The Isle of Man, Part 2

The Isle of Man · Part 2

p. 107THE SECOND PART.

AT the time of Aſſiſes, the time of triall.Aſſiſes by the Kings appointment, commeth the Iudge, attended on by the Sheriffe, the Iuſtices of the Peace, and ſuch as neceſſarily are to be there, for the diſpatch of ſuch buſineſſes as come to be tryed and adiudged.

The Iudge comming in p. 108place, he hath his Seat or Bench, and being ſet, the Commiſsion is read.

The Iudge is a Iudge of Oyer and Terminere in the Circuit where he is appointed to ſit. The Iudgement heere is abſolute, without any appeale from his Sentence.

The Iudge ſpiritually vnderſtood, attended vponupon by Religion the Sheriffe, and the VnderUnder Sheriffe Reſolution, is Conſcience.

From this Iudgement is no Appeale, for he is in Iudge is Conſcience.GODS ſtead, therefore muſt his Sentence ſtand, and wee muſt ſubmit to it.

The Seat or Bench on Bench is Impartiality.which this Iudge ſitteth, is p. 109Impartialitie; for Conſcience well-informed, will iudge in Righteouſneſſe and Truth, without all partiality, without reſpect of any perſon. He regardeth not the rich and mighty, no Bribe can blinde him, neither doth hee pitty the perſon of the poore, to giuegive for pity an vniuſt Sentence; but as the truth is, ſo ſpeaketh he.

The Commiſsion is the Commiſſion, actiue power of Conſcience.Actiue power of Conſcience, giuen of God by his Word, to condemne the nocent, or to quit the innocent, except this Commiſſion be loſt.Commiſſion loſt, is the dead, ſeared, or benummedneſſe of Conſcience.

Sometimes it is loſt, as when conſcience is dead, as in all ignorant perſons, or p. 110ſeared with an hot iron, as ſome mens hauehave beene and are; ſuch as fall from the faith and are paſt feeling, 1 Tim. 42. Eph. 4. 19.Eph 4:19by reaſon of the blindneſſe of minde, and hardneſſe of heart: or elſe benummed, as in thoſe that fall into ſome grieuous ſin, as did DAVID, who lay therein, vntill Nathan found the Commiſſion, and acquainted him with it, when he ſaid, Thou art 2 Sam. 12. 7.2 Sam 12:7the man.

If the Commiſſion bee loſt, the Power of Conſcience lyeth dead, ſeared and benummed, then the Iudge can doe nothing till it bee found: and being found, it is read openly.

p. 111The reading of this Reading the Commiſſion.Commiſſion before the whole Countie, is EueryEvery mans experimentall Knowledge of the power of Conſcience, by which is acknowledged his Authoritie, to ſit as Iudge ouer eueryevery thought, word and deed of man.

The Circuit of this Circuit, in which Conſcience ſits and iudgeth.Iudge is his Owne Soule, he is not to ſit and iudge of other mens thoughts, words or deeds, but of the thoughts, words, and deeds of that man, wherein hee is. A mans owne Conſcience is Iudge of himſelfe; to iudge another is out of his Circuit, neither hath he any Authoritie from the King of Heauen, p. 112to inable him ſo to doe, Knowledge may goe out to ſee and diſcerne of other mens wayes, but Conſcience keepeth euer at home, and ſits within to iudge of that mans courſes, whoſe Conſcience hee is. Conſcience onelyonly troubles a man for his own ſinnes, it cannot for another mans, but as farre forth as hee hath made them his owne, and being acceſſarie to them by commanding, Acceſſaries to ſinne.alluring, counſelling, commending, excuſing, defending, or winking thereat, when hee ought by his place to hauehave puniſhed the ſame.

This Iudge in this Circuit is Iudge of Oyer and p. 113Oyer and Terminere.Terminere; Hee will heare before hee doth iudge, and hee will truly then iudge as hee heareth; for as hee is impartiall in iudging, ſo is he prudent and carefull to know what and whereof to giuegive ſentence, before he doth iudge. This is the Iudge.

The Iuſtices of Peace in Iuſtices of Peace.the Countie are there, and doe ſit with the Iudge, and are in Commiſſion with him. Of theſe ſome are of the Quorum, and of better ranke, ſome are meaner Iuſtices, and take their place lower.

The Iuſtices of Peace Iuſtices of the Quorum.in the Soule of better ranke, are Science, Prudence, Prouidence, Sapience: p. 114the Inferiours are weake Wit, common Apprehenſion, and ſome ſuch like.

Theſe Iuſtices hauehave their The Iuſtices Clerkes.Clerkes, there ready with their Examinations and Recognizances. Iuſtice Science, his Clerke is Diſcourſe: Iuſtice Prudence, his Clerke is Circumſpection: Iuſtice Prouidence, his Clerke is Diligence: Iuſtice Sapience, his Clerke is Exporience: Iuſtice Weak-wit, his Clerk is Conceit: and Iuſtice Common-Apprehenſion, his Clerk is onelyonly Senſe; a couple of poore Iuſtices.

With the Iudge and Chiefe Iuſtices are in Commiſſion, the Kings Sergeant, and the Kings Atturney.

p. 115The Kings Sergeant is K. Sergeant.Diuine Reaſon, a man of deepe iudgement in the Lawes of his Soueraigne, ſwaying much with the Iudge.

The Kings Atturney is K. Atturney.Quick-ſightedneſſe: both are excellent helpes and Aſſiſtants to ſearch out, and to handle a Cauſe before Iudge Conſcience.

For Quicke-ſightedneſſe will ſoone eſpy an error in pleading, and Diuine Reaſon will inforce a iuſt concluſion, and ſo moue the Iudge to giuegive ſentence according to equitie and right. If theſe ſhould bee wanting, many matters would goe amiſſe.

There is alſo the Clerke p. 116Clerke of Aſſiſes.of the Aſsiſes, the keeper of the Writs, that hath all the Inditements.

This Clerke is Memory, Memory.which retaineth all thoſe names of eueryevery ſinne, with the nature of the Offence: and what God hath in his word written againſt them, and what complaints Repentance hath made againſt them.

Beſides this Clerke, there is the Clerke of the Clerke of Arraignment.Arraignment, who readeth the Inditements.

This Clerk is the Tongue, Tongue.making Confeſſion of our ſinnes.

Laſtly, there is the Cryer.Cryer.

This is the Manifeſtation of the Spirit.

p. 117Before the Clerke of the Arraignment readeth any Inditement, it is firſt framed by the Complainant.Complainant.

This Complainant is true Repentance or godly Sorrow.Repentance.

The framing of the Inditement Framing of the Inditement.is the laying open of ſinne, as it may be knowne and found out to be ſinne, according to the true nature thereof.

Moreouer, an Inqueſt, or Grand-Iury there muſt bee, Grand-Iury.by whoſe Verdict the Offender is indited, & made a lawfull Priſoner; yet is this Indirement no conuiction. What theſe agree vponupon, is deliuered vp in writing to the Iuſtices. p. 118On the backe of this Inditement, framed by the complainant, they write either Ignoramus, or Billa vera.

If the former, then the complaint is iudged falſe; Ignoramus.it is left in record, but the Priſoner is not indited.

If the latter, the priſoner is indited, the Inditement Billavera.read, and the priſoner brought to the triall at the Barre.

This Grand-Inqueſt or Penmen of Scriptures are the Grand. iury.Iurie, are the Holy men of God, whoſe writings are the Holy Scriptures in the Old and new Teſtament.

By the Verdict of theſe, eueryevery thought, word and p. 119deed of man, is either freed, or made a lawfull priſoner.

But yet this Verdict is no lawfull conuiction of particular men, till they be rightly applyed.

If they write vponupon the What Gods Word makes not ſinne, is no Sinne.Inditement or Bill framed, Ignoramus; that is, if the holy Scriptures of God declare it not to bee a Sinne, it is no finne: for Where there is no Law, there is no Rom. 4. 15.Rom 4:15tranſgreſsion. Not the complaints of all vnderunder Heauen, not all the Lawes of men, Decrees of Councells, the Commandements of Popes, can make that a ſinne, which they write Ignoramus vponupon.

p. 120Therefore the Bills of Inditement framed by Falſe informers what they be.thoſe falſe Informers before mentioned, Formality, Worldly wiſdome, Lukewarmneſſe, Meere ciuill honeſty, Machiauilian Statiſme, Libertiniſme, Scrupuloſity, & Papiſtry, againſt Chriſtian Conference, godly Sinceritie, true Zeale, ſtrict Conuerſation, Reformation of diſorders, and the reſt, are falſe accuſers, and hauehave vponupon their complaints, written by the Graund-Inqueſt, an Ignoramus, and therefore by theſe worthy Iuſtices, Iuſtice Science, Iuſtice Prudence, Iuſtice Prouidence, and Iuſtice Sapience, are not to bee admitted, nor Iudge Cenſcience p. 121to bee troubled therewith, though all the Popes, the whole Popiſh Church, all Popiſh Counſels, and all the Popiſhlyaffected Statiſts in the world pleade for them, for that thought, word, or deed is no ſinne, no Breach of Gods Law, on which theſe write Ignoramus; Conſcience (as is ſaid) is not to bee troubled with ſuch Bils of complaint.

But if theſe write Billa vera, that is, if the holy Pen-men hauehave ſet downe That which is condemned by God, cannot be diſpenſed with by man.any thought, word, or deed for a ſinne, not all the Popes Diſpenſations and Pardons, not all the ſubtill Diſtinctions of the moſt learned, no cuſtome, p. 122nor any thing elſe whatſoeuer, can acquit it from Sinne, but ſinue it is, and ſo muſt it be taken as a lawfull priſoner, to bee brought to the Barre, and indited, and put vponupon the Iurie of Life and Death.

The Bill being found true, then they proceed vntounto the Arraignment.

The Priſoners are brought forth chained together, and ſet to the barre before the Iudge.

The Priſoners are Sins, Priſoners Sinnes.(as you hauehave heard before) the Old-man, with Miſtris Heart, her Maids, and Will her man.

Their Bringing forth is Bringing forth.the Manifeſtation thereof by the Gaoler, M. Newman, p. 123Knowledge, Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe.

They are chained; for Chained.ſinnes are linked together, as Adultery and Murther in Dauid; Pride with Hatred of Mordecai in Haman; Couetouſneſſe and Treaſon in Iudas; Couetouſneſſe, Hypocriſie and Lying in Ananias and Saphira; yea the breach of all the Commandements in the fall of Adam and Euah. They therfore are brought out chained together.

The Barre is the Apprehenſion The Barre.of Gods wrath due for ſinne.

After all this, when the Priſoner ſtandeth at the Barre, a Iurie for life and death is impannelled, who p. 124are for the King, and are ſworne to giuegive in a true Verdict, according to their Euidence.

This Iurie is a choſen Companie of excellent Petty-Iurie.Vertues, the fruits of the Spirit, deliuered in by the Sheriffe Religion to be called, and to bee of this Iurie in the behalfe of the Kings Maieſtie, IESVS CHRIST, to goe vponupon the priſoners, the Fruits of the Fleſh, which ſtand at the Barre.

Their names being giuen vp, they are called, as the Clerke of the Arraignment, the Tongue, nameth them; then the Cryer, Manifeſtation of the Spirit, calleth Iurie called by name.them one by one to p. 125appeare, as the Clerke names them; and they are theſe.

1. Call Faith. Cryer. Vous aues Faith, which purgeth Acts 15. 9.Acts 15:9the Heart.

2. Call LoueLove of God. Cryer. Vous aues LoueLove of 1 Iohn 5. 3.1 John 5:3God, which is the keeping of the Commandements.

3. Call Feare of God. Cryer. Vous aues Feare of Prou. 1. 7.Prov 1:7God, which is the beginning of wiſdome.

4. Call Charity. Cryer. Vous aues Charity, which 1 Cor. 6. 13.1 Cor 6:13reioyceth in the Truth.

5. Call Sincerity, Cryer. Vous aues Sincerity, which makes a true Iſraelite, Iohn 1. 47.John 1:47in whom there is no guile.

6. Call Vnity. Cryer. Vous p. 126aues Vnity, which maketh men to be of one heart, and Acts 1. 14. and 2. 1. Epheſ. 4. 3.Acts 1:14Acts 2:1Eph 4:3is the bond of Peace.

7. Call Patience. Cryer. Vous aues Patience, which worketh experience, and by which men poſſeſſe Rom. 5. 4. Luke 21. 19.Rom 5:4Luke 21:19their ſoules.

8. Call Innocencie. Cryer. Vous aues Innocencie, which keepeth harmeleſſe.

9. Call Chaſtity. Cryer. Vous aues Chaſtity, which keepeth vndeſiled.

10. Call Equity. Cryer. Vous aues Equitie, which doth right to eueryevery man.

11. Call Verity. Cryer. Vous aues Verity, which euer ſpeaketh truth.

12. Call Contentation. Cryer. Vous aues Contentation, p. 127which euer reſts ſatisfied.

Then the Clerke ſaith Countes.

And ſo the Cryer ſaith to them, Anſwer to your names.

Then the Clerke nameth them, and the Cryer telleth or counteth them.

Faith, one. LoueLove of God, two. Feare of God, three. Charitie, foure. Sincerity, fiue. Vnitie, ſix. Patience, ſeuen. Innocencie, eight. Chaſtitie, nine. Equitie, ten. Veritie, eleuen. Contentation, twelue.

Then the Cryer ſaith, Good men and true, ſtand together, and heare your charge.

With all theſe Graces p. 128ſhould the ſoule of man Craces wherewith we ſhould all be qualified.bee endued to proceed againſt Sinne, wee ſhould be able to ſay, that we hauehave them by the manifeſtation of Gods Spirit, and alſo to know their power and vertue, and diſtinctly to be able to reckon them, and ſo wiſely to eſteeme them, as the good and true gifts and graces of God; which hauehave a charge giuen them, which is eueryevery grace his The charge what it is.proper gift, and all coniointly hauehave power to diſcerue of any ſinne, and to giuegive a iuſt verdict thereupon.

This Iury, thus called The Iury, look on the Priſoners.and impannelled, are commanded to looke vponupon the Priſoners at the Barre, vponupon p. 129whom they are to goe.

This is when we oppoſe Vertues to Vices in our meditation, that ſo by the excellency of the one, wee may ſee the fouleneſſe of the other, and ſo come to the greater louelove of Vertue, and to the more deepe hatred of Vice. This is the Iury of vertuesIury of vertues profitable looking vponupon vices the priſoners at the Barre.

The priſoners, though they ſtand together, yet are they to anſwer one by one.

So Sins muſt diſtinctly A diſtinct knowledge of ſinne neceſſaryone by one be arraigned: for wee cannot proceed againſt ſin, but vponupon a particular knowledge thereof.

A generall, and ſo a confuſed p. 130notion of ſins (which yet is that which is in moſt men) will neuer make a man truly to ſee how his eſtate ſtandeth with God, and ſo to bring ſinne vntounto death.

The Priſoners, at the ſight of the Iurie, and naming of them, hauehave leaue to challenge any of them; if they can giuegive good reaſons againſt this or that man, they are put off the Iurie, and other choſe in their ſtead.

Theſe priſoners ſeeing Iury challenged.ſuch a Iurie, preſently begin to challenge them.

Vnbeleefe hee cryeth out What vertues and vices be in oppoſition.againſt Faith, as his Enemie. Hatred of God, againſt the LoueLove of God, as his Enemie. p. 131Preſumptuous ſinning, againſt the Feare of God, as his Enemy. Cruelty, againſt Charity, as his Enemie. Hypocriſie, againſt Sinceritie, as his Enemie. Diſcord againſt Vnity, as his Enemie. Anger, Rage, and Murmuring, againſt Patience, as their Enemy. Murther, Fighting, and Quarrelling, againſt Innocency, as their Enemie. Wantonneſſe, Adultery, Fornication, and Vncleannes, cry out againſt Chaſtity, as their deadly Enemie. Coozenage, Theft, and Vniuſt dealing, againſt honeſt Equity, as their Enemie. Lying, Slandering, and Falſe-witneſſe-bearing, againſt Verity, as their mortall Enemie. And laſtly, p. 132Greedy deſire, Couetouſneſſe, and Diſcontentment, cry out againſt Contentation, as their enemy.

All theſe together challenge the whole Iury, crying out and ſaying, (Good my Lord) theſe men are not to bee of the Iury againſt vsus; for your Lord-ſhip knoweth very well, and none better, that they are all of them our deadly Enemies. Your Honour knoweth, that eueryevery one of them hath petitioned the Lord Chiefe Iuſtice very often and importunately, Vertue binds corruption to the good behauiour.to binde vsus all to the good behauiour, and to caſt vsus into priſon, as wee hauehave beene by their meanes. They hauehave made p. 133Maſter Newman the Keeper and his vnderunder-keepers to deale very hardly with vsus.

It is well knowne (my Lord) that Chaſtity procured Maſter Newman almoſt to famiſh Incontinencie to death. Good my Lord, conſider of vsus, theſe are our moſt bloudy and cruell enemies: Wee appeale to your Lordſhip, to God and to all good men, that know both them and vsus, that it is ſo.

Our humble ſuit to The Priſoners Petition to the Iudge.your Lordſhip therefore is, that more indifferent perſons may be choſen to goe vponupon vsus, elſe we are all but dead men. Wee doe know (my Lord) that there p. 134are heere many other of very good and great credit in the world, fit to bee of this Iurie, men very well knowne to your Lordſhip, and to Maſter Sheriffe, and the Worſhipfull Gentlemen. Theſe are men of worth, (my Lord) of farre more eſteeme eueryevery where, than theſe meane men heere, picked out of purpoſe by Maſter Sheriffe. Theſe (my Lord) of the Iurie, are men of ſmall reckoning in the Country. Theſe liue ſcattered here and there, almoſt without habitation, except in poore Cottages; ſo as we maruel (my Lord) how they can bee brought in for Free-holders, hardly p. 135any one of them is of any account with men of great eſtates, and of worth, in the Land. Good my Lord, conſider of vsus.

Then the Iudge asketh them, what thoſe men be, of whom they ſpeake, and what are their names?

Then they anſwer, My Indifferent Gentlemen.Lord, they are theſe; Maſter Naturaliſt, Maſter Doubting, Maſter Opinion, Maſter Careleſſe, Maſter Chiuerell, Maſter Libertine, Maſter Laodicean, Maſter Temporizer, Maſter Politician, Maſter Out-ſide, Maſter Ambo dexter, and Maſter Newtralitie, all (my Lord) very indifferent men betwixt vsus and them. Gentlemen, Free-holders, of p. 136great meanes; we beſeech you (my Lord) to ſhew vsus ſome pitty, that they may be of the Iurie.

The Iudge informed by thoſe worthy Iuſtices of the Quorum, concerning theſe men ſo named by the priſoners, and knowing the honeſty and good credit of the choſen Iurie; their exceptions againſt them are not admitted of, and ſo theſe indifferent Gentlemen are paſſed by.

The Clerke therefore is commanded to goe forward, and then he readeth the Inditement of eueryevery one in order, one after another, as they be called forth by name, and ſet to the Barre.

p. 137The firſt which is called out, is the Old-man.

Then ſaith the Clerke, Gaoler, ſet out Old-man to 1. Old-man arraigned.the Barre.

Then hee is brought to the Barre, and commanded to hold vp his hand, and his Inditement is read.

Old-man, thou art indited His Inditement.here by the name of Oldman of the Towne of Euahs Temptation, in the Countie of Adams conſent, that vponupon the day of Mans fall in Paradiſe, when he was driuen out, thou did deſt corrupt the whole nature of man, body and ſoule, leading all and eueryevery of his Poſterity, comming by generation, with the body p. 138of Sinne; making him indiſpoſed to any thing that is good, framing lets to any holy duty, and polluting his beſt actions, but making him prone to all euill, bringing him captiue to imperious luſts, and ſo cauſing him to liue in continuall rebellion againſt GOD, contrary to the Peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King, IESVS CHRIST, his Crowne and Dignity.

What ſayeſt thou to it?

He pleades Not guilty, and ſo puts himſelfe to the Triall.

Then the Cryer calleth for euidence againſt the Euidence.Priſoner.

p. 139Then commeth forth Dauid.Dauid, whoſe Euidence is this: I was ſhapen in Iniquity, and in Sinne hath my Pſal. 51. 5.Ps 51:5Mother conceiued me. Iobs Job 25. 4.Job 25:4is this; He cannot be cleane that is borne of a Woman. Iſaiah, his Euidence is, Iſa. 48. 8.Isa 48:8That all are tranſgreſſours from the wombe. Saint Pauls Saint Paul.Euidence is moſt cleere; for being asked what hee could ſay? Hee anſwered, (My Lord) this Old-man hath bin the death of very many. I hauehave wofull experience of him, a wretched Rom. 5. 15.Rom 5:15man hath he made me. Hee tooke occaſion by the Commandement, Rom. 7. 8. 11. 13, 21. 15. 19, 23.Rom 7:8Rom 7:11Rom 7:13Rom 7:21Rom 7:15Rom 7:19Rom 7:23to worke all concupiſcence in me. Hee deceiued me and ſlew me, wrought Death in mee, ſo that in my p. 140fleſh dwelleth no good, but when I would doe good, euill is preſent with mee, ſo that through him, the good I would doe, I cannot, and the euill I hate, that I doe; Hee maketh warre againſt the law of my minde, and bringeth me into captiuitie to the Law of Sinne. Thus (my Lord) is in me the Body of Death, from which I deſire to be deliuered: and this is that I can ſay.

The Euidence being thus cleere, the Iury preſently being all agreed, giuegive in their Verdict, and Verdict.being asked what they ſay of the priſoner at the Barre, guilty or not, they anſwer, Guilty.

Then he asketh what hee p. 141can ſay for himſelfe, why ſentence ſhould not bee pronounced againſt him?

Good my Lord, ſaith he, I am wrongfully accuſed, Old-mans plea.and am made the man I am not, there is no ſuch thing as Originall Corruption. Pelagius and Anabaptiſts.Pelagius a Learned man, and all thoſe now that are called Anabaptiſts, (who well enough know all theſe Euidences brought againſt me) hauehave hitherto, and yet doe maintaine it, that Sinne commeth by imitation, and not by Propagation, and in-bred prauity. Good my Lord, I beſeech you, be good vntounto me, and caſt not away ſo poore an Old man: (good my Lord) for I am at this day 5556. yeeres old.

p. 142Then ſaith the Iudge, Old-man, the Euidence is cleere, thoſe thou haſt named, are condemned Heretickes; and as for thy yeeres, in reſpect of which thou craueſt pitty, it is pitty thou haſt beene ſuffered ſo long, to doe ſo great and ſo generall a miſchiefe as theſe good men doe witneſſe againſt hee.

O my Lord, I beſeech you then a Pſalme of MercieMercy.

Old-man, the Law of the King allowes thee not the benefit of the Clergie, for The reward of Sin is death: Rom. 6. 23.Rom 6:23This is his Maieſties Decree, vnchangeable, as the Law of the Medes and Perſians.

p. 143Good my Lord, that is Obiect.meant only of Actuall Sin, and not of me.

That is not ſo; for Originall Anſw.Sinne is Sinne, and all men know, that Children die, that neuer ſinned by Imitation, nor Actually, Rom. 5.Rom 5after the ſimilitude of Adams tranſgreſſion. And Death goeth ouer all, in as much as all hauehave ſinned. If ſinne were not in Infants, they could not die, Heare therefore thy Sentence.

Thou (Old-man) haſt by The Sentence.that name beene indited of theſe Fellonies, Outrages, and Murthers, and for the ſame arraigned; thou haſt pleaded Not-guiltie, and put thy ſelfe vponupon the Tryall, and art found guiltie; p. 144and hauing nothing iuſtly to ſay for thy ſelfe, this is the Law: thou ſhalt bee carried backe to the place of Execution, and there be caſt off, with all thy Epheſ. 4. 22.Eph 4:22deeds, and all thy members Coloſ. 3. 9. 5.Col 3:9Col 3:5daily mortified and crucified with all thy luſts, of euerie one that hath truly put on Chriſt.

This Sentence pronounced, the Sheriffe is commanded to doe Execution; which Religion, by his VnderUnder Sheriffe Reſolution, ſeeth throughly performed.

The Executioner is hee Executioner.that hath put on Chriſt, Gal. 5. 24.

This Priſoner thus proceeded againſt, the Gaoler p. 145is commanded to ſet out Miſtriſſe Heart to the Miſtriſſe He tryed.Barre, who is commanded to hold vp her hand, and then is her Inditement read.

Miſtriſſe Heart, thou Her Inditement.art heere indited by the name of Miſtriſſe Heart of Soule, in the County of the Iſle of Man, that alſo vponupon the day of Mans fall in Paradiſe, thou becameſt corrupted, accompanying the Old-man, and alſo Will thy Rom. 2. 5.Rom 2:5man, and haſt beene ſo hardened, that thou couldeſt not repent, and ſo blinde, that thou becameſt paſt feeling, and haſt made men to giuegive themſelues ouer to all laſciuiouſneſſe, to worke all vncleanneſſe, p. 146Epheſ 4. 18,Eph 4:18euen with greedineſſe, to bee alſo very ſlow to beleeue all that the Prophets Luke 24. 25.Luke 24:25hauehave ſpoken: and to be ſo enraged with choller, ſomtimes as to runne mercileſly on Innocents to murther them, and to cauſe men moſt curſedly to depart Acts 7. 54.Acts 7:54from the liuing God. Thou haſt beene, and art alſo in confederacie with all and eueryevery euill thought, word, and deed committed againſt God and Man. Matth. 94. …d 21. 34.Thou haſt beene a receptacle of all the abominations of eueryevery Sin whatſoeuer, and haſt had conference …hn 13. 2. Acts 5. 3.Acts 5:3with Satan to lie vntounto the holy Ghoſt, and for greedy gaine, at the deuils ſuggeſtion, haſt ſet ſome p. 147on worke to play the Traitors to the ſhedding of the innocent blood of our Soueraigne, Iohn 13. 2.John 13:2contrary to the Peace of the King, his Crowne and Dignitie. What ſayeſt thou to this Inditement? Guilty, or not guilty?

She anſwers, Not guilty, and puts her ſelfe to the Triall.

Then the Cryer ſaith, If any man can giuegive Euidence againſt the Priſoner at the Barre, let him come; for ſhee ſtands vponupon her deliuerance: then come in ſuch as can ſay any thing againſt her, and firſt is Hearts accuſers.Moſes.

Moſes, what can you Moſes.ſay againſt this priſoner? p. 148looke vponupon her, ſee if you know her.

My Lord, I know her well enough, ſhe made me and my brother Aaron …ſal. 106. 32, 33to ſpeake ſo vnaduiſedly with our lips by her paſſion, that wee could neither of vsus be admitted to goe into the land of Canaan. This I can ſay of her, that eueryevery imagination of her Gen. 6. 5. Gen. 8 21.Gen 6:5Gen 8:21thought is onelyonly euill continually, and that naught ſhee hath beene from her youth vp.

Moſes hauing ended, then ſaith the Iudge, is there any more?

To whom anſwer is made, yes (my Lord) there is Ieremie the Prophet.

Ieremy the Prophet look p. 149Jeremie.vponupon the priſoner, can you ſay any thing on the behalfe of his Maieſtie?

My Lord, this I can ſay, that ſhee is deceitfull aboue Ierem. 17. …Jer 17all things, and deſperatly wicked: ſo that no man without Gods ſpeciall aſſiſtance can either finde out her deuices, or eſcape her treacheries.

And this moreouer I know, that ſhe hath been ſent vntounto and forewarned to waſh her ſelfe of her wickedneſſe: and yet for all this ſhe doth lodge ſtill ill thoughts in her houſe. Ierem. 4. 14.Jer 4:14Yea (my Lord) ſhee hath ſeduced many from God, Ier. 7. 24. and 9. 14. and 11. 8. and 13. 10.Jer 7:24Jer 9:14Jer 11:8Jer 13:10making them to walke after her euill counſels and imaginations, to their vtter p. 150deſtructions. And I am truly informed, that there is euer the place where the enemies of their owne ſoules doe worke their Pſal. 58. 2.Ps 58:2wickedneſſe and miſchiefes.

Is there any more Euidences?

Yes, my Lord, here is Ezekiel.Ezechiel.

Ezekiel, what can you ſay?

My Lord, I can witneſſe thus much; Such is her Ezek. 20. 16. and 33. 31.Ezek 20:16Ezek 33:31lewdneſſe, that ſhe followed after Idols, and after Couetouſneſſe, which is Idolatry, both high Treaſon and Rebellion againſt God. Yea ſo very ſhameleſly and lawleſly ſhe carrieth her ſelfe, that if ſuch p. 151lewd companions come not in to her, ſhe will goe out and follow them.

Theſe be witneſſes enow, ſaith the Iudge, to condemne her, but is there any other;

Yes my Lord, pleaſe you here are more: here's Saint Matthew.

Saint Matthew, what can you ſay againſt the Priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, I hauehave heard S. Matthew.it from the mouth of my Lord Chiefe Iuſtice himſelfe (when I did attend vponupon him, hee hauing occaſion publikely to ſpeake of her) that out of the heart doe come Matth. 15. 19.Matt 15:19euill thoughts, Adulterics, Fornications, Murthers, Thefts, Conetouſneſſe, Wickedneſſe, p. 152Deceit, Laſciuiouſnes, an euill eie, Blaſphemie, Pride and Fooliſhneſſe. All theſe euills hee witneſſeth to come forth of her houſe: ſo that it is euident againſt her by his honours vndoubted teſtimony, that ſhee is an harbourer of a company of very bad and vnſufferable gueſts. Saint Marke, Saint Marke. Mark. 7. 21, 22, 23.Mark 7:21Mark 7:22Mark 7:23here next me, can witneſſe as much.

It is very true my Lord.

Here is an Harlotrie indeed (ſaid the Iudge.) Iurie, if you be agreed giuegive in your verdict, what ſay you of this Priſoner? Guilty or not Guilty?

Wee ſay guiltie, my Lord.

Woman, what canſt p. 153thou ſay for thy ſelfe, that Sentence according to Law ſhould not bee pronounced againſt thee?

Ah, good my Lord, take pittie on mee, a poore weake old woman; Theſe men ſpeake againſt me the Hearts plea for her life.worſt that they can, becauſe I would not be ruled by them. They ſpeake of malice my Lord. If I hauehave miſdemeaned my ſelfe any way, it was by this Old man my Fathers miſleading, (my Lord) by whom, I thought, that being a woman I ſhould bee wholly guided. But heare me (good my Lord) I beſeech you, let not theſe mens teſtimonies caſt mee away. For I did dwell with as p. 154good men, and better than they are, or euer were (my Lord) as other can witnes, to my great cōmendations

Then ſaith the Iudge, who are thoſe I pray you?

I dwelt (my Lord) with King Dauid, with King Salomon, Pſal. 101. 1. 1 Chron. 29. 19. 15. 17.Ps 101:11 Chr 29:191 Chr 29:151 Chr 29:17and was in their houſe held to be a perfect Heart: ſo was I after accounted in King Aſa's houſe. Yea my Lord, with Abraham the Father of the Faithfull, was I found Faithfull, and ſuch hath beene my credit, that I was well ſpoken of euen to God himſelfe by good KING Hezekiah. That Nehem. 9. 8. Eſai. 38. 3.Neh 9:8Isa 38:3all this is true that I ſay, I beſeech you to aske Iſaiah the Prophet, as alſo Nehemiah, p. 155and others that hauehave recorded the ſame.

Beſides all theſe (be pleaſed to heare me, good my Lord) aske all the Country Ignorant people praiſe their heart.people, and they will with one mouth ſpeake well of me. They hauehave (ſay they) a good Heart towards God and that, euer ſince they were borne, they neuer found mee ſo wicked as theſe witneſſes are pleaſed to ſpeake. I hope therefore (my Lord) that you will be pleaſed to be good to mee, good my Lord pitty a very old aged poore woman, as euer you came of a womā.

Woman, Woman, for The Iudges ſpeech to her.the witneſſes againſt thee, they are without exception, and thy owne mouth p. 156doth condemne thy ſelfe, in that firſt, thou doſt confeſſe, that thou wouldeſt not bee ruled by them when theſe holy men were ſent vntounto thee, and that with ſpeciall command from his Maieſtie to ſee thee reformed. Againe, that thou doeſt acknowledge thy ſelfe to hauehave beene wholly led by the Old-man, one now moſt iuſtly condemned by the Law to be crucified.

As touching Dauids heart, Salomon heart, Aſa his heart, the faithfull heart of Abraham, and the vpright heart of Hezekiah, neuer an one of theſe was thy ſelfe, thou doſt lewdly ſeeke to deceiue by equiuocation, p. 157and to beguile the ſtanders by with thy Matth. 13. Luke 8.Matt 13Luke 8tricks of Ieſuiticall couſenage. True it is, that there The heart is two-fold.is great commendations of an Heart, and the ſame to be an honeſt and good Heart, an vpright Heart, a faithfull Heart. But woman, this is the heart ſanctified and purged by Sanctified.faith in all thoſe that are borne anew of water and the holy Ghoſt: but this is not that which thou art, the naturall and corrupt Corrupt.heart: Thou art that commendable heart in name onelyonly, but not in quality: therefore thy boaſting is vaine, thy pleading ſubtiltie, verifying Ieremiahs euidence of thee, that p. 158thou art very deceitfull.

As for the vulgar praiſing of thee, it is through their owne ſelfe-louelove, and fooliſh ſelfe-conceit, and their vtter ignorance of thee, that maketh them to ſpeake ſo well of thee. Thou doeſt therefore but trifle away the time, and trouble the Aſſembly.

As for thine age, it procureth thee no pittie at all, becauſe thou haſt beguiled, vndone, and bewitched ſo many. Thine age ſhould hauehave taught thee better things, but thy obſtinacy in wickedneſſe would not ſuffer thee. Heare therefore thy Sentence.

Thou Miſtreſſe Heart p. 159haſt beene indited by the Sentence againſt Miſtris Heart.name of Miſtreſſe Heart, of thoſe Fellonies, Murthers, Conſpiracies and rebellions, and for the ſame haſt beene arraigned: thou haſt pleaded not guilty, haſt put thy ſelfe to the triall, and beene found guilty, hauing nothing iuſtly to ſay for thy ſelfe. This is the Law. Thou Her puniſhment.ſhalt be carried back from whence thou cameſt, and there liue condemned to perpetuall impriſonment vnderunder Maſter Newman the Keeper, without baile or maine prize. Gaoler, take her to thee, look to the priſoner, and keepe this Heart Prou. 4. 23. Hebr. 3. 12.Prov 4:23Heb 3:12diligently, and take heed leſt there be at any time in you p. 160an heart of Infidelity to depart from the liuing God. Maſter Sheriffe Religion, and the VnderUnder Sheriffe Reſolution, doe ſee it performed very carefully and ſpeedily according to the ſentence giuen.

After Miſtreſſe Hearts arraignment, and condemnation, wilfull Will is commanded to the Barre, and to hold vp his hand, and his Inditement was read.

Wilfull Will, thou art indited Will arraigned.by the name of wilfull Will, of the Towne of Free, and in the County of Euill, that thou partaking with Old-man, and lewdly liuing at the bent of Miſtris Heart, haſt beene a Champion for them, ready to act p. 161all their villanies, and vponupon eueryevery motion of theirs, or any ſollicitation of thoſe her harlotrie maids, her paſſions, haſt from time to time gathered together all the powers thou couldeſt make within this Iſle of Man, to raiſe rebellion, and by force and armes haſt often attempted to ruſh in and vponupon this Maieſties Garriſon, appointed for the ſafe keeping of the Towne of Soule, & ſo of the whole Iland, and thereby haſt giuen occaſion to the Enemies, to ſeeke to inuade the ſame, contrary to the peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King, his Crown and dignitie.

What ſayeſt thou to this p. 162Inditement, guilty or not guilty?

His anſwer was, not guilty (my Lord) and ſo put himſelfe vponupon his triall by God and the Countrey.

Then were witneſſes called Witneſſes called out.out, and the firſt of them was the Captaine of the Garriſon, which was one Captaine Reaſon.

This Captaine comming before the Iudge, was aſked what he could ſay, for the King, againſt the priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, ſaith he, by my Captaine Reaſon.Soueraignes appointment, I was made Captaine of this Garriſon in Soule; and his Maieſtie alſo was pleaſed to place this Priſoner in the ſame for his ſeruice, p. 163but yet vnderunder mee, and at my command, and not to doe what hee himſelfe liſted.

But he hauing conceited himſelfe to be free, and not vnderunder controlment, & being growne Full, hee hath by the bewitching of Miſtriſſe Heart, and her Maids endeuoured to beare all the ſway, treading downe with contempt all my lawfull commands. I made many fortifications againſt his violent Reaſons and arguments to conuince.courſes, to reſtraine his out-roades, leſt thereby he ſhould hauehave made way for his Enemies breaking in vponupon vsus, to the danger of the whole Iland: but all theſe fortifications very often he hath defaced, and p. 164by the force of ſtrong paſſions, hath borne them downe before him, without any regard of ſupreme or ſubordinate authority whatſoeuer. He may well (my Lord) be called wilfull Will, for except hee be more vnderunder ſubiection neither I his Captaine, no… euer an Officer in the whole band, will be obeyed, yea, aſſuredly (my Lord) if he be not curbed the whole Towne of Soul will be ouerthrowne, and all the Iland fall into the Enemies hand, to the great diſhonour of his Maieſtie And this is that which hauehave, for the preſent, to ſay My Officers, if it pleaſe your Lordſhip to hauehave p. 165them called, can ſay very much againſt him.

Then ſaith the Clerke, Cryer, call in Captain Reaſons Lieutenant.

Whats his name, ſaith the Cryer?

He is, ſaith the Clerke, called Diſcourſe.

Lieutenant Diſcourſe, The Lieutenant his witneſſe.come into the Court, Vous aues the Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, what can you ſay touching this wilfull Will, the priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, my Captaine and I hauehave had many occaſions of much conference vponupon very ſerious buſines, into which this Priſoner hath often intruded himſelfe, and thereby hath p. 166greatly hindred our deſignments. For ſay wee what we could, hee would hauehave all things goe after his pleaſure, and onelyonly to ſatisfie the luſt of Miſtreſſe Heart, and ſome of her drabs, on whom hee hath attended, and by whom he hitherto hath beene too much ruled, and I may ſay, moſt ſtrangely bewitched, hauing no power to denie them any thing.

Our Ancient (my Lord) can further informe you.

How call you him ſaith the Iudge?

Hee is called (my Lord) Profeſsion.

Then ſaith the Cryer, Ancient Profeſsion, come into the Court, Vous aues, Profeſsion.

p. 167Ancient, What can you ſay for the King againſt the Priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, when I bare The Ancient his Witneſſe.my colours of a Holy conuerſation, and diſplaid the ſame in Word and Deed before the company, he hath attempted, and that not ſeldome to rend and teare them; and this not onelyonly within our ſelues: but ſometime alſo before, and in the very ſight of the Enemy hath ſought to deface my Colours, through his violent diſpoſition, vntamed nature, with the helpe of enraged paſſions, to my vtter diſgrace, and not to mine onelyonly, but to the whole band of good qualities, gifts, and graces, p. 168in the Towne of Soule.

So heady he is, and ſo peruerſly bent to his owne will, that hee neuer regardeth, for the preſent, what may happen afterwards. Our two Sergeants can more at large diſcouer him, if it pleaſe your Lordſhip to heare them: Here they ſtand by me.

What do you call them, ſaith the Iudge? My Lord, ſaith the Ancient, the one is Sergeant Vnity, and the other is Sergeant Order, worthy Souldiers (my Lord) and very ſeruiceable for good gouernment.

Sergeant Vnity, come in, What can you ſay of this Priſoner?

My Lord, when all the p. 169Sergeant Vnities wineſſe.whole band louingly, as one man, were obedient in all things, hee vponupon eueryevery leaſt diſcontent did mutinie, and endeuoured to ſet vsus at ods one againſt another. He hath adhered to ſecret Conſpiracies of inbred Corruptions; yea, and hath not beene only found to fauour, but alſo to ſtand for, and to grace our open enemies, euen Satans ſuggeſtions, and the pompes and vanities of this wicked world; to whom hee hath beene ſo ſeruiceable, as if he had beene a preſt Souldier for them, forgetting his faith and allegiance to his owne Soueraigne. If he be not (my Lord) ſuppreſſed, he will at the length be p. 170our vtter ouerthrow. My fellow, Sergeant Order, can ſay more.

Sergeant Order, What is that you hauehave to witneſſe againſt the Priſoner?

My Lord, whenſoeuer he Sergeant Orders wineſſe.commeth out of that lewd Harlots houſe, Miſtreſſe Hearts, and from among her young Strumpets, hee is ſo enraged, as hee behaueth himſelfe more like a ſauage beaſt than a man: All is by him put out of order, our Captaine cannot rule him, eſpecially when hee hath gotten a peſtilent fellow, one Obſtinacy to accompany Companie is to Wilfull-Will.him, and another cogging deceitfull companion, called Shew of good, to hearten him in his forward p. 171courſes and bad inrendments. Of himſelfe he is ill enough, but theſe (my Lord) make him altogether vncapable of good counſel, or of the beſt aduice that our Captaine can giuegive him.

Where are, ſaith the Iudge, theſe fellowes; why were they not apprehended, and brought in hither with him?

My Lord, as ſoone as he was attached and brought vnderunder authority, they both preſently fled. Our Captaine Reaſon made diligent ſearch after them, but could not finde them. For my Lord, theſe Companions durſt neuer appeare with him, but when they knew him to bee wholly p. 172bent to his owne will, and when they were very ſure our Captaine had not ſtrength enough with him to withſtand them, otherwiſe they would keepe cloſe, and not apparantly be ſeene to countenance him. If order might bee taken for apprehending of theſe, there would be ſome hope of better gouernment in this priſoner, if he hap to be releaſed.

VponUpon this the Iudge gaue order to Maſter Sheriffe, to his VnderUnder-Sheriffe, and to all the Iuſtices of the Bench for the ſpeedy apprehending of theſe two lewd and rebellious companions. Then the Cryer was commanded to call in p. 173one witneſſe more, which was one of the Corporals of the Band, whoſe name was Diſcipline, who being there attending preſently appeared.

The Corporall being at the Barre, it was demanded of him what he could ſay, more than had beene ſpoken?

My Lord, ſaith he, though Corporall Diſciplines witneſſevery much hath beene ſpoken, and that moſt truly againſt him, yet hauehave I more to ſay than hitherto hath beene ſpoken by any of them. It is well knowne, my Lord, to the whole Corps de guard, how vnruly he hath beene after the ſetting of the watch. Such conceit hee hath euer had p. 174of his freedome (my Lord) that my very name hath beene odious vntounto him. He hath gotten ſuch liberty, that he could neuer endure Will is a great hinderance to ſpirituall war…are.to be diſciplined. Our armes hee hath taken and made them often vnſeruiceable.

Our Powder of holy affections hee hath damped, the Match of feruency of ſpirit hee hath put out: the Small-ſhot of ſpirituall eiaculations he ſo ſtopped, as in time of need they would not goe off; of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, hee quite tooke away the edge: hee brake the Helmet of ſaluation, bruſed the Breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe: the p. 175Shield of faith he caſt away, and vnlooſed the Girdle of verity. The points of all the pikes of diuine threats by preſumption hee ſo brake off, as they had no force to pricke the Heart. Hee would (after the Watch was ſet) of himſelfe without the Word goe the round, and diuers times meeting the Gentlemen of the round, holy Meditations and diuine Motions, hee would ſtop their paſſages and turne them backe againe. And not ſeldome hath hee fallen vponupon the Sentinels, quicke apprehenſions, and put out their eyes, ſo as they could not, if the Enemies had approached, hauehave diſcerned them.

p. 176My Lord, by his wilfull vnrulineſſe, and by his obſtinate Maſterfulneſſe, hee hath often indangered the whole Iland of man, the lower part called Corps, and the higher called Soule; and in a manner deliuered them into the Enemies hand. For the common Souldiers, the powers and faculties of both are too often ſwayed by him to follow him in his rebellious courſes. And therefore, my Lord, if he be not ſuppreſſed and brought in obedience to our worthy Captaine, he will ſurely at the length yeeld this his Maieſties right into the hands of forraigne powers, which daily watch to p. 177hauehave by him ſome opportunity to inuade vsus. They hauehave (my Lord) often aſſailed our Caſtle of Confidence, raiſed vponupon the Mount of Gods mercies, hoping onelyonly vponupon his helpe to make a breach therein and entering to caſt vsus out; wee therefore beſeech your Lordſhip to hauehave iuſtice againſt him.

Then ſaith the Iudge, you aske but right, and that which in my place I am bound to yeeld you, without reſpect of perſons.

Honeſt men of the Iury, you hauehave heard what all theſe Gentlemen hauehave witneſſed againſt him, if you be agreed of your Verdict, giuegive it in, what thinke you p. 178of the Priſoner, guilty or not guilty?

They anſwer, guilty, my Lord.

Then the Iudge turneth his ſpeech to the Priſoner, Wilfull-Will, thou haſt heard what all theſe hauehave witneſſed againſt thee, what canſt thou now ſay for thy ſelfe, why the ſentence of death ſhould not now bee pronounced againſt thee?

My Lord, I am a Gentleman Will ſpeakes to the Iudge.free born, & euer like a Gentleman brought vp in Liberty. And though I was in ſome ſort to be ordred by Captaine Reaſon; yet I euer held my ſelfe his equal, and ſtood vponupon my freedom of chuſing or refuſing, or of ſuſpending the action. He p. 179had no authority to inforce me further than it pleaſed my ſelfe. I hauehave alwaies bin a freeman (my Lord) from ſeruile obedience to any man, and owe ſubiection to none but only to my Soueraign. I cānot deny but that Captain Reaſon hath offred daily to aduiſe me, & I hauehave not euer wholly reiected his counſell; if I hauehave at any time miſcarried, it was through the lewd Miſtreſſe Hearts deceiueableneſſe, & the violence of theſe her paſſionate affections miſleading me, for want of deliberation before I either chuſed or refuſed the thing obiected before me.

I doe here (my Lord) ingenuouſly confeſſe the p. 180truth of al that which theſe witneſſes hauehave ſpoken againſt mee, for which I heartily craue pardon.

I alſo do freely acknowledge, that I ſtood too much vponupon my birth, and Gentry, as too many at this day doe, hauing neuer a good quality beſides to brag or boaſt off. I tooke it for Abuſe of birth and gentry.granted, that my Gentrie ſtood in idleneſſe, pleaſurable delights, hawking, hunting, and haunting Tauernes, drinking of healths, whiffing the Tobaccopipe, putting on of new and variety of faſhions in Hat & in haire, in cloathes and in ſhooe ties, in boots and in ſpurres, in boaſting and bragging, in cracking p. 181of oaths, in big looks, great words, & in ſome out-bearing geſtures the formes of Gentry; which I verily ſuppoſed ſhould ſufficiently of it ſelfe hauehave borne mee out, in all my extrauagant courſes, in my licentious liberty, and laſciuious wantonneſſe in Miſtriſſe Hearts houſe, through which I was brought into all theſe rebellious diſorders, for which I iuſtly deſerue my Soueraignes indignation, of whom I humbly craue mercy and forgiueneſſe. Good (my Lord) take pittie vponupon me.

Wilfull Will, I am ſorrie Iudges ſpeech to Will.that thy deſerts are no better, being ſo well-borne, and that thou haſt ſo abuſed p. 182thy Gentry to thy ſhame and confuſion, through thy vaine miſtake, and foule abuſe of the conceit of Gentry, which conſiſts of nobleneſſe of ſpirit, honourable endowments True Gentry, what.of minde, praiſe-worthy qualities, and ſeruiceable imployments for thy King and Country; and not in ſuch baſe conditions as thou haſt named, vnfitting altogether true Gentry, being indeed the fruits either of degenerating ſpirits from the worth of their Anceſtors, or the property of new Vpſtarts, neuer hauing had the right breeding of true Gentry, nor the vnderſtanding of the true qualities of a Gentleman indeed.

p. 183But ſeeing thou art humble and penitent, and maiſt doe his Maieſty good ſeruice hereafter, thy deſerued ſentence ſhall bee deferred off, till his Maieſties pleaſure be further known concerning thee: yet in the meane ſpace thou art to be bound to thy good behauiour, and be carried back againe, to remaine vnderunder the cuſtody of Maſter Newman. Gaoler, take him to thee, and ſee him forth comming whenſoeuer he ſhall be called for.

Then, ſaid he, I humbly thanke your Lordſhip, and ſo bowing himſelfe to the Bench, he is carried away from the Barre, to the place from whence hee p. 184came, to remaine Priſoner vntill hee ſhould bee releaſed.

After hee was remoued, the Gaoler was commanded to ſet Miſtreſſe Hearts Maids to the Barre. But vponupon deliberation they were ſent to Ward againe vntounto another time. The reaſon was, for that two great Traitors and Rebels, chiefe amongſt the damned crue, were preſently to bee arraigned, which would take vp the allotted time before the Court ſhould breake vp and the Bench ariſe.

Theſe two were Couetouſneſſe Two capitall ſinnes.and Idolatry, Capitall Theeues, peſtilently miſchieuous againſt God, p. 185his Worſhip and Seruice, againſt the Church, and againſt the Cōmon-weale.

Couetouſneſſe was ioyned with Idolatry, becauſe he is alſo called Idolatry. Col. 3. 5.Col 3:5Now all other Priſoners remoued, and the Iudge with the Bench ready for Couetouſneſſe tryed.theſe, the Clerke willeth the Crier to command the Gaoler to ſet Couetouſneſſe to the Barre, which the Gaoler doth forth with.

Then ſaith he vntounto him, Couetouſneſſe hold vp thy hand and heare thy Inditement.

Couetouſneſſe, thou art His Inditement.here indited by the name of Couetouſneſſe, in the Towne of Want, in the County of Neuerfull, that p. 186from the day of thy firſt being thou haſt beene the root of all euill, hauing 1 Tim. 6. 10.1 Tim 6:10made ſome to play the Theeues, others to commit Treaſon againſt our Soueraigne Lord the King; others to murther Mich. 22.Innocents for their inheritance. Thou art alſo here indited for bribery, extortion, oppreſſion, vſurie, iniuſtice, couſenage, vnmercifulneſſe, and a multitude of outragious Villanies: beſides thy hindering men in holy duties and meanes of Saluation, forcing them headlong to their deſtruction, contrary to the Peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and Dignity.

p. 187What ſayeſt thou to this Inditement, guilty or not guilty?

He anſwereth, not guilty (my Lord) and ſo hee puts himſelfe vponupon the triall.

After this, the parties The firſt Euidence againſt him is Repentance.that can giuegive Euidence are called in, and firſt Repentance is commanded to produce his Witneſſes.

Repentance, what can you ſay?

My Lord, ſince the Priſoner was committed to priſon and put into Ward, ſome of my witneſſes are dead, as Achan, Ahab, and Iudas.

Then, ſaith the Iudge, looke the Records, Clerke, and reade them.

p. 188My Lord, I reade here What euill Couetouſneſſe hath done.that Acan confeſſed that by Couetouſneſſe hee was Ioſh. 7.Josh 7moued to looke vponupon a wedge of gold, and ſo coueting, ſtole it, and with it a Babyloniſh garment, to the death and deſtruction of him and all his. Alſo I here finde, how through Couetouſneſſe Ahab longed for poore Naboths Vineyard, and ſo eagerly, as hee fell ſicke for it, becauſe hee could not hauehave his will. But Ieſabel procured by his leaue and liking the death of Naboth and his 1 King. 21.1 Kgs 21ſons, and ſo got poſſeſſion of the Vineyard. Moreouer, I finde here, that Iudas confeſſed how hee betrayed the innocent p. 189bloud of our Sauiour through couetouſneſſe and deſire of money. This is all the Confeſſion, my Lord, in the Records.

Then the Iudge willeth the Conſtable and his Aſſiſtants which were at the apprehending of him to bee called, who make their appearance.

Conſtable, what can you ſay, and thoſe that were with you, againſt this priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, when wee It troubles and darkens the vnderſtanding.went to make ſearch for him, hee hid himſelfe ſo cloſe, as wee had much adoe at firſt to finde him in Miſtreſſe Hearts houſe; who had almoſt perſwaded vsus that hee had not p. 190beene there, vntill I learned Dauids care to preuent Couetouſneſſe.it from Dauid the man of God, whom I had found Pſal. 119. 36.Ps 119:36petitioning the Lord Chiefe Iuſtice for a Warrant of the good behauiour againſt the Couetouſneſſe of the Heart. Then thought I, certainly hee is here in this houſe: for if Dauid feared to hauehave him in his Heart, that gaue ſo many millions of gold and ſiluer, 3300. Cart-load of Treaſure for the building of the Temple, can I thinke him Without diligent ſearch its hard to finde out our Couetouſneſſe.not to bee here? I ſought therefore diligently, my Lord, and found him; but before I could attach him, hee was got into a darke corner and attempted to blow out my Candlelight, p. 191and to hauehave eſcaped mee. But I and my Company tooke ſuch diligent heed to him, as hee could not get from vsus: yet before we could binde him, and bring him away, hee endeuoured to miſchiefe as many as came neere him, & would by no meanes obey my Warrant, as the reſt here (my Lord (can tell if you pleaſe to heare them. Then began eueryevery one of them to ſpeak.

Care complained, that Cares complaint.hee had almoſt choaked him with the world and worldly buſineſſes, ſo as hee had no leaſure to minde heauenly things.

Clearing accuſed him Clearing accuſeth him.that he had ſo vndermined p. 192his vnderſtanding at vnawares, as almoſt hee had broken the necke of his good name, and reputation of his profeſſion and Religion.

Indignation complained that hee had well nigh loſt Indignation complaineth.his life by him: for whereas before hee could not behold Sinne, but with an holy anger, now profit of Sinne, through this curſed Couetouſneſſe, made him looke cheerefully vponupon it, and heartily welcom it for profits ſake.

Feare complained, that Feare ſpeaketh againſt him.he did bewitch him: for ſaid he, whereas before I was tender hearted, and trembled at Gods Word, deſire of gaine made mee p. 193loth to loſe my commodity though I got it with Sin.

Vehement deſire did greatly Vehement Deſire hurt by him.complaine of his violent ſetting vponupon him, to make him eager after earthly things, ſo as he could hardly take any reſt.

Zeale complained, that Zeale blunted.hee ſtrucke himſelfe hard vponupon the head, as the blow made him, in hope of gain, almoſt without ſenſe of Gods glory, which before hee preferred aboue all things in the world.

Laſtly, Reuenge complained, Reuenge made weake.that the Priſoner had attempted to murther him, and ſo wounded him, as whereas before hee could maſter ſinne, now hee was growne ſo weake, as any p. 194gainfull ſinne was able to maſter him, and to bring him vnderunder command.

When theſe had ſpoken what they could, the reſt were brought to giuegive euidence, and theſe alſo were men of very good account, and of great worth in their Country; Maſter Other Witneſſes produced.Church, Maſter Common-Weale, Maſter Houſhold, Maſter Neighbour-hood, and Maſter Good-worke, who hauing anſwered to their names, they giuegive in Euidence one by one.

Maſter Church, what can you ſay againſt the priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, I am not able Maſter Church is Witneſſe.to reckon the particular miſchiefes hee hath done p. 195againſt me. There falleth neuer a Benefice of any reaſonable value, but hee ſets many to run and ride after it, and to offer largely for it, and maketh ſome Patrons theeues, and to admit many an Ignoramus into the charge and cure of Soules: and many a Miniſter to be a periured Simoniſt before God. Hee maketh not a few to heape vp meanes, not onelyonly for maintenance, but alſo to make themſelues great; and many which come in freely to neglect the care of their flockes, and to ſeek after their fleeces, to care to bee rich, and to follow ſo after the world, as that either they giuegive ouer to p. 196preach, or doe make them preach at home very idly, ſeldome, and vnprofitably, though abroad, either for their hire, or applaudity more diligently and commendable.

When People come to People hindred by Couetouſneſſe in the Church.Church (my Lord) hee marreth their deuotion and haleth their ſoules out of the Church, to make them to bee walking their grounds, talking with their friends, plotting buſineſſes, and to bee going ſome iourney, to bee at ſome Market or Faire, to bee counting their debts, following their debtors, reckoning vp their loane vponupon Vſury, their profits and gaine, here and there, not p. 197without feare of loſſes. And all theſe things (my Lord) with many other worldly thoughts, whilſt their bodies are in Church. When people come from Matth. 13. People hindred comming out of the Church.Matt 13the Church, hee choaketh the ſeed of Gods Word, that it thriueth in very few, and of theſe few, it is more in talke than in practice. Hee keepeth (my Lord) many from the Church, cauſing them to ſet the Lords Day apart, not for his ſeruice, but for their worldly affaires, becauſe they will not take another time for hindering their profit in the weeke daies.

Much more (my Lord) I hauehave to ſay, but I am loth to be too tedious.

p. 198You Maſter Church, hauehave ſpoken ſufficiently and enough to condemne him.

Call Maſter Common-Weale.

Maſter Common-Weale, what can you ſay on the Kings behalfe againſt the Priſoner at Barre?

My Lord, this man Maſter Common-weale, his accuſation.hath entred ſo farre into all buſineſſes, as hee hath almoſt vtterly vndone mee. Hee propoundeth Offices to ſale, and ſo maketh the buyers to ſell their duties for profit to make vp their monies. He hath monopolized commodities into his hands, inhanced the prices of things, to the great grieuance of the Kings Subiects. Hee (as p. 199your Lordſhip well knoweth) hath miſerably corrupted the courſe of Iuſtice, by briberie, by making many Lawyers plead more for Fees, than honeſtly, for the equitie of the cauſe; by delaying the cauſe, by remouing it from one Court to another, till men be vndone. He hath, to get his deſire, ſuborned falſe witneſſes, counterfeited Euidences, and forged Wils. Good my Lord, let ſome order be taken with him, elſe he will vtterly bring mee to ruine and all mine for euer.

Call Maſter Houſhold.

Maſter Houſhold, what can you ſay concerning the Priſoner?

p. 200My Lord, this wicked Maſter Houſhold his witneſſe.Couetouſneſſe keepes holy exerciſes out of priuate houſes; he will not let parents hauehave any time to inſtruct their children, hee maketh Maſters vſe their ſeruants more like beaſts than men, they are ſo wholly imployed in worldly buſineſſes: as for their ſoules there is no care taken, but they are left to liue as ſoule-leſſe men. Hee cauſeth niggardly houſe-keeping, and ouerlabouring of ſeruants. He breedeth much contention, chiding, and too much vſe of ill language by Miſtreſſes and Dames, yea, betweene men and their wiues in their Family, to p. 201the great griefe and ill example of their children and ſeruants.

Yea, (my Lord) hee Cruelty of Couetouſneſſe.hath made children to bee cruel to their Parents, brethren and ſiſters to hate one another, neere of kindred and bloud to goe to Law one with another, for and about diuiding goods, lands, and inheritances; yea, I can witnes this, that hee hath made them murther one another: Children their Parents, Huſbands their Wiues, and one Brother another. It would be too long to particularize, how great euils, and how many waies hee hath iniured mee and all mine. But becauſe other p. 202witneſſes ſtand heere by mee, I will trouble your Lordſhip with no more complaints at this time.

Call Maſter Neighbourhood.

Friend, What is it that you can ſay touching this priſoner?

My Lord, this vnhappy Maſter Neighbourhood his witneſſe.man hath altogether diſunited mens affections, ſo as in our Towne there is very little louelove: hardly will one doe another a good turne freely, but either it muſt bee one for another, like for like, or in certaine future hope for gaine. This wretch hath almoſt baniſht all friendly ſociety; eueryevery man is ſo now for himſelfe, as hee neglecteth p. 203his neighbor almoſt wholly. He maketh them treſpaſſe one another, to rob cunningly one another in buying and ſelling, and to fall out with bitter rayling, & vnneighbourly languages for a penny loſſe, and cauſeth many ſuits and brabbles. Wee are (my Lord) indeed miſerably diſquieted, and almoſt vtterly vndone by him. For (my Lord) we were a company of very good neighbours till he became Landlord: here dwelt Amitie, Good neighbours and peaceable.Kindneſſe, Gentleneſſe, LoueLove, Peace, Charitie, Patience, Goodneſſe, Readie-good-will, Forgetfulneſſe of wrongs, Sociableneſſe, Good-turnes, and Ioy: but moſt vniuſtly by p. 204his cruelty & wrong dealing hee hath diſplaced them, and brought (my Lord) a company of infernall ſpirits, for ſo I think I may without offence call them, which are theſe: Hatred, Gal. 5. Ill Neighbors, and very vnquiet.Gal 5Malice, Enuie, Wrath, Anger, Churliſhneſſe, Diſcord, Niggardlineſſe, Sturdineſſe, Rom. 2.Rom 2Strife, Debate, Variance, Emulation, Sedition, Wrangling, Fraud, Deceit, Malignitie, Deſpight, Vnnaturalneſſe, Implacableneſſe, Vnthankfulneſſe, Fierceneſſe, 1 Tim. 3.1 Tim 3Highmindedneſſe, Selfeloue, Makebate, and Vnmercifulneſſe. The beſt that hee brings in (my Lord) are Coſtleſſe complement, Faire-Speech, The beſt kindneſſes of the couetous.How doe you, Goodmorrow, Good euen, Glad to p. 205ſee you well, Word-welcome, Will you drinke, Fare-well, Yours to command, and ſuch like; alſo one Little-good, with another called Soone-loſt, and amongſt theſe No-harme No-harme, the beſt man among the couetous.is greatly commended, but neuer a Good man amongſt them, much leſſe any Too-good to bee found in the Pariſh, except more in name, than in deed. And this is that which I hauehave to ſay, my Lord, at this time.

Call out Maſter Good-worke.

Maſter Good-worke, what can you ſay touching the Priſoner?

My Lord, there hath M. Good-worke his accuſation.beene ſo much ſpoken that I need ſay nothing: yet none hauehave more iuſt cauſe p. 206to complaine than I hauehave: for he hath endeuoured to his vtmoſt to root me out, Couetouſneſſe an enemy to good workes.and all my poſterity, Bounty, Liberality, and Hoſpitalitie.

My Lord, we by reaſon of him, daily ſtand in feare of our liues; all the countrey crieth out of him, in their louelove to vsus, who well know how often hee hath attempted to murther vsus.

He hath put out of ioynt both the armes of my Son Bounty, and almoſt broken the backe of my Son Liberality, that he hardly at any time goeth vpright, and all know this, that he hath violently ſet vponupon my Sonne Hoſpitality, and forced him out of doores, and in his p. 207ſtead hath let in Pride of apparel, Sumptuous building, Affectation of vaine Titles, whom hee hath made to ſhut vp doores, perſwading them that to maintain their ſtate, they muſt increaſe their reuenues, by new purchaſes, by racking of rents, by inhauncing their fines and incomes, all little enough to vphold their outward ſtate, & vaine pompe abroad. And this (my Lord) is that which for the preſent I hauehave to ſay.

Then it was asked if all were come in that ſhould giuegive Euidence?

Anſwer was made, My Lord, here is onelyonly one man more, poore Pouerty brought hither by authority p. 208to giuegive Euidence, may it pleaſe you heare him.

Call in Pouerty.

Pouerty, What canſt thou ſay againſt this priſoner at the Barre?

Good my Lord, I hauehave Pouerty his grieuous complaint againſt Couetouſneſſe.reaſon to curſe the day that euer I knew him, and hee onelyonly it is that hath brought mee to this poore ſtate.

I was a man of ſome The couetous are vnmercifull in ſeeking their owne gaine.credit, my neighbours well know, till I had to do with him, who would lend mee nothing but vponupon Vſurie, and that vponupon great bonds and morgage of lands: and ſo greedy a Wolfe was he vponupon his prey, that if I miſſed but one day of payment, hee would take the p. 209benefit of the Morgage, or forfeiture; or if he forbore longer, I payed him by preſents and gifts ſo much with the vſe, as made me to groane vnderunder the burthen, feeling my ſelfe in an irrecouerable Conſumption. Sometimes to keepe day with him, I was enforced either to buy for time, or elſe to ſell ſomething out of hand to make readie monies: either of which was as bad, or worſe than the biting of vſurie, for when William Greedy a brother of his, or alſo Gain his Couſin perceiued my need, oh how did hee in ſelling for time extort from mee; and in buying for readie money preſſe p. 210me? So that to eſcape a whirle-poole, I fell into deuouring gulfes, and thus he vndid me.

And not being therewith content (woe vntounto him,) when I became Tenant (my Lord) who was before a good Free-holder, he put into our Land-lords It depopulateth Pariſhes.heart, to depopulate our whole Pariſh of Wealth, (for ſo it was called) and there in ſtead of many honeſt Inhabitants and good houſe-keepers, hee ſet a Shepheard and his Curre to feed his flockes. This alſo is hee (my Lord) that maketh men of faire lands (which might liue well on their own Reuenewes and demaines) to take Farmes p. 211into their hands, and to driue out ſuch as had been mercifull releeuers of their poore neighbours. In our poore eſtate wee hauehave ſought to him for releefe, but in ſtead of comfort, he hath railed on vsus, threatned to whip vsus, and to ſend vsus to the Houſe of Correction. Nothing will Couetous will giuegive nothing but by Law.he doe for vsus, but what by Law hee is inforced vntounto, though hee keepe his Church, and can ſometime alſo talke of Religion. Hee beggers all of vsus (my Lord,) on worke hee will not ſet vsus, and yet will not ſuffer vsus to ſeeke abroad for releefe. He neuer ſeeth vsus, but his heart riſeth againſt vsus. He rather will aduenture p. 212his owne damnation, than part with one penny, except it be to goe gay, to buy and purchaſe for him and his. Yea (my Lord) that all may know his mercileſſe cruelty when we hauehave wanted releefe, & begged of him, hee hath Couetouſneſſe prouoketh to theft.counſelled vsus to ſhift for our ſelues, and ſteale out of the ſtackes of Corne in gleaning time for bread, to breake hedges, to ſteale wood or coale in the night, to make vsus fires, to plucke ſheepe, or ſheere off their wooll for cloathing, to rob Orchards for fruit, to ſteale geeſe, hennes, ducks, pigges and ſheepe, for fleſh meat, to couſen men that ſet vsus on worke, p. 213and to make vsus poore people hatefull to God and man. For hee careth not, (my Lord) ſo as he may not be charged any way, what we doe, or what becommeth of vsus.

And yet to make vp the height of vnmercifulneſſe, hee will be the firſt, if wee of meere extreme need doe amiſſe, that will cry out againſt vsus and purſue vsus to death. This hath euer been his courſe hitherto, (my Lord) conſider rightly of vsus, and pittie our caſe, I beſeech you, good my Lord.

Pouerty, thy caſe indeed is to be pittied: Iurie, you hauehave heard the Euidence of all, what ſay you of the priſoner p. 214at the Barre, is hee guilty, or not guiltie?

Iurie, Guilty my Lord.

Couetouſneſſe, thou haſt heard what al theſe witneſſes hauehave laid to thy charge and ſpoken againſt thee, what canſt thou ſay for thy ſelfe, why ſentence vponupon theſe honeſt mens verdict ſhould not be pronounced againſt thee?

My Lord, I ſtand for my Couetouſneſſe plea againſt Pouerty.life, let it pleaſe you with patience to heare me: and firſt touching this impatient ingratefull out-crying fellow Pouerty; It was not I my Lord, when hee was wealthy, but his then daily and onelyonly Companions, What makes men poore.Sloth, Careleſneſſe, Prodigality, Goodfellowſhip, Goegay p. 215Good-cheere, wantonneſſe, Improuidence, Little-worke, and Many-mouthes, which (my Lord) caſt him into a Conſumption, and like Canker wormes conſumed him quickly. I confeſſe he came to me often to borrow, but when I ſaw Excuſes of the couetous in lending.his vaine courſes of expence, I was very loth to lend to him, But that hee ſo earneſtly intreated me, euen with teares in his eyes oftentimes proteſting, that I ſhould greatly pleaſure him, yea, and ſaue him and his eſtate from ruine, if I would doe him that kindneſſe, to lend him in his need.

Thus (my Lord) was I moued and drawne on to p. 216lend him, according to the Statute, onelyonly I took good Security, becauſe I perceiued him to bee waſtfull. Aduantage I neuer tooke, but onelyonly when I ſaw that he was an idle fellow and careleſſe, and would neuer keepe day, then I would onelyonly threaten him to terrifie him, (my Lord) and if hee then brought any kindneſſe to my wife, it is more than I know of, and more than I deſire of him.

Sometimes hee would offer to ſell mee the land In buying.morgaged to mee, when he could not pay, and told me that of neceſſitie hee muſt ſell it, and if I would not, another ſhould buy it. Then I thought my p. 217ſelfe as worthy to hauehave it as any other in all reaſon.

For my threatning of In not giuing.him and his Companie, when they went a begging; true it is, becauſe I ſay, that as they had conſumed themſelues, they thought to relie on mee, and ſo in like ſort to hauehave eaten me vp too: for idely had they liued, and worke they neither could nor would. And whereas they accuſe me that I compelled them to ſteale, herein they very much wrong me (my Lord) for it was their LoueLove to liue idely, and their Pinching neceſſitie, which led and inforced them to fall to ſhifting and ſtealing, p. 218and not I my Lord.

Touching their Landlords depopulating of the In depopulating townes.Towne of Wealth, they their owne ſelues were the very cauſe thereof, for that worthy Knight and my kinſman, Sir Worldly Wiſe, when hee ſaw how ſome by ſuits of Law, others by Drunkenneſſe and Ryot, others by Pride and Idleneſſe did waſte their eſtates, ſo as they were neither able to till their land, nor to ſtock their grounds, hee bought their eſtates one after another, and ſo left them to buy or hire for themſelues elſewhere. And when thus they had remoued themſelues, hee ſought the welfare of the p. 219Common-Weale, which was to hold vp cloathing (my Lord) the chiefeſt meanes Pretence of publique good.here to ſet the poore on worke, which cannot bee without wooll, and wooll cannot bee had without flockes of ſheepe.

If this Worthy Knight, and good Common-Wealths man tooke any aduice of mee, it was for publike good. Good my Lord, conſider that Pouertie is impatient, euer complaining, and very vnthankfull to his beſt friends, if they doe not alwayes ſupply his wants.

You know this (my Lord) to be true, and all the Worſhipfull Iuſtices of the Bench.

p. 220Touching Maſter Church His anſwer to Maſter Church.his accuſation; vnworthily doth he lay the faults on me; for when any doe ride poſt ſo for Benefices when they be fallen, they are ſet on (my Lord) ſometime by Perking Pride, ſometime by Neighbour Need, What makes Miniſters to run ſo for liuings.and all of them by Maſter Haſte to get the liuing, and by Maſter Feare to come ſhort of it. It was neuer I that made them offer ſuch ſummes of monies to Patrons, (for it is my manner to aduiſe my friends to be euer ſparing of their purſes:) but it was their ouerforward friend, Maſter Hope-to-preuaile that counſelled them to make ſuch profers.

p. 221I am not (my Lord) Who make Miniſters ſo negligent.the cauſe of any Miniſters negligence in his Function, but a couple of baſe loytering fellowes dwelling with ſuch Miniſters, commonly called (my Lord) the Parſons men Eaſe and Idle, by whom ſuch Miniſters are too much led.

If the people profit not vnderunder thoſe that bee painfull Miniſters (my Lord) the fault is not through What hinders people from profiting vnderunder the Word.mee, but the fault is in Inbred, Ignorance, Dulneſſe, Old man, Miſtreſſe Heart, and Wilfull Will her man, and Maides hating to bee reformed, Diſlike of Teachers either for their perſon Pſal. 50. 1. King. 22. Ioſ. 6. Mat. 13.Ps 501 Kgs 22Josh 6Matt 13or doctrine, Want of louelove of the Truth, Contentedneſſe p. 222to liue and die in Ignorance, and the verie Deuill himſelfe (my Lord) their vtter enemie. Theſe ought to beare the blame (my Lord) and not I.

For Maſter Common-Weale Anſwer to Common-Weale.(my Lord) I maruell that hee ſhould thus abuſe me, and wrong me, for (my Lord) he knowes well, that I hauehave many waies enriched ſuch as belong vntounto him: his cunning Merchants in trading, and his craftie Lawyers in pleading. I hauehave holpen many a meane man to a great eſtate, and many a baſe birth to bee counted of the Gentrie. Forward hauehave I beene to helpe all ſorts of euerie p. 223eſtate, of eueryevery profeſſiō & of eueryevery trade and courſe of life, and muſt I now be queſtioned for my life?

Concerning Maſter Anſwer to Houſhold.Houſhold, hee hath no reaſon of all others to blame me; for I taught him how to be warie in his houſe-keeping, how to manage his eſtate for his beſt thrift, how to aduantage himſelfe in buying and ſelling Corne and Cattell, how to let and ſet, and hire grounds, to graze and fat Cattell, and (my Lord) I euer ſought his profit in all my courſes. Hee hath no cauſe thus to accuſe me to your Lordſhip. He had neuer gotten vp to hauehave maintained ſo great a Family, p. 224but by me. I raiſed his Father from a baſe Cottage, to be a Free-holder, and ſo himſelfe to be Maſter of a great Family and houſhold. If any ſuch euils hauehave happened vnderunder him, as hee complayneth of, let him accuſe Vnnaturalneſſe, Impatience, Vnruly Whats makes debate in a family.Paſsions, and ſuch like makebates, and withall the Suggeſtions of Satan, which doe ſet men on ſuch miſchiefes, and not mee (my Lord.)

For Maſter Neighbour-hood, hee may of all other Anſwer to Neighbour-hoodbe aſhamed to accuſe mee ſo, becauſe hee hath liued much better and nothing worſe by me (my Lord) for I cauſed to bee remoued p. 225from him and his neighbours, in their often and idle meetings (which they pleaſed to call Good-fellowſhip) a Company of verie Vnthrifts, Waſte, Ryot, Prodigalitie, Bad ſocietie.Drunkennes, Gluttonie, Idleneſſe, Careleſneſſe, Needleſſe-Expence, and a rout of very Raſcals, with reuerence be it ſpoken (my Lord.) I taught him and all ſuch as hee is, a better way to liue, and a more thriuing courſe, to looke diligently to their eſtates, and to take good courſes to ſaue, to get, and to increaſe their meanes. As firſt hauing abandoned ſuch lewd companie before named, in the next place, I aduiſed them to p. 226put away their bad Men-ſeruants, Bad men-ſeruants.Slacke and Slothfull, Careleſſe and Waſtfull, Gor-belly and Toſpot, Weake and Way-ward, LoueLove-bed & Drowſie, Light-finger and Lurching, Gameſter and Gogay, Slipſtring and Wanderer, Scape-thrift & Spendall, and ſuch like vnprofitable Hindes. And withall to rid themſelues in like manner, of al their bad Maid-ſeruants, ſuch as Bad Maid-ſeruants.theſe, Pranker and Prattle, Wanton and LoueLove-ſick, Sleepy and Slugge, Sweetlip and Daintie, Gadding and Forgetfull, Greene-ſickneſſe and Tender, Driuell and Slut, alſo and aboue all the Choare-woman, and her daughters Pocating and p. 227Filch, with all their fellowes.

And in ſtead of theſe (my Lord) I commended vntounto them a company of Men-ſeruants worth entertainement, Thriftie men-ſeruants.all one mans children, the ſons of mine honeſt Neighbour Good-husbandrie; as Care and Forecast, Makehaſ…e and Warie, Thriftie and Pinch, Aduantage and Holdfast, Cunning and Catch, Watchfull and Toileſome, Homely-fare, and Meane-clad, Clouted-ſhooe and Patch, Vp-betimes and Labour, Laſt vp and Truſtie, Getting and Lockfaſt, Spend-little and Get-much, Take-time and Loſe-nought, Debtleſſe and Gaine, with p. 228ſuch other profitable ſeruants.

And becauſe I knew that Maid-ſeruants anſwerable to them were as neceſſarie, I aduiſed the beſt I could to prouide ſuch alſo, the daughters of Good-houſ-wiferie; as Eager and Spare, Quicke and Profitable MaidsNimble, Truſty and Timely-vp, Health-full and Chaſte, Euer-doing and Silent, Wittie and Pliant, with other of the like nature helpfull to vphold a mans eſtate. By which good counſel of mine (my Lord) Neighbour-hood liueth now richly, and not beggerly, Neede knockes not daily at his doore, either to begge or borrow, as he p. 229was wont to doe.

Concerning the laſt Anſwer to Good-worke.man Maſter Good-worke, he hath leaſt cauſe of all others to complaine for that ſame which hee pleaſeth to call in me Oppreſsion, Vſurie, Extortion, and what not, hauehave built many a faire Almes-houſe, many a goodly Hoſpitall in the Land (my Lord) and hauehave alſo giuen by will, many a large Legacie to the poore, and much to publike vſes.

My Lord, when I was Couetouſneſſe a Romane Catholique.a Romane Catholique in our Forefathers dayes, none was than in more grace and fauour with all the Clergie than my ſelfe. By mee the holy Father the p. 230Pope greatly increaſed his Treaſurie, by my Counſells the Prelates gat vp to ſuch an infinite wealth and to ſuch glorious dignities: by me (they making Religion a cloake for me to put on) they got ſuch ſtately houſes for their dwellings, and for the varietie of their orders, built in the beſt places of eueryevery Nation, and ſuch yearely Reuenewes, as did exceede, for their certaine maintenance.

Good my Lord, let it pleaſe your Lordſhip to thinke better of me, than theſe men, procured for witneſſes hauehave ſuggeſted, for falſely hauehave they ſpoken againſt me. Good my p. 231Lord, good my Lord, doe me right I beſeech you.

Stand vp, ſtand vp Fellow, Iudges ſpeech.I hauehave heard with Patience theſe thy verball Apologies: thy ſubtile ſhifts to acquit thy ſelfe, thy faire ſhewes to winne thee credit, if it weare poſſible, thereby to procure thine owne releaſe. But know, that yet for all that thou haſt ſaid, the Inditement againſt thee ſtandeth firme, and the Euidence againſt thee is good, which here my brethren the Kings Sergeant, and the Kings Atturney, and theſe worthy Gentlemen, Iuſtices of this County likewiſe affirme.

It is very true which p. 232your Lordſhip ſaith.

Good (my Lord) before you pronounce ſentence againſt me, as you be a righteous Iudge, heare me, but this once more?

What haſt thou to ſay yet for thy ſelfe?

My Lord I am endited Couetouſneſſe would find an error in the inditement.by a wrong name, my name (my Lord) is Thrift, and not Couetouſneſſe, as all this while my Aduerſaries hauehave borne your Lordſhip in hand.

Then the Iudge asked Iuſtice Sapience where his examination was? The Iuſtices Clarke called Experience brought it forth and read it: In which his name was found to bee Couetouſneſſe, and that by the witneſſe of his neighbours, to whom he was verie well knowne.

Fellow, ſaith the Iudge, why doſt thou denie thy name?

My Lord I doe not denie The Couetous will be onelyonly held thriftie.it, for my name is Thrift; but when I get vp ſome wealth, the enuy of my neighbours gaue me this other nickname: and ſo common it grew, by their ſo often calling me, as I loſt my other name among them. But there are diuerſe of my honeſt neighbours, which louelove me, and are glad of my welfare, they hauehave told me, that my name formerly was Thrift; and they do aſſure me, that I am vntruly called Couetouſneſſe.

Then ſaith the Iudge, who be theſe, and what are their names?

My Lord, one is Maſter Faire-ſpeech, Who they bee that call Couetouſneſſe onelyonly Thrift.a louing kind man: and another is Maſter Soothing his kinſman, both of them my familiar friends: whom I hauehave often enuited and welcomed to my houſe. Alſo many other of my good neighbours do affirme as much to me, as my neighbour Needy, Retainer, Dependant, Workeman, Hireling, Tenant, Feareman, Fainhart, Loath-to-offend, Clawbacke, and Fawning; for though ſome of theſe bee but poore men, yet I hauehave euer knowne thē all to be ſo honeſt, that they hauehave hated to ſlatter me; There are beſids theſe (my Lord) other very ſubſtantiall Gentlemen, as Maſter Lucre, Maſter Bribery, Maſter Opreſsion, Maſter Harddealing, Friends to the Couetous.Maſter Scrapgood, Master Niggard, Master Pinch-poore, Master Extortion, Maſter Baſemind, Maſter Chubrich, Maſter Vſury, Maſter Hardhart, Maſter Louegood, Maſter Suckingaine, and Maſter Griphard, all theſe (my Lord) and other moe of my good friends, hauehave much maruelled, that I would p. 236ſuffer my ſelfe to be ſoe falſely called Couetouſneſſe, by theſe my Accuſars, my euer hatefull and malicious enemies, ſuch as is Master Pitie, Maſter Reliefe, Enemies to Coueteouſneſſe.Maſter Liberalitie, Maſter Bountie, Maſter Hoſpitality with certaine lend Companions ſuch as Careleſſe and Waſtfull, Pride, & Prodigalitie, Idle and Bellicheare, with the like haters of my thriuing and prouident courſes: for I hauehave heard ſome Preachers ſay, that hee which prouideth not for his family is worſe then an Infidle: and I would be loath to be hold ſuch a one, that am a Chriſtian man. And (my Lord) if it p. 237pleaſe you to heare mee, and alſo to beleeue mee, I hauehave euer hated Couetouſneſſe: What the Couetous may do.for I keepe my Church, I ſay daily my prayers, and now and then, as I may attend it, I heare Preachers, yea ſuch, as be held of the incercut, euer railing againſt the Couetous; I hauehave beene Patron of many a good Benifice, and hauehave euer giuen them freely; and if it happened, that I reſerued out of them any Tithes; it was then vponupon my Chaplens thankfulneſſe, and onelyonly vponupon an honeſt cōpoſition. I hauehave giuen almes now and then, I hauehave not beene altogether ſoe ſtraight p. 238handed to the poore, when I ſold or let any thing as often I did, the price ſet vponupon the ſame euer was ſo reaſonable (as my Stewards and Bailiffes Couetouſneſſe hath ſaire pretences.told mee for I truſted them,) that if one would not giuegive the money another would. If in houſekeeping I hauehave beene any whit ſparing, it was onelyonly warines to auoid Riot, Exceſſe, Drunkennes & Gluttonie, which eueryevery honeſt man hateth. If the poore (ſo many as came) were not all relieued, it was for that I ſaw beggers to encreaſe thereby, and ſo I may do more harme then good by my almes: for while ſome came from p. 239farre, for an almes or a peny, they might hauehave earned at home in that time perhaps two pence, yea a groate ſometimes, making their going and comming a whole dayes labour, I gathered (my Lord) what I hauehave gotten, by Gods bleſſing, and great paines-taking, for preſent and for future maintenance of my ſelfe, my wife and children after me, and I meant withall, when I died, to hauehave giuen ſomething to the Church, ſomething to the poore, and a reward to a Preacher, to Preach my funerall Sermon: and ſomewhat more, perhaps, to other good vſes.

p. 240Good my Lord, I beſeech you conſider of me, The Couetous will iuſtifie themſelues.I hauehave euer had a good mind to wrong no man, but onelyonly hauehave ſtriuen carefully and honeſtly to thriue in this hard world: and if all my courſes bee neuer ſo ſtrictly obſerued, they will onelyonly proue mee to bee Thriſt, (which is my right name) and not Couetouſneſſe; It hath been my ill happe, though I hauehave done good deeds, to be very wrongfully abuſed, either by ſuch as hauehave enuied my good proſperitie: or by ſome railing Tenants, or by ſome bordering Neighbours that cannot buy of me, how, when, and what they liſt, p. 241at their owne prices: or by ſome vnthankfull perſons not ſatisfied according to their humours, though rewarded aboue their deſerts. Good my Lord, be good vntounto mee, and bee not carried away with the words of my malicious enuious Accuſers.

Fellow (ſaith the Iudge) but that I onelyonly ſit to iudge, and not to bee thy Accuſer, I could tell thee, Firſt, that thoſe thou haſt before named, to prooue thee to be Thrift, and not Couetouſneſſe, are either ſlatterers, or fearefull to diſpleaſe thee, or wretched men, companions in euill like thy ſelfe: And therefore their witneſſe is nothing p. 242worth: Next, that all thou haſt alleaged concerning One may be Couetous and yet do many commendable thingsthy Religion, thy almes-deeds, thy houſe-keeping, and the reſt, do not cleare thee of Couetouſneſſe: for the Scribes and Phariſecs would pay Tithes, faſt weekly; make Mat. 6. Mat. 23.Matt 6Matt 23many and long prayers, yea they heard Iohn Baptiſt a ſeuere Reprouer of ſin and Chriſt Ieſus too, who ſharply reprehended them: They would giuegive almes, adorne ſepulchers, and doe many things which thou doſt come farre ſhort off, and yet were they very couetous. The young man that Luk. 16. 14.Luke 16:14came to Chriſt, and ſtood vponupon his well doing p. 243towards all men, and that Mat. 29. Mar. 10. 24.Mark 10:24from his youth vp: yet was he a Mamoniſt; and truſted in his riches. There were certaine Iewes as one Propher telleth vsus, who Eze. 33. 30. 32.Ezek 33:30Ezek 33:32would heare Sermons, ſeeme to delight therein, ſhew louelove to their Teachers in word, and ſpeake to others to go and heare them, yet their hearts followed after their couetouſneſſe. In a word, the carriage of thy owne ſpeech vttered in thy owne praiſes, ſauoureth ſtrongly of Couetouſneſſe. But as I ſaid I will not bee both an Accuſar and thy Iudge: we will heare witneſſes for the King in this point alſo: p. 244call in witneſſes.

Then the Clarke willeth the Crier to call in one Maſter Proofe and one Maſter Signes.

Maſter Proofe and Master Signes come into the Court, to giuegive euidence againſt the Priſoner at the barre, or elſe you forfeit your Recogniſances. Vous auez Maſter Proofe, and Maſter Signes.

Maſter Proofe ſtand vp to the barre, that my Lord may heare you: giuegive roome there.

Then ſaith the Iudge, Maſter Proofe looke vponupon the priſoner, do you know him?

Yea (my Lord) I hauehave knowne him from a child: p. 245his name is Couetouſneſſe.

But he denieth it now, ſaith the Iudge, and calles himſelfe Thrift.

My Lord, be of late is growne aſhamed of his name, but neither is, nor euer was aſhamed, either of the nature or practiſe of Couetouſneſſe, as I and Maſter Signes here do well know, and are able to make good againſt him.

Then you hold not his name to be Thrift.

No verily (my Lord) though he hath often pretended it, to couer his odious, though very true name: yet is it not to bee denied (my Lord) but that one Thrift dwelt, p. 246where hee now dwelleth, and indeed, he is a ſlip of Thrift, and thus it was.

This Maſter Thrift, Thrift turned baſely couetous and how.was once Steward to three worſhipfull Gentlemen, Maſter Liberalitie, Maſter Bounty, and Maſter Hoſpitalitie, and carried himſelfe very commendably in their ſeruices, and afterwards for himſelfe, when hee came to be an houſekeeper, vntill he fell in acquaintance with a very peſtilent ſubtill baſe Pettifogger, who gaue The Deuill.him ſuch bad counſell as vnhappily brought him to fall into familiaritie The petigree of of Couetouſneſſe ſhewing the true proofe thereof, in whom ſo euer it is.with one Diſtruſt, and ſuddenly to marry a daughter of his called Not p. 247content. Through this his vnhappy father in Law euer vrging, and his vnquiet wifes ſollicitation, he was much altered in his nature and condition from that which hee was before. Of this woman Notcontent he had diuerſe children, among the reſt, Care, Feare, Spare, Hardfare, Toileſome, and with all, one called Gaine: Thoſe former Sonnes were ſoure, ſad, lumpiſh, froward, and very vnquiet: But this Lad Gaine was a pleaſant youth, and often made his parents very merry, and therefore though they neglected not the other, yet their chiefeſt delight was ſet p. 248vponupon this.

This Sonne they ſoe cockered, and made ſo much off, as they ſuffered him to ſet his louelove vponupon one Coueting, a very harlot, and withall the baſe daughter of Deſire, vponupon which filthy harlotry hee begat this fellow Couetouſneſſe, the priſoner now at the barre: who when hee was but a very babe, ſo continually lay ſucking at his mother Couetings breaſts, as ſhe had not milke inough for him, and therefore with her huſband Gaines conſent, ſhe put him to be nurſed, and nouriſhed vp of one Grecdie, the wife of Money-louelove; Now ſo it fell out, that p. 249theſe two, had a daughter called Hopet' encreaſe, to which hee at ripe yeares was married, who betweene themſelues, as alſo by the helpe of their Parents, on both ſides, of his Parents Gaine and Coueting; and of her Parents Greedy & Money-louelove, they did grow rich and very great. And ſo vnſatiable hath he beene euer in getting, as he iuſtly deſerueth to be called Couetouſneſſe his very true and proper name. And this is that which I hauehave to ſay (my Lord) and I hope it may giuegive the Iury ſatisfaction, that he is not indited by a falſe name.

If you hauehave ſpoken p. 250Master Proofe, then Cryer, call in Maſter Signes, ſaith the Iudge.

Maſter Signes ſaith the Cryer, ſtand vp to the barre.

Then the Iudge asked him, if he knew the priſoner?

My Lord, ſaith he, I hauehave knowne this man of a long time, his name is Couetouſneſſe: He was ſo borne, and brought vp, as Maſter proofe hath witneſſed to your Lordſhip, and to the Iury.

But (ſaith the Iudge) you hauehave heard him deny, that this is his name, what euident tokens can you therefore decipher him by, that the Iury may p. 251know him to bee the very man?

My Lord, though I know him to be blinded with Selfeloue, and with an ouer good conceit of himſelfe, as rich men commoly be, ſo ſaith Salomon, as alſo that hee is Pro. 28. 11.Prov 28:11flattered by ſuch, as hee himſelfe hath named to your Lordſhip, that hee will neuer beleeue what I ſhall ſay; yet will I deliuer vndoubted tokens to the Iury for them to know aſſuredly, that he is the very man, according to his name; a right Mamoniſt. Signes of a conetous perſon.For, my Lord he cannot deny that he was euer content with his eſtate, Heb. 13. 5. but through the louelove p. 252of money, which he coueted after, he hath laboured and made haſte to be rich. 1. Tim. 6. 9. Pro. 23. 4. Pro. 28. 20. and neuer would be ſatisfied, Eccle. 5. 6. 10. nor hauehave inough, Eſay 56. 11. For as riches encreaſed, ſo he ſet his heart vponupon them, Pſal. 62. 10. His cheifeſt ioy was, becauſe his wealth was great, and becauſe his hand had gotten much, Iob. 31. 25. he hath receiued ſiluer, rather then inſtruction, and gold rather then knowledge; Pro. 8. 10. His truſt was in his riches, Pro. 11. 28. Ier. 48. 7. His wealth was his ſtrong City, Pro. 10. 15. and as a high wall in his conceit, p. 253Pro. 18. 11 Greedy hath he beene of gaine, and through his greedineſſe, hath he troubled his owne houſe, Pro. 15. 27. by chiding, chaſing, turmoiling, pinching fare, and ſuch like meanes; He hath encreaſed his eſtate by vniuſt gaine and oppreſſion, Pro. 28. 8. and 22. 16. Gifts he hath loued and receiued, Pro. 29. 4. Eſay 1. 23. In his aboundance he hath not had power giuen him to liue plentifully, Eccleſ. 6. 2. but hath ſpared more then needeth, Pro. 11. 24. He hath eaten vppon other mens labours, Eſay 3. 14. and his Neighbours labours he hath vſed without recompence, p. 254Ier. 22. 13. For he alwayes onelyonly looked to his owne wayes, and to his owne gaine, Eſay 56. 11. Studying to ioyne houſe to houſe, and field to field, that hee might be alone, Eſay. 5. 8. He hath built houſes by vnrighteouſneſſe and wrong. Ier. 22. 13, Hee hath made vnhoneſt gaine, Ezech. 22. 13. 24. And gotten greedily by extortion. Ezech. 22. 12. His eyes and his heart were only for Couetouſneſſe, Ier. 22. 17. Beſides all theſe (my Lord) hee hath ſuffered the cares of this world, and deceitfulneſſe of riches to choake the Word of God, that it hath beene without fruit p. 255in him. Mat 13. 22. Hee neuer deuiſed liberall things, Eſay. 32. 8. nor to deſpiſe the gaine of deceits, Eſay 32. 8. Any propoſition tending to coſt was euer diſpleaſing to him, and like the young man in the Goſpel, would Mat. 19.Matt 19he go away heauily: as one grieued to part with his goods. As an Ahab he neuer could ſee a Nabothes Vinyard lying commodiouſly for him, but he eagerly gaped after it. If he gaue to the poore, and to good vſes, it was of neceſſitie not freely, 2. Cor. 9. 5. ſparingly, and not bountifully, not cherefully, and of a willing mind, pleading not to bee ſo rich, as men p. 256tooke him to bee, Pro. 13. 7.

And whereas this man ſaith, that hee hath euer When doth a man bare Couetouſneſſe.hated Couetouſneſſe, (as indeed hee ought to hauehave done,) Pro. 28. 16. Surely if he had, then would hee (my Lord) with Dauid (one that beſtowed infinit treaſures to holy vſes) hauehave prayed againſt the Couetouſnes of his owne heart, Pſal. 119. 36. Hee would hauehave beene more liberall, more boūtiful, more giuen to hoſpitallity, and more ready to good works, then he hath beene hitherto. He would be like Cornelius giuing much almes. Act. 10. 2. My Lord I hauehave knowne him to watch opportunity, p. 257to get aduantages both of rich and poore: If Maſter Liberalitie, Bounty, Hoſpitality, Goodworke, Church, or Common-weale, did euer imploy him, he then would make gaine of them all to himſelfe: Where hee found any good fellowes for his turne, as Waſte, Prodigalitie, Pride, Idle, Needy, or Simple, as long as they had any thing, he would ſpeake kindely to them, offer to lend them vponupon pawnes, or morgages, till he had vndone them, which he that hateth Couetouſneſſe would neuer hauehave done.

To be ſhort (my Lord) p. 258all the witneſſes produced already, with the iuſt complaint of poore Pouerty: proclaime his name to be Couetouſneſſe, yea, (as your Lordſhip hath well obſerued) his owne ſpeeches and practiſes, cry ſhame againſt him.

Would a man hating Couetouſneſſe commend the practiſe of Sir Worldlywiſe, as hee hath done?

Would he commend, The crueltie and baſeneſſe of Couetouſneſſe.and entertaine in his ſeruice, Cunning, and Catch, Aduantage, and Holdfaſt, Rackrent, and Ouerreach, Makemuch, and Pinchhard, Sparepurſe, and Niggard, Hardſare, and Churle, Coldwelcome, and Wiſhrid, p. 259Scarcedrinke, and Farewell, with a company of baſe Hangbies, ſuch as theſe, Slipthrif…, and Poorewage, Lackmeanes, and Loyterer, Tag and Ragge, with Soliue, and Orbegone. If Couetouſneſſe did not ouerſway him, hee would ſurely abandon all ſuch contemptible Companions which are euer a diſgrace to Liberality, Bounty, and Hoſpitality, ſuch fellowes as theſe afore named, they ſ…orne to hauehave abiding in their manſions.

I hauehave bene (my Lord) ſomewhat to long, I feare me, but I hope, I hauehave ſatisfied your Lordſhip and the Iury: and ſpoken, but p. 260that which is truth.

Maſter Signes (ſaith the Iudge) you and Maſter Proofe, hauehave performed the parts of honeſt men.

Sirrha Sirrha, thou that haſt ſo impudently denied thy name, here before the face of thy country: being ſo clerely prooued againſt thee eueryevery way, what canſt thou yet alleadge for thy ſelfe, that now the ſentence of death ſhould not be pronounced againſt thee?

Good my Lord a Pſalme of mercy.

What! canſt thou, ſoe notorious a Traytor to God, to his Church, to thy King, and to thy Country, now imagine, p. 261to reape any benefit by thy Cleargy?

Good my Lord, I pray your Lordſhip of mercy, Good my Lord.

Fellow hold thy peace, and heare with patience, thy iuſt deſerued iudgement.

Couetouſneſſe, thou haſt The ſentence a … Couetouſneſſe.been indited by the name of Couetouſneſſe of all the aforeſaid Felonies, Couſenages, Oppreſſions, and Murthers, and for the ſame thou haſt been at raigned; thou haſt pleaded not guilty, & haſt put thy ſelfe vponupon thy triall and beene found guilty, hauing no more to ſay for thy ſelfe, this is the Law.

Thou art to be counted p. 262Idolatry before God, and Epheſ. 5. 3.Eph 5:3alſo the root of all euill, and ſo damned a ſinne as not to be named amongſt Chriſtians, and that ſuch as by thee are made couetous 1. Cor. 5.1 Cor 5are to be abandoned of all good men, as of God they are abhorred, being worthy of eternall death; and hauehave no inheritance Pſal. 10 3.Ps 10:3in the Kingdome of Chriſt and of God, but vponupon Rom. 1. 29. 32.Rom 1:29Rom 1:32them muſt come the wrath of God, as vponupon the Epheſ. 55.children of diſobedience. Thou art therefore as a rotten member of the Col. 3. 5. 6.Col 3:5Col 3:6fleſh to bee mortified and cut off.

Maſter Shireffe, do Excecution which the VnderUnder Shireffe ſeeth performed.

p. 263Goaler, ſet Papiſtry to the Barre.

Papiſtry hold vp thy Papiſtry indictedhand.

Papiſtry, thou art heere indited by the name of Papiſtry, of the City of Rome, in the County of Babylon, that thou being a baſtard Chriſtian begotten of Hereſie, Iudaiſme, Paganiſm, haſt by violent force and armes inuaded the territories of the Church of God, and by Spaniſh Inquiſitions, bloudy Maſſacres, ſtabbing, poyſoning, and killing of Kings, Gunne-powder plots, Treaſons, Rebellions, and other helliſh practices, vſurped authority and thruſts vponupon Gods people their humane traditions, p. 264inuentions, ſuperſtitions, will-worſhip, Hereſies, Iewiſh Ceremonies, and Paganiſh Idolatry to the damnation of many Chriſtian ſoules contrary to the peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and Dignity, what ſayeſt thou hereunto, art thou guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty my Lord.

By whom wilt thou be tried?

By God and the Country. But (good my Lord) let me hauehave another Iurie Papiſtries petition.choſen, I doe not except againſt the former Iurie, Faith, LoueLove, Feare, Charity, Sincerity, Paitence, Innocencie and the reſt, but (my p. 265Lord) though they be honeſt men, and hauehave well diſcharged themſelues in their Virdict vponupon other Priſoners; yet hauehave they not ſuch Iudgement and Vnderſtanding as others hauehave, to diſcerne of my caſe, and the truth of the Euidence which ſhall bee brought againſt me.

Papiſtry, becauſe neither thou nor any of thy ſlanderous Fauorits may ſay, that thou haſt beene proceeded againſt rigorouſly and vniuſtly, without reſpect to the truth of the cauſe, I am content to call a new Iurie, if here we can hauehave ſo many as will make vp the number.

I humbly thanke you p. 266(my good Lord) God reward your Lordſhip for it.

Maſter Sheriffe, impannell a new Iurie of very ſubſtantiall men, the chiefeſt you can finde, and fitteſt to goe vponupon this Priſoner now at the Barre.

My Lord, I ſuppoſed, that as he would craue, ſo from your Lordſhips vprightnes he ſhould obtaine this fauour, therefore hauehave I prepared a full Iury to this purpoſe.

It was done wiſely of you (Maſter Sheriffe) let them be called.

Cryer call in the Iurie.A Iurie againſt Papiſtry.

1. Call Common Principles, Vous aues Common Principles.

p. 2672. Call Apoſtles Creed, Vous aues The Creed.

3. Call Second Commandement, Second Commandement come in.

My Lord I cannot get in.

Whats the matter?

My Lord (ſaith the Cryer) the Papiſts keepe him out.

Command to let him in, Vous aues the Second Commandement.

4. Call Pater noster, Vous aues Pater noster.

5. Call Holy Scriptures, Vous aues Holy Scriptures.

6. Call the Apocrypha, Vous aues Apocrypha.

7. Call Councells, Vous aues Councels.

p. 2688. Call Antient Fathers for the firſt 600. yeares after Chriſt, Vous aues Antient Fathers.

9. Call Contradiction amongſt themſelues, Vous aues Contradiction,

10. Call Abſurditie of Opinion, Vous aues Abſurditie of Opinion.

11. Call Conſent of their own Men, Vous aues Conſent.

12. Call Testimonie of Martyrs, Vous aues Teſtimonie of Martyrs.

Counte, ſaith the Clerke.

Then the Cryer bids them anſwer to their names.

Common Principles, one; Creed, two; Commandement, By theſe twelue meanes Papiſtry may be confutedthree; Pater noster, p. 269foure; Holy Scriptures, fiue, Apocrypha, ſix; Councell, ſeuen; Fathers, eight; Contradiction, nine; Abſurditie, ten; Conſent of their owne men, eleuen; Teſtimonie of Martyrs, twelue: Good men and true, ſtand together and heare your charge.

My Lord, here are ſome more ſummoned by Maſter Sheriffes authoritie.

Who bee they Maſter Sheriffe?

Maſter Law with his ſonnes, Ciuill, Canon, Common, Maſter Law and his ſonnes.and Municipall.

Well, let them attend the Court for the Kings ſeruice, for vſe, if need be.

Papiſtrie, if thou canſt …uſtly except againſt any, p. 270I giuegive thee leaue to challenge any ſuch of the Iury.

Good my Lord, onelyonly Holy Scriptures is by Papiſtrie chiefely excepted againſt.one of the Iury I except againſt, which is Holy Scriptures, except it be our own Tranſlation.

Well, ſaith the Iudge, I For Papiſt may be confuted by their owne tranſlation. See my Booke of Rheme, againſt Rome.am content it ſhall bee ſo, let it be either Montanus, or the Rhemiſt, or the Vulgar Edition, we deſire a iuſt proceeding with all the indifferencie that may be.

Then the Crier calleth aloud; If any man can giuegive Euidence, or can ſay any thing againſt the Priſoner at the Barre, let him come in, for hee ſtands vponupon his deliuerance.

Here is my Lord a worthy Gentleman M. Verity.

p. 271Maſter Verity, come neere, what can you ſay concerning the Priſoner at the Barre?

My Lord, this I am able Maſter Verities euidence againſt Papiſtrie.to iuſtiſie. Firſt, that hee hath beene a Falſe Teacher frō the beginning, fraught with error and hereſies, teaching as the falſe Teachers Like falſe Teachers in Doctrine.did, ſuch as be recorded in Scripture, if they were paralleld together, as the Doctrine of Diuels, 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2. 1.Traditions and Reader marke the doctrine of falſe Teachers of old, and Papiſts now.Commandements of men, Mat. 15. 2. Mar. 7. 8, 9, 13. Col. 2. 22. Veniall ſinnes 2.Matt. 23. 16. 18. Childrens 3.neglect of Parents for Churches 4.profit, as they pretended, Mat. 15. 5. Mar. 7. 11. Superſtitious obſeruations p. 2725.in meats and holy dayes, Matth 15. 11. Col. 2. 16, 21. Laying heauy burthens vponupon 6.the people, Luk. 11. 46. Iuſtification 7.by works, therewith troubling the Churches, Gal. 2. 18. & 3. 2. & 5. 4. 12. Voluntary Religion and Wilworſhip, Col. 2. 18. 23. The 8.worſhip of Angels, Col. 2. 18. 9.Carnall libertie, 2. Pet. 2. 19. Reu. 2. 1…. 20. And Teaching 10.for filthy Lucre, Tit. 2. 11. 11.Thus are they, as were the Falſe Teachers (as the Scriptures in the New Teſtament ſet them out) like in all theſe things.

How like they are (my Lord) to after Heretiques, learned Whitaker in his Booke De Eccleſia, in the firſt Queſtion, ſheweth p. 273in many particulars.

Secondly, (my Lord) he hath vſed the very ſame Like falſe Teachers in practices.practiſes which Falſe Teachers hauehave vſed: hee doth to make way for his Doctrine, Worſhip and Aduancement, euen as they Practiſe of falſe Teachers.did. aaCol. 2. 2. 23. 2. Tim. 3. 5, 6. 2. Pet. 2. 3, 4.Col 2:2Col 2:232 Tim 3:52 Tim 3:62 Pet 2:32 Pet 2:4They played the Hypocrites in outward humilitie, in long prayers and formes of Deuotion, and ſo miſlead ſilly women. bbMat. 15, 2. & 7. 3. 1. Pet. 1. 18.Matt 15:2Matt 7:31 Pet 1:18They graced their Doctrine with ſhew of Fore-fathers. ccLuk. 11. 5.Luke 11:5They tooke away the Key of Knowledge, and neither would enter into life, nor ſuffer others. dd2. Tim. 4. & 1. Tim. 4. 7.2 Tim 41 Tim 4:7They told the people old Wiues Fables, and told lies in hypocriſie. eeEpheſ. 4. 14.Eph 4:14They vſed ſleights and p. 274cunning craftineſſe to deceiue. ff1. Tim. 4. 20.1 Tim 4:20They boaſted of their learning, vſing prophane and vaine babbling, and oppoſitions of Sciences as they termed it. gg2. Theſ. 2. 2. Act. 15. 24.2 Thess 2:2Acts 15:24They pretended Reuelations, Apoſtolicall Traditions, and alleadged counterfer writings. hhReu. 2. 20. Nehe. 6. 14.Rev 2:20They had the Propheticall woman and deceiuing Propheteſſes, iiMat. 7. 23. Deut. 13. 1, 2.Matt 7:23Deut 13:1Deut 13:2They had their Miracle-workers, Caſters out of Diuels, and Dreamers of dreames. kkAct 17. 7. & 24. 5. & 18. 13. & 25. 7. 2 Cor. 10. 10. Act. 24 5.Acts 17:7Acts 24:5Acts 18:13Acts 25:72 Cor 10:10They would ſlander mens perſons, and the Doctrine of ſaithfull Teachers, and lay to their charge what they could not proue, ſpeaking of them contemptuouſly, and railing on them. p. 275llIoh. 8. 39. Mat. 3. 9. 2 Cor. 11. 13, 22.John 8:39Matt 3:92 Cor 11:132 Cor 11:22They boaſted to bee the true Church, and that by Succeſsion they were of the Fathers. mmRom. 16. 18. 1. Cor. 2. 1.Rom 16:181 Cor 2:1They would vſe faire and ſoothing words, and teach with inticing words, and did ſtrine for excellencie of ſpeech of mans wiſedome to deceiue. nnAct. 4. 18. & 22 1. & 6. 24 & 26. 10, 11. & 30. 50. & 22. Reu. 2.Acts 4:18Acts 22:1Acts 6:24Acts 26:10Acts 26:11Acts 26:30Acts 26:50Acts 26:22Rev 2When they could not preuaile by faire meanes, then they would ſuborne falſe witneſſes: they threatned, beat, impriſoned, baniſhed and ſlew the faithfull Teachers and Chriſtian Beleeuers. ooAct. 23. 1….Acts 23:1They would plot conſpiracies to the ſhedding of bloud, and the Prieſts muſt bee acquainted herewith before hand to encourage them hereto. ppActs 13 50.Acts 13:50They p. 276would make open inſurrections, and ſtir vp great perſonages to take part with them. And what rebellion, treaſons, conſpiracies, inſurrections, and perſecutions this Papiſtrie hath wrought, my Lord Biſhop of Chicheſter hath openly diſcouered to the world in his Booke of Thankſgiuing for our deliuerance from all theſe Popiſh Traytors Prieſts and Ieſuits.Traitors, Morton, Sands, Parſons, Campion, Ballard, Watſon, Clarke, Garnet, Prieſts and Ieſuits: Stuckly, Someruile, Throgmorton, Parry, Babbington Popiſh Traitors laicks:and his Company; Lop us, Tyrone, Markam, Brooke, with others; Percey, Catsby, and all the Gun-powder p. 277Plotters; Laicks. And this (my Lord) is not what I could, but what I thought ſufficient to teſtifie at this time, becauſe I would not be tedious.

Maſter Veritie, by this you hauehave vttered, it is eaſie to ſee how this man hath followed, both the falſe Teachers in Doctrine, and the Enemies of the Goſpell in their practiſes. If there be any moe witneſſes, let them come foorth.

Yes my Lord, here is Sir Christianitie.

Sir Chriſtianitie, what is it that you hauehave to ſay againſt this Priſoner at the barre?

My Lord, I was commanded p. 278to bee here to Sir Chriſtianitie his euidence againſt Papiſtrieday to giuegive euidence what I know againſt this man, and this I am willing to do for the ſeruice of my Soueraigne. This it is (my Lord) which I hauehave to ſay, that this man with his Aſſociates, hath in ſtead of Chriſtian Religion, ſet vp a ſeruice of Iudaiſme and How Papiſts are like the Gentiles, Se Mathias Hoe on Reu. 11, 2. from p. 1. 419. to 453.Rev 11:2Paganiſme, which I am able to prooue in a multitude of particulars: but becauſe I am loath to be tedious in my relation, I hauehave brought heere with me Three Bookes, that the Iury may iudge of all the particulars, or they may be read before the Priſoner, if your Lordſhip ſhall be pleaſed to hauehave it ſo.

p. 279What bookes Sir Chriſtianitie?

My Lord, one is that, 1. Books 1. Three Conformities.that is called The Three Conformities ſet out lately. The other is, De Origine 2. De Origine Papatus.Papatus, ſet out by one Doctor Moriſin, and dedicated to his late Maieſty: and the third is, our learned Countriman Doctor Raynolds his Cōference with Hart neuer anſwered of 3. Roynolds and Hart.any papiſtto this day, who ſheweth how the Popiſh ſeruice is like vntounto the Iewiſhin very many particulars and wherein they be more Heatheniſh, then Iewiſh.

I am content to hauehave thē read to ſpare your ſpeech touching y^e Iewiſh ſeruice.

So hauing beene read, p. 290the Iudge yet wiſhed Sir Chriſtianity to declare openly how Pagan like Papiſts bee, and as the Heatheniſh Idolaters in Iſrael and Iudah were, and onelyonly out of the vndoubted Teſtimonies of Scripture, and the Apocrypha books, becauſe thoſe learned Authors had omitted it.

My Lord, I ſhall (ſaith Sir Chriſtianity) performe this taske with as great breuitie as I may: that this Priſoner (if it be poſſible) may ſee how wickedly he hath dealt with mens ſoules to ſet vp inſtead of Gods Seruice, an Idolatrous, and Pagan-like Papiſts like Pagans in many things.Worſhip.

aaRom. 1. 22.Rom 1:22Theſe Pagans ſet forth p. 291God like a man. bbIer. 7 18.Jer 7:18The Idolatrous Iſraelites had a Queene of Heauen: ccDan 9. 4. Iſa 41. 7. and 44. 10.Dan 9:4Isa 41:7Isa 44:10they had Images of gold and ſiluer, braſſe, yron, wood, Ier 1. 4. Baruch 6 45. Deut. 7. 5. & 12. 3.Jer 1:4Bar 6:45Deut 7:5Deut 12:3and ſtone, and ſome of clay: ſome molten, ſome carued and grauen, ſome 2 King 17 41. 2. Chron 33. 7. 19. and 34. 4. Iudg. 18. 18 Ezek. 2…. 14, 15, 16. & 8. 10. Numb. 33. 52.2 Kgs 17:412 Chr 33:72 Chr 33:192 Chr 34:4Judg 18:18Ezek 2:14Ezek 2:15Ezek 2:16Ezek 8:10Num 33:52portrayed vponupon walls, and other Pictures. Some were likemen, Dan. 3. 1. 1. Sam. 5. 3, 4. and ſome like Women, Act. 19. 27. 2. Machab. 1. 13. 1. Sam. 31. 10. ſome lke Beaſts, (like S. George and the Dragon) Exod. 34. Wiſd. 11. 15. They adorned Adorned imagesthem with ſiluer and gold, Ierem. 10. 4. and ſet Crownes vponupon ſome of their heads, couering them with coſtly garments and of diuers colours, Deut. 7. p. 28225. Hab. 2. 19. Baruch 6. 8, 9, 14, 15, 29, 39, 50, 55, 58. Ezek. 16. 18. Wiſd. 13. 14 carrying a Scepter in the hand, or a dagger, or an axe, Baruch 6. 14, 15. They ſet them vp with great deuotion & ſolemnity, with muſick and melodie, Dan. 3. 3. Muſick.with ſinging, dancing, and other delights, Exodus 32. 5. Dancing. Temples.They built Temples for theſe Images, Ioel 3. 5. 2. Machab. 1. 13, 15. Baruch 6. 18. which were the houſes of their Gods, Iudg. 17. 4. 1 Samuel 5. 2. and called them Sanctuaries, Iſat. 16. 12. They had Chappels for them, Chappels.Amos 7. 12. Yea, they Images in eueryevery place.ſet them vponupon tops of hills, 1 King. 14. 23. 2 King. 17. p. 28310. They had them in priuate houſes, Iudg. 17. 4. 18. in chambers, Ezek. 8. 12. and in ſecret places, Deut. 27. 15. They had their pleaſant Groues planted, Ier. 17. 2. Groues.1 King. 14. 23 and there alſo had their Images, 1 King. 15. 13. 2 Chron. 15. 16. 2 King. 17. 10. They had their ſtanding Pillars and Images, as the Papiſts Standing Pillars as Croſſes be.their Croſſes, Deut. 12. 3. & 16. 22. 2. King. 17. 19, Leu. 26 1. theſe were in the head of High-wayes and Streets of Cities, Exek. 16. 31. Ier. 11. 13. The multitude Ignorant allured to idolatrie.were allured by the gorgeous decking of them, Wiſd. 14. 20. & 15. 5. 6. Yea, they doted vponupon Doted on Imagesthem, Ezek. 8. 10, 11. They p. 294worſhipped them, bowed vntounto them, and fell downe before them, Dan. 3. 2 Iſa. 44. 17. Ioſ. 23. 16. They would lift vp their eyes vntounto them, Ezek. 33. 25. Pray Praied to them.vntounto them, 1. King. 18. 26. Hab. 2. 16. Iſa 44. 17. Kiſſe Kiſſed them.them, Hoſ. 13 2. 2. King. 19. 18. ſet vp Candels before Candles ſet vp before them.them, Baruch. 6. 19. Make vowes to them, Baruch 6. 35. Vowes.and goe on Pilgrimage Pilgrimage.to ſome of them very farre, Ier. 51. 44. expecting ſome miraculous cure from the Image, Bar. 6. 41. In entering into their Temples they ſprinkled themſelues with water, Altars they had of ſton…, Iſa. 65. 3. they vſed vaine repetitions Altars.in their prayers, p. 295Set numbers of praiers.Mat. 6. 7. They meaſured their Religion and goodnes thereof by plenty, Ier. 44. …. They had their ſacrificing Prieſts, Act. 14. 13. and Sacrificing prieſts.they were ſhauen Prieſts, Baruch 6. 31. 32. Sometimes Shauen.they were of the baſeſt of the people, 1. Kings 12. 31. whoſoeuer would, might for monie or for monie worth, make himſelfe a Prieſt, 1. King. 12. 31. 2. Chron. 13. 9. And ſome ſerued for baſe wages, Iudg. 17. They had then Prieſts Concubines.Concubines, Baruch 6. 11. Hoſ. 4. 14. Some of them would we are haire cloaths Wearing of haire cloth.and torment themſelues, 1. King. 18. 26. 28 Zach. 13. 4. and of a Deuotion in a Will-worſhip mac…r…te p. 286Wilworſhip.their bodies, puniſhing & not ſparing their bodies, Col. 2. 23. Their Teachers taught for hire, Mich. 3. 11. 2. Taught for hyrePet. 2. 13, 15. Reu. 2. Tit. 1. 11. For gifts, they would promiſe life & peace, Ezek. 13. 22. Ier. 23. 14, 17. In their ſeruice they had variety of Muſicke, Dan. 3. their ſet Variety of Muſik.holy-dayes, Exod. 32. 2. Holy-dayes. Nunnes or holy women.King. 13. They had their holy women attending the Idol-ſeruice, Ezek. 8. 14. working for them, 13. 18. 2. King. 23. 7. and prophecying lyes, Ezek. 13. 22. and were great worſhippers of the Queene of heauen, Ier. 7. 18. & 44. 19. They had alſo their ſeuerall Seuerall proprotectors for Countries.gods for their ſeuerall Countries as Papiſts hauehave p. 287their Saints, 2. King. 17. 29. & 18. 34. They would pray to theſe and ſweare by them, Ier. 5. 7. & 12. 16. Gē. 31. 53. 1. Sweare by thē.King. 19. 2. 2. King. 17. 35. Zeph. 1. 5. Some in Iſrael which fell to Heatheniſh Idolatry were like Church Papiſts; for they Some like to our Church Papiſts.would worſhip Idols and yet go to Gods houſe and heare his Prophets, Ier. 7. 8, 10. 2. King. 17. 41. Ezek 14 3, 7. & 20. 1, 31 & 23. 29. When Idolatry was caſt our of the Church (as we hauehave done the Idolatry of Rome) the Idolaters They did ſpeake againſt ſeruing of God after his word.would condemne it, as an ill act in them, and ſpeake againſt the ſeruing of God aright, as papiſts doagainſt vsus, 2 King. 18. 22. They p. 288worſhipped towards the Worſhipped God to the Eaſt.Eaſt, Ezek. 8. 16. They were very ſuperſtitious, Superſtitious.Acts 19. They liued in very groſſe ignorance of Ignorant.the truth, and in liberty of ſinning, Iſa. 44. 18, 19. & 45. 20. Epheſ. 4. 18, 19. Wiſd. 14, 15, 16, 17. They worſhipped they knew not what, Ioh. 4. 22. Their Feſtiuals after their Idol-ſeruice they ſpent in earing, How they ſpent their holy-dayesdrinking, ſinging, dancing, Exod. 32. 6. 18, 19. They had their reuellings and meetings Reuellings.full of exceſſe ryot, 1 Pet. 4. 3. And would wonder a…, & ſpeake ill of ſuch as would not be like them. They had Brothel houſes, Slewes.Ezek. 16. 24. 2 King. 23. 7. 1 King. 15. 12, 13. & 14. 24. p. 289& 22. 26. They had amongſt them Conturers, Conturers.Wizards, Charmers, Obſeruers of times, Southſayers, Exod. 7. 11. Iſa. 9. 13. Leu. 19. 37. Ier. 27. 9. Dan. 2. 4. Deut. 18. 10. & 11. 14. Iſa 2. 6. Dan. 2. 2. Iſa. 47. 13. Act. 16. 17. & 19. 19.Exod 7:11Isa 9:13Lev 19:37Jer 27:9Dan 2:4Deut 18:10Deut 11:14Isa 2:6Dan 2:2Isa 47:13Acts 16:17Acts 19:19Aſtrologers, Starregazers, and ſuch like. To theſe the people reſorted & conſulted with, 2 King. 21. 6. 1 Sam. 5. 2. 1 Chron. 10. 13. Heſt. 3. 7. & 9. 24. Deut. 18. 14. Iſa. 19. 3. & 47. 12, 13. Hoſ. 4. 12. Ezek. 21. 21. Ier. 8. 17. Act. 8. 10. They ſacrificed to Nets, and burnt incenſe to Draggs, Hab. 1. 16. They beleeued that ſome of their Images were approued of their great God from heauen, Act. 1…. 35. They were cruell and They were bloudily mindedbloudily minded againſt all that were againſt their Idolatry, Hoſ. 10. 14. & 13. p. 29016. 2. King. 21. 15, 16. Iudg. 6. 30. 2 Chron. 24. 18, 21. The Idolaters in Iſrael and Iudah brought in the Heathen, as Gods plague vponupon them, to puniſh them for their Idolatry, 2. Chro. 24. 23. & 21-16. 17. & 33. 11. & 30. 6. 10. 17. 2. Kin. 17. 18. as the Papiſts hauehave brought the Turkes vponupon the Chriſtian Papiſtrie the cauſe of Turkes preuailing.world by their Imagerie and Idolatry, Reu. 9. They were ſtupid and without Sottiſh in their idolatrie and obſtinate.vnderſtanding in their Idol-making, & in ſetting them vp to worſhip them, Iſa. 44. 14, 20. and ſo continued therein obſtinate as the Papiſts doe. And thus hauehave I ſhewed what I can ſay (my Lord) touching p. 291the Heatheniſh Idolaters and their practiſes.

Your euidence is ſo cleare (Sir Chriſtianitie) as hereby all may ſee, how Pagan-like Papiſts bee in their Imagerie, Prieſts and Temples. Is there any further euidence?

Thē ſtands vp M. Atturney Maſter Atturney General, his euidence againſt Papiſtrie.General: and did proue him to be guilty of high treaſō both againſt the perſon Papiſts are guiltie of treaſon.and the lawes of his Soueraigne. My Lord (ſaith he) this fellow vnderunder pretence of Religion (for all muſt be couered with his ſhadow) hath ſet vp another ſpirituall They hauehave another Head.Head ouer the Church, beſides Chriſt, (euen Antichriſt his greateſt enemy) as is ſufficiently prooued. p. 292He hath ſet vp alſo Mediators Another Mediatour.of interceſsion beſides Chriſt: alſo in his rebellious pride of heart he hath exalted mans Merit, and made him a party Sauiour of himſelfe, by ſatisfactory puniſhments either heere or in their ſeigned Purgatory. Thus is he a Rebell and an Abettor of Rebels againſt Chriſt.

Againe, the Law of Chriſt (the holy Scriptures) How Papiſts doe blaſphemouſly abuſe the Scripture eleuen wayes.he hath notoriouſly corrupted and abuſed many wayes. 1 He maketh it no perfect rule. 2. He teacheth 1.blaſphemouſly that 2.the Originall is corrupt, and ſo ſhaketh the faith of all ſuch as reſt on the Scriptures. 3. He hath added to p. 2933.them mens writings called Apochrypha, to make them Canonicall…a. He hath feigned a traditionall word 4.& equalleth the ſame with the Scriptures. 5. He debarred 5.for a long time the tranſlating of Gods Word into a knowne tongue, to keepe the people from the vnderſtanding thereof. 6. Being enforced at length to tranſlate it, hee hath or 6.purpoſe done it corruptly, and with many vncouth & obſcure words, hath hidden the truth ſtill, to keepe the people in blindneſſe. 7. Yet this their ſo corrupt & obſcure Tranſlation is not admitted indifferently to all, but to ſome, and to theſe vnderunder licenſe, p. 294for which they pay money. 8 Theſe parties, 8.though they may read the Scriptures, yet muſt it bee with the Popes Spectacles, and may not ſee farther than the falſe Teacher pleaſeth, nor conceiue otherwiſe of the Senſe than he ſuggeſteth, though the Text be neuer ſo cleare of it ſelfe. 9 They blaſphemouſly 9.publiſh, that the Scriptures are a Noſe of Wax, a dead Letter, ſowterly Inke, dumbe Iudges, and a black Goſpell, inkie Diuinity, and may hauehave one ſenſe Cauſanus in his Epiſt. Log. Bohemone time, and another at another time, according to the Churches ſtate & condition. 10 They ſet vp a 10.corrupt Latine Tranſlation, p. 295for as authenticall as the Originalls in the Hebrew and the Greeke. 11 And 11.Laſtly, they brought into the Church in ſtead of the holy Bible a booke of Lyes to bee read. Thus is this wicked wretch guilty of High-Treaſon againſt our Soueraigne.

Beſides that, hee hath counterfeited his Maieſties Broad Seale, inuenting new Sacraments neuer Counterfeit Sacraments.of Chriſts inſtitution, and hath conſpired and plotted the death of an innumerable multitude of his Maieſties Subiects in a moſt cruell and bloudie manner, my Lord, he is no way longer to be endured: for we ſhall neuer bee at p. 296Papiſtrie not to he tollarated.Peace as long as hee may hauehave libertie to liue; for he is a ranke Traitor to our King and State, an vnderminer of Religion and the true Church of Chriſt, & an enemie to our peace & welfare in the Commonwealth.

Gentlemen, (ſaith the Iudge) you of the Iurie hauehave heard Maſter Attournies witnes, alſo what both Maſter Veritie and Sir Chriſtianitie hauehave ſpoken againſt him: now that you hauehave heard the euidence ſo fully, what ſay you touching the Priſoner, is he guiltie or no?

Then the Foreman, in the name of all the reſt, anſwereth; Guiltie, my Lord.

p. 297Whereupon the Iudge turneth to the Priſoner, & ſaith; Papiſtry, thou heareſt what grieuous iniquities, foule and filthy abominations, murthers & maſſacres hauehave beene layed to thy charge; thou haſt heard the Verdict of theſe ſo learned and well approued Gentlemen, choſen without all partiality to go vponupon thee. And they in their iudgement, vponupon their conſciences, hauehave found thee guiltie. What canſt thou ſay for thy ſelfe that ſentence of death ſhould not bee pronounced againſt thee.

My Lord, the Iurie aſſuredly is corrupted by ſome Papiſtries appeale.meanes or other, elſe p. 298would they neuer hauehave found me guiltie: for our learned men hauehave cited many of theſe in my behalfe, and therefore I appeale from them to a Generall Councell, for the Triall of their honeſtie in this Verdict.

VponUpon this lewd ſurmiſe and brazen-faced accuſation, all the Iury fell a murmuring, being much grieued to be taxed of faithleſnes and periurie. The worſhipfull gentlemen the Iuſtices and Maſter Sheriffe began to ſpeak in their behalfe, but the Iudge ſtanding vp, ſtaid them and made anſwer for them.

Papiſtrie: to be briefe The anſwer to Papiſtries appeale.with thee, thou art ſhameleſly p. 299impudent to accuſe theſe worthy Gentlemen: for iuſtly proceeding according to the cleere Euidence to thy face. For thy learned men, they hauehave only cited the names of ſome of theſe, but without their knowledge or conſent. Yea, many teſtimonies they bring vnderunder their names, which indeed are proued to be counterfeits, abuſing their vnaduiſed Readers in their vniuſt defence of thee. As for thy Appeale to a Generall Counſell, its but to ſet a good face vponupon an ill cauſe; for thou knoweſt that we hauehave long deſired a Free General Counſell, but not a gathering together; like the lewd p. 300Conuenticle of …rent.

But art thou not aſhamed to conceit the bringing of theſe mens verdict to the triall? We muſt by them be tried, and not they by vsus. By what canſt thou trie the Principles of Religion? wilt thou deny them? muſt Fathers, Councels, Scriptures & al be brought vnderunder our Iudgements? Thou haddeſt no cauſe to taxe the Iurie; if any had bin in fault, it ſhould hauehave beene the Witneſſes: but canſt thou tax Verity of lying, or Chriſtianity of falſehood? As for Maſter Attourney, his ſpeech is no more then your owne words, writings and practiſe do teſtifie.

p. 301Heare therefore thy Sentence, iuſtly deſerued before God and men.

Papiſtry; thou haſt bin indited A picture of Papiſtrie.by the name of Papiſtry, of all theſe former treaſons, rebellions, cōſpiracies, gun-powder plots, murthers, maſſacres, falſehood, hereſies, Iudaiſme & Paganiſme, and of that thy deteſtable Idolatry, and for the ſame, haſt been arraigned, thou haſt pleaded not guilty, haſt put thy ſelfe vponupon thy tryall, and beeing found guilty, hauing no more to ſay for thy ſelfe, this is the Law.

That thou the Myſtery of Iniquitie, with the old Papiſtry condemned to the pit of hell. 2. Theſ 27.Serpent, called the diuel, or Sathans, thy father, with p. 302thy lewd mother, that Reu. 12. 9. & 17 3. 9. & 20. 4. & 19. 20.Rev 12:9Rev 17:3Rev 17:9Rev 20:4Rev 19:20great Whore, drunke with the blood of the Martyrs of Ieſus, which ſitteth vpō a Scarlet-coloured Beaſt, as alſo with that falſe Prophet the ſonne of Perdition, thy guide and gouernour ſhall bee caſt aliue where the Dragon is, into the Lake of fire, burning with Reu. 14. 10. 11.Rev 14:10Rev 14:11brimſtone, there to be tormented with all thy marked ones in the preſēce of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lamb, without reſt day & night, the ſmoake of which torment ſhall aſcend vp for euer and for euer, without mercy or hope of redemption.

After this Sentence, p. 303there is made an Oyes, and The Court breaketh vp.ſo the Court breaketh vp; the Iudge ariſeth, the Iuſtices and Gentle-men attend him, the Sheriffe with the VnderUnder-Sheriffe & his ſeruants goe before with the ſounding of a Trumpet, and ſo do conduct him to his Lodging, and there doe leaue him with reſt and peace.

Laus Deo.