The Appellation of John Penry, Text

The Appellation of John Penry · Text

❧TH' APPELLATION OF IOHN PENRI, vntounto the Highe court of Parliament, from the bad and injurious dealing of th' Archb. of Canterb. & other his colleagues of the high commiſsion: Wherin the complainant, humbly ſubmitting himſelfe and his cauſe vntounto the determination of this honorable aſſembly: craueth nothing els, but either releaſe from trouble and perſecution, or juſt tryall.

PSALM. 35. 19, 20, &c.

Let not them O Lord, that are mine enemies vniuſtly, reioyce ouer me: neyther let them vvinke with the eye, that hate me vvithout a cauſe. For they ſpeake not as friendes: but they imagine deceitfull vvordes againſt the quiet of … land. And they gaped on me vvith their mouthes, ſaying … our eye hath ſeene. Thou ſeeſt it O Lord: keepe not … far from me, O Lorde. Ariſe and vvake to my iudgement, … to my cauſe, my God, and my Lord. Iudge me O Lord, according to my righteouſnes: and let them not reioyce ouer me. Let them not ſay in their hearts, O our ſoule reioyce: neyther let them ſay, vve hauehave deuoured him.

IEREM. 20. 21.

The Lord is vvith me as a mightie Gyant, therefore my perſecutors shall be ouerthrovvn, and shall not preuaile, and shalbe greatly confounded: for they hauehave done vnvviſely, &c.

ANNO DOM. 1589.

p. 1To the right Honorable, th'aſſembly of the High court of Par…iament, IOHN PENRI wiſheth the direction of Gods ſpirite, in all their conſultations, that they may ſo behaue themſelues in the ſetting forward of Gods glorie, and the good of the weale publique: (as in the day, wherein the ſonne of God, Chriſte Ieſus, ſhall in flaming fire, render euerlaſting perdition, to thoſe that obeye not the Goſpell) they may bee found blameles in his ſight. March 7.

THat vvhichwhich in regard of my priuate ſafetie and quietnes (right Honorable and worſhipful) I am bound before the Lorde to performe, the ſame hath the credite and good report of the cauſe of God, in the promoting whereof, by his great and vnſpeakable mercies, I hauehave bene employed whether I woulde or no, at this preſent enforced me to accompliſh. The care of procuring mine owne ſafetie (by al lawful waies) from the dangerous attempts of thoſe that ſeek nothing els, but mine vtter ouerthrowe and vndoing: nature it ſelfe, and eſpeciallie Gods ordinance hath layed vponupon my ſhoulders. The burthen whereof I cannot reject, vnleſſe I would ſhew my ſelfe on the one ſide, more vnnaturall then the bruite beaſtes, which will neuer be guilty of their owne dammage for the moſt part, if they ſee any way to auoide the ſame: and on the other ſide, to correct Gods prouidence in refuſing to trie al the lawful means, which he hath ordained and appointed for the deliuerie of his children, out of the hands of their malicious enemies. But ſeeing vntounto this care of my priuate ſafe p. 2gard, is alſo joyned the publike clearing of Gods eternall trueth, from all the ſlaunders, wherewith the iniquitie of mine aduerſaries by my vnjuſt trouble would take occaſion to ſtaine the ſame: may not all men clearely ſee, that I am drawen into this action with a twofold coard (which as the wiſe man ſaith, is not eaſily broken) of vnanſwerable neceſsitie?

The vnjuſt dealing of the Archb. of Canterb. & others of the high commiſſion, is ſuch towards me, and of a long time hath bin, as in the dayes of peace and publike tranquillity, of my gracious and dread ſoueraigne Queene ELIZABETH: I may nowe juſtly account my ſelfe, to be one, that in regarde of liberty and quietnes, am vnjuſtly bereaued of the former publique benefit. The cauſe why I enioy not the ſame is, that my conſcience will not ſuffer me (whome the Lord of his infinite goodnes, hath enlightened with the knowledge of the ſauing trueth of his goſpell) to beholde with ſilence, the lamentable miſery of ſoules, wherein my countrymen the inhabitants of Wales liue at this preſent, both in reſpect of their great ignorance and the greeuous deformity of gods ſanctuary among them. And I enjoy not the ſame, becauſe vntounto my ſmall ability, I hauehave labored and doe labour to effect ſome redreſſe of their foreſaide miſery, by lamenting their caſe, ſhewing vntounto them and your Hh. their griefe, together with the medicine, which the lord hath ſanctified as his owne ordinance to cure ſuch maladyes. An vnworthy preſident to be conueyed vntounto poſterities, that it ſhould not be lawfull for a man in the time of knowledg, to lament the ignorance of his bretheren, in the time of the ſauing health of mens ſoules, to withſtand their violent perdition, in the p. 3time of Sions building, to lament and repaire the ruines thereof. And that in a ſtate profeſſing enmity vntounto the Romish religion, it cannot be ſafe for a man to ſpeake againſt the fornication of that ſtrumpet and humbly to intreat, that the holy temple may be cleanſed of all her pollution. And yet behold, ſuch is my caſe for bewailing the ſpiritual bondage of my countrimen, for ſhewing vntounto them the way whereby they might be reſtored vntounto the glorious liberty of the ſonnes of God, for crauing that they may be trained in this way, and for mocioning that gods holy ſanctuary among them may be purified, I am teſted from poſt to piller, and permitted to hauehave no aſſurance of quiet aboade in any of her majeſties territories and dominions, by the men aforenamed, beſides the injurious impriſonment, wherein heretofore they hauehave deteined me for this ſame cauſe. And to the ende I may truely acquaint you of the parliament with my troubles, and the true cauſes thereof, you are to vnderſtand, that the beginning of theſe mens hatred towards me, did ariſe from the goodwill I beare vntounto the glory of my God and the good of his church, and that the continuance thereof, is for the ſame cauſe. For vntill ſuch time, as the Lorde vouchſafed to vſe me (moſt vnworthie, I acknowledge from the bottome of my heart) as an inſtrument to motion the parliament, holden by prorogation, in the 29. yere of her Majeſties raigne, in the cauſe of Gods truth, I was a man altogether vnknowne vntounto th'Archb. or any other of the high commiſſion, by whome I am now perſecuted. My ſuite then vntounto the parliament was, that the goſpell of Chriſt might in a ſauing meaſure, be made knowen and publiſhed amongſt the inhabitants p. 4of wales, my deare & natiue countrimen. The equitie of this petition; I manifeſted in a publiſhed treatiſe, allowed to be printed by publike authority. The ſupplication,Maſter Edvvard Donlee. together with the printed treatiſe, were preferred by a worſhipfull gentleman of my countrie, being himſelf a member of the houſe, who alſo ſhewed the equitie of the petition, and in effect auouched the truth of that which in the treatiſe was ſet downe. The ſuit I was perſwaded, would hauehave beene verie plauſible in a chriſtian ſtate, and the parliament ſhewed no diſliking thereof, though they ſinned in the careleſſe reſpect they had therevnto. Th'Archb. and his aſſociates were contrarie minded, they thought the enterpriſe to be intollerable. And yet was there no alteration of the eſtabliſhed gouernment of Biſhops at that time ſought for. The diſlike of the petitiō they did not conceal, and therfore preſently diſpatched their warrants to call in the printed bookes, and to enquire for the author. The books in nomber about 500. togither with my ſelfe, were faſtened vponupon by the wardens of the Stacioners, M. Biſhop and Denham, accompanied with Cole the Purſiuaunt, wherevpon being caried before the high commiſſioners, I was for enterpriſing the former action, charged by th'Archb. owne mouth, not onelyonly to be a factious ſlaunderer of her Majeſties gouernment: but alſo to hauehave publiſhed flat treaſon and hereſie in my ſaide treatiſe, I was threatned very bloodily, and reuiled vponupon in a moſt vnchriſtian ſort, with earneſt proteſtation, that they woondered how I durſt ſollicite the parliament in that petition. See the curſed and outragious prophanenes of theſe, whom the Lorde hath in his juſt judgement giuen ouer to withſtande the mightie p. 5power of his word! As though the matter were to be aſtonied at, that they ſhould be more forward in hindring the cauſe of Gods glory, then meaner men ſhould be to promote the ſame. If they had beene the true gouernours of Gods Church, they woulde hauehave ſhewed themſelues the moſt earneſt fauorers of that ſupplication. For it is well knowen, in what a taking the country of wales is, for want of the true knowledge of God. And aſſuredly they, who of intended mallice withſtood that motion, ſhal one day feele the price and reward of their diſobedience vntounto their neuer ending woe. VVell, mine offence in preſuming to ſpeake in the cauſe of God, oppugned by my betters, was accounted ſo haynous, as in cloſe priſon I muſt be kept 12. daies, at the keepers vttermoſt perill. Before my departure from the commiſſion, vnderſtanding their intent to commit me, I demaunded the particuler cauſe why I was ſo hardlie dealt with. Anſwere was made, that they would examine me againe and then I ſhould know. After a moneths impriſonment I was deliuered without anie examination, or anye mention of the crimes of hereſie and treaſon wherewith I had bene charged. And ſo vntounto this daie, I remaine ignorant of anie expreſſed cauſe wherefore, they either tooke away my books, or debarred me of my libertie, and readie by the grace of God, both to conuince the high commiſſion of moſt injurious dealing in the premiſes, & to cleare my ſelfe of anie crime they can lay to my charge, whenſoeuer, before you of this honorable aſſembly, or any other equall judgement ſeat they darebe tried with me.

Since the time of my releaſe, I ſawe my ſelfe bounde in conſcience, not to giuegive ouer my former p. 6purpoſe, in ſeeking the good of my countrymen, by the rooting out of ignorance and blindnes from among them. And as it pleaſed the lord to increaſe this my care, ſo hauehave mine aduerſaries augmented their rage and fury towards me, and eſpecially to the cauſe that I maintaine. This furye of theirs, at diuers times ſhewed by many of their inſtruments, did eſpecially manifeſt it ſelfe on the 29. of Ianuary laſt. At which time one Richard Walton hauing a commiſſion from the Archb. and others, wherein all her maieſties officers were chardged and commaunded in her name, to aſſiſt the ſayd VValton to make entry into all houſes, ſhops, &c: to apprehend all thoſe whome he ſhould any waies ſuſpect, and to commit them at his diſcretion vntounto the next Gaol or priſon, vntil farther order ſhould be taken with them, came into the place of mine aboad at Northampton, ranſacked my ſtudy, and tooke away with him all ſuch printed books and written papers as he himſelf thought good, what they were as yet I cannot juſtly tel. And not contented to keepe him ſelf within the immoderate limits of a larger commiſſion, then as I thinke can be warranted by lawe, he offered violence vntounto diuers perſons, and threatened not only to breake open doores (hauing noe ſuch commiſſion) but alſo to vntile houſes, vnleſſe he could find me where in deed I was not. At his departure he charged the Maior of the towne, who then attended vponupon him, to apprehend me as a traitor, giuing out that he had found in my ſtudy both printed bookes and alſo writings, which conteined treaſon in them. Whereas the bookes and writings of geateſt diſgrace (evē in the ſight of his maſter) which he could there finde, were, one printed p. 7coppy of the demonſtration of diſcipline, and an anſwere vntounto maſter D. Some in writing, both which he caried away with him. The treaſon conteined in either of thoſe books, is no other then that which Amaſiah the high prieſt at Bethel, found in Amos the prophet,Amos 7.Amos 7 euen the cleare words of truth not to be abidden in a corrupt ſtate of a church I graunt.

Behold nowe my Lordes, and you the reſt of this high court, the original and continuance of theſe mens enmity towards me. And judg whether I hauehave not greate reaſon, both for mine owne ſafety, and for the clearing of the cauſe wherein I ſtand, to vſe this lawful meanes of Appelation vntounto your Hh. and worſhips from their tirannous and vngodly dealing with whome neither mine owne innocency, nor yet the equity of the cauſe can any whit preuaile. They are knowne to be very mighty, and hauehave felt them very vnjuſt and tiranous. The only juſtice which I can expect from them, if I fall into their hands, is to be kept languiſhing in priſon during their pleaſure, and neuer ſuffered to come to the triall of my cauſe. If I hoped for any other meaſure, I ſhould reaſon contrary vntounto mine owne experience, againſt which no conceite ought to take place.

In conſideration wherof, being now by the lords prouidence kept out of theire handes, and that in the time of the meeting and aſſembly of the higheſt councell of this kingdome, I doe in moſt dutifull & humble ſort, make this my juſt appelation from the Archb. of Canterbury and the reſt of his colleagues in commiſſion, vntounto you of the honorable and high court of parliament, humbly referring my ſelfe and my cauſe vntounto your determination according vntounto juſtice. My only ſuite and petition is, that either I p. 8may hauehave aſſurance of quietnes and ſafety, or that the cauſes of my trouble being laide open by mine aduerſaries, I may receiue condigne puniſhment of mine offences. Where it may be ſeene that I craue no immunity, let me hauehave juſtice and that is all I craue. This in regard of your places you are bound to affoard me,If the high commiſſioners can juſtly charge me vvith anye crime, I doe them a great benefite, and greatly endammage my ſelfe, in appealing vntounto the parliament. as in the day of judgment you ſhall anſwere before him vntounto whome no vnrighteouſnes is acceptable. I doe mine aduerſaries no injury in appealing from them vntounto you. For they may be aſſured of juſtice at your hands, if they will adueuture to purſue their ſuite. And me they cannot blame in repairing vntounto you for judgment and equitie, ſeeing from their tribunal ſeat, I am like to receiue nothing elſe but gal and woormwood. If their cauſe againſt me be good, if it be ſtrong, if it be to be embraced, nowe let them not be aſhamed to bring it out into the face of the ſunn, here they may be aſſured of juſtice, without any ſuſpition of partiallity. My reaſons vſed in my laſt ſupplication vntounto your Hh. againſt their gouernment are but a fewe, if D. Bridges, or any of their ſide can anſwere them, I wil grant my ſelfe to hauehave oppugned the truth, and ſoe wil deſtroie my ſelfe that which I hauehave built amiſſe, otherwiſe they ſhewe them ſelues to be but vpholders of a ruinous building, and the repairers of that which wanteth a foundation. They can not refuſe you of the Parliament to be their judges, vnleſſe either they think much to be tried by you, or becauſe as it is in the prouerb, they which do euil hate the light.

They will it may be, alleage the prerogatiue of their commiſſion to be very large, what then? doe they think, herby to hauehave libertie to oppreſſe whom p. 9they will, doe they thinke hereby to be aboue the parliament, whereunto al courts in the land are and ought to be ſubiect, and from whence the highe commiſſion deriueth al the prerogatiue it hath? Are al courts, yea and al perſons in the land ſubiect vntounto the parliament only the Archb. and the high commiſſion excepted? What elſe were this but for them to claime a forreine authority vntounto them ſelues, and to begin after the manner of their prediceſſors, to ſhake of the yoke of the ciuil authoritie? Frō which ſuſpicion as they would cleare themſelues, ſo muſt they be content, to yeeld that the parliament may be the judges betwene vsus. Except they be aſhamed of their cauſe and their proceedings therein, they cannot poſſibly refuſe this offer of juſt trial. And no reaſon they ſhould, for they cannot pretend them ſelues either to be greater in power, or more forward in good wil to adminiſter juſtice, then the R. honourable aſſembly of parliament is well knowne to be. Though I feare me R. honorable & worſhipful, that the Lord wil enter into judgment with you for the ſmal care you hauehave to yeld his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus his right in this kingdome.

If heere they ſhould demaund by what authoritie, either I may lawfully appeale from them,That I am bound to appeale and the Parliament to receiue mine Appellation. or by what obligation your honors are bound to giuegive eare vntounto my complaint: although both be alredy ſhewed, yet a farther anſwere vntounto both are to enſue as followeth. I appeale from them at whoſe handes I can receiue no equitie,Act. 25.Acts 25 by the ſame commiſſion, that the apoſtle Paul and the prophet Ieremy appealed vntounto the ciuil magiſtrates from the vſurped and tirannical high prieſtes in their daies.Ierem. 26. 12.Jer 26:12 The accepting of Paules appellation by Feſtus an heathē p. 10judg, and the deliuery of Ieremy by the princes of Iudah from the ſlanderous accuſations and wrongful proceedings of the wicked prieſts and falſe prophets (beſides many other vnanſwerable reaſons) do neceſſarily bind me to appeale, and the parliament not to denie me the ſhadowe of their winges, vnderunder which I may be kept from the violence of mine enemies. when Feſtus willing to get fauour with the Iewes, vſed this ſpeech vntounto the apoſtle wilt thou goe then to Ieruſalem and there be judged of theſe things before me, Paul knowing that at Ieruſalem the malice of his enemies would be more likely to take effect then elſe where, anſwered I ſtād at Ceſars judgment ſeate, where I ought to be judged. If I hauehave done wronge, or committed any thing woorthy of death, I refuſe not to dye: but if there be non of theſe things true whereof they accuſe me, no man can deliuer me vntounto them, I appeal vntounto Ceſar, his appellation was receiued of the Pagan judge. Nowe my ſtate being not in reſpect of danger, altogeather vnlike the condition, wherein the holy Apoſtle was at this time, mine anſwere vntounto the high commiſſion is I appeale vntounto the parliament, where I ought to be judged. If I hauehave done any wronge or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuſe not to dye. The parliament wil not be partial in adminiſtring juſtice vntounto me according to my deſerts. But if there be nothing laied to my charge, but the defence of Gods cauſe, and the oppugning of impietie and corruption, no man ought to deliuer me into your hands, whoe care not whome you aflict in the maintenance of your owne kingdome, I appeale vntounto the parliament. I am in regard of my ſafety as neceſſarily driuen therunto, as the Apoſtle Paul was ro p. 11appeale vntounto Ceſar, or rather more. For he might conceiue ſome hope of juſtice, when he was to be judged of Feſtus, who did not ſo mortally hate his cauſe as the high prieſt and others his accuſers did, whereas I am to hauehave you for my judges, who alſo are mine accuſers, and ſworn enemies vntounto the cauſe I appeale to the ciuil ſtate, I hope by their meanes to be heard and deliuered from your tyrannie. As the prophet Ieremie was in the like caſe by meanes of the princes in his time. The high prieſts and prophets judged him wor…hie to die, the princes hearing his cauſe debated in their preſence, deliuered him out of danger.

The whol action is ſet downe cap. 26. of his propheſie in theſe words. Now when Ieremy had made an end of ſpeaking all that the lord had commaunded him to ſpeak vntounto al the people,Iere. …6. 6. 7.Jer 6:6Jer 6:7 then the priſts and the prophetes and all the people tooke him,It is no nevv thing to find the ſuppoſed pillers of the church to be the moſt peſtilent enemies thereof and ſaid thou ſhalt die the death. Why haſt thou propheſied in the name of Iehouath, ſaying, this houſe ſhalbe like Shilo, and this city ſhall be deſolate without an inhabitant. And al the people were gathered againſt Ieremy in the houſe of the Lo…d. And whē the princes of Iudah heard of theſe things they cam vp from the kings houſe into the houſe of the Lord, and ſate downe in the entry of the newe gate of the Lords houſe. Then ſpake the prieſts and the prophets vntounto the princes and to al the people ſaying: this man is worthy to dye▪ for he hath propheſied againſt this city as you hauehave heard with your eares. Then ſpake Jeremiah vntounto all the princes and to all the people ſaying, the Lord hath ſent me to propheſie againſt this houſe, & againſt this city al the things that you hauehave heard. therefore now amend your waies and p. 12your workes, and heare the voice of the Lord your god, that the lord may repent him of the plague that he hath pronounced againſt you. As for me: behold I am in your hands, doe with me as you think good & right: but knowe you for certaine that if you put me to death, you ſhall ſurely bring innocent bloud vppon your ſelues, vppon this City & vppon the inhabitants thereof: for of a trueth the lord hath ſent me vntounto you, to ſpeake al theſe wordes in your eares. Then ſpake the princes & al the people vntounto the prieſts & prophets: this man is not worthye to dye, for he hath ſpoken vntounto vsus in the name of the lord our god.

Let my cauſe now right Honourable, be weighed with the prophecy in this place, thereby it ſhal appeare vntounto you, that neceſſitie is laied vppon me to appeale from mine aduerſaries, and that yee are bound to heare my cauſe, by the example of theſe noble men. Jeremy was judged by his enemies worthy to dy, and I aſſure my ſelfe it was not their falt that he was ſuffered to liue. They wanted but power and opportunity to diſpatch him. They did what in them lay when they apprehended him, and adjudged him woorthy to die for ſpeaking againſt the State. The princes hearing the greeuouſnes of his accuſation, thought them ſelues bound to try out the matter, and ſitting in judgment, heard the cauſe equally on both ſides, and ſo cleared the prophet. Nowe had Ieremy done wel, if hearing the greuous accuſations of his enemies, he would not hauehave taken th'oportunitie offered him by the lords prouidence to hauehave judgment at the hands of the princes? he had not out of queſtion, or had the princes don wel in beleeuing th'accuſations and ſlaunders of the priſts and falſe prophets againſt him, and ſo in permitting p. 13the prophet to be debarred of his libertie, without any farther examination of the matter, or had they done wel in ſitting ſtil, while the pore prophet and his mighty aduerſaries tried out the matter? They ſawe an other duty to be required of them and therefore preſently without delay they holpe him that was ready to periſh. The caſe is now with me as it was then with the prophet: I am judged by th'Archb. of Canterbury and others in commiſſion with him, to be a man vnworthy to liue in any State And I hauehave more cauſe to thanke the Lord for the peaceable gouernment of her right excellent majeſtie, thē for any fauour of mine enemies that I now breath aboue the earth: I muſt either appeale from them, or be guiltie of mine owne blood. I appeale therefore vntounto the high court of Parliament, and if ye therein aſſembled, either credite the ſlaunders of mine aduerſaries before ye know the cauſe, or ſit ſtil in rejecting my juſt Appellation, and ſuffer them to perſecute mee without a cauſe. Festus an heathen Iudge, and the princes of Iud…h, will riſe vp in judgment againſt you. For the ſame God that required at their hands the deliuery of his ſeruants out of the handes of their rauening enemies, requireth of you th' equall hearing of my cauſe. And if ye ſuffer me to fall by their meanes, you ſhall bring innocent blood vponupon your owne ſelues and this whole kingdome.

My caſe at this time is the caſe of the poore, the fatherleſſe, the ſtranger and the widdowe, and therefore in that reſpect, ye ought to hauehave a ſpecial conſideration of it. For not to deliuer the widdowe and the fatherleſſe from the violence of the oppreſſor, when it lieth in your power, what is it elſe but for p. 14to oppreſſe the poore the widow and the fatherles, concerning whome the Lord hath thus ſpoken,They are to be accounted oppreſſors vvhichwhich vvill not if they may deliuer the oppreſſed. If thou vex or trouble ſuch, & ſo he cal and cry vntounto me, ſurely I wil heare his cry. And then ſhal my wrath be kindled & I wil kil you with the ſword, and your wiues ſhalbe widowes, and your children fatherleſſe. Either then by graunting vntounto me righteouſe judgment,Exod.22.23.Exod 22:23 ye of the parliament muſt deliuer me from oppreſſion and wrong, or I muſt be forced to account you among the number of mine oppreſſors. And you knowe, that being oppreſſed and troaden downe, I am bound to cry to the Lord for aide, otherwiſe, I ſhal diſobey his commaundement, Pſal. 50. 15. Acquainting him with my griefe he hath promiſed to heare my ſuite, what will followe thereof, you cannot I am ſure be ignorant. For then he hath proteſted that his wrath wil be kindled againſt you & that he will deuour you with the ſword, and cauſe your wiues to be widowes, and your children fatherleſſe, doe ye not then ſee your ſelues bound to receiue mine appellation with ſuch a bond, as in wiſdome ye ought to take heede that ye incurre not the danger thereof.

Although then I be a thouſand degrees inferiour vntounto mine aduerſaries, in regard of outward things: yet by the mercies of the Lorde, I hauehave the vpper hand of them, in the goodneſſe and equitie of my ſuite. For I come vntounto you in the name of God, moſt humbly intreating, and earneſtly beſeeching, that in a good matter, euen in my right, I be not ouerthrowen by the power of vnconſcionable enemies, and therefore many waies, I come not without th'vnreaſonable ſupport of my peticion. I come euen with that warrant, by the vertue whereof the p. 15poore, the widowe, the fatherleſſe and the ſtranger are of due to hauehave their right againſt the mightieſt potentate vnderunder the ſunn. And that is the commandement of the Lord of heauen and earth, concerning th' adminiſtration of juſtice without partialitie: you ſhal hauehave no reſpect of perſons in judgment ſaieth the Lord, Deut. 1. 17.Deut 1:17but ſhal heare the ſmall as the great, you ſhal not feare the fuce of man, for the iudgment is Gods. And again, you ſhal not doe vniuſtly in iudgment. Thou ſhalt not fauour the perſon of the poore, Leuit. 19. 15Lev 19:15nor honor the perſon of the mightie, but ſhalt iudg thy neighbour righteouſly, Theſe ye knowe are the commaundements of the land, wherby ye are bound to heare me vnleſſe ye think you may hauehave reſpect of perſons in judgment, for if the Archb. or any of his aſſociats came vntounto you to be heard againſt me, you would eaſely condiſcend vntounto the motion. The like fauor are ye bound to ſhewe vntounto me, becauſe you are to heare the ſmal as well as the great, and ought not to fauour the perſon of the mightie. It is not vnknowne vntounto you, what the prophet Eſaiah ſpake of the judges in his time,Eſai. 1. 23. 24Isa 1:23Isa 1:24 becauſe they would not help the fatherleſſe to his right, nor ſuffer the widowes cauſe to come before them, would ye avoide the juſt deſert of that reprehenſion? Then I beſeech you helpe me to my right, and ſuffer my cauſe to come before you, leaſt it may be truely ſaide of you, that you execute no judgment, no not the judgment of the fatherles and oppreſſed.

And albeit you wil not doe this in regarde of my perſon which a… as the fatherleſſe, as the poore and as the ſtranger, yet deny me not the ſame, either in …ſpect of the cauſe of God for the which I am t…oubled, or in conſideration of th' equity of mine p. 16aduerſaries, from whome I can neither hope for juſtice in my trial, nor ſafety from danger. The cauſe of this my trouble and perill (as before hath bene briefly touched) is only that the Lord vouchſafed me the fauour, to motion a redreſſe of the great ignorance and corruption which at this day raigneth in the church within my country. And becauſe I doe not conceile that which in conſcience I am bounde to lay open:namely, that the blindnes and ignorance of our blind & ignorant guides, the tiranny, vnlawful bondage, and vnjuſt oppreſſion of Gods church by vngodly, and tiranical Lord Biſhops, with the reſt of th'vnlawful church gouernoures (who euen by vertue of their places cannot chuſe but oppreſſe the church of God) are the ready and direct waie, not only to kepe my countrimen from eternal life, but alſo to bringe the Lords wrath vppon vsus, our prince, maieſtrats, people, and the whol kingdome. So that I am moleſted for ſoliciting the cauſe of God, the cauſe of mens ſoules, the cauſe of her maieſtie, and the State, with whome the Lord (with out ſpeedy repentance) is not likely to beare any longer, for the manifold corruptions of our church. I am moleſted becauſe I cannot be content that my countrymen ſhould want the means of their ſaluation, and ſo run headlong to their owne eternall ruine, and becauſe I am not ſilent at the miſerable prophanation of Gods ſanctuary, by ſwine and vncleane beaſtes: I am moleſted becauſe I ſuffer not without any ſhewe of diſlike, the holy miniſtery of the Lord and the ſacred gouernment of his church, to be a pray vntounto ſuch men as are not worthy to liue in any wel ordered common wealth, much leſſe in a reformed church: I am moleſted becauſe I hold it p. 17vnlawful for any man to take vppon him the care, charge, and ouerſight of thoſe ſoules, whome he cannot poſſibly feede, guide, and direct in the paths and paſtures of eternal life: I am moleſted becauſe with the holy Apoſtle Peter, I think it vnlawfull for any miniſter to be Lord ouer gods heritage, 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2.1 Pet 5:11 Pet 5:2and thinke the judgment of our Sauiour to be ſounde, who held it vnlawful for his miniſters to Rule like Lordes: Luk. 22. 25.Luke 22:25I am moleſted becauſe I hold that which is ſet downe Heb. 3. 6. to be true, whereby I am inforced to confeſſe, that as non but Moſes or ſome other prophet, by the expreſſe commaundement of God, was to ordaine th'officers of the church vnderunder the lawe. So non but our Sauiour Chriſt, or his apoſtles in the expreſſe written word, are to ordaine the officers of the churche gouernement vnderunder the newe couenaunt. I am alſo moleſted, becauſe (being conſtrained by the former ſcripture, Hebr. 3. 6.) to acknowledge that our Sauiour lefte an externall gouernement of his Church, and ſo is equall with Moſes: and ſuch a gouernement as cannot be changed by any but himſelfe, and ſo is ſuperior vntounto Moſes. I am driuen to confeſſe this vnchangeable forme of externall church gouernement ordained by him, to be a gouernment, th' execution whereof, is committed to theſe 4. officers: namely, Teaching Pastors & Doctors, gouerning Elders, & ministring Deacons, becauſe I finde non other officers or offices, either expreſſed or included in the Newe Teſtament: Apoſtles, Prophetes and Euangeliſtes onelyonly excepted, which being remooued out of the Churche by the Lord himſelfe, the boldnes of our Biſhops & their defenders is intolerable, in demanding why Paſtors, Doctors, Elders and deacons, ſhould be permanent: p. 18ſeeing Apoſtles, Prophets and Euangeliſts were but temporarie. As though the Lord himſelfe were not of ſufficient wiſedome to ordaine what he thought good in the gouerment of his Church: or as though he were bounde, either to continue Apoſtles, Prophets, and Euangeliſts, or to abrogate th'other 4. offices, & vnderunder the Goſpell to hauehave no gouerment of his appointment, muchleſſe vnchangeable. I am moleſted becauſe I made it knowne, that to maintaine a Churche gouernement, which at the pleaſure of man according to the diuers eſtates of the Church may be changeable: is flatly to ouerthrowe the prerogatiue, whereby Chriſte Ieſus is aboue Moſes, in th'ordering of his owne houſe. Th'outwarde regement whereof, cannot be held chaungeable vnderunder the Goſpell, according to times, places, countries & ſtates, but Chriſt Ieſus muſt be made inferior vntounto Moſes, contrary to th'expreſſe decree and counſell of th'eternall God, Heb. 3. 6. Briefly, I am moleſted becauſe I made it knowen, that the gouernment of the Church by L. Biſhops and Archbiſhops, (being as they themſelues graunt, a temporarie gouernement, fit for the Church in time of peace,D. Bridges page 284. but not of perſecution,T. C. pa. 135. 76. and neuer ordained by the Lorde, but inuented by man to preuent ſchiſmes, &c.) is intollerable in Gods Church, becauſe it maketh Chriſt Ieſus to hauehave ordained, either a changeable church gouernement of his owne houſe, or none at all, and ſo to be far leſſe faithfull in Gods houſe then Moſes was.

Theſe and ſuch like (my Lordes) are the cauſes why th'Archb. and his, are ſo bloodily affected towardes me. And I hauehave (as mine aduerſaries themſelues confeſſe) alleadged vntounto you the true cauſe p. 19of their hatred and enmitie. For if th'Archb. &c. were demaunded by this honourable aſſembly, why they impriſoned me, why they rifeled my ſtudie, & tooke away my writinges, why they now ſeeke for me: their preſent anſwere would be, that I am an enemie to the preſent gouernment of the cleargie, eſtabliſhed by her Majeſties prerogatſue and the conſent of the State. And what is this in effect, but becauſe I thinke Chriſt Ieſus to be more faithfull in the gouernment of his owne houſe then Moſes was.

I know in deed, that for this cauſe they giuegive out, that I am an enemie to her Majeſties gouernment, a ſeditious and diſcontented ſubject, guiltie of many attemptes and practiſes againſt her royall prerogatiue, and one that intendeth nothing els, but the vtter innouation of the ſtate: wherein I doe acknowledge th' auncientThe crimes vvherevvith. and perpetuall ſlaunder of Gods trueth and his ſeruants in all ages.Gods, trueth and his ſeruants hauehave bene charged in all ages, are treaſon and ſedition. For it hath bene the continuall courſe and practize of the diuell at all times, to laye matter of ſtate vntounto their charge, that hauehave gainſaid any of thoſe corruptions which his inſtruments hauehave maintained in Gods holy ſeruice. And if our Biſhops ſhould new refraine from this ſlaunder, then could they not ſo manifeſtly diſcrie themſelues (as they doe) to be their naturall ſucceſſors, whoſe roomes in this age, they ſupplie in the defence of the kingdome of darkeneſſe and ignorance.

Our Sauiour Chriſte was guiltie of ſo many and ſo outragious practiſes, againſt the State wherein he liued, as Pilate the Iudge could not ſaue his life, and be a friend vntounto Ceſar.

This did the high prieſt openly proteſt againſt him, Iohn. 19. 12. And can we then maruel that his p. 20trueth in this age among our high prieſts is ſubiect vntounto the ſame obloquie? Tertullus th'orator would not be tedious in accuſing th'apoſtle Paule: if Felix of his curteſie would but heare him a few words, he would briefly lay forth the cauſe of the Iewes hatred towards the apoſtle in this ſorte.Act. 24. 5.Acts 24:5 Certainly wee hauehave found this man a peſtilent fellowe, and a mouer of ſedition among the Jewes thorough out the world, and a chief mainteiner of the ſect of the Nazarites. The wicked Iewes alſo Act. 17. 6. 7. miſſing of Paul and Silas, drew Iaſon with certaine other brethren vntounto the heads of the city crying.Act. 17. 6. 7.Acts 17:6Acts 17:7 Theſe are they that hauehave ſubuerted the State of the world, and here they are that gainſay the decrees of Ceſar, ſaying that there is an other king on Jeſus &c: where I do the leſſe maruel, that ſedition and treaſon is laied to my charge, for maintaining the trueth, in aſmuch as the Biſhopps them ſelues in their allowed tranſlation of the great Bible, vppon the fore aleaged place of Act. 17. hauehave giuen this note, namely. That the common and vſuall weapons which the wicked vſe againſt the members of Chriſt, The Bishops note.are treaſon and ſedition. Their wicked ſlander againſt al that ſeeke the reformation of our church, and particularly againſt me, hauehave verified the truth of this doctrine, for aſſoone as any ſhewe their diſlike of theſe corruptions, with a deſire to ſee Chriſt bearing ſway in the church of England by his owne lawes, they preſently exclaime, that theſe are the men which ſubuert the ſtate of the Realm, and that gainſay the decrees of her maieſtie, affirming that there is an other Soueraigne, whoſe alone lawes muſt be harkened vntounto, and whoſe alone offices are to be allowed of in the gouernment of the church, and that is Chriſt Ieſus th'eternall ſonne of the liuing p. 21God: in deed if to defend the prerogatiue which he ought to hauehave in appointing th'officers & gouernors of his church, be ſedition and treaſon, I doe confeſſe in deed, that after the way which they cal ſedition and treaſon: ſo ſerue I the God of my fathers. But this is non other treaſon then that where vntounto our Sauiour Chriſt and his apoſtles before me hauehave giuen their hands and conſented: and none other treaſon then that, wherevpon all Kings and Queenes do firmly lay the foundation of their royall crownes and Scepters. And therefore ye of the parliament, ought to be ſo farr from being mooued with theſe ſhamefull reportes, nowe raiſed by our Biſhops againſt Chriſt Ieſus, againſt his trueth and his members, as ye ſhould not permitt ſuch profane mouthes, that preſume in this ſort, to whette their tongues againſt heauen, and him that ſitteth therein, to eſcape vnpunniſhed. The forgers of theſe palpable vntruethes, confeſſe themſelues, that Treaſon and Sedition are th'ordinarie weapons of the wicked againſt the members of Chriſte, which in deede hath bene th'armour wherewith the diuell in all ages, hath furniſhed his champions againſt the truth. And I cannot blame our Biſhops for being skilfull in this accuſation, ſeeing ſo many of their predeceſſors hauehave in the like cauſe, troaden the like path before them.

Amos no ſooner began to vtter the trueth in Bethel, but Amaſiah the high prieſt there preſently ſmelled out his dangerous attempts. And therefore like a good ſubiect in the ſingular good will he bare vntounto his Soueraigne Lord, Ieroboam the ſonne of Ioaſh king of Iſrael, he waded farther into the matter, and at length found Amos his treaſon and ſedition p. 22to be ſo intollerable, as the Land was no longer able to beare it. Eſpecially ſeeing th'enterpriſes of the prophet were taken in hand even in the middeſt of the kingdome, to ſtir vp the ſubiects to innouation, in regard whereof, the high prieſt ſawe him ſelfe bound in conſcience to ſend Ieroboam this meſſage. Amos hath conſpired againſt thee, Amos. 7. 11. 12.Amos 7:11Amos 7:12in the middeſt of the houſe of Iſrael, the land is not able to beare his words, for he hath openly ſpoken that which the Lord hath put into his mouth. The like treachery in the place before ſet down,Ierem. 2. 6.Jer 2:6 did the prieſts and the prophets finde in Jeremiah: yea and ſuch is the care which the lims of Sathan hauehave of the ciuil maieſtrate, that rather then kings and princes ſhould be honored with the maintenance of a perfect building of Gods church, they can preſently finde no leſſe then ſedition and treaſon in their purpoſes, that indeuoure to further that worke.

When Jeruſalem began to be reedified, in the daies of Artaxerxes, the men beyond the riuer knew well enough, that the building of Gods church and th'eſtabliſhing of his true ſeruice amongſt men, is ſtraight way a wicked and a rebellious enterpriſe. For which cauſe they ſent word vntounto the king, that if Jeruſalem a city rebellious and wicked, ſhould be once built, the kings tribute thereby ſhould be diminiſhed, and becauſe they had bin brought vp in the kings court, and that it was not meet for them to ſee the kings diſhonor, they ſent him word, that if hee would ſearch the booke of the Chronicles of his father, he ſhoulde finde the true Churche of God to hauehave bene alwaies rebellious & noiſome vntounto kings and princes, and to hauehave mooued ſeditions of olde: for which cauſe alſo it had bene deſtroyed. And further p. 23they certified him that if he would ſuffer the church to be reedified, by that meanes the portion beyond the riuer ſhould not be his.Ezra. 2. 19.Ezra 2:19 Nor long after this time Nehemias with the Elders of the Iewes ſtrengthened their hands to finiſh the building of Ieruſalem. What ſaith Sanballat, and Tobiah a ſeruant, what a thing is this you doe? will you rebell againſt the King? As if the building of Gods church could not chuſe, but be a rebellious interpriſe. You ſee by theſe examples right honorable, that it is the lotte of Gods ſeruants, to be accounted, ſeditious men, and traitors vntounto princes and ſtates, whenſoeuer they doe, but ſet their faces towards the building of the Lords houſe, and you ſee apparantly by theſe teſtimonies, that it is no newe found ſlaunder which the high commiſſioners hauehave forged againſt me, but an auncient quarrell of the Diuell in all ages and times againſt Gods trueth.

Which may be the better manifeſted if you doe conſider, if either they can alleadge no reaſon of their accuſation, or the ſame (if they do ſhewe any) is becauſe I afforad my bounden ſeruice vntounto the trueth.2. Infallible marks of the enemies of the trueth. For th…ſe are infallible markes, whereby awicked enemy of the trueth, and a ſlaunderer of the members of Chriſt may be knowne, namely, that either he can yeald no reaſon of his ſlaunder (becauſe he thinketh it ſufficient for him in that cauſe, to inuent an vntrueth without any proofe) or his reaſon ſhalbe becauſe the ſeruants of God, doe faithfully employ them ſelues in the ſeruice of their maiſter, Rheum and Geſhem accuſed Ieruſalem of rebelliō, ſo did Sanballat accuſe Nehemias, and the Elders of the Iewes. But how prooued they their accuſations? They neede not to labour that way, becauſe p. 24they ſlaundered the church of God, and the true members thereof, againſt whome for the mo…t part, a ſlaunder without proofe wil be in ſteed of a thouſand witneſſes. Ieremiah was accounted worthie to die by the priſts and prophets in his time, and what was their reaſon? Why ſay they, he hath propheſied in the name of the Lord,Ierem. 2. 6. 9.Jer 2:6Jer 2:9 ſaying, This City ſhalbe made deſolate without an inhabitant. Lo heer my Ll. the infalliable markes of the ſlaunders and enemies of Gods children, and where you finde theſe marks giuegive judgment accordingly. Nowe may it pleaſe your honors to demaund of the high commiſſion, why they account me to be a diſturber of the peace of our church, and a ſeditious perſon. Either they wil think them ſelues not bound to giuegive any reaſon of their accuſation, becauſe againſt thoſe that ſeeke the wealth of Ieruſalem, any vntrueth wilbe admitted, or their reaſon wilbe becauſe I hold it vnlawful for them to liue in popiſhe callings, to be Lords ouer their bretheren, to ſmother the trueth, to rob Chriſt of his honor, and his church of her libertie, or to ſpeake in their owne wordes, becauſe I diſlike the gouernment of the church by L. Archb. and Lord Bb. eſtabliſhed by the prerogatiue of hir majeſtie and the parliament. Hereby in trueth declaring, that in perſecuting me a worm of the earth, they are imployed in his cauſe, with whom I feare me, vnleſſe they repent, they ſhal hauehave their reward for ſpeaking euill of the trueth. For what elſe doe they, in giuing out that I am a ſeditious perſon, for oppugning the gouernment of Archb. and L. Bb. & for maintaining the gouernement by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders and Deacons, but affirme the defence of Gods trueth, to be ſedition, and the defence of p. 25the libertie of his Churche to be treaſon? Will the par…iament then ſuffer the cauſe of God to be thus ſhameful…y abuſed, by wicked and prophane men? Well my Ll. though you receiue not my Appellation in regarde of my ſelfe: yet ſuffer the trueth to come before you. Suffer not the cauſe of God and his Church, for want of juſt triall, to fall into ignomie and diſcredit. Let it neuer be ſaid, that Feſtus an heathen Iudge, ſhould be more fauorable in ſupporting the credite of Gods trueth and the profeſſors thereof, then the parliament of England would be.

The ſpilling of my blood for this cauſe, though it be a matter to be regarded of you that are in authoritie: yet I thanke he Lorde, it is not the thing that I feare: For by his ineſtimable goodnes, I finde my ſelfe an vnworthye wretche, to be one of them, who in this cauſe are not afraide of death when it commeth,Iob. 5. 21. 24.Job 5:21Job 5:24 and one of them that may laugh at death and deſtruction, becauſe I knowe the beaſt & ſtones of the fielde to be at league with me, and that euerlaſting peace for euer and euer, ſhall be vntounto me of the Lords free and vndeſerued reward. But the diſcrediting of the truth by my hard vſage, is the thing that I regarde, and the ſpilling of my blood for defending the trueth, and writing againſt impietie, is it, that I feare me, will make this lande an aſtoniſhment to our neighbors round about vsus. Be it then, that my complaint at this time, were not the complaint of the oppreſſed and the ſtraunger: yet inaſmuch as it is the cauſe of Chriſt Ieſus, for the which I am perſecuted, you are bound to receiue mine Appellation. And here me thinks, the Lord demandeth of you that are parlament mē, as ſomtimes he did of the people of Iudah, what iniquitie you finde in the p. 26Church gouernment by teaching Paſtors and Doctors, gouerning Elders, miniſtring Deacons, that you hauehave not onelyonly committed two euils, the one in refuſing that gouernement: th'other in chuſing to your ſelues, theſe broken pits, I meane the gouernment of Archb. Lord Bb. which can holde in them nothing profitable to Gods Church: but alſo think thoſe that plead for Chriſts intereſt vnworthie your protection and countenance, againſt the injuſt and cruell enemies, and the cauſe wherein they ſtande, vnworthie your defence? The Lord I ſaye, demaundeth what iniquitie you finde in the gouernment of his ſonne, that you hauehave thus altogether rejected and forſaken the ſame, and cannot abide (I ſpeake now vntounto ſuch as are enemies therevnto) to hauehave it conſulted vponupon in your meeting. The beſt anſwere, which in this point you can make, are of late publiſhed by the publike authoritie of the Biſhops thē ſelues.

Let theſe reaſons then be briefely examined,The Bb. reaſons in the defence of their hierarchie, and againſt chriſts true gouernment examined. & ſee whether they will be a ſufficient warrant for her Majeſtie and you in the day of Chriſte Ieſus, to refuſe his gouernment, and to imbrace this hierarchy of Bb. in ſteed thereof.

Firſt, it is ſaide that this hierarchie is eſtabliſhed by the authoritie of her Majeſtie & the parliament.T. C. Epiſt. page 2. The Lord anſwereth, that for this cauſe, the Nauie of the Spaniarde of late, threatned our deſtruction▪ and that for this cauſe we hauehave had extreme famine in all our quarters, deare yeares, and many an vnſeaſonable harueſt; and that for this cauſe, he threatened to take away our dread ſoueraign (whom good Lord ſpare in thy mercies, and crowne with eternal bleſſednes for thy ſonnes ſake) by ſo many conſpiracies, p. 27as hauehave bene villanouſly attempted within our land, and therefore warneth her Majeſty & you of this honorable courte, that vnleſſe you woulde feele his heauie hand vntounto your deſtructiō, that this wicked and peſtilent gouernment of L. Bb. ſhoulde be no longer maintained by your prerogatiue.

Secondly,T. C. pa. 16. & page 140. it is alleaged, that this gouernment by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders and Deacons, was inuented by, they know not whom, and that it is not yet proued, that any ſuch gouernment was in the primitiue Church.

VVhy this is more then ſhameleſſe impudencie, Is not that prooued in the 31. yeare of the raigne of Queene Elizabeth, to hauehave bene at all in the primitiue Church, which our booke of common prayer, in the beginning of her Majeſties raigne, teſtified to hauehave beene therein, and to ſhewe the neceſſitie thereof, declareth that we are to wiſhe for the diſcipline then practized? Thus you may ſee, that our Bb. to ſaue themſelues harmeleſſe, take leaue when they thinke good,Before the Commination on Ashvvedneſdaye to croſſe the booke of Common prayer in that which is moſt true, and which their owne writings graunt to be true, whereas they crie treaſon, treaſon, when other men do not allow that which is amiſſe therein. And you may alſo ſee howe fit they are to lead others in the way of life, who are now growne ſo ſharpe ſighted, as they will ſweare, that at noone dayes they can ſee no light, whereas in the very morning they themſelues ſawe the vpriſing of the ſun. But to anſwer this point in a word, the Lord maketh it knowne vntounto the parliament of England, that his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus, was the author and ordainer of this Church gouernement, whiche vncleane mouthes affirme, to be inuented by they p. 28know not whome: yea, but our Bb. proteſt, that the opinion which now th…y hauehave of their owne gouerment will not be ſhaken,T. C. page 8. vntill they be reſolued in two points, whereof now they are ignorant.

Firſt, that a direct commaundement be brought out of the word to prooue, that there ſhould be in all ages and ſtates of the church of Chriſt,This is a popish demand one onelyonly forme of gouernement. Secondly, that ſome particular churches be ſet downe, wherein the deſired gouernment by Paſtors, doctors, Elders, & Deacons was practiſed. The high court of parliament is here ſōmoned by the Lord of heauen, to judg whether the iniquity of theſe men be to be borne with, who bluſh not to ſpeake euel of that vpright waie, whereof they acknowledge them ſelues to be meetly ignorant, why would they not require a reſolution of their doubts, before they had gainſaid the holy ordinance of the lord, and accuſe the ſame as traiterous vntounto her maieſties gouernment, and dangerous vntounto the ſtate?An anſvvere to the Bb. 3. & 4. reaſons. but concerning the former of their demaundes, the Lord anſwereth, that there is a direct commaundement in the word, whereby the church in all ages and ſtates, is enjoined to acknowledg the Lord Ieſus to be ſuperior vntounto Moſes.

And therefore alſo that there is a direct commaundement in his word, whereas by all adges and times, are bound to hauehave on only outward forme of church gouernment. The latter queſtion though it be a popiſh interrogatorie, is yet ſatiſfied without any greate labour. For the church of Rome, Phillippi, Epheſus,Rom. 12. 6. 7.Rom 12:6Rom 12:7 Derbe Liſtra,8. Act. 20. 28. & 14. 23.Acts 20:28Acts 14:23 &c.Phil. 1.Phil 1 with many others mē tioned in the word, practiſed this gouernment by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and deacons. And if Chriſt Ieſus be as faithful in Gods houſe, as Moſes was, it p. 29is cleare that no church, as before was touched in what age or ſtate ſoeuer, can hauehave any lawful gouerment eſtabliſhed, but only this, by Paſtors, Doctors Elders, and Deacons, becauſe no church vnderunder the lawe could hauehave any lawful eſtabliſhed gouerment but that preſcribed by Moſes.

Whereby the pretence that other churches profeſſing the Goſpel hauehave not this gouernment,T C. pag 82. Our Bb. 5. reaſon anſvvered. is euidently ſhewed to be nothing elſe, but a profe that other churches hauehave their imperfections and are not as yet ſo farr built, as the Lord requireth. Aſa was a godly King, and reformed many things in the houſe of God: yet the Idolatrous high places remained al his daies. Theſe high places were the blemiſh, and imperfections of his gouernment. Nowe were it any reaſon becauſe he was a godly King, that therefore the ſpots of the church vnderunder him ſhould be the paterne of Ioſiahs reformation, and that the high places ſhould ſtil be continued? It muſt needs be ſo if our Bb. manner of reaſoning againſt the Lords holy ordinances be good and allowable.

In the ſixth place the inconueniences of receauing this gouernment of the Lords ordaining are ſaide to be ſo greate,T. C. pag. 16 Our Bb. 6. reaſon. that the attempting thereof might bring rather the overthrowe of the Goſpell heere amongſt vsus, then the end that is deſired. If the receiuing of the Lordes diſcipline, be inconuenient vntounto any ſtate, that is not the fault of god his ordinance, but the ſinne of men, which hauehave made their eſtate out of ſquare, as Chriſt cannot be wholly receaued thereunto without their likely detriment. To gainſay the trueth, becauſe an inconuenience wil followe the embracing of it, is an argument not to be heard of amongſt chriſtians. For our Sauiour p. 30Chriſt him ſelfe affirmed it, to be no light matter to enter into the kingdome of heauen, and therefore declareth them to be vnfit diſciples for him,Luk. 13. 14. & 14. 26.Luke 13:14Luke 14:26 that wil not enter thereunto through manye tribulations: yea and forſake all earthly comforts,Matth. 16. 24Matt 16:24 much leſſe the maintenance of their outward eſtate,Mark. 8. 35.Mark 8:35 rather then not to followe him in all the waies wherein he requireth their obedience. To pretend inconueniences then, in this cauſe bewraieth an hollowe hart vntounto Gods glory. And yet it is not halfe ſo inconuenient to bring in Chriſtes gouernment, as it was to expel popery. If her maieſtie and the parliament would agree to eſtabliſh the ſame, al inconueniences would be ſoone preuented. The feare of ouerthrowing the Goſpel by that meanes, is a ſlaunderous ſurmiſe, and vndutiful vntounto her maieſty and the ſtate, vnleſſe our Bb. be guiltie vntounto them ſelues of ſome ſuch purpoſes, I knowe not why this ſhould be aleadged.

The inconueniences are, firſt the alteration of the whole ſtate of the lawes of this realme, as the vtter ouerthrowe of the ſtudie of the ciuil lawe and the alteration of the ciuil and common lawe. As though al theſe things coulde not be helped by one act of parliament. Popery had more ſhew and coulor of trueth to reaſon thus for it ſelfe, in the raigne of our late Soueraigne of famous memory, King Henry the 8. So had heathen Idolatry in the daies of Ioſiah, or Hezekiah. They that vſe ſuch arguments ſhew them ſelues to be giuen ouer to withſtand the trueth. I hope the Parliament wil admit of no ſuch reaſon, as theſe are. Chriſt Jeſus must not be allowed by his owne lawes to rule in ſtate, he muſt needes be decreede by our lawes inferiour vntounto Moſes, and that becauſe p. 31we wil not aulter the ſtate of our lawes, we wil not hauehave the ſtudye of the ciuil lawe ouerthrowne. We muſt not greatly wonder, that papiſts and Mahometiſts doe kepe Chriſts holy and ſacred verity out of their dominions: ſeeing in a ſtate profeſſing the true God, ſuch godleſſe men are found, as tremble not to publiſh and vtter their vngodly conceits in this ſort, againſt Gods heauenly ordinances: and eſpecially, ſeeing in a ſtate profeſſing the true God, ſuch pretences are of force to keepe out Chriſts ſoueraigne and kingly gouernement. I hope that you who are parliament men, ſee this kinde of reaſoning to bee ſuch, as will ſtand in no account at the dreadfull day of judgement. That which is ſpoken of Ciuillians, is alſo ſlanderous. For they liue by temporall courts, and therefore it is not neceſſarie that their profeſſion ſhould decay, when the Antichriſtian gouernement of Archb. and Lord Bb. is expelled out of our Churche. Further our Archb. and L. Bb. vſurpe the determination of many ciuil cauſes, in the deciding whereof, Ciuillians might be well imployed. And is it more reaſon in deede, that the true Churche of God ſhould want the vſe of Chriſts holy lawes and ſtatutes, then the ſtudie of the Ciuill law? O moſt ſhamefull ſpeeche to be conceiued, much more to be publiſhed in print (and that by Biſhopps) in the dayes of the Goſpell. But what dare not they publiſh, who profeſſe themſelues to gainſay the way of trueth?

And therefore they are not aſhamed to giuegive out,T. C. pag. 8. that the deſired alteration of Church gouernment, would bring the judiciall law of the Iewes into our ſtate. This is a lewd ſlaunder. For Chriſts gouernement neceſſarily, requireth no part of the Iewiſhe p. 32lawe, to be receiued into any common wealth: but that which is morall.

It is further objected,T. C. pag. 87. that the lawes maintaining the Queens ſupremacy in gouerning of the church, and hir prerogatiue in Eccleſiaſticall cauſes, muſt be abrogated, or els Chriſte cannot raigne in our ſtate. The reaſon whereof (right honourable) you hauehave heard before alleaged, both by the Iewes vntounto Pilate: namely, that our Sauiour Chriſte Ieſus, is a deadly enemie vntounto Ceſar, and alſo by Rehum, and the men beyond the riuer vntounto Artaxerxes. For as they noted, the building of the true church of God cannot chuſe, but be an hindrance vntounto princes. For Ieruſalem is knowne of olde to be a rebellious citie. But remember then, O my God, if they belong not vntounto thee, that thus ſlander the trueth, and the vpright ordinances of thy ſonne Chriſt Ieſus, and if they be thine, conuert them ſpeedily. My Lords, & you the reſt of the parliament, as you hauehave any care of the glory of your God, ſee that the enemies of reformation, may either deciſt from their forgerie againſt the trueth, or prooue their accuſations. The Lord will judge you, euen as you judge his cauſe, now offered vntounto your conſideration. Wherefore as you will anſwer before him, & as you mean to hauehave any fauor at his hand, deliuer the cauſe of his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus from this ignomie.

There is yet in this point, another fault founde with the gouernment of Chriſte,It is reaſon that all ſtates should be maintained ſauing the eſtat of chriſts kingdome. and another great reaſon alleaged, why the hierarchie of Bb. ſhoulde be maintained: and it is, that the one of the 3. ſtates vponupon the authoritie, whereof the lawes of England hauehave hitherto ſtood, cannot without great inconuenience be now ouerthrowen. Wherevnto the Lord p. 33replieth, that the goſpell of his ſonne, was brought into this kingdome by the 2. Eſtates, to wit, by the temporall Lords of the vpper, and the commons of the lower houſe: whereas ſince a thirde Eſtate, vz. Lords ſpirituall (as they are called) was added vntounto the 2. former, little or no good hath bene enacted for the glorye of God by that counſell. And if our State had bene contented, according to the order of nature, to ſtand vponupon two legs, it is not to be doubted, but that all the wounds and ſores of our church had bene healed, and Chriſts diſcipline long ago eſtabliſhed to our comfort, and to the vnſpeakeable good of our poſterities. Moreouer, the Lord threateneth aſſuredly, becauſe of this monſtrous and vnnatural leg: wherevpon our lawes vntounto this day, are falſly ſaid to hauehave ſtood, and by the power whereof, all the world knoweth, this kingdom to hauehave withſtood the right of his ſoone, to laye our whole ſtate euen with the grounde, ſo that it ſhall hauehave nothing whereby it may be vpheld. And L. Bb. hauehave no better intereſt to vphold our lawes then Lorde Abbots hauehave. The ſtate may as well want the one as the other, and with as ſmall inconvenience.

There is added as a concluſion of theſe inconveniences,T. C. pa. 8… that it is dangerous to pick quarrels with lawes ſetled: but there is no daunger to quarrell with the lawes of Chriſts kingdome. They of all other princes lawes may be ſecurely quarrelled with, ouerthrowne, and troaden vnderunder feete without all danger, and yet in our ſtate are they no quarrellers, that abuſe the ſonne of God. The time will come, wherein it ſhall appeare, that it had bene better for all ſuch wretches, that the wombe had beene their graue, then that they ſhould hauehave bene giuen ouer p. 34to runne into their owne deſtruction. Our ſtate hath well profited in religion, that nowe after 31. yeares of the goſpell enjoyed,T. C. p. 92. 93 Ieſus Chriſte in demanding his owne right, is nowe accounted a daungerous quarreller againſt lawes ſetled. This ſlaunder hath bene alreadie anſwered. So hath the other ſet downe page 92. 93. of this booke concerning the likelihood of altering our ciuill gouernment into a popular ſtate, if Chriſt were once permitted to bear the ful ſway therin. The reſt of the particuler cauils contained in ſom few pages of this book, concerning maintenaunce of the miniſter by tythes, the inconueniencie both of the miniſters election by the people, and alſo of excommunication by the whole Church, are meer cauils, and anſwered before in the generall, and therefore here, needleſſe to be ſtoode vponupon.

Now the high court of parliament hath heard of all the iniquitie that can be found in the Lord, and his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus and you hauehave heard of all the reaſons (your careles and wilfull negligence to deal in the Lords matters onelyonly expected) whereby hitherto you hauehave bene enduced to refuſe the church-gouernment, which he himſelfe hath laid downe & preſcribed in his word, and to imbrace in ſteed therof, a confuſed and an imperfect conſtitution of mans deuiſe: whether theſe reaſons ſet downe by our Bb. themſelues, will be a ſufficient warrant vntounto you in the day of judgement, to refuſe Chriſt Ieſus to rule ouer you and your people, to maintaine the popiſhe hierarchie of L. Bb. and to countenaunce their proceedinges, who are wholy beſtowed (for the moſt part) in perſecuting and moleſting thoſe, who open their mouthes in the cauſe of God and his people, p. 35for the reſtitution of thoſe lawes and liberties into our Church, whereof they hauehave tyrannouſly bereaued it. But if you thinke as the trueth is, that theſe figge leaues, iſſuing out of the dark vnderſtandings of wicked men, can ſerue you in no ſteed againſt the wrath of the lambe. Enter more narrowly into this cauſe, grant the ſame, and thoſe that ſtande in it juſtice againſt their enemies, leaſt it be layde to your charge, that you hauehave called good euill, and euill good, and leſt it be laid to your charge, that you account your owne wayes equall, and the wayes of the Lord vnequall, & that you hauehave executed no judgement, no not the judgement which concerneth the ſincere and true worſhip of the eternal. VntoUnto the equitie of my cauſe, which yet (as ye ſee) is not mine, but the Lords, let this alſo be joyned, that mine aduerſarie can lay nothing to my charge, wherby I can be proued to hauehave brokē any penal law of the land. I doe thinke my ſelfe in the cauſe, wherin the Archbiſhop, and the reſt, that are joyned with him, are become mine enemies, to hauehave incurred, the penaltie of non of our laws, inaſmuch, as I hauehave not tranſgreſſed the lawe of God. For I ſuppoſe my ſelfe to liue in that ſtate, the laws whereof are to be accounted of no force, which make him puniſhable, whoe before the Lord is an innocent and guiltleſſe. The duty of a chriſtian ſubiect draweth from me this perſwaſion, that our ſtate and gouernment vnderunder her maieſtie, eſtabliſhed by the authority of this houſe, wil not account any lawe to be forcible, but that which is agreeable with the law of God, and that, non are puniſhable by any lawe in force amonge vsus, but thoſe only, who are offenders againſt the lawes of God. For with what face can it be auouched, p. 36that he is to be puniſhed, againſt whome the Lord doth not commaunde the ſword to be drawne. And thriſe miſerable is that ſtate, wherein theſe lawes are in force, which commaund them to be ſmitten, which are not euel doers. Of which number non are to be accounted, ſaue thoſe only who by violating humane poſitiue lawes, break alſo the lawe of God. They that hold the contrary, are not worthy to liue in a chriſtian ſtate. They highly derogate from her maieſties credit, and the good lawes of this kingdome. And non can poſſibly hold ſuch a poſition, but thoſe, that vnderunder a pretence of authority, either doe or would take occaſion to oppreſſe, and tiraunize ouer her maieſties ſubiects, Nowe mine accuſers cannot proue me to hauehave broken the lawe of God in ſeking the ouerthrowe of their places, vntil they hauehave firſt prooued their own callings to be lawful, according to the word, vntounto which time, if I could hauehave bin aſſured of quietnes at their hands, this mine appellation had bene needleſſe.

Whereas nowe I am of neceſſitie conſtrayned thereunto as wel for the reaſon before mentioned, as alſo, becauſe I can nether hauehave aſſurance of ſafety, nor juſt trial at their hands. I can hope for nether of theſe from them. For they hauehave wholly vowed them ſelues with all their might and maine, to ſlaunder, aſſaile, reſiſt, and hinder, the cauſe of Gods honor, the ſaluation of his church, in the defence whereof, farbeit but I ſhould ſpend my bloud (as by the grace of God I will) when I am thereunto neceſſarily called, wherefore except ether mine aduerſaries (which I hartily wiſh) would leaue the ſmothering of the trueth, and the vnjuſt defence of their intollerable corruptions, or that I ſhould ſurceaſe, (which I truſt p. 37ſhal neuer come to paſſe) mine indeuours, to hauehave the Goſpel planted in my country, and the houſe of God cleanſed from pollution, I can look for nothing elſe but al extremities at their hands.

Heereby alſo it is manifeſt, that theſe men wil be ſo far, from graunting me either any releaſe from their tirannous Perſecution, or yet equity of judgment: as they cannot poſſibly yeeld either of the twoe, without the dangerous inpairing of their own ſtate. My courſe by the aſſiſtance of God I meane not to alter. The cauſe of my poore country, I mean to reſpect as long as I liue, and neuer meane to giuegive ouer, the diſcouering of thoſe wicked men, who in this cleare light of the Goſpel, detaine the trueth in vnrighteouſnes.In my ſupplication to the parliament. If I may hauehave (rather if Chriſt Ieſus may hauehave) juſtice againſt them, I hauehave lately prooued vntounto you, that not one of theſe men, (I meane Lord biſhops, and whoſoeuer depend vppon them) ought to be maintained within theſe domminions. Nowe ſeeing both the obtaining and alſo the ſolliciting of this ſuite, muſt needs be joyned with the impairing of the Archbiſhop of Canterburies eſtate & the reſt in commiſſion with him, who ſitt in theſe vnlawful chaires of Lord biſhops, or any wiſe depend vppon them, how can they without their owne irrecouerable loſſe adminiſter juſtice or graunt quietnes vntounto me? Doe they meane to yeeld vntounto the knowne trueth, and to giuegive ouer their places? Why then am I moleſted by them? Doe they meane to be ſtil the men, which hytherto they hauehave bene, that is enemies vntounto Chriſts holy diſcipline, and gouernement? Then cannot they poſſibly affoard me any vpright triall. For if they ſhould, the church of God would be ſoone disburdened of them. And in wiſedom p. 38they cannot let me go on quietly in my courſe, for the more the trueth is opened, the neerer are they to their fall. My cauſe being thus, what may be ſaide of the parliament, if I be not releeued by your meanes, in my moſt equal, moſt reaſonable, and moſt chriſtian ſuite.

Yea but ſeeing mine aduerſaries, are ſo mighty, as they are knowne to be, and this ſuite ſo vnl…kely to preuaile againſt them in our dayes, were it not better forme, to let them runn on in their wickednes, then thus to ſtriue to mine owne hinderance, and extreame peril in a gainleſſe enterpriſe? And what calling hauehave I to deale in this cauſe? That is it I knowe that the Diuel would hauehave, euen to be lett alone, and permitted quietly to cary all before him at his owne pleaſure, without any controlement? As though the ſtones of the ſtreet, had not a ſufficient calling to gainſay the wickedneſſe of men, when the ſeruants of God are tongtied. And either it muſt be ſaid, that ſinne at ſome age and time, hath a commiſſion to goe vncontroled, or that the meaneſt in Gods church, may ſpeake in the behalfe of Gods honor, when other men are ſilent, at the treading thereof vnderunder foote. The general deſolution then, and the oppreſſion of Gods church in my country, joyned with the deepe ſilence of all other men, doe make it lawful and warrantable for me, to ſeeke the ouerthrowe of Sathans kingdome, not withſtanding, that I acknowledg my ſelfe, eueryevery way vnfit for ſo greate aworke. And if it ſhould pleaſe the Lord to ſtir vp any of place, and guifts, to deale in the cauſe, I would ſoone ſet my hand vppon my mouth and be ſilent. But I hope that the Archbiſhop, and his bretheren, are not growne to that paſſe, as they p. 39will take the liberty to continue in vnlawful callings, and to moleſt thoſe, that gainſay the badd courſe, becauſe they ſee not what calling any one man can hauehave to finde fault with their proceedings. And I hope that you of the parliament, conſidering the equity of my ſuit, wil vonchſafe me the hearing in ſo reaſonable a petition.

Conſider the matter which way you wil, and you ſhal find mine Appellation on all parts to be juſt: but eſpecially in regard of the proceedings of mine aduerſaries. The conſideration whereof is not to be ouerpaſſed by the parliament, if any portion of the equitie, and juſtice, ſometimes floriſhing in that aſſembly, benowd therein remaining. Their vnlawful proceedings appeare, firſt, in that they aſſume vntounto them ſelues, the hearing of thoſe cauſes, wherein by vertue of their cōmiſſion, they hauehave no warrant to deale, whereat the parliament cannot winke, vnleſſe they would ſuffer an Anarchie to take roote in our ſtate. This they doe in a double ſort. For firſt as before hath bene ſet downe, they lay treaſon to my charge, and therefore ſend for me by their purſiuants. What hath the high commiſſion to doe, with men ſuſpected of treaſon? Is the place at Lambeth now become the palor, where traitors ſhould be araigned? The Archbiſhop of Canterbury, the biſhops of London, Wincheſter, Doctor Coſin, &c. nowe become judges in thoſe cauſes? Whether they incurr not the danger of lawe, by entering into ſuch matters, as are not within the compaſſe of their commiſſion, you of this honorable aſſembly are beſt able to judge. The trueth is that the Archbiſhop, & his aſſociates, when I was examined before them in the 29. yeare of her maieſties raigne, enforced p. 40me to cleare my ſelfe vppon mine oath, of the treaſon, which they gaue out to be contained in the 40. page of my booke at that time written vntounto the parliament. Tollerate this courſe, and what parloure or chamber may there be ſo priuate, wherein the Archbiſhop and his aſſiſtants wil not arraigne their ſeditious traitors as they faulſay account them.

Secondly they preſume to determine of thoſe ſuites, the hearing whereof are referred vntounto the higher courts, and ought not to be vſurped vppon by inferiors, vntil the higher councels hauehave declared, that they will not determine of them. In this point, I had triall of their dealing the laſt parliament. At which time they preſumed contrary vntounto right and lawful cuſtome, and to the infringing of the auncient liberties of this noble houſe, to arrogate vntounto them ſelues, the determining and finall ending of that ſuite, wherein I moued the parliament and not the high comiſſion. And they wrongfully impriſoned me in the time of the parliament, for becomming a ſuiter even in the cauſe of God vntounto that aſſembly whereas by the priuiledges of this high counſel, I was not to be moleſted by any, during your ſeſſion, but only by your honors, vntounto whom I became a peticioner. It nothing preuailed me to ſhewe the high commiſſioners, that I was a ſuitor vntounto the higheſt court in the land, and therefore not to be troubled by any inferior vntounto them, during the time of their aſſembly, for the ſupplication which I had thereunto preferred. Neither did it any thing auaile me, to manifeſt it to be diſhonorable vntounto this houſe, & to their honors therein met together, that they ſhould not be the judges of thoſe ſuits whereof they were entreated to conſider.

p. 41The injury which at that time they offered vntounto the liberties of this honorable court, (to commit, their tiranny to me wards) had not bene ſo intollerable vnleſſe they, who vſurped vntounto them ſelues the deciding of my cauſe, had bene al of them members of this houſe. The perſons then in commiſſion, were theſe. Th' Archb. of Cant. the Bb. of London, Wincheſter and Lincolne: D. Lewine, D. Cooſins, all parliament men at that inſtant. Now judge whether it be not againſt all right, that ſome fewe of the inferiour members in that houſe, (of which number in reſpect of manye, I might juſtly account the men before named) ſhould extort vntounto their priuat cenſure, the judgement of a cauſe preferred publikely vntounto the whole parliament. The time hath beene, wherein this high courte woulde not hauehave taken a meaner injurie offered vntounto their liberties, at the handes of anye prerogatiue within this kingdome: whether it ſtands not with the honor and credit of parliament men amongſt poſterities, not to hauehave their liberties thus infringed and diminiſhed, by inferior and baſer courts: it behoues them that louelove their countrie, and endeuor to maintaine the welth thereof to conſider.

But whether this be behoofefull vntounto the ſtate or no, I am ſure it concerneth me not to be judged by that court, wherein I may not anſwer vntounto mine accuſers (being the ſecond head of the injurious and intollerable dealing of mine aduerſaries) but muſt be enforced vponupon mine oath to accuſe my ſelfe. I am readie to aunſwere whatſoeuer they can laye to my charge, and therein deſire no other fauour at your Hh. hands, then Felix a pagan judge and an infidell,Act. 23. 35.Acts 23:35 offered voluntarily vntounto Paule th'apoſtle, that is, to p. 40duplicate page p. 41duplicate page p. 42aunſwere vntounto mine accuſers. This equall maner of triall which fellons enjoy at eueryevery bar in this land, cannot be denied vntounto me with any reaſon. And becauſe our law affoordeth this equitie vntounto knowne malefactors, the tyranie of the high commiſſioners is vnſpeakable, in conſtraining men to accuſe themſelues. Porcious Feſtus an heathen idolator, when the Iewes woulde hauehave judgement againſt S. Paule, before they had by witneſſes conuinced him of any crime:Act. 25. 16.Acts 25:16 anſwered, as the holy ghoſte noteth, that it was not the maner of the Romanes (being Gentils and ignorant of the true God) for fauor to deliuer any man to death, before that he which is accuſed hauehave his accuſers before him, and hauehave place to defend himſelfe concerning the crime. And may not the men, who profeſſe they know God, be aſhamed in their own cauſe, for the fauor which they vnjuſtly beare vntounto themſelues, to impriſon their bretheren profeſſing the ſame religion with them,The maner of adminiſtring juſtice at Lambeth. becauſe they will not be their owne accuſers? And yet all the juſtice that poore chriſtians hauehave at Lambeth is this. You are now ſent for by Lords grace here, & vsus her Majeſties commiſſioners, we grant in deed, that as yet we know nothing wherewith you may bee charged. For accuſers you hauehave none, neither were you ſent for to anſwere vntounto thē. For it is our maner to deliuer men into bonds (yea and to death if the cauſe ſo require) though they hauehave no accuſers to conuince them of any crime. And therefore you muſt here be depoſed vponupon your oath, to reueal whatſoeuer you know by your ſelfe, or any other of Gods children her Majeſties ſubjects. Whereby it ſhall come to paſſe, that you ſhall eſcape vsus narrowly, but ere you depart the court, we will finde ſufficient p. 43matter to impriſon you, and if you refuſe the oath, to priſon you ſhall goe. For we adminiſter it, Ex officio, and ſo vponupon your refuſall, we may impriſon you.

And will the high court of parliament ſuffer this bloodie and tirannous inquiſition, to be practized any longer within this kingdom? What can the murthering inquiſitors of Spaine do more, then by this ſnare, inueigle mens conſciences, & conſtraine them to ſpill their owne blood? It is wel knowne, that no ſuch maner of iniquitie can be warranted vntounto the high commiſſion, by the poſitiue lawes of this land. For in a criminall cauſe, they inforce no man to be his owne accuſer. And againſt the law of God, (by which no man ſhoulde be punniſhed vnderunder two or three witneſſes) and of nature, all men knowe this manner of proceeding to be. For admit that the law of blaſphemie were now in force among vsus, & that a man in the dayes of his iniquitie had blaſphemed the God of Iſrael, were it not both againſt the lawe of God and of nature (the Lorde hauing vouchſafed him repentance of his ſinn, and in his prouidence ſo diſpoſed of the fact, as no witneſſes could be produced againſt him) were it not I ſaye, both againſt the word and againſt nature, for him in this caſe to accuſe himſelfe? And yet the Archb. and his fellow officers, would either impriſon a man ex officio, for denying the oathe in this point, or compell him to be his owne vnnatural murtherer. O miſerable judges, before whom a man muſt needes, either tranſgreſſe the lawes of God and of nature, or thruſt himſelfe into inevitable daunger. If they ſay, it is to be preſuppoſed, that without juſt cauſe of ſuſpition, they will put no man to his oathe: therein they proteſt p. 44no more then the Iewes did in accuſing our Sauiour Chriſt, and the inquiſitors of Spaine, draw with them in the ſame line. For the Iewes, they thought much,Iohn 18. 30.John 18:30 that Pilate ſhould demand of them, what accuſation they coulde laye to our Sauiour Chriſtes charge, and therefore ſaid vntounto him, if he were not an euill doer, we would not hauehave deliuered him vntounto thee. Where we may euidently ſee, the wiſedom and diſcretion of the enemies of God and his ſeruauts to be ſuch, as they neuer accuſe any man, contrary vntounto right, equitie & conſcience. And as concerning the Spaniſh inquiſition, it is well knowne, that that holy houſe, conuenteth no man, without great ſuſpition of hereſie. No more doe the high commiſſion, offer an oath vntounto anye, without great cauſe, at the leaſt, without vehement ſuſpition of his enimitie to Lord Bb. and their gouernment.

And they are not only moſt injurious, in them ſelues, but they commit the execution of their tiranical proceedings vntounto thoſe very often, whiche an honeſt man would be aſhamed to entertaine in his family. To hauehave a warrant for the apprehending, and touching of whomeſoeuer it pleaſe you to ſuſpect, is a charge of greate waighte, and ought not to be committed vntounto any, but vntounto ſuch, as are known to hauehave a rare and choiſe gouernment, ouer them ſelues. Otherwiſe if a lewd and an vndiſcreete turbulent fellowe, be armed with this overlarge and vnbrideled commiſſion, is not vnlikely but he will abuſe halfe the ſubiects hir maieſtie hath. And I pray you, what is likely to inſue thereof? Euen this. The intolerable vexation and bondage, of her maieſties free borne ſubiects and people, and in time it is to be feared the great diſhonor, if not the contempt p. 45of laweful authority it ſelfe. The Archb. of Cant. with his colleagues, ſendeth abroad his warrant to apprehend, whomeſoeuer the meſſenger therein named doth ſuſpect. Ought not this waighty charge to be very waightely handeled? What choiſe then make they of the meſſenger? Surely Richard Waltō is a man fit for the purpoſe. For they know his good behauiour, approued ſufficiency, and wiſdome to be ſuch, as for his outragious lewdnes, diſhoneſty, and want of gouernment ouer him ſelfe, amongſt all the roiſters in this land, they could not choſe a more knowne, and notorious lewd perſon, and more vnfit for ſo waigh ie a charge to be the purſiuant, he was ſomtimes bedle vntounto a company in London, (of the blacke Smithes I thinke.) The office though but meane, yet was that company aſhamed, to hauehave a perſon of that ſlanderous looſe behauiour for their bedle, and therefore, for his detected crimes, heere not to be named, they put him out of his place, being aſhamed to retaine him. And yet this is the man Right honorable, vntounto whoſe diſcretion the Archb. of Cant. will commit the moleſting and impriſoning of whomſoeuer he ſhal ſuſpect. Admit that among his c…ppes, ſom of his companions, doe bribe him to apprehende the honeſteſt and beſt affected ſubiect in a country, he may doe it by his commiſſion, and for his knowne lewdnes he is not vnlikely to attempt the fact. The magiſtrate is to aſſiſt him. And when he hath offered you this injury you hauehave your amends in your hands, for he did no more then by his commiſſion, he is warranted, & thoſe who ſet him a worke are the high commiſſioners, who hauehave a prerogatiue aboue lawe, as they would beare the world in hand. May not her maieſties ſubiects then, p. 46thinke them ſelues to be in a good taking, when their libertie ſhal depend vponupon the pleaſure or diſliking of ſuch as are the ofſcouring and refuſe of men. And I doe thinke it neerely concerneth your Hh. of the parliament, to ſee that this abuſe of the high commiſſion by theſe men, be no longer tollerated in our ſtate. For what care the high commiſſioners, howe tirannouſly they deale with hir maieſties moſt louing ſubiects, as long, as they hope that no mans accuſation and complaint, howe juſt ſoeuer, though in the behalfe of the intereſt of Chriſt Ieſus, can be heard and countenanced againſt them? And therefore they are growne ſo inſolent, as they dare enjoine hir maieſties officers, either at their commandement to worke impoſſibilities, or vponupon the peril to anſwere the matter before them. Form this inſolency of theirs it is, that of late they hauehave in their mandatory letters, enjoined the Major of Northampton, to ſurceaſe the execution of his office in the gouernment of that towne vnderunder hir maieſtie, and either to become their purſiuant, in apprehending one of his neighbours, or elſe perſonally to appeare before them at London, and not to departe their court without ſpecial leaue▪ his affaires in her maieſties ſeruice,M. Sharpe book binder of Northamton. and the diſtance of Place betweene Northampton & London, nothing conſidered. And yet required they of him that which he coulde not bring to paſſe, becauſe the party whome he was to apprehend, being wel known to be a dutiful ſubiect, and for the louelove he beareth vntounto Gods truth to hauehave bene heeretofore ſo cruelly? dealt with at ſome of their hands, by long impriſonment, and ſo euil dealt with, as his cauſe comming to be heard before the Ll. of her maieſties priuy counſel, their Hh. judged p. 47the biſhops proceeding againſt him, to be againſt lawe and conſcience, and ſo were the meanes of his deliuery, the party I ſay, nowe fearing the like injuſtice, that hee ſometimes taſted of, was compelled with the hinderance of his family to abſent himſelf from his calling. And from this hope, that their procedings ſhal neuer com into queſtion, it alſo cōmeth to paſſe, that they giuegive out that I am an Anabaptiſt, an vnderminer of the chair of the magiſtrat, a peſtilent & a dangerus ſubiect many waies. For otherwiſe they would neuer hauehave permitted by their authority any ſuch bookes to be publiſhed againſt me,M. D. Some table page. 3. line 20. yea but I hold her maieſtie with many thouſandes of hir beſt ſubiects to be vnbaptiſed,M. D. Some Epiſt. pag. 2 and the queſtion betweene maſter Doctor Some and me is, whether ſuch as were and are baptiſed by popiſh prieſts and vnpreaching miniſters hauehave and doe receiue a ſacrament. If mine aduerſarie himſelfe had not cleared me of this accuſation by his publike writings,Page 53. his ſlander might at the leaſt hauehave bin probable, wheras nowe his owne writings doe giuegive him and his allowers the ſhameleſſe vntrueth. But howe can they be held no miniſters, but that the Elements adminiſtred by by them, ſhould be denied to be ſacraments? I truſt the one may be held, & the other not denied, with better reaſon by far, then the Archb. of Cant. can hold baptim deliuered by women, whome al the worlde knowe not to be miniſters,M. D. Some pag. 185. line 3. 31. to be a ſacrament. And howe wil maſter D. Some anſwere himſelfe in this point, which hath confeſſed al vnpreching miniſters both popiſh prieſts, and proteſtant Idoles, to be no miniſters?M. D. Some table pag. 4. But it is an Anabaptistical error to account magiſtracie for an human ordinance. As though nothing ordained by man could be Gods ordinance alſo? p. 48Or that the places Rom. 12. 1. & 1. Pet. 2. 13. were irreconcileable? And that it were a more Anabaptisſtcal, and intollerable error in me, to affirme the gouernment and offices of the common wealth, to be humaine conſtitutions, which is true then, for our Biſhops to hould the gouerment, and offices of our churches to be the ordinances of man, which is moſt falſe? Theſe and al ſuch accuſations laid againſt me and Gods trueth, as by the grace of God in mine anſwere to maſter D. Some, which are it be long I hope to publiſh, notwithſtanding they hauehave it in their hands, they ſhalbe proued to be palpable ſlanderers. So I do moſt humbly intreat you of this honorable aſſembly, in regard of the Lords eternal veritie, againſt which theſe vntrueths are giuen forth, to ſee that either mine accuſers ſhall prooue theſe crimes, wherewith I am charged, or ceaſe to ſlander and trouble me for profeſſing the trueth. The cauſe is the cauſe of God, as I hauehave proued, it is the cauſe of the church, and ſo the cauſe of many thouſandes, of the moſt truſty, moſt ſure, moſt louing ſubiects, that her maieſtie hath, whoſe harts by the repelling of this my ſuite, muſt needes be vtterly diſcouraged and throwne downe? when they ſhal ſee the cauſe of God to hauehave taken no place in the higheſt court in the land. And being the cauſe of God & his church, and that againſt ſinne, againſt impietie, againſt that which is likely to be the vndoing and ouerthrow of her Majeſtie and our ſtate: it deſireth no fauor but to be heard, and to cleare it ſelfe, euen in the preſence of the aduerſarie, that vponupon good groundes you may either acquite it, or condemne it. It will prooue it ſelfe by Gods aſſiſtance, to be the author of no tumulte, no ſedition, nor treaſon. It will alſo p. 49prooue, that no danger or inconuenience, can poſſiblie enſue the receiuing of it into any ſtate: & that the bookes and writinges, ſincerely fauouring the ſame (for any vnſound, or any vnjuſtifiable bookes, that hauehave bin publiſhed, which might ſeem to yeeld any countenance vntounto it, the cauſe is not to anſwer) hauehave not bene invented of late, or ſtamped by mans brain, but hauehave had their beginnings from the daies of our Sauiour Chriſte, and his Apoſtles, and were penned by the ſpirite of God himſelfe. On the contrarie ſide, it offereth to conuince the aduerſaries cauſe, as an author of tumult and ſedition from time to time, both in Churche and common wealth, as traiterous vntounto the Majeſtie of Ieſus Chriſte, a dangerous enemy vntounto princes and ſtates, and the fourtaine of all confuſion and inconvenience, not to bee repaired. And it offereth to prooue this cauſe & ſide of our Bb. to hauehave no other original and beginning, then the good intents of mans invention, not warranted by the word, euen corruption it ſelfe. And to be now ſupported and maintained, onelyonly by the vnlawfull inſtitutions of man.

So that it is nowe manifeſted vntounto your honors, by how many waies you are bound before the Lord to accept and giuegive eare vntounto this mine appellation, and I to appeale. Mine only hope is in you, be not vnmerciful and pittileſſe towards me. I am perſecuted and oppreſſed for the cauſe of God, by thoſe enemies, that cannor poſſibly affoard me either vpright judgment, or releaſe from trouble, without their owne likely ouerthrowe. I deſire, but that which is moſt chriſtian, namely that I may not hauehave them both for mine acuſers and judges, who before any ſeate of juſtice, dare not ſtand to their accuſations p. 50againſt me, and whome their proceedings with me, and alwaies heretofore with the cauſe I defend, doe manifeſtly conuince, that all trueth and equitie is periſhed from among them. Either the cauſe, and their doings hauehave no trueth, no ſtrength, and no equitie in them, or elſe they wil now ſhe we the ſame in your preſence, non hauehave authority to exammine their proceedings, whether they dare this attempt or no. I do heere before Heauen and earth, before hir maieſtie and this aſſembly, before eueryevery eſtate in this land, and al ages to come, cleare my ſelfe, and the cauſe I defend, from the grieuous and vngodly ſlaunders, whereby they doe continually loade the ſame. I offer my ſelfe, and my cauſe to be tried by any lawful authoritie, ſo dare not mine aduerſaries, let them proue that I hauehave done any thing whereby in equitie I deſerue puniſhment, & I will not grudge to ſuſtaine the ſame: So that mine aduerſaries be not my judges, and the judges of my cauſe, vntounto whom they cannot chuſe but be vtter enemies. I do not here ſet downe all, that coulde be ſaide againſt them, and their proceedings, which are moſt Antichriſtian and intollerable diuers wayes. I omit that they are fallen from euill to worſe, ſince the beginning of her Majeſties raigne vntounto this houre, and that they are likely to proceed in this courſe (without their reſtrainte) vntill they hauehave brought the Lords hand to execute his vengeaunce againſt vsus & our land. Their errours are growne intollerable, euen in the maine pointes of religion, and that contrarie, not onelyonly vntounto the written word of God: but euen to the writings, that hauehave bene and are publiſhed by authoritie, euen by themſelues. They allow a forme of morning prayer, joyned vntounto all printed p. 51Pſalmes in meeter, allowed alſo by publike authoritie. Therein it is flatly and expreſly ſet downe, that it is not poſſible for anye man ordinarily to be ſaued, but by preaching: and yet behold theſe men, euen our Bb. eſpecially the Archb. of Cant. hauehave and doe maintaine, that men may heare, beleeue, and ſo ordinarily be ſaued without preaching. And by the practize of this monſtrous errour,Rom 10. 14. 1.Rom 10:14Rom 10:1 contrarie to the word of God,Cor. 1. 21. contrarie vntounto the eſtabliſhed,Iam. 1. 21.Jas 1:21 & priuiledged doctrine, allowed and practized in this kingdom in the beginning of her Majeſties raigne. They are the verye knowne cauſe of the perdition (without the Lordes ſecreete and vnreuealed mercies) of infinit thouſandes of ſoules in this land. But although I ſay, that in their vngodly proceedings, they neither agree with the Lord and his word: nor with themſelues and the receiued and eſtabliſhed doctrine in our Church: yet I do here omit to make any catalog of their damnable errors and practiſes. OnelyOnly in this pointe I wiſhe your Hh. to conſider, whether in trueth, the words of the prophet Hoſea may not be truely applied vntounto our Biſhops in England at this day, & the moſt that depend vponupon them The prophet is a foole in all good waies,Hoſea. 9. 7. 8.Hos 9:7Hos 9:8 the ſpirituall man is mad: The watchman of Ephraim ſhould be with God: but the prophet is the ſnare of a fouler in al his waies, and hatred in the houſe of God, Zephan. 3. 4.Zeph 3:4or whether with Zephaniah and Ezekiel you may not truely ſay vntounto them,Ezek. 13. 4.Ezek 13:4 that they are light and wicked perſons, ſuch as hauehave poluted the ſanctuary, & wreſted the lawe that they are like the Foxes in the waſt places, and ſuch as hauehave not riſen vp in the gapps, nor made vpp the headg for Englande, to ſtand in the battel in the day of the Lord. And if you finde theſe things to be verified in p. 52our prophets and ſpiritual men, then alſo vndoubtedly may it be ſaide vntounto England, the dais of thy viſitacion … England are come, the daies of thy repentance are at hand, and England ſhal knowe it. Becauſe thy prophets for the moſt part are fooles, and thy ſpiritual men are madd, thy watchmen are as the ſnare of a fowler in al their waies, yea and they are the very cauſe that the houſe of thy God is ſo hated, and deteſted of all eſtates, as the building thereof is not regarded

It remaineth now right honorable, that I betake you vntounto the almightie, whoſe cauſe is nowe in hand and before whome one day you ſhall giuegive account of your dealings in it, humbly beſeeching, and intreting you, that herein, and in all other matters of waight, you would take the holy man Iob for a patterne, that the ſame eternal bleſſing may fall vppon you, which he enjoieth to his neuer ending comfort with whoſe words I wil end. And when the eare hard me,Iob. 29. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15 16. 17.Job 29:11Job 29:12Job 29:13Job 29:14Job 29:15 (ſaith Iob) it bleſſed me, and when the eie ſaw mee, it gaue witneſſe to me, for I deliuered the poore that cried, and the fatherleſſe, and him that had none to help him, the bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh, came vppon me, and I cauſed the widowes hart to rejoice, I put one iuſtice and it couered me, my iudgment was a robe and a crown, I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feet to the lame, I was a father to the poore, and when I knewe not the cauſe I ſought it diligently, I brake alſo the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the pray out of his teeth.

Your moſt humble ſuppliant, IOHN PENRI.

End of the text · John Penry, The Appellation of John Penry (1589)