Answer to John Banks, Title page – Dedication
THE ANSWER OF JOHN BASTVVICK, Doctor of Phisicke, To the Information of Sir IOHN BANCKS Knight, Atturney universall.
IN WHICH There is a sufficient Demonstration, That the Prelats are Invaders of the Kings Prerogative Royall, Contemners and Despisers of holy Scripture, Advancers of Poperie, Superstition, Idolatry and Prophanesse: ALSO That they abuse the Kings Authoritie, to the oppression of his loyallest Subjects, and therein exercise great crueltie, tyrannie and injustice; and in the execution of these impious performances they shew neither wit, honestie, nor temperance.
NOR That they are either Servants of GOD or of the KING (as they are not indeed) but of the Devill: being enemies of God and the King; and of every living thing that is good.
All which the sayd Doctor Bastwick is ready to maintaine before King and Counsell, against them all, with the hazard of otherwise being exposed to extremest miserie.
Printed in the yeare 1637.
To the Kings most Excellent Majestie.
Most Sacred Majestie:
THE comfort of all poore Subjects under any Kingdom and Empire, hath ever be…n this, That in all oppressions & calamities, they had a Caesar to appeale to… who, in the place of God, did defend the poore from the tyranny of the mighty, & deliver them from the cruelty of the more potent, after hee had heard their just Defence and Answer for themselves; & this is the onelyonly glory of a Monarchy and of regal Government, which favour & liberty was never yet denyed under Pagan Emperors to poore Christians; and the which your Highnesse hath never yet refused to grant to any in your Kingdomes: which hath emboldened mee, a loyall, though poore Subject, in this great extremity to flye unto your Highnes, who hath been most cruelly and unjustly dealt with by the Prelates, for mayntayning your Prerogative Royall, and at this time suffers their mercylesse oppression, being denyed that which hath not been hitherto refused to those, that have been reputed delinquents against sacred Mast. and to have abused the reverend Iudges of the Kingdome, which was the enjoying of the society of their wifes and friends for their reliefe and comfort, and that they might put in their answer under their owne hands & names when they could have no counsel, and yet these are now denyed unto your poore Subjects by the Prelats. Wherefore he, amongst the rest, doth humbly appeals unto your Mast. beseeching your gracious Highnes to heare his just defence and answer, especially it tending so much for the advancement of the honour of God, the honour & dignity of your most excellent Mast. & the good of the whole Kingdome; it making so much allso for the discovering of the cruelty, tyranny, & unjustice of the Prelats over your loyallest Subjects, in abusing your Mast autority; their impiety also against God, their disloyaltie also against your sacred Mast. with the vvrong they have likevvise done to your royall Father, of famous memory. All vvhichwhich, if hee shall not bee able to prove against them, he vvill vvillingly undergoe vvhat punishment any authoritie shall lay upon him. Therefore he most humbly beseecheth your Mast. that you vvould please to receive his ansvver, to vvhom he hath made it… & vvhom chiefly it concerneth. And hee shall ever acknovvledge your Princely favour in it, and shall ever pray for your Mast. happy raigne, and long life… vvith the affluence of all divine benediction upon your Royall Person, Crovvne & Dignitie, & your illustrious Posteritie, and ever remaine
Your most truely obedient Subject JOHN BASTWICK.