The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 6 – Chapter 7

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 2 · Chapter 6 – Chapter 7

p. 289CHAP. VI. Comprising the Treasons, Conspiracies, Seditions, Contumacies, and Disloyalties, of the Bishops of Rochester, St. Davids, Landaffe, Bangor, Asaph, Bath and Wells: With a short touch of the Bishops of Oxford, Bristol, Peterburgh, and Glocester.

Rochester.

PVTTA the sixth Bishop of Rochester, 11Putta.waxing weary of his Bishopricke,**Godw. p. 392.393. Malmesbur. de Gestis Pontif. Angliae. c. 1. p. 231. was halfe determined to leave it, when Edilred King of Mercia, upon some displeasure conceived against him, burning his Church and City, resolved and setled him in that determination. So hee went into Mercia, where he accepted the Charge of a Parish Church under Saxulf Bishop there, mending his living by teaching a singing Schoole, (for he was a great and cunning Musitian.) In that kinde of life hee spent the rest of his time, and could never abide to heare of returning to his Bishopricke. Malmesbury gives this verdict of him, Quantum idoneus oti… Eccle…iastico, tant…m hebes & segnis, forensi negotio: Anno 983. p. 290(As Matth. Westminster, **Matth. Westm. Ann. 983. pag. 379. Speed. pag. 414. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. …1. Malmesb. de Gestis Regum Angl. l. 2. c. 10. p. 62. Godwin. p. 394.and others report) King Ethelrede be…ieged Godwin 22Godwin.the 27. Bishop of Rochester in his owne City a long time, and being warned by Saint Dunstane, he should take heed least he provoked against him Saint Andrew, Patron of that Church, yet he would not depart thence till he had wrung from the Bishop 100. l. Dunstan wondring thereat, sent this message to the King: Because thou hast preferred silver before God, mony before an Apostle, and covetousnesse before me, violent mischiefes shall come upon thee, which the Lord hath spoken: Yet for all this he continued his siege, and would not depart thence without the Bishops submission, and unlesse he would likewise pay him an hundred pounds.

33Gilbert de Glanuyll.Gilbert de Glanuyll was consecrated Bishop of this See Septem. 29. 1185. **Godwin. Cat. p. 397.398.Betweene this man …nd his Monkes of Ro…hester was long and continuall debate, by occasion whereof, he tooke away from them all their moveable goods, all the ornaments of their Church, their writings and evidences; yea, and a great part of their Lands, Possessions, and Priviledges: wanting mony to follow their suits against him, they were forced to coyne the silver of Saint Paulines shryne into mony. These controversies were ended no otherwise then by his death, which happened Iune 24. 1214. But their hatred against him was so farre from dying with him, as they would afford him no manner of obsequies, but buried him most obscurely, or rather basely, without either ringing, singing, or any other manner of solemnity.

44Laurentius de Sancto Martino.Laurentius de Sancto Martino, the 41. Bishop of this See, got a dispensat…on from the Pope to hold all his for…er …i…ings, in …ommendam with this Bishopricke.**Matth. Pa…. Hist. Angl. pag. 893.917. Godwin. pag. 399. And yet alledging that his Bishopricke… was the poorest of E…gland, much meaner then Carlile, and therefore his living yet unable to maintaine the po…t of a Bishop; he never ceased till he had extorted from the Clergy of his Dio…es, a grant of a f…ft part of all their Spirituall livings for five yeares, and appropriated unto his See for ever the Parsonage of …riendsbury. …oniface the Archbishop of Canterbury used this man hardly, invading his possessions, and violen…ly taking from him without all right, divers things of old belonging …o his Bishopricke. Hee complained unto the King, …nto whose Q…eene Boniface was Uncle. The King answered him in plaine …, …e …new …e should offend his wife much, if …e p. 291should become a flickler betweene them, wishing him to seeke some other remedy; and if by importunity he inforced him to interpose his authority, he should doe him more hurt then good; which Matth. …aris thus expresseth. Diebus sab …isdem, A…chi… piscopus Cantuariensis Boni…acius, Ecclesiam Roffensem pr…gr…v…n…, ejus que invadens possessiones, t…ntam de facto suo …o…am incurri… vitupe…i, u… Ecclesia, c… esse debet defens…v, per eum dicatur v…xari. Epis…opus autem Roffensis, cum Domino Regi …u…us …ltori lachrymabili…r super tanta injuria conquerere…ur, Rex demisso vultur… spondit, Non possum eum …ectere ad ju…titiam vel humilitatem, …e ipsum tam generosum & genus suum …àm magnific…m, praecipue Reginam, offen…a… vel contristem. Hereupon he sought unto the Pope, but he was so neere a neighbo…r to the D…ke of Sav…y the Archbishops Brother, as perceiving quickly little good was to be done there, he was faine to take patience for an amends, and so sit him downe; yet at last he obtained a citation from the Pope against the Archbishop, which Matthew Paris thus expresseth. Interim Episcopus Roffensis, qui int…llerabil…s ab Archi…piscopo Cantuarien…i injurias sustinuerat, querimonias lach…y…abiles coram tota curia Romana reposuit, & repositas continu…vit, Cumque causa sua cond g…am expostul…ss…t ultionem, culpa enim gravis extitit, post mult…s admonitiones tandem ad Regem factas, qui dicto Archiepiscopo cornua praestitit, & au…aci… delinquendi, mer…itidem Archiepiscopus citari, ut pe…sonaliter …ompareret coram Papa, de …ibi …b…iciendis responsurus… & de illatis injuriis & damnis s…tisfact…r…s.

Iohn Fisher, 55Iohn Fisher.the 65. Bishop of Rochester was grievously questioned in Parliament in King Henry 8. his dayes by the house of Commons for saying,Hol…nsh. p. 936.937. Hall. An. 25. H. 8. F. 218. b. Speed p. 1029.1046. Godwin. p. 402. Bal… Cent. 8. c. 68.100. Fox Acts and Mo…uments Edit. 1610. p. 975.976… that all their doings were for lack of faith; Of which you may see more in Canterbury Part. 1. p. 12….126. after which he gave credit, and countenance to the forg…d visions and Revelations of …lizabeth Barton, tending to the reproach, perill and destruction of the Kings person, honour, fame and dignity, for whicsh he with others was afterwards condemned of high treason, and executed… Not long after, this Bishop for denying to acknowledge the Kings Supremacy in Ecclesiasticall matters, was arraigned and condemned for high Treason, and executed on Tower Hill Iune 22. 1535. being made Cardinall about a month before. His head was set on London Bridge, and his body buried in Barking Churchyard … He was a great per…ecutor of Gods faithfull ministers, servants, Gospell, and had this p. 292deserved reward of his disloyalty both to God and his Soveraigne.

Not to mention all the late Bishops of this See, many of whom were notorious in their generations; Doctor Bols, 66Dr. …ol….the last but one, was a very active talkative man in the high Commission, till he wearied most of his Colleagues there, who commanded him to his Bishoprick; where he was very i…dustrious in setting up popish ceremonies, Innovations, and in promoting the Booke of …ports in the Lords day, breathing out nothing but threats and suspensions against those ministers, who out of conscience refused to publish …t in proper person in their Churches; whom he intending to suspend and silence in his visitation, it pleased God, as he was riding towards it, to silence them, that himselfe was suddenly surprised with a dead palsie, which made him speechles for a long season; by means whereof the ministers escaped for that season; and he (never able to recover his pri…tine health) dyed no …ong after, leaving a successor behind him, who followeth his foot-steps, had a vote in compiling of the New Canons, and Oath, which he inforced; and hath beene a great fomenter of the late Scotish warres, and differences, being now one of those Prelates impeached in Parliament by the Commons. But of those Prelates enough. I must now turne about my rudder, and take a short survey of our W…lch Bishops, beginning with those of Saint Davids, once the **See Godwins Catalogue. p. 416Metropoli…anes of all that Country, and of some of our English Bishops too.

Saint Davids.

Guido de Mona.**Walsingham Hist. Angl. p. 419. Ypodigma Neustriae. An. 1407. p: 172. Godw. p. 512.GVido de Mona, the 62 Bishop of Saint Davids, appointed Treasurer by Richard the 2. in the 21. yeare of his raigne, revolting to Henry the fourth from his old Master, was made his Treasurer likewise in the 4. yeare of his raigne, but continued fo a very short time. This Bishop (saith Walsingham) while he lived was a cause of much mischiefe to the Realme; as others of his successors have beene whom I pretermit.

Landaffe.

11Oudotius.Spelm. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 62. See Godwins. Catalogue Edit. 2. p. 517.518.519.OVdotius the third Bishop of Landaffe Anno 560. assembled a Synod of a great part of his Clergy and three Abbots, p. 293and in full Synod excommunicated his Soveraigne Mou…ice King of Glamorgan for …laying Cynetu, and breaking the Cov… nant, which he had made in his presence upon the Altar of Peter the Apost…e, and of Saint Dubricius, and Telianus, and then layed their Crosses to the earth, and likewise intermitted Baptisme throughout his Country. … Communio Christia…a, and the Christian Communalty accursed the King and his progeny, the Synod confirming it, and saying; Let his dayes be few, and le… his child…en be Orph…n…s, and his wife a w…ddow. Whereupon the King with all his Country remained for two yeares space & more, under the said excommunication: after which this King unable any longer to sustaine such a long lasting great excommunication, seeing the perdition of his owne soule, and damnation of his kingdome, went to Landaffe, and craved pardon of Saint Oudotius, and powring out teares, with his head bowed downe, in the presence of three Abbots, this Bishop imposed the yoake of pennance upon him, according to the quality and quantity of his offence, commending to him, that hee should three manner of wayes amend his fault with God, and the Church of Landaffe; to wit, with fasting, Prayer, and Almes; whereupon this King for the redemption of his owne Soule, and for the Soule of Synetu, gave foure Villages to the Church of Land…ffe, the names whereof are mentioned in that Synod. Not long after another Synod was assembled by the same Bishop for the pennance and absolution of **Spelm. …oncil. Tom. 1… p. 63.King Mor…ant, who slew Frioc his Vncle, contrary to his oath, they two having solemnely vowed that if one them should either kill or deceive the other, that he would not redeeme himselfe, either with Lands or money, but would relinquish his Kingdome, & spen… his whole life in pilgrimage. This K. confessing his fault before the Bishop and his Synod, and craving pardon both for his perjury and Homicide… the whole Synod decreed, (least the Kingdome should be destitute of a King, and of the p…otecting buckler of their naturall Lord) that he should redeeme his Pilgrimage, and …xpi…te his homicide, and perjury with fastings prayers and Almes: which he swearing to doe, they injoyned pennance to him, according to his offence, and his quality greatnesse and power; whereupon he was restored to Christian Communion, of which hee was formerly deprived by the Bish…p, and gave three Churches with other particulars to the Church of L…nd…ffe. After this, a **Spaelmann… Concil. Tom. 1. p. 63.64. Godwins Catalogue. Edit. 2. p. 521.third Synod was held under the same p. 294Bishop at Land…ff…, wherein Guidneth who slew his brother Merc…ion in a contestation for the kingdome, was excommunicated by this Bishop & Synod, with crosses laid downe to the ground, and Cymbals overturned… under which excommunication he remained three whole yeares without any Communion of Christians. Af…er three yeares expired, he asked pardon of the Bish… ; who granting him remission, sent him in Pilgrimage to the Archbishop of Dole in Britany, where he promised to continue a yeares space in exile; but returning thence within the yeare this Bishop refused to absolve him, and put him under the first excommunication, because he performed not his first penance. But this Bishop dying within a yeare after, and Berthguin succeeding him, king Morcant and Guadnor…h with many elders, went to Landaffe, and requested this new Bishop with one mou…h, (seeing …he crosses yet laid downe upon the ground, together with the reliques and Cymbals) that he would absolve Gu…dnorth from his excommunication, by lifting up the Cros…es, and Saints reliques from the earth. After which Guednorth promising yet more to amend his life with fasting, prayer, and Almes, and shedding teares with great devotion, was thereupon absolved by the Bishop, who enjoyned him plenary penance, according to the manner of his fault: he afterwards mindfull of the divine saying, as water extinguisheth fire, so alms doth sinne, gave three Manors with all their liberties & appurtenances to the Church of Landaffe. By this kind of indirect meanes, this Church got so much lands, that had it now but the tenth part thereof, **Catalogue Edit. 2. p. 517.518.519.520Godwin assures us, it would be one of the wealthiest Churches in Christendome.

22Gurcan.T…ud…ur King of Brechiniau… (or Breckn…ck) sonne of Rese slew Elgistill, **Godwins Catalogue Edit. 2 p. 320. Spelmanni Concil. Tom. 1. p, 381.382.another King of that Country treacherously, after … league solemnly sworne betweene them… not to lye in waite one for another, and to maintaine a firme peace without deceit: hereupon Gurcan the tenth Bishop of Landaffe, with his Cleargy excommunicated him for his perjury and murther, by uncovering the Altars of God, casting the crosses and reliques to the ground, and depriving him of all Christian communion: whereupon Te…dur unable to undergoe this malediction and rigour of justice, with a contrite heart, and teares powred out craved pardon, and submitted himselfe to the penance imposed on him according to his quality and greatnesse, recompencing his p. 295wickednesse with Almes, prayer, and fasting, and for his absolution he gave this Bishop Lan. Mich…l, with all its lands, lib…rties and Commons.

**Berthgwin. Sp…lmann… Con. Tom. 1. p. 382.383.King Clo…ri and L…ndguallaun made a solemne league, before Berthgwin the 14. Bishop of Landaffe, and sware to main…aine fi…me peace betweene them in all things, w…thout fraud or damm…ge. And if either of them violated it, he was to leave his kingdome, and to goe on P…lgrimage all his life… neither should he redeeme himselfe, nor his kingdome with gold, nor silver; A…ter which King Clotri breaking the league, slew the other treacherously, committing both homicide and p…rjury. Which …his B…shop hearing of, assembled a Synode of his Clergy at Landaff…, and in a full Synod, excommunicated the King with al… his progeny and kingdome, by uncovering Gods Altars, and casting downe the crosses to the earth, and left the Country without B…ptisme and the communion. Whereupon the K. unable to endure so great an excommunication, with great devotion submitted himselfe to the Bishop, left his Kingdome, went on Pilgrimage into forraigne parts; from whence returning into his Count…y, after a long …pace, by …he intercession of King Morcant he obtained absolution from the Bishop, to whose enjoyned penance he submitted; & thereupon he gave Helic, with other lands to the B…shop and his successors in the Church of Landaffe. In this B…shops time **Spelman. Ibid. & Godwins C…t. Edit. 2. p. 521.Gurcan the sonne of Guin…n kept his owne Stepmother; for which the Bishop excommunicated him, in such manner a… he did Clo…ri, and upon his penance and absolution, the Bishop wr…sted from him a pe…e of land called Marchinis.

In the dayes of **Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 523. Spelmanni Con. Tom. 1. p. 383.384.Cercenhir 44Cercenhirthe 18. Bish…p of Land…ff… Houel King of Glevissig contrary to his solemne oath, circumvented, and slew Gallun the sonne of Cidrich, whereupon the B…shop summoning a Synode excommunicated him (in such sort, as the former Kings were) almost a yeares space; at which time hee coming bare foot to the Bishop, implored absolution with many teares, which he obtaining after publike pennance enjoyned, gave three Mannors to the Bishop and his Church. After which this Bishop excommunicated Coubius for murthering C…mauc contrary to his solemne oath, and that in a publike Synode; who upon his pennance and absolution gave Guliple to his Church. Aquod the sonne of …ou…f falling out with this Bishop, drave him and his men into the Church of Landaffe: For which hee was p. 296excommunicated by him, and to bee absolved was glad to give Pennoun, with the Church of Lantil…l and certaine other Lands.

55Gulfridus.**Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 523. Spelmanni Concil. p. 385.Loumarch the sonne of Carguocaun was excommunicated by Gulfridus the 20 Bishop of this See in a full Synod, for violating certaine priviledges, and invading the goods of his Church; but upon his humble submission on his knees to the Bishop with many teares, and his offer to acknowledge his offence, and to suffer any punishment the Bishop would impose upon him: The Bishop upon restitution of all the goods he had taken, and the gift of Treficarn pont, absolved him. Assac the sonne of M…rchiud having treacherously slaine one Gulayguni, being excommunicated for it by this Bishop, gave Segan to his Church, to expiate the murther, and for the soule of the slaine.

66Nudde.S…lferth, Hegoi, and Arguistil, the sonnes of Belli, fell at variance in words with Nudd the 21 Bishop of this See,**Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 523. and proceeding at last from words to blowes, committed divers outrages upon his Land and Family; but quickly remembring themselves, fearing excommunication, they asked pardon, and submitted themselves to pennance. After which performed, they gave unto the Church for further confirmation of their unfeigned repentance, the territory of Iulius and Aaron.

77Civeilliauc.King Brochvaile the sonne of Mouric, and his Family fell at variance with Civeilliauc the 22 Bishop of Landaffe and his Family,Spel. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 385.386. to whom they offered some injury, wherewith the Bishop being moved, assembled all his Clergy together, even to the inferiour degrees, intending to excommunicate Brochvaile and all his family (as forfeited to him, and execrable to God) before all the people in a full Synod, for this injury: which Brochvaile hearing of, sought for pardon and remission, which he could not obtaine from the Bishop upon any termes, unlesse he would suffer a Canonicall judgement. The cause being discussed, the Bishop was adjudged to receive from him an Image of his face both in length and breadth in pure gold, and that amends should be made by him to the condigne honour of his Family and Nobility of his parentage… which sentence Borchvaile was forced to redeeme, by giving the Towne of Tref-Peren, with six other pieces of Land to the Bishop and his Church.

88Pater.One Pater being the 25 Bishop of this See, Anno 955.Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 524.525. A certaine Country fellow meeting a Deacon with a sword by his p. 297side, asked him, what a Coward should doe with Weapons, and striving to take away the sword, cut the Deacons finger, whereupon the Deacon killed him; and when he had done, tooke Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Iarman and Saint Febrie. Thereby sixe of King Gurialls houshould (although there wanted not many that sought to defend the man, in regard of the place) he was slaine even at the very Altar of the Church. These sixe men were delivered at the City of Gwentonia (now Caerwent) into the hands of Pater the Bishop, who kept them in straight prison sixe moneths, and then forced them to give all their Lands and Livings to Landaffe, besides seven pound of silver to the Church, which they had polluted.

Mouric King of Glamorgan was excommunicated by Ioseph the 28 Bishop of this Diocesse,99Joseph. for putting out the eyes of Etgum in a time of truce;Godwin. Edit. 2. pag. 527. to have his absolution he gave to the Bishop Paniprise. Another time he was faine to give Gulich Fabrus and foure pound of silver unto the Bishop, beside other great gifts to the Canons upon this occasion: Hee had broken the Sanctuary of the Church of Landaffe, by taking away thence violently the wife of his enemy, and hurting some of the Bishops servants: For so doing he was publiquely excommunicated by the Bishop in a Synod, and by these gifts made way to obtaine his absolution.

Caratuc one of his company in the last recited action, was forced to give Henriu in Wencia.

Riugallan the sonne of Rum being excommunicate for an assault made upon the Bishop and his men, gave Riu Drein and the third part of the Wood of Yuisperthan, to be absolved.

Cutguallam the sonne of Guriat strooke one in the Consistory in the presence of Ioseph the Bishop, who kept him the said Catguallam in prison till he had made amends for that fault, by giving the Church of Saint Brides.

Calgucam the King of Morganuc and his family was solemnly excommunicated by Herewald the 29 Bishop of Landaffe, 1010Herewald.in a Synod of all his Clergy;Spelmanni Concil. Tom. 1. pag. 625.626. Godwin. Edit. 2. pag. 528. who thereupon cast downe all the Crosses and Reliques to the ground, overturned their Bells, and stopped up all the doores of the Churches with thornes, so as they continued for a long time without divine service, and pastors day and night; the King and his Family in the meane time being sequestred from the society of all the faithfull, and p. 298all, because one of the Kings followers being drunke, had laid violent hands upon Bathutis the Bishops Physitian and Kinsman on Christmas day, Anno 1056. Whereupon the King, though innocent, upon his submission to the Bishop, to obtaine his absolution, was enf…rced to give Henringumna, in the presence of all the Clergy & people, to this Bishop and his successors, free from all secular & regal services. After which one Gistni excommunicated for a rape committed by a Nephew and follower of his upon a Virgin, whom he tooke violently out of the Church of Landaffe, was forced to give Milne to the Bishop and his Successors to obtaine absolution. By these instances wee may partly discerne by what undue meanes Bishops at first obtained their large Temporalties and Revenues, even by enforcing Kings and great persons to buy out and expiate their offences by endowing their Sees with Lands and Manors, without which they could not purchase their absolution: and we likewise learn hence that Bishops in those dayes excommunicated none but in a Synod, with the suffrage of all their Clergy.

1111Edmund de Bromfeild.**Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 539.Edmund de Bromfeild the 48. Bishop of Landaffe, for procuring and bringing in the Popes Bulls of Provision to make him Abbot of Bury, contrary to his owne expresse Oath, and the Statutes of the Realme, was for this his contempt and disobedience committed to the Tower by King Richard the second, where he lay prisoner a long time; neither durst the Pope yeeld him any assistance, to justifie his owne Bull.

The late Bishops of this See (as Feild and others) have beene so notoriously peccant, that I need not mention them, wherefore I shall passe on to the Bishops of Bangor.

Bishops of Bangor.

11Mauritius.**Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 536.MAuritius the third Bishop of Bangor most undutifully refused a long time to doe homage to the King of England for his Bishopricke held of him, but at last was perswaded to doe it.

22Robert Shrewsbury.Robert of Shrewsbury joyning with Leolin Prince of Wales, against King Iohn his Soveraigne, was taken prisoner by the King in his owne Cathedrall Church,**Godw. Edit. 2. pag. 536. and ransomed for 200. hawkes; after this dying, he was buried, not in the Church-yard, but in the market place of Shrewsbury, by his owne appointment.

p. 299Richard 33Richard.the 10. Bishop of Bangor excommunicated David ap Lhewelin, **Matth. Paris. p. 551.715. Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 537.547.Prince of Wales, for that contrary to his O…th he took his Brother Gryffith prisoner, who was content upon the Bishops word to goe to his Brother: and when he saw that course would not reforme him, he never lin complaining, first to the King of England, then to the Pope, that he so incensed them, as the one excommunicated him, the other made warre upon him untill he delivered his said Brother into the Kings hands, who caused him to be kept in the Tower of London, till he endeavoring there to escape, by misfortune brake his necke. The Prince hereupon so wasted the Bishopricke, that in the yeare 1248. this Bishop and the Bishop of Saint Asaph were forced to beg their bread. Whereupon this Bishop came to the Abbot of Saint Albanes, desiring that the Bosome of Mercy might be opened unto his poverty, and he abiding there untill his Bishopricke wasted and spoiled with continuall warre, should recover some better estate, might together with his Chaplaine there breath and rest themselves from those calamities wherewith they had beene long afflicted, in like sort as heretofore the Bishop of Hereford had done, who was honorably entertained there almost the space of twenty yeares.

**Godwin. Edit. 2. pag. 538.539.Richard Young the 22. Bishop of Bangor, 44Richard Young.for some contempt and disobedience against the King, and confederating (as is likely) with that Rebell Owen Glendor, was imprisoned two or three yeares, till the Pope, Anno 1404. translated him to Rochester by his Bull.

Lewis 55Lewis.the 23. Bishop of Bangor Anno. 1408. joyned with the Earle of Northumberland, **Walsingham. Hist. Angl. Ann. 1408. pag. 419. Ypodigma Neust. Anno 1408. p. 172. Godw. Edit. 2. p. 539. Holinsh. pag. 1408.the Lord Bardolfe and others, in open Rebellion against King Henry the fourth. The Earle was slaine in battell in the field, the Lord Bardolfe mortally wounded, and their heads set upon London Bridge. The Bishop was likewise taken prisoner in the battell, but obtained pardon from the King, because he had no Armes upon him when he was taken, though the incendiary of the other two, and as great a Traytor as they; but the Abbot of Hayles was hanged, because hee had borne Armes in that Rebellion. So happy are Traytorly and Rebellious Bishops, as to scape scot free in their Treasons and Rebellions, when all other sorts of men have execution done upon them.

Arthur Bulkly Bishop of Bangor, 66Arthur Bulkly.and Iohn Lewis Vicar of p. 300Llain-geynwina, Trinity. 36. H. 8. R…t. 9. Godwin. Edit. 2. p. 540.were attainted in a Praemunire at the prosecution of William Whorewood the Kings Attorney, for suing for the right of Patronage and Tithes of the said Church, and for severall summes of money due on bond for Tithes, in this Bishops Ecclesiasticall Court, which had no cognisance of them being temporall, and belonging only to the Kings Civill Courts, to the derogation of the imperiall Jurisdiction of the King and his Crowne, and subversion of the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme. And hereupon judgement was given against them according to the Statute. This Bishop sold away five faire Bells out of the Steeple of his Cathedrall Church, which ma…d the Musicke there.

Should I rip up the scandalous lives and Actions of some of the late Pilates of this See, one of whom published The Practise of Piety, (which some say he never writ) though neither he nor any of his successors, did ever much practice it in their lives, or should I recite the vile complaints of late against one of them in 2 or 3 late Parliaments, I should be over tedious, and pollute my paper with such beastly actions, as would cause chast eyes to blush, and turne their aspect from them: Wherefore I shall passe them over in silence, (he being gone to answer them before the supreame tribunall) informing you only, that he imposed Armies upon his Clergy, and provided an Armory for them to be kept in within his Cathedrall at Bango… : And so I post on to Assaph Diocesse.

Saint Assaph.

…ohn Trevaur.**Wals. Hist. Angl. Anno 1399. 1404. p. 398.399.412.413. Ypodig. Neustriae Anno. 1404. p. 164. Godwin. Edit 2… pag. 554. Speed. Hist. pag. 758.763. Holinsh. p. 503.504.505.506.507.508.IOhn Trevaur Bishop of Saint Assaph pronounced the sentence for deposing King Richard the second, in which instrument he is first named, as appeares by this ensuing Copy of it. In the Name of God, Amen. We Iohn Bishop of Saint Assaph, chosen and deputed speciall Commissaries by the three states of this present Parliament representing the whole body of the Realme, for all such matters… by the said estates to us committed; Wee understanding and considering the manifold crimes, hurts, and harmes done by Richard King of England, and misgovernance of the same by a long time, to the great decay of the said Land, and utter ruine of the same shortly to have beene, had not the speciall grace of our God thereto put the sooner remedy; And also further more adverting, that the said King Richard p. 301by acknowledging his owne insufficiency, hath of his owne meere volunta…y and free will, renounced and given over the rule and governance of this Land, with all rights and h…nours unto the same belonging, and utterly for his merits hath judged himselfe not unworthily to be deposed of all Kingly Majesty and Estate Royall: We, the Premisses well considering by good and diligent deliberation, by the power, name, and authority, to us (as aforesaid) committed, pronounce, decer…e, and declare the same King Richard, before this to have beene, and so to be unprofitable, u…a…le, unsuffi…ient, and unwor…hy of the Rule and Government of the foresaid Realmes and Lor…ships, and of all rights and other the appurtenances thereto belonging. And f…r the same causes wee de…rive him of all Kingly dignity and worsh…p, and of all Kingly worship in himselfe. And we depose him by our sentence definitive: forbidding expresly to all Archbishops and Bishops, and all other Prelates, Dukes, Marquesses, Earles, Barons, and Knights, and all other men of the foresaid Kingdome and Lordships, Subjects and Leiges whatsoever they be, that none of them from this day forward, to the foresaid Richard, as King and Lord of the foresaid Realmes and Lordships, be neither obedient nor attendant. Immediatly as this sentence was in this wise passed, and that by reason thereof the Realme stood voyd without head or governour for the same, The Duke of Lancaster rising from the place where before hee sate, and standing where all the house might behold him, laid claime to the Crowne, to which the Lords assented.

After which the Archbishop of Canterbury (Arundel) having notice of the minds of the Lords, stood up and asked of the Commons, if they would assent to the Lords, which in their minds thought the claime of the Duke made to be rightfull and necessary for the wealth of the Realme and them all. Whereto the Commons with one voyce cryed, Yea, yea, yea: After which answer, the said Archbishop going to the Duke, and kneeling downe before him on his knees, addressed to him all his purpose in a few words: which ended, he rose, and taking the Duke by the right hand, led him unto the Kings Seat, the Archbishop of Yorke assisting him; and with great reverence set him therein. When he was thus placed in his Throne, the Arch…. of Canturbury began a briefe Collation, taking for his Theame these words written in the first Booke of Kings, the ninth Chapter, Vir dominabitur in p…pulo, &c. handling the same, and the whole tenour of his tale to the praise of the King. Thus was this King deprived by the p. 302Bishops meanes, who were chiefe actors in deposing him, and setting up King Henry; yet some of them (especially Yorke) were the authors of that evill counsell, which was the cause of his deprivation. And no wonder, since in his reigne (as Holinshed writes) such were preferred to **Holinshed. pag. 508.Bishopricks; and other Ecclesiasticall livings, as neither did, nor could teach, nor preach, nor know any thing of the Scripture of God, but onelyonly to call for their tythes and duties; so as they were most unworthy of the name of Bishops, being lewd and most vaine persons disguised in Bishops apparrell. Furthermore, there reigned abundantly the filthy sinne of Leche…y and Fornication, with abominable adultery in the King, but chiefly in the Prelacy; whereby the whole Realme, by such their evill example, was so infected, that the wrath of God was daily provoked to vengeance for the sinnes of the Prince and people, and tooke so sharpe an edge, that it shred the King off from the Scepter of his Kingdome, and gave him a full cup of affliction to drinke. After which, this Bishop was sent Ambassador into Spaine, to shew the King the rightfulnesse of Henry the fourth his Ti…le to the Crown of England; and soone after his returne thence, Anno 1404. (as Th…mas Walsing…am reports) perceiving Owen Glendor, that Welch R…bell, to prosper in his wa…res against King He…ry the fourth; Conversus est in virum pravum factus transfuga ad Owenum, hee turned a lewd Traytour and Rebell, flying away from the King to Owen. What became of him upon Owens defeate, I find not. Thus this B…shop was a Traytor and Rebell to two severall Kings; and which was worst of all, to him whose title he thus tooke upon him publikely to defend but a little before. Such faith and loyalty is there in lordly Prelates.

I shall not trouble you any more with our Welch Bishops; only let me acquaint you for a farewell; that the present Bishops of Asaph, Bangor, and Landaffe, are now complained against in Parliament, and impeached by the Commons House for the late Canons, Oath, malevole…t benevolence, and other crimes; for which I suppose they will ere long receive their doome.

The Bishops of Bath and Wels.

11Giso.**Godwin. Edit. pag. 360, 361.GISO the fifteenth Bishop of Bath and Wels, had many conflicts with Harold, before and after hee came to the p. 303Crowne; so that he was forced to fly the Land all his time.

**Math. Paris, pag. 217. Matth. West. Anno 1208. Godwi…. Edit. 2. pag. 107.366.Ioseline the one and twentieth Bishop of this See,22Joceline. joyned with Stephen Langhton, that Arch-rebell against King Iohn, and had an hand in interdicting the Realme, and excommunicating the King; for which he was glad to fly the Land for five yeares, the King seizing upon his goods and temporalties; whereupon the Monkes and Prelates raised many vile reports of the King, which you may reade in **Anno 1208. pag. 86, 87.Matth. Westminster.

Robert Stillington, 33Robert Stillington.the nine and thirtieth Bishop of Bath and Wells, though highly advanced by K…ng Edward the fourth, **Speeds Hist. pag. 933. H…lls Chron. 2. R. 3. fol. 25. Godwin. Edit. 2. pag. 377, 378.sided with that Usurper Richard the third, and was a man specially employed in his Coronation; hee was a great enemy to King Henry the seventh, being sent Embassador to the Duke of Brittaine for apprehending him, whiles hee was Earle of Richmond, Anno 1487. H…e was accused of high Treason, for yeelding assistance to Lambert the counterfeit Earle of Warwicke, and some such other treacheries; whereupon, having a guilty conscience, he fled to the Vniversity of Oxford, hoping that the priviledges of the same might be some shelter and defence unto him; whereof the King having advertisement, sent one Edward Willoughby, his Chaplaine, to the Chancellor of the University, to require the Bishop to bee delivered to his Officers, as being one to whom the Priviledges of the University could not extend (being at the time no Student there) so farre at least as to protect him in a matter of Treason, unto which no priviledge ought to yeeld any patrociny. After two or three refusals, at last by the connivence and permission of the Chancellour, hee was there arrested and committed prisoner to the Castle of Windsor, where hee lay prisoner foure yeares space, till his decease, 1491.

**Balaeus de vitis Pontificum. Leo 10. Godwin. Edit 2. pag. 381, 382.Hadrian de Castello the two and fortieth Bishop of this See,44Hadrian de Castello. though he conspired not against the King, yet being at Rome, and there made a Cardinall he entred into a conspiracy with Cardinal Alfonso Petruccio, and others to murther Pope Leo the tenth, out of an ambitious conceit that surely he should be elected Pope i… Leo were once dead; a Witch having foretold him that a certaine old man named Adrian, borne of meane parentage, as hee was, should be advanced to the Papacy: This conspiracy comming to the Popes eares, Petruccio was thereupon apprehended and executed: The Pope comming into the Consistory, promised pardon to all the other Cardinalls, who should then and p. 304there immediately confesse their faults: Hadrian hereupon, and some other, falling downe on their knees before him, acknowledged what they had done, and humbly besought him of mercy. He promised to bee as good as his word. Howbeit, Hadrian …earing the worst, shortly after stole secretly away, and was neither seene or heard of ever afterward, and thereupon deprived of his Bi…hopricke.

55William Barlow.William Barlow, the six and fortieth Bishop of Bath and Wells, incurred a Praemunire, for presuming to visite the Deane and Chap…er of Wells being a Donative, for which he was glad to buy his peace, as appeares by Brooke, Praemunire. Sect. 21.

66Guilbert Bourne.Guilbert Bourne the seven and fortieth Bishop of Bath and Wells, in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth, Godwins Catalogue, pag. 311. Martins History, pag. 452, &c.was deprived of his Bishoprick for refusing to subscribe and take the Oath of Alleageance, and then committed to the custody of Master Cary, Deane of the Queenes Chappell.

The Bishops since his time, I shall pretermit for brevity, and descend to William Pierce the present Bishop of this Diocesse.77William Pierce. This man having been Vicechancellor in the University of Oxford, wherein hee was over-busie and turbulent in persecuting good men, and in causing Pareus his Commentary on the Romans to be publikely burnt in an ignominious manner; was for his good service made Bishop of Peterborough, and from thence translated to Bath and Wells; where his tyranny, oppression, impiety, and practises have been so excessive, that the whole County of Somerset, with sundry particular persons, both Ministers and people there, weary of his insupportable government and vexatious oppressions, have exhibited divers Petitions against him to the high Court of Parliament now assembled, upon the full hearing whereof before a speciall Committee for that purpose; the Committees have drawn up this following Impeachment against him, reported to the Commons House, and now ready for a transmission to the Lords; by perusall whereof you may in part discerne what a good Prelate and carefull Bishop he hath been, or rather a Wolfe in a Bishops Rochet.

Articles of Accusation and impeachment by the Commons House of Parliament against William Pierce, Doctor of Divinity, and Bishop of Bath and Wells.

THat he hath by his owne arbitrary power, against Law, since he was Bishop of Bath and Wells (being about ten 1yeares space) of purpose to keep the people in ignorance and hinder the Salvation of their Soules which hee should promote; in and about the yeares of our Lord, 1633.1634.1635. and since, suppressed all Lectures within his Diocesse, both in Market Townes end elsewhere, aswell those that the ministers kept in their severall C…res, as others that were maintained by severall yearely stipends, given by the Founders, out of their piety and devotion, for such good uses, or by the volentary assistance of neighbour ministers, some of which **Among these he hath suppressed the Ancient weekely Lecture at the City of Bath, whither many Nobles, & other strangers resort, especially, in the spring and fall, who by reason of their sicknesse, both desire and neede preaching for the consolation and instruction of their soules, of which now they are there de…titute, to their great discomfort.Lectures had continued for 50.40.30. and 20. yeares, without interruption, and were countenanced by his predecessors, who used to preach at some of them in their turnes.

That insteade of incouraging, he hath suspended, excommunicated and otherwise vexed the sayd Lecturers; glorying in his so doing, and thanking God, that he had not a Lecture left in his Diocesse; the very name whereof he sayd hee disliked, and affirmed unto Master Cunnant a minister who desired the continuance o… a Lecture, that he would not leave one within his Diocesse; the Bishop alleadging, that though there was neede of preaching in the infancy of the Church in the Apostles time, yet now there was no such need; and thereupon required the said minister upon his Canonicall obedience, not to preach: and in like manner he dealt with many other Godly Ministers within his Diocesse. 2And in particular hee suspended Master Devenish the Minister of Bridgewater, for preaching a Lecture in his owne Church on the market day there, (which Lecture had continued from Queene Elizabeths time till then;) and refused to absolve him, till he had promised never to preach it more; upon which promise, the said Bishop absolved him with this admonition of our Saviour, most prophanely applyed, **Joh. 5.14. I dare say no Commentator whatsoever, ever made so ill an application of this Text.John 5:14Goe thy way, sin no more, l…st a worse thing happen to thee. And not content to put downe Lectures in his owne Diocesse, he hath endeavoured the suppression of them in others, by conventing some ministers of his Dioces…e before him (as namely one Master Cunnant and Mr. Strickla…d) and threat…ing to suspend them, for preaching their turnes at Lectures in other Diocesses neere them.

That in opposition to preaching, and the Spirit…all good o… the peoples Soules, he hath in and about the years aforesaid most impiously, and against Law, put downe all afternoone Sermons on …he Lords day, throughout his Diocesse, and charged the Ministers both publikely in his visitations, & privatly, ††It appeares by Act. 20.20.31. Act. 2.46. c. 3. & 4… & 5. Luk. 21.37.38. Joh. 8.22.19.47. 2 Tim. 4.2. by Basil. Magnus. Hexaemeron. Hom. 2.7.8.9. & Hom. in Psal. 114. by S. Chrysost. Hom. 10.22. and 34. in Gen. ad Pop. Antioch. Hom. 19.13. & 5. De sacerdotio. l. 6. Hom. de Lazaro. by Augustine Concio. 2 in Psal. 68. Tract. 16.18. & 21. in Joan. and other Fathers, that Christ, his Apostles and the Fathers preached every day, and forenoone and afternoone on the Lords day… how dare then this Prelate thus to affront their practise?Acts 20:20Acts 20:31Acts 2:46Luke 21:37Luke 21:38John 8:22John 8:19John 8:472 Tim 4:2Ps 114Ps 68no… to preach at all on the Lords day on the afternoon, upon any occasion under paine of suspension:**O Prophane impiety and injustice, to punish Ministers for preaching, Catechising, and doing that which God injoynes them! after which charge he suspended one Mr. Cornish a Minister, only for preaching a fun…rall Sermon on a Lords day Evening.

That divers godly Ministers of his Diocesse, being restrained from preaching, did thereupon take great paines, to Catechis… the people in the principles of Religion, on the Lords day in the afternoone, in larging themselves upon the questions and answers of the Catechisme in the Common prayer Booke, for the peoples better instruction, using some short prayers before or after that exercise: of which the sayd Bishop having intelligence, in and about the yeares aforesayd, convented the sayd ministers before him, reproving them sharpely for the same, threatn…ng to punish them if they persisted in that way, which he sayd, was a Catechising Sermon-wise, and AS BAD as if they preached; charging them, that they should aske no questions, nor receive any other answeres from the people, but such as were contained in the Catechisme in the Service booke: which some not observing, were convented thereupon before th… sayd Bish…p, and punished, as namely Master Barret Rector of Barmicke, who was enjoyned penanc… for transgressing the Bishop… sayd order… and likewise Humphry Blake, Church-warden of Bridg…water, was enjoyned penance by the Bishop, for not presenting Master Devenish Minister there, for that he expounded upon the Church Catechisme on the Lords day in the afternoon…, and made a short prayer before he began the same … the Bishop alleaging, that it was against his order, and command, as is above sayd.

That he hath in the yeares aforesayd both by precept and example, most prophanely opposed the due sanctification of the Lords day, by approving and allowing of prophane Wakes, and Revels on that day, contrary to the Lawes and Statu…es of this Realme: for which purpose he **An Impiety & prophanenesse, which no age can patterne, many Ministers have beene suspended and censured for shortning the Service, that they might preach the longer, and yet they are commanded to curtall it by this Bishop, that the people might have more time to play in Gods owne day.Commanded afternoone-Service on the Lords day not to be long, that so the people might not be hindred from their Recreations; pressed and injoyned al the Ministers in his Diocesse in their proper persons, to read the book of sports, in their severall Parish Churches, in the midst of divine Service at morning prayer on the Lords day, contrary to the words, and purport of the sayd booke, which some ministers (as Master H…mphry Chambers, and Master Thomas) refusing to doe, he thereupon suspended them both from their office and Benefice, and kept them excommunicated for divers yeares, notwithstanding the sayd booke was by the Bishops Order published in their Churches by others, he convented the minister of Beerecrockeham before him, for having two Sermons on the sayd Parish Revell day, alleaging **A pious Episcopall reason, fitter for an Alewife, than a Bishop; an Athest than a Prelate.that it was a hinderance to the sayd Revell, and to the utterance of the Church Ale, provided to be spent on that day. He convented and punished one Master Thomas Elford a Minister, for preaching at the Parish of Mountague, upon the Revell day, upon the Prophet Ioels exhortation, to f…sting, weeping, and mourning … charging him, that not onelyonly his Sermon, but his very Text was… **O blasphemy! why was not the Revell rather scandalous to the text?scandalous to the Revell, and gave offe…ce to the meeting. And for the same reason, the sayd Bishop commanded the Church-warde… of the Parish of Barecom…e, to blo… out of the Church wall, this Text of Scripture therein written, taken out of Esay 58.13.14. **O the desperate impie…y and prophanenesse of this Bishop, who might as well obliterate this Scripture out of the Bible, as out of the Church Wall!If thou turne away thy …oo… from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my Holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the Holy of the Lord Honourable, and shal… honour him, not doing thy owne wayes, nor finding thine own pleas…re… nor speaking thine owne words, then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord… and I will …ause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feede th…e with the heritage of Jacob thy Father, for the m…th of the Lord hath spoken it. And he likewise cau…ed this clause in Doctor Bisse his monument in that Church, formerly Pastor there, to be rased out; He was an enemy to heeathenish Revels. To conntenance which Revels, the sayd Bishop (in opposition …o the orders of the Judges of Assi…e, and Justices of Peace of Somerset-shire, for the suppressing of Sports and Revels, and their Petition to the King, to that purpose) did call before him divers Ministers of his Diocesse, and presented unto them a writing 4in approbation and commendations of the sayd sports and Revells: whereunto many of the sayd Ministers subscribed their names, by the Bishops perswasions: which writing the sayd Bishop sent up to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, who after the receipt thereof suppressed the Justices Petition. And shortly after the book for sports and Revels on the Lords day was published.

That he hath within the yeares forementioned both by his example and command, contrary to the Lawes of the Land, introduced into all or most Churches in his Diocesse sundry Innovations in the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, and other new inventions of his owne, tending to Popery and Superstition: as namely, setting up of Altars, and injoyning the seates about them to be taken away, saying, **This speech he borrowed from Canterbury; who might doe well to prove, that God Almighty sits actually on the Lords Table, & that as well when there is no Communion there, as when there is.none shall sit equall with or above God Almighty: bowing and cringing to the Altars, and reading the second and third service at the Altar) and enjoyned the strict observation of them under the heaviest Censures of the Church; in so much that the Communion Table of Stretton in his Diocesse, which he had caused to be rayled in Altarwise, being …rought downe againe to its former place, and not turned to the East, thereupon no Communion was there permitted to the Parishioners on Palme-Sunday and Easter day 1637. the Minister having received an Order from the sayd Bishop, *.*.O monstrous superstition, Sacriledge, and impiety, to deprive the people of the Sacrament, because the Table stood not after his new fancy! No age I am certaine yeelds such a president.not to administer the Communion untill the Table was againe set up Altarwise: and caused divers to be punished for not standing up at the Gospell and Gloria Patri. And he hath likewise forced divers Parishes, as Taunton, Shepton Mallet, and others, to their intollerable cost, to set up ††It seemes his Lordship delighted more in piping than preaching, and will have men goe merrily dancing not mourning to heaven.Organs, where there were none at all, or not a long time before; causing the Church-wardens to levy money towards the buying of them, upon the Parishioners, against their wills, and punishing them in his Ecclesiasticall Court, that would not pay towards them, and that he hath put the Country of Sommerset to excessive expences, by reason of such Innovations as aforesayd.

That he hath within the time fore-specified contrary to Law vexed and molested in his Ecclesiasticall Courts divers of the Clergie and Laity of his Diocesse for triviall and small matters; excommunicated and vexed divers Church-wardens, for not 5,rayling in the Communion Table, and placing it Altarwise against the East wall of the Chancell; and by name, the Church-wardens of Beckington; whom he not onelyonly excommunicated, but likewise caused them and others to be unjustly indicted at the open Assizes held in the Country in Lent, 1636. as for a Ryot in hindring the removing of the Table in that Church, putting the sayd Parish to the expence of 180…. pounds or more, and not absolving the Churchwardens from their excommunication, till they had done such open and ignominious penance, as the sayd Bishop enjoyned them, in three eminen… Parish Churches within his Diocesse, as likewise at the Market Crosse at Wells. The performance of which pennance wrought so farre upon Iames Wheeler one of the sayd Church-wardens, that thereupon he fell into a Consumption through griefe, and so dyed, saying often before his death, that the performance of the sayd penance being so ignominious, and against his Conscience, was the cause of his death; and by his vexatious suits in his Ecclesiasticall Courts, hee hath raised his Registers office, in former Bishops time not worth above …0. pound per annum, to the value of 3. or 400. pounds or more by the yeare.

That the sayd Bishop hath within the forenamed yeares unduely 6and against Law, pressed the Oathes Ex officio upon divers inhabitants of Wells without complaint or accusation, and likewise the Oath of Deanes Rurall, with other unlawfull Oathes, both upon the Clergy and Laity within his Diocesse, and other places; and suspended and excommunicated divers of them that refused to take the sayd Oathes: and that not onelyonly in his Consistory Court, but in his owne private Chambe…, there being none but a Register with him.

That he hath in or about the times fore-recited for his owne 7Lucre and gaine extorted divers summes of money against Law, as of one Fort, one of the Churchwardens of South-Pederton 20. pound. And also of one Mr. Franklyn the sum of 3. pound (besides the sum of 10. pounds given in Fees, and rewards to the Bishops servants) for instituting him into the Parsonage of Standerweeke. And hath likewise in the yeares aforesayd, and in the yeare 1639. exacted the sum of 6. shillings 8. pence or more, of divers Church-wardens and Parishes within his Diocesse, and namely of the Church-wardens of Dunkerton, onelyonly for not ringring the Bells when he passed through the bounds of their seveall Parishes, in his Visitation, though privately without giving them any notice of his comming that way. One Long his Surrogate openly averring in Court, that by the 16. Decre…all, they might justly take 10. pound for this offence.

8That he hath within the years forenamed against Law de…erred and denyed Institutions upon presentations to Benefices, practising in the interim under hand to conferre the same upon his Sonne, Servants or other dependants, and to deprive the Patrons of their Rights; and hath even by force, against all Law and equity, con…erred some of the Benefices upon his Sonne, Servants and dependants, viz. upon his Sonne, the Parsonage of Buckland, and endeavoured by the like for…e to confer the Parsonage of Standerweeke upon his sayd son, and other Parsonages upon his Servants and allyes, & did against Law and by force confer the Vica…idge of Hynstridge upon his servant Flamsteed.

9That he hath in or about the foresayd yeares tampered with witnesses examined by and before him upon Oath, to make them testifie untruths, and hath falsified their depositions, setting down his owne words and what he would have them depose, ins…eede of what they testified; as namely in the Case of the Church-wardens of Beckington, and in that of Mr. Ieanes Minister of Beercrocombe.

10That hee is a Common vexer, persecuter and molester of worthy and painefull Ministers, and a countenancer of those who are negligent, scandalous, and prophane, as namely he hath within the yeares fore-mentioned, vexed and persecuted Mr. Chambers, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Croake, Mr. Newton, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Cunnant, Mr. Roswell, with many other godly and painefull Ministers of the Diocesse, & countenanced his Chaplaine Mr. Eglesfield, …awler, Mr. Long, with other very vitious Ministers, and Mr. Huish and others superstitiously affected.

11That the said Bishop contrary to Law did in the yeare 1640. severely exact, and impose upon divers of the Clergie within his Diocesse, the new Oath perscribed by the sixth Canon of the late pretended Synod, and caused and enforced them to take the sayd illegall Oath, himselfe kissing the Seale of the Commission which authorized him to exact the sayd Oath of his Clergie, and kneeling downe upon his knees tooke the sayd Oath first, and then administred it to others; saying, that he was glad in his heart that this Oath was imposed upon all the Clergie of England, for now the true Children of the Church would bee knowne from the spurious and bastards. And further hee hath de…yed to conferre Orders upon such who refused to take the said Oath, as namely, upon one Mr. Gibbon…. And hath enforced the sayd Oath upon divers he hath ordained Ministers since the making thereof.

That the sayd Bishop hath beene a great fomentor and incourager 12of the late divisions and wars betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland, conventing and urging the Clergie of his Diocesse in the yeares of our Lord 1638. & 1639. to contribute a liberall benevolence towards the maintenance of the sayd wars, using this speech as one motive to induce them to this contribution; that it was **Bishop Hall labours to excuse it, in his Answer to the Vindication. p. 14.15. as if the Bishop meant it only in a lesse evill construction, as referring to the Northerne rise of that quarrell, not to our prosecution, when as it is most clear… by the words and …ircumstances, that he meant quite contrary.Bellum Episcopale, and saying, that what ever cause the King had expressed in hi… Declaration, yet in truth this war was for VsUs, meaning VsUs the Bishops. And whereas some of the Clergie denyed the payment of so large a Benevolence …s the sayd Bishop demanded, in regard of their poverty, and because they were still in their first fruites, when they were free from Subsidies, the sayd Bishop threatned by his power to put more Armes and horses upon them, saying, that if they would not serve the King with their purses, they should serve him with their Armes. And thereupon compelled them to pay the summes he demaunded of them against all Law: as namely, Mr. Roswell, Mr. Ioanes, Mr. Abbot, and others. And not contented herewith, the sayd Bishop pretending that there were divers poore Vicars and Ministers in his Diocesse that were no… able to pay the Benevolence, …o as hee could not raise the summe he expected, thereupon directed his Letters to divers of his wealthier Cle…gie causing some of them to pay a **Which some of the County conceive hee hath pursed up or discharged his owne share in this contribution therewith.second contribution.

13. That the sayd Bishop not content with this first Benevolence, hath since that in the yeare of our Lord 1642. compelled divers of his Clergie to pay all or part of the sixe illegall subsidies or Benevolences imposed by the late pretended Synod, without confirmation of Parliament, threatning to excommunica…e and deprive them ipso… facto who fayled paymen… of it at the dayes prefixed by the Synod, and sent out a processe to Master Newton Minister of Tau…ton (even whiles the sayd) Town… was much visited by the Pestilence) long before the sayd Subsidy; or Benevolence was due, to enjoyne him to pay it punctually at the day, or else he would inflict on him the penalties prescribed by this Synod; and used these speeches, that if they did not pay the sayd Subsidie or Benevolence, they should be ground to powder.

And the sayd Commons by pro…esta…ion s…ing to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the sayd Bishop; And also of replying to the answeres that he the sayd Bishop shall make unto the sayd Articles, or to any of them, and of offering proofes also of the premisses or any of them, or any other impeachment or accusation that shall be exhibited by them (as the cause shall according to the course of Parliaments require) doe pray that the sayd Bishop may be put to answere to all and every t…e premisses. And that such proceedings, examinations, tryalls, and judgements may be upon every of them had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.

By these Articles of impeachment you may easily discover what a prophane, impious, turbulent Prelate this Bishop is, even such a one, whom no age (I thinke) in many particulars is able to parallell; whose prodigiously prophane speeches and actions proclaime to all the world, that our present Prelates impieties have made them fit for judgement; yea to be castout and trampled under feere of men, as the very excrements and off-scouring of all things.

I have now runne through all our ancient Bishoprickes, with that of Chester lately revived, and given you a briefe account of the extravagant actions of some of those Lordly Prelates who possessed them; I shall now in the close of this Chapter give you but a touch of some of the late Bishops of Oxford, Bristoll, Peterborough and Glocester (which Bishopricks were erected out of dissolved Monasteries by King See 31. H. 8. c. 8.34. and 35. H. 8. c. 7. Godwins Catalogue, p. 403. to 413.Henry the eight towards the end of his Reigne) and so conclude.

Oxford.

TO passe by the first Bishops of this See, none of the best, there have beene three successions of Bishops in Oxford, since I left the University; Houson, Corbet, and Bancroft; all of them Patriots of Innovations, Erronious, Popish, Arminian Doctrines, superstitious Ceremonies, prophane Sports, Revels, and Bacchanals on the Lords day, scandalous in their lives, notoriously given to the flesh, enemies to frequent preaching, and the true Practise of Piety. Of the two first of them I have given a touch in Durham, and Norwich, page 519. to which I shall referre you, and for the last of them, a Non-preaching Prelate, who (for ought I can learne) never preached above one or two Sermons (if so many) all his life time; he had a finger in the late Canons, Oath, lone, in pressing whereof he was not negligent; and had not death arrested him (with the other two) I doubt not but the Parliament had bin troubled with many complaints against them all, which now being buryed together with them, I will not revive.

Bristoll.

THE Bishopricke of Bristoll was first possessed by Paul Bush, who was deprived in Queen Maries dayes for being married.Godwin. Cat. p. 411.412… Iohn Holy-man a Papist succeeded him, after whose death the See continued voyd some foure yeares, Anno 1562. Richard Cheyny Bishop of Glocester, and Iohn Bullingham his successor, held Bristoll in Commendam, so as it stood void o… a Bishop (otherwise than as it was held by Commendam … one and thirty yeares. Richard Fletcher next enjoyed it till he was translated to Worcester, Anno. 1593. After which it stood vacant ten yeares to 1603. and then Iohn Thorneborough Bishop of Limbrick in Ireland and Commendatory Deane of York was translated to it. This Bishop and some of his successors had great contests with the Major, Aldermen, and Citizens of B…istoll, whom he would force to come every Lords day morning, and solemne Holiday, to the Cathedrall Sermon, to dance attendance, and doe their homage to their Lordships; which they for some yeares refused, till at last after sundry complaints to the King and Councel, the Bishops and they according, the Major and Citizens yeelded to come to the Colledge, now and then on solemne days, if the weather were faire, and sometimes in the Sommer season.

Robert Wright, Robert Wright.one of the late Bishops of this See, had a great contestation with the Deane and Chapter of Bristoll, and Master George Salterne, Steward of the City, for opposing him in setting up Images in the Cathedrall and other Churches, which gave great offence to the people: he was a great Innovator and maintainer of Superstitious Ceremonies at Bristoll to humor Canterbury, by whose meanes he was translated to Coventry and Litchfield, where you may reade more of him.

Bishop Cooke who succeeded him,Cooke. was a more moderate and ingenuous man at first, but became too obsequious to Canterburies wayes and Innovations afterward.

Robert Skinner, Robert Skinner.the present Bp of this See, promoted to it by Can…rburies meanes, (whose great creature he is) hath bin very violent in railing in, and turning Communion Tables Altar-wise, (himself with his owne hands, and his men turning some:) in magnifying the booke for sports on the Lords-day (which he hath **See a Looking glasse for all Lordly Prelates, p. 23, 24.used to give others good example) in bowing to Altars, to the ††Of w^ch …o shed any on… …rum or drop, he holds is damnable and Sacrilegious.bread and wine at the administration, and at the naming of Jesus; hee threatned to punish a Church-warden for perjury in not presenting the Minister for Preaching twice on the Lords day, commanding some able ministers to Preach but once a fortnight, and not to preach on holy-dayes. He affirmed in his last Visitation, That conceived prayers before and after Sermons were never used till Cartwright, that factious fire-brand brought them up. Hee hath beene a great Patriot of Arminianisme, and stiled the Doctrine of the Saints …inall perseverance in grace, A Doctrine of Devills; enjoyning a minister to recant it, else he would vexe him in the high Commission, and running violently at him, sayd, He would have no such Vipers preach such Doctrine in his Diocesse: upon which ground he prohibited a Schoolemaster to teach children Mr. Perkins his Chatechisme; and sayd of his booke entituled, A golden Chaine, that he might stile it as one had done, A chaine of damnation. Hee hath reviled divers ministers calling them Vipers, Dunces, Devils, Traytors, Dogges, Scottish-hearted-Raskals, and the like, for teaching Orthodox Doctrine, and preaching out of their Cures in his owne Diocesse; and commanded the ministers of Bristoll not to suffer any strangers to preach in their Churches, unlesse they first asked his leave, and shewed him the Notes of their Sermons. Hee caused the Kings Armes to be taken down in a Church in Bristoll, onelyonly because it stood over the Altar. He tooke the late &c. Oath at his Visitation upon his knees, and imposed it upon others, assuring them, that if they did not take it, the Church would not suffer her selfe to be at a losse. He hath forced ministers to pay in the Benevolence money granted by the late pretended Synod, and constrain…d them to pay for their very acquitances. He caused a minister to be brought up by a Pursevant before the Councel Table, for omitting some words of the prayer against the Scots, and praying God to discover more & more the Kings enemies in this Kingdom; he hath excommunicated divers for denying to take an Ex Officio Oath; threatned to pul down a house built by a Tenant of the Dean and Chapter, neare his Palace, in such furious manner, that the Tenants wife soone after with the feare fell distracted and dyed: Neither will he permit another of their Tenants who hath an house at the West end of the Cathedrall to place a Tenant in it, saying, He will not suffer so great a Prophanation; threatning to put the Deane and Chapter into the High Commission, and there to fine them more than they had for the house, if they admitted of a Tenant; alleadging he could not looke the Arch-Bishop in the face as long as …hat house stood: he was an active instrument in compiling the late Canons, Oath and Benevolence, for which hee now stands impeached by the Commons. He hath much disaffected, and censured late Parliaments,See the Bistoll mens Petition to the Parliament against him, where much more is expressed. and after the dissolution of the last Parliament, was so confident we should never see another, as he openly said, We should go whoop when he saw another and should say the King was brought to a very low ebbe. He threatned to interdict a Faire kept in the Parish of S. Iames in Bristoll, if they would not set up a pair of de…ayed Organs in that Church. But of him enough.

Peterborough.

IOhn Chambers, John Chambers.a Doctor of Physicke, and last Abbot of Peterborough, became the first Bishop of it. It seemes the office was not then thought very spirituall,Godw. Cat. Edit. 2. pag. 499. that a Doctor of Physicke and an Abbot could supply it.

**Godw. ibid.David Poole, David Poole.a Doctor of Law and Deane of the Arches, succeeded him, and was deprived the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth for Popery, and denying her Supremacy.

Will…am Pierce, William P…erce…one of the late Bishops of this Diocesse, was a very turbulent man both to Ministers and people, playing the same prankes there, as he hath since more plentifully exercised in his Diocesse of Bath and Wells, whither hee was translated; of his misdemeanors and impeachment for them by the Parliament, you have already heard.

Doctor Lyndsie, Lyndsey.who succ…eded him (a great creature and servant of La…d and Neale) was an earnest promoter of the booke of pastimes on the Lords day, a great champion for the Arminians, and all the late Innovations in doctrine, ceremony or worship introduced among us, a bitter enemy to preaching, Lecturers, Lectures and godly people, whom he opposed all he might: Being translated to Hereford, hee would there needs visit the Cathedrall, Deane and Chapter (being a donative) by his owne Episcopall power, and would turne the Communion Table there Altarwise; the Deane and Chapter in defence of their priviledges with-stood him, and would neither turne their Table, nor suffer him to visite: whereupon he fell into such a raging choler and passion as presently put him into a fit of the stone, whereof he dyed within few dayes after.

Iohn the present Bishop of this S…e stands now impeached by the House of Commons,John. for the last Canons, Oath, and Benevolences made and granted in the late pretended Synode.

Glocester.

THe Bishoprick of Godwin. Cat. Edit. 2. pag. 495, 496.Glocester erected in King Henry the eight his reigne, wa… first possessed by Iohn Wakeman, Abbot of T…ukesbury, and by others since, some popish persecutors, as Iames Brookes in Queene Maries dayes, the Popes Commissioner who passed sentence of condemnation against Cranmer, Ridley and Latymer at Oxford,See Fox Acts and Monuments. vol. 3. p. 649. to 663. and represented the Popes person there; in which regard these eminent M…rtyrs would neither bend their knees, nor once move their caps unto him, whereat he was much offended. Cranmer taxeth this Bishop, for being perjured both to the King and Pope, and violating his oath to both. The succeeding Bishops of this See, I shall wholly pretermit, and give you onelyonly a short account of Godfrey Goodman, Godfry Goodman.the present Bishop of this Diocesse.

This Prelate hath beene ever …eputed a Papist in opinion, if not in practise. In his booke intituled, The fall of man, he maintaines some Popish Errors, and in Parliament ti…e 3. Ca…oli, broached no lesse then five severall points of flat Popery in one Sermon preached at White-…all before his Majesty, and that impertinently, neither of them falling within the compasse of his text: of which complaint being made in Parliament, the King enjoyned him publikely to recant those Errors in a Sermon at White-hall; but he insteed of recanting, defended them againe; whereupon the King threatned to make him recant in another manner, and to turne him out of his Bishoprick: but the then Duke of Buckingham, and the other Prelates procured his peace, and translated him from Rochester (where he then sate Bishop) to Glocester. In which Diocesse proceeding in his former courses, he turned Communion Tables, rayled them Altarwise, set up an Altar or two in his owne private Chappell with Tapers on them, (one of which Altars, many say, he dedicated to the Virgin Mary) besides he set up diverse Crucifixes and Images in the Cathedrall at Glocester and elsewhere; and after the Popish manner, consecrated diverse Altar-cloathes, pulpit Clothes, which other vestments for the Cathedrall, whereon Crucifixes were embroydred, to the great scandall of the people. And as if this were not sufficient to proclaime his Popery to the world; he hath bestowed much cost in repairing the High-crosse at Windsor, where he was a Prebend: On one side whereof there is a large statue of Christ in colours (after the Popish Garbs in forraigne parts… hanging on the Crosse, with this Latine inscription over it, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, in great guilded Letters; On the other side, the picture of Christ rising out of the Sepulcher, with his body halfe in, and halfe out of it. And to manifest that hee is not ashamed of this scandalous worke, it is thereupon ingraven, That this was done at the cost of Godfry Bishop of Glocester, one of the P…bends there. Besides he suspended one Master Ridler minister of Little Deane, some 8 miles from Glocester, upon the complaint of some Papists (whom he favou…s) of which there are many in that parish, for preaching, Th… a P…pist living and dying a papist in all points, could not be saved; enj…y…ing him to make a publike Recantation of this his scandalous and erroneous doctrine (as he termed it, though caught by all Orthodox Protestant Divines) in the Cathedrall Church of Gl…cest…r in a Sermon there to be preached Febr. 2. 1636. which this minister not retracti…g in his Sermon, according to the B…shops expectation, he thereupon dre… up a Recantation himselfe, enjoyning Master Ridler to p…blish it in the open Ca…hed…ll on Mat…hias day following… which hee refusing, was thereupon suspended, and his suspension openly read in the Cathedrall, March the 5. 1636. This strange Recantation was marked in the front w…th the Jesuits badge (…HS…) and began thus. In the name of God Amen. In which he stiles the Church of Rome, the Catholike Church: avers, that wee did separate from her only in point of policy (for which he cites a Sta…ute in King Henry the 8. his raigne, as if there had beene no further separation from her sin…e) not in point of D…ctrines, and in substance determines, that the Church of Rome and our Ch…rch are both one, for we have both the sam… Hierarchy and governement, the same Liturgy, Holy dayes, Fasts, Ceremonies, Sacraments, &c. So as those who affi…m… that Papists are damned, do but through the sides of the Church of Rome give a deadly blow to the Church of England, & deny that we are saved. More such good Romish stuffe is expressed in this R…can…ation, over-tedio…s to recite. Since this, when the New Canons were compiled in the late pretended Synod, this Bishop at first ref…sed to subscribe them only (as most conceive) because some of them made literally against Popery, whereupon he was suspended from his Bishoprick for a season; Since this, some Citizens and a Minister of Glocester have exhibited a Petition against him in Parliament to prove him (among other things) to be a Papist or popishly affected, he hath beene a great encou…ager of Revells, M…ygames, Morrices, and dauncing meetings on the Lords day, both by his presence at, exhortations to, and rewards for them, causing one Master Workeman, a Reverend minister of Glocester to be questioned, suspended and censured in the high Commission, only for preaching against those prophane Sports, and Images, in the very words of our Homilies. Lords-day.He hath beene a great setter forwards of all late Popish Innovations and an open favourer of Papists; so that when the Petitions against him come to be fully heard, as they have beene in part, I doubt his name and person will but ill accord: However, if he prove himselfe a G…od man, at the best he will fall out to be like his brethren, an [Ill-B…shop:] I have now run cu…orily over our Bishops disloyall seditions, extravagant actions in particular, I shall give you but two instances more of their Acts in their Convoca…ion, in generall, in affront of our Parliaments and Lawes, the one ancient, the other moderne, and so conclude with our English Prelates. The first is this.

In King **1 Ed. 3. c. 1. Holins. p. 328.338. to 340. Walsingham. Hist. Angl. p. 91.92.95.106. Speed. p. 674.Edward the second his reigne Hugh Spencer the Father and Son, who seduced and abused the King & Kingdome, were banished the Realme by Act of Parliament for ever, as Traytors and enemies of the King, and of his Realme: the Bishops consenting & pe…swading the K. to condescend thereunto. Yet after this An. 1319. Hugh S…enc…r the Younger and his Father, Petitioned the King against the award in Parliament, whereby they were formerly banished and disinherited without consent of the Prelates, desiring it might be reversed; the King delivered this Petition to the then Archbyshop of Canterbury, (Walter Raynolds) and his Suffragans, assembled in their Provinciall Councell, requi…ing to have their advise and opinion …herein. The Prelates upon deliberation had (to humour the King) declared; that in their opinion the said award as touching the disinheriting and ban…sh…ng …he Spensers, Fa…h…r and Son, was erroneous, and not rightly decreed; and for themselves they deemed that they neither did or could think it reason to consent thereto (though Walsingham writes expressely, that they perswad…d the King to consent to this banishment) and the…efore they required, that it might be repealed: whereupon the King disanulled the same, which afterwards occasioned much bloodshed, civill warres, and cost Hugh Spencer the Elder his head, and the King his Crowne and Life, in Conclusion.

The later is yet F…esh in memory, to wit, the Canons, &c. Oath, and Subsidies lately made and granted by our Present Prelates An. 1640. in their pretended Synod, held and continued against Law, in affront of the Parliament then dissolved. What strange kind of me…ll these Canons and Oath &c. were compounded of, appeares by the perusall of them in the printed Booke; and how culpable our Prelates were in casting, mounting, and discharging them upon the inferiour ministers and people in contempt of our Lawes and Liberties, their late impeachment at the Barre in the Lords house, by the house of Commons will best demonstrate, the true Copy whereof here ensueth.

August the 4. 1641. The Impeachment against the Bishops, sent up by Serjeant Wilde, & delivered at the Bar in the Lords house verbally, by Order of the House.

MY Lords, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons house of Parliament, being sensible of the great Infelicities and Troubles which the Common-wealth h…th sustained by the exorbitant courses of the Bishops, and knowing well what the wiseman saith, Eccles. 8.11. Tha… i… sen…nce be not speedily executed against …n evill w…rke, the h…arts …f the son…e of men are set upon further mischiefe:**Eccles. 8 11.Eccl 8:11 (…he timely r…dr…sse whe…eof doth better become the wisedome of Parliament… then a too-late wofull r…pentance;) have commanded me to represent unto your Lordships, That

Walter Bishop of Winchester,

Robert Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield.

Godfry Bishop of Glocester.

Joseph Bishop of Ex…ester.

John B…shop of Asaph.

William Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Geo…ge B…shop of Hereford.

Matthew Bishop of Ely.

William B…shop of Bangor.

Robert Bishop of Bris…oll.

John B…shop of Roch…ster.

John Bish…p of Peterborough.

Morgan Bishop of Landaffe.

Together with Willi…m Archbishop of Canterbury, and others of the Clergie of that Province, at a Convocation or Synod for the same Province begun at London, in the yeare 1640. did contrive, make, and promulg… severall Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, containing in them divers matters contrary to the Kings Prerogative, to the fundamentall L…wes and Statutes of the Realme, to the Rights of Parliament, to the Propriety and Liberty of the Subjects, and matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous consequence.

And to adde the more weigh… and efficacie to this their monstrous designe, They did at the same Synod under a specious and faire Title, grant a Ben…vol…nce or Contribution to his Majesty, to be paid by the Clergy of that Province, contrary to Law: It rested not there, for though this had beene enough to have affrighted and terr…fied the Kings people with strange apprehensions and feares, yet that these might not seem to be contrivancies of their brain or Fancies o…ly… they were put in Execution and were executed upon divers with animosity and rigour, to the great oppression of the Clergy of this Realme, and other his Majesties subjects, and in contempt of the King, and of the Law.

Whether these persons, my Lords, that are culpable of these Offences, shall be thought fit to have an Interest in the Legislative power, your Lordships Wisdome and Justice is able to judge.

But for these matters …nd things, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament, in the name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, doe impeach the said Bishops before-named of the Crimes and Misdemeanors before expressed, and do therefore pray that they may bee forthwith put to their Answers in the Presence of the Commons, and that such further Proceedings may bee had against them, as to Law and Justice shall appertaine.

Now that the world may take notice what Power the Clergy in their Con…ocation have to make Canons and Constitutions to bind the subjects, and of what validity their late Canons are; I shall avouch the Votes of the Commons House concerning them, as I find them printed at the end of this Impeachme…t of Bishops.

The Votes concerning the Bishops late Booke of Canons, in the House of Commons.

THat the Clergy of England convented in any Convocation or Synod, or otherwise, have no power to make any Constitutions, Canons, or Acts whatsoever, in matter of doctrine, or otherwise, to binde the Clergy or Laity of this Land without the common consent of Parliament.

That the severall Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, treated upon by the Archbishops of Canturbury and Yorke, Presidents of the Convocation, for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and Yorke, and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of these Provinces, and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence, in their …everall Synods, begun at London and Yorke, 1640. doe not bind the Clergy or Laity of this Land, or either of them.

And thus I have don… with our English Lordly Prelates, whose only study is and hath been to support their Lordly dignity, not true religion, devotion and piety… I shall conclude with them in Saint **De consider. ad Eugenium, lib. 4.Bernards words. Vides omnem Ecclesiasticum zelum fervere sola pro dignita…e tuenda: Honori totum datur, sanctitati nihil, aut parum. Nisi quod sublime est, hoc salutare dicamus; & quod gloriam redolet, id justum. Ita omne humile probro ducitur inter Palatinatos. Et tunc potissimum volunt dominari, cum professi fuerint servitutem. Fideles se spondent, ut opportunius fidentibus noceant. Ante omnia sapientes sunt ut facia…t mala, b…num autem facere nesciunt. Hi invisi terrae & coe…o, utrique injecêre manus; impii in Deum, temerarii in sancta, seditiosi in invicem, aemuli in vicinos, inhumani in extraneos, quos neminem amantes, amat nemo. Hi sunt, qui subesse non sustinent, praeesse non norunt, superioribus infideles, inferioribus importabiles. Docuerunt linguam suam grandia loqui, cum operentur exigua, Blandissimi adulatores, & mordacissimi detractores, simplicissimi dissimulatores, & malignissimi Proditores. O miserandam Sponsam talibus creditam Paranymphis, qui assignata cultui ejus, proprio retinere quaestui non verentur. Non amici profectò Sponsi, sed aemuli sunt. Erunt inquam hujusmodi maximo studio corrigendi, ne pereant; aut ne perimant, coercendi.

p. 305CHAP. VII. Containing the severall Treasons, Rebellions, Seditions, Schismes, Contumacies, Warres, and disloyalties of the Bishops of France, Normandy, Scotland, and Ireland, with reference unto the Kings of England.

HAving thus passed through the Treasons, Rebellions, Seditions, Warres, and disloyall practises of our English Lordly Prelates, I shall here in the next place give you a taste of the like crimes and practises of some French, Norman Prelates against our Kings, their Soveraignes, either here or in Normandy; and likewise of the Bishops of Scotland, and Ireland; which I thought meet to couple with our English Prelates, these Kingdomes being now happily united under the Government of our gracious Soveraigne, and his deceased Father.