A Parish Looking-Glass, Dedication
TO THE HONOURABLE Collonel ROBERT GIBBON, Governour of the Iſle of Jerſey, &c.
Right Honourable,
YOur native Countrey (the County of Kent) hath many obligations of much due reſpect unto you, for your prudent and valiant actings formerly, and at preſent, for the welfare and ſafety thereof. And your courteous reſpests to all, and to my Father in ſpecial (heretofore and lately, in that you were pleaſed to honour him, by calling on him to accompany you, when you ſurveyed the places of danger for landing a forreign enemy along the Sea-coaſts in the Iſle of Tanet, which lies overagainſt the Coaſts of Flanders.) And your undeſerved favours to my ſelf, have encouraged me to preſume of, and crave your worthy Patronage of the enſuing Apologie, which the law of filial love and duty hath compelled me to write, in the ſpeedy and neceſſary defence of my aged Father, whoſe Miniſterial imploiments will not give him leiſure to do it with his own pen: I do unfeignedly profeſs it rather a grief, than any delight to me, that (upon this occaſion) I am neceſſitated to publiſh that any ſuch ſavages, as are here deſcribed ſhould be found in Old-England, in Kent or Chriſtendom, after ſo long continued gracious means of extraordinary civility and Chriſtianity: But hereby may be ſeen in what ignorant, barbarous, profane condition, Prelates, and Dean and Chapter, Non-reſident Doctors (à non docendo) and their ignorant, drnnken, leud Curates, have left people, which is the miſerable ſad caſe of many Pariſhes, as hundreds of faithful Miniſters have found by wofull experience. But it is apparent, that the All-ſeeing righteous God will not have the Perſecutions and Oppreſſions herein recited to be buried in the grave of ſilence and oblivion, ſeeing a publick diſcovery thereof is called for exraordinarily, and neceſſited and extorted, not only by open ſlanders, by written and printed Libels, but by publick revealings, and loud boaſtings of ſecret actings of enemies, by enemies themſelves; all which could not but be made uſe of, without diſhonour to God, and injury to Juſtice it ſelf. For thoſe that have made lies their refuge, and calumnies the weapons of their rage against my Father, and have by a confederacy withheld all their Tythes wholly from him, for above three years laſt paſt, do grow now more than ever publickly clamorous againſt him. And their malice is grown to that monſtrous height of rage, that it hath ſo blinded the little common reaſon that was left in them, that they have preſumed impudently (diſtruſting the merits of their cauſe) to paſs by his Highneſſes worthy Commiſſioners for ejecting of ignorant and ſcandalous Miniſters, and to wave the common Law, and have petitioned againſt him to his Highneſſe himſelf; upon what grounds, fancies or vain hopes, they only know; But this is certainly known, that in their boaſtings (before they have put on their armour) they vaunt much of their potent military friends: But I am conſident none of thoſe worthies will ingage againſt my Father, but caſhier them out of their good affections, when they are informed of the truth, by the enſuing defenſive Narrative, which is my Fathers defenſive weapon, which their extraordinary Alarm have forced him to arm himſelf withall, and to ſtand upon his guard and defence, to prevent the ruine of his good Name and Family, which nearly concerns me in particular, who am a ſouldier alſo at this preſent in commiſſion for the preſent State. And this cauſe is of greater concernment, than is at firſt conceived, not only to him, but to the publick; And Gods glory is much concerned in it: For if his adverſaries could by ſubtilty prevail to have him ſacrificed to their malice & covetouſnes, by the hands of abuſed Juſtice and Authority: It would not only prove his undeſerved ruine, but much encourage the mutinous enemies of Reformation to endleſs oppoſitions, and perſecutions of faithful Miniſters, and would diſcourage Miniſters to be faithful, for fear of ruine, for want of juſt defence from the Higher Powers, to which they adhere in the cauſe of God: which is not written out of fear of any ſuch thing, which his adverſaries are ſo confident of, to take effect againſt him; as of old againſt abſent Mephiboſheth; And although means of defence and preſervation are to be uſed, and to this end the enſuing Apologetical Hiſtory, or Hiſtorical Apologie is written, concerning things that have not been acted in a corner, but publickly and lately, and are notorious, and will not be denied: Yet (as Nicodemus ſaith) Our Law judgeth no man before it hear him, and know what he doth. No Ziba nor Haman, though he may boast of his friends at Court, can now procure ſuch haſty Decrees, bleſſed be God, By whom Kings reign, and Princes decree juſtice, and who puls down mighty ones without number, and ſets up others in their rooms: He is the Lord of Hoſts, who hath taught your hands to warre, and your fingers to fight: I beſeech him to be your ſhield, and your great reward: So craving pardon for my boldneſs, I humbly take leave, and remain,
Sir, Your obliged, aſſured Servant and Souldier to be commanded RICHARD CULMER.
A PARISH LOOKING-GLASSE FOR Perſecutors of Miniſters.
THe Perſecutors of faithfull Miniſters in theſe times, may behold as in a glaſſe, the vileneſſe of their ſinne, and the great diſpleaſure of God againſt them for it: If they look into the Scripture, or later Hiſtories, and daily experience. We read (2 Chron 36. 14, 15.) And the Lord God of their Fathers ſent unto them by his Meſſengers, riſing up betimes, and ſending them: becauſe he had compaſſion on his houſe, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, untill the wrath of God aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy: Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, who ſlow their young men with the ſword, in the houſe of their Sanctuary, &c. And Ahab and Jezabel perſecuted the Prophets of God, but dogs licked up the bloud of Ahab, after he was ſlain, and dogs did eat perſecuting Jezabel. The children which did mock, and miſcall Eliſha the Prophet and Miniſter of God, were two and fourty of them torn in pieces by wilde Bears (2 Kings 2.) They were the children of Perſecutors of Gods Miniſters, and ſpake their parents language. The Perſecutors of the Prophet Jeremiah, ſaid, Come let us deviſe devices againſt Jeremiah, let us ſmite him with the tongue (Jer. 18. 18.) Therefore God delivered up their children to the famine, and their bloud was poured out by force of the ſword. Thoſe that perſecuted our Saviour the great Shepherd, and did perſwade people not to hear him preach, ſaying, He is mad, and hath a Devil, why hear ye him? (Joh. 10. 20.) and would ſtone him, though he ſpake as never man ſpake, and did works which never man did: yet they having begun to perſecute him, did ſinne againſt the light of their own conſcience, and againſt the holy Ghoſt, to make good their begun acts, and hold up their reputation, and did perſecute him to the death: What became of thoſe perſecutors? Is not their judgement eternal in hell for their unpardonable ſinne? Alexender the Copperſmith, and other Perſecutors of the Apoſtles have their woful reward, though they clamoured and articled againſt St Paul, as a peſtilent fellow, a mover of ſedition, &c. Theſe things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, and teach Miniſters now for their comfort what Chriſt ſpake, Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you; for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets that were before you; And if they have perſecuted me they will alſo perſecute you.
But ſome men will not be warned by other mens harms, and examples; therefore they are made examples to others. Our late Biſhops and their Adherents are a rare and remarkable preſident of Gods Judgments on Perſecutors of faithfull Miniſters, which ſin made them ripe for their deſerved downfall: But their Perſecutions ended at the beginning of the long Parliament: Then the iron teeth of thoſe beaſts were knockt out, and the iron yoaks, which they had put on Miniſters necks were all pull'd off: But when the Eccleſiaſtical Courts were taken away, the people took lawleſſe liberty to themſelves, to put (as it were) a hogs yoak on Miniſters necks, and did perſecute faithful Miniſters ſent unto them, as ſheep among wolves: Oh what woorying and wearying out moſt precious Miniſters by word and deed, by tearing and tugging, lyings and ſlanderings, revilings and defraudings, and withholding their maintenance by confederacy! And theſe Perſecutions (eſpecially in point of maintenance) continue very great at this day all the Nation over; people being encouraged hereunto, for want of better Laws for Tything, and of more ſpeedy execution of juſtice, according to the Laws that are in force. Many hundreds of faithfull Miniſters in England may juſtly write ſuch books againſt their Perſecutors, to awaken the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, and warn Perſecutors, againſt whom their cries are gone up to Heaven, and have brought down vengeance upon very many: And their complaints and moans by words are daily heard, and may be read, ſome in print, and in their Bils againſt thouſands in the Court of Exchequer, where relief is certain, but ſo long waited for, that in the mean time the poor Miniſters and their families periſh; And oft-times the parties, or witneſſes, or both die, or the Tyth-robber breaks, and runs the Countrey, which is uſuall, before the Cauſe come to hearing. I could ſhew Perſecutors many very freſh examples of their ſinne, and of puniſhments on people, that have lately perſecuted faithfull Miniſters in ſeveral Pariſhes, as that of Mr E. K. of Dover in 1644. who came out of his ſeat, and joyned in the hurliburly made in St James Church againſt Mr Vincent a godly able Miniſter, who was ſent thither by the Parliament, and perſecuted him otherwiſe: But the Perſecutor perſecuted himſelf a little after by laying violent hands on himſelf, and was a ſelf-executioner by hanging himſelf. This and many ſuch bleeding examples may be produced touching the hand of God againſt ſuch Perſecutors, enough to fill volumes. But I ſhall now only inſtance in the Perſecutors of Mr Richard Culmer (heretofore of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge, Maſter of Arts, and) now Miniſter of Mynſter in the Iſle of Thanet in the County of Kent, whoſe Perſecutors are now very few living in that Pariſh; but mighty and numerous elſwhere; even thoſe of the Popiſh, Prelatical and Cavalier Party that never ſaw him, becauſe of his activeneſſe againſt their Cauſe. They have printed two libellous Books againſt him, and often articled againſt him, and raiſed Perſecution againſt him to the ſhedding of his bloud, &c. as the enſuing Hiſtory ſhews; And to have their wils againſt him (if it be poſſible, to ruine him) they have lately petitioned againſt him to his Highneſſe himſelf, and ſince publickly boaſted againſt him in their confidence now to prevail againſt him; which hath cauſed this Apology to be publiſhed in his juſt defence, and for vindication of the truth. This man after he left the free Grammer-ſchool at Canterbury (being ſenior of all that School, then conſiſting of above two hundred Scholars, in the time of Mr Roger Raven, the King of Schoolmaſters, as he was deſervedly ſtyled at his Funeral, an eminent, godly, learned, yet perſecuted and ſilenced Miniſter) lived about eight years a Student in Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge. And being afterwards Miniſter of Goodneſtone in EaſtKent, was perſecuted from thence by Arch-biſhop Laud, only for refuſing to publiſh the Kings Book for Sabbath-recreations: (See the Hiſtory of that Arch-biſhops Tryal in the Index letter C. Culmer.) And he continued three years and ſeven moneths ſilenced before the firſt Parliament was called; In all which time he got not one farthing by his Miniſtry, having ſeven children ſo little, that he could, and did carry them all at once on his back: And (to adde to his Perſecutions by the Prelate) he was perſecuted by the Patroneſſe Mrs P. (whoſe Poſterity hath felt ſome reward of Perſecution) who immediately upon his ſilencing gave his Living away to Mr A. H. who for lucre of that Benefice, did joyn in the Perſecution, and did publiſh that prophane Book in that Pariſh Church on the Sabbath-day, in the preſence of Mr Culmer; and of the people there: But a year after he loſt his goods by fire, and the next year he himſelf was drowned in the water. And Mr D. (yet living) then Curate to the Biſhop of Rocheſter at Barham, did that Sabbath alſo publiſh in the Church at Goodneſtone the unjuſt Decree of Suſpenſion made againſt Mr Culmer in the Arch-biſhops Eccleſiaſtical Court, by the Arch biſhops ſpecial Order and Command to Sr N. B. But a little after this, the people of Barham fell to dancing on the Sabbath, and a quarrel aroſe about a wager between two dancers, and he that won the wager had his brains knockt out that Sabbath.
But at the firſt coming in of the Scots into England, the perſecuting Arch-biſhop (who a little after was beheaded at Tower-hill for Treaſon, &c.) preſently abſolved Mr Culmer, who might juſtly ſay, Garamercy good Scot for his Abſolution. And he being at liberty to preach, was preſently called by Dr Robert Auſ…in (now living) to be his Aſſiſtant at Harbledown near Canterbury, where he preached divers years, and had very many Auditors from that famous City. But there alſo he was perſecuted for his actings againſt drunkenneſſe, and againſt prophaning the Sabbath by Crickit playing before his door, to ſpite him, which when he had reproved privately and publickly, they removed that ſport to a field near the Woods, where they threw ſtones at his Sonnes, whom he ſent to ſee if they played there; and upon publick reproof, the Church-warden (whoſe wiſe was for juſt cauſe denied the Sacrament) bought boards to keep the people of Canterbury out of the Church Seats. And the grandee Perſecutor J. W. uſed to go with his crew of brawlers and railers, his wife eſpecially, upon the Sabbath to the Parſonage-houſe, and there did clamour and bawl to the Doctor to move him, that Mr Culmer might preach no more there; and one of them S. S. cried out, ſaying, It is a ſhame to ſpeak what he hath done; and being asked by the Doctor, what Mr Culmer had done, the only anſwer of the accuſer was, Why was he turned out of Goodneſtone? And being urged to ſpeak what he could ſay more, he could not alledge any thing elſe: By this the Magiſtrate may ſee, that ſome people are like a kennel of Hounds, that will bark for company; if one or two bark againſt a Miniſter, then preſently one and all, right or wrong: as of old they all cried, Not him, they all cried, Crucifie him, &c. The upholding of the noiſe and cry was, Oh our ſouls, our ſouls, will you damn our ſouls! we cannot edifie by one we love not: But when their clamours prevailed not, they writ Articles againſt Mr Culmer, as followeth, That he refuſeth to adminiſter the Sacrament according to the Church of England: That he raiſed ſcandals of the Pariſh in the Pulpit: That he made differences between Neighbours: That ſome refuſe to hear him, and others declare they cannot edifie by him. Theſe, and only theſe Articles they exhibited to the Doctor, who having heard all things objected againſt Mr Culmer, gave them an anſwer, that what they objected he found either frivolous, or falſe; And he reproved a rich widow Mrs R, who being asked, Why ſhe clamoured? her only Anſwer was, that Mr Culmer had ſaid to the Overſeers of the poor, that he wondered that ſhe refuſed to pay her aſſeſſement of 2s. 6d. to the poor. But the Doctor being elſewhere provided of a Benefice, wholly left that place to the Patron, who placed a Miniſter there; And when they were told a little after, that they had made a ſorry exchange in the room of M Culmer; It was anſwered, We care not whom we have, n…w we are rid of M. Culmer: But what is become of thoſe Perſecutors of M. Culmer is famouſly known: One of them E. Br. (becauſe M Culmer would not give him the Sacrament immediately after he had been drunk, and did purſue his wife with a drawn ſword, did thereupon write a Petition againſt M. Culmer, and went about the Pariſh to get Subſcriptions to it) was a little after found guilty of Felony, and was burnt in the hand at the Seſſions at Canterbury: And you may now finde the Grandee Perſecutor J. W. in the Goal at Canterbury (his ſonne uſed to threſh Corn on the Sabbath mornings for fodder:) And now after the death of two Miniſters, the third (having little encouragement amongſt them) left them deſtitute. And after M. Culmer leſt preaching at Harbledown, he preached in Canterbury; and there he and other Miniſters were appointed by Authority or Parliament, to detect, and cauſe to be demoliſhed the ſuperſtitious Inſcriptions, and Idolatrous Monuments, in the Cathedral in Canterbury; And when they came to the great high priz'd moſt idolatrous Window, in the Chappel of Thomas Becket, in that Cathedral (the Labourers, not acting as was deſired) M. Culmer laid, If we neglect this opportunity, we may repent it; and thereupon threw off his Cloak, and took a whole Pike in his hand, and went up a Ladder fifty ſix ſteps high, and did full execution upon the Idolatrous Monuments there: whereupon ſome ſtirres began, a Prebends wife cried out, Save the childe, meaning Chriſt lying in the Manger pictured there; and M. Culmers bloud was then threatned by ſome that ſtood without the iron grates, in the body of the Church: But M. John Lade then Maior of Canterbury, ſent a file of Muſqueteers, who conveyed Mr. Culmer ſafe home to his own houſe. And a little after M. Culmer publiſhed a Book entituled, Cathedral News from Canterbury, which is a true Hiſtory of the ſins and plagues of that Cathedral Babel; The Title page of that Book is, Cathedral News from Canterbury, ſhewing the Canterburian Cathedral to be in an. Abbey like corrupt and rotten condition, which cals for a ſpeedy Reformation or Diſſolution, which Diſſolution is already foreſhewn, and begun there by many remarkable Paſſages upon that place, and the Prelates there: Recorded and publiſhed by Richard Culmer Miniſter of Gods Word, dwelling in Canterbury, heretofore of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge, Maſter of Arts: If I ſhould hold my peace the ſtones would immediately cry out, Luk. 19. 40. Imprimatur John White. I have peruſed this Relation of Cathedral News, and therein obſerve, that the hand of Providence hath indeed wrought a new thing in our Iſrael, Worthy to be lookt upon by all, with a due mixture of wonder and thankefulneſs: And therefore conceive it neceſſary to be publiſhed to the view of all: Jo. Caryl. Printed for Fulk Cliſton, &c.
But this Book being the finger in the Bile, and ſwelling Ulcer of Prelacy and Cathedrals; Immediately upon the firſt publiſhing of it, the neſt of Cathedral Hornets at Canterbury, and their waſpiſh Malignant Adherents, flew about M. Culmers ears, bombalizing and toating ſo loud, that City and Countrey rang of their railing and libellings. They preſently publiſhed in print two lying Libels againſt him; One called, The Razing of the Record, or, An Order to forbid any Thank…ſgiving for the Canterbury News, publiſhed by Richard Culmer, Printed at Oxford, in the year, 1644. The other entituled, Antidetum Culmerianum, or, Animadverſions upon a late Pamphlet, entituled, Cathedral News from Canterbury; Oxford, Printed by H. Hall, 1644.
Theſe Libels of private concernment M. Culmer thought fit to anſwer only with ſcorn and contempt amidſt ſo many publick differences; being confident that no wiſe man would believe that, which no man doth avow, or ſet his name to. They publiſh in the Libels, That he was famous in Cambridge for foot-ball playing and ſwimming; but never thought to be cut out for a Mercury: But he gave ſome ſpecimen to the contrary in many publick Acts, in the Univerſity; I name only that in print, in the Book, called Lacryma Cantabrigienſes, upon the death of Queen Anne, viz.
Cyxthia Luciſluo conjungitur aurea Phoebo:
Phoebeo in terris conjux fuit Anna Jacobo:
Ecclipſin patitur Phoebe; Sic deficit Anna:
Phoebus in Orbe micat: Sic …lendet in Ʋrbe Jacobus:
Luna praeeſt undis: Lachrymas tulit Anna Britannis:
Sol radiis undas ſiccat: Splendore Jacobus.
Richard Culmer Col. Mag.
And that report in the Libel, touching his pulling out the ſpigots in the Colledge-cellar, at Cambridge, and his eſcape, and running away, and expulſion from the Univerſity, is a meer forgery, as many now living, that were of that Colledge, can teſtifie: That alſo is a meer ſlander touching Richard Piſing of Canterbury, who is yet living there, and can witneſſe the contrary to that which the Libellers publiſheth againſt M. Culmer: And as touching that which they record touching M. Culmers being caſt into the Fleet; It was a crying perſecution and injury done to him by the Arch…biſhop, which the other Lords knew well, and therefore releaſed him, upon their next ſitting, within five dayes: But M. B. may thank Sir J. F. for his head; And may thank his own prating tongue (firſt and laſt) for all his trouble then.
Many other ſilly fictions they invented and publiſhed in thoſe railing Libels; as that M. Culmer tied a rope about his fathers Cows horns to let himſelf down the Cliff in Thanet to reach Daws.
By ſuch feigned Stories the Cathedralliſts endeavoured to confute that true, real Hiſtory, written by M. Culmer, which cauſed them to gnaw their tongues for pain, and to put ſo much Gall in their Ink, in their pretended Confutation of his Book, by thoſe forgeries, which are falſly called, Culmerianum Antidotum: Being deadly poyſon to take away the life of his good Name and Reputation: But I am confident, that theſe enſuing Teſtimonials, which are not forged, but real, under ſo many Names of worth, will be a general Antidote, and foreign againſt all infection and prejudice to M. Culmers good Name and Reputation from thoſe peſtilent Libels, whoſe Authors are De terra incognita, of the unknown Land, and foreign nameleſſe: But theſe Teſtimonials are not nameleſſe.