Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 6 · Floating text 6 – Letter 6

Canterburys Doom · Branch 1 · Evidence 6 · Floating text 6 – Letter 6

p. 378Orders given by the Right Reverend Father in God, JOHN Lord Biſhop of PFTERBOROVGH, for and concerning the Sermon weekly on Wedneſday in Saint JAMES Chappell in BRACKLEY, September the 14. 1639.

1. IT is ordered that the fifteen Divines whoſe names are here under written, ſhall be appointed to their ſeverall dayes by Dr H…ath Chancellor of the ſaid Dioces, p. 379or his permiſſion, by Doctor Sybthorpe one of his Surrogates, in a Catalogue, to be ſigned by him, annexed to theſe orders.

II. That no other Divine ſhall be admitted to Preach there upon any Wedneſday, but one of theſe fifteene (except the Curate of that place) upon any pretence whatſoever; And if one of theſe ſhall dye, or depart, or refuſe to preach, none other ſhall be Subſtituted, but by expreſſe allowance of the Biſhop.

III. That the Bell ſhall begin to toll a quarter of an houre before nine of the Clocke in the morning, and ſhall continue ſo toleing, till nine of the Clocke and no longer.

IIII. That immediatly upon ceaſing of the Bell the Divine Service of the Church of England for morning prayer ſhall begin, and ſhall be ſaid, together with the Letanie, either by the Preacher for that day, or elſe (in caſe of neceſſity) only by the Miniſter of the place of his aſſiſtant, in his Surplice and Hood, according to his degree in Schooles.

V. The Preacher for that day, ſhall be ready at the Communion Table in his Surplice and Hood (while a Pſalme is in ſinging after the Morning prayer and the Letanie) to begin the Communion Service (commonly called the ſecond Service) and that there be no Hiatus or ſtopp at all, after the end of the Pſalmes. If he be not there, He who did reade the Morning prayer that day, ſhall preſently goe thither, and proceede to the ſecond Service, and no Sermon ſhall be had that day.Note.

VI. The Preacher aſſoone as he hath repeated the Nicen Creede ſhall goe up into the Pulpet, in his Surplice and hood.

VII. No other forme of prayer before the Sermon ſhall be vſed, then is ſet Note.downe in the LV. Canon, to move the people to pray in the words and manner there perſcribed, interpoſing only, if he ſo deſire, the names of the Vniverſities and of his Colledge, or of his Patron, he being one quallified by Law, to have a Chaplaine.

VIII. The Sermon at the utmoſt ſhall be within the compaſſe of an howre, and Note.ſhall be ended with Glory be to God &c. without any other prayers in the Pulpit.

VIIII. The Preacher ſhall after is Sermon come preſently from the Pulpit, and ſo goe to the Communion table, and reade the prayer for the whole eſtate of Chriſts Church, &c. and one or two of the Collects, which ſtands after the Communion Service, and ſo ſhall diſmiſſe the people with that bleſſing there. The peace of God, &c.

X. A Surplice and Hood are to be provided for the Preacher at the charge of the Towne.

XI. The people to be admoniſhed by the Preacher (as neede ſhall require) to be diligent and of reverend behaviour at the divine ſervice, both before the Sermon and alſo after it. All men to be uncovered during all the time both of Service and Sermon; all perſons to do Reverence at the bleſſed name of Ieſus, to Note.ſtand at the Creedes, Hymnes and Goſpells; to kneele at the confeſſion and prayers, and practiſe all other parts of conformity to the Church Government, or otherwiſe it ſhall be ſufficient cauſe to have the combination for the ſaid weekely Sermon forthwith inhibited, if the Divine Service be neglected or deſerted, Or if theſe Orders above mentioned be not truely obſerved. VponUpon condition whereof the Biſhop hath condeſcended unto the humble Petition preſented vntounto his Lordſhip from the Major and the other Inhabitants of the ſaid Towne of Brackley, for ſuffering the ſaid weekely Sermon.

Theſe Orders under my Hand and Seale are to be ſet up for all thoſe whom they concerne, to take notiſe of the ſame, in ſome convenient place within the Chappell of S. Iames Brackley, or in the Chancell or p. 380Veſtery of the ſame Chappell, as the Incumbent of the place ſhall diſpoſe them, In teſtimony whereof we have cauſed our Seale Epiſcopall to be hereunto put, the day and yeer above written.

1. Doctor Sybthorpe Vicar of Brackley.

2. Mr. Burden Rector of Aynoe.

3. Mr. Yates Rector of Midleton cheny.

4. Mr. Loſſe Vicar of Leas weeden.

5. Mr. Oſborne Rector of Thenford.

6. Mr. Selby Rector of Chipingwarden.

7. Mr. Gage Vicar of Culworth.

8. Mr. Adams Rector of Aſhton in le walls

9. Mr. Burton Rector of Helmedon,

10. Mr. Oſten Rector of Braddon.

11. Mr. Iakeman Rector of Farthingoe.

12. Mr. Brocke Vicar of Maideford.

13. Mr. Hunt Vicar of Sulgraue.

14. Mr. Mander Vicar of Chacombe.

15. Mr. Hifeild Vicar of Evenley.

Jo. Petriburg.

By theſe unreaſonable conditions, (to which the conſciences of moſt orthodox godly Miniſters could no wayes ſubmit) moſt Combination Lecturers were totally diſcontinued, and ſuch as remained were for the moſt part ſupplied only by Prelaticall, Superſtitious, Ceremonious, Popiſh Clergy men of the Archbiſhops faction, whoſe Sermons and Examples did more corrupt then inſtruct, ſeduce then reforme the Auditors, and onelyonly promote his Popiſh deſignes. To ſuch ſlavery, miſery were both Miniſters and People reduced by colour of this Prelates forementioned Conſiderations: Who being afterwards advanced to the Archbiſhopricke of Canterbury, had an annuall Account returned to him from all the Biſhops of his Province, how theſe Inſtructions concerning Sermons, Lectures and Lecturers, were obſerved, and what Proceedings were upon them; as was manifeſted by the Originals of their Accounts found in his ſtudy, endorſed with his own hand. And not content with his Provinciall Biſhops proceedings, himſelf in his Metropoliticall Viſiitation, gave ſpeciall Order to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar generall, to inquire, how his Majeſties Inſtructions were obſerved? as appears by a Memorandum touching his Viſitation in generall March. 6. 1634. written with Mr Dells own hand, found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy with other Papers of that nature: and likewiſe ordered him to ſilence divers Miniſters, and not ſuffer them to Lecture: We ſhall give you one memorable inſtance in Mr Leighe a reverend Miniſter then of Wolverhampton, but now ſettled in Shoreditch by order of Parliament; For whoſe ſilencing this Archbiſhop gave ſpeciall order; as appears by a Letter under his Secretary Dells own hand (who acknowledged it at the Lords Barr) directed to Sir Nathaniel Brent, found by M. Prynne among Sir John Lambes Papers.

Worthy SIR,

THE Church and Colledge of Wolverhampton in the Dioceſſe of Litchfield, is an Appendix to the Deane of Windſor; who by Charter of Edward the fourth is both Patron and Ordinary, cum omnimoda juriſdictione. And in that regard, though they have not been viſited by any time out of mind, yet now he is content to lay by the Bulls and Charters of Exemption, and to admit of my Lords Metropolitan viſitation. But with all he hath made this humble ſuit to my Lords Grace, that if you viſit that Church and Colledge, they may not be ſummoned out of their own Juriſdiction, but rather that in your way from Litchfield to Shrewsbury, your viſitation may be held in that very Place, it being a goodly Collegiate Church, and every way ſit for it **I am informed that Wolverhampton is but 12. miles from Litchfield, and not out of the way to Shrewſbury. Might you not be there on Munday May 18.?. In which my Lord wills you by all means to give Mr Dean content in what may conveniently be done. And whereas his Grace is informed that the Place is much given to Faction, and that the laſt Summer there were ſome very good Chapter Acts, and other Orders made by my Lord the Biſhop of Hereford, then Dean, to ſettle things there in a Church way, and to curbe the inſolency of ſome men, who ſince, upon occaſion of this my Lords Viſitation are bold to give it out, that they will have all reverſed &c. His Grace hath commanded me to ſignifie his expreſſe pleaſure p. 381to you, That no former Act made by the Chapter there, nor any Order appointed by the Deane, be reverſed, or any wayes altered, without firſt acquainting his Grace therewith. And that you take ſpeciall notice of one Mr Lee, a Prebend there who hath been the Author of much diſorder thereabouts, And if you can faſten upon any thing, whereby he may juſtly be cenſured, pray ſee it be done, and home, or bring him to the High Commiſſion Court to anſwer it there, &c. But HOWEVER let him not obtain any Licenſe to Preach any Lecture there, or in another Exempt place hard by at Tetenſhall, whither thoſe of Wolverhampton do now run after him, out of their Parish; Note.for the Church hath not much need of ſuch men. If you speak with Mr Latham of Litchfield who is the Surrogate there, he will informe you more fully concerning this Buſineſſe. That he (the ſaid Mr Lee) hath Churched Refractory Women in private &c. That he is averſe to all good Orders of the Church. As alſo that in another place thereabouts they cauſed a Bell-man in open Market to make Proclamation for a Sermon, &c.

One thing more, which I may not forget. My Lords Grace is informed that at Monkes-Illith in Suffolke, there is a Monument placed juſt at the Eaſt end of the Church, where the Communion Table or Altar should ſtand; And therefore his Grace wills you, notwithſtanding you are now paſt it, to take order that it be either Note.removed or demoliſhed. And that you be very carefull to do the like in all Churches elſe, where you finde the ſame Abuſe. So not doubting of your care in theſe Particulars, and wiſhing you health and content throughout your Journey, I take my leave, and am,

Your Faithfull poor Friend to ſerve you, William Dell. Lambeth, April 27. 1635.

Mr Dean cannot be at Wolverhampton by reaſon of his attendance at Windſor, the Inſtalment being about that time, and therefore prays you to hold him accuſed.

Upon this Letter, Mr Leigh was ſuſpended by Sir Nathaniel Brent, as appears by an Abſtract of the Metropoliticall Viſitation delivered by Sir Nathaniel to the Archbiſhop, who thus endorſed it with his own hand. Iuly 16. 1635. The Abſtract of my Viſitation of Norwich, Peterborrough, Litchfield, &c. produced at the Barr; in which we find mention of above twenty other Miniſters ſuſpended from preaching in this his Viſitation. In his Inſtructions for his Metropoliticall Viſitation in the Dioceſſe of London (endorſed and ſigned with his owne hand) wee finde divers Informations againſt ſundry Miniſters incloſed, among which this is one.

Mr. Mr Randall.Randall Curate of Tuddington in Midleſex neer Hampton Court, preacheth long Sermons and factious on Sundayes in the Afternoone, though he hath beene admoniſhed of it, and inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London; to which the Archbiſhop underwrites this direction to Sir Nathaniel Brent his Viſitor: Sir, I require you that (beſides your other Inſtructions) you give me an Account of all particulars within named.

W. Cant.

Of which particular concerning Mr Randall, Sir Nathaniel after his Viſitation gave this account to the Archbiſhop.

MAſter Randall Curate of Tuddington (noted in the paper) confeſſeth, that ſince he was inhibited by Mr Chancellor of London to preach in the Afternoones on Sundayes, he hath once offended and no more. It was to make a farewell Sermon to that exerciſe, as he ſaith: wherein he rather aggravateth his fault then otherwiſe. Hee ſaith, that this Sermon was much beyond the compaſſe of an hour, and I beleeve it continued more then two houres. He now ſeeth and acknowledgeth his fault, proteſteth he will be most conformable for the future, and humbly deſireth to be diſmiſſed with a Canonicall Admonition. But I keep him in fear ſtill.

To this we might add his procurement of Dr Ienningſon Lecturer at Newcaſtle, to be queſtioned in the High Commiſſion at York, in the year 1639. whoſe Articles p. 382and Anſwers were both ſent up to Lambeth to his Grace-ſhip; and enforcing to quit that place, with the Kingdome too, to avoyd his fury: His proſecution of Mr Iohn Iemmet Lecturer at Barwicke, in cauſing the Biſhop of Durham in December 1639. to ſend for him by a Purſevant, ſilence him from preaching in Barwick, and baniſh him the Town, without any Articles or Witneſſes examined againſt him: with other inſtances of this nature; but for brevity ſake we ſhall omit theſe, and proceed to his next ſtratagem to ſuppreſſe preaching, which was:

His publiſhing of a Declaration for Sports in his Majeſties name, and ſilencing, ſuſpending, 2.excommunicating, queſtioning, cenſuring in the High Commiſſion and elſewhere, many hundreds of godly conſcientious Preaching Miniſters (whom the Inſtructions for Lecturers could not reach ſo farr as to ſilence, being Incumbents and not meer Lecturers) for refuſing perſonally to publiſh it in their Churches, to animate their people to profane the Lords day, with unhallowed Paſtimes: which becauſe we have **Page 128. to 154.formerly inſiſted on, and proved to be his deſigne; we ſhall here but mention, and paſſe by, only with this one Addition; that Mr Thomas Valentine, Miniſter of Chalford Saint Giles in the County of Buckingham, being ſuſpended by Sir Iohn Lambe, Deane of the Arches, for not reading the Book of Sports, from which ſuſpention he appealed and procured time to conſider, whether he would read it or not; Mr Valentine not long after to obtain further time and favour writ a Letter to Sir Iohn Lambe dated April 28. 1636. with 5 l. incloſed, and a Petition to the Archbiſhop, on which Letter Sir Iohn makes this endorſment with his own hand, Maſter Valentine 28. April 1636. with 5 l. PEECES incloſed: which Petition Sir Iohn recommending to Mr Dell, procured him a gratious anſwer and ſome longer reſpite for the preſent; but in December and Ianuary following he was again moleſted and ſuſpended for not publiſhing this Declaration in proper perſon, though his Curate had formerly read it in the Church, as appears by two Petitions to the Archbiſhop for his abſolution.

His third deſign to ſuppreſſe preaching was, by diſcouraging conſcientious young Schollers and Divines from entering into the Miniſtry by putting divers clogs & difficulties 3.upon them, under a moſt ſpecious pretext; which was thus effected: No ſooner was this Prelate ſetled in his Archbiſhoprick, but he contrived a Letter, drawn by Mr Dell his Secretary, but interlined, corrected with his own hand, (as appears by the Originall draught found in his ſtudy) directed as from his Majeſtie to himſelf; which he afterwards preſented to the King, who directed and ſent it to him under his Privy Signet to be put in Execution, in manner following, as the very Letter it ſelfe under the Kings Signet declares; thus endorſed with the Archbiſhops own hand; Rec. Sept. 19. 1633. From his Majeſty, that no Miniſters be made ſine Titulo.

To the moſt Reverend Father in God our Right truſty and Right entirely beloved Councellor, William Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitane of all England.

CHARLES R.

MOſt Reverend Father in God, Right truſty and right entirely beloved Councellour, we greet you well. There is nothing more deer to US then the preſervation of true Religion, as it is now ſettled and eſtabliſhed in this our Kingdome, to the honour of God and the great comfort of our ſelfe, and our Loyall people; and there can nothing more conduce to the advancement thereof then the ſtrict obſervation of ſuch Canons of the Church as concern thoſe that are to take orders in their ſeverall times. More eſpecially of keeping that particular Canon which injoyns, That no man be made a Prieſt or a Miniſter without a Title: For we finde that many not ſo qualified, do by favour or other means procure themſelves to be ordeined, and afterwards for want of means, wander up and downe to the ſcandall of their calling, or to get maintenance fall upon ſuch courſes as are moſt unfit for them, both by humouring their Auditours and other wayes altogether unſufferable. Wee have therefore thought fit and Wee doe hereby ſtreightly require and charge p. 383you to call ſuch Biſhops to you as are now preſent in or neer our City of London and to acqulint them with this our reſolution. And further that you faile not in the beginning of the next Terme to give notice of this our will and pleaſure openly in our High Commiſſion Court, and that you call into our ſaid Court every Biſhop reſpectively that ſhall preſume to give Orders to any man that hath not a Title, and there to cenſure him as the Canon aforeſaid doth injoyn (which is to maintain the party ſo ordered till he give him a Title) and with what other cenſure you in Juſtice ſhall think ſit. And our further will is, That nothing ſhall be reputed a Title to enable a man for orders, but that which is ſo by the ancient courſe of the Church, and the Canon Note.Law, ſo far forth as that Law is received in this our Church of England. And as you muſt not fail in theſe our directions, nor in any part of them, ſo we expect that you gives us from time to time a ſtrict accompt of your proceedings in the ſame.

Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Weſtminſter, Note.the nineteenth day of September in the ninth year of our Raigne. Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

Upon receit hereof; this Archbiſhop (whoſe project it was) directs this Letter following to the Biſhops of his Province, as is evident by the originall draught thereof corrected with his own hand and thus endorſed by him. Octob. 18. 1633. The Copy of my Letters upon this of his Majeſties to the ſeverall Biſhops of this Province.

S. in Chriſto.

My very good Lord,

HIS Majeſtie hath been often and much troubled upon complaints which have been made unto him by the Lords and other men of quality, concerning the multitude or both unlearned and unworthy Miniſters, which peſter the Church, and are alwayes the Cauſes of great ſcandall, and too often of Schiſm and Diviſions therein. And ſome of them are forced, to the ſhame of themſelves and their Calling, for want of means to begg for their Living, and yet are daily made in great numbers, and that directly againſt the Canon of the Church, which require's, That no man should be made a Miniſter ſine Titulo. For remedy of this great abuſe and wrong to the Church, his Majeſtie hath directed his Letters to me, and by them required me to call all ſuch Biſhops to me,, as were then in or about the City, and after conſultation with them, to ſend my Letters to every ſeverall Biſhop within the Province, to require obedience to the Canon of the Church, and his Majeſties directions according to it. The Tenor of his Majeſties Letter followeth, (as before).

ACcording to theſe Letters I am to pray and require you, that at all times of Ordination you be very carefull to admit none into Holy Orders, but ſuch men as for life and learning are fit, and which have a Title for their Maintenance, according to the Lawes and ancient practiſe of the Church. And his Majeſty hath farther commanded me to advertiſe your Lordſhip, that He will not faile to call for Note.an Accompt of theſe his Letters both of me and you. Thus not doubting but you will have a ſpeciall care both of the good of the Church and his Majeſties contentment herein: I leave you to the Grace of God and reſt.

Your Lordships very loving Friend and Brother. W. Cant.

In this Letter we find this Paper incloſed, writ with Mr Dells, but endorſed with the Archbiſhops hand, declaring what ſhall be a Title.

p. 384So upon the matter theſe Titles are named in the Canon. He that is ordained muſt have.

1. A Preſentation to ſome Eccleſiaſticall Preferment.

2. Or, A Certificate undoubted that he is provided of ſome Church voyde there.

3. Or, A Grant of ſome Petty Canons place, or the like, in a Cathedrall or Collegiate Church.

4. Or, A Fellow, or in the right of a Fellow in ſome Colledge in Oxford or Cambridge.

5. Or, A Conduct or Chaplain in ſome Colledge in Oxford or Cambridge.

6. Or, A Maſter of Artes of 5. years ſtanding living at his own charge in either of the Univerſities.

7. Or, The intention of the Biſhop that ordaines, ſhortly to admit him to ſome Benefice or Curates place then voyde.

And I think the Canon intends that after a Man is once admitted a Curate, the Parſon or Vicar of the place ſhould not have power to put them off at pleaſure, but only for ſuch criminall unworthineſſe as might deprive him of his Benefice if hee had one.

So I conceive, under favour, the Order may go briefly thus.

And farther his Majeſties expreſſe Command is, that this Canon be ſtrictly obſerved by all Biſhops in their ſeverall Dioceſſes reſpectively, and that none preſume to ordeine any man to be a Deacon, Prieſt or Miniſter under the penalty injoyned in the Canon, or any other which his Majeſties juſt diſpleaſure may inflict upon him.

Theſe Letters primâ facié ſeem very faire, neceſſary; but latet Anguis in herba: there was a dangerous deſigne couched under them.

For firſt, no Lecture whatſoever, was admitted to be a Canonicall Title: and ſo all ordination of Miniſters to ſupply Lectures was totally ſecluded: which was one chiefe end of this deſigne. Secondly, no Chaplainſhip to any Noblemans or Gentlemans family was allowed to be a ſufficient Title; and this gave a fatall blow to all ſuch young Chaplains ordinations; unleſſe they had ſome better Title and Livelihood for the future; which was likewiſe formerly aimed at in the precedent Conſiderations and Inſtructions. And by this device many yong Divines were in a manner quite excluded out of ſuch Religious Gentlemens Families, which might ſeaſon them with the practicall power of godlineſſe, or any principles which the Prelates held to be Puritaniſme or Preciſeneſſe. Thirdly, by this device all young Students in Divinity were made more dependent on, more obſequious to the Biſhops, & leſs dependent on the Nobility, Gentry, people; as the Letters inſinuate. Fourthly, under pretent of theſe Letters a kinde of new ſubſcription was impoſed on all ſuch who were to be ordained (eſpecially if ſuſpected to be orthodox or preciſe) to ſundry Arminian, Popiſh Errours, and Superſtitions, upon which they were interrogated to ſound their inclinations, and denyed Orders in caſe of diſa…ent: As namely: Whether Bowing at the name of Jeſus, and to or towards the Altar at their approaches to it, or ingreſſe to or egreſſe out of the Church, were lawfull, & commendable? Whether all baptized Infants were not truly regenerated? Whether Epiſcopacy and the Hierarchy of Bishops were not of divine Right? Whether the Church of Rome were not a true Church? Whether Altars, Copes, Organs, Tapers, Crucifixes and Images were not lawfull? Whether truly regenerate men might not totally and finally fall from Grace? and the like, By which Interrogations, and many new Ceremonies introduced at ordinations, ſundry godly Schollers and Students of Divinity were deterred from taking Orders, and a Superſtitious, Popiſh, prophane, Epiſcopall generation of New ordained Prieſts (zealous to promote, embrace the very groſleſt Doctrines and Superſtitions of Rome,) engeadred and ſcattered among us in moſt places; all powerfull p. 385ſoul-ſaving preaching baniſhed or quite layd aſide; and the people every where poyſoned with Popiſh and Arminian drugs.

By theſe and ſuch like practiſes, as likewiſe by preaching and printing againſt frequent Preaching; (**Page 225, 226, 227. formerly touched) there enſued a great famine of the pure powerfull preaching of Gods Word, of godly Preachers in our Kingdome; and a monſtrous increaſe of Popiſh Prieſts, Jeſuites, Fryars, Papiſts, Popery, Superſtition, Prophaneſſe, Ignorance, Impiety; which have involved us in thoſe miſeries and diſtractions under which we now languiſh and are almoſt ruined.

His Fourth Device to ſuppreſſe preaching, was the ſubverſion of the Feoffees for buying in Impropriations, particularly charged againſt him in the 6. Additionall 4.Article; in theſe words.

That whereas divers gifts and diſpoſitions of divers ſummes of mony were heretofore made by divers charitable and well-diſpoſed perſons for the buying in of divers Impropriations for the maintenance of preaching the word of God in ſeverall Churches, the ſaid Archbiſhop about eight years laſt paſt, wilfully and maliciouſly cauſed the ſaid gifts feofments and contrivances made to the uſes aforeſaid to be overthrown in his Majesties Court of Exchequer contrary to law, as things dangerous to the Church and State, under the ſpecious pretence of buying in Impropriations; whereby that pious worke was ſuppreſſed and trodden down, to the great diſhonour of God and ſcandall of Religion.

This Article informes us briefly what theſe Feoffees were, we ſhall only add who they were, what they did, and how they were proceeded againſt by this Archbiſhop. About the year 1626. ſome godly Perſons in and about London to promote the preaching of the Goſpel, and ſet up a Preaching Miniſtry to inſtruct the people in divers great Towns and Pariſhes impropriate where they wanted means to maintain Preaching, of which they had long been deſtitute in former times, reſolved to lay their purſes together and chuſe out of themſelves four Divines, four Common Lawyers, and four Citizens of note who ſhould be Feoffees in truſt to purchaſe in theſe Impropriations, and with the profits of them to ſet up and maintain a conſtant preaching Miniſtery in places of greateſt need and eminency: whereupon they made choice of Dr W. Gouge, Dr R. Sibbs, C. Ofſpring, & I. Davenport Divines. Ralph Eyre, S. Brown of Lincolas Inne, C. Sherland of Greyes Inne, J. White of middle Temple Eſquires, Common Lawyers. Iohn Geering, Richard Davis, George Harwood and Francis Bridges, Citizens; to be Feoffees for this purpoſe; who with their own monyes and the contributions of other well-affected perſons in 2 or 3 years ſpace purchaſed in the Impropriations of Hartford, Dunſtable, Cirencester, with others, and ſet up able preaching conformable Miniſters (authorized by the Biſhops of the Dioceſſe) there in many other places where they had never any before; as likewiſe at Bridgenorth Clarely; and had they not been interrupted in this good work, would in very few years in all probability, have purchaſed in moſt of the great Towns & noted Pariſhes Impropriations of England in Lay-mens hands, where Preaching was moſt wanting, and meanes to maintain it. No ſooner had this Malignant Prelate notice of this pious religious work, but out of his enmity to Preaching, and the good of ignorant peoples ſouls (whom he would rather have ſtill keept in blindneſſe and the chaines of Sathan, then inſtructed with the Goſpels light, and brought under the Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt) he preſently projects not only the obſtruction, but utter ſubvertion of this pious deſigne, which none but a Devill incarnate, or Enemy of all goodneſſe could diſlike; many even of the worſer ſort of Biſhops, yea Courtiers, applauding it, as a very neceſſary and godly work.

That he himſelf projected the overthrow of theſe Feoffees, was proved out of his own Diary; where thus he writes in the cloſe of it. Things which I have projected to do, if Godbleſſe me in them: the third whereof is this: To overthrow the Feofment dangerous both to Church and State, going under the ſpecious pretence of buying in Impropriations. Over againſt which he writes in the Margin, DONE: which fights p. 386point-blanke with his very next project of a quite contrary nature, juſtifying theſe Feoffees acts, namely: To procure King CHARLES to give all the Impropriations yet remaining in the Crown within the Realme of Ireland, to that poor Church: Againſt which he writes in the Margin; Done and ſettled there: though to the impairing of that Crownes revenues, and that by power of the Councell Table, in an arbitrary, forcible and illegall way, to the undoing of many; as appears by ſundry Originall Letters thence; whereas the Feoffees buying in Impropriations did no wayes leſſen the Kings revenues, and was done in a juſt and legall way. To overthrow this pious work, he cauſed Mr Noy the Kings Atturney Generall, by the Kings command, to exhibit a Bill againſt theſe Feoffees in the Eſchequer Chamber, to confiſcate their purchaſed Impropriations to the King by a Decree of that Court, and ſo diſſolve all they had done: which Bill was proſecuted with all violence. To ſet on the proſecution with more edge he ſuborned his flattering creatures to declaime againſt theſe Feoffees and their deſign in the Pulpit both at Court and elſewhere. Among others, his great Minion Peter Heylin, preaching at Saint Maryes in Oxford before the whole Ʋniverſity, at the publike Act there, on Sunday in the afternoon the 11^th of July 1630. diſcharged his venome againſt Lecturers, and theſe Feoffees in theſe bitter Invectives; p. 38 39: Planting of Penſionary Lectures in ſo many places where it needs not, and upon dayes of common labour, will at the laſt bringing forth of fruites, appear to be a tare indeed, though now no wheat be counted fairer, &c. Wee will proceed a little further in the propoſall of ſome things to be conſidered. The Corporation of Feoffees for buying in Impropriations to the Church, Doth it not ſeeme Note.in the appearance to be an excellent peece of Wheat? A noble and gracious point of Piety? Is not this Templum Domini, Templum Domini? But bleſſed God, that men ſhould thus draw near unto thee with their mouths, yet be far from thee in their hearts! For what are thoſe intruſted in the managing of this great buſineſſe? Are they not the moſt of them, the moſt active and the beſt affected men in the whole cauſe, et magna partis momenta, chiefe Patrons of the faction? And what are thoſe whom they prefer? Are they not moſt of them ſuch as muſt be ſerviceable to their dangerous Innovations? And will they not in time have more preferments to beſtow, and therefore more dependances then all the Prelates in the Kingdome? &c. Yet all this while we ſleep and ſlumber and fold our hands in ſloath, and ſee perhaps but dare not note it.

This Sermon he preſented to this Biſhop in writing bound up in Velome, who thus endorſed it with his own hand S. Mat. 13, 25. Maſter Peter Heylin; and reſerved it as a monument in his ſtudy; where it was ſeiſed by Mr Pryn and Mr Bendy, who produced and atteſted it.

Feb. 13. 1632. this cauſe came to hearing and ſentence in the Exchequer Chamber, where the Feoffees and their good deſigne were utterly overthrowne; of which the Biſhop made this ſpeciall Memento in his Diary in theſe termes: Feb. 13. 1632. Wedneſday, the Feoffees that pretended to buy in Impropriations were diſſolved in the Chequer Chamber. They were the main Inſtruments for the Puritane faction, to undoe the Church: The Criminall part reſerved.

John White of the Middle Temple Eſquire (a member of the Houſe of Commons) depoſed at the Lords Barre; that he attending this Archbiſhop, then of London, at London Houſe as a Councellour, about a right of Patronage to Chingford in Eſſex; after the hearing of the buſineſſe, the Biſhop demanded of him; Whether he were not one of the Feoffees for buying in Impropriations? to which he anſwered, he was: whereupon the Biſhop fell upon him with much bitterneſſe of ſpirit, calling him, An enemy of the Church, an underminer of Religion: and vehemently affirmed, that this worke of his and his fellow-Feoffees was miſcheivous to the Church and destructive to Religion, and that he would ſee him and his fellows ſhortly called to an Account for it, and ſtop them from proceeding in that work. That ſome few dayes after, he attended this Biſhop again at Fulham upon the former cauſe, where he took occaſion to diſcourſe with him at large about the Feoffees proceedings; enforming him, that their onelyonly ayme and end in purchaſing in Impropriations was, for the better p. 387maintenance of Miniſters and Preachers where there was moſt need; that they bought them with their own moneyes, and the monyes of their friends, and diſpoſed the revenues thereof to none, nor placed any Miniſter in any Church, but ſuch as they took more then ordinary care ſhould be throughly examined by the Ordinary of the place, for his Sufficiency and full Conformity by law required. And therefore hee beſought him earneſtly, that he would not uſe his power to hinder and deſtroy ſo good a work, but rather to cheriſh and further it: And if he diſliked either the Perſons who managed it, or the courſe they took in ordering the ſame, they would appoint ſuch other meet perſons and rules for the regulating and carrying on of that pious worke as he ſhould think fit. But notwithſtanding this and all other Arguments he could uſe and earneſtly preſſe him withall, the Biſhop with much paſſion expreſly declared his reſolution, to break the neck of this good worke, that it should not proceed: Whereupon an Information was exhibited againſt the Feoffees by his procurement in the Eſchequer Chamber in the Kings name, by Mr Noy the Kings Attorny Generall, and ſentence given againſt them for ſeiſing all the Impropriations they had purchaſed and monyes received by them, into the Kings hands; whereby this good worke was deſtroy'd; the profits diverted to other uſes (as appears by the Docquet Book ultimo Decembris 1638. and Sir William Whitmores Petition to the Archbiſhop Novemb. 13. 1633. found in his ſtudy) and deboyſt ſcandalous unworthy Miniſters, ſuch as had been formerly turned out by other BPS put in to them; wheras they maintained ſundry godly Miniſters and ſix Lecturers at S. Antholins with the profits of the Impropriations purchaſed. After which, Mr White atteſted there was another Information put by the Kings Attorny into the Exchequer criminally againſt theſe Feoffees, as grand Delinquents, and that by this Archbiſhops direction, as was manifeſted by a Note produced by Mr Prynne under Secretary Windebanks own hand, to this effect.

IT is his Majeſties pleaſure, that the Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury his Grace, the Lord Keeper, the Lord Archbiſhop of Yorks Grace, the Lord Treaſurer, the Lord Privy Seal, the Earl Marſhall, the Lord Cottington, Mr Secretary Cook and my ſelf, calling to us Mr Atturny Generall shall conſider, whether the Feoffees which have been queſtioned in the Exchequer for the Feofment of Impropriations shall be proceeded againſt Criminally? and if ſo, then whether in the Court of Exchequer or in Starchamber?

Dated at Whitehall, 17. of January 1633. Fran. Windebanke.

Mr Thomas Foxly a reverend Divine depoſed upon Oath, Viva Voce; That about Eight years ſince, William Laud now Archbishop of Canterbury did put down his Lecture on Fridayes at Saint Martins in the fields, for fear (as he pretended) leaſt thoſe that came thereunto ſhould infect the Kings, Queenes and ſuch Noble mens houſes as were in that Pariſh, with the Plague, though there then dyed very few in and about London of that diſeaſe, the Plague not being then in that Pariſh when his ſayd Lecture was ſuppreſſed, though God brought it into the Pariſh the very next weeke after its ſuppreſſion; by means whereof this deponent was deprived of his preſent livelyhood. After which he being brought before the ſaid Biſhop for divers frivilous matters whiles he was Biſhop of London, and cleared of them, becauſe there was no colour of Crime againſt him; The ſaid Bishop charged him, for intermedling with the buſineſſe of buying in Impropriations, and thereby endeavouring (as he expreſſed by putting his fingers to his Girdle and shaking of it) to bring the Bishops under the Feoffees Girdles for Impropriations; and when this deponent anſwered him, that this could not be, ſince the Miniſters on which they beſtowed the ſaid Impropriations were ſent to the respective Bishops of every Dioceſſe to be approved by them; he anſwered, that if he had known this deponent to be ſo buſie in this matter of redeeming Impropriations he should not have ſo eaſily gotten off before, as he did. And he farther depoſed, p. 388that about nineteen Moneths before this preſent Parliament he having a Chamber in London and ſtudy in Canewood neer Highgate, was rifled by Purſevants and taken and kept Priſoner for two Dayes and two Nights ſpace, by vertue of a generall warrant, to ſearch for Popiſh Books and ſuſpected Perſons, and bidden to chooſe, whether he would be brought before the now Archbiſhop, or Sir John Lambe; whereupon he bid the Purſevant carry him whither he would; who carryed him to Sir John Lambe; who told him, he muſt put in Bond to appear the next Thurſday at the High Commiſſion; which he did accordingly: on which Thurſday morning by meanes of Dr Bray, he obtaining ſpeech which the ſaid Archbiſhop, deſired him to grant him one weekes time to conſider, whether he might take the oath Ex officio, or not: which he hardly granting, the ſaid Archbiſhop ſaid; He had almoſt forgotten him, but by way of threatning ſaid, he remembred him about the buſineſſe of the Feoffees: to which the deponent replyed; That he was encouraged therein by Biſhops Note.and Privy Councellors, who ſometimes conceived it to be a very good worke to redeem Impropriations; and ſo he was deſired to appear the Thurſday following. But the very next Lords day another Purſevant was ſent to this deponent, who bringing him to the Councell Chamber door and there attending about halfe an Hour, a warrant under the ſaid Archbiſhops hand and five others, was delivered to the ſaid Purſevant to carry him to the Gate houſe; where he was kept cloſe Priſoner in a Chamber, not four yards ſquare, for the ſpace of twenty months; not having the allowance of pen and Inke to Petition, that he might know whom or wherein he had offended; that ſo he might repent, through God gives leave, yea calls upon the greateſt ſinners to Petition to him: and at three Months end (he growing very ſick by reaſon of his cloſe Impriſonment, and for want of one to cut his Haire, which he uſed to wear ſhort for his health) fell very ſick: his wife thereupon Petitioned time after time to have acceſs to him being at the very point of death, as his keeper informed her, but could neither by her ſelfe, nor any other friends, procure acceſſe unto him, untill ſuch time as Sir Mathew Liſter was appointed by the Privy Coucell to come unto him, to ſee in what ill caſe he was: upon whoſe certificate and fifty ſhillings paid Sir William Be… cher and his man, ſo ſoon as it could be procured from Friends, ſhe had a warrant to come and bring one Phiſitian and Chirurgian unto him, to let him blood, and permiſſion to repair unto him during his ſickneſſe, but no longer. In which ſtrict cloſe Impriſonment by the ſaid Archbiſhops procurement, he continued till about a Moneths ſpace after this preſent Parliament began, and then upon a Petition of his wives to the Houſe of Commons he was releaſed without bayl, and his ſaid Impriſonment by them voted Illegall; there being all this while no proceedings againſt him, nor any crime objected to him in any Court of Juſtice. By means of which Impriſonment he was much prejudiced and undone in his Eſtate, and his wife with four ſmall children expoſed to Pennury and Beggery.

Such a ſpite did He bear this witneſſe for his Activity in the buſineſſe of Impropriations.

Mr William Kendall, Mr Iohn Lane, and Mr Tempest Miller, ſeverally depoſed at the Lords Bar, that the Archbiſhop in the preſence of them and divers others, ſpeaking of the Feoffees of Impropriations, ſaid; that they were the bane of the Church; and then uttered theſe words in a vaunting manner, I was the man that did ſet my ſelf againſt them and (then clapping his hand upon his breſt, ſaid) I thank God I have deſtroyed Note.this work.

So as he did not only ſubvert this pious project to propagate the preaching of the Goſpell, but boaſted of it, and had ſo much ſhameleſſe Impiety, as to thanke God himſelfe for effecting it, who hath now in juſtice brought him into judgement for it, and made it one part of that Charge and Evidence, which we conceive will moſt juſtly deſtroy him.

The ſeventh and next ſtratagem he uſed to ſubvert the Proteſtant Religion, which he had almoſt totally ſuppreſſed, corrupted with Popiſh Errours, Superſtitions, Innovations in our Engliſh Churches, was his endeavours to undermine and ſuppreſſe p. 389it in theſe few Duth and French Churches planted here among us; who enjoyed their owne Government, Priviledges, Diſcipline without any interruption by any of his Predeceſſors, or other Engliſh Prelates, in all our Proteſtant Princes reignes, from King Edward the ſixth his reigne, till this Archprelates moleſtation of, and attempts againſt them, thus laid down in the twelfth Originall Article of his Impeachment.

He hath Traiterouſly endeavoured to cauſe diviſion and diſcord between the Church of England, and other Reformed Churches; and to that end hath ſuppreſt and abrogated the Priviledges and Immunities which have been by his Majeſty and his Royall Anceſtors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdom. And divers other wayes hath expreſſed his malice and diſaffection to theſe Churches, that ſo by ſuch diſ-union, the Papiſts might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both.

To make good this Article we could produce many Letters, Papers, Inſtructions, Orders under the Archbiſhops own hand, or indorſed by him, found in his own ſtudy, here ready at the Barre; but for brevity ſake we ſhall inſtance only in ſome few particulars of more ſpeciall note.

The firſt is, that this Arch-prelate though he beares ſo good an affection and honourable reſpect to the Church of Rome, as to juſtifie her to be, a true viſible Apoſtolike Church, which never erred in fundamentals, and wherein men may be ſaved; and that we and ſhe are one and the ſame Church ſtill, no doubt of that, both one; as we have **Pag. 235. 240, 241.formerly proved: Yet he is ſo maliciouſly deſpitefull to the Proteſtant Churches in forraign parts, and at home, that he reputes them not only no true Churches, but even no Churches at all, becauſe they have no Lord-biſhops, different in Order and Degree from ordinary Miniſters. This opinion of his we ſhall manifeſt, not only by his Divinity Queſtions when he was to proceed Batchelor and Doctor of Divinity (for which Dr Holland publickly checkt, and turned him out of the Schools with diſgrace, as a ſower of diſcord between Brethren, to wit the Church of England and other reformed Churches;) but by his own late reprinted Book An 1639. entituled, A Relation of the Conference between William Laud, then Lord Biſhop of St. Davids, now Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Mr Fiſher the Jeſuite &c. p. 175, 176. where thus he writes (in juſtification of his former Theſes in the Divinity Schools:) For the calling and Authority of Biſhops over the inferiour Clergy, that was a thing of known uſe and benefit, for preſervation of Truth and Peace in the Church. And ſo much St Ierom tels us, though being none himſelfe, he was no great friend to Biſhops: And this was ſo ſetled in the mindes of men from the very infancy of the Chriſtian Church, as that it had not been till that time contradicted by any. So that then there was no controverſie about the calling, all agreed upon it. Then citing Jeroms words in the margin, he thus comments upon them. So, even according to St. Ierom, Biſhops had a very ancient and honourable deſcent in the Church from St. Mark the Evangelist: And about the end of the ſame Epiſtle he acknowledgeth it, Traditionem eſſe Apoſtolicam: Nay more then ſo, he affirmes plainly, That ubi non eſt Sacerdos, NON EST ECCLESIA (St. Ierom adverſ. Luciferianos:) And in that place moſt manifeſt it is, that St. Ierom by Sacerdos meanes a Biſhop; for he ſpeaks de Sacerdote qui poteſtatem habet Ordinandi: which in St. Ieroms owne judgement, no meere Prieſt had, but a Biſhop only, St. Ierom Epist. ad Evagrium: ſo even with him, NO BISHOP NO CHURCH. Which being his own poſitive judgement, the Dutch and French Proteſtant Churches both at home and abroad, muſt needs be no Church at all in his opinion, becauſe they have no ſuch Biſhops; and ſo are in farre worſe condition then the Church of Rome, in his repute.

To make this more apparent, we ſhall deſire you to take notice, that in Decemb. 1639. there was a plot between this Archbiſhop and others of our Prelates to obtrude upon all our Miniſters this ſubſcription, as the received Doctrine of the Church of England; to wit, that there could be no Church of Chriſt without Dioceſan Lord Biſhops; which clearly appeares by the **Here p. 237, 238.forementioned propoſitions of Biſhop Hall, which the Archbiſhop thought fit for the ſubſcription of others: but eſpecially by the 1. 12. and 13. propoſitions viz. God had never any Church on earth that was ruled by a Parity: There was NO CHƲRCH OF CHRIST ƲPON EARTH p. 390ever ſince the times of the Apoſtles governed any otherwiſe then by Biſhops. This courſe of government thus ſet by the Apoſtles in their life time, by the ſpeciall direction of the holy Spirit, is unalterable by any humane Authority, but OƲGHT to be perpetuated in the Church to the end of the world. From whence it inevitably followes, that the reformed forraign Churches having no ſuch imparity of Governours nor Lordly Biſhops in them, are in this Arch-Prelates and his Confederates judgements, No Churches of God or Chriſt at all; and if the deſigne of ſubſcribing theſe Propoſitions had ſucceeded (as it did in the Etcetera Oath for a time) he would have engaged the whole Church of England, with all our Miniſters by a publike ſubſcription, in this moſt unchriſtian and uncharitable opinion; which not prevailing, was yet ſoone after thus ſeconded in print by his grand Favourite Biſhop Mountague (whom he advanced to two Biſhopricks) in his Originum Eccleſiaſticarum Tomi prioris Pars poſterior p. 464, publiſhed with his approbation, authorized by his Chaplain Dr Bray, preſented to, and accepted by himſelfe when publiſhed, as appears by two faire gilded printed copies thereof with his Archiepiſcopall Armes engraven on the Covers, found in his ſtudy by Mr Pryune (printed An. 1640.) ſince theſe Propoſitions of Biſhop Hall were ſent him; reſolving, that there can be not only no Church, but no Miniſters at all without Biſhops to ordain them, in theſe terms. Non eſt Sacerdotium niſi in Eccleſia, non eſt Eccleſia ſine Sacerdotio. Illud autem intelligo per foreign Epiſcopalem ordinariam. Neque euim admittenda conſneus extraordinariam aliquam ſen vocationem ſeu foreign, niſi miraculoſam. Oportet omnino miraculis agant & ſuam confirment functionem ſigno aliquo, qui non ab Epiſcopis derivata ab Apoſtolis per ſucceſſionem inſtitutione, in Eccleſiam inducuntur, ſed velorti à ſeſe, vel neſcio unde intruſi, ſeſe ingeru…t. N…m quod pretendunt ordinariam vocationem retinendam, adhibendam, eique adhereſcondum, niſi in caſu neceſſitatis, abſurdum eſt; & ſuppoſitione innititur impoſſibilitatis: Neque enim talis caſus, ant extitit aliquando, aut contingere poteſt: niſi fallat not Dominus, qui promiſit, Porta inferorum non pravalebunt: Ecce ſum vobiſcum ad conſummationem mundi.

By which Poſition the forraigne Proteſtant Churches are reſolved, concluded to be no Churches, their Miniſters no Miniſters, their Sacraments no Sacraments, their Ordinances no Ordinances of Chriſt; (which perchance made Mr John Dury ordained in one of thoſe Churches, to be re-ordained a Miniſter here by the Biſhop of Exeter Dr Hall, before he was admitted to his Benefice, as appeares by their ſeverall **Dated Exon. 22. Febr. 1634.Original Letters found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy.) And then what are they but meere Pagan Conventicles, farre worſe then Papiſts and the Church of Rome.

We ſhall only adde to this, that whereas Biſhop Hall in his Treatiſe of Epiſcopacy pag. 18. excuſed the forraign Proteſtant Churches from being unchurched by theſe Poſitions only in this regard; that the reaſon why they renounced Biſhops was meerly out of neceſſity, becauſe their Biſhops would not ſuffer them to enjoy the Gospel. Adding pag. 19. That it is very conſiderable, whether the condition they were in doth abſolutely warrant ſuch a proceeding? which is ſomewhat too hard a cenſure of them; yet the Archbiſhop in his aaSee here p. 263, 264, 265.forecited Letter to Biſhop Hall, taxeth him for this his overmuch lenity towards them, in theſe termes: You are a little more favourable to the forraigne Churches and their Authors, then our cauſe will beare: and yet in the very ſame Letter, he miſlikes and blames this Biſhop for his overmuch ſharpneſſe towards the Pope, in his ſecond Book, for beſtowing the Title of Antichriſt upon him; wherewith he was ſo highly offended, that out of a zeal to his Holineſſe, he preſently complaines to the King himſelfe of this indignity offered to the Pope, and procures a ſpeciall Mandate from his Majeſty to Biſhop Hall, to qualifie his expreſſions in this particular with his owne pen, which he did accordingly. Notwithſtanding the Generall bbHarmony of confeſſions p. 318, 361, 388.confeſſions of all forraign Protestant Churches; The authorized ccSee Illericus his Catalogus Teſtium Veritatis; Morney his Myſtery of Iniquity; Darrius, Gualther Tillanus, Monlin, Sharpius; and infinite others.Impreſſions of all their eminenteſt Writers; Our own Hom…lies ddSee here p. 276, 277, 278. ſee Dr Featlies Appendix p. 47. and Dr Willets Synopſis Papiſmi.Writers of all ſorts, and the very Act of Parliament for the Confirmation of the Subſidies granted by the Clergy 3. Iac. (penned by all the Prelates and Clergy of England in full Convocation) give the Pope this Title, and ſtile the Ieſuites and their Adberents, THE UNSHAMEFACT p. 391BROOD OF ANTICHRIST. This his indulgence therefore to the Pope, Prieſts, and Church of Rome, and profeſſed emnity againſt the forraigne Reformed Churches in unchurching them, in making their Miniſters no Miniſters at all, and them no Chriſtians, nor Chriſtian Aſſemblies, diſcovers his very Intrals and inward bent of his ſoule to Popery, to the Church of Rome, yea his inveterate hatred to theſe Proteſtant Churches and their Religion too; The next thing wee ſhall fully evidence.

2. Though this Archbiſhop was ſo zealous an Advocate for the Church of Rome, as both in his publick Speeches, Writings to maintaine, That her Religion is the ſame with ours, as we have eePag. 139. 141. 247, 248, 249.formerly proved; yet he could by no meanes endure that the Religion of the forraign Proteſtant Churches and Ours ſhould be termed one and the ſame; Whereupon he preſumed to countermand, alter and purge his Majeſties Letters Patents under the Great Seale for a Collection for the poore diſtreſſed Miniſters of the Palatinate, Ann. 1634. becauſe it termed their Religion, The true Religion which we together with them profeſſe to maintain. This wee ſhall make good by two ſubſtantiall witneſſes, and the printed Letters Patents themſelves. The witneſſes are Mr Wakerly (then Secretary to Mr Secretary Cook) and Mr Hartlib, who depoſed at the Lords Barre upon Oath; That in the yeare 1634. the Queen of Bohemia ſent over one Mr Ruly a Palatinate Miniſter into England, with Letters of recommendation to the Archbiſhop, to deſire his mediation and aſſiſtance to the King, to grant Letters Patents under the great ſeale, for a generall Collection towards the reliefe of the exiled Miniſters of the Palatinate and their families, who were then in great diſtreſſe: which Letter Mr Ruly preſenting to the Archbiſhop (among whoſe Papers Mr Prynne found the very Originall) after the reading thereof, the Archbiſhop promiſed (out of reſpect to the Queen of Bohemia who writ to him with her own hand) to move the King in it, which he did; and then informed him, that it was the Kings pleaſure there ſhould be Letters Patents drawn for a generall collection for thoſe Miniſters as was deſired: Wherupon Mr Ruly requeſted the Archbiſhop, in regard he was a ſtranger and knew not our proceedings, to give him ſome directions how to get the Letters Patents drawn and ſealed; who anſwered, that he needed no inſtructions herein, for it was a thing of uſuall courſe, and willed him to repaire to the Officers of the King (his Secretaries and Attorney generall) who would draw and procure them to be ſealed. Whereupon he repaired to Mr Wakerly, who went with him to the other Officers and procured Letters Patents to be drawn according to former Preſidents, both in King James and King Charles reignes, and namely verbatim, according to Letters Patents for a like Collection, dated 29 Ian. 3. Caroli, which being drawn, engroſſed, and paſſed the Great Seal of England, without any ſcruple (the Lord Keeper both reading and approving the ſame before the ſealing) Mr Ruly carried the Patent over to Lambeth to deſire the Archbiſhops aſſiſtance for the printing, diſperſing and promoting therof; where meeting with Mr Dell, his Secretary, he acquainted him with his buſineſſe, and ſhewed him the Patent, who caſting his eye thereon, took ſome exceptions thereat, becauſe it made our and their Religion to be both one, ſaying, Are your Church and Religion and ours one? which done, he carried the Patent to the Archbiſhop, Notewho after he had peruſed it, calling for Mr Ruly, demanded of him in a very angry manner, What have you brought me here? Mr Ruly replied, His Majeſties Letters Patents. At which anſwer he fell into a great paſſion, rating and reviling Mr Ruly with very ill language; threatned and called him ill names; proteſted that that Patent ſhould not paſſe though it were under the Great Seale, and made Mr Dell write ſomething out of it: Mr Ruly ſhaking for feare, excuſed himſelfe, that it was drawn by the Officers to whom his Grace had directed him, and if there were ought offenſive in it, he was altogether ignorant and not guilty of it. Whereunto the Archbiſhop replied; that were it not for his respect and engagements to the Queen of Bohemia, they ſhould have no collection at all, and that he could finde in his heart to quaſh it; but however he would ſuppreſſe that Patent, which he detained by him, and would have one drawn in another forme. Whereupon Mr Ruly leaving him to his angry mood departed, and acquainted Secretary p. 392Cook, the Lord Keeper Coventry, and other his friends with the Premiſes, who all wondred and were very inquiſitive what was the cauſe of all this anger; The Archbiſhop preſently after repaires to the King, and complaines much againſt this Patent, Secretary Cook, and the Lord Keeper for paſſing it; who being both ſent for by the King about it, acquainted his Majeſty, that it was made verbatim accorcording to former Preſidents, that they had his Majeſties hand and Royall aſſent thereto, and it was now paſſed the Seale, and ſo could not be altered. To which the King anſwers, that it muſt be altered, for that the Archbiſhop would have it ſo; and another muſt be Notedrawn according to his minde. Upon this the Patent was recalled, and a new one drawn according to the Archbiſhops direction and preſcript; which being compared with the former by theſe Deponents and others (who were very inquiſitive what it was did ſo much enrage his Grace) they found it was only this enſuing clauſe, which he cauſed to be quite purged out, with little or no alteration elſe from that he ſuppreſſed.

Whoſe caſes are more to be deplored, for that this extremity is fallen upon them for their ſincerity and conſtancy IN THE TRƲE RELIGION, which WE, TOGETHER Note.WITH THEM DO PROFESSE, and WHICH WE ARE ALL BOƲND IN CONSCIENCE TO MAINTAINE TO THE ƲTMOST OF OƲR POWERS; Whereas theſe Religious and Godly Perſons being involved amongst others their Countrey-men, might have enjoyed their eſtates and fortunes, if with other backſliders in the times of Triall they would have ſubmitted themſelves to the ANTI-CHRISTIAN YOAK, and have renounced or diſſembled the Profeſſion of THE TRƲE RELIGION.

In lieu whereof he only inſerts, That they ſuffered FOR THEIR RELIGION; as if our Religion and theris were contra-diſtinct and different one from another, and theirs not the true. Which Secretary Cook when he ſaw affirmed would make a Schiſm, a Diviſion betwixt us and the forraign Proteſtant Churches, by intimating that they profeſſed neither our, nor yet the true Religion, (as Mr Wakerly depoſed) and gave great ſcandall and offence to the Deponents, yea to the forraign Churches and Proteſtants here, who took ſpeciall Notice of it.

In this notable peece of Evidence we ſhall deſire your Lordſhips and the world to take notice of theſe remarkable particulars. Firſt, of this Archbiſhops inſufferable Inſolency, in daring to preſume ſo farre as to ſtop, ſuppreſſe the Kings own Letters Parents when approved by his Royall Signature, allowed by the Lord Keeper, and actually paſſed under the Great Seale of England. Secondly, his extraordinary over-ruling power with the King, who againſt his own Iudgement, Signe Manuall, Seale, and former Preſidents, muſt have this Patent altered in this clauſe, only becauſe the Archbiſhop would have it ſo, and for no other reaſon. Thirdly, that this alteration proceeded meerly from the Archbiſhops own motion, not from any Prieſts or Ieſuits inſtigation, much leſſe from the King (as he ffSpeech in Star-chamber, p. 32. to 39. See here p. 247. 248pretended the alterations of the Prayer-Book for the fifth of November did.) Fourthly, that he was exceeding paſſionate and enraged at this clauſe, inſomuch that this charitable Collection and Patent muſt totally be quaſhed, rather then this clauſe tolerated; whereas his Chaplaines authorized Books in commendation of Popery, Popiſh Errours, yea pleading for Rome and her Religion as true, and one with ours. Fiftly, that this very clauſe had paſſed both the Broad Seal and Preſſe too, without the leaſt exceptions, in a Patent, 29 Ian. 3. Caroli not full ſeven yeares before, even in King Charles his own Reign; and in another Generall Collection granted under the Privy Signet the ſeventeenth of Iune, in the ſixteenth year of King James, Anno Dom. 1618. for reliefe of the Inhabitants of the Town of Weſell; then printed by Authority, together with Archbiſhop Abbots directions concerning the ſame to the ſeverall Biſhops under him, dated June 25. 1618. wherein we finde theſe following expreſſions; That that City had been a place of ſuccour and reliefe to many afflicted ſtrangers, ſuch as have been exiled for THE TRƲE RELIGION That they were not able any longer to ſuſtaine the charge neither of the Miniſtry, nor of the Free-ſchoole, which heretofore they have erected for the propagation of THE p. 393TRƲE RELIGION &c. which ſhould excite us to enlarge the Bowels of compaſſions toward them, which cannot be better expreſſed of our parts, then by having compaſſion and a fellow-feeling of them, MAKING THE SAME PROFESSION OF FAITH THAT WE DO, yet doe ſuffer ſuch adverſity &c. which are the ſame in terminis with thoſe in this expunged Patent. What then was the cauſe that this Clauſe ſhould be thought ſo inſufferable, ſo impaſſible by this Archprelate now? Certainly there muſt be ſome great myſtery of Iniquity in it; he and his Predeceſſor Abbot had not the ſelfe-ſame opinion of the Proteſtant Churches and their Religion. Abbot deemed both their Churches and Religion true, and the ſame with ours; but Laud deemes them no Churches at all, their Religion not the true Religion, nor the ſame with ours at this time, though formerly one and the ſame with it. And why ſo? becauſe himſelfe had altered, perverted, yea almoſt quite ſubverted it, both in Deſign and Execution, intending to ſet up Popery as the only old and true Religion: therefore to ſuffer ſuch a Patent to paſſe both the Great Seal and Preſſe in his Majeſties name, as ſhould proclaim their Religion, to be the true Religion, which we together with them do profeſſe, and we are all bound in conſcience to maintain to the uttermoſt of our power; when he and his Confederates bent all their might to ſuppreſſe it; and to commend their ſincerity and conſtancy in the true Religion, when as they might have enjoyed their eſtates and fortunes, if with other backſliders, in the times of Tryall they would have ſubmitted themſelves to the Antichriſtian Yoak, and have renounced or diſſembled their profeſſion of the true Religion, in theſe dayes when he with his Confederates endeavoured to make men Backſliders, Apoſtates, and perſwaded them to ſubmit themſelves to the Antichristian yoak, and to renounce or diſſemble the profeſſion of the true Religion, would have quite croſſed or fruſtrated his Deſign; Therfore out it muſt, and be obliterated whatever comes of it. Finally, obſerve his imbittered malice to the Proteſtant Churches, but grand affection to the Pope and Church of Rome, moſt evidently diſplayed by this expunction: the firſt in deleating thoſe clauſes which ſtyle theirs, the true Religion, &c. the latter in expunging this expreſſion in favour of the Roman Church and Pontife only, if they would have ſubmitted themſelves to THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN YOAK; which we have elſewhere **Page 263.dilated upon. In briefe, He that thus would have the Proteſtant Churches no Churches at all of God or Chriſt, their Miniſters no Miniſters, their Religion not the true Religion, nor the ſame with ours, muſt certainly expreſſe abundance of malice and diſaffection to theſe Churches, endeavour to cauſe diſcord and diviſion between the Church of England and them; (the very charge in the Article) and proclaime himſelfe a greater friend to the Church of Rome and her Religion, then to the Proteſtant Churches and the true Religion in them profeſſed: yea a Trayterous endeavourer to ſubvert the true Religion eſtabliſhed in our Engliſh Church, which is the ſame with theirs. And the rather may we beleeve this of the Archbiſhop, becauſe ſhortly after he cauſed a Book entituled, A Declaration of the Faith and Ceremonies of the Palſgraves Churches, printed firſt in Dutch, but afterwards in Engliſh Anno 1637. to be ſtrictly called in and ſeized by his Purſevants (in high affront of the Prince Palatine, then newly arrived in England, and of his Churches) becauſe it declared thoſe Churches Orthodox judgement and cenſure againſt ſundry Arminian and Popiſt Errours, Innovations, Ceremonies, which hee and his Confederates then laboured to introduce among us; as was atteſted upon Oath by Michael Spark ſenior and Mr Prynne; when as we never heard of any Popiſh Books (as Sancta Clara and others here printed) either called in or ſeized by his ſpeciall voluntary command, but countenanced, yea reſtored by him or his Agents, when ſeiſed by the Searchers and Stationers.

Let all the world then judge by this prime peece of our Evidence, what manner of Proteſtant this Archbiſhop was, and how ill he ſtood affected to the Proteſtant Religion.

3. Theſe premiſes conſidered, no wonder if he endeavoured by all his policy and power to ſuppreſſe, nay abrogate the Priviledges, Immunities of the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdom, granted to them by his Majeſty and his Royall Anceſtors; p. 394which he in part accompliſhed to their prejudice, the next part of his Charge in the twelfth Article, of which we ſhall preſent you this ſummary accompt.

King Edward the ſixth by his Letters Patents dated the 24 day of Iuly, in the fourth yeare of his Reigne granted this enſuing Patent to the Dutch and French Proteſtants then living in exile in London, eſtabliſhing their Church and Presbyterian Government among themſelves, exempt from all Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction, appointing a Superintendent over them, and Miniſters of their own. Which Patent, for the rarity thereof, and the better underſtanding of this Charge, we ſhall at large tranſcribe.

EDwardus Sextus Dei Gratia Angliae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Rex, fidei Defenſor, & in terra Eccleſiae Anglicanae & Hiberniae ſupremum Caput, omnibus ad quos praeſentes literae pervenerint ſalutem. Cum magnae quaedam & graves conſiderationes Nos ad praeſens ſpecialiter impulerunt. Tum etiam cogitantes illud quanto ſtudio & charitate Chriſtianos Principes in Sacroſanctum Dei Evangelium & Religionem Apoſtolicam ab ipſo Chriſto inchoatam inſtitutam & traditam animatos & perpenſos eſſe conveniat, ſine qua haud dubio politia & civile regimen neque conſiſtere diu, neque nomen ſuum tueri poteſt niſi Principes caeterique praepotentes viri, quos Deus ad regnorum gubernacula ſedere voluit, id imprimis operam dent, ut per totum Reipublicae corpus caſta ſinceraque religio diffundatur, & Eccleſia in vere Chriſtianis & Apoſtolicis opinionibus & ritibus inſtituta & adulta, per ſanctos, ac carui & mundo mortuos Miniſtros conſervetur, pro eo quod Chriſtiani Principis officium eſſe ſtatuimus, inter alias graviſſimas de regno ſuo bene ſplendide que adminiſtrando cogitationes, etiam religioni & religionis cauſae calamitate fractis & afflictis exulibus conſulere. Sciatis, quod non ſolum praemiſſa contemplantes, & Eccleſiam à Papatus tyranide per Nos vindicatam in priſtina libertate conſervare cupientes, verumetiam Exulum & Peregrinorum conditionem miſerantes qui jam bonis temporibus in Regno noſtro Angliae commorati ſunt voluntario exilio Religionis & Eccleſiae cauſa mulctati, quia hoſpites & exteros homines propter Chriſti Evangelium ex patria ſua profligatos & ejectos & in Regnum noſtrum profugos praeſidiis ad vitam degendam neceſſariis in Regno noſtro egere non dignum eſſe duximus, cujus liberalitas nullo modo in tali rerum ſtatu reſtricta clauſave eſſe debet, At quoniam multi Germanae nationis homines ac alii peregrini qui confluxerunt, & in dies ſingulos confluunt in Regnum noſtrum Angliae ex Germania & aliis remotioribus partibus in quibus Papatus dominata Evangelii libertas labefactari & premi coepta eſt, non habent certam ſedem & locum in Regno noſtro ubi conventos ſuos celebrare valeant, ubi inter ſuae gentis & moderni idiomatis homines Religionis negotia & res Eccleſiaſticas pro patrio titu & more intelligenter obire & tractare poſſint.

Idcirco de Gratia Noſtra ſpeciali ac ex certa ſcientia & mero metu noſtris, nec non de aviſamento Concilii noſtri volumus, concedimus, & ordinamus, quod de caetero ſit & erit unum Templum ſive ſacra Aedes in Civitate noſtra London quod vel quae vocabitur, Templum Domini Ieſu, ubi Congregatio & conventus Germanorum & aliorum peregrinorum fieri & celebrari poſſit, ea intentione & propoſito ut à Miniſtris Eccleſiae Germanorū aliorum que peregrinorum Sacroſancti Evangelii incorrupts interpretatio, Sacramentorum juxta verbum Dei & Apoſtolicam obſervationem adminiſtratio fiat, & Templū illud ſive ſacram Aedem illam deuno Superintendente & quatuor verbi Miniſtris erigimus, creamus, ordinamus, & fundamus per praeſentes. Et quod idem Superintendens & Miniſtri in re & nomine, ſint & erunt unum corpus corporatum & politicum de ſe, per nomen Superintendentis & Miniſtrorum Eccleſiae Germanorum & aliorum peregrinorum, ex fundatione Regis Edwardi Sexti, in Civitate London per praeſentes incorporamus, ac corpus corporatum & politicum per idem nomen realiter & ad plenum creamus, erigimus, ordinamus, facimus, & conſtituimus per praeſentes. Et quod ſucceſſionem habeant. Et ulterius de gratia noſtra ſpeciali, ac ex certa ſcientia, & mero motu noſtris, nec non de aviſamento Concilii noſtri dedimus & conceſſimus, ac per praeſentes damus & concedimus praefato Superintendenti & Miniſtris Eccleſia Germanorū & aliorū peregrinorū in Civitate London, Totum illud Templum, ſive Eccleſiam nuper fratrum Auguſtinentium in Civitate noſtra London, ac totam terram fundum & p. 395ſolum Eccleſiae pradict. excepto toto choro dictae Eccleſiae, terra, fundo, & ſolo ejuſdem, habendum & gaudendum dictum Templum ſive Eccleſiam, ac catera praemiſſa (exceptis praeexceptis) praefato Superintendenti & Miniſtris & Succeſſoribus ſuis in puram & liberam Eleemoſinam. Damus ulterius de aviſamento praedicto, ac ex certa ſcientia & mero metu noſtris praedictis per praeſentes concedimus praefato Superintendenti & Miniſtris & Succeſſoribus ſuis plenam facultatem, poteſtatem & authoritatem ampliandi & majorem faciendi numerum Miniſtrorum, & nominandi ac appunctuandi de tempore in tempus tales & hujuſmodi ſubminiſtros ad ſerviendum in Templo praedicto, quales praefato Superintendenti & Miniſtris neceſſarium viſum fuerit. Et quod haec omnia juxta beneplacitum Regium. Volumus praeterea quod Johannes Alaſco, natione Polonus, homo propter integritatem & innocentiam vitae, ac morum, & ſingularem eruditionem valde celebris, ſit primus & modernus Superintendens dictae Eccleſiae. Et quod Gualterus de Laenus, Martinus Flanders, Franciſcus Riverius, Richardus Gallus, ſint quatuor primi & moderni Miniſtri. Damus praeterea & concedimus praefatis Superintendenti & Miniſtris & Succeſſoribus ſuis facultatem, authoritatem, & licentiam poſt mortem vel vacationem alicujus Miniſtri praedictorum de tempore in tempus eligendi, nominandi, & ſurrogandi alium perſonam habilem & idoneum in locum ſuum. It a tamen quod perſona ſic nominatus & electus, praeſentetur & ſiſtatur coram Nobis, Haeredibus, vel Succeſſoribus noſtris, & per Nos, haeredes, vel ſueceſſores noſtros inſtituatur in miniſterium praedictum. Damus etiam & concedimus praefatis Superintendenti Miniſtris & Succeſſoribus ſuis facultatem, authoritatem, & licentiam poſt mortem ſeu vacationem Superintendentis de tempore in tempus elegendi, nominandi & ſurrogandi alium perſonam doctum & gravem in locum ſuum. It a tamen quod perſona ſic nominatus & electus praeſentetur & ſiſtatur coram Nobis, Haeredibus, vel Succeſſoribus noſtris, & per Nos, Haredes, vel Succeſſores noſtros inſtituatur in officium Superintendentis praedictum. Mandamus & firmiter impungendo praecipimus tam Majori, Vice-Comitibus, & Aldermannis Civitatis noſtrae London, NoteEpiſcopo London, & Succeſſoribus ſuis, cum omnibus aliis Archiepiſcopis, Epiſcopis, Iuſticiariis, Officiariis, & Miniſtris noſtris quibuſeunque, quod permittant praefatum Superintendentem & Miniſtros, & ſucceſſores ſuos, liberè, & quietè frui, gaudere, uti, & exercere Ritus & Ceremonias ſuas proprias, & Diſciplinam Eccleſiaſtitam propriam & peculiarem, Non obſtante quod non conveniant cum Ritibus, & Ceremoniis in Regno noſtro uſitatis, abſque impetitione, perturbatione, aut inquietatione eorum vel eorum alicujus, aliquo Statuto, Actu, Proclamatione, Iniunctione, Reſtrictione, ſeu uſu in contrarium inde antehac habitum, factis, editis, ſeu promulgatis in contrarium non obſtante. Eo quod expreſſa mentio de vero valore annuo, aut de certitudine praemiſſorum ſive eorum alicujus, aut de aliis donis ſive conceſſionibus per Nos, praefatis Superintendenti, Miniſtris & Succeſſoribus ſuis ante haec tempora factis in praeſentibus minime facta exiſtit, aut aliquo Statuto, Actu, Ordinatione, Proviſione, ſive Restrictione inde in contrarium factis, edictis, ordinatis, ſeu Proviſis, aut aliqua alia re, cauſa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obſtante. In cujus rei teſtimonium has litteras noſtras fieri fecimus Patentes. Teſte Meipſo apud Leighes viceſſimo quarto die Iulii, Anno Regni noſtri quarto. Per breve de privato Sigillo, & de dat. praedict. Authoritate Parliamenti ſignatum.

P. Southwell.

Et eſt ſigillatum Sigillo Regio ſub-appenſo.

To the Copy of this Patent found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy, we ſhall ſubioyne theſe enſuing Orders and Paſſages in their favour, and confirmation of this Patent, p. 396in Queen Elizabeths, King Iames, and King Charles their Reignes, preſented to the Archbiſhop by the Miniſters of theſe Forraigners Churches.

The Letters of the Privy Councell to the Church of London, containing theſe words.Ann. 1573.

Non ignoramus variis Eccleſiis, varios & diverſos jam ab initio Chriſtianae Religionis ſemper fuiſſe ritus ac ceremonias, dum hi ſtantes, illi in genua procidentes, alii proni procumbentes adorant & precantur, & tamen eadem pietas eſt ac religio, ſi verè & ad verum Deum oratio tendat, abſitque impietas ac ſuperſtitio &c. Non contemnimus ritus veſtros, neque vos ad noſtros cogimus, probamuſque ceremonias veſtras, ut vobis, & veſtrae reipublicae unde orti eſtis, aptas & convenientes.

The Order of the Privy Councell the 29 of Iune.Ann. 1574

If others would joyne themſelves to the ſaid Churches, that ſuch Perſons ſhall be counſelled to betake themſelves to ſome other parts of this Kingdome where they may be commodiouſly received: If they doe this, we will willingly call in our former Commandement.

The Anſwer of King Iames to the French and Dutch Miniſters the 21 of May.Ann. 1603.

Ie vous protegeray ainſi quie convient a un bon Prince de maintenir & deffendre tous ceux qui ont abandone leur Patrie Pour la religion. Mou deſire eſt de vous deffendre comme a fait la Reyne ma So…ur, qui vous a receu eu ſo… Royaume, & pour laquelle vous avez prie Dieu. Que ſi aucun vous trouble ou moleſte, pleignez vous en amoy, & Ie vous maintiendray.

The perpetuity granted to the Dutch at Colcheſter Ann. 10. Jacobi the 17 of October.Ann. 1612.

As alſo their Orders in their Church and Aſſemblies there, tending to the good Government of the ſaid Congregations, in as free, large, and ample manner in all reſpects, and to all intents, conſtructions and purpoſes, as heretofore they have uſed, and hath been tolerated and allowed unto them, according to the true intent of this our preſent Ordinance: any Proviſion or Juriſdiction to the contrary thereof in any wiſe notwithſtanding.

The Order of the Privy Councell for the French Church of Canterbury, the ſecond of May.Ann. 1613.

That the ſaid Congregation within the City of Canterbury, ſhall according to his Majeſties gracious pleaſure, peaceably and freely enjoy all ſuch Priviledges, Liberties, and Immunities, and be permitted to uſe their Aſſemblies and Congregations in as ample manner as heretofore hath been allowed to them in the time of Queen Elizabeth, or ſince.

The Order of King James under his ſignet the 13 of Iune.Ann. 1616.

Theſe are therefore to will and command all our Courts of Iuſtice, and other our loving Subjects, to permit and ſuffer the ſaid ſtrangers, p. 397members of the Out-landiſh Churches, and their children, to enjoy the continuance of our favours before declared in this behalfe. Conſidering the loving kindeneſſe and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive and finde beyond the Seas.

The Order of the Privy Councell for the Walloones of Norwich the 10 of October.Ann. 1625.

Thoſe of Norwich, although borne in the Kingdome, ſhall continue to be of the ſaid Church and Society, and ſhall be ſubject to ſuch Diſcipline as hath been by all the time of fifty five yeares practiſed among them: And if any ſhall be refractory, they ſhall be bound to appeare at this Board.

The gracious Anſwer of King Charles to the Deputies of the Forraigne Churches the 30 of April.Ann. 1623.

I thank you for this; and I aſſure you that I will continue unto you the ſame favour which the King my father did ſhew unto you. And I hope that my marriage ſhall not be any dammage unto you, but rather an occaſion of much good to your Countrey men.

The Order of King Charles for all ſtrangers the 13 of Novemb.Ann. 1626.

We will and command our Iudges &c. to permit and ſuffer the ſaid ſtrangers, members of the Out-landiſh Churches, and their children, quietly to enjoy all and ſingular ſuch Priviledges and Immunities, as have been formerly granted unto them, without any troubles, arreſts, or proceedings by way of information or otherwiſe; conſidering the faire uſage and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive beyond the Seas.

The Order of the Privy Councell for the Dutch of Norwich the 7 of Ianuary.Ann. 1630.

That all thoſe that are now, or hereafter ſhall be, members of the Dutch Congregation, although borne within this Kingdome, ſhall continue to be of the ſaid Church and Society ſo long as his Majeſty ſhall be pleaſed, without any prejudice to their Priviledges and Birthright; and ſhall be ſubject to all ſuch Diſcipline as hath beene all the time aforeſaid uſually practiſed amongſt them, and from time to time contribute to the maintenance of the Miniſtry and poore, and the defraying of all other neceſſaries charges of the ſame Congregation, as they ſhall be aſſeſſed, and occaſion ſhall in that behalfe require.

By vertue of this Patent, Orders, Grants, the Dutch and French Churches in London and other Dioceſſe enjoyed the free exerciſe of their Religion, Diſcipline, exempt from all Archiepiſcopall and Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction from Edward the ſixths time till Ann. 1634. without any interruption. But no ſooner was this Prelate warme in his Archiepiſcopall chaire, but he begins to diſturb their peace, and threaten their totall ſubvertion throughout his Province, as in Canterbury, Sandwich, Maidſtone, Norwich, Colcheſter, London, Southampton, and likewiſe in Yorkeſhire, Axholme, and elſewhere, which he had formerly projected in this manner.

p. 398On March 22. Ann. 1632. this Biſhop upon his own motion procured a reference to himſelfe from the Lords of the Councell, concerning the Engliſh living in forraigne parts, and the forraigne Proteſtant Churches in England; concerning which he drew up and preſented two ſeverall Papers to the Lords found in his ſtudy, under Mr Dells hand, thus endorſed with his owne, Concerning the Dutch and French Churches in England &c. here neceſſary to be inſerted, though not read at large.

VVHereas I was commanded by your Lordſhips upon Friday, March 22. 1632. Firſt to repreſent to His Gracious Majeſty the great and Honourable care you had to preſerve the unity and Government of the Church of England as it ſtands now eſtabliſhed by Law; Which care was very great and pious, and according to my duty, in the Name of the Church, I humbly thank your Lordſhips for it: And have in purſuance of your Commands faithfully acquainted His Majeſty with as many particulars as I could carry away ſafe in my memory.

Secondly, I was commanded by your Lordſhips to take into farther conſideration ſuch Heads as might beſt conduce to the rectifying of ſuch his Majeſties Subjects as reſide at Hamborough, or elſewhere beyond the Seas, but eſpecially in the Low-Countreys, either in Merchandize, or in uſe and exerciſe of Armes under the Colonells there. As alſo what might be thought fit to be done concerning the French and Dutch Churches, as they now ſtand, and are uſed at this preſent within this Realme; but at ſuch time as your Lordſhips in your wiſdome ſhall beſt approve.

Concerning the firſt of theſe, viz. the Engliſh living in Forraigne parts, I humbly recommend to your Lordſhips Wiſe. dome, as followeth.

1. Whether it be not fit (I had almoſt ſaid neceſſary) that the ſeverall Colonels in the Low-Countreys ſhould entertaine no Miniſter as Preacher to their Regiments, but ſuch as ſhall conforme in all things to the Church of England eſtabliſhed: And be commended unto them from your Lordſhips by adviſe of the Lords Archbiſhops of Canterbury or York for the time being.

2. That the Company of Merchants reſiding there, or in any other Forraigne Parts, ſhall admit no Miniſter as Preacher to them, but ſuch as are ſo qualified and ſo commended as aforeſaid.

3. That if any Miniſter having by feigned carriage gotten to be ſo recommended, either to any of the ſeverall Colonells, or to the Deputy Governour and Body of the Merchants there, ſhall after be found unconformable, and will not mend upon warning given him by the Colonell or Deputy Governour of the Merchants, ſhall within three months after ſuch warning given, and refuſed, be diſmiſſed from his ſervice, that a more orderly and peaceable man may be ſent unto them.

p. 3994. That every Miniſter or Preacher with any Regiment of ſouldiers that are his Majeſties borne Subjects, or with the Company of Merchants there or elſewhere, ſhall read Divine Service, Chriſten children, Adminiſter the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, marry, inſtruct the younger or more ignorant ſort in the Catechiſme, viſit the ſick, bury the Dead, and doe all other Duties according as they are preſcribed in the Book of Common-Prayer maintained in the Chuch of England, and not otherwiſe. And that he which will not conforme himſelfe ſo to doe, ſhall not continue Preacher either to any Regiment of Engliſh, or Scottiſh, or to the Merchants.

5. That if any Miniſter or Preacher, being the Kings Subject, ſhall with any bitter words or writings in print or otherwiſe, defame the Government of the Church of England eſtabliſhed, His Majeſties Embaſſador or Agent in thoſe parts for the time being, is to be informed of it, and upon notice given from him to the State, he or they ſo offending ſhall be commanded over by Privy Seale or otherwiſe, to anſwer their offence or offences here.

6. That no Colonell of any ſeverall Regiment, or Deputy Governour of the Merchants, ſhall give way that their Miniſter or Preacher ſhall bring any other Miniſter to preach for him in time of his ſickneſſe, abſence, or other neceſſary employment, but ſuch as for whoſe Conformity to the Church and Government here, he will be anſwerable.

7. That if any Miniſter being a Subject of the Kings, in the Low-Countreys, or any other place beyond the Seas, ſhall in any other Auditory, as well as before the Regiments or the Merchants, preach or publiſh, or in any other way by publike Speech, Writing, or Printing, divulge any thing derogatory to the Doctrine or Diſcipline eſtabliſhed in the Church of England, or otherwiſe prejudiciall to the Temporall State and Government, His Majeſties Agent there ſhall uſe the beſt meanes he can to diſcover him or them ſo offending, and having found them, ſhall preſently certifie the State here, that ſo they may be recalled by Privy Seale to anſwer it. And if they then refuſe to come, that the Law in that caſe paſſe upon them.

8. That no man ſhall be choſen or ſent over by the Merchants here, either to Delf, or any other place of their reſidence beyond the Seas, (whenſoever any ſuch place or places ſhall become voyd) but ſuch a man as is conformable to the Church of England both in Doctrine and Diſcipline, and ſuch as will be carefull to ſee that they which are under his Governments ſhall obſerve all ſuch Church Duties as are expreſſed and required in any the former Articles. And that ſome of the chiefe Merchant-Adventurers here be ſent for to the Board, and be made acquainted with this Article. And farther, that at every time and times that they ſend a new Deputy Governour to any place of their Reſidence, they preſent the ſaid Deputy to the Lords, and give p. 400them aſſurance of his fitneſſe and ſufficiency for that Charge. At which time the ſaid Deputy may have ſuch Directions given him by their Lordſhips as the preſent times and occaſions require. And that there be like care taken for other good Officers there, as for the Deputy Governour himſelfe.

9. That whenſoever the Merchant-Adventurers ſhall become ſuitors to His Majeſty to renew or confirme their Patent (as in moſt Kings times it is uſuall ſo to doe) that then there be a Clauſe inſerted into their Patent, to binde them to the obſervance of all, or ſo much of theſe Inſtructions, as ſhall bee thought fit by his Majeſty and the Lords.

10. That the preſent Agent, as alſo all others that ſhall ſucceed in that employment, have theſe Inſtructions given them in Charge; and that once a yeare they be required to give the Board an Account what the Proceed of the buſineſſe is. That ſo His Majeſties Subjects aſwell abroad as at home, may be kept in orderly obedience to the Honour of His Majeſties Government, and the better uniting of the hearts of his People to God, His Majeſty, and one to another. In which will conſiſt the ſtrength as well as the Honour of the Kingdom.

11. I conceive it no way fit, that the Miniſters which are His Majeſties Subjects in Holland, ſhould have any Claſſicall Meetings allowed them (as it ſeemes they pretend ſome grant ſince the yeare 1622.) eſpecially that they be not ſuffered to aſſume power of Ordination; for then it will be a perpetuall Seminary to breed and tranſplant men ill-affected to the Government into this Kingdom.

It is to be obſerved that the French and High Germane Congregations in the Low-Countreys doe all obſerve the Liturgy of their own Mother Churches; only the Engliſh obſerve neither their owne, nor any other uniformity.

Concerning the ſecond; that is, the French and Dutch Churches, as they now ſtand in many parts of this Kingdom, I as humbly repreſent, firſt the Danger, then the probable Remedy.

For the Dangers I humbly ſubmit, but conceive as followeth.

1. It was Honour and Piety in this State, when at the firſt way was given for thoſe Churches both in London and ſome other parts of this Kingdome; Becauſe at that time there was perſecution upon them in their owne Countreys: And the Peace with which God then bleſſed this Kingdom, was their ſafety.

2. I conceive it was never the meaning and purpoſe of this State then, or at any other time, that they living and continuing here, marrying, and having wives and children, and many of them plentifull fortunes p. 401and Lands; And their children and childrens children being now Natives, and his Majeſties borne Subjects, ſhould live like an abſolute divided Body from the Church of England eſtabliſhed, which muſt needs work upon their affections, and alienate them from the State, or at leaſt make them ready for any Innovation that may ſort better with their humour.

3. It is likewiſe conſiderable what an entire and divided body they keep themſelves. For few or none of them marry with any of us, but only one with another. Upon which it muſt needs follow, that as they encreaſe and multiply, they which are now a Church within a Church, will in time grow to be a kinde of another Common-wealth within this, and ſo ready for that which I hold not fit to expreſſe any farther.

4. It is likewiſe of great conſequence, that theſe men living with their entire Families, divided from the preſent Government of Church and Common-wealth are many, and have got their Reſidence and ſettlement in all or moſt of the Haven Townes, eſpecially ſuch as lie fitteſt for France and the Low-Countreys. And were occaſion offered, God knowes what advantage they may take to themſelves, or make for others.

5. Their Example is of ill conſequence (in Church affaires eſpecially) to the Subject of England. For many are confirmed in their ſtubborne wayes of diſobedience to the Church-Government, ſeeing them ſo freely ſuffered in this great and populous City.

6. Laſt of all, I think it very juſt not to ſuffer French or Dutch Church differing from us in Diſcipline, to be otherwiſe or longer tolerated in any part of this Realme, then the Doctrine and Diſcipline of the Church of England ſhall among the Subjects of this Crowne be tolerated in thoſe ſeverall parts beyond the Seas, whither they have cauſe to reſort and abide.

For the Remedies likewiſe I humbly ſubmit, but conceive they may be theſe.

1. I think it fit their Number in all places of this Kingdome bee made knowne as fully as may be; that your Lordſhips may the better judge both of them, and the way to reduce them into one Body with this Kingdome in which they are borne Subjects.

2. I conceive the beſt way to know their Number, is by a Command from the State it ſelfe, and to have it avowedly taken in all places where they reſide; with a Certificat either preſently, or when your Lordſhips ſhall think fit, which are the men of Credit and Wealth p. 402among them. And this may be done really for their good, and ſo ſweetned as that they may apprehend it for a benefit, as indeed it is.

3. It is fit, if they will continue as a divided Body from both State and Church, that they be uſed as Strangers, and not as Natives. That is, that they may pay all double duties as Strangers uſe to doe, and have no more Immunities then Strangers have, till they will live and converſe as other Subjects do. And this matter of loſſe or gaine is as likely to work upon them, eſpecially the Merchants and richer men as any other thing, and perhaps more.

4. When it ſhall be thought fit actually to reduce them to live as other Subjects doe, both in relation to Church and State, the way I conceive may be to have them fairely warned in an Eccleſiaſticall way, for every man with his Houſhold (if he be not a new commer, but a borne Subject) to repaire to his Pariſh Church here, to conforme himſelfe to Prayers, Sacraments &c. And if any receive not according to Cannon and Law, then to excommunicate him or them. And by that Notetime the Writ de Excommunicato capiendo hath been ſerved upon ſome few, it may be the reſt will yeeld themſelves.

5. If this doe not prevaile, I then conceive under favour, it will be hard to remedy, unleſſe the State will publikely declare, That if they will be as Natives, and take the benefit of Subjects, they muſt conforme themſelves to the Laws of the Kingdom aſwell Eccleſiaſticall as Temporall. NoteWhich Declaration, when it ſhall once be made publike, I think they will be well adviſed before they will reſiſt or refuſe it.

By theſe Papers it is apparent, That this Arch-Prelate was the Originall Contriver of all the proceedings againſt the Dutch and French Churches. In purſuance of theſe determinations of his, in his Metropoliticall Viſitation Ann. 1634. & 1635. he ſummoned all the Miniſters and Elders of theſe Churches to appeare before Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar Generall; as appeares by an Abſtract of his Viſitation endorſed with his owne hand, unto whom he preſcribed theſe two following Injunctions.

1. That all the Natives of the Dutch and Walloon Congregations in his Graces Dioceſſe, are to repaire to their ſeverall Pariſh Churches of thoſe ſeverall Pariſhes where they inhabit, to heare Divine Service and Sermons, and performe all duties and payments required in that behalfe.

2. That the Miniſters and all others of the Dutch and Walloon Congregations which are not Natives and borne Subjects to the Kings Majeſty, or any other ſtrangers that ſhall come over to them, while they remaine ſtrangers, may have and uſe their owne Diſcipline as formerly they have done; yet it is thought ſit, that the Engliſh Liturgy ſhould be tranſlated into French and Dutch, for the better ſettling of their children to the Engliſh Government.

Theſe Injunctions were preſcribed to the Forraign Churches at Norwich, An. 1634. and to theſe at Canterbury, Maidstone, and Sandwich, 13. Aprilis 1635. as appeares by ſundry Copies of them found in the Archbiſhops ſtudy: and the like were impoſed on all other Dutch and Walloon Churches within his Province. Yet not content herewith, he cauſed the Archbiſhop of York to impoſe harder conditions p. 403on the Forraigne Congregations within his Province; as appeares by two Letters found in his ſtudy under the Archbiſhop of Yorks owne hand, the one dated Octob. 1. 1636. the other 22 Ian. 1637. Wherein he denyes them the exerciſe of any Eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction of their owne, injoynes them the uſe of the Engliſh Liturgie in the French Tongue, with obedience to all the Lawes and Ordinances of the Church of England, to receive the Sacrament once a yeare in the Pariſh Church wherein they dwell, and to performe all their Chriſtnings, Marriages, and Burials there; elſe no Congregation of their owne would be permitted. Hereupon theſe Forraigners conceiving theſe Injunctions prejudiciall to their Ancient Rights, Liberties indulged them, and deſtructive to their Churches, oppoſed them all they could in an humble way.

Upon the publication of theſe Injunctions, the Dutch and Walloon Churches at Norwich preſented this enſuing Remonſtrance to the Biſhop there, who ſent it up to the Archbiſhop, who received it as appeares by the endorſement Febr. 21. 1634.