The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy

be would • ee an end ere he departed London; besides he had not as yet furnished his house at Durham, for his entertainment, that it was a great way to Durham, the ways somewhat foul, the weather cold, and • imself aged; wherefore he neither would nor could go out of Town till the next Summer, if then, come what would : and bid him return this answer to the Arch-bishop. Neither could the Secretary (who persuaded him to send a milder answer, and to sue to his Majesty for License to abide in Town) obtain any other resolution from this Cholericke Prelate. From him he repaired to Doctor Buckeridge, Bishop of Eli, at Eli house in Holburne, acquainting him with this his Majesty's Letter, and commanding him by his Majesty's Order upon his Canonical obedience, to repair forthwith to his Bishopric, according to his Majesty's command. But this dutiful Prelategrew more Cholericke than the former, answering him to this effect: Let who would obey this Command, yet he would not: what, said he, have I lately bestowed almost 500. l. in repairing and furnishing my house, here in London, to make it fit for my habitation, and must I now be Commanded to depart from it, and sent into the cold wa •• y rotten fens of Eli, to impair my health and kill me up quite? I will not be so served nor abused. And therefore tell your Lord from me, that I take it ill • e should send me such a Command, and that I will not go from my house to Eli for his or any other man's pleasure. The Secretary thereupon desired his Lordship to take notice, that it was his Majesty's pleasure he should depart to his Bishopric, as well as the Arch-bishops, who did no more than he was enjoined by the King, whose mandate he hoped his Lordship would obey, however he neglected or disobeyed the Arch-bishops Command, which yet was not to be slighted, being his Metropolitan. In conclusion, the Bishop told him plainly, he would obey neither the one nor other, and that he would not stir out of London all the winter till the spring, if then. The Secretary wondering at these two Bishops strange disobedience, and contumacy both in words and deeds, departes from them to Bishop Harsnet, and Bishop Field, with his Letter and instructions, who gave him the like answers in effect, though in calmer Termes, not one of them stirring from London, either upon the Kings Letter, or Arch-bishops Command, for all their Oath of Allegiance to the King, and of Canonical obedience to the Arch-Bishop. If then these late Prelates have been so Rebellious, so contumacious, both against his Majesty's and their Metropolitans commands, when they required them only to reside on their Bishoprics, as the Law of God, the Statutes of the Realm, the Canons of the Church in all ages, yea the very Canon Law it self, enjoin them to do, under pain of mortal sin ; What Rebels, and disobedient Varlets would they have proved, think you, in matters and commands less reasonable?

[unspec 11] Eleventhly, our Prelates have been strangely Rebellious, contumacious, and disloyal above all other Subjects, in slighting, vilifying, affronting the Kings own Letters Patents, and frustrating his Subjects of the benefit of them. Thus Doctor Young Dean of Winchester was put by the Mastership of Saint Crosses, though granted him by Patent, that Doctor Lewis, who left his Provostship in Oriel College in Oxford with other preferment, and fled into France for buggery as was reported; might be thrust in. So Doctor Manwering, publicly censured in Parliament for a Seditious Sermon, and made uncapable of any preferment, by the sentence of the House, was immediately after the Parliament ended, thrust into a living of three hundred pound per annum, by our Prelates; and he who had the grant of the next advowson by Patent put by. Thus divers others have been thrust by such places as the King himself hath granted them by Patent by our Omnipotent Prelates, to advance those of their own saction, yea one of them hath not stuck to say, that had the King himself granted a Patent for the Execution of Writs of Capias Excommunicatum to some who had long sued for it, that he would make the King recall it, or in case he would not, he would withstand and not obey it. Nay, we know, that though the Lord Majors of London, by Patent, and prescription time out of mind, as the Kings Leiutenants and Vicegerents, have used to carry up their swords before them in Paul's Church-yard and Church, yet a proud ambitious Prelate, not long since • questioned him for doing it before the Lord's of the Privy Council, as if the Kings sword of Justice, had nothing to do within that Precinct but only the Bishops Crosier. Neither hath the City of York scaped Scotfree: for the Bishops and Pre • ends of that City have contested with the Citizens of York, even in his Majesty's presence, about those Liberties which both his Majesty himself but five years before, and his royal Ancestors had anciently granted to them, by several Charters in express words; endeavoring to nullify and repeal their Patent, and caused the Major of York not to bear his sword within the close, as he and his predecessors had usually done, (and that by special Charter) from Richard the seconds time, till of late. Since that the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury hath had contests with the University of Cambridge touching their Charters and Privileges which must all stop to adore his greatness, contesting even before the King and Lord's with that University and Oxford too, whether he as Arch-bishop, or his Majesty as King, should be their Visitor. Now what greater affront almost can there be to royal Majesty, than thus publicly to nullify, oppose and spurn under feet the Kings own Charters and Patents, as things of no value or moment.

Twelfthly, they have most contemptuously affron • ed his [unspec 12] Majesty's own late royal Declarations to all his Loyall Subjects, both before the 39. Articles of Religion, & concerning the dissolution of the last Parliament, in the very highest degree, and that,

• [unspec 1] First, in their Court Sermons before his Majesty's face.
• [unspec 2] Secondly, In books lately written, or publicly authorized by them and their Chaplains for the Press.
• [unspec 3] Thirdly, By their Visitation Oaths and Articles.
• [unspec 4] Fourthly, by their late Injunctions, Censures, Orders and instructions, by, and in all which they have notoriously oppugned, innovated, altered both the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England sundry ways, caused an apparent back • liding to Arminianism, Popery, Superstition, Schism, oppressed and grieved his Majesty's good Subjects, and deprived many of them both of their livings, liberties, and freedom of their Consciences, contrary to the express Provision, Letter and purport of these his Majesty's Royal Decla • ions, as hath been lately manifested in sundry new Printed books, and voted by the Present Parliament.

[unspec 13] Thi • teenthly, They have caused some grand Juries, and the Judge himself as well as the prosecutor, to be Pursevanred into the High Commission, only for finding a verdict upon an Indictment for the King • against Innovating Clergy men, as they were bound to do both in Law and Conscience. Witness the Case of Master Ask, late Recorder of Colchester, Mr. Burroughs, and the grand Jury of that Town, who were thus vexed for finding an Indictment against Par • on Newcoman, for refusing to deliver the Sacrament to those who came not up to his new rail. And no doubt the Bishops secret Commands and Instructions, were the Original cause that moved Sir Robert Berkely Knight, one of the Judges of the Kings Bench at the General Sessions at Har • ford in January 7. 1638. to fine Mr. Henry Brown, one of the grand Jury men at that Sessions, and lay him in Irons one night, only for finding an Indictment for railing in the Communion Table at Hartford Altarwise, which indictment he caused the said Brown openly to tear & trample under his feet, and one tha • stayed other indictments of this nature, in high affront bo • h o • Law and Justice, only to please the Prela • es, whose commands, threats, and persecutions, have been the Original causes of most of the Judges irregular proceedings.

Fourteenthly, They have not only cited, but censured some of his Majesty's Officers in the High-Commission, for executing his Laws according to their Oath and duty, as the Major of Arundell for punishing a drumken Minister: and likewise ci • ed Mr. Staple a Justice of peace in Sussex into the High-Co • mission for giving in charge at the quarter Sessions his 〈…〉 against Innovations, and deaucht Clergy men.

Fift •• n • hly • • hey have most unjustly caused some Posters to be •• opped af •• r ••• dicts • ound for the plaintiffes and damages [unspec 15] given by • he Jury upon • ul • hearing, for Actions justly bro • ght agai • s • 〈◊〉 of • h • ir Officers, for dafamations, and other 〈…〉 , so that the Plaintiffes could never get judgment • w •• nesse • he case of Master Bayton, against Doctor Martyn Com •• ssary of Tomes and others.

Sixtee •• hly, they have caused some Solliciters, Atturnies [unspec 16] and Pla • n • iffes to be imprisoned, until they gave over such just actions as they had commenced and prosecuted against their Office • s, for Extortions, Opressions, and unjust Excommuni • ations, witness the case of Ferdinando Adams, whose Atturny Master Letchford was committed to the Kings Bench, by Judge Jones and some other Judges, only for bringing an Action of the Case, against Dade the the Bishop of Norwich, Commissary at Ipswich for Excommunicating him maliciously and unjustly, because he re • used to blot out this Text of Scripture written over the Commissaries Court in Saint Mary's Church in Ipswich, It is written, My house shall be called an house of Prayer of all Nations, but ye have made it a den of thieves : detaining him in prison till he gave over the prosecution and discontinued the suite: sundry others having since been served in this kind, by the Prelates solicitation.

Seventeenthly, They have been the Original occasions of [unspec 17] the late unhappy war and differences between Scotland and England, which they styled Bellum Episcopale, the Bishops war, to which they liberally contributed themselves, and enforced others to do the like, when these differences were comprimised, and this war happily concluded in peace, they were the chief Authors of the breach of the pacifica • ion formerly made, and of a second war, to the great danger, trouble, and unsupportable charge o • his Majesty's three kingdoms.

Eighteenthly, they have been the prime causes of all, or [unspec 18] most of the grievances, pressures, distractions, Schisms in our Church and Common-weal, and chief instruments of the 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 unhappy breaches of our former Parliaments, to the infinite prejudice both of King and Subject.

[unspec 19] Ninteenthly, when as they had caused the last Parliament but this to be dissolved, to manifest their omnipotency, disloyalty and tyranny, they caused a new Convocation to be immediately assembled without a Parliament, wherein they compiled and prescribed New Canons, with an &c. Oath, tending highly to the derogation of his Majesty's prerogative royal in Ecclesiastical matters, the subversion of the • undamentall Laws of the Realm and Liberties of the Subject, the affront of Parliaments, the suppression of all faithful ministers, and aiming only at the perpetuating of their own Episcopal Lordly power, and Popish Innovations. And as if this were not sufficient, they took upon them to grant sundry subsidies without a Parliament, for the maintenance of a new war against the Scots, and enjoined all Ministers to pay these Subsidies peremptorily at the days assigned by them, under pain of present deprivation for the first default, Omni Appellatione semota, without any benefit of appeal, one of the highest strains of tyranny and injustice, that ever I have met with. For which Canons Oath, and Subsidies, they now stand impeached by the whole house of Commons, as delinquents in a high nature, and are like ere long to receive condign punishment.

Twentiethly, it is very suspicious, that they or some of them, [unspec 20] had a hand in the late dangerous Treason and Conspiracie, since the first clause of the Oath of Se • recy administered to the Conspirators was, To maintain the Bishops in their functions, and votes in Parliament, and the Clergy would at their own charge (as Serjant Major Wallis confesseth in his examination) maintain a thousand horse to promote this Trayterous design, and have now (as some report) an hundred thousand pound ready for such a service.

In the twentieth one place, they have oppressed and ruined divers of his Majesty's Loyall Subjects, Ministers and others, [unspec 21] both in their bodies, estates, credits, families; caused many thousands of them to forsake the Realm, and to transport their families into foreign parts, to the great decay of trade, and impoverishing of the Realm. In which they have done his Majesty great dis-service, whose Honor and safety consists in the multitude and wealth of his people, and his destruction in want of people.

In the twenty second rank, they have most undutifully and [unspec 22] disloyally cast the odium of all their late Innovations in Religion, their new Canons and tyrannical exorbitant proceedings, on his Majesty, proclaiming it openly to the people, that all they did, was only by his Majesty's special direction and command, of purpose to alienate the hearts of the people from his Majesty, as much as in them lay.

In the twenty third place, they and their Officers have [unspec 23] sorely fleeced and impoverished his Majesty's Subjects in such sort by exacted Fees, and vexatio • s suites in their Visitations, High-Commissions, and other Ecclesiastical Courts, and by putting them to unnecessary costs for raising and railing in Comm • nion Tables, and new adorning their Churches, that they are unable to supply his Majesty's and the Kingdoms necessities in that liberal proportion as they have formerly done; the late Subsidies scarce amounting to half that sum, as they did in former times.

Finally, in their last High-Commission Pa • ent they obtained [unspec 24] this strange Non-obstante (which robs the King of his Supremacy, and the Subjects of their Laws and Liberties) namely, That their Lordships in all Ecclesiastical causes specified in that Commission might proceed in a mere arbitrary manner, as they list themselves, Notwithstanding any Appellation, provocation, privilege, or exemption, in that behalf to be had, made, pretended or alleged, by ANY PERSON OR PERSONS (therefore by Lord's and Peers as well as others) resident or dwelling in any place or places, exempt or not exempt within the Realms of England and Ireland and Principality of Wales (for no les • er circuit would content them) and all Laws, Statutes, Proclamations, or other grants Privileges, or Ordinances, which be or may seem contrary to the premises notwithstanding. What Matthew Paris writes of the Popes Non-obstantees in his Bulls, which first begar them, Per illud verbum & adjectionem detestabilem Non Obstante, omnem • xtinguit justitiam praehabitam : I may more truly affirm of this, that it extinguisheth all Justice ; yea his Majesty's Supremacy, our fundamental Laws, Statutes, and the Subjects Liberties, since it robs the King of the Regal right of receiving appeals as supreme head of the Church of England, for releese of his oppressed Subjects, and of the honor of his Royal Laws, Proclamations, grants, exemptions, which must all stoop to the Prelates pleasures; and strips the Subjects naked of the benefit and protection of all Laws, Statutes, Proclamations, and other grants, privileges, Ordinances or exemptions whatsoever, which might shelter them from the Prelates tyranny and oppressions. So that you have here the very height of Treason, Conspiracy, and Contumacy, against his Majesty, the Laws of the Realm and hereditary liberties of the people.

In all these respects (to omit other particulars) our Prelates if they be not direct Traitors to his Majesty and the Realm, so far as to incur a Capitall Censure, as is more than probable, or at least a Praemunire, of which there is no question; yet I dare aver they are the most notorious Rebels, the obstinatest contemners, enemies and oppugners of his Majesty's Royal Prerogative, the Fundamental Laws of the Realm, and just Liberties of the Subject, this day breathing; inferior to none of their predecessors in contumacy and disobedience to their Sovereign and our Laws (what ever they prete • d) and exceeding them in many particulars.

Having thus I hope sufficiently answered all our Prelates Arguments for the supportation, and continuance of their Lordly Prelacy in our Church, and their Evasions to shift off this Antipathy as no way pertinent unto them; give me leave only to observe these six remarkable Circumstances in our Prelates premised Treason, Conspiracies and Rebellions, which highly aggravate their offenses, and make them far more execrable Traitors, Rebels, and delinquents, than all other ranks of men; and then I shall conclude.

• [unspec 1] First, they have presumed to justify their Treasons and Rebellions, against their Sovereigns, as pious, religious, holy and commendable actions, and to Canonize these Episcopal Arch-Traitors and Rebells, not only for chief pillars, patriots and defenders of the Churches Liberties, but even for holy Saints and Martyrs, as appears by the examples of Dunstan, Anselm, Becket, Edmund of Canterbury, Hugh of Lincoln, S. Germain 〈◊〉 , Richard Scroope of York, with others: no Laymen having yet been so happy, as for their Treasons and Rebellions onel • , or especially, to be Sainted and adored, as many Bishops and Clergy men have been. Hence Doctor Barns in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 190. writes thus, I would not speak how damnable it is to institute Masses, for a willing Traitor, and murderer, there was never no learning that could allow this. But there is no remedy, he that dies against his King, and for the maintaining of your Treason, must needs be a Saint, if Masses, blessings, and miracles will help; for all these be at your Commandment, to give where your list. So that we poor men, must be accused of insurrection and Treason, and we must bear all the blame, we must be driven out of the Realm, we must be burned for it, when as God knows there is no people under heaven, that more abhorreth and with earnester • eart resisteth, and more diligently doth preach against disobedience than we do: yea, I dare say boldly, let all your books be searched, tha • were written this 500. years, and all they shall not declare the authority of a Prince, and the true obedience toward him, as one of our little books shall do, that be condemned by you for heresy, and all this will not help us. But as for you, you may preach, you may write, you may do, you may swear against your Princes, and also assoil all other men of their obedience towards their Princes, you may compel Princes to be sworn to you, and yet are you children of obedience and good Christian men. And if ye die for this doctrine then is there no remedy, but you must be Saints, and rather than fail ye shall do miracles : which he proves by the example of Thomas Becket & of Germane formerly cited, who was made a Saint for deposing King Vortiger, and making his Neat-heard King in his steed. These shameful and abominable things do ye praise and allow, and in the mean time condemn us for heretics and Traitors.
• Secondly, in interceding for, saving, rescuing, protecting, [unspec 2] rewarding Trayterous and Rebellious Bishops, after their Treasons and Rebellions committed, and warding off the sword of Justice from their Mitred Pates (though worthy of ten thousand deaths) when as all others Peers or Commons whom they have drawn into their Treasons, Rebellions, and Conspiracies have been sure to suffer the rigor of Justice, without any mitigation or pardon; this most of the premised instances witness, especially that of Adam de Tarlton, Part. 1. p 54.55.56.57.265.266.
• Thirdly, in mincing, extenuating, excusing, and patronizing [unspec 3] the Treasons, Conspiracies and Rebellions of Prelates, and referring them to the Pope or their own Ecclesiastical-Tribunalls, that so they might scape unpunished • a privilege and trick of Episcopal Leger-de-main, that no Layman was capable of, but only Bishops and Clerks.
• [unspec 4] Fourthly, in slandering, reviling, censuring, excommunicating their Princes, together with • heir Judges and Officers, for the execution of Justice on Bishops, who have been Arch-Rebells, Traitors and Conspirators; as appears by the examples of Richard Scroope and others: which story of Scroope Doctor Barns thus descants on in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 188.189. Do you not remember, how that in the days of Henry the fourth, a captain of your Church, called Richard Scroope Archbishop of York, did gather an Host of men, and waged battle against his King? but God the Defender of his Ruler, gave the King the victory, which caused the Traitor to be beheaded. And then your forefathers with their devilish cra • t, made the people believe by their false Chronicle, that at every stroke that was given at the Bishops neck, the King received another of God in his neck. And whereas the King was afterward stricken with a sickness, you made him and all his Subjects believe, that it was God's punishment, because he had killed the Bishop: and not thus content, but you feigned after his death, that he did miracles. Is not this too much, both to be Traitors to your King, and also to fain God to be displeased with your King for punishing of Treason? Finally, to make him a Saint, and also that God had done miracles to the defending of his Treason? How is it possible to invent a more pestilent Doctrine than this is? Here is God's Ruler despised, and hereby is open Treason maintained: Think you that God will show miracles to fortify these things? But no doubt the Proverb is true, Such lips, such Lettuce, such Saints, such miracles.
• [unspec 5] Fifthly, in persisting most peremptorily in Treasons, Rebellions, contests and Conspiracies against their Princes, without yielding or intermission till they had obtained their demands and desires of them instead of craving pardon of them, all which the premises evidence to the full in Anselm, Becket, Langton, Stafford and others.
• [unspec 6] Sixthly, in enforcing their Sovereigns against whom they conspired, rebelled, and practiced divers horrid Treasons and Contumacies, to submit, nay seek to them for pardon, and to undergo such sharp censures, such • orbid, infamous, harsh punishments, covenants and conditions, as are inconsistent with Monarchy, honor, Sovereignty, as in the case of Henry the se • cond, King John and others. In these six respects, our Lordly Bishops have transcended all other Traitors, Rebels, Conspirators, and Seditious persons whatsoever; as also in Censuring Loyalty for Heresy, true Subjects to their Princes for Heretics; and Canonizing High Treason, Rebellion against Emperors, Kings, Princes, for Orthodox faith; notorious Traitors and Rebels, for good Christians and true believers ; as appears in the Case of Hildebrand and his Hellish crew of Bishops, who branded Henry the Emperor and those who sided with him, for Heretics, and their Loyalty for Heresy, in the Case of Henry the second and King John in their difference with Anselm, Becket, and Langhton. In imitation of whom our present Prelates now slander those who oppugn a • d withstand their encroachments upon the Kings prerogative Royal, with odious terms of Puritans, Novellers, Seditious persons, Schismatics, Rebels, and brand Loyalty, and true allegiance to the King, with the terms of Faction, Schism, Sedition, Novelty, and Rebellion.

You have seen now a large Anatomy of our Lordly Prelates desperate Treasons, Conspiracies, Rebellions, Contumacies, Wars, disloyal oppressive practices in all ages against our Kings, Kingdoms, Laws, Liberties: which duly pondered, we may easily conclude, there is little cause any longer to tolerate them in our Church or State, but great ground eternally to extirpate them out of both. It is storyed of the people of Biscany in Spain, That they have such a natural enmity against Bishops, that they will admit no Bishops to come among them, and that when Fe • dinand the Catholic came in Progress into Biscany, accompanied with the Bishop of Pampilone, the people rose up in Arms, drove back the Bishop out of their Coast, and gathering up all the dust they thought he or his Mule had trod on, threw it into the Sea with curses and imprecations. I dare not say, that our people should rise up in Arms like these Biscaners, and drive out our Bishops, God forbid any such Tumultuous, or Seditious practice: but this I dare confidently aver, that his Majesty and our High Court of Parliament, have far greater reason to drive, and extirpate them out of our Realm and Church, even with curses and execrations, and to subvert their Sees in an orderly, just, and legal way, than these Biscaners had to repulse this Bishop, who entered thus into their Country, only to accompany Ferdinand in his progress, not to play the Lord Bishop among them.

I shall close up all with the words of Musculus, a Learned foreign Protestant Divine; who after he had largely proved by Scriptures and Fathers, That Bishops and Presbyters by Divine right are both one, and of equal authority, and that the difference between them was only a human institution to prevent Schisms, concludes thus. Whether o • no this Counsel hath profited the Church of God, whereby such Bishops who should be greater than Presbyters were introduced, rather our of Custom (that I may use the words of Jerome ) than out of the truth of the Lord's institution, is better declared in after ages, than when this custom was first brought in; to which we owe all that insolency, opulency and tyranny of Princely and Lordly Bishops; imo omnem corruptionem Ecclesiarum Christi ; yea all the corruption of the Churches of Christ; which if Jerome should now perceive, without doubt he would acknowledge this, not to be the Counsel of the Holy-Ghost, to take away Schisms, as was pretended; but of the Devil himself, to waste and destroy the ancient Offices of feeding the Lord's • lock; by which it comes to pass, that the Church hath not true Pastors, Doctors, Elders, and Bi • hops, but Idle bellies, and magnificent Princes under the vizors of these names, who not only neglect to feed the people of the Lord in proper person with wholesome and Apostolical doctrine, but also by most wicked violence take special care, that no man else may do it. This verily was done by the Counsel of Satan, that the Church instead of Bishops should have powerful Lord's and P • inces, elected for the greatest part out of the Order of the Nobles and Princes of the world, (as they are in Germany ) who under-propped with their own and their kindreds power, may domineer over the flock of Christ at their pleas • re. And with the complaint of the Emperor Lewis the fourth, and the German Princes against the Italian and German Lordly Prelates, which I may justly accomodate to ours. Flamines isti Babyloniae soli regnare cupiunt; ferre parem n • n possunt; non desistent, donec omnia pedibus suis conculcaverint, atque in Templo Dei s • deant, ext • llanturque supra omne id quod colitur. Sub Pontificis titulo, pastoris pelle, lupum saevissimum, nisi caeci sumus, sentimus. Cum nostri servi sint, ipsi dominari contra jus gentium, adversus leges, auspicia & Oracula divina, Dominos, sibi servire volunt. Caesarem Italia, Roma, Christum terris exclusere: illi coelum quidem permittunt, inferos atque terras sibi asseruere.

Bernard Epist. 158.

Kind Reader, I shall desire thee to recti • ie these Press-Errors, which in my absence in the Country happened in many Copies in some Pages of the first and Second Part, besides those forementioned, after the Table of Chapters.

Directions for the Book-Binder.

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