Life of William Laud, Title page – Dedication
A BREVIATE OF THE LIFE, OF VVilliam Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury: Extracted (for the moſt part) Verbatim, out of his owne Diary, and other WRITINGS, under His owne Hand.
Collected and publiſhed at the ſpeciall inſtance of ſundry Honourable Perſons, as a neceſſary Prologue to the Hiſtory of His Tryall; for which the Criminall part of His LIFE, is ſpecially reſerved.
By William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Eſquier.
PROV. 10.7, 28, 29.
The memory of the Juſt is bleſſed, but the Name of the Wicked ſhall Rot.
The hope of the Upright ſhall be gladneſſe; but the expectation of the Wicked ſhall periſh.
The way of the Lord is ſtrength to the Upright: but destruction ſhall be to the Workers of Iniquity.
IT is Ordered this ſixteenth day of Auguſt 1644. By the Committee of the Houſe of Commons Aſſembled in Parliament concerning Printing, that this Booke intituled, A Breviate of the Life of William Laud, &c. bee printed by Michaell Sparke Senior.
JOHN VVHITE.
LONDON, Printed by F. L. for Michaell Sparke Senior, and are to bee ſold at the Blew-Bible in Green-Arbour. 1644.
To the Right Honourable Lords and COMMONS now Aſſembled IN PARLIAMENT.
HAving formerly preſented Your Honorable Aſſembly with a large Hiſtoricall Collection of the ſeverall Execrable Treaſons, Conſpiracies, Rebellions, Seditions, Oppreſsions, Antimonarchicall practiſes of our Lordly Prelates, in all former and late ages, in my Antipathy of the Engliſh Lordly Prelacy, both to Regall Monarchy, and Civill Vnitie (which gave a fatall blow to the Prelaticall partie;) I thereupon conjectured my Domesticall Collections of that nature, had arrived at a Non ultra: But the Death of ſome eminent Members of the Commons Houſe (principally intereſſed in the Archbiſhops proſecution) inevitably engaging me at a dead lift (through the Committees requeſt) to make good the grand Charge againſt this Arch-Prelate, and bring him to his long expected Tryall, (a trouble which I gladly would have declined:) thereupon the Importunity of diverſe Honourable Friends in both Houſes, whom I could not deny, hath (beyond expectation) in the midſt of many other diſtracting occaſions, impoſed on me this further Trouble, of collecting the enſuing Breviate of his Life, abstracted (for the moſt part word for word) out of his owne Diary and Papers: which being a neceſſary Prologue to the much deſired Hiſtory of his Tryall (wherein his Crimes here pretermitted, will appeare in their proper Colours) was conceived to bee a fitter Fore-runner, then Concomitant of it.
There was one ſpeciall conſideration which for a time did ſomewhat diſſwade me from this ſervice, to wit a miſconſtruction which ſome no doubt will make of my publications in this kinde, as if they proceeded meerly, or principally from malice, or revenge of former Injuries and Cruelties inflicted on me by this Archbiſhops means. But my own Conſcience and forbearance to meddle with his Proſecution, till publikely called and neceſsitated thereunto, acquitting me from any ſuch imputation; and the never ſufficiently admired Providence of my ever-Gracious God in preſerving me ſafe in the midſt of all former troubles, impriſonments, ſufferings, reducing me in ſafetie by an Omnipotent hand (beyond all expectation of Friends, and Enemies) even with honour and triumph, from my long cloſe impriſonment and exile in forraigne parts (to which this Arch-Prelate had eternally deſigned me, without hopes of Redemption,) and ſince, that in ſelecting me above all others, by publike authoritie, (contrary to my inclination and deſire) to bee both the ſeizer and peruſer of his papers, & proſecuter of his long delayed Tryall; (the protraction whereof by many adorable providences, was one principall meanes of making good his charge, though at firſt it ſeemed to diſable its proofe;) I could not (in purſuance of this moſt remarkable worke of Providence) but moſt cheerfully proceed in this impoſed Imployment, notwithſtanding all other Diſcouragements, Impediments: which being brought to this perfection, I humbly commend to the publike view of the world under your Honours moſt Noble Patronage, to whom I moſt humbly preſent it, only with this one moſt Iust and Equitable Requeſt, which I beſeech You ſeriouſly to lay to heart.
It was once a Proverb, but now a ſad Complaint, that great bodies, have very ſlow motions, & (alas) many experimentally feele its verity. There are to my knowledg ſome hundreds of pious Chriſtians quite ruined, or much impaired in their fortunes, by the Tyrannie and Injuſtice of this oppreſsing Arch-Prelate and his Confederates; who at the beginning of this Parliament became humble Suitors to it, for Reliefe and Reparation of their Dammages. Their cauſes therupon were then, to their great expence, fully heard, and voted at ſeverall Committees; many of them reported in the Houſes, their unjuſt ſentences there ordered to be vacated; yea ſpeedy Recompences of their loſſes, Dammages, then promiſed, expected. But yet now at laſt (after two or three years tedious expectation, and ſollicitation) their ſufferings,*Pſal. 31.12, Pſal. 88.5, 6. cauſes, loſſes, are almoſt quite forgotten, themſelves (like dead men out of mind whom we remember no more) farther from any hopes of reliefe then ever, being ſo remote from receiving ſatisfaction for their wrongs, that they ſtill lye under the power of their former illegall Sentences, Breſſures: And if times ſhould alter, their Witneſſes or Oppreſſours dye or miſcarry (as many of them have done) or themſelves depart this life before their Cauſes fully determined, they and theirs ſhould be left altogether remedileſſe, and utterly ruined, without redreſſe. Now I humbly beſeech Your Honours, ſadly to conſider on the one ſide, what an heart-breaking, and grand Diſcouragement it wil be, not only to theſe preſent Sufferers, but to all others in future times to become publike Martyrs for their Country or Religion: and on the other ſide, what a great Encouragement it will prove to Tyrants, Oppreſſors in preſent and future times to exerciſe all manner of Cruelties, and Iniustice, if the remedy ſhall prove almoſt as bad as the diſeaſe, and poore oppreſſed Suppliants in the higheſt degree, find either no reliefe at all, or ſuch ſlow redreſſe of their grievances, as ſhall quite weare out their patience, and remainder of their decaied eſtates, and that even in Parliaments (where remedies in former times were moſt ſpeedy, certaine) and their Oppreſſors, ſuch Dilatory proceedings againſt them, as ſhal be equivalent to Impunity, and exempt both them, their heirs, and Executors from rendring Competent dammages, to thoſe they have oppreſſed.
I confeſſe the great publicke preſsing Occaſions, Warres and Diſtractions in all our Realms have bin the chieſe Remora to Your deſired ſpeedy reliefe of oppreſſed Suitors, Your puniſhment of Delinquents, and may pleade your juſt excuſe; But yet I humbly ſupplicate You (moſt Noble Senators) ſo farre to commiſerate the long unredreſſed Grievances of theſe afflicted ones, as now at laſt to allot ſome vacant dayes each weeke, for the finall determination of their diſcontinued & almoſt forgotten Complaints; that they and theirs, may not have cauſe hereafter to lament, A failer of Iuſtice even in the ſupremeſt Court of Iuſtice: the undelaied execution whereof both in point of Reliefe and Puniſhment, hath beene the chiefe ſupport of Our Parliaments Honour, and of the peoples love and aſsiſtance to Parliaments.
It is one of the principall clauſes in *Chap. 29.Magna Charta, wch Our Anceſtors, and your Honours have ſo much contended for, and we all have lately Covenanted to maintaine,Eccl. 4.1.2. viz. We ſhall deny, NOR DEFERRE TO NO MAN IVSTICE OR RIGHT. Let it therfore be put in preſent reall execution, that ſo none may have cauſe to take up this mournfull complaint of Solomon; I returned and conſidered all the Oppreſſions that are done under the Sun: and beheld the teares of ſuch as were Oppreſſed, and they had no Comforter: Wherefore I praiſed he dead, that are already dead, more than the living that are yet alive, &c. And this through Gods bleſsing will bee the ſpeedieſt way to put a period to our Wars, Diſtractions, Grievances, and gaine Your Honours higheſt Reputation, Grace Favour with God, and all good men.
Now the good God ſtrengthen both Your hearts and hands to execute ſpeedy *Pſa. 103.6. Pſal. 10.18.Iuſtice, and Iudgement for all that are oppreſſed, that the man of the earth may no more oppreſſe; and Crowne all your publike Councells, Enterpriſes with ſuch happie ſucceſſe, as may occaſion all ſucceeding Generations, to bleſſe God for You, as the beſt-deſerving Parliament ever yet Aſſembled: which is the Cordiall Prayer of
Your Honours moſt devoted SERVANT, William Prynne.
A BREVIATE Of the LIFE of WJLLJAM LAƲD, Archbishop of CANTERBVRIE, Extracted out of his owne DIARIE.
BEfore any entrance made into the relation of the Impeachment, or Triall of the Archbiſhop of Canterburie, it will bee neither impertinent, nor unneceſſary to preſent the World with a Summary of his life, extracted for the moſt part out of his owne Diary, written with his own hand, and found in his Pocket upon ſearch of his Chamber in the Tower. May 31. 1643. Some paſſages whereof objected againſt him at his Triall, are here totally omitted, and reſerved for their proper place, to avoyd Repetitions.
HEE was borne at Redding in Barkſhire: Octob. 7. 1573.Anno. 1573 of poore and obſcure Patents, in a Cottage, juſt over againſt the Cage: which Cage ſince his comming to the Arch-biſhopricke of Canterbury, upon complaint of Maſter Elveſton (that it was a diſhonour the Cage ſhould be ſuffered to ſtand ſo neare the Houſe, where ſo great a Royall Favourite, and Prelate had his birth) was removed to ſome other place; and the Cottage pulled downe, and new built by the Biſhop.
In his Infancie he was like to periſh of a diſeaſe (as he writes) but that God reſerved him to be a future ſcourge, yea plague to this Church and STATE, and for another kinde of Death.
July 1589.Anno. 1589 Hee came a poore Scholler to Oxford: June 1590. hee was choſen a Scholler of Saint John Baptiſts Colledge, June 1593. hee was admitted a Fellow thereof, June 1594. hee proceeded Batcheler of Arts; and July 1589. Maſter of Arts.
June 4. 1600.Anno. 1600 He was made Deacon: and Aprill 5. 1601. he was made a Prieſt by Doctor Young, Biſhop of Rocheſter.
Anno 1602.Anno. 1602 He read a Divinitie Lecture in Saint Johns Colledge, maintained by Miſtris May.
May 4. 1603.Anno. 1603 He was choſen Proctor of the Univerſitie: and on September third next enſuing, hee became Chaplaine to the Earle of Devonſhire; which after proved his great happineſſe, and gave him hopes of greater preferments, as himſelfe records.
July 1604.Anno. 1604 He proceeded Batchelour in Divinitie: His ſuppoſition when he anſwered in the Divinitie Schooles for this degree, concerning the efficacie of Baptiſme, was taken verbatim out of Bellarmine; and he then maintained, there could bee no true Church without Dioceſan Biſhops; for which Doctor Holland (then Doctor of the Chaire) openly reprehended him in the Schooles, for a ſeditious perſon, who would un-Church the reformed Proteſtant Churches beyond the Seas, and ſow diviſion betweene us, and them, who were brethren, by this novell popiſh poſition.
Decem. 26. 1605.Anno. 1605 He being the Earle of Devonſhires Chaplaine, married this Earle to the Lady Rich, (another mans Wife) at Wanſteed in Eſſex: which day he puts into the Catalogue of dayes of ſpeciall obſervance to him, both in his Diary, and the Manuſcript booke of his private devotions.
October 26. 1606.Anno. 1606 Docter Ayry of Queenes Colledge, queſtioned him for a Sermon then preached by him at Saint Maries, as conteining ſundry ſcandalous, and popiſh paſſages in it.
Novem. 16. 1607.Anno. 1607 He was inveſted into the Vicarage of Stanford, in Northamptonſhire.
Anno 1608.Anno. 1608 He proceeded Doctor in Divinitie, and that yeare Auguſt 5. he was made Chaplaine to Doctor Neale, then Biſhop of Rocheſter; Septem. 17. 1609. he preached his firſt Sermon to King James at Theobalds: October 28. 1609.Anno. 1609 he was inducted into Weſt-Tilburie in Eſſex, for which he exchanged his Advowſon of North-Kilworth in Leiceſterſhire, to be neare his Lord of Rocheſter, Dr. Neale, who on May 25. 1610. gave him the Rectory of Cuckſton in Kent.
October 2. 1610.Anno. 1610 He reſigned his fellowſhip in Saint Johns Colledge in Oxford, and the ſame monethmonth fell ſicke of a kentiſh Ague, caught at his new benefice, which held him two moneths, whereupon he left Cuckſton and Novem. 1610. was inducted into Norton by Proxy. In the midſt of this ſickneſſe, the ſuite about the Preſidentſhip of Saint Johns began, in which there was great Towſing.
Chriſtmas 1610. The Lord Chancellour Elſmeer complained againſt him to King James, being incited thereunto by Docter Abbot, then Archbiſhop of Canterburie, (as he writes) who alwayes oppoſed him, as foreſeeing he would prove a dangerous fire-brand both in Church, and State; and a bitter Enemy to the Proteſtant Religion, being then commonly reputed in Oxford, a man cordially addicted to Poperie, and a Papiſt in heart, keeping companny with thoſe who were moſt Popiſhly affected.
May 10. 1611.Anno. 1611 Hee was choſen Preſident of Saint Johns Colledge, by one caſting voyce, after much canvaſing: which election was queſtioned and heard for three houres ſpace before King James at Tichburne, Auguſt 29. being the day of beheading Saint John Baptiſt. Novem. 3. Hee was ſworne the Kings Chaplaine.
April 18. 1614.Anno 1614. Doctor Neale Biſhop of Lincolne gave him the Prebend of Bugden, and after that the Arch-Deaconrie of Huntington, Decemb. 1. 1615.
Nov. 1616.Anno. 1616 King James gave him the Deanerie of Gloceſter, and in March following, he ſet forward with the King into Scotland, and returned a little before him.
Auguſt 2. 1617.Anno. 1617 hee was inducted into Ibſtocke, in Leiceſterſhire, in his returne from Scotland.
Iune 1618.Anno. 1618 He ſet up a great Organ in Saint Johns Chappell: and April 2d. 1619 He fell ſuddainly dead for a time at Wickham, 1619.in his returne from London, to Oxford.
Ian. 22. 1620.An. 1620. He was inſtalled Prebend of Weſtminſter, having had the advouſon of it ten yeares before.
June 3. 1622.An. 1622. (He writes thus in his Diarie) The Kings Gracious ſpeech unto mee concerning my long ſervice. He was pleaſed to ſay, Hee had given me nothing but Gloceſter, which he well knew was a ſhell without a Kernell. His Majeſtie gave mee the grant of the Biſhopprick of Saint Davids, June 29. being St. Peters day. The Generall expectation in Court was, that I should then have beene made Deane of Weſtminſter, and not Biſhop of Saint Davids. The King gave me leave to hold my Preſidentſhip of Saint Iohn Baptiſt Colledge in Oxford in my Commandam with the Biſhopricke of Saints Davids; I was choſen Biſhop of Saint Davids, October, 10. 1621. I was conſecrated Biſhop of Saint Davids. Novem: 18. at London houſe Chapple, by the Reverend Fathers, the Lords Biſhops of London, Worceſter, Chicheſter, Ely, Landaffe, Oxon, the Archbiſhop being thought Irreguler, for caſuall Homicide, Aprill 13, 1622. the King renewed my Commendam.
Aprill 16. 1622.An. 1692. I was with his Majeſty and the Princes Highneſſe to give notice of letters I received of a Treaſonable Sermon (as he tearmes it) preached in Oxford on Sunday, Aprill 15. by one Maſter Knight of Broad-gates, May 10. I went to the Court to Greenwitch, and came backe in a Coach with the Lord Marqueſſe of Buckingham. I then promiſed to give his Lordſhip the diſcourſe he ſpake to me for, June 8. being Whitſunday, NOTE.my Lord Marqueſſe of Buckingham was pleaſed to enter into a nearer respect to me, THE PARTJCVLERS ARE NOT FOR PAPER. June 15. I became C. CONFESSOR (as himſelfe confeſſed, and ſaid he held it his great honour) to the Duke of Buckingham: who Iune 16. Trinity Sunday, received the Sacrament at Greenwitch.
Iuly 5. 1622. he entered Wales and viſited his Dioces, Aguſt 15. he ſet forwards for London, and in Chriſtmas time December following he was thrice with the King, and reade over to him his Anſwer to Fiſher which he deſired might paſſe in the name of a third perſon, R. B. (leaſt he ſhould be thought too much ingaged the reby aganiſt his freindes the Papiſts.)
Ianuary 11. 1622. he writes. My Lord of Buckingham, and I in the Inner Chamber at York Houſe: Quod beet Deus Salvator noſter Ieſus Chriſtus. Ianuary 29. I was inſtituted at Peterborough to the Parſonage of Creeke given me in my Commendam, and inducted into it, Ianuary 31. Munday February 17. The Prince, and the Marqueſſe Buckingham ſet forwards very ſecretly into Spaine, February 21. I writ to my Lord of Buckingham into Spaine.
March 31. 1623.An. 1623, I received letters from my L. of Buckingham out of Spaine; And Aprill 9. Iune 13. and Auguſt 17. I received other letters from the Duke out of Spaine. Iune 15. A very faire day till towards five at night, then great extremity of thunder and lightening, much hurt done, the Lanthorne at Saint Iames his houſe blaſted, the Vane breaking, the Princes Armes to peeces, the Prince then in Spaine. It was their Saint Iames day ſtilo novo.
October 3. 1623. I was with my Lord Keeper (Williams) to whom I found ſome had done me very ill Offices, October 31. I acquainted my Lord Duke of Buckingham with that which paſſed betweene the Lord Keeper and me. Decemb. 14. Sunday night I dreamt that L. K. (Williams) was dead; That I paſſed by one of his men that was about a monument for him: That I heard him ſay, his lower lippe was infinitely ſwellen, and fallen, and he rotten already. This Dreame did much trouble me. On Munday morning I went about buſineſſe to my L. K. of Buckingham; we had ſpeech in the Sheeld-Gallery at White-Hall: There I found that the L.K. had ſtrangly forgotten himſelfe to him; and I thinke was dead in his affections. Decem. 27. I was with my L.D. of Buck. I found that all went not right with L. K. &c. He ſent to ſpeake with me, becauſe he was to receive the next day. Ianuary 11. My L. K. met me in the withdrawing Chamber, and quarrelled me gratis. Ianu. 14. I acquainted my L. D. of Buck. with that which paſſed before betweene L. K. and me. Febr. 6. My Lord D. of Buckingham, told me of the Reconciliation of L. K. the day before, Febr. 18. hee told me of the reconciliation and ſubmiſſion of L. K. And that it was confeſſed unto him, that his favour to me was a chiefe cauſe. Invidia quo tendis &c. At ille de novo faedus pepigit. March 17. L. K. His complementing with me. &c.
March 27. 1624.An. 1624. Saterday Eaſter even, my ſpeech with my Lord Duke of Buckingham about a courſe to eaſe the Church in times of payment of the Subſedies now to be given; His promiſe to prepare both the King and the Prince. Eaſter Munday I went and acquainted my Lord Keeper with what I had ſaid to my Lord Duke: He approved it and ſaid it was the beſt office that was done for the Church this ſeaven yeares, and ſo ſaid my Lord of Durham: they perſwaded me to goe and acquaint my Lords Grace with what I had done, I went. His Grace was very angry, asked what I had to doe to make any ſuite for the Church; told me never any Biſhop attempted the like at any time, nor would any but my ſelfe have done it. That I had given the Church ſuch a wound in ſpeaking to any Lord of the Latie about it, as I could never make whole againe. That if my Lord Duke did fully underſtand what I had done, he could never endure me to come neere him againe.
I Anſwered, I thought I had done a very good Office for the Church, and ſo did my betters thinke. If his Grace thought otherwiſe, I was ſorry I had offended him, and I hoped being done out of a good minde, for the ſupport of many poore Vicars abroad in the Country, who muſt needs ſinke under three Subſidies in a yeare, my error (if it were one) was pardonable: ſo we parted.
I went to my Lord Duke and acquainted him with it, leſt I might have ill offices done me for it to the King and the Prince. Sic Deus beet me ſervum ſuum laborantem ſub preſſura eorum qui ſemper voluerunt mala mihi.
May, 3. 1624. my Lord Duke of Buckingham came to Towne with his Majeſty ſicke, and continued ill till Saturday, May, 22. May 16. Whitſunday night I watcht with my Lord Duke, this was the firſt fit that he could be perſwaded to take orderly, May 18. Tueſday night I watched with my Lord Duke, He tooke his fit very orderly, Saturday he miſſed his fitt. June 8. Tueſday, I went to New-Hall to my L. Duke of Buckingham; and came backe to London on Friday. It is reported that the Duke made the Biſhop at that time put off his Gowne and Caſſocke, and then to Dance before him like an Hobgoblin to make him merry.
May 29. and Iune 4. he was marvellouſly troubled in his Dreames concerning E. B. which dreames contained all the carriage of E. B. towards him, after which hee tooke his laſting leave of him, July 23. Hee went to preach at his commendams of Creeke and Jbſtocke, and to ſet things in order there Auguſt. 26. his hotſetrod on his foote, and lamed him ſo, that he was forced to ſtay a weeke longer in the Country then he intended.
September 9. 1624. my Lord Duke of Buckingham conſulted with me about a man that offered him a ſtrange way of cure for himſelfe and his Brother. At that time I delivered his Grace my Copies of the two little Bookes which he deſired me to write out. September 25. My Lord Dukes propoſall about an Army and the meanes: And whether Suttons Hospitall might not, &c. October 10. I fell at night in paſsionem Iliacam which had almoſt put me into a feaver, I continued ill 14. dayes, October 13. I delivered up my Anſwere about Suttons Hoſpitall, November 26. I went to my L. Keeper and had a Meſſenger ſent to bring up a Salt-Peeter man who had digged in the Colledge, Church at Brecknock being too bold upon his Commiſſion, to anſwere that ſacrilegious abuſe. He prevented his puniſhment by death, December 23. I delivered my Lord Duke a littele Booke about Doctrinall Puritaniſme in ſome ten heads, NOTE.which his Grace had ſpoken to me that J would draw for him, that he might be acquainted with them, Ian. 5. My L. Duke of Buckingham ſhewed me two letters of, &c. the falſhood of, &c. Ian. 15. The ſpeech which I had with my L. Duke at Wallingford Houſe, January 21. The buſineſſe of my Lady Purbecke made knowne unto me by my Lord Duke, January 23. The diſcourſe which my Lord Duke had with them about Witches and Aſtrologers, January 25. I acquainted my Lord Duke with my hard hap in my buſineſſe with L. C. D. for which I had beene ſo often blamed, Jan. 28. I tooke my leave of my Lord Duke. His wiſh that he had knowne K. L. ſooner; but &c.
An. 1624.An 1625. March 27. Advent Sunday I preached at White-Hall, when I went into the Pulpit there was a prevayling Rumour that King Iames was dead: being called away with the dolor of the Duke of Buckingham I broke off my Sermon in the midſt. The King died that day of a Tertian Ague at Theobalds, Prince Charles that day was proclaimed King, Aprill 3. I delivered into the hands of the Duke of Buckingham briefe Annotations upon the life and death of moſt renouned King Iames, which he Commanded me to deſcribe; The Copy whereof found in the Biſhops Study under his owne hand is here inſerted.