges and just Proceedings of Parliament contrary to their Solemne Covenant League and Protestation and if you proclaim your self or any other in the Army or elsewhere to be of this Anti-Parliamentary Regiment as now you do I then professe my self an opposite to you and shall make good against you what ever I have written when and where you please Fiftly He writes That I eagerly endeavour to incense the Parliament against him and such as he is in the Army and elsewhere and in the Conclusion of my Independency examined presse the cutting of them off by the sword executing wrath and vengeance on them upon pain of contracting the guilt of highest Perjury A most malicious scandall For first I never mentioned him or his in particular neither knew I how he stood inclined Secondly In my Independency examined I only in a generall discourse affert that Kings and Civill Magistrates have by the Law of God a Lawfull coercive power thought not to restrain the sincere Preaching of the Gospel and truth of God yet to suppresse restrain imprison confine banish the brea●hers of Heresies Schismes Erronious seditious Doctrines Enthusiasmes or setters up of new Formes of Ecclesiasticall Government without Lawfull Authority to the en●●ngering of mens souls or disturbance of the Churches and Kingdoms Peace These are my formall words which I there make good by Scripture Presidents in all Ages will justifie by Gods assistance upon any occasion against all Sectaries Independents whatsoever After which I close up this discourse in these very words And if any Hereticks false-Teachers Schismaticks chuse which of these three ranks you and yours will fall under obstinatly refuse conformity after due admonition and all good means used to reclaim them the Poets Divinity and Policy must then take place as well in Ecclesiasticall as civill and naturall maladies Cuncta prim tentanda sed immedicabile Vulnius Ense rescidendum est ne pars syncera trahatur Is this any urging of the Parliament To cut you and yours off by the sword and to execute wrath and vengeance on you If you be such obstinate Hereticks Schismaticks or false-Teachers who fall within the compasse of my words God forbid but the sword of Iustice should be drawn out against you as well as others at least to chastise and reduce you to obedience though not finally to cut you off unlesse in case of absolute necessity But if you are none of this obstinate Hereticall Schismaticall Brigade as I make you not unlesse you make your selves my generall indefinite words will relate neither to your self in person whom I never once minded in my writings nor to any of your Tribe And therefore in this particular I charge you for a malicious slanderour and false Informer demanding justice and reparation from you for this and all the forementioned passages wherein you have wilfully done me wrong Sixtly pag. 6. He injuriously chargeth me as guilty of being an Incendiary betwixt

I published it as I found it not so much to do him honour as right which is due to the very Devill himself But had this Libeller remembred that I reserved the criminall part of his life for two other Volumes one of them already published and the first part of the other now at Presse which will render him the Archest Traitor and underminer of Religion Laws Liberties Parliaments that ever breathed in English Aire or had he seriously considered his obstinate impenitency and justificntion of his innocency though most criminall of all that for which he was condemned even on the very Scaffold he would have blushed at his large Encomiums of such a Traytor in affront of publike justice to cast the greater blemish on my self who was publikely called by Authority to bring him to his triall Having thus reviled my person only for w●iting against Independent new wayes and fancies having naught else to object against me he fals soul upon my very Profession of the Law in these reproachfull termes pag. 21 22. Certainly t is none of Master Prynnes least oversights thus to bring himself a Lawyer whose wrangling faculty sets and keeps all people at worse war amongst themselves then all Forraign enemies can do into a Contest with Mr. Goodwin c. If Master Prynne were a man truly godly and conscientious he might long ere this time have considered the unlawfulnesse of his very calling acco●ding to the greatest part of Lawyers practise in entertaining more causes then they can possibly take care of as they ought in taking of excessive Fees prolonging suits and so involving the whole Kingdom in their Sophisticall quirks tricks and quillets as that a man can neither buy nor sell speak nor do any thing but he must be liable to fall into their tallons without ever being able to redeem himself the Lawyers having most of their mysteries written in little lesse then Heathen Language and detaining us in such Ignorant captivity as that we may not plead nor understand by which and such like devises of theirs they are become the greatest grievance crying loudest to heaven for Justice to be done upon them by this Parliament next to the corrupted depraved Clergy men Surely these Independent Sectaries resolve to extirpate all Lawyers and Clergy-men as the greatest grievances under Heaven that so both Law and Gospel may be dispensed only by their Lawlesse Gospellesse lips hands and this makes them raile at these two Honourable Professions without which no Kingdom or Church can long subsist For my own part I blesse God I am not ashamed of my Profession it s no dishonour unto me since God himself hath honoured Zen● a Professour of it Tit. 3. 13. and I trust I shall never dishonour it and though some perchance abuse it as many do all other Callings 〈◊〉 makes it not unlawfull or a grievance no more then other Callings 〈◊〉 being the fault of the person nor of the Profession Take he●d therefore how you pr●ss● this Argument further lest it reflect with disadvantage on your self who have much abused the Profession of a Gentleman by turning Lib●ller of a Merchant in turning an Independent Preacher of a Minister in becoming an unlicens●d Mr. Printer of all these new Seditious Libels in an Alley in Bishopsgate street the very name whereof made you such a Panegyrist to trumpet out the Archbishops P●ety and Gr●ces to the world after his Execution as a Traytor I shall rake no more in this Pamphleters nasty Kennel which abounds with such fil●hy stincking stuffe and Billingsgate Language as this The Author of The Araignment of Persecution thus makes himself merry with me pag. 15. That Learned Gentleman Just-as conformity of Lincolns Inne Esq can throughly resolve you both by Scripture Texts Presede●ts of all sorts and the constant uninterupted practises examples of the Emminentest Emperours Princes Councels Parliaments c. It is well these illiterate Ass●s are able thus to de●ide what they can no wayes Answer or Re●ute by Scripture Reason or Authorities of any kinde but their own brainsick fancies He proceeds thus pag. 39. By the Apochrypha writings and Non-sense Arguments of Mr. Edwards By the distracted thoughts and subitane apprehensions of Mr. Prynne By the designe of the Clergy By their forced tears By their Hypocrisie By their false Glosses Interpretations and Sophystications Good Lord deliver us Here I am joyned with very good company though in a Blasphemous railing Lyturgy fit only for such Conventicles as this Libeller indoctrinates The Compiler of the Sacred Synodicall Decretall thus sports himself with Dr. Bastwick and me pag. 22. Dr. Bastwick and Jockey shall be God-fathers and the Whore of Babylon God-mother and it shall be Christened COMMON-COUNCELL OF PRESBYTERS heare 's like to be a City well governed but it is not yet fit to be known by that Name while the Childe is in the Cradle when it can go alone it will be a pretty play-fellow for my son Iack if the Doctor can but cure him of the Martin 'T is true he hath given him a good Cordiall against some Independent Qualmes wherewith my son Iack hath been much oppressed since Mr. Prynne hath been Outlaw'd by the Gospel his Voluminous errours had the benefit Sir Reverence of the peoples posteriours to correct them Let the Doctor have a care of his Bills Nam in posteriori pagina omnia sua fic Corriguntur Errata that 's a signe of some Grace who sayes Mr. Prynnes not an honest man that hath consecrated so much to such a Reverend use But he shall have a better place when it falls hee 's in the way of preferment he doth supply the place of an Informer already for he must do a little drudgery before he be a Judge In what an uncivill unchristian manner they have rayled against my ever honoured Brother Dr. Bastwick as an Apostate a fighter against God an enemy of Iesus Christs c. only for writing against their Independent Novelties himself hath at large related in his Postscript How they have abused Dr. Twisse Mr. Hindersham Mr. Calamy Mr. Marshall Dr. Burges Dr. Featly Mr. Paget and especially Mr. Edwards whom they revile beyond all measure only for opposing their new Anarchicall Government hath in part been formerly touched and would be over-tedious particularly to relate I shall therefore conclude with two passages more the one concerning Doctor Burges the other Doctor Twisse and the Assembly in their last Libell called Martins Eccho p. 7 8. Such hath been their good service to the Church and State that for my part it should not much trouble me to see them as well knockt down I mean to see Doctor Burges and a competent number of his brethren set down upon their Presbyterian Thrones judging the Tribes of this our Israel Be ye mounted upon your great Coach-Horses which trundle you too and fro from London to Westminster mount all your new Canons and advance like mighty men of valour The horsemen and Chariots of

you are like to have That if by his continuall riding hee so gall your backs and shoulders that you can no longer endure but cry out by reason of your severe oppression you shall have Liberty granted you To leap out of the Frying pan into the fire by making your appeal to the Common-Councell of Presbyters forsooth where when you shall come with this complaint Your Fathers the Bishops made your yoke grieveous and our Parochiall Presbyters those Lyons Whelps do adde hereto Now do you ease somewhat the grievous servitude and heavy yoke put upon us You may expect from this Honorable Court an Answer like unto that of Rehoboams to those distressed people that cryed unto him Our Fathers made your yokes heavy but we will adde thereto Our Fathers Chastised you with Whips but we will Chastise you with Scorpions and mend your selves as you can for we are the Divine power and consequently the Law-givers both of Church and State therefore you are to be content and submit your selves to your Superiors your severall Presbyters in you severall Parishes that have the Rule over you must in no wise be resisted but as it is meet be humbly obeyed in all things that they shall Command you and their power is not to be questioned for the same power which lately was resident in confined to the breast of one man to wit an Archbishop is inherent and of Divine Right in the body of a Presbytery and conveyed equally to every particular Presbyter therefore if this Episcopall power be offensive and obnoxious to you never expect to have it otherwise for your Parliaments themselves cannot lawfully help you Now have you not cause to rejoyce for this Iubilee this year of deliverance from your Anti-christian servitude to Aegyptian bondage Yes sure therefore I say Rejoyce and be glad and again Rejoyce lift up your heads For doubtlesse your Redemption draweth nigh The Righteous shall be delivered out of trouble and the Wicked shall come in his stead Prov. 11. 8 But in plain terms loving friends Neighbours and Country-men let us a little reason together seriously Have not you born the brunt and heat of this unnaturall War Is it not you that pay all the Taxes Cessements and oppressions whatsoever Is not the whole burthen laid upon your backs Burthen after burthen Even till your backs break How many thousands of you who were of great Estate are even reduced your selves your dear Wives and Children to misery and poverty How many thousands and millions have you exhausted Yea hath not your hands been liberall beyond your Abilities How freely have you brought in your Gold your Silver your Iewels Rings c. which in London Middlesex and Essex amoun●ed to above eleven Millions besides threescore Millions extract●d out of the Counties with the innumerable sums otherwise raised and spent in this service Hath not your blood the blood of your dear Children and Friends been only engaged and spilt And is it not dayly shed in this Quarrell while the Presbyters clap you on the backs animate encourage and Preach out your very lives and estates and involve you in all these miseries and themselves touch it not with the tip of their little finger You have your Hu●bands your Sons and Servants Imprested from you and forsooth a Priest must not be meddled withall under Sacriledge Blasphemy or prophanenesse at least They are freed from all charges and Taxations and all is laid upon you and notwithstanding your insufferable misery your unsupportable charge and oppr●ssion under which you groan and are fit to expire those greedi● wretches are not ashamed to exact their tythes though they pluck it out of your Childrens mouthes There had been more need of an Ordinance to have Sessed the Priests and imprested them to the Wars for that vvould be more conducent for the Kingdoms good For should the King set up his Episcopall Clergy and the Parliament their Presbyterian Clergie in the forefront of their battells forlorne hopes and put them instead of other honest innocent harmelesse soules upon all their desperate attempts without doubt they would as zealously preach for peace as they doe now for war they would quickly agree and turne as they were rather then loose all I am confident this would prove the most effectuall meanes for our reconciliation then any that hath beene yet attempted Consider this I beseech you call to minde all your former expences ventures and cessements for this present warre and the miserable condition you and the whole Kingdome strugleth in as it were for life and are now all ready to be devoured your estates are wasted your men slaine your hands weakned and the Kingdome is fit to be over-run your strength decayeth and your enemy increaseth and all your assistance hath beene conveyed through the hands of the Presbyterian party they have born al offices have had all in their own disposing but what is become of it Wisemen say that the treasures and wealth that hath been spent for the managing of this warre would have maintained a greater warre seven yeares longer some body have feathered their nests though yours are bare Now how thinke you is it otherwise possible but the Kingdome must be ruined if this course be continued and to adde more certainty of destruction to it these men now in this our greatest extremity labour to divide the Parliament partie in twaine Before the Synod was assembled the cries of the people were heard their Petitions answered miseries redressed Monopolies remooved oppressions eased tender consciences respected the servants of God delivered out of prisons courts of tyranny and oppression suppressed c. But since their Session the case is quite altered nothing but Iesuiticall and Machivillian pollicy hath bin on foote thousands of Petitions of poore Widdowes Orphanes and all manner of distressed oppressed persons who cry daiely and cannot be heard and these fat Preists can have Ordinance upon Ordinance for their ends they can have the sweat of other mens browes confirmed upon them by an Ordinance whiles others cannot have their just requests for their owne rights Answered though their Wives and Children perish our Presbyterians wives must go like Ladyes with their silke Taffety some with their fanns and silver watches forsooth hunging by their girdles to please the pretty sweet faced lovely Mopphet withall pretty things t is pitty there 's not an Ordinance all this while for them to weare Rattle● Consider this with your selves for what your estates and blood have beene engaged The liberties of the subject and the Protestant Religion now how much after this vast expence this sea of blood of the subjects Liberties have you attain'd even thus much He that shall open his mouth freely for the Vindication of your Native Liberties cannot doe it without the hazard of his own yea of his life I know that the Priests thirst after my blood but