Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 1
We ſhall now proceed to his varius attemps and endeavours to undermine the eſtabliſhed The Archbiſhops various Attempts and Endeavours to undermine our eſtabliſhed Proteſtant Religion, and introduce Doctrinall Popery into our Church.Proteſtant and advance the Romiſh Religion in our Churches, by introducing, broaching maintaining printing, publiſhing all kind of Doctrinall points of Popery, by ſuppreſſing Bookes and purging out Paſſages againſt them in old and new writers; by promoting protecting the Propugners, diſcouraging, perſecuting the oppugners of Popiſh Aſſertions, Sermons, Pamphlets, and ſundry other practiſes.
The Authorizing Printing diſperſing Popiſh Bookes Doctrines and prohibiting contrary Impreſſions to refute them, being the moſt pernitious deſtructiue prevalent project of all others to undermine Religion ſeduce corrupt both the preſent and future Generations with Popiſh Errors and ſet up Popery in its full vigor, we ſhall begin with this Archbiſhops various practiſes, concerning the Authoriſing, printing, diſperſing of Popiſh, prohibiting, ſuppreſſing purging corrupting Orthodox Bookes, againſt Popery; wherein he directly traced the Popiſh Prelates & Jeſuites footſteps.
The Pope with Popiſh Prelates and Jeſuites being Maſters of the printing Preſſes in moſt parts, had foure principall wayes to advance Popery, and ſuppreſſe the Proteſtant Religion, in relation only to printing.
The firſt was to Licenſe and print ſundry Books and Diſcourſes from time to time upon al occaſions in defence of their Erronious Popiſh Tenets againſt the Proteſtants.
The ſecond, to prohibit ſundry ſpeciall Treatiſes againſt Popery to bee printed, reprinted, diſperſed, or read; and to ſeize on and ſuppreſſe them in all places with greateſt diligence when printed.
The third, to purge out the principall Paſſages, Motives, Invectives againſt Popery and its abuſes in all old printed Books, ere they ſhould bee reprinted; and out of all new Bookes tendred to the Preſſe, before they could gaine Licenſe to paſſe it.
The fourth, to puniſh the Authors, Printers, diſperſers of any prohibited or unlicenſed Books againſt Popery, with the ſevereſt cenſures: all which is abundantly evident, by their ſeverall Indices Librorum Prohibitorum, and Librorum Expurgandorum by the Provinciall Councell of Sennes, Anno 1528. Apud Surium Concil: Tom. 4. p. 718. to 723. Laurentius Bochellius, Decreta Eccleſia Gall, lib. 1. Tit. 10. De Libris vetitis, cap. 1. to 29. The Statute of 34, and 35. H. 8. c. 1. Maſter Fox his Acts and Monuments, the old Edition, pag. 536. 573. 680. 450. 1335. &c. Dr. Iames his Index Generalis Librorum prohibitorum a Pontifieijs, &c. Oxon 1627. Antonij Poſſe…ini Bibliothesa ſelecta, with ſundry others;
The Arch-biſhop in imitation of this their policy, firſt of all ingroſſed the ſole power of licenſing all new Bookes of Divinity into his owne, his Chaplaines and Creatures hands, ſo as nothing could paſſe the Preſſe with publique approbation but by his or their precedent approbation, without danger of ruine to the Authors, Printers, Stationers, Venders, Diſperſers. And becauſe he feared and experimentally diſcerned that when Stationers or Printers were reſtrained to print new Bookes againſt Popery, they would preſently fall to reprint old ones formerly licenced by Authority; to prevent this inconvenience to the Popiſh party, he procured this enſuing Decree of his owne contriving, to be ratified by the Lords in the Starre-Chamber, then ſent it to the Stationers to print, and commanded them punctually to obſerve it, whereby he Monopolized the ſole power of authorizing Divinity Bookes for the Preſſe to himſelfe and his Agents; and reſtrained the reprinting of all Books, though formerly printed by Authority, without a ſpeciall review, and relicencing of them, by him and his Chaplaines.
This Decree was intituled.
A Decree of Star-Chamber concerning Printing, made the firſt day of July, 1637. Imprinted at LONDON by Robert Barker, &c. 1637.
This Decree in the Printed Order of Star-chamber prefixed thereunto, is Expreſly alleaged, to be drawne, and Penned by the advice of the moſt Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury his Grace, the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Biſhop of London, Lord High Treaſurer of ENGLAND, and of the Lord Keeper, the Lord chiefe Juſtices, and Lord chiefe Barron, when it was the Archbiſhops project only, who ſent it to the Preſſe, the others names being uſed only for conformity, as M. Walley & others atteſted upon Oath: We ſhall rehearſe only ſuch clauſes thereof as are moſt obſervable & pertinent to our purpoſe.
2. Jtem. That no perſon or perſons whatſoever, ſhall at any time print or cauſe to be imprinted, any Booke or Pamphlet whatſoever, unleſſe the ſame Booke or Pamphlet and alſo all and every the Titles, Epiſtles Prefaces, Proems, Preambles, Introductions, Tables, Dedications and other matters or things whatſoever thereunto annexed, or therewith imprinted, ſhall be firſt lawfully licenced and authorized only by ſuch perſon and perſons as are hereafter expreſſed, and by no other, and ſhall be alſo firſt entred into the Regiſters Booke of the Company of Stationers; upon paine that every Printer offending therein, ſhall be for ever hereafter diſabled to uſe or exerciſe the Art of Myſterie of Printing, and receive ſuch NOTEfurther puniſhment, as by this Court, or the high Commiſſion Court reſpectively, as the ſeverall cauſes ſhall require, ſhall be thought fitting.
That all other Bookes, whether of Divinity, Phiſick, Philoſophie, Poetry, or what ſoever, ſhall be allowed by the Lord Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, or Biſhop of London for the time being, or by their appointment, or the Chancellours, or Vice-Chancellors of either of the Vniverſities of this Realme for the time being.
Alwayes provided, that the Chancellour or Vice-Chancellour of either of the Vniverſities ſhall Licence only ſuch Booke or Bookes that are to be printed within the limits of the Vniverſities reſpectively, but not in London or elſe where, not medling either with Bookes of the common Law, or matters of State.
5. Item, That every Merchant of bookes, and perſon, and perſons whatſoever, which doth or hereafter ſhall buy, import, or bring any booke or bookes into this Realme, from any parts beyond the Seas, ſhall before ſuch time as the ſame booke or bookes, or any of them be delivered forth, or out of his, or their hand or hands, or expoſed to ſale, give, and preſent a true Catalogue in writing of all and every ſuch booke and bookes unto the Lord Arch-biſhop of Canterbury, or Lord Biſhop of London for the time being, upon paine to have and ſuffer ſuch puniſhment for offending herein as by this Court or by the ſaid high Commiſſion Court reſpectively, as the ſeverall cauſes ſhall require, ſhall be thought fitting.
6. Item, That no Merchant or other perſon or perſons whatſoever, which ſhall import, or bring any booke or bookes into the Kingdome, from any parts beyond the Seas, ſhall preſume to open any Dry. Fats, Bales, Packes, Maunds, or other Fatdalls of Bookes, or wherein Bookes are: nor ſhall any Searcher, Wayter, or other Officer belonging to the Cuſtome. Houſe, upon paine of looſing his or their place or places, ſuffer the ſame to paſſe, or to be delivered out of their hands or cuſtody, before ſuch time as the Lord Arch-Biſhop of Canterb. or Biſhop of London, or one of them for the time being, have appointed one of their Chaplaines, or ſome other Learned man, with the Maſter and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, or one of them, and ſuch others as they ſhall call to their aſſiſtance, to bee preſent at the opening thereof, and to view the ſame: And if there ſhall happen to be found any ſeditious, ſchiſmaticall or offenſive Booke or Books, they ſhall forthwith be brought unto the ſaid Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Lord Biſhop of London for the time being, or one of them, or to the High Commiſſion Office, to the end that as well the Offender or Offenders may be puniſhed by the Court of Starre-Chamber, or the High Commiſſion Court reſpectively, as the ſeverall cauſes ſhall require, according to his or their demerit; as alſo that ſuch further courſe may bee taken concerning the ſame Booke or Bookes, as ſhall be thought fitting.
It is further Ordered and Decreed, that no Merchant, Bookſeller, or other perſon or perſons whatſoever, ſhall imprint, or cauſe to be imprinted, in the parts beyond the Seas, or elſewhere, nor ſhall import or bring, nor willingly aſſiſt or conſent to the importation or bringing from beyond the Seas into this Realme, any Engliſh Bookes, or part of bookes, or bookes whatſoever, which are or ſhall be, or the greater, or more part whereof is or ſhall be Engliſh, or of the Engliſh tongue, whether the ſame Booke or Bookes have beene here formerly printed, or not, upon paine of the forfeiture of all ſuch Engliſh Bookes ſo imprinted or imported, and ſuch further cenſure and puniſhment, as by this Court, or the ſaid High Commiſſion Court reſpectively, as the ſeverall cauſes ſhall require, ſhall be thought meet.
18. Item, That no perſon or Perſons, doe hereafter reprint, or cauſe to reprinted, any booke or bookes whatſoever (THOUGH FORMERLY PRINTED WITH LICENCE) without being revived; and a new Licence obtained for the reprinting thereof. Alwayes provided, that the Stationer or Printer be put to NOTE.no other charge hereby, but the bringing and leaving of two printed Copies of the Booke to be printed, as is before expreſſed of written Copies, with all ſuch additions as the Author hath made.
XXIV. Item, The Court doth hereby declare their firme reſolution, that if any perſon or perſons, that is not allowed Printer, ſhall hereater preſume to ſet up any Preſſe for printing or ſhall worke at any ſuch Preſſe, or ſet, or Compoſe any Letters to be wrought by any ſuch Preſſe; he, or they ſo offending, ſhall from time to time, by the Order of this Court, be ſet in the Pillory, and Whipt through the Citie of London, and ſuffer ſuch other puniſhment, as this Court ſhall Order or thinke fit to NOTE.inflict upon them, upon Complaint or proofe of ſuch offence or offences, or ſhall be otherwiſe puniſhed, as the Court of High Commiſſion ſhall think fit, and is agreeable to their Commiſſion.
XXV. Item, That for the better diſcoverie of printing in Corners without Licence: The Maſter and Wardens of the Company of Stationers for the time being or any two Licenſed Maſter Printers, which ſhall be appointed by the Lord Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, or Lord Biſhop of London for the time being ſhall have power and Authority, to take unto themſelves ſuch aſſiſtance as they ſhall thinke needfull, and to ſearch what Houſes and Shoppes (and at what time ſhall thinke fit) eſpecially Printing Houſes, and to view what is in Printing, and to call for the Licence to ſee whether it be Licenſed or no and if not, to ſeize upon ſo much as is printed, together with the ſeverall Offenders, and to bring them before the Lord Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, or the Lord Biſhop of London for the time being, that they or either of them may take ſuch further Order therein as ſhall appertaine to Juſtice.
The Archbiſhop and his Confederates having accroached by coulour of this Decree the ſole power of the Preſſe into their hands, which they uſurped, without any ſuch pretext of Authority, long before the paſſing thereof, began after the Popiſh guife, in imitation of the Pope and Popiſh Inquiſitors.
Firſt, to prohibit the re-printing and ſale of ſundry Orthodox Bookes formerly printed and ſold by Authority, of which we ſhall give you ſundry notable inſtances. One of the firſt Books we find prohibited by the Popiſh Prelates in England, in King Henry the 8. his Reigne; was the Bible and New Teſtament in Engliſh of Tyndall… tranſlation, and all other Engliſh Bibles and Teſtaments having any Annotations or Preambles, which were ordered to bee out and blotted out of the ſaid Bibles and Teſtaments in ſuch ſort, as they could not bee perceived or read, under paine of forfeiting 40s. for every ſuch Bible with Annotations, or preambles, as you may read in the Statute of 34. and 35. H. 8. cap. 1. and in Maſter Fox his Acts and Monuments, pag: 635. 621. Whereupon thoſe Annotations and Preambles were cut and blotted out accordingly in ſundry old Bibles yet extant. Yea the firſt Booke in the Roman Indices, Librorum prohibitorum, in Forraigne parts, is the Bible of ſome Tranſlations (eſpecially Bibles in the Vulgar Tongue with Notes, and Prologues, the Bibles of Rob. Stephanus, Vatablas, …agnine, & others, (though Papiſts) with the Arguments of Raynerius upon the Pſalms expreſly ordered to be expunged, as you may read in the Index Librorum Expurgatorum, ſet forth by Gaspar Quiroga Archbiſh. of Toledo, Generall Inquiſitor of Spaine, Salmuri 1601. p. 7. to 18. 151. to 152. in Bochellus Decreta Eccleſia Gal. l. 1. Tit. 10. Delibris vetitis, c. 1. 11. Dr. Iames his Index Generalis Librorum prohibitorum, with others. So one of the firſt Bookes moſt ſtrictly prohibited to be printed, imported or ſold, by this Archb: was the Engliſh Geneva Bible with Marginal Notes and Prefaces, though printed here in Engl. not only without the leaſt reſtraint, but Cum Privilegio NOTE.Regia Majestatis, during all Q. Elizabeths and K. James their Reigns, by the Queens and Kings Printers, and ſince our Printers have neglected to reprint them for feare of hundering the ſale of Bibles of the laſt Tranſlation without Notes, they have been ſold without any contradiction till this Archbiſhop began to domineere; yet no ſooner was hee advanced to his Papall See, but the printing, importing and ſale of all theſe Bibles with Notes was moſt ſtrictly inhibited, the Bibles ſearched for, ſeized, confiſcated, the importers and Sellers of them impriſoned, vexed, and ſome of them ruined in the High-Commiſſion Court. Michaell Sparke Senior, depoſed, that himſelfe, and ſundry other Stationers had divers of their Engliſh Bibles with Notes ſeized and taken from them by the Archbiſhops meanes, which were commonly ſold before his time, without reſtraint, but contradicted and ſuppreſſed by him; and that himſelfe with diverſe others had been proſecuted in the High-Commiſſion for ſelling of Bibles with Notes, and ſome impriſoned and fined for this cauſe. Mr. Prynne, produced an Abſtract of a Letter dated Septem. 30. 1633. from Sir William Boſwell, (His Majeſties Agent in the Low-Countries,) endorſed with Mr. Dells hand, and found in the Archbiſhops Study, wherin among other accounts of his good ſervices for the Archbiſhop, he certified His Grace, that there had beene two Impreſſions of Engliſh Bibles at Delfe, and Amſterdam, with the Geneva Notes, &c. Whereof he might be pleaſed to make ſuch uſe as ſeemeth beſt for ſuppreſſing the abuſe at home, whether they are likewiſe NOTE.transported under pretence of White-paper, And April 14. 1638. he received another Information out of Holland from I. S. endorſed with Maſter Dells hand, concerning the Printing of Engliſh Bibles there in Quarto and Folio, with Notes in the Margent, intended to bee transported thence into England. A cleare Evidence, that his Grace was the Originall cauſe of ſuppreſſing theſe Bibles, not only at home but in fortaigne parts, and all for feare the Notes in them ſhould over-much inſtruct the people in the knowledge of the Scriptures; which Notes though highly eſteemed of in all reformed Churches, and printed not onelyonly with their Latine Bibles, but with the Engliſh, French, Dutch, German, and Italian Bibles in vulgar uſe among them, and in the Folio Bible printed in Scot. 1610; yet now they muſt be totally prohibited, NOTE.ſuppreſſed only in England, by this Popiſh Prelate, though here formerly printed Cum Privilegio, and freely vended, read, approved, uſed in our Church for above 60. years ſpace together. How much Impiety, and Popery lies coucked in this notorious fact of his (not to be paralleld by any Proteſtant Prelates, but Popes and Popiſh Prelates only whom hee imitated herein) wee muſt humbly ſubmit to Your Lordſhips and all Proteſtants conſiderations.
In the Yeare 1631. William Beale, Servant to Maſter Henry Gellibrand, Profeſſor of the Mathematickes at Greſham Colledge London, ſet forth an Almanacke for that Yeare, by His Maſters Approbation, printed for the Company of Stationers, agreeing with the Kalendar before Maſter Fox his Acts and Monuments printed oft times by publike Authority, without the leaſt exceptions both in Queene Elizabeths. King James, and King Charles Reignes, in which Almanacke the names of the Popiſh Saints Canonized by Popes and thruſt into our Kalendars were omitted, and the names of reall Saints and Martyrs mentioned in the Booke of Martyrs, inſerted, juſt as they are in Maſter Foxes his Kalendar: This Prelate being then Biſhop of London taking great exceptions againſt this Almanack, brought both Mr. Gellibrand and his man into the High Commiſſion for compiling and publiſhing it, where hee proſecuted them with great violence. At the hearing of the cauſe, it appearing to the Court, that it was Verbatim the ſame with Mr. Foxe his authorized Kalender, and that ſome Almanackes of this kind had formerly bin printed, as tending only to the honour of our owne reall Martyrs, and the diſparagment onelyonly of falſe Popiſh Saints, Maſter Gellibrand was acquitted by Archbiſhop Abbot, and the Generall Vote of the High-Commiſſion Court, none cenſuring him but this Biſhop: who perceiving Maſter Gellibrand to be acquitted, He thereupon ſtood up in a great paſſion, and publikely informed the Court, That the Queene her ſelfe ſent for him, and ſpecially complained to him againſt this Almanacke, which gave great offence to thoſe of her Religion; and deſired NOTE.him to proſecute the Author of it, and ſuppreſſe the Book; and therefore he hoped he ſhould not paſſe unpuniſhed in this Court; yet notwithſtanding the Court acquitted him: Hereupon the Biſhop ſtood up again in a fury, and ſaid to Mr. Gellibrand, Sir, Remember you have made a Faction in this Court, for which you ought to be puniſhed; and know that you are not yet diſcharged hence, I will ſit in your Skirts, for I heare you keepe Conventicles at G…eſham-Colledge after your Lectures there. Whereupon he gave Order for a ſecond proſecution againſt him in the High-Commiſſion, which ſo afflicted this good man, that it put him into a Feaver fit, whereof he died. And becauſe the Biſhop could not procure Maſter Gellibrand to be cenſured, and this Almanacke burned as he deſired, the Papiſts thereupon bought up moſt of them and made them Martyrs, by burning them in the fire. All which was depoſed at the Lords Bar by Mr. Gellibrand of Bread-ſtreet London, and ready to be atteſted by ſundry others, had not the Biſhop himſelfe acknowledged the truth thereof.
In this Evidence there are foure things very remarkable.
FIrſt, That this Biſhop was ſo ſhameleſſe as to profeſſe in open Court, that in this, Proſecution of Maſter Gellibrand, hee was but the Queenes and Papiſts Agent NOTE.proceeding thus againſt him at their ſpeciall requeſt.
Secondly, That he was extraordinary violent, if not extreamely irregular and unjuſt in this proſecution, making no Conſcience to ruine a Learned Pious Proteſtant, without any juſt Cauſe, to pleaſure the Papiſts, notwithſtanding hee was generally acquitted by the Court.
3ly. That when he could not have his will of this innocent Gentleman one way, he meditared preſent revenge another way & proclamed it in open Court, charging him with raiſing a Faction in the High-Commiſſion Court, when as his fellow Commiſſioners would not concur with him in his Factious proſecution to gratifie the Papiſts.
4ly. That hee bare an extraordinary affection to Popiſh, but an extreame inveterate malice to true Proteſtant Saints and Martyers, becauſe hee was ſo farre incenſed againſt Mr. Gillibrand and his Almanacke onelyonly for omitting the names of falſe Popiſh Saints and Martyres, and placing the names of our reall Proteſtant Martyres in their ſtead: the truth whereof was then further manifeſted at the Bar by a memorable Paſſage in Doctor John Pocklingtons Altare Chriſtianum, licenced by Doctor Bray, the Archbiſhops owne houſhold Chaplaine (as appeares by the printed Approbation prefixed to it, and peruſed by the Archbiſhop himſelfe, who ordered it to be printed) of which booke there being two editions, Mr Pryn found both of them curiouſly guilded, and bound up in the Archbiſhops Study at Lambheth, in both of which this Paſſage remained uncorrected, unexpunged, wherein the Calender before the Booke of Martyres (which Mr. Gellibrand imitated) with our Godly Martyres are moſt groſly railed againſt, cenſured, traduced as Traytors, Murderers, Rebells, Heretickes, and the Popiſh Saints, in whoſe places they were inſerted, proclaimed to be, the holy Martyres and Confeſſors of Ieſus Chriſt, whoſe names are written in heaven, in theſe very tearmes, which you may find in the firſt Edition, Pag. 92. and Edit. 2. Pag. 114. This was the holy and profitable uſe of theſe Diptickes, much like the Liſt of perſons CENSVRED BY HOLY CHVRCH, called WITH SOME REPROACH OF TRVTH AND NOTE.CHRISTIAN RELIGION, Catalogus teſtium Veritatis (collected into one volume by Flacius, Illericus, and enlarged ſince by others:) And as unlike a KALENDER that I have ſeene, (to wit, that before Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments) wherein THE HOLY MARTYRS, AND CONFESSORS OF JESVS CHRJST (who had not only place ſometimes in theſe Dipticks, but WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN) ARE RASED OVT, AND TRAITORS, MVRDERERS, REBELS, AND HERETICKS SET IN THEIR ROOMES; ſo as if Penry, Hacket, or Legat had come in time, they might have challenged as orient and ſcarlet a dye as ſome of them; Certainly more venome and malice could never have beene couched or Vented in fewer words againſt Mr. Fox his authorized Kalender to his Acts & Monuments, againſt our own Engliſh Martyres, the Profeſſors of the Proteſtant Religion in all ages & ſo by conſequence againſt our Religion it ſelfe, then is compriſed & vented in theſe lines, twice publiſhed in print in theſe Editions by this Arch-Prelates, & his Chaplaines ſpeciall approbation without the leaſt retractation, of purpoſe to pleaſe the Popiſh party, offended with Mr. Gellebrands Almanacke, which this Biſhop would have Martyred and burned for an Hereticke (as our Martyres were) to gratifie the Popiſh party much offended at it: by which the whole World may clearely diſcerne his ſtrong inclination, his cordiall affection to them and their, his palpable diſaffection to us, and our Religion.