Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 2 · Floating text 2 · Popish errors
We ſhall cloſe up this catalogue of Authorized printed Popiſh Doctrines and Poſitions, with two remarkable particulars more, ſufficient to amaze all Proteſtant Readers for their ſtrangeneſſe.
The firſt is, the extraordinary commendation of the moſt impious Councell of Trent, the Popes Maſterpiece, the principall eſtabliſhment, ſupport, of the whole body of Popery, and ſtrongest Pillar to ſupport both the Faith, Pope, and Church of Rome.
For this we ſhall produce one memorable clauſe, which you may read in the exact collection of all the Roman Emperours lives, from Julius Caeſar to the now reigning Ferdinando the ſecond; Printed at London for George Hutton, and licenſed by Doctor weekes, Chaplaine both to the Archbiſhop and Biſhop of London, Ann. 1636. p. 374. Ferdinando the Brother of Charles, and Sonne of Philip King of Caſtile was a man well learned, eſpecially in the Latine tongue, and alſo in Armes moſt expert and active; wherefore it was doubted whether he were of more agility in Chevalry, or more eloquent and fluent in the Latia, Italian, Spaniſh, High-Dutch, Hungarian, and Bohemian Languages. In the time of his Emperiall Government the Councell of Trent, was held, which was ſo commodious and profitable to the generall good of the world, Note.that it may ſerve for a certaine Rule, both of Government of States, and a forme of good life. In which proceedings this Emperour ſhewed himſelfe very forward and a great aſsistant.
What greater Encomions could be given of this damnable Popiſh Councell by publike Authority, without cenſure, revocation, or any Index expurgatorius, let all Proteſtants judge.
The ſecond is: The printing of the Popiſh Index Biblicus, here in London by Authority, An: 1640. made by Prieſts and Ieſuits, for their Vulgar Latin Bible, and binding it up with the Latin Bibles of Iunius, Tremelius and Baezers Tranſlation, to ſeduce the Readers and corrupt the Text.
You have heard before, how the Archbiſhop commanded the whole Hiſtory of our Saviours Nativity, Life, Paſſion, Reſurrection, Aſſention, to be publikly printed, and inſerted both into Engliſh and Latin Bibles, after the Popiſh garbe, taking his paterne from the Maſſe-booke; to pollute, pervert the text, and infect the Readers by degrees with Popery, even by theſe very Bibles, which otherwiſe would moſt alienate them from it. But not contented herewith he and his agents the better, ſooner, to ſeduce the people to Popery, even by the very Bible it ſelfe, cauſed ſome two or three thouſand Popiſh Indexes (made for the Popiſh Vulgar Tranſlation of the Bible by Prieſts and Jeſuits, and bound up with it) to be printed here in London by authority Anno. 1640. and bound up with our ſmall Latin Bibles of Junius and Bezaes tranſlation; to which it was never formerly annexed, as a fit Index for them. In which Index Biblicus, the groſſeſt points of Popery are poſitively aſſerted, as directly conteined in, and juſtified by the Scripture texts, to which it doth referre.
The publike printing, & ſale of theſe Indexes here in London with our Proteſtant Latin Bibles without controle, was atteſted by Michael Sparke Senior, Maſter Walley and others, and theſe popiſh paſſages read out of them at the Lords Barr, by Mr. Prynne: Adoratio Angelis & hominibus tributa, Gen. 18. 2. &c. Aqua benedicta. Baptiſmus tollit omnia peccata, Gen. 17. 14. &c. Benedictio qua Creaturae conſecrantur & ſanctificantur, Exod. 28. 2. &c. Hinc conſecratio Sacerdotum, Veſtium, Altarium, Templorum, Cereorum, Aquae luſtralis: &c. Caſtitas caelibum, praefortior Caſtitati conjugali. P. 45. 15. &c. Caſtitas haec conſulitur, vt perfectio Evangelica: 1. Cor. 7. 25. Certinon ſumus de accepta peccatorum remiſſione, vel vita aeterna conſequenda Eccle. 9. 3, 4. &c. Charitas virtus fide praeſtantior: Proverb. 10. 12. &c. Confirmationis Sacramentum Acts 8. 17. Heb. 6. 2. Doctrina Apoſtolica ſcripta et non Scripta firmiter tenenda. Rom. 16. 17. &c. Eccleſia eſt una & viſibilis; Gen. 6. 14. Euchariſtia ſub altera tantum, nimirum panis ſpecie Iohan 6. 58. data a Chriſto Luk. 24. 30. 31. ab Apoſtolis, Acts 2. 42. Euchariſtia non remanet ſubſtantia panis poſt conſecrationem, ſed eſt verum Christi corpus & ſanguis, Mat. 26. 26. Euchariſtiam in publicis ſupplicationibus circumferendam eſſe praefiguratur: Jehoſ. 6. 9. 15. 1. Schem. 4. 5. 2. Schem. 6. 4. 5. 6. &c. Fides ſine operibus non juſtificat: 1 Cor. 13. 2. Gal. 5. 6. &c. Jejunii meritum, Jerem. 35. 14. 19. Iejunatur pro mortuis. 1 Schem. 31. 13. Imagines juſſit Deus fieri. Exod. 25. 18. Impoſitio manus in Sacramento ordinis & confirmationis, Actor: 6. 6. Iuſti verè in hac vita. Luke 1. 6. &c. Iustificatio qua quis ex juſto fit juſtior, aſcribitur boxis operibus: Rom. 2. 13. Iuſtificatio impij non ſolum fidei aſcribitur, ſed etiam aliquatenus alijs virtutibus, vt ſpei: Rom. 8. 23. Penitentiae operibus: Jech. 18. 21. 22. Math. 3. 2. and Luke 7. &c. Liberum arbitrium etiam poſt lapſum in homine manſit. Gen. 4. 7. Librum arbitrium Co-operatur gratiae Dei. 1 Schem. 7. 3. &c. Matrimonium cujus rei ſacramentum. Eph. 5. 32. &c. Confert Gratiam et ſanctificationem: 1 Theſ. 4. 4. Operum merita & retributio ſeu merces. Pſal. 119. 112. &c. Opera bona Deo grata ſunt, & praemium merentur: Gen. 4. 4. 7. &c. Operari benè propter mercedem & retributionem licitum eſt: Pſal. 119. 112. Mat. 5. 12. Non in quolibet opere homo peccat: 2 Pet. 1. 10. &c. Ordinum ſacramentum, Joha. 20. 22. Peccatum ſacerdos remittit authoritate Divinâ: Math. 18. 18. &c. Petrus primus Apoſtolorum: Math. 10. 2. Quadrage ſimalis Iejunij exemplum Moſche: Exod. 24. 18. &c. Reliquiae, & veſtes ſanctorum, quam vim a Deo habeant, quidne per eas operatur Deus, vt pallium Elijae: 2 Reg. 2. 14. Vmbra Chriſti, Mat. 9. 20. Revelationes & viſiones, Jehoſ. 6. 1. Sacrificium Novi Teſtamenti appellatur Iugis cultus, Dan. 11. 31. Celebrabitur donec veniat dominus: 1 Cor. 11. 26. Sancti etiam defuncti rectè â nobis laudantur: Joh. 12. 26. In ſanctis ſuis Deus laudatur: Pſal. 151. 1. &c. Scriptura difficilis intellectu: 2 Pet. 3. 16. Nec omnia ſcriptis Apoſtoli mandarunt: John 20. 30.
All theſe, with ſundry other Popiſh Doctrines were conteined in this Index Biblicus, bound up with our Proteſtant Bibles, to pervert the Scriptures, ſeduce the Readers, and make the very Bible itſelfe (as much as in them lay) the very Patron and Propagator of Popery. Now what more deſperate project could there be to undermine our eſtabliſhed Religion, and ſet up Popery then this, to corrupt the very Scriptures themſelves by annexing ſuch a pernicious Index to them; A crime ſo tranſcendently execrable in an Arch-Prelate, intruſted with the greateſt care of our Religion, as no tongue is able to expreſſe its deteſtableneſſe to the full, no puniſhment great enough to expiate its guilt.
Wee have repreſented you with an Epitome of the ſeverall Popiſh Doctrines printed and authorized of late yeares in our Church by the Archbiſhop himſelf, his Chaplaines and Inſtruments, and could have furniſhed you with infinite others of this kinde: but becauſe Maſter Bayly in his, Canterburians ſelfe-conviction, the laſt Edition, hath collected and publiſhed moſt of them already to the world, where the ſtudious may praiſe them at their leiſure, and we deſire rather to ſatisfie, then ſurfet or tyre out the Reader with inſtances of this nature, we ſhall paſſe them by in ſilence, onelyonly with this knowne experimentall obſervation, That all kindes of Popiſh, Arminian Doctrines were ever more bold and frequent in our Pulpits throughout the Realme, then in our Preſſes, eſpecially in our Vniverſities and the Kings owne Chappell; a truth ſo univerſally knowne to all, ſo plentifully manifeſted to the world in Mr. Whites firſt Century of ſcandalous and malignant Prieſts, that to prove it by witneſſes or Inductions of particulars, would be to light a Candle to the ſunne, and waſt much precious time in proving that, which no impartiall intelligent man ſo much as doubts of, but knowes moſt true of his owne wofull experience.
Fourthly, having given you this large account of what popiſh doctrines and poſitions both himſelfe, his Chaplaines, Agents, printed, authorized to corrupt the peoples IV. Notable paſſages againſt popery expunged out of new licenſed Books by the Arch-biſhop and his Agents in imitation of the popiſh Index Expurgatorius.judgement; we ſhall next preſent you with a large Engliſh Index Expurgatorius, of what paſſages he and they expunged out of ſundry Engliſh Writers, tendered them to licenſe, before they could paſſe the Preſſe; which will moſt clearly diſcover his and their Jeſuiticall practiſes, confederacies and deſignes to introduce the whole body of Popery among us with little or no oppoſition.
We ſhall begin with purgations of this nature, made by the Biſhop himſelfe, ſome of them before he had any publike authority to licenſe Books, but moſt of them after he uſurped this power, all of them ſo remarkable, that all Proteſtant Churches, Readers will ſtand amazed at them.
The firſt we ſhall inſtance in, is his purgations made in Doctor Sibthorps Sermon▪ preached at Northampton Aſſizes, before the Judges, in the yeere 1627. intituled▪ Apostolicall Obedience; the whole ſcope of this Sermon, was to juſtifie The lawfulneſſe of the generall Loane (then ſet on foot by the Kings ill Councellours, to keep off Parliaments) and of the Kings impoſing publike Taxes by his owne regall power, without conſent in Parliament; and to prove, that the people in poynt of conſcience and religion ought cheerfully to ſubmit to ſuch Loanes and Taxes without any oppoſition. To ſweeten this ſower theame, the Doctor had cunningly inſerted ſome popular paſſages into this Sermon againſt evill Counſellours, the toleration of Papiſts, Popery, and the prophanation of the Sabbath, which this Biſhop (who procured this Sermon of his to be printed) expunged with his owne hand, as was evidenced by the Originall written Copy, found in his Study, produced at the Lords Barre, and atteſted by Maſter Prynne.
The firſt paſſage he expunged was this; When not onelyonly the Emperour extirpates the Proteſtants in Bohemia, where he profeſt it, and Baveir in the Palatinate, where he hath a pretext of revenge for it, or the Spaniard and Arch-dutcheſſe in their Dominions, where the Jeſuits make it a caſe of Conſcience, but even the King of France not onelyonly at Rochel and Mountabon, but alſo in other his confines: and when the Pope unites all theſe in a holy League; what may we expect will become of Brittaine, if like that wiſe King in the Goſpell, ours ſends not out whileſt the enemies are yet a farre off? you know how ſpeedily this Iland hath been overrunne with but a few being once entred, and our Ilands are not now better fortified.
The next was this; He that Diſturbs the State, and drawes the Prince to ill, is to undergoe what he intended to others, as Haman and his complices for their plot againſt the Jewes, Ester 7, 8, 9. chapters: He that under pretence of honour to the King is an enemy to Religion, ſhould ſuffer for a Seducer, as thoſe betrayers of the Prophet. Dan. 6. 4. to 25. It is probable that this Biſhop being then newly made a Privy-Counſellour, and putting the King upon pernicious and illegall projects, to the diſturbance of the State and prejudice of Religion, grew conſcious to himſelf, that this paſſage if un-expunged, might one day riſe up in judgement againſt him and be applied to himſelfe in after times; wherefore out of a provident foreſight, he thought it a poynt of wiſdome to expunge it: But ſince divine providence hath brought it to publike light, we conceive it will be a very good preſident to direct your Lordſhips judgement in the ſentence of this Haman, this Arch-Malefactor againſt our State and Religion.
The the third expunged clauſe was this; And whereas there is not onelyonly a law of God but even of man againſt Sabbath-breaking, which concernes the fourth Commandement, NOTE.and divers againſt Popery, which trencheth upon the firſt and ſecond Commandement, &c. let not the other which concernes the Sabbath, ſeem to have been conſented to, onelyonly upon the importunity of a few Preciſe perſons, but never intended for execution, leaſt God ſet ſuch a Memorandum upon them and you (who will not be carefull of the Memento ſet upon that Commandement) that whoſo heareth of it, both his eares ſhall tingle, as ſtories tell us, he hath done upon both Prince and People in France, Denmarke, yea and here in England, offending in that kind. Let not all the other Statutes tending towards the firſt and ſecond Commandement, ſeem meer engines of ſtate to draw reward for toleration, diſpenſation and connivancy, leaſt God connive not at, nor dispence with ſuch intolerable diſſimulation; leaſt he make the gaine gotten by this dividing of Adoration between him and Idols, to be like that of Solomens, in that caſe, which was recompenced with the loſſe and dividing of his Kingdome betwixt his ſonne and aſtranger, 1 Reg. 11, and 12. Chapters: But ob farre be that from the State of this Iland, and from you to be inſtruments NOTE.in it.
And in the Margin this Note, affixed to the word, ſtories, was quite purged out; Greg. Turonenſis. Magdeburg. cent. 12. c. 6. at London 1583, &c. in which places meaner perſons working, greater ſporting, Kings fighting battatles on the Sabbath dayes, are all reported to be overthrowne and destroyed with fearfull judgements.
Theſe being the onelyonly pious. Orthodox paſſages in all this Sermon (againſt popery Papists, Sabbath-breaking and ill Counſellours) were quite croſsed out with this Biſhops owne hand, (who altered and added many things in it, for the worſe) and all to this very purpoſe, that the people might not take notice of any deſigne in forraigne parts, to extirpate the Proteſtant Religion, or to tolerate, ſet up Popery, or ſuſpend the Lawes againſt it, or Papiſts, Prieſts and Sabbath-breakers, at home, whereof theſe Clauſes gave them notice; which this Doctor (as had as he was) foreſaw world produce that deviſion in our Kingdom, which we now experimentally ſuffer under threatning uttter deſolation to us: all theſe purgations in one Sermon were made by polupragmaticall Prelat before he had any legall power to licenſe Books for the Preſſe … …econdly, we ſhall proceed to ſome higher attempts after he had gained ſuch … of them even upon the publike Records of our Church.
… of 3. Jacobi ch. 1. intituled, An Act for a publike Thanksgiving … every yeere, on the fifth day of November; ordaineth this day to be had perpetuall remembrance, that all ages to come might yeeld prayſes to God for our deliverance from the moſt inhumane, cruell, and barbarous Gunpowder-plot of the Papests, and hate in memory this joyfull day of deliverance: Hereupon there was a ſpeciall booke of Prayers and Thankſgiving compiled, and enjoyned by authority to be uſed on this day; in one of the prayers whereof, there was this clauſe; Root out the Babyloniſh and NOTE:Antichristian Sect, which ſay of Ieruſalem, downe with it, downe with it, even to the ground; and to that end ſtrengthen the hands of our gracious King, the Nobles & Magiſtrates of the Land with judgement and justice to cut off theſe workers of iniquity (whoſe Religion is Rebellion, whoſe Faith is Faction, whoſe practice is murdering of ſoules and bodies) and to root them out of the confines of this Kingdome, &c. This clauſe continued in all theſe publike books without the leaſt exception or alteration, from the yeere of our Lord 1606. till 1635. and then this Arch-biſhop conceiving this paſſage to lay an imputation and ſeandall, Firſt, upon the profeſſion of Romiſh Prieſts, Jeſuits, and blood-thirſty papiſts, by ſtiling them, a Babyloniſh and Antichrian ſect; Secondly, upon their Romiſh Religion, whoſe religion is rebellion, whoſe faith is faction; Thirdly, upon their Rebellious and traiterous practiſes, in ſtiling them, theſe workers of iniquity, whoſe practice is murdering of ſoules and bodies; Fourthly, upon their perſons as unfit to be tolerated in the Realm and meet to be rooted out of the confines of this Kingdom by the King, Nobles and Magistrates; a clauſe altogether inconſiſtent with our toleration of, and his reconciliation of us & our religion with them and Rome then actually intended, endeavoured by this Arch-prelat and his Confederates: he thereupon in the yeere 1635. cauſed this Book to be re-printed and, altered the forementioned clauſes in this enſuing forme (only to gratifie the Jeſuits, Prieſts popiſh Recuſants, and take off theſe juſt charges againſt them and their Religion, both for the time paſt and future) by turning the edge of this prayer upon the Puritanes, on whom the Papiſts would have fathered this their horrid treaſon, had it taken effect; Root out that Babyloniſh and Antichriſtian ſect (of them) which ſay of Ieruſalem, &c. And to that end ſtrengthen the hands of our gracious King, the Nobles and Magiſtrates of the Land with juſtice and judgement, to cut off thoſe working of iniquity, who turne Religion into Rebellion, and faith into Faction, &c.
Maſter Henry Burton in his Sermons on the fifth of November 1636. intituled, For God and the King p. 130. to 142. informed the people of this moſt groſſe alteration and charged the Arch biſhop to be the Author of it, aggravating his offence to the full; Maſter Prynne doing the like in his Epiſtle Dedicatory to his Quench-Cole: For this good ſervice among others, they were brought into the Star-chamber by the Archbiſhops inſtigation: who in his Speech in that Court at their conſure (publiſhed by ſpeciall command) Firſt of all confeſſed that he made this alteration; Secondly, juſtified the making of it, becauſe it gave offence and ſcandall to the Papists, which ever ought to be avoyded as much as may be: adding that it laid an imputation on their Religion as if it were rebell on ſpending ſundry aPag. 32 to 3…pages in juſtification of this alteration as moſt fitting and neceſſary; averring, that our religion and the Papists was all one, and rendring three reaſons why this change was made; Thirdly, he addes by way of juſtification & excuſe that though he made this alteration, yet he did it by his Majesties command, p. 33. 34. His Majeſty expreſly commanded me to make the Alterations, and ſee then printed; and here are both the Books with his Majeſties warrant to each of them: ſo that herein I averre I did not offend, unleſſe that I gave not theſe men notice of it, or asked them leave to obey the King. To which it was anſwered; Firſt, that the Arch-biſhop confeſeth clearly in his Speech and publiſheth it to all the world in print. That he made the alterations in this prayer, which neither of his Predeceſſors Bancroft or Abbot durſt once to think of or attempt: Secondly, That he eſteemed Maſter Burtons and Maſter Prynnes diſlike of him for making theſe alterations in extentation of the horrid Gunpowder-plot, and favour of trairerous Jeſuits, Prieſts, Romaniſts, and the popiſh Religion, a moſt tranſcendent crime, worthy the ſevereſt, bloodieſt cenſure that ever was inflicted on any perſon in the Star-chamber, as appeared by their herbarous Sentence there, for which he heartily thanked the Lords in the cloſe of his ſpeech; whereas his offence was certainly ten thouſand times greater in making theſe alterations then theirs in charging him with them (when himſelfe confeſſeth and juſt fieth them) or diſliking them when made for ſuch ſiniſter popiſh ends: Thirdly that his reaſons to juſtifie theſe alterations to be fit and neceſſary were very abſurd; diſcovering the rottenneſle of his heart, with his extraordinary affection to popery, and Papiſts: His firſt reaſon, that it was fit and neceſſary to make theſe Alterations, to avoyd ſcandall and offence to Papiſts, in calling their religion Rebellion &c. was very unreaſonable and abſurd; For ſince this clauſe had continued un-altered un-excepted againſt neer thirty yeers ſpace together, and was never deemed ſcandalous by K. James, K. Charle's our ſubſequent Parliaments or Church, which approved and confirmed it, no ſolid reaſon can be given why it ſhould grow unſeaſonable or ſcandalous, only now, ſo an as to call for a neceſſary alteration, but that the Arch biſhop and his confederates had now a new reſolved plot to reconcile us to Rome and her Religion, which former ages never had; to which deſignethis clauſe might happily prove ſeandalous and obſtructive: Beſides he could not but conclude the alteration of it after ſo many yeers continuance, of purpoſe to gratifie Papiſts, prieſts and Jeſuits, the ſole contrivers of that marchleſſe excerable Gunpowder-plot would give extraordinary ſeandall & offence to all the whole Church, State, and cordiall proteſtants of Engl. and lay a ſecret tax, if not a publike cenſure on them and on K. James, for injuring the papiſts and their Religion even in theſe publike prayers neer thirty yeers ſpice together; yet this zealous Romiſh Agent would rather ſcandalize, cenſure, injure our whole Church, State, parliaments, King Iames with all true-hearted Engliſh proteſtants then give the leſt ſcandall to the papiſts or ſuffer this juſt imputatation of Rehellion to continue upon their religion. Moreover the whole parliament of 3. Iacobs in the Oath of Alleagiance then enjoyned with all our parliaments prelats Peers, who ſince have approved it: The ſecond part of our authorized Homilies for Whit-ſunday, with our Homilies againſt wilful rebellion; Biſhop B …on in his True difference between Chriſtian Subjection and unchriſtian Rebellion; Biſhop Iewel in his Defence of the Apology of the Church of England part. 4. p. 439. to 470. Doctor Iohn White in his Sermon at Pauls-Croſſe, and in his Defence of the Way, ch. 6. 11. Doctor Crakenthorp's Treatiſe of the Popes temporall Monarchy, Deus & Rex, Haddon contra Oſorium; and generally all our Writers againſt the Popes ſupremacy at home, and in the reformed Churches abroad, reſolve unanimouſly in their writings, the Romaniſts Religion and Faith in the poynts of depoſing, excommunicating murthering Chriſtian Princes Kings, Emperours; of abſolving ſubjects from their alleagiance, & arming them againſt their Soveraigns, by the Popes authority and command, for not ſubmitting to his tyrannicall or Antichriſtian Edicts, it is meere Rebellion and Faction: For this Arch-prelate then thus publikely to averre it a ſcandalous imputation to them and their religion; and upon this ground to make theſe alterations in this prayer, and not in all thoſe Statutes, Homilies, Authors too, is a moſt falſe, abſurd, ſcandalous ſuggeſtion, and in truth, a meer evaſion to colour his affection to papiſts & their Antichriſtian Religion. His ſecond reaſon, that it wil be of dangerous conquence ſadly to avow that the Papiſts Religion is Rebelion, becauſe it is Chriſtian religion and the ſame with ours: is both falſ & fallacious; for popiſh religion, as popiſh is not Chriſtian, but Antichriſtian; and though papiſts hold many points of Chriſtian Religion, as they are Chriſtians; yet not one point of it as Papiſts; popery truly ſo called, being no part of Chriſtian Religion, but deviations from, or paradoxes againſt it: Yea, himſelfe confeſſing bSpeech in Star Chamber. p. 36, 37.That ſome opinions of theirs teach rebelion: That's apparently true; which opinions of theirs, are that part of their Religion, which this prayer cals Rebellion refutes his owne Objection: His third reaſon, that if you make their religion to be rebelion, then you make their religion and rebelion to be all one; and that is againſt the ground both of State and Law, &c. which never put any man to death for Religion, but for Treaſon and Rebellion onelyonly is a meere childiſh fallacy; For their Religion is not any actuall treaſon or rebellion (for which only they ſuffered death) but doctrinall and habituall rebelion prone to produce actuall rebellions, and the mother of them; in which ſenſe onelyonly this prayer ſtiles it Rebellion; yet ſuch, for which no Romaniſt ever dyed, unleſſe he reduced it into ſome treaſonable and rebellious action; and then he ſuffered onelyonly for the act, not the Religion or opinion which induced him thereunto; he might well then have ſpared theſe three irrationall reaſons for this Alteration, with this aſſertion of his p. 39. I took it my duty to lay it before you, that the King had not onelyonly Power, but Reaſon to command it; which onelyonly aggravate, not extenuate or juſtifie his fact, his juſtification then reſts ſolely upon the Kings command and warrant; but this will not excuſe his guilt: For we have nothing but his own bare word in his own caſe (to which no faith can be given, having ſo often bin taken tardy in this kind) to prove; firſt that himſelfe did not move the King to command theſe alterations to be made which is more than probable, by his aleaging the reaſons whereupon they were made, and his activity in other changes of this nature: Secondly, that himſelf did not procure the Warrant for theſe Alterations after they were made and printed (being written with his own hand and having no witneſſe but himſelf to prove the date) as he hath done in other caſes: Thirdly, admit the command and warrant proceeded originally from the King himſelfe, not him; yet he being by his place and office principally entruſted with the care, honour, ſafety of our Religion and Church, ſo much concerned in theſe alterations; it had been his duty to have diſobeyed this command and diſſwaded his Majeſty from ſuch a diſhonourable, ſcandalous and offenſive act, which would ſcandalize and diſguſt all his wel-affected proteſtant Subjects, diſhonour his owne royall Father King James, our Parliaments, Church, State, who all authorized, approved, uſed this prayer for thirty yeeres ſpace together; encourage Papiſts, Prieſts, Jeſuits, to ſuch like horrid treaſons, and exceedingly animate, elevate the popiſh faction cauſing them to deride, if not to inſult over the Proteſtants and our Church which muſt now alter retract her own approved Collects to gratifie them and their Antichriſtian Religion: But ſo farre is he from this, that he readily obeyes the firſt command without the leſt diſſwaſion, reſiſtance, without adviſing with, or giving notice thereof to any other of his Brethren, the Privy-Counſell, Judges, and other publike perſons as much concerned in it as himſelfe, (to whom he ought to have given notice, and asked their leave, at leaſt opinions) herein ere he obeyed the King, though not Maſter Burtons and Maſter Prynnes;) being more ready to obey than his Majeſty to command them: Finally admit his Majeſty had commanded him to make theſe alterations yet for him in his owne cauſe, in an open Court of Juſtice (where by Law he ought not to have been preſent, or ſpoken as a Judge) to lay all the Odium of theſe alterations with all his other Innovations in Religion only on his Majeſty, to render him odious to his people, to cloke his own ſhame, extenuate his own guilt, and then to publiſh it in print to all the World to his perpetuall diſhonour, when there was no neceſſity, and that by pretext of his Majeſties ſpeciall command was ſuch a diſloyalty and tranſcendent aggravation of his crime as no age can paralell, no puniſhment expiate, but that which the Gunpowder Traytors juſtly ſuffered. Beſides this after the publication of his …peech in Star-chamber, he ſpecially imployed Doctor Heylin to iuſtifie theſe alterations to the world in print; in his Moderate Anſwer to the ſeditious and ſcandalous chalenges See his ſpeech in Star-chamber, p. 73 and Heylins Preface.of Henry Burton (as he ſtiles them) written by his * ſpeciall command, and licenſed by his Chaplaine, p. 150. to 157. and ordered Christopher Dowe to ſecond him herein, in his Innovations unjustly charged upon the preſent Church and State, p. 136, to 14…. where thus he writes: Secondly I ſay that (the alteration of thoſe Prayers) being done by the ſame authority that firſt ſet them forth, it is neither for him nor me, nor anyother of inferiour ranke to question them, but with humble reverence to ſubmit to their judgements, and to think them wiſer and farre more fit to order thoſe things that belong to then places, than we; whom it neither concernes, nor indeed can know the reaſons that move them either to doe or alter anything: But more particularly, that which he objecteth againſt the former, is, that they would not hereby have all Jeſuits and Papists termed a Babyloniſh and Antichriſtian Sect, but restraine it to ſome few of them, and mentally transferre it to thoſe Puritanes who cry, downe with Babylon, that is, popery. But what then? what if out of a charitable respect to thoſe which in that Religion are peaceable and honeſt men (as no doubt but ſome of them, whatſoever Maſter B. beleeves of them, are ſuch) they are not willing, nor think it fit to pray for the rooting up and confuſion of all Papiſts, indiſcriminatim, under thoſe harſh termes; ſurely charitably minded Christians cannot but approve ſuch an alteration, if there were no other ground than that for it: As for any mans transferring it to Puritanes, that is as meer a ſurmiſe as it is a falſe ſlander, that any of thoſe whom he intimates doe call Rome Jeruruſalem, or Popery the true Catholique Religion: Yet I know not why ſuch furious cryers downe of popery (as Maſter B. hath ſhewed himſelfe) may not be accounted of a Baby NOTE.loniſh and Antichriſtian Sect as well as any Jeſuit in the world, nor why we may not pray (and that with better reaſon than Maſter B. would have men to doe, and under thoſe titles againſt the Hierarchy of our church, that God would root them out of the Land, &c. Wherein he makes zealous oppoſers of popery, & thoſe the world then ſtiled Puritanes, more dangerous perſons, and fitter to be rooted out of the Land as a Babyloniſh & Antichriſtian Sect, than papiſts or Jeſuits. Now thus to juſtifie this alteration in ſo daring, impudent a manner, in favour of popery prieſts, Papiſts, Jeſuits, what a tranſcendent crime it is, and of what a rotten popiſh ſpirit it ſavours, let all impartiall perſons determine.
The third purgation made by himſelfe, diſcovering the hidden popery of his heart, is his purging out this notable clauſe againſt popery, in the firſt Collect of the publike book of prayers, appointed at the generall Faſt for ceaſing the Plague, in the yeere 1636. Thou haſt delivered us from Superſtition and Idolatry, wherein we were utterly drowned, and haſt brought us into the moſt cleare and confortable light of thy bleſſed Word, by which we are taught how to ſerve and honouor thee, and how to live orderly with our Neighbours in truth and verity. The King by his Proclamation Anno 1636. commanded that the Booke of prayers for the Faſt, formerly ſet forth by authority, ſhould be reprinted, re-publiſhed, and likewiſe uſed in all Churches and places at the publike meetings during this Faſt. The Arch-biſhop inſtead of re-printing the book formerly ſet forth by authority, purgeth this clauſe out of it in the new impreſſion, though uſed in the Faſt-books upon like occaſions in Queen Elizabeths and King James their ſeverall reignes, and in that of 1. Caroli; and that upon theſe very grounds which ſhould have moved him to retaine it ſtill, had his heart been upright or ſincere to God and our Religion, becauſe it layes a juſt cenſure and blemiſh upon popery, by ſtiling it ſuperstition and idolatry, and thankfully recites Gods goodneſſe to us in delivering us from Popiſh ſuperstition and idolatry, wherein we were utterly drowned, and bringing us into the moſt cleare and comfortable light of his holy Word, by which we are taught how to ſerve and honour him, &c. A clauſe ſo pious, ſo juſt and equitable, that it is almoſt a miracle, how any but a moſt inveterate Papiſt could except againſt it; yet this Arch biſhop is ſo irreconcileably angry with it, that it muſt be wholy obliterated and quite omitted out of this new impreſſion; and that without any ſpeciall order or command from his Majeſty (which he pleaded for the former alterations in the Gunpowder-treaſon book) or any ſuggeſtion from Papiſts; Prieſts or Jeſuits, who were ſcandalized with it, (for he doth not ſo much as pretend any ſuch thing in his juſtification of this purge) but by his owne papall authority, contrary to his Majeſties Proclamation, out of his own metro popiſh genius; which perſwades us, that the former alcerations in the book for the fift of Novem. proceeded originally from himſelf too as well as this however he would tranſlate it to the K. himſelf. Moreover, in the Order for the Faſt, in the very laſt page of the book he purged out theſe words condemning the popiſh Doctrine of the meritorionſneſſe of fasting. viz. to avoyd the inconvenience that may grow by fasting; ſome esteeming it a Meritorious Work; others, a good Work and Of itſelf acceptable to God without due regard of the end, &c. In briefe, whatever in this Faſt-book did in the leaſt degree reflect upon popery or ſeemingly oppugne any errors of it, this Arch-prelat out of his ardent zeal againſt Popery, and fatherly care for the maintainance of our Proteſtant Religion, did totally expunge it, non obſtante his Majeſties Proclamation to the contrary.
For this Jeſuiticall practice, the Arch-biſhop being juſtly taxed by the Author of News from Ipſwitch and Maſter Henry Burton in his Humble Appeale to his Ma…eſty, page 3. and his Sermon on the fifth of November 1636. intituled, For God and the King, p. 141. to 149. He reputed the very diſlike of theſe his Romiſh purgations ſuch a crime, that he arraigned theſe books and the Authors of them in Star-chamber, as capitall malefactors, procured the heavieſt, bloodieſt, unjuſteſt ſentence againſt them, that ever was inflicted by that Court; and had the impudency for onelyonly to juſtifie theſe purges in print, by his two popiſh Champiors, Doctor Heylyn in his Moderate Anſwer to the ſeditious and ſcandalous Challenges of Henry Burton. p. 157. to 16…. and Chriſtopher Dow, in his Innovations unjuſtly charged upon the preſent Church and State, p. 141. to 150. but even in open Court, in a large and bitter ſpeech, at the ſentence of his Accuſers in Starte-chamber, June 14. 1637. which he had the boldneſſe afterwards to publiſh to all the world: In which bPage 23, 24.Speech, though he cunningly omitted theſe expurged clauſes, which if recited at large had no colour of defence; yet he juſtifies the expurging of them to be his owne voluntary act; adding that it was lawfull for him and his brother Biſhops (notwithſtanding the Kings Proclamation) ſo altar what they thought fit: And then renders this moſt abſurd reaſon of blotting out the firſt recited clauſe: Thirdly, for the branch in the other, which is the firſt Collect, Though God did deliver our forefathers out of Romiſh ſuperſtition, yet (God be bleſſed for it) we were never in: And therefore that clanſe being unfittingly expreſſed, We thought fit to paſſe it over. Which reaſon is altogether untrue: Firſt, becauſe there are many ancient people yet living among us who were totally drowned in popiſh ſuperſtition and idolatry in Queen Marie's dayes, and the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reigne, from which God hath graciouſly delivered them ſince & brought them into the moſt clear and comfortable light of his holy word, of later yeeres, when preaching and godly preaching Miniſters have been more frequent in moſt places of our Realm then in the beginning of Reformation, when they were very rare, ſcarce one or two in a whole County: Secondly, we our ſelves were utterly drowned in popiſh ſuperſtition and idolatry in our forefathers, and delivered out of it in their deliverance from it; otherwiſe, we had continued drowned therein till this very day; As therefore the ſacred Scripture in direct and proper termes oft informed the Poſterity of the Children of Iſrael, whoſe Anceſtors many generations before were bondſlaves in, & delivered out of Egypt; I brought YOU forth of Egypt, and brought YOU forth of the houſe of bondage, and have brought YOU to the Land which I ſware unto your Fathers, &c. Judg. 2. 1. c. 6. 89. 2 Chro. 7. 22. Jer. 2. 6. 7. Hag. 2. 5. and as Daniel in his ſolemne prayer and faſting bleſſed God for this mercy in his days, as if the deliverance had bin then wrought for that generation, Dan. 9. 15. And NOW oh Lord our God, thou haſt brought thy people forth of the Land of Egypt by a mighty hand, and haſt gotten thee renowne AS AT THIS DAY; and as God upbrayded the Iſraelites for their ingratitude to him for this mercy, in Jeremiah's dayes, as if this deliverance had then been wrought for that Generation, Ier. 2. 6, 7. Neither ſaid they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the Land of Egypt, and that led as through the Wilderneſſe, through a Land of deſerts and of pits, through a Land of drought, and of the ſhadow of death? &c. And I brought you into a plentifull Country, to eat the fruit thereof, and the goodneſſe thereof; but when ye entred, ye defiled my Land, and made mine heretage an abomination; wherefore I will plead with you, ſaith the Lord, and with your childrens children will I plead: So we by like congruity of reaſon, and in proper Scripture phraſe (which this Arch-prelate ſtiles an unfitting expreſſion, though frequent in all Authors as well as in the ſacred Text) may as truly be ſaid, to be delivered from Popiſh ſuperſtition and idolatry, wherein we were utterly drowned; and ought to bleſſe and prayſe God for the deliverance of our forefathers out of it, as if we our ſelves had been actually delivered, their deliverance being in truth the cauſe of ours, and an actuall deliverance unto us from this Egyptian Romiſh bondage and Antichriſtian deluge: This excuſe therefore of his is but a meere ridiculous pretence to delude the ſimple; and the true reaſon of this expanction onelyonly this: His Grace-ſhip had conſpired with Prieſts and Jeſuits once more to drowne us utterly in Romiſh ſuperſtition and idolatry, and to deprive us of the cleare and comfortable light of Gods holy Word, by extinguiſhing, ſilencing, ſuppreſſing moſt godly lights, Miniſters, preaching throughout the realme, and to corrupt the true worſhip of God with ſuperſtitious Ceremonies and idolatrous Adorations, if not to extirpate truth and verity from among us, by introducing equivocations, hypocriſie, falſe accuſers of the brethren in every place: therefore this paſſage ſo contrary to his popiſh deſignes muſt not be tolerated in any wiſe, but utterly deleated, and He ſo impudent as to inſtifie it before all the world, when he neitther ſaw not dreaded any ſuperiour powers to draw him into queſtion for this tranſcendent crime, for which wet ruſt he ſhall now give an exact account to this ſupreame Tribunall.
The fourth purgation made by his ſpeciall direction and advice, was in the ſecond Edition of Doctor Christopher Potter's, Want of Charity juſtly charged, London, 1634. This Doctor being about to publiſh a ſecond Edition of that booke of his, writ thus unto his Lordſhip, to ſend him directions to alter or correct any thing that ſhould be offenſive to his Grace.
My moſt honoured Lord, &c.
THe Copies of my anſwer to the miſtaker are moſt ſold, and a new Impreſſion intended, I am now reviewing it. I ſhall be glad to receive from your Grace, by your ſervant Maſter Dell, or others, any direction to alter or correct, if any thing be therein offenſive to you: I humbly commend your Grace to the bleſſed protection of the Lord Almighty, and will be ever your Graces in all humility.
CHR. POTTER. Octob. 6. 1634. Queens Coll.
To which the Arch-biſhop returned this anſwer, as was manifeſted by the Letter it ſelfe, thus indorſed with his owne hand (found in his Study and atteſted by Maſter Prynne) Octob. 18. 1633. Doctor Potter, A ſecond Impreſſion of his booke, and my Anſwer to it.
BUt to the laſt clauſe of your Letter, about the re-printing of your booke, I have done that which you ſo have deſired; as you will ſee by this incloſed paper: they are but a few ſcattered phraſes, and I put them to your conſideration, as much for conveniency and charitable expreſſion, as for truth: Doo what you will with them ſo you miſtake not me, in that which your ſelfe have cauſed me to doe: but in that place, page 26. where you ſay, it may (viz. Mat. 11. 17.) be underſtood of any Aſſembly, as well civill as Eccleſiaſticall; NOTE.doe you not thereby give as much power to the Parliament as to the Church in Church affaires? I read in haſte, and it may be a miſtake, but you ſhall doe very well to conſider it: ſo in haſte I leave you to the grace of God, &c.
WIL. CANT.
The principall purgations mentioned in the incloſed paper appeare to be theſe, written with the Arch-biſhops owne hand which was produced.
Page 4. beleeve in the Pope: the Idol of Rome: page 15. onelyonly in the Catholique Church: page 26. that in Saint Matthew (c. 18. v. 17.) tell the Church, which may be underſtood of any Aſſembly, as well civill as Eccleſiaſticall: page 97. never any Church ſo farre as Rome: page 2. page 8. the Scripture by its owne light, &c. all which were left out in the ſecond Edition, as that notable paſſage in Theodoret, concerning Laymens reading the Scriptures, in the firſt Edition of this Doctors Sermon at the conſecration of the Biſhop of Carlile, London 1629. was quite expunged out of the ſecond Impreſſion, belike by this Prelate direction, as well as theſe forementioned.
The fifth purgations and alterations of higheſt conſequence for the introducing of ſundry Popiſh doctrines, ceremonies, Tranſubſtantiation and the Maſſe it ſelfe, were by this Arch-prelat made in that Common-prayer-booke, which he endeavoured to inforce upon the Church of Scotland, all written with his owne hand; (already mentioned at large in A neceſſary Introduction to the Arch-biſhop of Canterbury his Tryall, page 156. to 164. to which the Reader may reſort for ſatisfaction herein;) which are ſo palpably popiſh and deſtructive to our Religion, that this Prelate had no other plea or fence againſt them when they began to be preſſed upon him, but onelyonly the Act of Pacification and Oblivion, which he peremptorily inſiſted on, though the Committee of the Commons Houſe, who managed the Evidence, alleadged, that they were cleerly without this Act, & that they inſiſted on them only as Evidences to prove his endeavours to introduce Popery, and his good affection thereunto, in maitainance of the ſeventh and tenth originall Articles of his impeachment, not to prove him an Incendiary between both Kingdomes, in juſtification of the twelfth originall Article, to which he onelyonly pleaded the Act of Oblivion.
We ſhall next proceed to other purgations made by his Chaplaines and Creatures, no doubt by his ſpeciall direction: Beginning firſt with a booke written by Sir Anthony Hungerford, who being a Papiſt in his younger dayes, and afterwards upon better conſideration, converted to our Religion, did thereupon write a Treatiſe to his Mother, then a Roman Catholike, to diſſwade her from that Religion, intituled, The Advice of a Sonne, profeſſing the Religion eſtabliſhed in the preſent Church of England, to his deare Mother a Roman Catholike; containing an acknowledgement of God his great mercy in bringing him to the profeſſion of the true religion eſtabliſhed in the Church of England, and adviſing, exhorting his children to perſevere therein; Sir Edward Hungerford his Sonne (a Member of the Houſe of Commons) depoſed upon Oath, that about the yeere 1635. he carried this Book, writ by his Father Sir Anthony, to the Arch-biſhops Chaplaine, Doctor Bray, to licenſe for the Preſſe, for the ſatisfaction and converſion of other ſeduced Romaniſts; who peruſing the ſame, took exceptions at ſome harſh paſſages (as he termed them) againſt Popes and Popery, in the 8. 14. 15. 17. and 62. pages thereof, which he told him muſt be quite expurged, or elſe the Treatiſe muſt not paſſe the Preſſe.
The paſſages were theſe: p. 8: Yet even thoſe truths they recommended unto us, upon as perilous and falſe a ground, as if a man ſhould therefore beleeve Chriſt Jeſus to be the ſonne of the living God, becauſe the devil did confeſſe it: page 14. 15. They will acknowledge that the Pope may be as wicked a man in life, as any other in the world, and by experience it hath been found, that ſundry of them have ſcarce had matches in this kind; as for inſtance of one, Pope Alexander the ſixth, whom Guicciardine (though NOTE.himſelfe a Papiſt) doth thus decipher: His manner and cuſtomes were diſhoneſt, little ſincerity in his Adminiſtrations, no ſhame in his face, ſmall truth in his words, little faith in his heart, and leſſe religion in his opinions; all his actions were defaced with unſatiable covetouſneſſe, immoderate ambition, barbarous cruelty; he was not aſhamed contrary to the cuſtome of former Popes (who to caſt ſome colour over their infamy, were went to call them their Nephewes) to call his ſonnes his children; and for ſuch to expreſſe them to the world. The bruit went, that in the love of his daughter Lucretia were concurrent, not onelyonly his two ſonnes, the Duke of Candy, and the Cardinall of Valence, but himſelfe alſo, that was her Father, who as ſoone as he was choſen Pope, tooke her from her husband and married her to the Lord of Peſare, but not able to ſuffer her husband to be his corrivall, he diſſolved that marriage alſo, and tooke her to himſelfe, by vertue of Saint Peters Keyes, and it was amongſt other graces, his naturall cuſtome to uſe poyſonings, not onelyonly to be avenged of his enemies, but alſo to dispoyle the wealthy Cardinals of their riches, and this he ſpared not to doe againſt his deareſt friend, till at the laſt, having a purpoſe at a Banquet to poyſon divers Cardinals, and for that end appointed his Cupbearer to give attendance with Wine made ready for the nonce (who miſtaking the bottle gave the poyſoned cup to him) was thus himſelffe dispatched by the juſt judgement of God that purpoſed to murther his friends, that he might be their Heir: Thus farre the Hiſtorian: page 17. I dare preſume it ſhall be made evidently to appeare unto you in the preſence of any that would oppoſe it, that their principle concerning the Popes infallibility (being the maine ſupporter of all Religion at this day in the Church of Rome) is not ſo ancient by ſo many ages in the world, as is the Alcoran of that accurſed Mahomet: if the foundation be proved new, what rule can they propoſe to ſecure your conſcience for the antiquity of the building? their continued Prieſt-hood, their daily ſacrifice, their ſatisfaction for ſinne, their works of merit: page 62. I was withall perſwaded in my conſcience, and ſo reſt yet, that this tranſcendent power and fPapatus, id eſt, Principatus, tam in ſpiritualibus, quam in temporali…us, Panormitam.uſurpation of the Roman Biſhop in the ſpirituall and civill Regiment of the world, is ſo farre a ſtranger to the Church of God, as that it could be no other but the Kingdome of that man of ſin, which agreeable to the prediction of the holy Ghoſt, was to be raiſed in the boſome of the Church, for the laſt, the moſt powerfull, the moſt dangerous deluſion of the chriſtian world.
Verely any reall, cordiall Proteſtant might ſtand amazed, that an Arch-biſhop's Chaplaine, profeſſing himſelfe a Proteſtant, ſhould ſo farre ſcruple at ſuch paſſages as theſe, againſt the Popes ſupremacy in the ſpirituall and civill Regiment of the world; and thoſe other dangerous poynts of Popery cenſured in theſe paſſages, but eſpecially at this relation of Guicciardine a Popiſh Author concerning the Viciouſneſſe and Exorbitances of ſome Popes lives, recorded by ſundry other of their owne Popiſh Writers; and that paſſages of this nature muſt not now be remembred by our Writers, or ſuffered to paſſe our Preſſes without an Index Expurgatorius; yet ſuch was the condition and degeneracy of theſe times, that Doctor Bray told Sir Edward Hungerford he muſt give way for all theſe offenſive paſſages to be expunged, elſe neither of theſe Treatiſes ſhould be printed: At which Sir Edward admiring, demanded the reaſon why theſe clauſes againſt Popery writ by his Father (once a Papiſt) to ſatisfie others of that Religion, might not paſſe at this time, as they did commonly in other Engliſh licenſed Authors heretofore without exception? Who anſwered, that we were now in a faire way to win the Papiſts, and therefore we muſt not uſe any harſh phraſes againſt them: adding, that theſe paſſages would give offence to thoſe of that Religion, and therefore unleſſe he would yeeld to have them expunged, he would by no means licenſe the Books: To which Sir Edward replyed, that he being his Father's Executor and truſted with his writings, would never conſent they ſhould be ſo mangled, but would have all printed or none: Yet all the perſwaſions and friends he could uſe would not prevaile; unleſſe theſe clauſes were omitted, naught would be licenſed: Whereupon Sir Edward went to the Arch-biſhop himſelfe, and acquainted him with all the premiſes, earneſtly deſiring his Grace that the Treatiſes might be printed without theſe purgations, which would much muilate the Treatiſes, and prejudice the Author: To whom the Arch-biſhop gave this anſwer; Sir, I have many imployments, and am very buſie now, and have truſted my Chaplaines with thoſe things, to whom you muſt repaire: Then Sir Edward preſſing him againe, that they would not licenſe them unleſſe theſe paſſages were raſed out; the Arch-biſhop anſwered, I referre this wholy to my Chaplaines, having many other imployments my ſelfe, and therefore what they thinke fit to be done, you muſt ſubmit unto: Whereupon theſe Treatiſes were then ſtopt from printing, till Sir Edward ſome two or three yeers after got them printed at Oxford, in the yeere 1639. without theſe expunctions, or the Arch-biſhop's privity.
Doctor Daniel Featly, depoſed upon Oath, that he having printed ſeventy Sermons of his, preached upon ſeverall occaſions, formerly licenſed for the Preſſe; when the Book was ready to be publiſhed, the Arch-biſhop having notice of it, ſent for him to Lambeth, and demanded of him whether he was not about to publiſh ſome Sermons of his owne in print; who anſwered yes my Lord; then he demanded of him, whether his Sermons were licenſed, and whether any of his Chaplaines had peruſed them or not? he anſwered, that they were licenſed long ſince when himſelfe had power to licenſe books, and printed by vertue of that licenſe, and that none of his Graces Chaplaines had peruſed them: Then the Arch-biſhop ſaid, he thought, being ſo neere a neighbour to him, he would not have publiſhed any thing without acquainting him firſt therewith: To which the Doctor anſwered, that he intended as ſoone as ever the book was publiſhed, to preſen: his Grace in the firſt place with one of them. Then the Arch-biſhop commanded him, before he publiſhed theſe Sermons, to carry them to Doctor Bray his Chaplaine to peruſe, to ſee if there were any offenſive or unfitting paſſages in them, to the end, that if any ſuch were, they might be corrected or expunged. To which the Doctor replied, that he hoped there were no ſuch offenſive clauſes in them, and that the book was already printed off, ſo as no alterations could conveniently be made therein, without new printing the ſheets wherein they were made: yet in obedience to his Graces command, he would attend Doctor Bray with his Sermons to the end he might licenſe them before they ſhould be publiſhed; which he did accordingly: Doctor Bray having read over his Sermons, gelt them exceedingly, and and purged out all the ſmart and maſculine paſſages againſt both the Papiſts. Jeſuits and Arminians, to his great griefe; Whereupon he expoſtulated the matter with him why theſe paſſages of his, which paſſed currently without exceptions at White. hal before King James, King Charles, the Univerſity, and other publike Auditories when they were preached, and were highly approved of in former times, might not paſſe the preſſe without an Index expurgatorius now; alleaging, that it would be a great injury to himſelfe, and much coſt and prejudice to the Stationer to re-print ſo many whole ſheets as he had altered: But all this would not prevaile, theſe paſſages could not ſuit with the preſent times, & therefore they muſt ſtand purged, or the book be totally ſuppreſſed: Hereupon the Doctor acquainted Sir Edmund Scot therewith by way of complaint, and moved him to informe the Arch-biſhop of it; who anſwered him, that he conceived it would be to no purpoſe to complaine, for he thought the Archbiſhop's Chaplaines had directions from their Lord for what they did, and that his Grace would not alter any thing of this kind done by his Chaplaines; whereupon he ſubmitted and complained no further; and ſo the Stationer was enforced to re-print ſome ſixteen or eighteen ſheets anew that Doctor Bray had thus altered and purged (which Maſter Bourne the Stationer likewiſe depoſed) to his great prejudice and coſt.
Maſter Thomas White a Miniſter depoſed, that Doctor Clarke, one of the Prebends of Canterbury, a very learned, pious Divine, and one of the Tranſlaters of the Bible, leaving the copyes of diverſe of his choyſeſt Sermons, written with his owne hand, in his cuſtody at his death, which he deſired him to ſee carefully printed for the publike good after his deceaſe; he thereupon, in diſcharge of this his truſt, repaired to Doctor Heywood, the Arch-biſhop's houſhold Chaplaine, to peruſe and authorize for the preſſe; who receiving no leſſe then forty ſhillings for his fee for peruſing and licencing them, expunged all the chiefe paſſages in them againſt the Pope, Popery, Prieſts, Jeſuits, Arminianiſme, Arminians, and did in ſome places alter and corrupt the authors words ſo farre as to make him an Arminian in thoſe very poynts, wherein he oppoſed their Arminian opinions, and utterly refuſed to licenſe one Sermon of his, concerning Election, becauſe the whole ſcope of it was againſt Arminius and his errors. At which Maſter White being very much diſcontented, to ſee his deceaſed friend's Sermons ſo abuſed, demanded his intire copy and moneys again, but could procure neither of them, but the copy thus altered & expunged, which muſt either be totally ſuppreſſed or printed as he had caſtrated it: Whereupon he carried ſome other of his Sermons to Doctor Weekes and Doctor Baker, (the Arch-biſhops great creatures) Chaplaines to the Biſhop of London, who made the like alterations and purgations in them, as Doctor Haywood had made in the reſt; an exact catalogue whereof amounting to 210. corruptions and purgations, Maſter White preſented at the Barre upon his oath, which were afterwards made uſe of and reduced under ſeverall heads.
Maſter Chetwin atteſted, that Dr. William Jones of Eaſt-Berghall in Suffolk, writ a Comentary on the Epiſtles of Paul to Philemon and the Hebrewes, which he carried to Dr. Samuel Baker, Chaplain to the Biſhop of London, (Anno 1636.) a great Inſtrument of the Arch-biſhop's, to licenſe for the Preſſe; who purged out all the principall clauſes in it againſt Altars, Images, Maſſe, Tranſubſtantiation, Popery, Papiſts, and for the ſanctification of the Lord's day; a catalogue of the moſt whereof he had collected out of the written copy, which was ſo obliterated, that he could not read the ſame in many places, above 150. lines being made unlegible. That this book being printed according to the expunged, altered copy, which otherwiſe could not paſſe the Preſſe, the good old Dr. upon the peruſall of it after its printing, was ſo much diſcontented at the alterations and purgations made therein without his privity, that he diſclaimed into be his work, ſaying, it was the Licencer's only, not his; who had made him a favourite of thoſe Papiſh opinions, by his corrupting and changing his words, which he profeſſedly oppugned, refuted in his own genuine work; The regreete of which injury went ſo neer his heart, that he fell ſick through diſcontent, and ſoon after dyed; and is by theſe alterations and purgations, which were generally taken notice of, the ſale of the book was extreamly hindred, to the great loſſe of the Stationer that printed it.
Peter Cole Stationer, living in Cornhill London, teſtified, that he printed Maſter Richard Ward, his Comentary on Matthew anno 1639. out of which Doctor Weekes the Licencer, purged ſo many principall paſſages againſt Popery and Arminianiſme, as amounted to two ſmall written volumes collected by Mr. Ward himſelf, who was much grieved, injured thereby, and the ſale of the book quite ſpoyled, to his great prejudice. Theſe two ſmall volumes with this enſuing Abstract of them, were preſented by Maſter Ward himſelfe to the Parliament, who examined this abuſe at the Committee for printing.