The Grand Impostor Unmasked, Title page – To the reader
The Grand IMPOSTOR VNMASKED, OR, A Detection of the notorious hypocrisie, and desperate Impiety of the late Archbishop (so styled) of Canterbury, cunningly couched in that written Copy, which he read on the Scaffold at his execution, (Ian. 10. 1644.) Aliâs, called by the publisher, his funerall Sermon. By Henry Burton.
Rom. 2.5.
But thou after thy hardnes, and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God: Who will render to every man according to his deeds.
Psal. 50.21.
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. O consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
When the Fox preacheth, let the Geese beware.
Published according to Order.
London, Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls.
The Preface to the READER.
READER,
THE old saying is, Of the dead speak nothing but wel; so shal I speak nothing but truth of this mans falshood, both while he lived, & when he died. And let me deprecate thee the least suspition of malice in me towards the man, or his memory; the which I was so far and free from in his life time, that a little before his death, my selfe with two other godly, reverend brethren, went to his lodging in the Tower, to tender our Christian duty of charity to him, for Counsell and comfort (if it would be accepted) in that his condition. But by his Secretary he returning Court-thanks, said, some had been with him that day, and now he was otherwise imployed in his private businesse. Whereupon we returned: And that morning Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower having been with him, and taking his leave with these words, I pray God open your eyes: he returned him thankes, Saying, And I pray God open your eyes; and I hope there is no harme in that. By which he would cunningly insinuate, that Master Lieutenants eyes were blinded, rather then his. But more of this legierdemain anon; and for this task, I was first earnestly importuned by two reverend godly Ministers, to under take it, which I took as a call from God.
Now for his Funerall Sermon, how it could be truely said to be preacht, when he read it verbatim, as also how he could properly be said to pray, what he read in his paper (for without his book he could neither preach,Clericus absquc libro. nor pray) I leave it to thy right judgement.
Finally, that such a poysonfull peece as this should be so licentiously published in Print, before some Antidote were prepared, either to correct its Malignancy, or to corroborate the simple hearted people, apt to drink in such a sugared potion, from the mouth of such a bold dying man, though a Traitor: if understanding men do not wonder, I shall confesse my selfe the only foole to marvaile. But I hope this Antidote will not come altogether too late to recover such, as whose weaker stomacks have not been able to overcome the poyson. Farewell.