Apology for All Non-Subscribers

A BRIEF APOLOGIE For all NON-SUBSRIBERS, &c.

HE that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy, Prov. 29.11. How often the Prescribers and Subscribers of the New Engagement, against their manifold former Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Covenants and Engagements to the contrary, have been admonished both in Press and Pulpit of the impiety, danger and destructiveness of this their Apostasy and Perfidiousness both to God and Man, without any fruits of Reformation or Repentance of this their execrable wickedness, is well known to their own self-condemning consciences and the world: Let them therefore now in this small Looking-glass, behold both their Presidents, Sin, Horrour of conscience and their Punishments for the same, which if duly pondered, may through God's mercy bring them to sincere Repentance, or else create a tormenting hell within their Consciences here, and plunge them into everlasting Hell-tormentings hereafter to their just destruction, who would receive no admonition in due season.

The Presidents they follow in Prescribing and Subscribing this Oath and Engagement, and very fatal and dangerous, even the very worst of our English Rebels and Traitors in former Ages. In the fourth year of King Richard the second, Walter Tyler, Jack Straw, and their rebellious rout of the Peasantry, made a great Insurrection and Rebellion against the King and his Counsel; and marching up to London in a numerous body, by the favor of the meaner sort of Citizens, who confederated with them, entered both the City and Tower, beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury, with divers others, affronted, commanded and insulted over the King and Nobles at their pleasures, as the only Kings of England; tendering the King very high and insolent Propositions to sign, and notwithstanding his present condescension to them, conspired to seize upon his Person, and keep him alive amongst them for a time, that people might the more boldly repair to them, and think whatever they did was done by the Kings authority, till they had gotten power enough, that they needed not to fear any force which should be made against them; And then they resolved to stay all the Nobles that might give any counsel, or make any resistance against them, together with all Lawyers, with the Knights of S. Johns and the Rhodes: And lastly, they would have killed the King himself, with all men of possessions, Bishops, Canons, Parsons of Churches, and Monks, except Friers Mendicants; and have burnt and plundered the City of London itself, and then have created Wat Tyler King in Kent, and others of the Chief leading Rebels Kings in other Counties. And to engage all men in this Confederacie with them, they tendered an Oath to them, (somewhat better then this New Oath and Engagement ) viz. That they should keep Allegeance to King Richard and TO THE COMMONS, and that they should accept of no King that was named John; and that they should be ready to assist them whenever they were called; and that they should agree to no Tax to be levied or granted in the Kingdom, except a Fifteen. Which Oath they enforced all they met to take; and those that were not sworn to them, they took off both their Hoods and Heads. But after they had thus played Rex. and Lorded it over King, Nobles, Gentry, Country and City a little space, Wat Tyler their new King and General (who made this vaunt, that before four days came to an end, all the Laws of England should proceed from his mouth ) was struck off his horse by William Walworth Lord Major of London, and slain in Smithfield, in the view of his Commons, and his head set upon London-bridge; and by the assistance of the Lord Major, and about a thousand loyal Citizens, in whose hearts the Law of the King was engrafted, the King was rescued f om their power and butchery, and the Rebels subdued, who threw down their weapons, fell to the ground and craved pardon; their principal Leaders and designed Kings taken and executed in all places, and their heads and parts hanged up for monuments to deter others; their confederates all dispersed, imprisoned, and put to great fines and ransoms to redeem their lives and liberties. And so their new Kingdom and Republic quickly ended in a fatal Tragedie. The King, for the Lord Mayors and Citizens good service, in perpetual memory of all of this their Loyalty, Knighted the Major, and added the Dagger to the Cities Arms; which the present Lord Major, Aldermen and packed Common-Council-men may do well to consider, for fear they alter the Dagger into an Ax or Halter for the future: and the Prescribers of this new Oath and Engagement (who tread in these rebellious Traitors steps, and prosecute their very designs and Engagement) may do well in time to remember their sad Story, lest they arrive at their fatal ends, to their temporal and eternal ruin. The like design and project in effect was afterwards hatched and set on foot by Jack Cade and his rebellious rout, under pretence to reform Laws and Government; who were all scattered, came to the like Tragical ends, and forever branded by an Act of Parliament, 31 H. 6. c. 1. for wicked Rebels and Traitors to posterity.

In the Month of July, 1549, in the third year of King Edward the sixth, as the Commons of Devonshire and Cornwall raised an Insurrection against the King and his Council in the West, so the Commons in York-shire at the same time raised a Rebellion in the North, principally out of their traitorous hearts, grudging at the Kings honorable proceedings in reforming Religion; and trusting to a blind Prophecy wherewith they were seduced, which themselves thought should shortly come to pass, by reason of the Rebellions then on foot in Norfolk and Devonshire; the tenor of Prophecy, and purpose of which Traitors together, was, THAT THERE SHOULD NO KING RAIGN IN ENGLAND; THAT THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN SHOULD BE DESTROYED, AND THE REALM SHOULD BE RULED BY FOUR GOVERNOURS TO BE ELECTED and APPOINTED BY THE COMMONS HOLDING A PARLIAMENT IN COMMOTION, (without King or Lord's ) to begin at the South and North Seas of England, &c. Whereupon, to execute this their design, and erect this their new Government and Parliament without King and Lord's, (the very project now on foot, and scope of this new Oath and Engagement ) they resolved to seize and murder such Nobles and Gentlemen of Estate in their Houses and Counties, and in executing the Kings Commissions, as were favorers of the Kings proceedings, and likely to resist them. Hereupon, the King sent his gracious Pardon and persuasions to them, to reduce them by all fair means to obedience; informing them, that He was their rightful King, Liege Lord and Sovereign King of England, not by age, but BY GOD'S ORDINANCE, BEING ORDAINED THEIR KING AND PRINCE BY ALMIGHTY GOD, possessing his Crown BY BLOOD AND DESCENT FROM HIS ROYAL FATHER KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. You are Our Subjects, because We be your King; and rule we will, because God hath willed. It is as great a fault in Us, not to rule, as in a Subject not to obey. If it be considered, they which move this matter (of his Non-age) if they durst utter themselves, would deny Our Kingdom. But Our good Subjects know their Prince, and will increase, not diminish his Honor; enlarge, not abate his Power; knowledge, not defer his Kingdom to certain years: all is one, to speak against our Crown, and to deny our Kingdom, as to require that our Laws may be broken until one and twenty years, &c. Dare then any of you, with the name of a Subject, stand against an Act of Parliament, a Law of the Whole Realm? What is Our Power, if Laws should be thus neglected? Yea, WHAT IS YOUR SURETY, IF LAWS BE NOT KEPT? Herein indeed resteth Our Honor, herein standeth our Kingdom, herein do all Kings knowledge us a King: And shall any of you dare breathe or think against our Honor, our Kingdom or Crown? &c. But neither the Pardon nor Reason prevailing, these obstinate Rebels were at last twice or thrice vanquished and utterly routed by a small number of the Kings Forces, many thousands of them slain, others taken prisoners and executed, and the rest scattered, so that they could never make head again, by the avenging hand and just judgment of God. And so their expected new Utopian Republic and Parliament of Commons, without King and Lord's, came soon to ruin, before it received any establishment. Let our New Moulders of our English Republic, and promoters of the New Engagement, to set up a Republic and Parliament without King and Lord's for the future, consider this ill success of this design heretofore with fear and trembling, lest it prove their very case in conclusion.

King, Edward the sixth lying on his death-bed, and perceiving his Sister Queen Mary to be an obstinate Papist, like to subvert that Religion and Reformation which he had established, did by advice of his Council, and learned Lawyers, by his last Will and Testament, endeavor to disinherit her of the Crown, appointing the Lady Jane to succeed him: and to establish her Title thereto, caused all his Privy Council, most of the chief Nobility, the Major and City of London, and all the Judges (exept Judge Hales of Kent, who refused the subscription, and chief Lawyers of the Realm ) to subscribe thereto, against the express Statute of 35 H. 8 c. 1. (to which they and the whole Kingdom had sworn) taking the Oath for the succession of the Crown therein prescribed. Hereupon, after King Edwards decease, they all proclaimed Jane Queen, and rejected Mary, against whom they sent the Duke of Northumberland with an Army; who departing from London, the Lord's of the Council perceiving the generality of the people to adhere to Queen Mary, and that she began to gather a considerable strength, and most of the common people, and some of the Lord's standing for her, thereupon they presently turned their song, proclaimed Mary eldest daughter to King Henry, Queen, according to the Act of Parliament, and deserted Jane, to whose Title they had subscribed: whereupon the Duke of Northumberland, the Duke of Suffolk, Sir John Gates, (three of the Subscribers ) together with the Lord Gilford, Lord Gray, Sir Thomas Wyat, and sundry others were suddenly apprehended, condemned and executed as Traitors, together with the new Queen Jane; who all confessed their deaths and condemnation to be just, and that they deserved to die for these their Treasons; wishing all others to beware by their examples, and timely to submit to and obey Queen Mary without murmuring or rebelling against her, as good Subjects ought to do. This was the Tragic end of those Subscribers and Engagers to disinherit this Queen of her Birthright, and set up another against the Law, and their Oaths of Allegeance. Which our present Subscribers and Engagers may do well to ruminate upon, their case being far worse and more treasonable against the King, then theirs against Queen Mary, having King Edwards last Will, with all the Kings Council, most Nobles, Judges, Lawyers, and the Citizens of London's Subscriptions thereto in King Edwards life-time, to countenance them herein; all which these recant, against his clear Title by the Statute of 1 Jac. cap. 1, 2.

But these Examples perchance may extend only to such who have been, or hereafter shall appear in Arms against the present King, to disinherit him of his Crown and Monarchy; or to the chief Contrivers and Promoters of the New Engagement. I shall therefore remember all mere Subscribers of it, through base fear, cowardice, covetousness, or other unworthy ends, against their former Oaths of Supremacy, Allegeance, Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Officers, Clerks, and the like, their Protestation, Vow, and Solemn League and Covenant, of three memorable Examples of bare Subscribers only against their Judgments and Conscience, merely to save their lives, when in most certain and apparent danger; the consideration whereof may make their souls and joints to quake and tremble, and put them into Belshazzar's trembling agony.

The first is that of M. Tho. Bilney, a pious and famous Martyr in King Henry the 8 's Raign; who being condemned for Heresy by some Popish Prelates, was induced to abjure, and subscribe his hand to a renounciation of those Truths of God which he formerly professed, and for maintenance whereof he was condemned to be burnt. But no sooner was he released, but he was so extremely troubled and tormented in conscience for near two years space after, that his friends were afraid to let him be alone by himself, and fain to be with him day and night, to comfort him as they could; but no comfort would serve. As for the comfortable places of Scripture, to bring them unto him, it was as though a man should run him thorough the heart with a sword. He was in such an anguish, that nothing did him good, neither eating nor drinking, nor any other communication of God's Word; for he thought that all the whole Scriptures were against him, and sounded to his condemnation. At last by God's grace, and good counsel, coming to some quietness of conscience, he fully resolved to give over his life for the confession of that Faith which he had formerly abjured and subscribed against: and thereupon preaching and maintaining it publicly, was apprehended, burnt, and undauntedly sealed it with his blood, to make amends for his former cowardly and unworthy subscription, having no peace of conscience till then.

The second is that of James Bainham a Lawyer of the middle Temple, who being imprisoned, persecuted, whipped, stocked, chained, wracked, and cruelly tormented by Sir Thomas Moor, then Lord Chancellor, for his profession of Religion, and ready to be condemned and burnt for an Heretic, was at last, after many denials, for fear of death, and to preserve his life, persuaded to abjure the articles and opinions charged against him, and subscribe to their abjuration under his hand. And having done his Penance, was set at liberty. But within one month after, he exceedingly bewailed this his subscription and abjuration, and was never quiet in his mind and conscience, until he had uttered his fall to all his acquaintance, and asked God and the world for giveness before all the Congregation, (in those days in Bowe-lane:) And immediately the next Sunday after, he came to S. Austin's Church with the New Testament in his hand in English, and The obedience of a Christian man, in his bosom, and stood up there before the people in his Pew, there declaring openly with weeping tears, that he had denied God; and prayed all the people to forgive him, and to beware of his weakness, and not to do as he did; for (said he) if I should not return again to the Truth (having the New Testament in his hand) this Word of God would damn me both body and soul at the day of Judgment. And then he prayed everybody rather to die by and by, then to do as he did: FOR HE WOULD NOT FEEL SUCH AN HELL AGAIN AS HE DID FEEL, FOR ALL THE WORLDS GOOD. After which he had no quiet, till he writ likewise certain Letters to the Bishop his brother, and others, to justify the Truths he had renounced under his hands, and suffered for them at the Stake, to which he was soon after condemned: where being in the midst of the flames round about him, and having his legs and arms half burnt and consumed, he spake thus with a loud voice: O ye Papists, behold, ye look for Miracles, and here now ye may see a Miracle: for in this fire I feel no more pain, then if I were in a bed of down; but it is to me as a bed of roses. So that he who felt such an horror and hell in conscience before, for subscribing against the Truth and his Conscience even whiles he was at large, felt no pain nor torment at all in his body in the midst of the flames, when chained to the Stake, and half burnt to ashes, and had then a very heaven in his Soul and Conscience. An admirable president both of God's justice towards cowardly Subscribers, and comfortable assistance of constant Martyrs and Adherers to the Truth, and their primitive Engagements.

The third is the memorable example of Archbishop Cranmer, who subscribed to Queen Mary's disinheriting, against his Oath first; and after that, being condemned to be burnt for an Heretic, upon the solicitation of some Friers and others, who assured him, that if he recanted his former Tenants against the Papists, he should not only save his life, of which else there was no hopes, but likewise be restored to the Queens favor and his former honors, was induced to subscribe such a Recantation as they tendered him, (to the great scandal of Religion, and triumph of the Papists) and after that, to write and subscribe two Copies thereof, with his own hand. For which Subscription, he was so grieved and tormented in Conscience, that the image and shape of perfect sorrow appeared in his countenance, and sometimes he lifted up his hands to heaven for pardon, and sometimes let them fall down to earth for shame and anguish; the tears in the mean time gushing out from his eyes so abundantly, trickling down his aged cheeks, that men never saw so many tears in any child, as burst out in him, which moved all men's hearts to commiseration. When he came to speak to the people, he exorted them, That next under God they should obey their King and Queen willingly and gladly, without murmuring or grudging, not for fear of them only, but much more for the fear of God; knowing that they be God's Ministers, appointed by God to rule and govern them; and therefore Whosoever resisteth them, resisteth the Ordinance of God. Then he told them several times, that there was one Great thing and offense he had committed, which did most of all vex and trouble him at that time, and did trouble his conscience much more then anything he ever did or said in all his life; and that was, his setting his hand to a writing contrary to the truth, which I (said he) here now renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand contrary to the truth, which I thought in mine heart, and written for fear of death, and to save my life, if it might be: and that is, all such Bills and Papers which I have written or signed with my hand since my degradation. And forasmuch as my hand offended, writing contrary to my heart, my hand shall first be punished therefore, it shall be first burned. Whereupon, the fire being kindled, and coming near him, stretching forth his arm, he put his right hand into the flame; which he held so steadfast and immovable therein, (save only that he wiped his face therewith) that all men might see his hand quite burnt before his body was touched: taking this exemplary revenge and punishment upon it, for his scandalous Subscription.

Let every Minister, Lawyer, and other conscientious English-man then, that hath any fear of God, or remainders of Conscience left within him, which out of fear, covetousness, or any sordid unchristian ends whatsoever, (when neither his life nor liberty lay at stake, as these Martyrs did) hath perfidiously, traitorously, and unchristianly subscribed this New Engagement and Oath, with the self-same hand which he hath formerly lifted up to the most high God, in the Public Congregation, or in the Parliament-House, or open Court in Westminster -Hall, when he took the Solemn League and Covenant; and wherewith he publicly subscribed the same, and likewise swore the Oaths of Supremacy, Allegiance, Fealty, Homage, or any other Oaths diametrically contrary to them, to wit, To bear Faith and true Allegiance to the King, HIS HEIRS AND SUCCESSORS, AND HIM AND THEM, WITH ALL THE ROYALTIES AND PRIVILEDGES ANNEXED OR UNITED TO THE IMPERIAL CROWN OF THIS REALM, &c. TO ASSIST, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND WITH THEIR LIVES AND ESTATES, AGAINST ALL PERSONS WHATSOEVER; And to procure THEIR PROFIT, &c. holding it all the time he swore upon the Bible or Evangelists; and to preserve the Rights and Privileges of both Houses of Parliament, and zealously and constantly to persevere therein all the days of his life, and not to be withdrawn from the same by any persuasion, combination, fear or terror whatsoever, &c. as they should answer the contrary at the Great day of Judgment before the searcher of all hearts, &c. sadly and seriously consider of these doleful Examples, and with what face or conscience he can henceforth lift up his perjured hands to God in Prayer, or look any conscientious Covenanter in the face, till he hath with horror of conscience, and whole rivers of tears, sighs and groans of spirit, and public abjuration and recantation of this his Perjury, Treachery, weakness and wickedness, and renounced, bewailed, and abjured this his New ungodly Subscription: And then he will either imitate these eminent Martyrs in their horrors of conscience, contrition, compunction, confession and abjuration of this their Subscription, and suffering manfully (if there be occasion) for their Oaths, Vows, Covenant, Protestation, and Engagements; or else fall into absolute desperation of any pardon or remission from God and man, and with Judas and Abithophel (two Arch- traitors ) hang and execute themselves, for this their abominable Treachery, Perjury to God, the King, Parliament and Kingdom. Which consideration and Presidents, may be a sufficient Apology and Satisfaction, to justify and excuse all Non-subscribers of this Engagement, against all imperious Prescribers and Inforcers thereof, (especially if pretenders to Piety and Liberty of Conscience in so eminent a degree, as the chief Contrivers thereof pretend themselves) and exempt them from all injurious Penalties, Forfeitures or Losses menaced for their Non-subscription, before all the Tribunals of heaven and earth; which cannot but give sentence of absolution in their behalf, since God himself expressly and peremptorily commands them, Levite. 19.12. Ye shall not swear by my Name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the Name of thy God: I am the LORD; and denounceth many severe Judgments against breakers of Oaths and Covenants throughout the Old and New Testament.