Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 2
We ſhall now proceed to other evidence. About the latter end of the yeare 1636. Maſter Prynne being certainly informed of the Archbiſhops intention to procure a Decree in Starchamber prohibiting the reprinting of all old Bookes of Divinity unleſſe they were firſt reviewed, purged, new Licenced by his Chaplaines, or Agents, before this Decree was ratified, ſent for Michael Spark Senior and perſwaded him to reprint ſome three or foure old Bookes, of ſpeciall uſe, againſt Popery, ere this Decree ſhould paſſe; by name, Thomas Beacons Diſplay of the Popiſh Maſſe, and his Reliques of Rome (as being then moſt ſeaſonable & oppoſite to the Archbiſhops Romiſh deſignes) formerly printed cum privilegio, in Queen Elizabeths Reigne, An. 1560. yea dedicated to all the Biſhops of England, and highly approved by them, Hereupon he cauſed Miſtreſſe Anne Griffin to begge leave of the Company of Stationers (who were owners of thoſe Coppies) to reprint theſe Bookes, which being granted; ſhe printed off his Diſplay of the Popiſh Maſſe, and began to Print his Reliques of Rome. No ſooner was the firſt of them publiſhed abroad, but a Papiſt ſeeing one of them newly printed, lying to be ſold in a Book-ſellers ſhop in Paules Churchyeard, reading the Title thereof, grew very angry at the Booke (being a very ſolid learned Treatiſe against the Popiſh Maſſe, with the Ceremonies accompaning it) and ſaid; hee wondered much that the Archbiſhop would ſuffer ſuch Bookes to be Printed in this Age: adding, that perchance he knew not of it, and therefore he would goe NOTE.over to Lambheth and informe him thereof, to the end it might be ſuddainly called in, ere it were diſperſed: which it ſeemes he performed accordingly, for the very next morning the Archbiſhop called in this Booke very ſtrictly, ſending his Purſevants and Officers to ſeize on all of them they could meete with, and underſtanding that Miſtreſſe Griffin printed it, he ſent for her to Lambheth, where he in a very angry manner demanded of her, why ſhe did reprint this book againſt the Maſſe NOW, above all other times, & whether ſhe could find no other time but this to print it? To which ſhe anſwered, ſhe did it for want of other work to imploy her ſervants, who elſe muſt ſit ſtill, ſeeing they could get no good New bookes Licenced. Then he demanded of her, how ſhee durſt reprint it without a new Licenſe? ſhe anſwered, She did it by leave of the Company of Stationers, and knew of no order to the contrary. After which he threatned her with the high Commiſſion, and told her, that if ſhe printed any more old Books though formerly licenſed, without a review and new licenſing of them by his Chaplaines, he would put downe her printing Houſe, and ſhe ſhould never print againe, though there was then no Order to the contrary; whereupon ſhe durſt not proceed to print his Reliques of Rome, but gave it over. All which was fully proved by the ſeverall Oathes of Mr. Prynne, Michaell Spark ſenior, & Anne Griffin: ſuch an Arch-favourer of Popery was this Prelate then grown, that he would not permit this Treatiſe againſt the verry Popiſh Maſſe it ſelfe to be reprinted, though formerly oft printed cum Privilegio, growes angry at the printing of it, cauſeth it preſently to be ſuppreſſed upon a Papiſte Information, and thus checks the Printer. Was not Popery grown to a ſtrong head among us, when not ſo much as one ſmall old Booke againſt the Maſſe and Idolatry of it, might paſſe the Preſſe, but it muſt preſently be ſuppreſſed by this Arch biſhops ſpeciall command, and the Printer thus threatned for it? Yet he forſooth (if wee dare believe his Proteſtations) was then as averſe from, as great an Enemy to Popery, as any mortall breathing.
About the ſame time, a Booke intituled, The Palſegraves Religion, containing the Faith and Confeſſion of the Churches of the Palatinate, (formerly printed, in Latine, and then reprinted in Engliſh,) was called in and ſuppreſſed by this Archbiſhops order, becauſe it over-boldly refuted ſome points of Popery and Arminianiſme as was Atteſted by the Oathes of Maſter Pryune and Michaell Sparke Senior.
Maſter Walley, Clerke of Stationers Hall and Maſter Downes depoſed, that after the Decree for printing was made, there were divers old Bookes againſt Popery formerly Licenced, (as the Booke of Martyres, Biſhop Jewells Workes, ſome parts of Doctor Willets Workes and others) which the Archbiſhops and Biſhop of Londons Chaplaines refuſed to new Licenſe; where upon they repaired to Sir Iohn Bramſton then Lord chiefe Juſtice, and deſired leave from him, that good Bookes formerly licenced and printed, might be reprinted without new Licence, elſe they ſhould be undone for want of Bookes, ſeeing they could not procure theſe Chaplaines to Licenſe any good Bookes whether old or new. Who anſwered them, that he could do nothing in it but they muſt go and attend the Archbiſhop, who had the chiefe hand in making this Decree.
Mr. John Vicars Schoole-Maſter of Chriſt-Church ſoone after this Decree, repaired to Doctor Baker (the Archbiſhops great Creature, Houſe-hold Chaplaine to the Biſhop of London,) for a New licenſe of his History of the Gunpouder Treaſon, formerly printed by Licenſe, which he had ſince enlarged with ſome pertinent Additions: But Doctor Baker abſolutely refuſed to Licence it: Maſter Vicars admiring at it; demanded of him the reaſon why he would not licenſe a Booke of ſuch a ſubject as this againſt the Gun-pouder Treaſon, an act ſo odious and deteſtable? who anſwered him, that we were not ſo angry with the Papiſts now, as we were about 20. yeares ſince, and that there was no need of any ſuch Bookes as theſe to exasperate them, there being NOTE.now an endeavour to winne them to us by faireneſſe and mildneſſe.
By theſe (with ſundry other inſtances of this kinde which we pretermit) we conceive it is moſt apparent; that one principall end of the Archbiſhops uſurping the power of Licenſing Bookes and publiſhing this Decree concerning the reſtraint of reprinting any Old Licenſed books againſt Popery, and the groſſeſt errors in it, was, that Popery might againe creep in among us by degrees without the leaſt oppoſition or impeachment.
Secondly, As he and his inſtruments prohibited the reprinting of old Orthodox Bookes, ſo they refuſed to Licence ſundry new ones, eſpecially againſt Popery and Arminianiſme, ſuppreſſing them when printed by Licence of others: This was evidenced, by the forecited Remonſtrance of the Commons in Parliament, Anno 1628 by the forementioned Bookes againſt the Arminians, ſuppreſſed and called in by this Archbiſhops means; and by theſe enſuing Depoſitions. Maſter Prynne depoſed, that in the Yeare 1627. Doctor Coſens publiſhed a Booke intituled, A Collection of private Devotions, Or, the houres of Prayer, fraught with Popery, and Popiſh Superſtitions, which gave great offence; whereupon, at the importunity of diverſe well'-affected perſons, he Writ a Refutation thereof, intituled; A Briefe Survey and Cenſure of Maſter Coſens his Coſening Devotions; which by this Biſhops meanes and his Confederates was refuſed Licenſe, at London Houſe; but afterwards licenced at Lambeth Houſe by Doctor Featly, and printed ſitting the Parliament, in the Yeare 1628. for writing which Booke only againſt Doctor Coſens his Popery, hee was immediately after the Parliament ended, queſtioned in the High-Commiſſion by this Biſhops procurement, and thence delivered by a Prohibition, to the Biſhops great griefe.
Maſter Henry Burton depoſed; That he writ a Book againſt Coſens his Devotions, which was called in by the Biſhops meanes: after which he compiled and publiſhed another Booke intituled, The Bayting of the Popes Bull, licenſed by Doctor Goade, for which hee was called before the Councell Table by this Archbiſhops inſtigation who was then preſent ſpake much againſt the Booke, and called it a Libell, although penned and written only againſt the Pope and his ſeditious dangerous Bull. That he printed by lycence, a Book called A Plea to an Appeale, in refutation of diverſe Popiſh and Arminian Errors broached by Mountague in his Appello Caſarem, which Book though licenſed was yet called in and ſuppreſſed by this Biſhops procurement: After which he writ another Booke againſt Popery, Intituled, The pouring out of the 7. Vialls, for which hee was called into the High Commiſſion Court by the Biſhop, and the Booke ſuppreſſed, That hee likewiſe writ another Booke called, Babell no Bethell wherin he proved the Church of Rome no true viſible Church; for which book this Prelate, being then Biſhop of London, ſent for him by a Purſevant; committed him immediately to priſon in the Fleet, contrary to the Petition of Right then newly paſſed, refuſing to accept any bayle, which he tendred, ſuſpended him from his living, proſecuted him in the High Commiſſion, and ſuppreſſed the Book.
Michaell Sparke Senior, depoſed; That himſelfe, together with William Iones, Nathantell Butter, Mr. Bowler and others were committed to priſon and vexed ſeverall times in the High Commiſſion by this Archbiſhops means, only for printing Bookes againſt the Papiſts and Arminians, that the Biſhop and his Chaplaines refuſed to Licenſe diverſe Bookes againſt Popery tendred to them, and purged ſundry others of the chiefe Paſſages againſt Popery, (as we ſhal prove anon) in ſo much that the Stationers, and Printers generally complained, that they could get no good Orthodox Bookes, but only Popiſh and Superſtitious ones licenſed, ſo as they were like to bee undone for want of trading, and that this was the generall complaint of the whole Company; which other Stationers likewiſe affirmed. Particularly, the Biſhop though he pretended much friendſhip to Sir Humfrey Linde, that learned Knight, the Author of Via Tuta, and Via Deuia, which were anſwered by a Jeſuite in a ſcurrilous rayling manner; yet he abſolutely refuſed to licenſe his elaborate Reply thereunto, Intituled, A Caſe for the Spectacles, upon no other pretence, but that Sir Humfrey was a Lay-man; but in verity, becauſe hee was unwilling to have him vindicate himſelfe and the truth againſt a rayling Jeſuite; of which Injuſtice, Sir Humfrey oft complained to Mr. Pryn, Dr. Featly, and others of his friends: Yet his Chaplaine could licenſe Chunaeus his Collectiones Theologicae, Dedicated to the Archbiſhop himſelfe, though compiled by a Layman of much inſtriot parts and learning to Sir Humfrey, in juſtification of Popery, A minianiſme and the Church of Rome.
Thirdly, He with his Chaplaines Agents, by his inſtigation or command, compiled Authorized, imprinted, publiſhed diverſe Bookes, Treatiſes, Sermons in defence of Popiſh Errors, Superſtitious, Ceremonies, practiſes, almoſt to the totall corruption and ſubverſion of our Religion; Of which we ſhall give you a briefe Catalogue and then proceed to the Popiſh Paſſages, errors broached, juſtified, authorized in, and propagated by them.
The BOOKES are theſe;
The Archbiſhops own SPEECH in Star-Chamber: Printed at Lond. An 1637.
The Book of Common Prayer, for the uſe of the Church of Scotland, printed at Edinburgh 1637.
Richard Mountague, his New Gagge for an old Gooſe, London 1624. His Appello Caeſarem: London 1625. His Originum Eccleſiaſticarum, Pars prior, Londini, 1636. and Pars Poſterior, Londini, 1640. His Anti-Diatribae, Londini 1625 and Viſitation Articles, Printed at Cambridge, and London 1638.
Maſter Iohn Coſens his Houres of Prayer, London 1627.
Edmund Reeves Communion Catechiſme expounded, London 1635.
Henry Cholmly, His State of the Now Roman Church, London, 1629.
Maſter Butterfield, His Maſchil, London 1629.
Doctor Iohn Pocklington, his Sunday No Sabbath, licenſed by Doctor Bray the Arch-Biſhops Chaplaine, 24. Febru. 1635. and his Altare Chriſtianum, licenſed by the ſame Doctor Bray 7. March, 1636. both printed at London, Ann: 1636. and 1637.
Doctor Peter Heylyns Hiſtory of Saint George, London, 1630. His Coale from the Altar, London 1636. His Antidotum Lincolnienſe, with His Moderate Reply to Henry Burton, London, 1637. and Hiſtory of the Sabbath, London 1636.
Francis Sales, (A Popiſh Prelate) his Introduction to a devout life: licenſed by the Archbiſhops Chaplaine Doctor Haywood, 3. Febr. 1636.
An Epistle, or Exhortatory Letter from Jeſus Chriſt, for every faithfull Soule devoutly affected, written by a Friar, and licenſed by Doctor Weekes, both his and the Biſhop of Londons Chaplain, 3. Febr. 1636.
The Female Glory, by Anthony Stafford, London 1635.
Maſter Yates his Tract of the Honour of Gods Houſe, London 1637.
Sparrowes Sermon of Confeſſion, London 1637.
The Churches Authority aſſerted by Samuell Hoard, Lond. 1637.
Mortification Apoſtolicall, by William Watts, London 1637.
Doctor Thomas Laurence his Sermon preached before the King at White-Hall, London 1637.
Iohn Elborow his Evodias and Syntyche, London 1637.
Robert Shelford his five Treatiſes, Cantabrigiae, 1635.
Richard Tedder, his Sermon preached at Wimondham, Anno 1637.
Collectiones Theologicae, by Chunaus London 1634.
Chriſtopher Dow, againſt Maſter Henry Burton, London 1637.
Iohn Browning concerning publike Prayer and the Faſts of the Church, London 1636.
Sir Thomas Ridleys, his Review of the Civill Law, Oxford, 1634.
Iohn Swan, his Redde debitum London. 1640.
Biſhop Halls Reconciler, his Epiſcopy by Divine Right, with infinite other Books, Sermons and Treatiſes of this kinde, which we pretermit.
Before wee proceed any further in this ſubject, we muſt acquaint Your Lordſhips with one memorable Paſſage concerning the Licencing and printing of Francis Sales his Introduction to a devout life; and Chriſts Epiſtle to a devout Soule.
The firſt of theſe Bookes being written by a Popiſh Prelate, having many Doctrinall and Practicall points of Popery interlarded with good meditations and Devotions compriſed in it was tranſlated into Engliſh by J. Y. (a Prieſt, and Jeſuite) dedicated by him to Miſtres Anne Roper a Popiſh Recuſant: and twice printed by Papiſts in forraigne parts, in the yeares 1617. and 1622. with all the Popery in it: about which time it was likewiſe tranſlated into Engliſh by a Proteſtant, who leſt out all the Popery and ſuperſtition couched therein, reteining only what was Orthodox and Pious; which was licenced for the Preſſe, and printed by Nicholas Oakes. On the 3. of February 1636. Doctor Hayward the Archbiſhops Chaplain, at the inſtigation of ſome Popiſh perſons, licenſed the very Popiſh Tranſlation of this Booke by (I Y) the Ieſuite, for the Preſſe, (moſt likely by the Archbiſhops approbation, who had one of theſe Bookes formerly printed in his Study produced by Maſter Prynne, endorſed with his owne hand:) which was forthwith entered in Stationers Hall for one W. Brookes a Popiſh Stationer, and preſently ſent to the Preſſe to be printed: One part of it comming to Nicholas Oakes his Houſe to be printed, he perceiving divers dangerous Popiſh Paſſages in it, and among others, one touching the Popes ſupremacy, repaired to Doctor Hayward who licenſed it, and acquainted him therewith, deſiring him to purg out theſe Popiſh Paſſages, elſe he durſt not proceed to print it. Whereupon the Doctor checking him for making ſuch a ſcruple, bid him go on and ſay nothing, and he would beare him out, and ſave him harmleſſe NOTE.from any danger that might befall him for printing it; adding that he himſelf would preach as much [as that he complained off] before the King, and therefore he needed not feare to proceed: Whereupon Oakes went on, and the Book (with the Epiſtle Dedicatory to Mrs. Anne Roper a Papiſt) was printed & publiſhed about Eaſter. 1637. neare the time the Archbiſhop cauſed an Information to be Exhibited in Star-chamber by Sir John Banks his Majeſties Atturney Generall, againſt D. Bastwick, Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne, one of the Copies whereof comming to Mr. Pryns hands he finding it full of Popery, ſuperſtition, and the very ſame with the old Engliſh Popiſh Edition, and being informed by Oakes & others, of Dr. Haywards words to Oakes when he complained to him of it, he inſerted the Licenſing and printing of this Popiſh Booke among others, into his Croſſe Bill in Starre Chamber, againſt the Archbiſhop, his Chaplaines and others his Popiſh Confederates; which Bill he tendring to the Lord KEEPER Coventry to admit, the Archbiſhop getting poſſeſſion of it, upon view thereof and ſome complaints at Court againſt this Popiſh Booke, by the Right honourable Earle of Pembrook, and other well-affected Courteours; thereupon to colour his owne and his Chaplaines practicall knavery, in Licenſing and promoting this Booke, by laying all the blame and puniſhment upon others, and the poor Printer Ooaks, (who complained againſt it, and would have ſtopped it at the Preſſe) & to give ſom ſhew of ſatisfaction to the people much offended at the printing of this Popiſh Booke, eſpecially in that nick of time, when he had brought Dr. Baſtwick Mr. Burton, & Mr. Pryn into the Star-chamber for charging him with introducing Popiſh Doctrines and Innovations into our Church; cauſed his Majeſty to publiſh this following Proclamation, for calling in and burning the ſaid book; wherein he falſly ſuggeſted to his Majeſty, and his Subjects; that his Chaplaine purged out diverſe Paſſages therein tending to Popery, which the Stationer and Tranſlater afterwards inſerted againe, when as there was no ſuch thing: but his Chaplaine licenſed all of them at firſt, and would not purge them out at laſt; when Oakes complained of them; The Proclamation was this.