Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 51 – Letter 53
The Answers of the Lords Bishops and Chancellours that are now present, to the Articles of grievance lately by your Lordships imparted to them.
Right honourable our good Lords:
AS to the imputation cast upon us to burthen and charge the poore people for clandestine Marriages, Christnings, &c.
We humbly propose to your Lordships consideration.
1. That the cognizance of these causes doth by the Lawes of this Realme belong to the Judicature Ecclesiasticall, with a very severe charge in Gods name to see to the due execution thereof, as in the Statute of 2. Eliz. cap. 2. may appeare.
2. That the res…act…rines of the people in not resorting to Church, and being conformable to divine service and administration of Sacraments, and other Rites according to the forme of the book of Common-prayer, is no way to be cherished or fomented, especially in the apparant endeavours which is now used by the popish faction,NOTE. to draw them away from the obedience of his Majesty to that of the Pope.
3. That if it be permitted to them to marry and baptize without controle, all other S…ismaticks, as A…abaptists, Brownists, &c. may claime the like.
4. That they are in no worse condition then those of our owne; and his Majesty in those very graces which their very Agents obtained, and to which they have reference in their Petition, did referre the Delinquents in these particulars to be proceeded against, according to the ordinary course of Law, Art. 49.
5. That if this proceeding he stopt, these inconveniences will arise: The Bishops and Ordinaries are not able to answer the Kings writs, which are by the common Law to be directed unto them, as in cause of Bastardy, and Certificate of marriage, and the like; as also the whole Common-wealth will swarme with Incest, Adultery, Whoredome, &c. if it be lawfull for popish Vicars to dispence and divorce at pleasure, and voyd new marriages upon pretext they were not solemnized by the parish Priest according to the Trent Reformation, and other like frivolous pretexts, contrary to the law of God.
6. As to the burthen of the poore people, we doe humbly desire, that the Delinquents may be informed against▪ and upon conviction severely punished.
7. And if it seeme to your Lordships, that the fees of the Ecclesiasticall Courts be over-burthenous, that the Commission for regulating them may be speedily executed.
2. Touching the continuance of the Courts longer then one day at a sitting. We conceive the same to be for the ease of the people, and expediting of causes, and the hindring of chamber-justice; but if it shall appeare otherwise to your Lordships, we desire your Lordships to set downe what order you shall think most fit for the ease of the people, and due performance of that service.
3. Concerning Inquisitors fees for their entrance. We doe deny that ever any such thing was done, and if any can be justly charged therewith, let him be punished.
4. Touching our Subsidy. We doe think it is not unknowne to your Lordships, how cheerfully we have strained our selves for the safety of the Country, some of us having besides contributed to the Souldiers as deeply as they, even of our mensall lands which we hold in our owne hands.
5. Touching School-Masters▪ We humbly desire your Lordships to consider:
1. How much it concerneth the Reformation of the manners of the people, that School-Masters be well-affected to Religion and to the present Government.
2. That popish School-Masters doe breed up and prepare the youth of this Realme to be Priests, and contrary to the Priviledges of his Majesties Progenitors, to the University of Dublin, doe teach them Logick and Philosophy.
3. That under the name of School-Masters, divers dangerous and seditious persons may be nourished in private Families, to the corrupting and seducing the youth of this Realme, and withdrawing them from his Majesties alleagiance.
4. That wherea… if such be put downe▪ the parents would out of necessity send their Children to the Ministers and Curates or Free-schools in every County, and the Colledges at Dublin; by the allowing them, they will be still nouzeled in Superstition and Barbarisme.
Lastly, whereas your Lordships lately desire us to certifie you, who are the chiefe abettors of the popish titular Clergy, your Lordships have them now shewing themselves in their presenting this Petition, which we hope you will be sensible of for the publike good, the good of his Majesty and the glory of God▪ to whose blessing and protection we humbly leave you.
The returne upon Command, to advise upon some moderate course in the exercise of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction.
Right honourable Our good Lords:
IN obedience to your Lordships commands, We the Bishops and Chancellours present in the City, have considered of the wayes for the moderating and easing the pretended burthen, whereof the Petitioners complaine, in the matter of clandestine Christnings, Marriages and Burials.
And doe find, that we that are present cannot resolve of any other course then to referre our selves to our former answer, and the lawes now in force: and according to our duties to God and the charge laid upon us in the Act 2. Eliz. c. 2. doe humbly desire your Lordships that the said Act for the uniformity of Common-prayer and Service in the Church, and the administration of the Sacraments, may be duly and truly executed.
Also the lawes concerning the restoring to the Crowne the ancient Jurisdiction over the State Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall, and abolishing all forraigne power repugnant to the same, may be effectually and fully put in use.
And that all School-Masters be bound to teach the Schollers for their first booke the grounds of Christian Religion, and to use in their Schooles, the prayer appointed in the beginning of the Grammer, set forth by his Majesties authority, with such other books as shall be appointed by the Bishops of this Kingdome; and that idle and unprofitable books, such as Gesta Romanoru…, which is now upon the Presse in this City for the use of their Schools, which doe but teach them to attend to Fables, and lying legends, may be banished from the same.
And forasmuch as sundry of us having no other occasion of comming to this place but your Lordships commands, have been now fourteen dayes in Town, and doe lye here at charges, and are with-holden from performance of our duties at home; we humbly entreat your Lordships to licence us to depart.
What the issue of this businesse was I cannot certainly learne; but I find, that this very yeere 1630. among other things there fell out a great difference between the Regulars and Secular Priests and popish Titulary Bishops in Ireland, which grew to a very great highth, as I have formerly touched in the Bishop of Calcedons businesse.
How farre these differences between them there proceeded in, I shall give you a short account out of the Arch-bishop of Armagh his Letter to Bishop Laud, who writ thus to him among other things.
My very good Lord:
THere came into my hands certaine propositions of our Irish Regulars against the Seculars, censured at Paris, 15. January aAfter the French account who begun the yeere with January as our Almanacks doe: But 1630. after our ordinary computation.1631. by sixty Doctors of the Sorbon, one whereof is this, Superiores Regularium digmores sunt Episcopis: siquidem dignitas pastoris petend… est ex conditione sui gregis quemadmodum oplio, dignior est subulco; Another, In partibus haereticorum non tenetur populus Christianus necessariam sus…entationem suo Paracho sub ministrate▪ quia bona Ecclesiastica ab haereticis possidentur. Together with them I received the Arch-bishop of Paris his condemnation of two English Books, published Ianuary 30. 1631. the one, an Answer to certaine assertions of Doctor Kellison in his Treatise of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy, written by Nicholas Smith: the other, an Apology for the Popes manner of proceeding in governing the Catholikes in England during the time of persecution; Author, Daniel a Iesu: It may somewhat concerne us here, to be made acquainted with the Argument of these Books, and therefore I make bold to entreat your Lordship, that you would give order to one of your Chaplaines to communicate the same unto this bearer, who will speedily informe me thereof.
Your Lordships in all service, Ia. Armachanus. Drogheda March 17. 1631.
The yeere following, these differences in Ireland between the Priests and Arch-bishop of Dublin, Thomas Fleming proceeded to a publike Protestation and contestation even inprint, as appears by this notable paper of the Priests against him printed at Rhoan both in Latin and English to make it more notorious, I shall only trouble you with the English Copy; found in the Arch-bishops Study, indorsed with Master Dels hand thus▪ May 3, 1632. Protestations of the secular Priests in Ireland, against Thomas Fleming Arch-bishop of Dublin.