Canterburys Doom

9. That every Bishop that by our grace and favor, and good opinion of his service, shall be nominated by us to another Bishopric, shall from that day of nomination not presume to make any Lease for three lives or one and twenty years, or concurrent Lease, or any way renew any Estate, or cut any wood or timber, but merely receive the rents due and quit the place. For we think it a hateful thing that any man's leaving the Bishopric should almost undo the Successor. And if any man shall presume to break this order, (g) we will refuse at our Royal Assent, and keep him at the place which he hath so abused.

10. And lastly, we command you to give us an Account every year the second of January, of the performance of these our Commands.

Exceptions taken.
• (a) This is broken.
• (b) And this.
• (c) This Catechising must be by the Catechism in the Com prayer book and no other. Divers in London must preach too or loose their means. They cannot agree upon the great Cause.
• (d) Whether this bind the Parson or Vicar if he read the Lecture? Or all the Ministers where there is a combination Unless it be upon the very edge of a Diocese &c,
• (e) And execut by himself: And whether it shall be sufficient to conform sometimes, so the reading of Prayer be constant.
• (f) Excepted against in regard of displacing many young men &c.
• (g) What if he do not let them till the Royal Assent be past?

How diligent he was to put these Instructions into execution within his own Diocese, will appear by this Letter of his to his several Archdeacons; the original whereof was produced, interlined with his own hand.

Upon the publication of these Instructions (strictly pursued till this present Parliament) Lecturers and Chaplains in private Gentlemens houses were generally questioned and suppressed in all places, with very great Rigor; especially if they refused or neglected to read Common Prayers in their Surplices and Hoods before they Lectured: all Sermons on the Lord's days in the Afternoon were generally suppressed by degrees throughout the Kingdom: most single, and many Combination Lectures were put down in every place; All Catechisms, but that in the Common Prayer Book, prohibited; All Expositions of Chapters or of the Catechism forbidden and laid aside; Wakes, Revels, Dancing, and all kind of Recreations introduced, authorized, commanded by a Regal Declaration, printed and published in the Kings name by this Prelate as we have already proved, (and preached for in Pulpits, instead of Afternoon Sermons and Catechisms on the Lord's day) that people might go more merrily down to Hell, and banish the thoughts of God and heaven out of their minds, on that very day whereon they should mind them most. And that these Instructions might be the better executed, this Prelate both before and after he was Archbishop, together with Bishop Montague, Bishop Wren, Bishop Peirce and others thrust them into their Visitation Articles, and every Church-Warden and Sidesman on their Oath, was to inquire after the Execution and Violation of them. If any doubt arose upon these Instructions how to proceed upon them, not Archbishop Abbot, but this Lording Prelate, was consulted with as the only Oracle, who best knew their meaning, as being the contriver of them: Witness the Bishop of Bristols Letter and Quaeres to him about his Majesty's late Instructions Febr. 12. 1629. the Original whereof (indorsed with Mr Dells his Secretaries hand) found with the former Papers in his study, was produced. If any neglect or connivance at Lecturers was used in any place, information and complaint thereof was presently sent up unto him; witness this one from Canterbury against Archbishop Abbot himself: thus endorsed with this Prelates own hand Feb, 18. 1629. The Proceedings of the Dean and Arch-Deacon of Canterbury upon the Kings Instructions.

MAster Dean and Archdeacon of Canterbury received from my Lord's Grace a Commission for the speeding of his Majesty's Instructions enforced by these phrases. (It is expected that you should strictly put in execution these matters which do concern either yourselves, in your own persons, or the Clergy that do remain within my Diocese, and this to be done, not as a thing of form, or perfunctorily, but so that an account be made and returned to his Majesty, what fruit there is of these Instructions, and how in the several Dioceses they are performed. And therefore I pray you, and in the name of his Highness require you to advertise me what is done in these particulars, and whether there be due obedience unto these commands.)

Accordingly the Commissioners sent for Mr Palmer, a Lecturer in Saint Alphage Canterbury on Sunday in the afternoon, who first denied to show any Licence; Secondly certified that he had no Licence to preach there. Thirdly against the Ministers will, he read Prayers and catechized but not according to Canon. Fourthly, in that catechizing he undertook to declare the Kings mind in his Instructions. Fifthly, he hath never heretofore read Prayers or used the Surplice in that Parish. Sixthly, the Incumbent, a man licensed by three Archbishops, petitioned that he might perform his own ministerial duties in his own Parish. Seventhly, Mr Polmer preached a factious Sermon in the Cathedral Church, and detracted from Divine Service there, Eighthly the Incumbent for not joining with him is threatened to loose his tithes. Ninthly, factious parties of all the Parishes in the Town are his auditors, where they will not be forbidden to sit upon the Communion table.

Hereupon the Commissioners, willed Master Palmer to desist, and to give Master Platt the Minister of the said-Church room, to do his duties himself, until they might hear farther from my Lord's Grace of Canterbury, and to him they remitted him, sending up their reasons wherefore they did it.

They likewise sent for Master Vdnay Lecturer on Sunday in the after-noon at Ashford, a Market town and the most factious of all Kent. Where though there be a grave learned diligent Incumbent, and a Lecture beside performed every Satturday by the grave neighbor Ministers, yet Master Vdnay was invited thither by factious persons, such as are registered in the high Commission for Conventiclers, whereupon he obtained a recommendation from the King, directed to the Constable of Ashford, who in the Kings name charging the Incumbent to admit him, thrust him up into the Pulpit, where he hath ever since Lectured directly contrary to the third instruction for Lectures, it being a great discouragement to the Incumbent, Vdnay himself having had a Benefice near that Town within eight miles, at which for this ten years he hath never constantly resided. For these reasons the Commissioners wisht him likewise to desist, and referd him to my Lord's Grace of Canterbury, who hath since replaced him in Ashford by his Licence and Seal, and as we are informed hath likewise authorised Master Palmer.

By these proceedings the Commissioners are made the scorn of the factious. They and all other conformable Orthodox Ministers are discomforted, his Majesty's Instructions are annihilated, and Master Arch-deacon of Canterbury is inhibited his Jurisdiction.

In his own Diocese of London many Lectures were suppressed, many Lecturers and Ministers questioned, suspended by color of these Instructions, especially if they used the least glances against Arminianism and Popish Innovations, by name Mr John Rogers of Dedham, Mr Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield, Mr Hooker of Chemsford, Mr White of Knightsbridge; Mr Archer, M. William Martyn, M. Edwards, M. Jones, M. Ward, M. Saunders; M. James Gardner, M. Foxly, with sundry others being likewise, some of them driven out of his Diocese and the Kingdom too.

Bishop Wren in pursuance of these instructions, prescribed, printed and published these ensuing Visitation Articles concerning Lecturers, in his Diocese of Norwich, on which the Churchwardens were strictly enjoined to inquire and present upon oath; as appears by his printed Articles, Anno. 1636. Which were read in form following.

Not long after, this Bishop in his Diocese of Norwich suppressed all Afternoon-Sermons on the Lordsday throughout his Diocese; with most single Lectures, Lecturers, and Combination Lectures too; which he permitted only unto some few places after much Petitioning upon these hard conditions, which he returned and certified to this Archbishop (from whom they originally proceeded) in these ensuing terms, as appears by the Original under his own hand, (found in the Archbishops study and attested by Mr Prynne.)

This Bishop Wren likewise prohibited, all ringing of Bells to give notice of a Sermon to the Parishioners or others; Suppressed all Preparation Sermons to fit men for the worthy receiving of the Sacrament; all Prayers before Sermons but that enjoined by the 55. Canon; forbidding Ministers to use any Prayers after their Sermons: Enjoyned there should be no Catechisms used on the Lordsday instead of the Afternoon Sermon, but only such Questions and Answers as are contained in the Common Prayer book, not allowing Ministers to expound or open the points of the same to the people, he and his Officers affirming in public places, that such an Exposition might be as ill as a Sermon. And by color of these Instructions and the Declaration for Sports he silenced, suspended at least fifty Ministers, forcing many of them, and above three thousand people besides to desert the Kingdom, and fly into Holland and New-England; as appears by the Articles of his impeachment, presented to the Lord's by the house of Commons and by sundry witnesses before several Committees. All which Exorbitancies issued from these Instructions; and must be put on this Archbishops score, the Author of them, to whom Bishop Wren and other Bishops gave an annual Account of their due execution.

Bishop Montague succeeding Bishop Wren in the Bishopric of Norwich, in pursuance of these Instructions exceeded him in his Visitation Articles concerning Lectures and Lecturers; as appears by these ensuing; printed both at London and Cambridge: Anno. 1638.

By these we may discern the spirit of this Prelate and his Malignity against Lecturers and Lectures, which he carefully suppressed in Chichester Diocese, (where he published the like Articles) and would have done the like in Norwich, but that his predecessor Bishop Wren, had left no Lectures for him to suppress.

Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wells, a great creature of this Arch-Prelates, to please his Grace the better, by color of these Instructions (which he rigorously observed) suppressed all Lectures within his Diocese both in Market Towns and elsewhere, as well combination Lectures, as those maintained by Ministers, or Lecturers upon stipends or the people's benevolence, some of w ^ch Lectures had continued 40 or 50 years without interruption, and were countenanced by some of his Predecessors actual preaching at them in their turns: which when he had effected, he publicly gloried in this wicked act, using this most execrable speech: I thank God I have not one Lecture lest in my Diocese: professing before, that he hated the very name of Lectures, and would not leave so much as one Lecture in his Diocese; and requiring the Ministers upon their canonical obedience not to preach any Lecture; alleging, that there was no such need of preaching no was there was in the Apostles days. Yea, he suspended Mr Devenish the Minister of Bridgewater for preaching a Lecture there in his own Church on the Market day (which Lecture had continued from Queen Elizabeth time till then) and refused to absolve him, till he hath faithfully promised to preach it no more. And when he absolved him on this promise, he most profanely used to him these words of our Savior spoken to the Woman taken in Adultery, John 8. 14. Go thy way sin no more (that is, preach this Lecture no more, as if preaching was as heinous a sin as Adultery) lest a worse thing happen to thee: Furthermore in pursuit of these Instructions, he put down all Sermons on the Lord's days in the Afternoon throughout his Diocese, strictly charging the Ministers in his Visitations, not to preach on Lord's days in the Afternoon upon any occasion, under pain of Suspension; After which he suspended one Mr Cornish, only for preaching a Funeral Sermon on a Lordsday Evening: Furthermore, he convented the Minister of Beercoockham before him, for having two Sermons on that parish Revellday; alleging, that it was a hindrance to the Revel, and utterance of the Church-all provided to be spent 'on that day: (belike he had more care of the Church wardens Ale then the people's Souls) and he questioned one Mr Thomas Erford a Minister, as a Delinquent, for preaching at the parish of Montague on their Revellday, upon the Prophet Joels exhortation to Fasting weeping and mourning; charging him; that not only his Sermon, but his every text too, was scandalous to the Revel, and gave offense to the meeting: And whereas divers godly Ministers of his Diocese being restrained from preaching, did take great pain thereupon to catechise their Parishioners in the principles of Religion on Lordsdayes in the Afternoon, according to the Letter of these Instructions, enlarging themselves upon the Questions and Answers in the Catechism in the Common-Prayer-Book for the people's better Instruction, and using a short prayer before and after that exercise, this Bishop being informed of it corrected and sharply reproved these Ministers for their pains, threatening to punish them severely if they Persisted therein; saying, Thus it was a Catechizing Sermon-wise, and AS BAD AS PREACHING: Charging them, that they should ask no other Questions, nor receive any other Answers from the people, but such as were contained in the Book of Common prayer; which one Mr B •• rett Rector of Barwick not observing, was enjoined penance for it; and one Humfrey Blake Churchwarden of Bridgewater, was likewise put to penance for not presenting Mr Devenish the Minister there as a Delinquent, for expounding the Church-Cateckisme, and making a short prayer of his own before he began his exercise: All which particulars were proved by substantial witnesses before a Committee of the House of Commons, drawn up into an Impeachment against this Bishop; and being in verity the Impious fruits of this Arch-Prelates project (who encouraged him herein) must be justly and principally charged upon his score: Quia plus peccat Author quàm Actor.

The like Suppressions of Sermons and Catechizing on the Lord's day in the Afternoon were common in all or most other Diocese; neither could any Combination Lectures be obtained in them; but with very great suite, and upon very hard conditions, which the Bishops took advantage to prescribe by color of these Instructions, all strictly observed till this present Parliament; This we could prove by many Instances we shall produce but one instead of all the rest found among Sir John Lambes Papers (the Archbishops grand Instrument herein) by Mr Prynns, endorsed with Sir John's own fifth.

By these unreasonable conditions, (to which the consciences of most orthodox godly Ministers could no ways submit) most Combination Lecturers were totally discontinued, and such as remained were for the most part supplied only by Prelatical, Superstitious, Ceremonious, Popish Clergy men of the Archbishops faction, whose Sermons and Examples did more corrupt then instruct, seduce then reform the Auditors, and only promote his Popish designs. To such slavery, misery were both Ministers and People reduced by color of this Prelates forementioned Considerations: Who being afterwards advanced to the Archbishopric of Canterbury, had an annual Account returned to him from all the Bishops of his Province, how these Instructions concerning Sermons, Lectures and Lecturers, were observed, and what Proceedings were upon them; as was manifested by the Originals of their Accounts found in his study, endorsed with his own hand. And not content with his Provincial Bishops proceedings, himself in his Metropolitical Visiitation, gave special Order to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar general, to inquire, how his Majesty's Instructions were observed? as appears by a Memorandum touching his Visitation in general March. 6. 1634. written with Mr Dells own hand, found in the Archbishops study with other Papers of that nature: and likewise ordered him to silence divers Ministers, and not suffer them to Lecture: We shall give you one memorable instance in Mr Leighe a reverend Minister then of Wolverhampton, but now settled in Shoreditch by order of Parliament; For whose silencing this Archbishop gave special order; as appears by a Letter under his Secretary Dells own hand (who acknowledged it at the Lord's Barr) directed to Sir Nathaniel Brent, found by M. Prynne among Sir John Lambes Papers.

Upon this Letter, Mr Leigh was suspended by Sir Nathaniel Brent, as appears by an Abstract of the Metropolitical Visitation delivered by Sir Nathaniel to the Archbishop, who thus endorsed it with his own hand. July 16. 1635. The Abstract of my Visitation of Norwich, Peterborrough, Litchfield, &c. produced at the Barr; in which we find mention of above twenty other Ministers suspended from preaching in this his Visitation. In his Instructions for his Metropolitical Visitation in the Diocese of London (endorsed and signed with his own hand) we find divers Informations against sundry Ministers enclosed, among which this is one.

Of which particular concerning Mr Randall, Sir Nathaniel after his Visitation gave this account to the Archbishop.

MAster Randall Curate of Tuddington (noted in the paper) confesseth, that since he was inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to preach in the Afternoones on Sundays, he hath once offended and no more. It was to make a farewell Sermon to that exercise, as he saith: wherein he rather aggravateth his fault then otherwise. He saith, that this Sermon was much beyond the compass of an hour, and I believe it continued more then two hours. He now seeth and acknowledgeth his fault, protesteth he will be most conformable for the future, and humbly desireth to be dismissed with a Canonical Admonition. But I keep him in fear still.

To this we might add his procurement of Dr Ienningson Lecturer at Newcastle, to be questioned in the High Commission at York, in the year 1639. whose Articles and Answers were both sent up to Lambeth to his Grace-ship; and enforcing to quit that place, with the Kingdom too, to avoid his fury: His prosecution of Mr John Iemmet Lecturer at Barwicke, in causing the Bishop of Durham in December 1639. to send for him by a Pursuivant, silence him from preaching in Barwick, and banish him the Town, without any Articles or Witnesses examined against him: with other instances of this nature; but for brevity sake we shall omit these, and proceed to his next stratagem to suppress preaching, which was:

His publishing of a Declaration for Sports in his Majesty's name, and silencing, suspending, excommunicating, questioning, censuring in the High Commission and elsewhere, many hundreds of godly conscientious Preaching Ministers (whom the Instructions for Lecturers could not reach so far as to silence, being Incumbents and not mere Lecturers) for refusing personally to publish it in their Churches, to animate their people to profane the Lord's day, with unhallowed Pastimes: which because we have formerly insisted on, and proved to be his design; we shall here but mention, and pass by, only with this one Addition; that Mr Thomas Valentine, Minister of Chalford Saint Giles in the County of Buckingham, being suspended by Sir John Lamb, Dean of the Arches, for not reading the Book of Sports, from which suspension he appealed and procured time to consider, whether he would read it or not; Mr Valentine not long after to obtain further time and favor writ a Letter to Sir John Lamb dated April 28. 1636. with 5 l. enclosed, and a Petition to the Archbishop, on which Letter Sir John makes this endorsment with his own hand, Master Valentine 28. April 1636. with 5 l. PEECES enclosed: which Petition Sir John recommending to Mr Dell, procured him a gracious answer and some longer respite for the present; but in December and January following he was again molested and suspended for not publishing this Declaration in proper person, though his Curate had formerly read it in the Church, as appears by two Petitions to the Archbishop for his absolution.

His third design to suppress preaching was, by discouraging conscientious young Scholars and Divines from entering into the Ministry by putting divers clogs & difficulties upon them, under a most specious pretext; which was thus effected: No sooner was this Prelate settled in his Archbishopric, but he contrived a Letter, drawn by Mr Dell his Secretary, but interlined, corrected with his own hand, (as appears by the Original draught found in his study) directed as from his Majesty to himself; which he afterwards presented to the King, who directed and sent it to him under his Privy Signet to be put in Execution, in manner following, as the very Letter it self under the Kings Signet declares; thus endorsed with the Archbishops own hand; Rec. Sept. 19. 1633. From his Majesty, that no Ministers be made sine Titulo.

Upon receipt hereof; this Archbishop (whose project it was) directs this Letter following to the Bishops of his Province, as is evident by the original draught thereof corrected with his own hand and thus endorsed by him. Octob. 18. 1633. The Copy of my Letters upon this of his Majesty's to the several Bishops of this Province.

In this Letter we find this Paper enclosed, writ with Mr Dells, but endorsed with the Archbishops hand, declaring what shall be a Title.

So upon the matter these Titles are named in the Canon. He that is ordained must have.

• 1. A Presentation to some Ecclesiastical Preferment.
• 2. Or, A Certificate undoubted that he is provided of some Church void there.
• 3. Or, A Grant of some Petty Canons place, or the like, in a Cathedral or Collegiate Church.
• 4. Or, A Fellow, or in the right of a Fellow in some College in Oxford or Cambridge.
• 5. Or, A Conduct or Chaplain in some College in Oxford or Cambridge.
• 6. Or, A Master of Arts of 5. years standing living at his own charge in either of the Universities.
• 7. Or, The intention of the Bishop that ordains, shortly to admit him to some Benefice or Curates place then void.

And I think the Canon intends that after a Man is once admitted a Curate, the Parson or Vicar of the place should not have power to put them off at pleasure, but only for such criminal unworthiness as might deprive him of his Benefice if he had one.

So I conceive, under favor, the Order may go briefly thus.

And farther his Majesty's express Command is, that this Canon be strictly observed by all Bishops in their several Dioceses respectively, and that none presume to ordain any man to be a Deacon, Priest or Minister under the penalty enjoined in the Canon, or any other which his Majesty's just displeasure may inflict upon him.

These Letters primâ facie seem very fair, necessary; but latet Anguis in herba: there was a dangerous design couched under them.

For first, no Lecture whatsoever, was admitted to be a Canonical Title: and so all ordination of Ministers to supply Lectures was totally secluded: which was one chief end of this design. Secondly, no Chaplainship to any Noblemans or Gentleman's family was allowed to be a sufficient Title; and this gave a fatal blow to all such young Chaplains ordinations; unless they had some better Title and Livelihood for the future; which was likewise formerly aimed at in the precedent Considerations and Instructions. And by this device many young Divines were in a manner quite excluded out of such Religious Gentlemens Families, which might season them with the practical power of godliness, or any principles which the Prelates held to be Puritanism or Precisenesse. Thirdly, by this device all young Students in Divinity were made more dependent on, more obsequious to the Bishops, & less dependent on the Nobility, Gentry, people; as the Letters insinuate. Fourthly, under pretent of these Letters a kind of new subscription was imposed on all such who were to be ordained (especially if suspected to be orthodox or precise) to sundry Arminian, Popish Errors, and Superstitions, upon which they were interrogated to sound their inclinations, and denied Orders in case of disa •• ent: As namely: Whether Bowing at the name of Jesus, and to or towards the Altar at their approaches to it, or ingress to or egress out of the Church, were lawful, & commendable? Whether all baptized Infants were not truly regenerated? Whether Episcopacy and the Hierarchy of Bishops were not of divine Right? Whether the Church of Rome were not a true Church? Whether Altars, Copes, Organs, Tapers, Crucifixes and Images were not lawful? Whether truly regenerate men might not totally and finally fall from Grace? and the like, By which Interrogations, and many new Ceremonies introduced at ordinations, sundry godly Scholars and Students of Divinity were deterred from taking Orders, and a Superstitious, Popish, profane, Episcopal generation of New ordained Priests (zealous to promote, embrace the very groslest Doctrines and Superstitions of Rome,) engeadred and scattered among us in most places; all powerful soul-saving preaching banished or quite laid aside; and the people everywhere poisoned with Popish and Arminian drugs.

By these and such like practices, as likewise by preaching and printing against frequent Preaching; ( formerly touched) there ensued a great famine of the pure powerful preaching of God's Word, of godly Preachers in our Kingdom; and a monstrous increase of Popish Priests, Jesuits, Friars, Papists, Popery, Superstition, Prophanesse, Ignorance, Impiety; which have involved us in those miseries and distractions under which we now languish and are almost ruined.

His Fourth Device to suppress preaching, was the subversion of the Feoffees for buying in Impropriations, particularly charged against him in the 6. Additionall Article; in these words.

That whereas divers gifts and dispositions of divers sums of money were heretofore made by divers charitable and well-disposed persons for the buying in of divers Impropriations for the maintenance of preaching the word of God in several Churches, the said Archbishop about eight years last past, willfully and maliciously caused the said gifts feofments and contrivances made to the uses aforesaid to be overthrown in his Majesty's Court of Exchequer contrary to law, as things dangerous to the Church and State, under the specious pretence of buying in Impropriations; whereby that pious work was suppressed and trodden down, to the great dishonor of God and scandal of Religion.

This Article informs us briefly what these Feoffees were, we shall only add who they were, what they did, and how they were proceeded against by this Archbishop. About the year 1626. some godly Persons in and about London to promote the preaching of the Gospel, and set up a Preaching Ministry to instruct the people in divers great Towns and Parishes impropriate where they wanted means to maintain Preaching, of which they had long been destitute in former times, resolved to lay their purses together and choose out of themselves four Divines, four Common Lawyers, and four Citizens of note who should be Feoffees in trust to purchase in these Impropriations, and with the profits of them to set up and maintain a constant preaching Ministry in places of greatest need and eminency: whereupon they made choice of Dr W. Gouge, Dr R. Sibbs, C. Ofspring, & I. Davenport Divines. Ralph Eyre, S. Brown of Lincolas Inn, C. Sherland of Greyes Inn, J. White of middle Temple Esquires, Common Lawyers. John Geering, Richard Davis, George Harwood and Francis Bridges, Citizens; to be Feoffees for this purpose; who with their own monies and the contributions of other well-affected persons in 2 or 3 years space purchased in the Impropriations of Hartford, Dunstable, Cirencester, with others, and set up able preaching conformable Ministers (authorized by the Bishops of the Diocese) there in many other places where they had never any before; as likewise at Bridgenorth Clarely; and had they not been interrupted in this good work, would in very few years in all probability, have purchased in most of the great Towns & noted Parishes Impropriations of England in Lay-men's hands, where Preaching was most wanting, and means to maintain it. No sooner had this Malignant Prelate notice of this pious religious work, but out of his enmity to Preaching, and the good of ignorant people's souls (whom he would rather have still kept in blindness and the chains of Satan, then instructed with the Gospels light, and brought under the Scepter of Jesus Christ) he presently projects not only the obstruction, but utter subvertion of this pious design, which none but a Devil incarnate, or Enemy of all goodness could dislike; many even of the worser sort of Bishops, yea Courtiers, applauding it, as a very necessary and godly work.

That he himself projected the overthrow of these Feoffees, was proved out of his own Diary; where thus he writes in the close of it. Things which I have projected to do, if Godblesse me in them: the third whereof is this: To overthrow the Feofment dangerous both to Church and State, going under the specious pretence of buying in Impropriations. Over against which he writes in the Margin, DONE: which fights point-blank with his very next project of a quite contrary nature, justifying these Feoffees acts, namely: To procure King CHARLES to give all the Impropriations yet remaining in the Crown within the Realm of Ireland, to that poor Church: Against which he writes in the Margin; Done and settled there: though to the impairing of that Crowns revenues, and that by power of the Council Table, in an arbitrary, forcible and illegal way, to the undoing of many; as appears by sundry Original Letters thence; whereas the Feoffees buying in Impropriations did no ways lessen the Kings revenues, and was done in a just and legal way. To overthrow this pious work, he caused Mr Noy the Kings Attorney General, by the Kings command, to exhibit a Bill against these Feoffees in the Exchequer Chamber, to confiscate their purchased Impropriations to the King by a Decree of that Court, and so dissolve all they had done: which Bill was prosecuted with all violence. To set on the prosecution with more edge he suborned his flattering creatures to declaim against these Feoffees and their design in the Pulpit both at Court and elsewhere. Among others, his great Minion Peter Heylin, preaching at Saint Mary's in Oxford before the whole University, at the public Act there, on Sunday in the afternoon the 11 ^th of July 1630. discharged his venom against Lecturers, and these Feoffees in these bitter Invectives; p. 38 39: Planting of Pensionary Lectures in so many places where it needs not, and upon days of common labor, will at the last bringing forth of fruits, appear to be a tare indeed, though now no wheat be counted fairer, &c. We will proceed a little further in the proposal of some things to be considered. The Corporation of Feoffees for buying in Impropriations to the Church, Doth it not seem in the appearance to be an excellent piece of Wheat? A noble and gracious point of Piety? Is not this Templum Domini, Templum Domini? But blessed God, that men should thus draw near unto thee with their mouths, yet be far from thee in their hearts! For what are those entrusted in the managing of this great business? Are they not the most of them, the most active and the best affected men in the whole cause, et magna partis momenta, chief Patrons of the faction? And what are those whom they prefer? Are they not most of them such as must be serviceable to their dangerous Innovations? And will they not in time have more preferments to bestow, and therefore more dependencies then all the Prelates in the Kingdom? &c. Yet all this while we sleep and slumber and fold our hands in sloth, and see perhaps but dare not note it.

This Sermon he presented to this Bishop in writing bound up in Velome, who thus endorsed it with his own hand S. Mat. 13, 25. Master Peter Heylin; and reserved it as a monument in his study; where it was seised by Mr Prynne and Mr Bendy, who produced and attested it.

Feb. 13. 1632. this cause came to hearing and sentence in the Exchequer Chamber, where the Feoffees and their good design were utterly overthrown; of which the Bishop made this special Memento in his Diary in these terms: Feb. 13. 1632. Wednesday, the Feoffees that pretended to buy in Impropriations were dissolved in the Chequer Chamber. They were the main Instruments for the Puritan faction, to undo the Church: The Criminall part reserved.

John White of the Middle Temple Esquire (a member of the House of Commons) deposed at the Lord's Barre; that he attending this Archbishop, then of London, at London House as a Counselor, about a right of Patronage to Chingford in Essex; after the hearing of the business, the Bishop demanded of him; Whether he were not one of the Feoffees for buying in Impropriations? to which he answered, he was: whereupon the Bishop fell upon him with much bitterness of spirit, calling him, An enemy of the Church, an underminer of Religion: and vehemently affirmed, that this work of his and his fellow-Feoffees was mischievous to the Church and destructive to Religion, and that he would see him and his fellows shortly called to an Account for it, and stop them from proceeding in that work. That some few days after, he attended this Bishop again at Fulham upon the former cause, where he took occasion to discourse with him at large about the Feoffees proceedings; enforming him, that their only aim and end in purchasing in Impropriations was, for the better maintenance of Ministers and Preachers where there was most need; that they bought them with their own monies, and the monies of their friends, and disposed the revenues thereof to none, nor placed any Minister in any Church, but such as they took more then ordinary care should be thoroughly examined by the Ordinary of the place, for his Sufficiency and full Conformity by law required. And therefore he besought him earnestly, that he would not use his power to hinder and destroy so good a work, but rather to cherish and further it: And if he disliked either the Persons who managed it, or the course they took in ordering the same, they would appoint such other meet persons and rules for the regulating and carrying on of that pious work as he should think fit. But notwithstanding this and all other Arguments he could use and earnestly press him withal, the Bishop with much passion expressly declared his resolution, to break the neck of this good work, that it should not proceed: Whereupon an Information was exhibited against the Feoffees by his procurement in the Exchequer Chamber in the Kings name, by Mr Noy the Kings Attorny General, and sentence given against them for seising all the Impropriations they had purchased and monies received by them, into the Kings hands; whereby this good work was destroyed; the profits diverted to other uses (as appears by the Docquet Book ultimo Decembris 1638. and Sir William Whitmores Petition to the Archbishop Novemb. 13. 1633. found in his study) and deboyst scandalous unworthy Ministers, such as had been formerly turned out by other BPS put in to them; whereas they maintained sundry godly Ministers and six Lecturers at S. Antholins with the profits of the Impropriations purchased. After which, Mr White attested there was another Information put by the Kings Attorny into the Exchequer criminally against these Feoffees, as grand Delinquents, and that by this Archbishops direction, as was manifested by a Note produced by Mr Prynne under Secretary Windebanks own hand, to this effect.

Mr Thomas Foxly a reverend Divine deposed upon Oath, Viva Voce; That about Eight years since, William Laud now Archbishop of Canterbury did put down his Lecture on Fridays at Saint Martins in the fields, for fear (as he pretended) least those that came thereunto should infect the Kings, Queens and such Noble men's houses as were in that Parish, with the Plague, though there then died very few in and about London of that disease, the Plague not being then in that Parish when his said Lecture was suppressed, though God brought it into the Parish the very next week after its suppression; by means whereof this deponent was deprived of his present livelihood. After which he being brought before the said Bishop for divers frivolous matters whiles he was Bishop of London, and cleared of them, because there was no color of Crime against him; The said Bishop charged him, for intermeddling with the business of buying in Impropriations, and thereby endeavoring (as he expressed by putting his fingers to his Girdle and shaking of it) to bring the Bishops under the Feoffees Girdles for Impropriations; and when this deponent answered him, that this could not be, since the Ministers on which they bestowed the said Impropriations were sent to the respective Bishops of every Diocese to be approved by them; he answered, that if he had known this deponent to be so busy in this matter of redeeming Impropriations he should not have so easily gotten off before, as he did. And he farther deposed, that about nineteen Moneths before this present Parliament he having a Chamber in London and study in Canewood near Highgate, was rifled by Pursevants and taken and kept Prisoner for two Days and two Nights space, by virtue of a general warrant, to search for Popish Books and suspected Persons, and bidden to choose, whether he would be brought before the now Archbishop, or Sir John Lamb; whereupon he bid the Pursuivant carry him whither he would; who carried him to Sir John Lamb; who told him, he must put in Bond to appear the next Thursday at the High Commission; which he did accordingly: on which Thursday morning by means of Dr Bray, he obtaining speech which the said Archbishop, desired him to grant him one weeks time to consider, whether he might take the oath Ex officio, or not: which he hardly granting, the said Archbishop said; He had almost forgotten him, but by way of threatening said, he remembered him about the business of the Feoffees: to which the deponent replied; That he was encouraged therein by Bishops and Privy Counselors, who sometimes conceived it to be a very good work to redeem Impropriations; and so he was desired to appear the Thursday following. But the very next Lord's day another Pursuivant was sent to this deponent, who bringing him to the Council Chamber door and there attending about half an Hour, a warrant under the said Archbishops hand and five others, was delivered to the said Pursuivant to carry him to the Gate house; where he was kept close Prisoner in a Chamber, not four yards square, for the space of twenty months; not having the allowance of pen and Inke to Petition, that he might know whom or wherein he had offended; that so he might repent, through God gives leave, yea calls upon the greatest sinners to Petition to him: and at three Months end (he growing very sick by reason of his close Imprisonment, and for want of one to cut his Haire, which he used to wear short for his health) fell very sick: his wife thereupon Petitioned time after time to have access to him being at the very point of death, as his keeper informed her, but could neither by her self, nor any other friends, procure access unto him, until such time as Sir Matthew Lister was appointed by the Privy Coucell to come unto him, to see in what ill case he was: upon whose certificate and fifty shillings paid Sir William Be • cher and his man, so soon as it could be procured from Friends, she had a warrant to come and bring one Pysician and Chirurgian unto him, to let him blood, and permission to repair unto him during his sickness, but no longer. In which strict close Imprisonment by the said Archbishops procurement, he continued till about a Moneths space after this present Parliament began, and then upon a Petition of his wives to the House of Commons he was released without bayl, and his said Imprisonment by them voted Illegall; there being all this while no proceedings against him, nor any crime objected to him in any Court of Justice. By means of which Imprisonment he was much prejudiced and undone in his Estate, and his wife with four small children exposed to Pennury and Beggary.

Such a spite did He bear this witness for his Activity in the business of Impropriations.

Mr William Kendall, Mr John Lane, and Mr Tempest Miller, severally deposed at the Lord's Bar, that the Archbishop in the presence of them and divers others, speaking of the Feoffees of Impropriations, said; that they were the bane of the Church; and then uttered these words in a vaunting manner, I was the man that did set myself against them and (then clapping his hand upon his breast, said) I thank God I have destroyed this work.

So as he did not only subvert this pious project to propagate the preaching of the Gospel, but boasted of it, and had so much shameless Impiety, as to thank God himself for effecting it, who hath now in justice brought him into judgment for it, and made it one part of that Charge and Evidence, which we conceive will most justly destroy him.

The seventh and next stratagem he used to subvert the Protestant Religion, which he had almost totally suppressed, corrupted with Popish Errors, Superstitions, Innovations in our English Churches, was his endeavors to undermine and suppress it in these few Duth and French Churches planted here among us; who enjoyed their own Government, Privileges, Discipline without any interruption by any of his Predecessors, or other English Prelates, in all our Protestant Princes reigns, from King Edward the sixth his reign, till this Archprelates molestation of, and attempts against them, thus laid down in the twelfth Original Article of his Impeachment.

He hath Traiterously endeavored to cause division and discord between the Church of England, and other Reformed Churches; and to that end hath suppressed and abrogated the Privileges and Immunities which have been by his Majesty and his Royal Ancestors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdom. And divers other ways hath expressed his malice and disaffection to these Churches, that so by such dis-union, the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both.

To make good this Article we could produce many Letters, Papers, Instructions, Orders under the Archbishops own hand, or indorsed by him, found in his own study, here ready at the Barre; but for brevity sake we shall instance only in some few particulars of more special note.

The first is, that this Arch-prelate though he bears so good an affection and honorable respect to the Church of Rome, as to justify her to be, a true visible Apostolic Church, which never erred in fundamentals, and wherein men may be saved; and that we and she are one and the same Church still, no doubt of that, both one; as we have formerly proved: Yet he is so maliciously despiteful to the Protestant Churches in foreign parts, and at home, that he reputes them not only no true Churches, but even no Churches at all, because they have no Lord-bishops, different in Order and Degree from ordinary Ministers. This opinion of his we shall manifest, not only by his Divinity Questions when he was to proceed Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity (for which Dr Holland publicly checked, and turned him out of the Schools with disgrace, as a sower of discord between Brethren, to wit the Church of England and other reformed Churches;) but by his own late reprinted Book An 1639. entitled, A Relation of the Conference between William Laud, then Lord Bishop of St. David's, now Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and Mr Fisher the Jesuit &c. p. 175, 176. where thus he writes (in justification of his former Theses in the Divinity Schools:) For the calling and Authority of Bishops over the inferior Clergy, that was a thing of known use and benefit, for preservation of Truth and Peace in the Church. And so much St Jerome tells us, though being none himself, he was no great friend to Bishops: And this was so settled in the minds of men from the very infancy of the Christian Church, as that it had not been till that time contradicted by any. So that then there was no controversy about the calling, all agreed upon it. Then citing Jerome’s words in the margin, he thus comments upon them. So, even according to St. Jerome, Bishops had a very ancient and honorable descent in the Church from St. Mark the Evangelist: And about the end of the same Epistle he acknowledgeth it, Traditionem esse Apostolicam: Nay more then so, he affirms plainly, That ubi non est Sacerdos, NON EST ECCLESIA (St. Jerome adverse. Luciferianos:) And in that place most manifest it is, that St. Jerome by Sacerdos means a Bishop; for he speaks de Sacerdote qui potestatem habet Ordinandi: which in St. Jerome's own judgment, no mere Priest had, but a Bishop only, St. Jerome Epist. ad Evagrium: so even with him, NO BISHOP NO CHURCH. Which being his own positive judgment, the Dutch and French Protestant Churches both at home and abroad, must needs be no Church at all in his opinion, because they have no such Bishops; and so are in far worse condition then the Church of Rome, in his repute.

To make this more apparent, we shall desire you to take notice, that in Decemb. 1639. there was a plot between this Archbishop and others of our Prelates to obtrude upon all our Ministers this subscription, as the received Doctrine of the Church of England; to wit, that there could be no Church of Christ without Diocesan Lord Bishops; which clearly appears by the forementioned propositions of Bishop Hall, which the Archbishop thought fit for the subscription of others: but especially by the 1. 12. and 13. propositions viz. God had never any Church on earth that was ruled by a Parity: There was NO CHURCH OF CHRIST UPON EARTH ever since the times of the Apostles governed any otherwise then by Bishops. This course of government thus set by the Apostles in their life time, by the special direction of the holy Spirit, is unalterable by any human Authority, but OUGHT to be perpetuated in the Church to the end of the world. From whence it inevitably follows, that the reformed foreign Churches having no such imparity of Governors nor Lordly Bishops in them, are in this Arch-Prelates and his Confederates judgments, No Churches of God or Christ at all; and if the design of subscribing these Propositions had succeeded (as it did in the Etcetera Oath for a time) he would have engaged the whole Church of England, with all our Ministers by a public subscription, in this most unchristian and uncharitable opinion; which not prevailing, was yet soon after thus seconded in print by his grand Favorite Bishop Montague (whom he advanced to two Bishoprics) in his Originum Ecclesiasticarum Tomi prioris Pars posterior p. 464, published with his approbation, authorized by his Chaplain Dr Bray, presented to, and accepted by himself when published, as appears by two fair gilded printed copies thereof with his Archiepiscopall Arms engraven on the Covers, found in his study by Mr Pryune (printed An. 1640.) since these Propositions of Bishop Hall were sent him; resolving, that there can be not only no Church, but no Ministers at all without Bishops to ordain them, in these terms. Non est Sacerdotium nisi in Ecclesia, non est Ecclesia sine Sacerdotio. Illud autem intelligo per 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Episcopalem ordinariam. Neque euim admittenda consneus extraordinariam aliquam sen vocationem seu 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , nisi miraculosam. Oportet omnino miraculis agant & suam confirment functionem signo aliquo, qui non ab Episcopis derivata ab Apostolis per successionem institution, in Ecclesiam inducuntur, sed velorti à sese, vel nescio unde intrusi, sese ingeru • t. N • m quod pretendunt ordinariam vocationem retinendam, adhibendam, eique adherescondum, nisi in casu necessitatis, absurdum est; & suppositione innititur impossibilitatis: Neque enim talis casus, ant extitit aliquando, aut contingere potest: nisi fallat not Dominus, qui promisit, Porta inferorum non pravalebunt: Ecce sum vobiscum ad consummationem mundi.

By which Position the foreign Protestant Churches are resolved, concluded to be no Churches, their Ministers no Ministers, their Sacraments no Sacraments, their Ordinances no Ordinances of Christ; (which perchance made Mr John Dury ordained in one of those Churches, to be re-ordained a Minister here by the Bishop of Exeter Dr Hall, before he was admitted to his Benefice, as appears by their several Original Letters found in the Archbishops study.) And then what are they but mere Pagan Conventicles, far worse then Papists and the Church of Rome.

We shall only add to this, that whereas Bishop Hall in his Treatise of Episcopacy pag. 18. excused the foreign Protestant Churches from being unchurched by these Positions only in this regard; that the reason why they renounced Bishops was merely out of necessity, because their Bishops would not suffer them to enjoy the Gospel. Adding pag. 19. That it is very considerable, whether the condition they were in doth absolutely warrant such a proceeding? which is somewhat too hard a censure of them; yet the Archbishop in his forecited Letter to Bishop Hall, taxeth him for this his overmuch lenity towards them, in these terms: You are a little more favorable to the foreign Churches and their Authors, then our cause will bear: and yet in the very same Letter, he mislikes and blames this Bishop for his overmuch sharpness towards the Pope, in his second Book, for bestowing the Title of Antichrist upon him; wherewith he was so highly offended, that out of a zeal to his Holiness, he presently complains to the King himself of this indignity offered to the Pope, and procures a special Mandate from his Majesty to Bishop Hall, to qualify his expressions in this particular with his own pen, which he did accordingly. Notwithstanding the General confessions of all foreign Protestant Churches; The authorized Impressions of all their eminentest Writers; Our own Hom • lies Writers of all sorts, and the very Act of Parliament for the Confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergy 3. Iac. (penned by all the Prelates and Clergy of England in full Convocation) give the Pope this Title, and style the Jesuits and their Adberents, THE UNSHAMEFACT BROOD OF ANTICHRIST. This his indulgence therefore to the Pope, Priests, and Church of Rome, and professed enmity against the foreign Reformed Churches in unchurching them, in making their Ministers no Ministers at all, and them no Christians, nor Christian Assemblies, discovers his very Intrals and inward bent of his soul to Popery, to the Church of Rome, yea his inveterate hatred to these Protestant Churches and their Religion too; The next thing we shall fully evidence.

2. Though this Archbishop was so zealous an Advocate for the Church of Rome, as both in his public Speeches, Writings to maintain, That her Religion is the same with ours, as we have formerly proved; yet he could by no means endure that the Religion of the foreign Protestant Churches and Ours should be termed one and the same; Whereupon he presumed to countermand, alter and purge his Majesty's Letters Patents under the Great Seal for a Collection for the poor distressed Ministers of the Palatinate, Ann. 1634. because it termed their Religion, The true Religion which we together with them profess to maintain. This we shall make good by two substantial witnesses, and the printed Letters Patents themselves. The witnesses are Mr Wakerly (then Secretary to Mr Secretary Cook) and Mr Hartlib, who deposed at the Lord's Barre upon Oath; That in the year 1634. the Queen of Bohemia sent over one Mr Ruly a Palatinate Minister into England, with Letters of recommendation to the Archbishop, to desire his mediation and assistance to the King, to grant Letters Patents under the great seal, for a general Collection towards the relief of the exiled Ministers of the Palatinate and their families, who were then in great distress: which Letter Mr Ruly presenting to the Archbishop (among whose Papers Mr Prynne found the very Original) after the reading thereof, the Archbishop promised (out of respect to the Queen of Bohemia who writ to him with her own hand) to move the King in it, which he did; and then informed him, that it was the Kings pleasure there should be Letters Patents drawn for a general collection for those Ministers as was desired: Wherupon Mr Ruly requested the Archbishop, in regard he was a stranger and knew not our proceedings, to give him some directions how to get the Letters Patents drawn and sealed; who answered, that he needed no instructions herein, for it was a thing of usual course, and willed him to repair to the Officers of the King (his Secretaries and Attorney general) who would draw and procure them to be sealed. Whereupon he repaired to Mr Wakerly, who went with him to the other Officers and procured Letters Patents to be drawn according to former Presidents, both in King James and King Charles reigns, and namely verbatim, according to Letters Patents for a like Collection, dated 29 Ian. 3. Caroli, which being drawn, engrossed, and passed the Great Seal of England, without any scruple (the Lord Keeper both reading and approving the same before the sealing) Mr Ruly carried the Patent over to Lambeth to desire the Archbishops assistance for the printing, dispersing and promoting thereof; where meeting with Mr Dell, his Secretary, he acquainted him with his business, and shown him the Patent, who casting his eye thereon, took some exceptions thereat, because it made our and their Religion to be both one, saying, Are your Church and Religion and ours one? which done, he carried the Patent to the Archbishop, who after he had perused it, calling for Mr Ruly, demanded of him in a very angry manner, What have you brought me here? Mr Ruly replied, His Majesty's Letters Patents. At which answer he fell into a great passion, rating and reviling Mr Ruly with very ill language; threatened and called him ill names; protested that that Patent should not pass though it were under the Great Seal, and made Mr Dell write something out of it: Mr Ruly shaking for fear, excused himself, that it was drawn by the Officers to whom his Grace had directed him, and if there were ought offensive in it, he was altogether ignorant and not guilty of it. Whereunto the Archbishop replied; that were it not for his respect and engagements to the Queen of Bohemia, they should have no collection at all, and that he could find in his heart to quash it; but however he would suppress that Patent, which he detained by him, and would have one drawn in another form. Whereupon Mr Ruly leaving him to his angry mood departed, and acquainted Secretary Cook, the Lord Keeper Coventry, and other his friends with the Premises, who all wondered and were very inquisitive what was the cause of all this anger; The Archbishop presently after repairs to the King, and complains much against this Patent, Secretary Cook, and the Lord Keeper for passing it; who being both sent for by the King about it, acquainted his Majesty, that it was made verbatim accorcording to former Presidents, that they had his Majesty's hand and Royal assent thereto, and it was now passed the Seal, and so could not be altered. To which the King answers, that it must be altered, for that the Archbishop would have it so; and another must be drawn according to his mind. Upon this the Patent was recalled, and a new one drawn according to the Archbishops direction and prescript; which being compared with the former by these Deponents and others (who were very inquisitive what it was did so much enrage his Grace) they found it was only this ensuing clause, which he caused to be quite purged out, with little or no alteration else from that he suppressed.

Whose cases are more to be deplored, for that this extremity is fallen upon them for their sincerity and constancy IN THE TRUE RELIGION, which WE, TOGETHER WITH THEM DO PROFESSE, and WHICH WE ARE ALL BOUND IN CONSCIENCE TO MAINTAINE TO THE UTMOST OF OUR POWERS; Whereas these Religious and Godly Persons being involved amongst others their Country-men, might have enjoyed their estates and fortunes, if with other backsliders in the times of Trial they would have submitted themselves to the ANTI-CHRISTIAN YOAK, and have renounced or dissembled the Profession of THE TRUE RELIGION.

In lieu whereof he only inserts, That they suffered FOR THEIR RELIGION; as if our Religion and theris were contra-distinct and different one from another, and theirs not the true. Which Secretary Cook when he saw affirmed would make a Schism, a Division betwixt us and the foreign Protestant Churches, by intimating that they professed neither our, nor yet the true Religion, (as Mr Wakerly deposed) and gave great scandal and offense to the Deponents, yea to the foreign Churches and Protestants here, who took special Notice of it.

In this notable piece of Evidence we shall desire your Lordships and the world to take notice of these remarkable particulars. First, of this Archbishops insufferable Insolency, in daring to presume so far as to stop, suppress the Kings own Letters Parents when approved by his Royal Signature, allowed by the Lord Keeper, and actually passed under the Great Seal of England. Secondly, his extraordinary over-ruling power with the King, who against his own Judgment, Sign Manual, Seal, and former Presidents, must have this Patent altered in this clause, only because the Archbishop would have it so, and for no other reason. Thirdly, that this alteration proceeded merely from the Archbishops own motion, not from any Priests or Jesuits instigation, much less from the King (as he pretended the alterations of the Prayer-Book for the fifth of November did.) Fourthly, that he was exceeding passionate and enraged at this clause, insomuch that this charitable Collection and Patent must totally be quashed, rather then this clause tolerated; whereas his Chaplains authorized Books in commendation of Popery, Popish Errors, yea pleading for Rome and her Religion as true, and one with ours. Fifthly, that this very clause had passed both the Broad Seal and Press too, without the least exceptions, in a Patent, 29 Ian. 3. Caroli not full seven years before, even in King Charles his own Reign; and in another General Collection granted under the Privy Signet the seventeenth of June, in the sixteenth year of King James, Anno Dom. 1618. for relief of the Inhabitants of the Town of Weasel; then printed by Authority, together with Archbishop Abbots directions concerning the same to the several Bishops under him, dated June 25. 1618. wherein we find these following expressions; That that City had been a place of succor and relief to many afflicted strangers, such as have been exiled for THE TRUE RELIGION That they were not able any longer to sustain the charge neither of the Ministry, nor of the Free-school, which heretofore they have erected for the propagation of THE TRUE RELIGION &c. which should excite us to enlarge the Bowels of compassions toward them, which cannot be better expressed of our parts, then by having compassion and a fellow-feeling of them, MAKING THE SAME PROFESSION OF FAITH THAT WE DO, yet do suffer such adversity &c. which are the same in terminis with those in this expunged Patent. What then was the cause that this Clause should be thought so insufferable, so impassible by this Archprelate now? Certainly there must be some great mystery of Iniquity in it; he and his Predecessor Abbot had not the self-same opinion of the Protestant Churches and their Religion. Abbot deemed both their Churches and Religion true, and the same with ours; but Laud deemes them no Churches at all, their Religion not the true Religion, nor the same with ours at this time, though formerly one and the same with it. And why so? because himself had altered, perverted, yea almost quite subverted it, both in Design and Execution, intending to set up Popery as the only old and true Religion: therefore to suffer such a Patent to pass both the Great Seal and Press in his Majesty's name, as should proclaim their Religion, to be the true Religion, which we together with them do profess, and we are all bound in conscience to maintain to the uttermost of our power; when he and his Confederates bent all their might to suppress it; and to commend their sincerity and constancy in the true Religion, when as they might have enjoyed their estates and fortunes, if with other backsliders, in the times of Trial they would have submitted themselves to the Antichristian Yoak, and have renounced or dissembled their profession of the true Religion, in these days when he with his Confederates endeavored to make men Backsliders, Apostates, and persuaded them to submit themselves to the Antichristian yoke, and to renounce or dissemble the profession of the true Religion, would have quite crossed or frustrated his Design; Therefore out it must, and be obliterated whatever comes of it. Finally, observe his imbittered malice to the Protestant Churches, but grand affection to the Pope and Church of Rome, most evidently displayed by this expunction: the first in deleating those clauses which style theirs, the true Religion, &c. the latter in expunging this expression in favor of the Roman Church and Pontife only, if they would have submitted themselves to THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN YOAK; which we have elsewhere dilated upon. In brief, He that thus would have the Protestant Churches no Churches at all of God or Christ, their Ministers no Ministers, their Religion not the true Religion, nor the same with ours, must certainly express abundance of malice and disaffection to these Churches, endeavor to cause discord and division between the Church of England and them; (the very charge in the Article) and proclaim himself a greater friend to the Church of Rome and her Religion, then to the Protestant Churches and the true Religion in them professed: yea a Trayterous endeavourer to subvert the true Religion established in our English Church, which is the same with theirs. And the rather may we believe this of the Archbishop, because shortly after he caused a Book entitled, A Declaration of the Faith and Ceremonies of the Palsgraves Churches, printed first in Dutch, but afterwards in English Anno 1637. to be strictly called in and seized by his Pursevants (in high affront of the Prince Palatine, then newly arrived in England, and of his Churches) because it declared those Churches Orthodox judgment and censure against sundry Arminian and Popist Errors, Innovations, Ceremonies, which he and his Confederates then labored to introduce among us; as was attested upon Oath by Michael Spark senior and Mr Prynne; when as we never heard of any Popish Books (as Sancta Clara and others here printed) either called in or seized by his special voluntary command, but countenanced, yea restored by him or his Agents, when seised by the Searchers and Stationers.

Let all the world then judge by this prime piece of our Evidence, what manner of Protestant this Archbishop was, and how ill he stood affected to the Protestant Religion.

3. These premises considered, no wonder if he endeavored by all his policy and power to suppress, nay abrogate the Privileges, Immunities of the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdom, granted to them by his Majesty and his Royal Ancestors; which he in part accomplished to their prejudice, the next part of his Charge in the twelfth Article, of which we shall present you this summary accompt.

King Edward the sixth by his Letters Patents dated the 24 day of July, in the fourth year of his Reign granted this ensuing Patent to the Dutch and French Protestants then living in exile in London, establishing their Church and Presbyterian Government among themselves, exempt from all Episcopal Jurisdiction, appointing a Superintendent over them, and Ministers of their own. Which Patent, for the rarity thereof, and the better understanding of this Charge, we shall at large transcribe.

EDwardus Sextus Dei Gratia Angliae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Rex, fidei Defensor, & in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae & Hiberniae supremum Caput, omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint salutem. Cum magnae quaedam & graves considerationes Nos ad praesens specialiter impulerunt. Tum etiam cogitantes illud quanto studio & charitate Christianos Principes in Sacrosanctum Dei Evangelium & Religionem Apostolicam ab ipso Christo inchoatam institutam & traditam animatos & perpensos esse conveniat, sine qua haud dubio politia & civile regimen neque consistere diu, neque nomen suum tueri potest nisi Principes caeterique praepotentes viri, quos Deus ad regnorum gubernacula sedere voluit, id imprimis operam dent, ut per totum Reipublicae corpus casta sinceraque religio diffundatur, & Ecclesia in vere Christianis & Apostolicis opinionibus & ritibus instituta & adulta, per sanctos, ac carui & mundo mortuos Ministros conservetur, pro eo quod Christiani Principis officium esse statuimus, inter alias gravissimas de regno suo been splendide{que} administrando cogitations, etiam religioni & religions causae calamitate fractis & afflictis exulibus consulere. Sciatis, quod non solum praemissa contemplantes, & Ecclesiam à Papatus tyranide per Nos vindicatam in pristina libertate conservare cupientes, verumetiam Exulum & Peregrinorum conditionem miserantes qui jam bonis temporibus in Regno nostro Angliae commorati sunt voluntario exilio Religions & Ecclesiae causa mulctati, quia hospites & exteros homines propter Christi Evangelium ex patria sua profligatos & ejectos & in Regnum nostrum profugos praesidiis ad vitam degendam necessariis in Regno nostro egere non dignum esse duximus, cujus liberalitas nullo modo in tali rerum statu restricta clausave esse debet, At quoniam multi Germanae nationis homines ac alii peregrini qui confluxerunt, & in dies singulos confluunt in Regnum nostrum Angliae ex Germania & aliis remotioribus partibus in quibus Papatus dominata Evangelii libertas labefactari & premi coepta est, non habent certam sedem & locum in Regno nostro ubi conventos suos celebrare valeant, ubi inter suae gentis & moderni idiomatis homines Religions negotia & res Ecclesiasticas pro patrio titu & more intelligenter obire & tractare possint.

Idcirco de Gratia Nostra specially ac ex certa scientia & mero metu nostris, nec non de avisamento Concilii nostri volumus, concedimus, & ordinamus, quod de caetero sit & erit unum Templum sive sacra Aedes in Civitate nostra London quod vel quae vocabitur, Templum Domini Jesus, ubi Congregatio & conventus Germanorum & aliorum peregrinorum fieri & celebrari possit, ea intention & proposito ut à Ministris Ecclesiae Germanorū aliorum{que} peregrinorum Sacrosancti Evangelii incorrupts interpretatio, Sacramentorum juxta verbum Dei & Apostolicam observationem administratio fiat, & Templū illud sive sacram Aedem illam deuno Superintendente & quatuor verbi Ministris erigimus, creamus, ordinamus, & fundamus per praesentes. Et quod idem Superintendens & Ministri in re & nomine, sint & erunt unum corpus corporatum & politicum de se, per nomen Superintendentis & Ministrorum Ecclesiae Germanorum & aliorum peregrinorum, ex fundatione Regis Edwardi Sexti, in Civitate London per praesentes incorporamus, ac corpus corporatum & politicum per idem nomen realiter & ad plenum creamus, erigimus, ordinamus, facimus, & constituimus per praesentes. Et quod successionem habeant. Et ulterius de gratia nostra specially, ac ex certa scientia, & mero motu nostris, nec non de avisamento Concilii nostri dedimus & concessimus, ac per praesentes damus & concedimus praefato Superintendenti & Ministris Ecclesia Germanorū & aliorū peregrinorū in Civitate London, Totum illud Templum, sive Ecclesiam nuper fratrum Augustinentium in Civitate nostra London, ac totam terram fundum & solum Ecclesiae pradict. excepto toto choro dictae Ecclesiae, terra, fundo, & solo ejusdem, habendum & gaudendum dictum Templum sive Ecclesiam, ac catera praemissa (exceptis praeexceptis) praefato Superintendenti & Ministris & Successoribus suis in puram & liberam Eleemosinam. Damus ulterius de avisamento praedicto, ac ex certa scientia & mero metu nostris praedictis per praesentes concedimus praefato Superintendenti & Ministris & Successoribus suis plenam facultatem, potestatem & authoritatem ampliandi & majorem faciendi numerum Ministrorum, & nominandi ac appunctuandi de tempore in tempus tales & hujusmodi subministros ad serviendum in Templo praedicto, quales praefato Superintendenti & Ministris necessarium visum fuerit. Et quod haec omnia juxta beneplacitum Regium. Volumus praeterea quod Johannes Alasco, natione Polonus, homo propter integritatem & innocentiam vitae, ac morum, & singularem eruditionem valde celebris, sit primus & modernus Superintendens dictae Ecclesiae. Et quod Gualterus de Laenus, Martinus Flanders, Franciscus Riverius, Richardus Gallus, sint quatuor primi & moderni Ministri. Damus praeterea & concedimus praefatis Superintendenti & Ministris & Successoribus suis facultatem, authoritatem, & licentiam post mortem vel vacationem alicujus Ministri praedictorum de tempore in tempus eligendi, nominandi, & surrogandi alium personam habilem & idoneum in locum suum. It a tamen quod persona sic nominatus & electus, praesentetur & sistatur coram Nobis, Haeredibus, vel Successoribus nostris, & per Nos, haeredes, vel suecessores nostros instituatur in ministerium praedictum. Damus etiam & concedimus praefatis Superintendenti Ministris & Successoribus suis facultatem, authoritatem, & licentiam post mortem seu vacationem Superintendentis de tempore in tempus elegendi, nominandi & surrogandi alium personam doctum & gravem in locum suum. It a tamen quod persona sic nominatus & electus praesentetur & sistatur coram Nobis, Haeredibus, vel Successoribus nostris, & per Nos, Haredes, vel Successores nostros instituatur in officium Superintendentis praedictum. Mandamus & firmiter impungendo praecipimus tam Majori, Vice-Comitibus, & Aldermannis Civitatis nostrae London, Episcopo London, & Successoribus suis, cum omnibus aliis Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Iusticiariis, Officiariis, & Ministris nostris quibuseunque, quod permittant praefatum Superintendentem & Ministros, & successores suos, libere, & quiet frui, gaudere, uti, & exercere Ritus & Ceremonias suas proprias, & Disciplinam Ecclesiastitam propriam & peculiarem, Non obstante quod non conveniant cum Ritibus, & Ceremoniis in Regno nostro usitatis, absque impetitione, perturbatione, aut inquietatione eorum vel eorum alicujus, aliquo Statuto, Actu, Proclamatione, Iniunctione, Restrictione, seu usu in contrarium inde antehac habitum, factis, editis, seu promulgatis in contrarium non obstante. Eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo, aut de certitudine praemissorum sive eorum alicujus, aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per Nos, praefatis Superintendenti, Ministris & Successoribus suis ante haec tempora factis in praesentibus minime facta existit, aut aliquo Statuto, Actu, Ordinatione, Provisione, sive Restrictione inde in contrarium factis, edictis, ordinatis, seu Provisis, aut aliqua alia re, causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus Patentes. Teste Meipso apud Leighes vicessimo quarto die Iulii, Anno Regni nostri quarto. Per breve de privato Sigillo, & de dat. praedict. Authoritate Parliamenti signatum.

P. Southwell.

Et est sigillatum Sigillo Regio sub-appenso.

To the Copy of this Patent found in the Archbishops study, we shall subioyne these ensuing Orders and Passages in their favor, and confirmation of this Patent, in Queen Elizabeth's, King James, and King Charles their Reignes, presented to the Archbishop by the Ministers of these Foreigners Churches.

The Letters of the Privy Council to the Church of London, containing these words.

Non ignoramus variis Ecclesiis, varios & diversos jam ab initio Christianae Religions semper fuisse ritus ac ceremonias, dum hi stantes, illi in genua procidentes, alii proni procumbentes adorant & precantur, & tamen eadem pietas est ac religio, si vere & ad verum Deum oratio tendat, absitque impietas ac superstitio &c. Non contemnimus ritus vestros, neque vos ad nostros cogimus, probamusque ceremonias vestras, ut vobis, & vestrae reipublicae unde orti estis, aptas & convenientes.

The Order of the Privy Council the 29 of June.

If others would join themselves to the said Churches, that such Persons shall be counseled to betake themselves to some other parts of this Kingdom where they may be commodiously received: If they do this, we will willingly call in our former Commandment.

The Answer of King James to the French and Dutch Ministers the 21 of May.

Ie vous protegeray ainsi quie convient a un bon Prince de maintenir & deffendre tous ceux qui ont abandon leur Patrie Pour la religion. Mou desire est de vous deffendre comme a fait la Reyne ma So • ur, qui vous a receu eu so • Royaume, & pour laquelle vous avez pry Dieu. Que si aucun vous trouble ou moleste, pleignez vous en amoy, & Ie vous maintiendray.

The perpetuity granted to the Dutch at Colchester Ann. 10. Jacobi the 17 of October.

As also their Orders in their Church and Assemblies there, tending to the good Government of the said Congregations, in as free, large, and ample manner in all respects, and to all intents, constructions and purposes, as heretofore they have used, and hath been tolerated and allowed unto them, according to the true intent of this our present Ordinance: any Provision or Jurisdiction to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

The Order of the Privy Council for the French Church of Canterbury, the second of May.

That the said Congregation within the City of Canterbury, shall according to his Majesty's gracious pleasure, peaceably and freely enjoy all such Privileges, Liberties, and Immunities, and be permitted to use their Assemblies and Congregations in as ample manner as heretofore hath been allowed to them in the time of Queen Elizabeth, or since.

The Order of King James under his signet the 13 of June.

These are therefore to will and command all our Courts of Justice, and other our loving Subjects, to permit and suffer the said strangers, members of the Out-landish Churches, and their children, to enjoy the continuance of our favors before declared in this behalf. Considering the loving kindness and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children do receive and find beyond the Seas.

The Order of the Privy Council for the Walloones of Norwich the 10 of October.

Those of Norwich, although borne in the Kingdom, shall continue to be of the said Church and Society, and shall be subject to such Discipline as hath been by all the time of fifty five years practiced among them: And if any shall be refractory, they shall be bound to appear at this Board.

The gracious Answer of King Charles to the Deputies of the Forraigne Churches the 30 of April.

I thank you for this; and I assure you that I will continue unto you the same favor which the King my father did show unto you. And I hope that my marriage shall not be any damage unto you, but rather an occasion of much good to your Country men.

The Order of King Charles for all strangers the 13 of Novemb.

We will and command our Judges &c. to permit and suffer the said strangers, members of the Out-landish Churches, and their children, quietly to enjoy all and singular such Privileges and Immunities, as have been formerly granted unto them, without any troubles, arrests, or proceedings by way of information or otherwise; considering the fair usage and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children do receive beyond the Seas.

The Order of the Privy Council for the Dutch of Norwich the 7 of January.

That all those that are now, or hereafter shall be, members of the Dutch Congregation, although borne within this Kingdom, shall continue to be of the said Church and Society so long as his Majesty shall be pleased, without any prejudice to their Privileges and Birthright; and shall be subject to all such Discipline as hath been all the time aforesaid usually practiced amongst them, and from time to time contribute to the maintenance of the Ministry and poor, and the defraying of all other necessaries charges of the same Congregation, as they shall be assessed, and occasion shall in that behalf require.

By virtue of this Patent, Orders, Grants, the Dutch and French Churches in London and other Diocese enjoyed the free exercise of their Religion, Discipline, exempt from all Archiepiscopall and Episcopal Jurisdiction from Edward the sixths time till Ann. 1634. without any interruption. But no sooner was this Prelate warm in his Archiepiscopall chair, but he begins to disturb their peace, and threaten their total subvertion throughout his Province, as in Canterbury, Sandwich, Maidstone, Norwich, Colchester, London, Southampton, and likewise in Yorkshire, Axholme, and elsewhere, which he had formerly projected in this manner.

On March 22. Ann. 1632. this Bishop upon his own motion procured a reference to himself from the Lord's of the Council, concerning the English living in foreign parts, and the foreign Protestant Churches in England; concerning which he drew up and presented two several Papers to the Lord's found in his study, under Mr Dells hand, thus endorsed with his own, Concerning the Dutch and French Churches in England &c. here necessary to be inserted, though not read at large.

WHereas I was commanded by your Lordships upon Friday, March 22. 1632. First to represent to His Gracious Majesty the great and Honorable care you had to preserve the unity and Government of the Church of England as it stands now established by Law; Which care was very great and pious, and according to my duty, in the Name of the Church, I humbly thank your Lordships for it: And have in pursuance of your Commands faithfully acquainted His Majesty with as many particulars as I could carry away safe in my memory.

Secondly, I was commanded by your Lordships to take into farther consideration such Heads as might best conduce to the rectifying of such his Majesty's Subjects as reside at Hamborough, or elsewhere beyond the Seas, but especially in the Low-Countries, either in Merchandize, or in use and exercise of Arms under the Colonels there. As also what might be thought fit to be done concerning the French and Dutch Churches, as they now stand, and are used at this present within this Realm; but at such time as your Lordships in your wisdom shall best approve.

Concerning the first of these, viz. the English living in Forraigne parts, I humbly recommend to your Lordships Wise. dome, as followeth.

1. Whether it be not fit (I had almost said necessary) that the several Colonels in the Low-Countries should entertain no Minister as Preacher to their Regiments, but such as shall conform in all things to the Church of England established: And be commended unto them from your Lordships by advise of the Lord's Archbishops of Canterbury or York for the time being.

2. That the Company of Merchants residing there, or in any other Forraigne Parts, shall admit no Minister as Preacher to them, but such as are so qualified and so commended as aforesaid.

3. That if any Minister having by feigned carriage gotten to be so recommended, either to any of the several Colonels, or to the Deputy Governor and Body of the Merchants there, shall after be found unconformable, and will not mend upon warning given him by the Colonel or Deputy Governor of the Merchants, shall within three months after such warning given, and refused, be dismissed from his service, that a more orderly and peaceable man may be sent unto them.

4. That every Minister or Preacher with any Regiment of soldiers that are his Majesty's borne Subjects, or with the Company of Merchants there or elsewhere, shall read Divine Service, Christian children, Administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, marry, instruct the younger or more ignorant sort in the Catechism, visit the sick, bury the Dead, and do all other Duties according as they are prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer maintained in the Church of England, and not otherwise. And that he which will not conform himself so to do, shall not continue Preacher either to any Regiment of English, or Scottish, or to the Merchants.

5. That if any Minister or Preacher, being the Kings Subject, shall with any bitter words or writings in print or otherwise, defame the Government of the Church of England established, His Majesty's Embassador or Agent in those parts for the time being, is to be informed of it, and upon notice given from him to the State, he or they so offending shall be commanded over by Privy Seal or otherwise, to answer their offense or offenses here.

6. That no Colonel of any several Regiment, or Deputy Governor of the Merchants, shall give way that their Minister or Preacher shall bring any other Minister to preach for him in time of his sickness, absence, or other necessary employment, but such as for whose Conformity to the Church and Government here, he will be answerable.

7. That if any Minister being a Subject of the Kings, in the Low-Countries, or any other place beyond the Seas, shall in any other Auditory, as well as before the Regiments or the Merchants, preach or publish, or in any other way by public Speech, Writing, or Printing, divulge anything derogatory to the Doctrine or Discipline established in the Church of England, or otherwise prejudicial to the Temporal State and Government, His Majesty's Agent there shall use the best means he can to discover him or them so offending, and having found them, shall presently certify the State here, that so they may be recalled by Privy Seal to answer it. And if they then refuse to come, that the Law in that case pass upon them.

8. That no man shall be chosen or sent over by the Merchants here, either to Delf, or any other place of their residence beyond the Seas, (whensoever any such place or places shall become void) but such a man as is conformable to the Church of England both in Doctrine and Discipline, and such as will be careful to see that they which are under his Governments shall observe all such Church Duties as are expressed and required in any the former Articles. And that some of the chief Merchant-Adventurers here be sent for to the Board, and be made acquainted with this Article. And farther, that at every time and times that they send a new Deputy Governor to any place of their Residence, they present the said Deputy to the Lord's, and give them assurance of his fitness and sufficiency for that Charge. At which time the said Deputy may have such Directions given him by their Lordships as the present times and occasions require. And that there be like care taken for other good Officers there, as for the Deputy Governor himself.

9. That whensoever the Merchant-Adventurers shall become suitors to His Majesty to renew or confirm their Patent (as in most Kings times it is usual so to do) that then there be a Clause inserted into their Patent, to bind them to the observance of all, or so much of these Instructions, as shall be thought fit by his Majesty and the Lord's.

10. That the present Agent, as also all others that shall succeed in that employment, have these Instructions given them in Charge; and that once a year they be required to give the Board an Account what the Proceed of the business is. That so His Majesty's Subjects as well abroad as at home, may be kept in orderly obedience to the Honor of His Majesty's Government, and the better uniting of the hearts of his People to God, His Majesty, and one to another. In which will consist the strength as well as the Honor of the Kingdom.

11. I conceive it no way fit, that the Ministers which are His Majesty's Subjects in Holland, should have any Classical Meetings allowed them (as it seems they pretend some grant since the year 1622.) especially that they be not suffered to assume power of Ordination; for then it will be a perpetual Seminary to breed and transplant men ill-affected to the Government into this Kingdom.

It is to be observed that the French and High Germane Congregations in the Low-Countries do all observe the Liturgy of their own Mother Churches; only the English observe neither their own, nor any other uniformity.

Concerning the second; that is, the French and Dutch Churches, as they now stand in many parts of this Kingdom, I as humbly represent, first the Danger, then the probable Remedy.

For the Dangers I humbly submit, but conceive as followeth.

1. It was Honor and Piety in this State, when at the first way was given for those Churches both in London and some other parts of this Kingdom; Because at that time there was persecution upon them in their own Countries: And the Peace with which God then blessed this Kingdom, was their safety.

2. I conceive it was never the meaning and purpose of this State then, or at any other time, that they living and continuing here, marrying, and having wives and children, and many of them plentiful fortunes and Lands; And their children and children's children being now Natives, and his Majesty's borne Subjects, should live like an absolute divided Body from the Church of England established, which must needs work upon their affections, and alienate them from the State, or at least make them ready for any Innovation that may sort better with their humor.

3. It is likewise considerable what an entire and divided body they keep themselves. For few or none of them marry with any of us, but only one with another. Upon which it must needs follow, that as they increase and multiply, they which are now a Church within a Church, will in time grow to be a kind of another Common-wealth within this, and so ready for that which I hold not fit to express any farther.

4. It is likewise of great consequence, that these men living with their entire Families, divided from the present Government of Church and Common-wealth are many, and have got their Residence and settlement in all or most of the Haven Towns, especially such as lie fittest for France and the Low-Countries. And were occasion offered, God knows what advantage they may take to themselves, or make for others.

5. Their Example is of ill consequence (in Church affairs especially) to the Subject of England. For many are confirmed in their stubborn ways of disobedience to the Church-Government, seeing them so freely suffered in this great and populous City.

6. Last of all, I think it very just not to suffer French or Dutch Church differing from us in Discipline, to be otherwise or longer tolerated in any part of this Realm, then the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England shall among the Subjects of this Crown be tolerated in those several parts beyond the Seas, whither they have cause to resort and abide.

For the Remedies likewise I humbly submit, but conceive they may be these.

1. I think it fit their Number in all places of this Kingdom be made known as fully as may be; that your Lordships may the better judge both of them, and the way to reduce them into one Body with this Kingdom in which they are borne Subjects.

2. I conceive the best way to know their Number, is by a Command from the State it self, and to have it avowedly taken in all places where they reside; with a Certificat either presently, or when your Lordships shall think fit, which are the men of Credit and Wealth among them. And this may be done really for their good, and so sweetened as that they may apprehend it for a benefit, as indeed it is.

3. It is fit, if they will continue as a divided Body from both State and Church, that they be used as Strangers, and not as Natives. That is, that they may pay all double duties as Strangers use to do, and have no more Immunities then Strangers have, till they will live and converse as other Subjects do. And this matter of loss or gain is as likely to work upon them, especially the Merchants and richer men as any other thing, and perhaps more.

4. When it shall be thought fit actually to reduce them to live as other Subjects do, both in relation to Church and State, the way I conceive may be to have them fairly warned in an Ecclesiastical way, for every man with his Household (if he be not a new commer, but a borne Subject) to repair to his Parish Church here, to conform himself to Prayers, Sacraments &c. And if any receive not according to Cannon and Law, then to excommunicate him or them. And by that time the Writ de Excommunicato capiendo hath been served upon some few, it may be the rest will yield themselves.

5. If this do not prevail, I then conceive under favor, it will be hard to remedy, unless the State will publicly declare, That if they will be as Natives, and take the benefit of Subjects, they must conform themselves to the Laws of the Kingdom as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal. Which Declaration, when it shall once be made public, I think they will be well advised before they will resist or refuse it.

By these Papers it is apparent, That this Arch-Prelate was the Original Contriver of all the proceedings against the Dutch and French Churches. In pursuance of these determinations of his, in his Metropolitical Visitation Ann. 1634. & 1635. he summoned all the Ministers and Elders of these Churches to appear before Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar General; as appears by an Abstract of his Visitation endorsed with his own hand, unto whom he prescribed these two following Injunctions.

1. That all the Natives of the Dutch and Walloon Congregations in his Graces Diocese, are to repair to their several Parish Churches of those several Parishes where they inhabit, to hear Divine Service and Sermons, and perform all duties and payments required in that behalf.

2. That the Ministers and all others of the Dutch and Walloon Congregations which are not Natives and borne Subjects to the Kings Majesty, or any other strangers that shall come over to them, while they remain strangers, may have and use their own Discipline as formerly they have done; yet it is thought sit, that the English Liturgy should be translated into French and Dutch, for the better settling of their children to the English Government.

These Injunctions were prescribed to the Foreign Churches at Norwich, An. 1634. and to these at Canterbury, Maidstone, and Sandwich, 13. Aprilis 1635. as appears by sundry Copies of them found in the Archbishops study: and the like were imposed on all other Dutch and Walloon Churches within his Province. Yet not content herewith, he caused the Archbishop of York to impose harder conditions on the Forraigne Congregations within his Province; as appears by two Letters found in his study under the Archbishop of Yorks own hand, the one dated Octob. 1. 1636. the other 22 Ian. 1637. Wherein he denies them the exercise of any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of their own, enjoins them the use of the English Liturgy in the French Tongue, with obedience to all the Laws and Ordinances of the Church of England, to receive the Sacrament once a year in the Parish Church wherein they dwell, and to perform all their Christnings, Marriages, and Burials there; else no Congregation of their own would be permitted. Hereupon these Foreigners conceiving these Injunctions prejudicial to their Ancient Rights, Liberties indulged them, and destructive to their Churches, opposed them all they could in an humble way.

Upon the publication of these Injunctions, the Dutch and Walloon Churches at Norwich presented this ensuing Remonstrance to the Bishop there, who sent it up to the Archbishop, who received it as appears by the endorsement Febr. 21. 1634.

These weighty motives not prevailing, they presented an humble Petition to the Archbishop himself Iun. 26. 1635. endorsed with his own hand, and seised in his study by Mr Prynne, the same in substance with their Remonstrance to the Bishop of Norwich; beseeching his Grace to be pleased to take these their motives into his pious and charitable consideration, and to suffer them yet to enjoy the benefit of his Majesty's and his Noble Predecessors grace of Toleration.

To this Petition after much solicitation, means and friends made to the Archbishop, he returned a very peremptory Answer in a Letter of his to the Dutch and Walloone Congregations at Norwich, dated August, 19. 1635. the Copy whereof was found in his study; wherein all the favor he would grant to them (or any other forraigue Churches) was this;

By these Injunctions these Churches were molested and disquieted some three or four years space; some of them interdicted, suspended and shut up for a time, for refusing conformity; others of them dissolved, their Ministers deserting them rather then submitting to these Injunctions, all of them much diminished, discontented, the maintenance of their Ministers and poor Members much impaired almost to their utter desolation, notwithstanding all the great friends they could make to intercede in their behalf; and they brought quite under that Episcopal Jurisdiction and Tyranny, from which they were formerly exempted. Hereupon many conscientious Aliens and their children deserted the Kingdom, who could not in conscience submit to the Ceremonies, Innovations in our Churches, and most of their Families were miserably distracted, as appears by a Summary Relation of the Archbishops proceedings herein, presented to the Parliament, and by a late printed Book, entitled, A Relation of the Troubles of the three Forraigne Churches in Kent, caused by the Injunctions of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, Anno Dom. 1634. (set forth by John Bulteel Minister of God's Word to the Walloon Congregation of Canterbury, printed Anno 1645.) to which we shall refer the Reader for fuller satisfaction.

And as he thus endeavored to subvert the Forraigne Dutch, French, and Walloon Churches at home, and to press the English Liturgy upon them; so he attempted to disturb our English Regiments and Congregations abroad in Forraigne parts and Plantations, by imposing the strict observation of the English Liturgy and Ceremonies on them not formerly used, by Orders from the Council Table (especially by that of October 1. 1633. to the Merchant-Adventurers) which bred great disturbances among them, as appears by sundry Letters from Sir William Boswell, Mr Stephen Goffe, and others, found in the Archbishops study, which we shall pretermit for brevity sake; only we shall insert the Copy of his own Letter to the Merchants at Delfe (found in his study) dated June 17. 1634.

By all which premises compared with his forementioned judgment of the Foreign Churches, that they were no true Churches of Christ because they had no Bishops; their Ministers no Ministers, and their Religion not the same with ours; it is infallibly evident, that his design was to suppress and subvert the Dutch and French Churches by degrees at home, and to embroyle them and our English Congregations abroad, for the better advancement of the Roman Catholic Church and Religion both at home and in Foreign parts. And so we have fully made good the twelfth Original Article against him in all particulars.

Our eight and last Evidence to prove his traiterous design to subvert the Protestant Religion and bring in Popery, is comprised in the 13 Original Article; That he hath traitorously and treacherously plotted and endeavored to stir up war and enmity betwixt his Majesty's two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and to that purpose hath labored to introduce into the Kingdom of Scotland divers Innovations both in Religion and Government, all or the most part of them tending to Popery and Superstition, to the great grievance and discontent of his Majesty's Subjects of that Nation; and for their refusing to submit to these Innovations, he did traitorously advise his Majesty to subdue them by force of Arms &c. Nay joined in confederacy with the Papists, Priests, Jesuits, and employed Popish Captains and Commanders to make war against them; all which we can abundently prove by sundry Papers, under his own hand; by Original Letters found in his study, and sundry Additions, Alterations in the New Scottish Liturgy elsewhere recorded, the Original Copy whereof we have ready to produce under his own hand. But because he hath pleaded the Act of Pacification and Oblivion made since his Impeachment in bar of this Article, and the Scottish Liturgy (which doubtless it extends not to) and thereby hath tacitly acknowledged the truth of this Article, of which he dares not abide the trial; we shall forbear to give any evidence thereon, till his plea be over-ruld; which the Commons did not press the Lord's to do, because they would avoid expense of time, and conceived their forementioned evidence very full to convict him guilty of the first branch of his first general Charge (abundantly proved by all the premises) That he hath traitorously endeavored to subvert God's true Religion, by Law established in this Realm, and instead thereof to set up Popery, Superstition, and Idolatry.