The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 1 · Floating text 2
A true Copy of the Articles of the Commons assembled in Parliament, against WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury, in maintenance of their accusation, whereby hee stands charged with high Treason: and of the Speech or Declaration of JOHN PYMME, Esquire, upon the same: upon their transmission to the Lord.
My Lords,
Mr. Pimmes Speech.I Am commanded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses now assembled for the Commons in Parliament; to deliver to your Lordships these Articles, in maintenance of their Charge against the Archbishop of Canterbury. Their desire is, that first your Lordships would be pleased to heare the Articles read, and then I shall endeavour to present to you the sense of the Commons, concerning the nature of the Charge, and the order of their proceedings.
Articles of the Commons assembled in Parliament, in maintenance of their accusation against WILLIAM LAUD, Archbishop of Canterbury: whereby hee stands charged with high Treason.
1. That hee hath traiterously endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes, and Government of this Kingdome of England, and instead thereof to introduce an Arbit…ary, and tyrannicall Government against Law; and to that end, hath wickedly and traiterously advised his Majesty, that hee might at his owne will and pleasure, leavie, and take money of his Subjects, without their consent in Parliament; and this hee affirmed was warrantable by the Law of God.
2. He hath for the better accomplishment of that his traiterous designe, advised, and procured Sermons, and other discourses to be Preached, Printed, and published, in which the Authority of Parliaments, and the force of the Lawes of this Kingdome, have bin denyed; and absolute and unlimited power over the persons and estates of his Majesties subjects maintained and defended, not onelyonly in the King, but in himselfe, and other Bishops, against the Law: And he hath beene a great protector, favourer, and promoter of the publishers of such false and pernicious opinions.
3. Hee hath by Letters, Messages, Threa…s, and Promises, and by divers other wayes to Judges, and other Ministers of Justice, interrupted and perverted, and at other times by meanes aforesaid, hath endeavoured to interrupt, and pervert the course of Justice in his Majesties Courts at Westminster, and other Courts, to the subversion of the Lawes of this Kingdome, whereby sundry of his Majesties Subjects have beene stopt in their just suits, deprived of their lawfull rights, and subjected to his tyrannicall will, to their ruine, and destruction.
4. That the said Archbishop, hath trayterously, and corruptly sold Justice to those, who have had causes depending before him, by colour of his Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, as Archbishop, High Commissioner, Referree, or otherwise, and hath taken unlawfull gifts, and bribes of his Majesties Su… (and hath as much as in him lies) endeavoured to corrupt the other Courts of Justice, by advising, and procuring his Majesty to …ell places of Judicature, and other Offices contrary to the Lawes and Statutes in that behalfe.
5. He hath trayterously caused a booke of Canons to be composed, and published without any lawfull warrant, and authority in that behalfe; in which pretended Canons, many matters are contained contrary to the Kings Prerogative, to the fundamentall Lawes, and Statutes of this Realme, to the right of Parliament, to the propriety, and liberty of the subject, and matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous consequence, and to the establishment of a vast, unlawfull, and presumptuous power in himselfe, and his successors: many of which Canons, by the practise of the said Archbishop, were surrepti…iously passed in the late Convoc…tion, without due consideration and debate: others by feare and compulsion, were subscribed by the Prelates, and Clarkes there assembled, which h…d never beene voted, and passed in the Convocation, as they ought to have beene. And the said Archbishop hath contrive…, and endeavoured to assure, and confirme the unlawfull and exorbitant power, which hee hath usurped and exercised over his Majesties Subjects, by a wicked and ungodly oath in one of the said pretended Canons, injoyned to be taken by all the Cleargie, and many of the Laity of this Kingdome.
6. He hath trayterously assumed to himselfe a Papall and tyrannicall power, both in Ecclesiasticall, and Temporall matters, over his Majesties Subjects in this Realme of England, and in other places, to the disherison of the Crowne, dishonour of his Majestie, and derogation of his supreme authority in Ecclesiasticall matters; And the said Archbishop claimes the Kings Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction, as incident to his Episcopall, and Archiepiscopall office, in this Kingdome, and doth deny the …ame to be derived from the Crowne of England, which he hath accordingly exercised, to the hig… contempt of his royall Majesty, and to the destruction of divers of the Kings liege people, in their persons, and estates.
7. That he hath trayterously indeavoured to alter and subvert Gods true Religion, by Law established in this Realm, and in stead thereof to set up Popish superstition, and Idolatry. And to that end, hath declared and maintained in Speeches, and Printed Booke, divers popish doctrines, and opinions contrary to the Articles of Religion established by Law. Hee hath urged and injoyned divers Popish, and superstitious Ceremonies without any warrant of Law, and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same, by corporall punishments, and Imprisonments; and most unjustly vexed others, who refused to conforme thereunto, by Ecclesiasticall censures of Excommunication, Suspension, Deprivation, and Degradation, contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome.
8. That for the better advancing of his trayterous purpose and de…igne, he did abuse the great power, and trust his Majesty reposed in him, and did intrude upon the place… of divers great officers, and upon the rig…t of other his Majesties Subjects, whereby hee did procure to himselfe the nomination of sundry persons to Ecclesiasticall Dignities, Promotions, and Benefices, belonging to his Majesty, and divers of the Nobility, Clergy, and others; and hath taken upon him the commendadation of Chaplaines to the King; by which meanes hee hath preferred to his Majesties service, and to other great promotions in the Church… su…h as have beene Popishly affected, or otherwise un…ound, and corrupt both in doctrine and manner….
9. Hee hath for the same trayterous, and wicked intent, chosen and imployed, such men to be his owne Domesticall Chaplaines, whom hee knew to be notoriously disaffected to the reformed religion, grosly addicted to popish superstition, and erroneous, and unsound both in Judgement and practise, and to them or some of them hath hee committed the Licensing of Bookes to be Printed, by which meane… divers false and superstitious bookes have beene published, to the great scandall of Religion, and to the seducing of many his Majesties Subjects.
10. He hath trayterously & wickedly endeavoured to reconcile the Church of England with the Church Rome; and for the effecting thereof, hath consorted, & confederated with divers popish Priests, and Jesuites; and hath kept secret intelligence with the Pope of Rome, & by himselfe, his Agents & Instruments, treated with such as have from thence received… Authority, and instruction; he hath permitted, and countenanced a popish Hierarchie, or Ecclesiasticall government to be… established in this Kingdome: by all which trayterous and malicious practises this Church and Kingdome hath beene exceedingly indangered, and like to fall under the Tyranny of the Roman See.
11. Hee in his owne person, and his suffragans, Visitors, Sutrogates, Chancellors, and other Officers, by his command, have caused divers learned, pious, and Orthodox Ministers of Gods word to be silenced, suspended, deprived, degraded, excommunicated, & otherwise grieved, without any just and lawfull cause: and by divers other meanes hee hath hindred the preaching of Gods word, caused divers of his Majesties loyall Subjects to forsake the Kingdome, and increased, and cherished Ignorance, and profanenesse amongst the people, that so hee might th… better facilitate the way to the effecting of his owne wicked and trayterous designe, of altering, and corrupting the true religion here established.
12. Hee hath traiterously endeavoured to cause division, and discord betwixt the Church of England, and other Re…ormed Churches, and to that end hath supprest, and abrogated the Priviledges, and Immunities, which have beene by his Majesty, and his royall Ancestors graunted to the Dutch, and French Churches in this Kingdome: and divers other wayes hath expressed his malice, and disaffection to these Churches, that so by such disunion, the Papists might have more advantage …or the overthrow, and extirpation of both.
See th… Charge of the Sc…ttish Commissioners against Canterbury.13. Hee hath maliciously and traiterously plotted, and endeavoured to stirre up warre and enmity betwixt his Majesties two Kingdomes of England, and Scotland, and to that purpose hath laboured to introduce into the Kingdome of Scotland, divers Innovations both in Religion, and Government, all or the most part of them tending to popery, & superstition, to the great grievance, and discontent of his Majesties Subjects of that Nation: a…d for their refusing to submit to such Innovations, hee did trayterously advise his Majesty to subdue them by force of Armes, and by his owne Authority and Power contrary …o Law, did procure sundry of his Majesties subjects, and inforced the Clergie of this Kingdome to contribute towards the maintenance of *Which Doctor Pierce Bishop of Bath and Wel… in his speech to hi… Clergy to set on this contribution, stiled Bellum Episcopale, adding, that what…ver his Majesty had expressed in his Declaration… t… be the cause of this warr…, yet in truth this warre is FOR VSUS, Bishops…that warre, and when his Majesty with much wisedome and Justice had made a Pacification betwixt the two Kingdomes, the said A…chbishop did presumptuously censure that pacification, as dishonourable to his Majestie, and by his counsels and endeavours, so incensed his Majestie against his said subjects of Scotland, that hee did thereupon (by advice of the said Archbishop) …nter into an offensive warre against them, to the grea… hazzard of his Majesties person, and his subjects of both Kingdomes.
14. That to preserve himselfe from being questioned for these, and other his trayterous courses, hee laboured to subver…s the rights of Parliament, and the ancient course of Parliamentary proceeding, and by false and malitious slanders to incense his Majesty against Parliaments.
By which words, counsel…, and actions, he hath traiterously, and contrary to his allegiance laboured to alienate the hearts of the Kings liege people from his Majesty, and to set a division betweene them, and to ruine and destroy his Majesties Kingdomes; for which they do impeach him of High Treason, agai…st our Soveraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and Dignity.
The said Commons do further averre, that the said VVilliam Archbishop of Caterbury, during the times that the crimes aforementioned were done, and committed, hath beene a Bishop, or Archbishop of this Realm of England, one of the Kings Commissioners for Ecclesiasticall matters… and one of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell, and hath taken an Oath for his faithfull discharge of the said Office of Councellor, and hath likewise taken an oath of supremacy and Allegean…e.
And the said Commons by protestation saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter, any other accusation or impeachment against the said Archbishop, and also of replying to the Answers, t…at the said Archbishop shall make unto the said Articles, or to any of them, and of offering further proofe also of the Premises, or any of them, or of any other impeachment, or accusation that shall be exhibited by them, as the cause shall according to the cours… of Parliament require, do pray that the said Archbishop may be put to answer to all and every the Premises, and that such proceedings, examination, tryall, and Judgement may be upon every of them had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.
The Articles being read, M. PYMME proceeded in his Speech as followeth.
My Lords,
There is an expression in the Scripture, which I will not presume either to understand, or to interpret; yet to a vulgar eye it seemes to have an aspect something surable to the Person and Cause before you: It is a description of the evill Spirits, wherein they are said to be spirituall wickednesse in high places. Crimes acted by the spirituall faculties of the Soule, the Will and the Understanding, exercised about spirituall matters, concerning Gods Wordship, and the Salvation of Man; seconded with power, authority, learning, and many other advantages, do make the party who commits them, very sutable to that description, Spirituall wickednesses in high places.
These crimes (My Lords) are various in their Nature, haynous in their quality, and universall in their extent. If you examine them Theologically, as they stand in opposition to the truth of God, they will be found to be against the rule of Faith, against the power of godlinesse, against the meanes of Salvation.
If you examine them Morally, as they stand in opposition to the light of Nature, to right reason, and the principles of humane society, you will then perceive pride without any moderation… such a Pride as that is which exalts it selfe above all that is called God. Malice without any provocation; Malice against vertue, against innocencie, against piety, injustice without any meanes of restitution, even such injustice as doth robbe the present times of their possessions; the future, of their possibilities.
I… they be examined (My Lords) by Legall Rules in a Civill way, as they stand in opposition to the Publiqu… Good, and to the Lawes of the Land. Hee will be found to be a Traytor a…gainst his Majesties Crowne, an incendiary against the Peace of the State; hee will be found to be the highest, the boldest, the mo…t i…pudent oppressour, that ever was an oppressor both of King and People…
This Charge (my Lords) is distributed and conveyed into …o…teene severall Articles, as you have heard; and those articles are onelyonly generall: I… being the intention of the House of Commons (which they have commanded mee to declare) to make them more certaine and particular by preparatory Examinations to be taken with the helpe of your Lordships house, as in the Case of my Lord of Strafford.
I shall now runne thorough them with a light touch, onelyonly marking in every of them some speciall point of venome, virulency, and malignity.
1 The first Article (my Lords) doth containe his …ndeavour to introduce into this Kingdome an Arbitrary power of Government, without any limitations or Rules of Law. This (my Lords) is against the safety of the Kings Person, the honour of his Crowne, and most destructive to his people.
Those Causss which are most perfect have not onelyonly a power to produce effects, but to conserve and cheri…h them. The Seminary vertue, and the nutritive vertue in vegetables, do produce from the same principles. It was the defect of justice, the restraining of oppression and violence that first brought government into the World, and set up Kings, the most excellent way of Government. And by the maint…nance of Justice all kinds of government receive a sure foundation and establishment. It is this that hath in it an ability to preserve, and secure the royall power of Kings, yea, to adorne and encrease it.
2 In the second Article, yo…r Lordships may observe, absolute and unlimited power, defended by Preaching, by Sermons, and other discourses, printed and published upon that subject. And truely (my Lords) it seemes to be a prodigious crime, that the truth of God, and his holy Law should be perverted to defend the lawlesnesse of men. That the holy and sacred function of the Ministry, which was ordained for instruction of mens soules in the wayes of God, should be so abused, that the Ministers are become the trumpets of sedition, the promoters and defenders of violence and oppression.
3 In the third Article (my Lords) you have the Judges, who under his Majesty are the dispersers and distributers of Justice, frequently corrupted by feare, & solicitation; you have the course of Justice in the execution of it… shamefully obstructed. And if a wilfull Act of injustice in a Judge be so high a crime in the estimate of the Law, as to deserve death, under what burthen of guilt doth this man lye, who hath beene the cause of great numbers of such voluntary and wilfull acts of injustice?
4 In the fourth Article, hee will be found in his owne person to have sold justice in Causes depending be…ore him. And by his wicked couns…ll endeavouring to make his Majesty a Merchant of the same commodity, onelyonly with this difference, that the King by taking money for places of judicature, should sell it in grosse; whereas the Archbishop sold it by retaile.
5 In the fi…t Article, there appeares a power usurped of making Canons; of laying obligations on the Subjects in the nature of Lawes: and this power abused to the making of such Canons as are in the matter of them very pernicious, being directly contrary to the prerogative of the King, and the liberty of the people. In the manner of pressing of them, may be found fraud and shuf…ling: in the conclusion, violence and constaint; men being forced by terrour and threatning to subscribe to all: which power thus wickedly gotten, they laboured to establish by perjury, injoyning such an Oath for the maintenance of it, as can neither be taken nor kept with a good conscience.
6. In the sixth Article, you have the King robbed of his Supremacy: you have a Papall power exercised over his Majesties Subjects in their consciences, and in their persons: You have Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction claimed by an Incident right, which the Law declares to proceede from the Crowne.
And herein your Lordships may observe that those who labour in civill matters to set up …he King above the Lawes of the Kingdome, do…e yet in Ecclesiasticall matters endevour to set up themselves above the King. This was …irst procured by the Arch-bishop to be extrajudicially declared by the Judges, and then to be published in a Proclamation. In doing whereof he hath made the Kings Throne but a footstoole for his owne and their pride.
7. You have (my Lords) in the seventh Article, Religion undermined and s…bverted: you have Popery cherished and de…ended: you have this seconded with power and violence, by severe punishment upon those which have opposed this mischievous intention: and by the subtile and eager prosecution of these men, hath the power of Ecclesiasticall Commissioners, of the Starre-Chamber and Councell Table beene often made subservient to his wicked designe.
My Lords,
8. You may observe in the eighth Article, great care taken to get into his owne hand the power of nominating to Ecclesiasticall Livings and promotions: you have as much mischievous, as much wicked care taken in the disposing of these preferments, to the hinderance and corruption of Religion. And by this meanes (my Lords) the Kings sacred Majesty, instead of Sermons, fit for spirituall instructours, hath often had invectives against his people, incouragement to injustice, or to the overthrow of the Lawes. Such Chaplaines have beene brough into his service, as have as much as may bee, laboured to corrupt his owne Houshold, and beene eminent examples of corruption to others; which hath so farre prevailed, as that it hath exceedingly tainted the Universities, and beene generally disper…t to all the chiese Cities, the greatest Townes and Auditories of the Kingdome. The grievous Effects whereof is most manifest to the Commons House, there being diverse h…ndred complaints there depending in the House against scandalous ministers; and yet (I beleeve) the hundred part of them is not yet brought in.
9. The ninth Article sets out the like care to have Chaplaines of his owne, that might be promoters of this wicked and trayterous designe: Men of corrupt judgements, of corrupt practice, extreamely addicted to superstition: and to such mens cares hath beene committed the Licensing of Bookes to the Presse; by meanes whereof many have beene published that are full of falshood, of scandals; such as have beene more worthy to be burnt by the hand of the Hangman in Smit…field (as I thinke one of them was) than to be admitted to come into the hands of the Kings people.
10. In the tenth Article it will appeare, how he having made these aproaches to Popery, comes now to close and joyne more neerely with it; he confederates with Priests and Jesuites: He, by his instruments negotiates with the Pope at Rome, and hath correspondence with th…m that …e authorized from Rome here. He hath permitted a Romane Hierarchie to be set up in this Kin…dome. And though he hath beene so care…ull that a poore man could not goe to the neighbour Parish to heare a Sermon, when he had none at home, could not have a Sermon repeated, nor Prayer used in his owne Family, but hee was a …it subject for the High Commission Court; yet the other hath beene done in all parts of the Realme and no notice taken of it, by any Ecclesiasticall Judges or Courts.
My Lords,
11. You may perceive Preaching suppressed in the eleventh, divers godly and Orthodox Ministers oppressed in their persons and Estates; you have the Kings loyall subjects banished out of the Kingdome, not as …lime…ecke to seeke for bread in forraine Countries, by reason of the great scarcity which was in Israel; but travelling abroad for the bread of life, because they could not have i… at home, by reason of the spirituall …amine of Gods Word, caused by this man and his partakers. And by this meanes you have had the trade, the Manufactury, the industry of many thousands of his Majesties subjects carried out of the Land.
It is a miserable abuse of the spirituall Keyes to shut up the doores of heaven, and to open the gates of hell, to let in prophanenesse, ignorance, superstition, and errour. I shall neede say no more: These things are evident, and abundantly knowne to all.
12. In the twelfth Article (my Lords) you have a division endeavoured betweene this and the forraine reformed Chur-Churches. The Church of Christ is one body, and the Members of Christ have a mutuall relation, as members of the same body, Unity with Gods true Church every where is not onelyonly the beauty, but the strength of Religion: of which beauty and strength he hath sought to deprive this Church by his manifold attempts to breake this union. To which purpose hee hath suppressed the priviledges granted to the Dutch and French Churches. He hath denyed them to be of the same Faith and Religion with us; and many other wayes hath he declared his malice to those Churches.
13. In the thirteenth Article, as he hath sought to make an Ecclesiasticall division, or religious difference betweene us & forraine Nations, so he hath sought to make a Civill diffeence betweene us and his Majesties subjects of the Kingdome of S…otland. And this he hath promoted by many innovations, there prest by himselfe and his owne authority, when they were uncapable of such altera…ions. He advised his Majesty to use violence. He hath made private and publicke Collections towards the maintenance of the warre, which he might justly call his owne wa…re. And with an impudent boldnesse, hath struck Tallies in the Exchequer for divers summes of money, procured by himselfe, Pro defensione Regni; when by his Counsels the King was drawne to undertake not a Defensive, but an Offnsive Warre.
14. He hath lastly, thought to secure himselfe and his party by seeking to undermine Parliaments, and thereby hath laboured to bereave this Kingdome of the Legisla…ive power, which can onelyonly be used in Parliaments: and that we should be left a Kingdome without that which indeede makes and constitutes a Kingdome; and is the onelyonly Meane to preserve and restore it from distempers and decayes. He hath hereby endeavoured to bereave us of the highest Judicatory, such a Judicatory, as is necessary and essentiall to our government. Some Cases of Treason, and others concerning the Prerogative of the Crowne, and liberty of the People. It is the supreame Judicatory to which all difficult Cases resort from other Courts. He hath sought to deprive the Ki…g of the Love and Counsell of his People, of that assistance which he might have from them, and likewise to deprive the People of that reliefe of grievance… which they most humbly …xpect from his Majesty.
My Lords, The Parliament is the Cabbinet wherein the chiefest Jewels both of the Crown & Kingdome are deposited. The great Prerogative of the King, and the liberty of the People are most effectually exercised and maintained by Parliaments. Here (my Lords) you cannot passe by this occasion of great thankes to God and his Majesty for passing the Bill whereby the frequent course of Parliaments is established; which I assure my selfe, he will by experience finde to be a strong foundation both of his honour, and of his Crowne.
This is all (my Lords) I have to say to the particulars of the Charge. The Commons desire your Lordships that they may have the same way of Examination that they had in the Case of the Earle of Strafford: That is, to examine members of all kindes, of your Lordships House and their owne, and others, as they shall see cavse. And those Examinations to be kept secret and private, that they may with more advantage be made use of when the matter comes to tryall.
They have declared that they reserve to themselves the power of making Additionall Articles, by which they intend to reduce his Charge to be mor… particular and certaine, in respect of the severall times, occasion, and other circumstances of the Offences therein Charged. And that your Lordships would bee pleased to put this Cause in such a quicke way of proceeding, that these great and dangerous Crimes together with the offendors may be brought to a just Judgement.
To these Articles of the Commons house, I might here annex those of the Scottish Commissioners against this Arch-Prelate; but I reserve them to a Chapt… 7.fitter place; and shall onelyonly for a Corollary, add Mr. Grymstons Printed speech in Parliament, against this Arch-Bishop, to Mr. Pymmes, pretermitting all others of this Nature for brevitie sake.
Mr. Grymstones Speech in Parliament, upon the accusation and impeachment of VVILLIAM LAVD Archbishop of Canterbury, of High Treason.
Mr Speaker,
THere hath beene presented to …he House, a most faithfull and exact report of the conference we had with the Lords yesterday, together with the opinion of the Committees, that were imployed in that service.
That they conceived it fit, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury should be sequestred.
I must second …he motion, and with the favour of the House, I shall be bold to offer my reasons, why I conceive it more necessary, we should proceede a little further, than the desire of a bare sequestration onelyonly.
Mr. Speaker, long introductions are not sutabl… to weighty businesse, we are fallen upon the great man, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury: looke upon him as he is in his Highnesse, and hee is the s…ye of all pesti…ent filth, that hath infected the State and government of the Church and Common-wealth: looke upon him in his dependancies, and he is the man, the onelyonly man that hath raised and advanced all those (that together with himselfe) have beene the Authors and causers of all the ruines, miseries, and calamities, we now groane under.
Who is it but he onelyonly, that hath brought the Earle of Strafford to all his great places and imployments, a fit instrument and spirit, to act and execute all his wicked and bloody designes in thes… Kingdomes?
Who is it, but he onelyonly that brought in Secretary Winde…anke into the place of Secretary and trust, the very Broker and P…nder to the Whore of Babylon?
Who is it, Mr. Speaker, but he onelyonly that hath advanced all Popish Bishops? I shall name some of them; Bishop Manwaring, the Bishop of Bathe and Wells, the Bishop of Oxford, and Bishop Wren, (the least o… all, but the most uncleane one.)
These are men that should have sed Christs Flocke, but they are the Wolves that devoured them; the Sheepe should have fed upon the Mountaines, but the Mountaines have eaten up the Sheepe. It was the happinesse of the Church, when the zeale of Gods house did eate up the Bishops: glorious and brave Martyrs that went to the stake, in defence of the Protestants religion; but the zeale of these Bishops have beene to eate up and persecute the Church.
Who is it, Mr. Speaker, but the great Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, that hath sit at the Helme to guide and steere them to all the managing of their Projects, that have beene set on foote in this Kingdome these ten yeares last past? and rather than he would stand out, he hath most unworthily trucked and chaffered in the meanest of them. As for instance, that of Tobacco, wherein thousands of poore people have beene stripped and turned out of their trade…, for which they have served as Apprentises; we all know he was the Compounder and Contractor with them for the Licences, putting them to pay Fines, and Fee-Farme-rents to use their Trades.
Certainely, Mr. Speaker, he might have spent his time better (and more for his grace) in the Pulpit; then thus sharking and taking in the Tobacco shop.
Mr. Speaker, we all know what he hath beene charged withall here in this House, Crim…s of a dangerous consequence, and of transcendent nature, no lesse than the subversion of the Government of this Kingdome, and the alteration of the Protestant Religion, and this not upon bare information onelyonly, but much of it comes before us already, upon cleare and manifest poofes, and there is scarce any businesse, Grievances, or Complaints, come before us in this place, wherein we doe not finde him intermingled, and as it were twisted into it, like a busie and angry Waspe, his sting in the taile of everything.
We have this day heard the report of the Conference yesterday; and in it the Accusations which the Scottish Natio… hath charged him withall; And we doe all know he is guilty of the same (if not more) in this Kingdome.
Mr. Speaker, he hath beene, and is the common enemie to all goodnesse and good men, and it is not safe, that such a viper should be neere to his Majesties person, to distill his poyson into his Sacred eares, nor is it safe for the Common wealth that he should sit in so eminent a place of Government, being thus accused; we know what we did in the Earle of Straf…ords case. This man is the corrupt Fountaine that hath in…ected all the streames, and till the fountaine be purged, we cannot expect to have any cleare Channels. I shall be bold therefore to offer my opinion, and if I erre it is the errour of my judgement, and not my want of zeale and affection to the publicke good.
I conceive it most necessary and fit, that we should now take up a Resolution to doe somewhat, to strike whilst the Iron is hot; And goe up to the Lords in the name of the Commons of this House, and in the name of the Commons of England; and to accuse him of High Treason, and to desire their Lordships, his person may be sequestred, and that in convenient time they may bring up the Charge.
Which soone after was accordingly executed, as you have already seene.
By these speeches & Articles of High Treason against this Arch-Prelate it is apparent, that his Treasons equall, if not far exceed, the Treasons of any of his Predecessors in the darkest mists of Popery; and that he, like his Predecessor Austin hath, endeavored to rayse a bloody civill warre betweene England, Ireland, and Scotland, onelyonly for opposing his all-subduing Archiepiscopall Jurisdiction, extended by him over all his Majesties three Kingdomes, and for refusing to receive those Superstitious Romish Ceremonies and Innovations, which he would have violently thrust upon them: yea it is evident by these Articles that he is the primum mobile, whence all our late warres, tumults, uproares, and divisions proceeded… and the spring whence all our insupportable grievances both in our Church and State have originally flowed. And so by his owne late published maxime (*The Relation of his Conf… rence with Fisher p. 132.142.296 …8.301. A schisme must needes be theirs whose the cause of it is, and he makes the separation that gives the first just cause thereof:) the blame of all these late schismes, warres, and intolerable grievances, whether Civill or Ecclesiasticall, must rest intirely on his head; who, as he is like to leave no heires of his body law…ully begotten to inherit his vertues, so it is pity he should leave any successour behinde him in his See, to perpetuate his, and his Predecessors Treasons, with other their Archiepiscopall vices. It is his owne late resolution: *Relation of his Conferenc… with Fi…er p. 270.The condition of the Church were most miserable, if it should be constrained to acknowledge a Wolfe manifestly raging for her shepheard: and it is likewise his observation, *Ibidem p. 384.385.A man may become of a Pastor a Wolfe; and since Iudas changed from an Apostle to a Devill, Joh 6. It is no wonder to see others change from shepheards into Wolves… I doubt the Church is not empty of such changlings at this day. Whether himselfe and his forementioned Predecessors have not proved such Wolves and changlings, by reason of the Venome of their Archiepisco… all Chaire: and whether the condition of our Church were not most miserable, if she should be still constrained to acknowledge these Arch-Wolves of Canterbury, manifestly raging, to be her Shepheards, and still to maintaine an interrupted succession of them to devoure the poore sheepe of Christ both soule and body, and to be perpetuall pests, Traytors and incendiaries to our Church and State, as their Predecessours have ever beene, I shall submit to those whom it most concernes, who have now sufficient power and opportunity in their hands to redresse all incumbent, and prevent all future mischiefes in this kinde.
I could now gladly wade out of this dangerous See of Canterbury wherein I have so long roved, did not the Acts of some other ancient Prelates of it, next successors to Augustine, detaine me in it a little longer.
Not to mention the *See Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 8. Godwin. p. 8.forwardnesse and activity of Laurentius the second Arch-Bishop of this See, to settle the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Rome among us, & to obtrude thē on the Britaines, who withstood them; or his contests with King Eadbaldus, from whose tyranny and displeasure he purposed to flee into forraine parts, had no… S. Peter in a dreame reproved, and whipped him with whip-cord for this his cowardice so terribly (if it be true) that all his body was gore blood.
Malmesbur. d… Gestis Pontif. lib. 1. p. 196. Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 14.15.17. Godwin. p. 11.Theodorus the seventh Prelate who possessed this Chaire,THEODORUS. by birth a Greeke, was so farre from doing any thing contrary to or different from the Church of Rome, that he over-contentiously propugned her Authority and Ceremonies, depriving some Bishops upon his meere pleasure for this cause onelyonly, that they were consecrated after a different manner from the Romans, and compelling them to be canonically ordained. He exercised the right and authority o… his See in such sort, that he seemed not so much to governe by judgement and Counsell, as to be violently hurried with the impetuousnesse and perturbation of his minde: so that he did not a little obscure those other vertues which were not vulgar, with this overmuch pertinacity of asserting his owne dignity. His unjust deprivation of Bishops without cause (whom he thrust in and out at his pleasure, as his late successors have deprived, silenced, and suspended our best preaching Ministers) detracted much from his glory: especially his unjust dealing with Wilfrid Arch-Bishop of Yorke, whom he most unworthily expelled from his See, though every way equall, if not superiour to himselfe in holinesse of life, learning and industry: by persecuting whom immoderately and unjustly, mulium n… …uit Ecclesiae paci, & male consuluit famae suae; he much prejudiced the Churches peace… and his owne reputation: he stirred up King Egfrid against Wilfrid, and by that meanes kept him off from being restored to his Bishopricke. And when as Wilfrid appearing before the Kings tribunall expostulated the cause of his injuries, Theodor answered, Malmesbur. de Gestis Pontif. Angl. l. 3. p, 261.262.We lay no guilt to your charge; sed quod constituimus ratum esse volumus: but what we have decreed that we will shall be ratified. Than which speech what can be more absurd? as if he should say, So I will have it, so I command, my will shall stand for a reason. Such a wilfull and headstrong Prelate was he, to the great disturbance both of Church and state; for which some say… he repented on his death-bed, though this vice dyed not with him but descended to his successors.
BIRHTUALDUS.Birhtubaldus an English man, his next successor, not *Malmes. de Gestis Pontif. l. 3. p. 263. to 266. Antiq. Eccl. Bri…. p. 17.18.19.onelyonly assisted but caused Alfricke King of Northumberland, to thrust Wilfrid out of his See at Yorke, 5. yeares after his restitution to it, and to spoyle him of all his lands and goods, and banish him the Kingdome. And then afterwards endeavoured to justifie and make good this deprivation, though unjust, in a Councell which he summoned for this purpose; which when he could not effect, he endeavoured by faire speeches to perswade Wilfrid to renounce his Bishopricke rather than violate the peace of the Church: but he refusing, appealed to Rome, whereupon his complaint to the Pope Birhtuald is sent for, Wilfrid acquitted, and this turbulent malicious Arch-Prelate overthrowne, and forced to restore Wilfrid to Yorke againe, after a long contestation betweene them, to the great Disturbance of Church and State.
Tatwin the 9. Archbishop of Canterbury,TATWIN. *Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 21. Godwin Pag. 13.two yeares after his consecration, …ad a great controversie with the Archbishop of Yorke concerning primacy, for which cause hee posted to Rome, and t…ere received his pall and confirmation from the Pope; but these controversies for primacie I shall reserve for another Treatise.
*Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 22.24.Cutbert his successor (as Thomas Sprot describes him) was a deceitfull man full of fox…like craft, CUTBERT.a viper, eating out the bowels of his owne mother. In his dayes both Prince and people, Priests, Nunnes, and Monkes were extremely addicted to uncleannesse, whoredome, adultery, and costly apparell; the Bishops themselves being as bad, reproved them not for these sinnes, lived wickedly, rixas & arma inter se gerebant, brawled and warred among themselves, addicted not themselves to read the Scriptures, but to luxury, and preached not… or very rarely, by meanes whereof people were so ignorant that they could scarce say the Articles of the Creed, or the Lords prayer in their mother tongue. To reforme these abuses a Synode was called, but these sinnes still raigning, the Kingdome was soone over-runne and conquered by the bloody Danes.
Lambert the 13. Archbishop of Canterbury,LAMBERT. about the yeare of Christ 76…. so highly *Matth. Westm. An. 765. p. …76. Malmesburiensi…, De gestis Pontif. l. 1. p. 198, 199. Ant. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 26.29. Godwin p. …5.offended Offa King of Mercia, that out of his enmity against him, and the Kentish men, hee obtained a Bull from Pope Adrian to erect a new Archbishopricke at Lichfield: obtaining an Archbishops Pall for Eadulphus Bishop of that See, to whom the Diocesses of Worcester, Leicester. Legecester, Hereford, Helenham, and Du…wich were annexed and subjected; so as Canterbury had left unto him for his Province onelyonly the Bishoprickes of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Sherburne, which much abated his pride.
Athelardus his next successor,ATHELARDUS and Eanbaldus Archbishop of Yorke, *Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 27, to 34. Malmes. de Gestis Pontif l. 1. p. 199. Matth. West. An. 1267. p. 292. Godwin p. 16.about the yeare 79…. procuring letters from Kenulph King of Mercia, written in his, and his Bishops, Dukes, and peoples names to Pope Leo, for the reuniting of the former disjoyned Bishoprickes to the See of Canterbury, poasted with them to Rome; where after they had solicited, and bribed the Pope, they obtained their suit without much difficulty, and so these Bishoprickes were reannexed to Canterbury, lest the seamelesse coate of Christ should sustaine some rent or schisme betweene the two Archbish…prickes; and withall, Ethelard obtained such a large grant from the Pope, that if any of his Diocesse, as well Kings and Princes, as ordinary people, should transgresse his Lordly Mandates, he should excommunicate them till they repented, and if they continued impenitent, all should esteeme them as Ethnickes and publicans. In his time the English grew such Apostates from vertue, ut gentes quascunque proditione superarent, that they exceeded all Nations in treason and trechery. No doubt they learned it from their traiterous Prelates, and Priests, whom the Danes in his dayes …lew, together with Monkes, Nunnes, and Levites, without any commiseration: Et fude…unt sanguinem sanctorum etiam IN CIRCUITU ALTARIS, as *Epistola ad Hegibaldum, Episc. Ant. Eccles. Brit. p. 31.Alcuinus writes: by which it appeares, that altars in those dayes stood not close against the East wall of the Chancell, as now some place them, but in such sort, thas they might be COMPASSED ROUND; the Alter of Augustine in his collegiate Church at Canterbury, standing before those dayes, in ejus Porticus *Beda E…el. Hist. l. 2. c. 3. Antiqu. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 7.MEDIO, in the MIDST of the Porch there; and the Altar of the old Church in Saint Edmonds Bury, built ovall, standing likewise AS IT WERE IN THE MIDST of the Church, as *Camde…s Britannia, p. 460.Camden out of Everden, a Monke of that house, relates: but of this in the by.
ELNOTHVS.Speed Hist. l. 8. …. 4. p. 484.496. Holinshed. History of England. l. 7. c. 13. p. 182Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury, about the yeare of our Lord 1036. against his Alleagiance and Oath crowned Harold (a bastard, having no right to the Crowne) King of England, Hardi-Canute the right heire being put by his right. At first this Prelate seemed unwilling to performe that service, for it is reported, that hee having the Regall Scepter, and Crowne in his custodie, with an oath refused to consecrate any other for King, so long as the Queenes Children were living, for (said he) Canutus committed them to my trust and assurance, and to them will I give my faith and allegiance. This Scepter and Crowne therefore I here lay downe upon this Altar: neither do I deny or deliver them to you, but I require by the Apostolique authority, all Bishops, that none of them presume to take the same away, neither therewith that they consecrate you for King, as for your selfe if you dare, you may usurpe that which I have committed to God on this his Table. Notwithstanding that great thunderclap was allayd with the showers of golden promises of his just and religious Government intend…d (though present experience manifested the contrarie) and hee perswaded without much intreaty to crowne this usurper King.
And now having thus long sayled in this troublesome See of Canterbury, I shall onelyonly trouble you with a passage out of William Harrison, touching the Archbishops of Canterbury in generall, and Robert the Norman in particular; and then hoise up my sailes, and steare my course into the Northern… See of Yorke.
*William H…rison Description of England. …. 132.133.The Archbishop of Canterbury (writes hee) is commonly called Primate of all England, and in the Coronations of the Kings of this Land, and all other times, wherein it shall please the Prince to weare and put on his Crowne, his office is to set it upon their heads. They beare also the name of their high Chaplins continually, although not a few of them have presumed (in time past) to be their equals, and void of subjection unto them. That this is true, it may easily appeare by their owne acts yet kept in record, besides their Epistles and Answers written, or in Print, wherein they have sought, not onelyonly to match, but also to ma…e them with great rigour and more than open tyranny. Our adversaries will peradventure deny this absolutely, as they do many other things apparent, though not without shamelesse impudencie, or at leastwise de…end it as just, and not swerving from common equity, because they imagine every Archbishop to be the Kings equall in his owne Province. But how well their doing herein agreeth with the saying of Peter, and examples of the Primitive Church, it may easily appeare: some examples also of their demeanour I will not let to remember, lest they should say I speake of malice, and without all ground of likelihood, of their practices with meane persons: I speake nor, neither will I beginne at Dun…tane, the author of all their pride and presumption here in England: but for so much as the dealing of Robert the Norman, against Earle Goodwine, is a rare History, and deserve…h to be remembred, I will touch it in this place, protesting to deale with all in more faithfull manner, than it hath heretofore beene delivered unto us by the Norman Writers, or French English, who (offer purpose) have so defaced Earle Goodwine, that were it no… for the testimony of one or two meere English men living in those dayes, it should be impossible for mee (or any other) at this present to declare the tru…h of that matter according to the circumstances: marke therefore what I say; for the truth is, that such Norman… as came in with Emma, in the time of Ethelred, and Canutus, and the Confessor, did fall by sundry meanes into such favour with those Princes, that the Gentlemen did grow to beare great rule in the Court, and their Clerkes to be possessors of the best benefices in the Land. Hereupon therefore one Robert, a jolly ambitious Priest, got first to be Bishop of London, and after the death of Eadsius, to be Archbishop of Canterbury, by the gift of King Edward, leaving his former See to VVilliam his Countriman: Vlfo also a Norman was preferred to Lincolne, and other to other places, as the King did thinke convenient. These Norman Clerkes, and their friends being thus exalted, it was not long ere they began to mocke, abuse, and despise the English, and so much the more as they daily saw themselves to encrease in …avour with King Edward, who also called divers of them to be of his secret Councell, which did not a little incense the hearts of the English against them. A …ay also was made at Dover betweene the servants of Earle Goodwine, and the French, whose Masters came over to see and salute the King: which so inflamed the minds of the French Clergie and Courtiers against the English Nobility, that each part sought for opportunity of revenge, which ere long tooke hold betweene them: for the said Robert being called to be Arc…bishop of Canterbury, was no sooner in possession of his See, than hee began to quarrell with Earle Goodwine (the Kings Father in Law by the marriage of his daughter) who also was ready to acquit his demeanour with like malice; and so the mischiefe began. Hereupon therefore the Archbishop charged the Earle with the murther of Alfred the Kings brother, whom not he, but Harald the sonne of Canutus, and the Danes, had cruelly made away; for Alfred and his brother comming into the Land with five and twenty …aile, upon the death of Canutus being landed, the Normans that arrived with them, giving out how they came to recover their right, to wit, the Crowne of England, and thereunto the unskilfull young Gentlemen shewing themselves to like of the …umor that was spread in this behalfe… the report of their demeanour was quickly brought to Harald, who caused a company …orthwith of Danes privily to lay in wait for them as they rod… toward Gilford, where Alfred was slaine, and whence Edward with much difficulty escaped to his ships, and so returned into Normandy. But this affirmation of the Archbishop being greatly soothed out with his crafty utterance (for he was learned) confirmed by his French friends (for they had all conspired against the Earle) and thereunto the King being desirous to revenge the death of his Brother, bred such a grudge in his mind against Goodwine, that he banished him and his Sonnes cleane out of the Land… hee sent also his wife the Earles daughter prisoner to Wilton, with one onelyonly maiden attending upon her, where shee lay almost a yeare before shee was released: in the meane season, the rest of the Peeres, as Siward Earle of Northumberland, surnamed Digara, or …ortis, Leofrick Earle of Chester, and other went to the King, before the departure of Goodwine, endeavouring to perswade him unto the revocation of his sentence, and desiring that his cause might be heard and discussed by Order of Law; But the King incensed by the Archbishop and his Normans, would not heare on that side, saying plainly and swearing by Saint Iohn the Evangelist, (for that was his common Oath) that Earle Goodwine should not have his Peace till hee restored his brother Alfred alive againe unto his presence; with which answer the Peeres departed in choler from Court, and Goodwine towards the Coast.
Comming also unto the shore and ready to take shipping, hee kneeled downe in presence of his conduct (to wit at Bosenham in the monethmonth of September, from whence hee intended to saile into Flanders unto Baldwine the Earle) and there wished openly before them all, that if ever hee attempted any thing against the Kings person of England or his Royall estate, that he might never come safe unto his Cousin nor see his Country any more, but perish in this voyage; and herewith he went aboard the ship that was provided for him, and so from the Coast into the open Sea. But see what followed, hee was not yet gone a mile away from the Land, before he saw the shore full of armed Souldiers sent after by the Archbishop and his friends to kill him ere he should depart, and goe out of the Country, which yet more incensed the hearts of the English against them. Being come also to Flanders hee caused the Earle, the French King, and others, of his friends among whom also the Emperour was one, to write unto the King in his hehalfe, but all in vaine, for nothing could be obtained from him of which the Norman… had no liking; whereupon the Earle and his Sonnes changed their minds, obtained aid, and invaded the Land in sundry places. Finally joyning their powers, they came by the Thames into Southwarke neere London, where they lodged, and looked for the King to encounter with th…m in the field: the King seeing what was done, commanded the Londoner… not to aide nor victuall them: but the Citizens made answer, how the quarrell of Goodwine was the cause of the who…e Realme, which hee had in a manner given over unto the spoyle of the French, and thereupon they not onelyonly victualled them abundantly, but also received the Earle and his chiefe friends into the City, where they lodged them at their ease, till the Kings power was ready to joyne with them in battle: great resort also was made unto them from all places of the Realme; so that the Earles Army was wonderfully increased, and the day and place chosen wherein the Battle should be fought. But when the Armies met, the Kings side began some to flee to the Earle, other to lay downe their weapons, and not a few to …unne away outright: the rest telling him plainly, that they would never fight against thei… owne Count…y men, to mainaine Frenchmens quarrel…:We have seene the like of late i… … like prela…icall quarrell. the Normans also seeing the sequell, fled away so fast as they might gallop, leaving the King in the field to shift for himselfe (as h… best might) whilst they did save themselves elsewhere. In the meane season the Earles Power would have set upon the King, either to his slaughter or apprehension; but hee stayed them, saying after this manner. The King is my Sonne (as you all know) and it is not for a father to deale so hardly with his child, neither a subject with his Soveraigne. It is not he tha… hath hurt or done mee this injury, but the proud Normans that are about him; wherefore to gaine a Kingdome I will doe him no violence: and therewithall casting aside his battell axe, hee ran to the King that stood altogether amazed, and falling at his feete he craved his peace, accused the Archbishop, required that his cause might be heard in open assemblie of his Peeres, and finally determined as truth and equity should deserve. The King (after hee had paused a pretty while) seeing his old Father-in-Law to lie groveling at his feete, and conceiving with himselfe that his suite was not unreasonable; seeing also his children, and the rest of the greatest Barons of the Land to kneele before him, and make the like request: hee listed up the Earle by the hand, bad him be of good comfort, pardoned all that was past, and friendly having kissed h…m & his sonnes upon the cheekes, he lead them to his pallace, called home the Queene, and Summonned all his Lords unto a Councell; wherein it is much to read how many …ils were presented against the Bishop and his Normans, some containing matter of rapes, other of robbery, extortion, murder, manslaughter, high t…eason, adultery, and not a few of battery: wherewith the King (as a man now awaked out of sleepe) was so offended, that upon consultation had of these things he banished all the Normans out of the Land, onelyonly three or foure excepted, whom he retained for sundry necessary causes, albeit they never came more so neere him afterward as to be of his Privie Councell: after this also the Earle lived almost two yeares, and then falling into an apoplexie, as he sate with the King at the table, hee was taken up and carried into the Kings bedchamber, where (after a few dayes) hee made an end of his life; and thus much of our first broyle raised by the Clergie, & practice of the Archbishop. I would intreat of all the like examples of Tyranny, practised by the Prelates of this See against their Lords and Soveraignes; but then I should rather write an History, than a Description of this Iland. Wherefore I referre you to those reports of Anselme and Becket, sufficiently penned by other, the which Anselme also making a shew, as if hee had beene very unwilling to be placed in the See of Canterbury, gave this answer to the Letters of such his friends, as did make request unto him to take the charge upon him: *I would o… secular Lordly Prelates would consider this.Secularia negotia nescio, quia scire nolo, &c. Of secular affaires I have no skill, becuase I will not know them: for I even abhorre the troubles that rise about them, as one that desireth to have his mind at Liberty: I apply my whole endeavour to the rule of the Scriptures, you lead mee to the contrary; and it is to be feared lest the plough of holy Church, which two strong men of equall force, and both like earnest to contend unto that which is good (that is the King and the Archbishop) ought to draw, should thereby now swarve from the right furrow, by matching of an old sheepe with a wild untamed Bull. I am that old sheepe, who if I might be quie…, could peradventure shew my selfe not altogether ungratefull to some, by feeding them with the milke of the word of God, and covering them with wooll; but if you match mee with this Bull, yo… shall see that through want of equality in draught the plough will not goe too right, &c. as followeth in the processe of his Letters. The said Thomas Becket was so proud, that hee wrote to King Henry the second, as to his Lord, to his King, and to his Sonne, offering him his Counsell, his reverence and due correction, &c. Others in like sort have protested, that they oug't nothing to the Kings of this Land, but their councell onelyonly, reserving all obedience unto the See of Rome. *William Harrison Description of England, pag. 134, 135.Neither did this pride stay at Archbishops and Bishops, but descended lower, even to the rake-hels of the Clergie, and puddles of all ungodlinesse; for beside the injury received of their superiours, how was King Iohn dealt withall by the vile Cistertians at Lincolne in the second of his raigne? Certes when hee had (upon just occasion) conceived some grudge against them for their ambitious demeanour; and upon denyall to pay such summes of money as were allotted unto them, hee had caused seisure to be made of such horses, swine, neate, and other things of theirs, as were maintained in his forrests. They denounced him as fast amongst themselves, with Bell, Booke and Candle, to be accursed and excomcommunicated. Thereunto they so handled the matter with the Pope and their friends: that the King was faine to yeeld to their good graces, insomuch that a meeting for pacification was appointed betweene them at Lincolne, by meanes of the present Archbishop of Canterbury; who went oft betweene him and the Cistertian Commissioners, before the matter could be finished. In the end the King himselfe came also unto the said Commissioners, as they sate in their Chapter house, and there with teares fell down at their feete, craving pardon for his trespasses against them, and heartily requiring that they would (from thenceforth) commend him and his Realme in their prayers unto the protection of the Almighty, and receive him into their fraternity, promising moreover full satisfaction of their dammages sust…ined, and to build an house of their order in whatsoever place of England… it should please them to assigne. And this he confirmed by Charter, bearing date the 27 of November, after the Scottish King was returned into Scotland, and departed from the King. Whereby (and by other the like, as betweene Iohn Strafford and Edward the third, &c.) a man may easily conceive how proud the Clergie men have beene in former times, as wholly presuming upon the primacy of the Pope More matter could I alleage of these & the like broyles, not to be found among our Common Historiographer…, howbeit reserving the same unto places more convenient, I will cease to speake of them at this time. So Harrison. And thus have I now at last concl…ded my Canterbury voyage, and sayled through this most dangerous See; wherein so many Pontiffes have suffered shipwracke both of their loyalty, charity, faith, and honesty. And many godly Christians through their cruelty, and tyranny made shipwracke, not onelyonly of their goods, liberties, estates, cares, and other members, but also of their lives; it being both in Augustines time, and almost ever since, a very A…eldama, and See of blood. So as I may well conclude of these Primates, and Metropolitans of all England, in Saint *Sermo 1. in convers. S. Pauli, & super Cant. Serm… 77.Bernards words: Heu, heu Domine Deus, ipsi sunt in persecutione tua PRIMI, qui videntur in Ecclesia tua PRIMATUM DILIGERE, GERERE PRINCIPATUM. Misera eorum conversatio, plebis tuae miserabilis subversio est: Atque utinam sola hac parte nocerent: But alas, Iusta omnino querimonia, nec ad ullam jus…ius, quam ad nostram referenda aetatem; Parum est nostris vigilibus quod non servant nos, nisi & perdant. Alto quippe demersi oblivionis somno ad nullum Dominicae comminationis tonitruum expergiscuntur, ut vel suum ipsorum periculum expavescant. Inde est, ut not parcant suis, qui non parcant sibi, Hee writes it principally of the Popes of Rome, but tis as true o… the Popes of Canterbury,PERIMENTES PARITER ET PEREUNTES. What then remaines but that King, Parliament and people (having such just cause and faire opportunity) should all joyne cordially together, utterly to subvert this chaire of pestilence, and with *Rev. 18.19.21.great violence to throw downe this our English Babylon, and in one houre to make her so desolate, as shee may be found no more at all; that so the people beholding her long expected and much desired overthrow, may …ry mightily with a strong and joyfull voyce, with the Angel in the *Rev. 1….….Apocalypse; Babylon (Canterbury) the great is falne, is falne; which hath beene the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foule spirit, and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird, and in her was found the blood of Prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were slaine upon the earth. From this overflowing boundlesse See (which hath still outswolne the bankes of divine, and humane Lawes which would confine it) have all those perilous inundations of trechery, rebellion, forraine and in…estine warres, seditions, tyrannyes, oppessions, grievances, innovations, and mischiefes commonly issued which have miserably torne and perplexed our Kingdome: vexed if not almost ruined our Kings, Church, State, People in ancient & moderne times. This great Archiepiscopal prime chaire, hath bin the Metropolitical nest wherin all the egges of all ou… mischiefs, & grievances have commonly been laid and hatched by our Canterburian Harpies. I can therfore prescribe no better advise for our future security against those and other our mischievous Prelates and birds of prey, than that which Syl…s…r …raldu….Turghesie (a prudent man) once gave to the King of Meth, when he demanded of him, how hee might destroy certaine noysome birds then lately come into Ireland, where they did much mischiefe to the Country, Nidos eorum ubique destruendos, that their nests, and Sees (like the Abbies and Priories of old,) are every where to be destroyed, and converted to better uses; then we need not feare a succession of these pernitious birds, and mischievous vermin; the very Turbans and Acans of our English Israel; which must never looke for tranquility or felicity, whiles these continue or domineer amongst us. Till these Ionasses be cast over-board, and quite abandoned, we can neither hope for, nor enjoy a calme.