An Epitome, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
AT length after fifteen weeks hard Impriſonment, and cruell uſage in that loathſome priſon, I was ſerved with a Sub-poena out of the Star-chamber, whether I was appointed to goe to take out the Information againſt me; having for the moſt part one Theefe or other out of Newgate to be my Keeper; ſo that I durſt hardly come in any houſe for feare of his lime-twig fingers,
Non fuit Antolycho tam piceata manus.
The laſt Bout they had with me before the day of hearing▪ was about the anſwering of Interrogatories in the Star-chamber office, whereof I was more afraid then of all the reſt; for wanting the Copies of three ſeverall Examinations, having an information laid againſt me, with the Anſwer to it, and to the Interrogatories; all in ſumme to keep in memory, I might eaſily fall into a contradiction, which they would have accounted Perjury, and it might be have made that the Matter of their Proceeding againſt me: But that gracious God who keepeth ſtraight the ſteps of his weaklings becauſe of their enemies, ſtayed my foot from ſliding, ſo that way (bleſſed be his Name) they had no advantage againſt me. The laſt Interrogatory was, Who were privy to the compoſing of the Book. I anſwered the Examiner (as formerly the Atturney) that I was not tyed to anſwer that Interrogatory by any Law; yea the Law did exempt me, inſtance 25 Hen. 8. cap. 15. Whereas it is held againſt equity and order of juſtice, to call any man in danger of Life, Name, or State, upon intrapping Interrogatories, or by any other Meanes then Witneſſe, Verdict, Confeſſion, or Preſentment; ſo it is illegall to delate a brother accuſed of the ſame thing eſpecially, not evil in it ſelfe but taken to be evill. The Examiner anſwered, that he would not admit that Anſwer. I replyed he ſhould have that or none, for I knew no exception againſt it; then he ſaid he would ſet it downe, but withall that no other Anſwer I would make, with which I was content.
Hence obſerve; Firſt, that the waving of this Interrogatory was fundi noſtri calamitas, as appeared by many faire promiſes, if I would diſcover them.
Secondly, wee ſhould learne to deſire the Lord, when we are under chaines and threatnings, that he would make us faithfull unto the Saints in a lawfull concealment of their aſſiſtances, though it be with our owne prejudice: as a friend is another ſelfe, ſo he ſhould be foreign, faithfull in the deepeſt diſtreſſe. It is a ſhame that Heathens ſhould outſtrip us in this
*Manil. 8.Ʋnus erat Pylades, unus qui mallet Oreſtes
Ipſe mori, &c.
Did one Pylades and Oreſtes ſtrive
For death, each other to preſerve alive?
And ſhall not the Saints lay downe their lives for a1 Iohn 3.16.the Brethren? which Text if it were better cleared by practiſe it would amaze us; but bleſſed be God it hath been ſo cleared farre beyond the practice of all Heathens. Witneſſe Ionathans faithfull love to David, which he preferred to the preventing of his fathers wrath, the ſaving of a Kingdome, yea and to life it ſelfe; ſob1 Sam. 18.1, 3, 4, &c. 2 Sam. 17. Cuſhi to David, and ſo of divers Martyrs one to another, who have laid downe their lives with others and for others: So that the fidelity of Hercules and Theſeus, Socrates and Ceriphon, Achates and Aeneas, Pythias and Damon; and of all the reſt of thoſe glorious Pictures, how bright ſoever it ſeemed, was but as a piece of poliſhed Chryſtal, in compariſon of that true diamond fidelity of the Saints. But a faithfull one in danger for others may here object, in theſe evill dayes, where is the mutuallity? I would be a Pomgranate, but where is the Myrtle crowne to ſet it in? For that with the Egyptians is the Hyerogliph of faithfull friendſhip. I would be a Pythias, but where is the Damon? A Jonathan, but where is the David? *Aliquorum amacitta arund…nea imo hirundinea.Some in requitall prove like Reeds and Swallowes unprofitable, and ungratefull?*Num prohibet ſervare ſidem de…eta Sagunthu…. ſhall ſackt Sagunthu… ſack thy precious faith? Thy reward is with the Lord: let not other mens unfaithfulneſſe make thy faith of none effect, but be alwaies aboundant in the power of it, knowing that thy labour is not in vaine in the Lord.
As the whole proceedings was according to the uſe of the Adage foreign, a condemning of the abſent; ſo the parts whereof it did conſiſt, were in the mouthes of them and their Abettors invective revilings, and paſſing of unparraleld cenſure. There is a Maxime unalterable in the Law of Nations;*Formidabilitas & minae in bello, comitas vero & aequitas in judiciis. menacing threatnings are uſefull in Warre, but Gentleneſſe and Equity ſhould bear ſway in judgement. For the better clearing of my ſelfe from doing them any wrong, and my ſelf and the cauſe from reproaches put upon us, I have ſet downe ſome of their ſpeeches that were ſent me by a friend who was preſent there.
Firſt, it is true, the Anſwer was read after the Information, but without my knowledge or direction; for I abridged the Anſwer, becauſe I expected a hearing to explaine and maintaine the particulars, but God otherwiſe in his wiſedome diſpoſed it: but I am not aſhamed of the anſwer, for one told me from the mouth of the greateſt in that Court, that he affirmed it to be the ſufficienteſt, trueſt and juſteſt Anſwer, that ever was put into that Court theſe many yeers; for cleering whereof, I have publiſhed the ſumme of the Bill or Information, with the Anſwer.
The Anſwer of Alexander Leighton ſtill priſoner in Newgate, to a Bill in the Star-Chamber preferred by his Majeſties Atturney Generall againſt the ſaid Defendant.
ALL advantages, and exceptions to all and every the uncertainty and inſufficiency of the ſaid Information, now and at all times reſerved to him, This Defendant ſaith, That whereas your Majeſties Defendant by a warrant from the High Commiſſion was apprehended the 17. of February 1639. and carryed with much violence to the Biſhop of Londons houſe, and there detained from eleven of the clock till ſeven at night, whence he was carried to Newgate without examination; and there ſhut up cloſe priſoner in a ſtrait ſmoakey room, where he lay without meat or drink, from the Tueſday at night, till Thurſday at noone; and there ſtill hath he lyen cloſe Priſoner for the ſpace of nine weeks, being denyed all the time the coppie of his Commitment, to the utter undoing of his health, both of body and mind, and deſolating of his Family: And further, the Prelates Purſevants two dayes after entred your Majeſties Deputies houſe (as he is informed) with a multitude of Staves and Bills, being ſuggeſted, that your Majeſties Deputy was a Jeſuit, and then, and there, the ſaid Purſevants, by their cruell and barbarous dealing affrighted exceedingly your Majeſties Deputy, Wife, and Children, breaking up alſo Preſſes, and Cheſts; notwithding, that all diligence was uſed for opening of them; yea, they tore up the doores of the houſe, and brake the doores from the hinges, and that in preſence of the Sheriffes of London, who ore-looked them; yea, one of them threatned a young Child, by holding a charged Piſtoll to his head, ſince which time, the Child hath never liked. After all this, your Majeſties Defendant was ſerved with a Suppena, and a Bill laid againſt him in His Majeſties Court of Star chamber, where your Majeſties Defendant appeared with His Keeper, and de…red according to Law, to have liberty upon putting in of Sureties, to be at the day of hearing: But he was, and is ſtill denyed it, as he conceiveth by the overſwaying Power of the Prelacie; And he being kept priſoner, he is not able to anſwer as he ſhould, or would, having neither time nor adviſe, as the caſe requireth; and by his impriſonment, is with his Family utterly undone, having no meanes to maintain them: Further, your Majeſties Defendant acknowledgeth, that under the favour of your Majeſties particular Command, he confeſſed the compyling of that Book wherewith he is charged in the Bill, as appeareth by his Examination, proteſting withall, that it would not ſtand with the honour of your Majeſty, That ſuch a confeſſion made under your Graces Clemencie ſhould accuſe him, but if your Graces favour ſhould protect him from accuſation; And this your Majeſties Defendant offereth to prove by inſtances from divine Writ, from our own and forraign Hiſtories, Maximes of the Laws and Reaſons; for a taſte whereof, that which Jeremy confeſſed to the King, the King would not reveale, but had a great care that it ſhould not come againſt him before the Princes Prieſts and Prophets: For if it had (though it was the truth, yet he might have ſuffered for it, Chap. 38. Verſ. 27. &c.
It is alſo a Royall truth, Gratia Principis eſt accumulativa non privativa, but by ſuffering this confeſſion to accuſe your Maj. Defendant, he is deprived of a main benefit of his own defence: Amiſſo, clipeyo vulneratus eſt, having loſt his Buekler he is undone; Wherefore he humbly intreateth, that Your Majeſties Royall Favour might deliver him.
3 As for your Majeſties Predeceſſours, and the Goſpell under them, eſpecially for your Royal Majeſtie, and the Goſpel of Peace under You; Wee humbly and heartily thank God as we are bound, profeſſing alwayes upon every occaſion, the Loyalty and Love of our poor hearts towards Your Majeſty; and more particularly, in ſundry paſſages of this Book, as, page 175. &c. where we ſeeme to want words to expreſſe our affections, yea, we proclaime what we think without flattery, that all Chriſtendome hath not ſuch a King for Kingly Endowments, and Royall Conqueſt over the faults of Princes, as our Soveraign and Supreame Governour: But that the Diſcipline exerciſed by the Hierarchie is Conſonant to the Word of God the practice of the Primitive Church, and beſt agreeable to the State of a Monarchy, Your Majeſties Defendant hath punctually demonſtrated the contrary in all theſe particulars; witneſſe the ſecond poſition, page 19, 20. page 110, 111, 112, 113. From which paſſages, your Majeſties Defendant frameth this one Argument.
The Diſcipline of Chriſts Church warranted by the Word, is of Chriſts own appointment, and by conſequent unchangeable, page 111, 112, 187, 188, 189, 242.
But the Diſcipline of the Hierarchy is not of Chriſts appointment, nor unchangeable, witneſſe themſelvs, pag 111.
Therefore it is not warranted by the Word or conſonant to the Word; yea, themſelves confeſſe, it was not ſo from the beginning, for then they needed not to plead for changability of Diſcipline; yea, the Papiſts challenge, and the Hierarchy cannot deny that their Diſcipline is the very Popiſh Diſcipline; witneſſe page 131, 181.
Laſtly, That their Diſcip…ine is not moſt agreeable to the State of a Monarchy, your Majeſties Defendant hath proved largly and fully page 242, 243, 244. And hath alſo anſwered the Objections that may be brought to the contrary. A world of Proofes and Reaſons your Majeſties Defendant could bring for further confirmation, if your Majeſties High Court will permit: But he will ſay no more, but this undeniable and experimented truth. The Sway of Chriſts Scepter in his Houſe, is the very Power and Glory of a Kings Scepter in his Kingdome; where Chriſt hath his due, there Ceſar ſhall have his due: And where your Majeſties Defendant is charged in the ſaid Bill, to vent the ſaid things out of a ſeditious and malitious humour with many ſuch tearms charged upon him in the aforeſaid Bill; He anſwereth once for all, That he hateth the very leaſt thought or appearance of malice or ſedition: but what hatred and crue…ty he and his endureth from the Prelacy, he cannot expreſſe, praying that it may never be laid to their charge; And as your Majeſties Defendant conceiveth that he goeth on good grounds; So his ends were the glory of God, the honour and happineſſe of your Majeſties Perſon and State, the vindicating of the Nobility from wrong, and the good of the whole Nation.
4 The Book it ſelf was compiled beyond the Seas, ſave onelyonly the Draught and the Lineaments of it, and there it was printed for the Parliament onelyonly. Neither did your Majeſties Defendant bring or cauſe to be brought any of the ſaid Bookes into the Land; or can it be proved, that he publiſhed any of the ſaid Books abroad: but his intent was after the breaking up of the Parliament, not to meddle any further: And how, or by whom, the Bookes were brought into the Land, he knoweth not. And whereas your Maj. ſaid Defendant is charged with the hating of the Prelates Perſons, and ſetting them at variance with the Peeres and People; In theſe he proteſteth ſtill his Innocencie: It being rather a main part of his intent, to have Them, the Peers, Miniſtry, and People, all at unity in Chriſt Jeſus, by vertue of due Reformation: And this your Majeſties Defendant doth manifeſt in ſundry paſſages of the ſaid Book, as page 150, 153, 265, 343, 344. So that it is their good, and not their hurt; yea, the good of all that we deſire, by removall of the Prelacie: Neither doth your Majeſties Defendant ſcandall theſe Prelates; but proveth, what he affirmeth, either by Gods Word, your Majeſties Lawes, the Writs of the Learned▪ or by good relation: Yea, what your Majeſties Defendant hath ſaid againſt the Prelacie, rather then the Prelates, is commonly laid down and contained in his ten Poſitions; Which Poſitions, your Majeſties Defendant, as he conceiveth, hath ſufficiently proved, and is further ready to ſatisfie, as he ſhall be called. As for bringing confuſion to the Church, diſhonour to your Majeſties moſt Sacred Perſon, or Government, or to ſtirre up any thereto, He had rather dye, then entertain the leaſt thought of any of theſe; yea, he pleadeth for nothing ſo much, As the Order of Chriſts Church, the honour of your Majeſties Perſon, and happineſſe of your Government.
5 Where your Majeſties Defendant is charged in the Epiſtle to the Reader with theſe words. Ʋ Ʋ …e do no… rea…e of greater perſecution, higher indignity and indemputty done upon Gods People in any Nation profeſſing the G…ſpel then in this our Iſland, eſpecially ſince the death of C…een Elizabeth, and that the Prelates are men of Bl…ods. To all theſe your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, That the thing it ſelf is too too true as appeareth by the Prelacies taking away life & lively-hood from ſo many Miniſters and private men and their poor Families of whō many were pined to death in priſon: many wandered up and down their Families being left deſolate and helpleſſe, whereof your Majeſties Defendant could give many inſtances, and ſo can many more▪ But your Majeſties Defendant doth onelyonly give a touch in ſundry paſſages of the Book, as page 122, 123. pag. 79, 80, pag. 126. Beſides all this, the blood of ſoules hath been endangered, by the removall of the faithfull Shepheards from their Flocks, quite contrary to the mind and ſpeeches of your Majeſties Royall Father, whom your Majeſties Defendant hath deſervedly cleared, to his everlaſting honour of theſe courſes of the Hierarchy; witneſſe, the Epiſtle to the Reader: alſo, page 123, 74, 70122. Yea, if there were no more but that which your Majeſties Defendant hath ſeen and felt, it were enough to prove the aſſertion. Laſtly, the phraſe is a Scripture phraſe, not onelyonly importing violently actuall depriving of life, but alſo the afflicting or wronging of men by indirect courſes, which we conceive rather to proceed from the evill of the Calling than from the diſpoſitions of the men; for good men have proved evill Prelates.
6 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged with naming the Prelacy, Satannicall and Antichriſtian perſons; your Defendant (as he conceiveth) hath ſufficiently proved it from Scripture reaſons, and the Evidences of the Learned; Witneſſe, page 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. and ſhall be ready to prove more fully, if need be: neither be the words your Majeſties Defendants, but the words of the Learned, ſpeaking of the divers kinds of Biſhops, page 88, 89. And for further evidence▪
That Office or Calling which hath the internall or eſſentiall parts of Antichriſtian Prelacie, is Antichriſtian Prelacie it ſelf.
But the preſent Hierarchy hath the internall or eſſentiall parts of Antichriſtian Prelacie:
Therefore it is Antichriſtian Prelacy it ſelfe.
And this may be the reaſon of the Major Propoſition, that the change of an externall efficient or inſtituting cauſe cannot alter the nature of a thing, ſo long as the internall or eſſentiall cauſes remain.
And for the reaſon of the Minor Propoſition, the matter and forme are all one in both.
7 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant calleth the Hierarchy, The main and Maſter Sinne of the Land eſtabliſhed by a Law page 3. He anſwereth, in haec verba, as we conceive, And that it is a ſinne your Majeſties Defendant hath proved, from page the firſt▪ to the twentieth, And that it is eſtabliſhed by a Land, the Statutes ſpeak expreſly therefore a ſinne. Therefore a ſinne eſtabliſhed by a Law, and by conſequently, As we conceive, the main and maſter ſinne of the Land.
8 Where your Majeſties Defendant ſhould ſay. Tha… Ministers ſhould have voye…s delibe…ative and deceſſive in Counſels, page 7; Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, That it is the determination of Counſels from the Word of Truth; witneſſe the afore quoted page, and as for Paritie of Miniſters, it is the Inſtitution of the Spirit, maintained by the Current of the Learned. Antient▪ and Modern, but Imparity is the ſpawn of the Myſtery of Iniquity.
9 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged with tearming, the Prelates, Ravens and Py-Maggots, he anſwereth that the Learned tearme them ſo in effect, as Mr. Bullinger calleth them Harpies page 13. and Mr. Wick…iffe, Diſciples of Antichriſt, page 12. And thus they are tearmed for that repacity that is incident to their calling, and not to aſſperſe any of their perſons.
10 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged with ſuggeſting of falſe feares to the King, for reviving that ſpawn of the Beaſt kneeling at the Sacrament for the greater teverence; thereto you… Majeſties Defendant anſwereth that he ſpeaketh of the time of King Edward the ſixth, of whom the Papiſts deſired it tumultuouſly, to whoſe contentment by much importunity with the King, it was granted, which giveth good evidence, as your Majeſties Defendant can ſufficiently prove, that it was the ſpawn and ſupporter of the Reall Preſence.
11 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is ſaid to affirme that the Statute 1 Elizabeth, ſeemeth inconvenient, &c. page 42 43; your Majeſties Defendant there only relateth, what Poſitions were agitated, and brought to a faire height of being in the Parliament, Anno 1610. If good Intentions had not miſcaryed▪ where your Majeſties ſaid Defendant is ſo farre from derogating from your Majeſties Royall Power and Lawes, that with all his beſt endeavour, he pleadeth the eſtabliſhment of them: In this particular namely, that neither by the Law of God, nor by the Law of Man, The Prelacie hath any power to fine or impriſon. And this is witneſſed by the concourſe and concord of all our famous Juriſts, witneſſe page 31. p. 128. &c.
12 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged to rearm the Canous, non-ſence Canons; your Majeſties Defendant humbly entreateth, that they may be peruſed: and it ſhall appear, that it is againſt ſence and reaſon, that for ſaying, There is any thing in the Book of Common-Prayer repugnant to the Scriptures, a man ſhould be excommunicated, ipſo facto. Can. 4. ſince themſelves confeſſe, that all things therein contained, are not warranted by the Word. Alſo, by the 8. Canon they are excommunicated, ipſo facto, that try, or call in queſtion, the Calling of the Hierarchy. Alſo by the 19. Canon, there muſt be no diminiſhing of any part of the Service, in regard of preaching, or any other reſpect, and yet preaching may be omitted, It ſeemeth alſo, Non-ſence, that Miniſters are forbidden, by faſting and prayer to exorcize or cōjure out the Divel▪ without licence obtained from the B. and that on pain of depoſition: but ſo it is ordained by the Canon 72. The paſſages of which Canon ſeem very ſtrange; other Inſtances may be given againſt them; neither were they conſented to, or approved by ſome of the beſt of the Synod: for, Dr. Rud, oppoſed them by an oration. Theſe Canons alſo croſſe your Majeſties Lawes, depriving your Majeſties Subjects of the benefit of Appeal in Caſes before them depending, peremptorily, decreeing, that no Judge ad quem ſhall admit or allow of any Appeal, except the Appealant will do all that they require, in matter and manner of conformity; witneſſe Canon 98.
13 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged to affirme, that the▪ Prelates corrupt the King, fore-ſtalling his judgment againſt the Good, and goodneſſe, page 118. your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, That conſidering the danger of your Majeſtie through the corruption of the Calling rather then the Men (if God preſerved you not) your Majeſties Defendant citeth only the judgment of the Learned upon the Prophet Hoſe…, Quod peccata Praelatorum, &c. That the ſins of Prelates corrupting Princes, hindereth all goodneſſe: which floweth rather from their Calling, then their Diſpoſitions, ſo that here is neither evill ſpeech, nor evill thought of your Majeſty, as is informed; for if we ſhould uſe any ſuch▪ it were pitty we ſhould live.
14 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant ſeemeth to regrate the Errour of your Royall Match, rather then the match it ſelf, under theſe words, The Daughter of Heth, pag. 172. Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that it is not out of neglect of bounden duty to your Majeſties Royall Conſort & our Queen; but that ſhe looking into the rock whence ſhe is hewen, may rejoyce to be the Daughter of Abraham; for which, as we pray, ſo no doubt it will be the joy of your Majeſties heart. Secondly, we regrate more in the place ſore-quoted our own unthankfulneſſe and unwatchfulneſſe over your Majeſty, then any thing elſe. Thirdly, the phraſe is a Scripture phraſe by alluſion, and hath been uſed by divers Divines, whoſe Sermons are extant, and is as little as could be ſaid if any thing were ſaid in that particular; for the Hittites were ye kindeſt & truſtieſt neighbours that Abraham had. Fourthly and laſtly, though your Majeſties Royall and beautifull Ra…hel have an Image-in the ſtuffe, yet Princely prevailing Iacob, to his everlaſting …onour, may reforme it.
15 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant ſaith, Conſider what a pitty it is to all, and an indelible diſhonour to the State Repreſentative, that ſo ingenuous and tractable a King ſhould be ſo monſtrouſly abuſed by the bane of Princes, to the undoing of Himſelf and His Subects, page 175; Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that whereas your moſt excellent Majeſty is the very breath of our noſtrils, and more then we all, If we were Tongue-tide, we cannot but cry out, ſince we ſee the Deſtroyer already gone out againſt us, and is mounted on the wings of all our ſinnes, which have their But and Riſe, as we conceive, upon that Calling of the Hierarchy, which your Majeſties Defendant hath proved to be the bane of Princes.
16 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged with ſundry ſiniſter thoughts, concerning the untimely death of the late Duke of Buckingham, as though he ſhould ſeeme to approve of Feltons Act, Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth. That in his Book he rather regrateth it, wiſhing that the Parliament had reſtrained the Current of the late Dukes Courſes, whereby his untimely death & the others deſperate Act, might have been prevented; witneſſe p. 1…3. as for the words alleadged, page 176. In Gods offering to guide them to Reformation, by giving of that blow; Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that though the …omy or ſinne of the action, was from that deſperate man; yet the action it ſelf, and as it was a Judgment, was from God: for there is no evill in the City which the Lord hath not done. And whereas from the Parliaments following of God; hand, the Bill chargeth upon them, ſtirring up, or animaring of others to the offering of the like violence againſt the Prelates; your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that the Conſequent hath in it a double Sophiſme, a ſimpliciter ad ſecundum quid: Namely, firſt in the Subject; becauſe the Parliament may follow Gods hand in Juſtice; It doth not follow that others may, or ſhould follow Gods hand with deſperate violence. The ſecond inconſequent is from the Object, matter thus: Though we do deſire the Parliament to follow, with the removall of the Hierarchie, and other Reformations; yet will it not follow, that we deſire, that their Perſons ſhould ſuffer the leaſt wrong or violence; witneſſe, page 78. &c. And hereto your Majeſties Defendant proteſteth before God, that he wiſheth them as … in body, ſoule, and ſtate, as himſelf; though your Majeſties diſtreſſed Defendant hath ſuffered, and doth ſuffer much in himſelf, and his, as he conceiveth, from their indignation againſt him.
17 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged with theſe words, The. Church hath her Lawes, with the reſ… following; and by conſequence, he ſhould detract from your Majeſties Royall Power, &c. page 191; Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that they are the words of Reverent Divines; neither doth your Majeſties Defendant detract from your Majeſty, to whoſe gracious Highneſſe your Defendant attributeth, as much power as the Kings of Iſrael, and Iudah, in their places, as appeareth by his examination.
18 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged to ſlander your Majeſty in uſing theſe words, That wee are ſpoyled of all that paſſe by, and all are ſpoyled that rely on us; and for inſtance, he citeth R…ll…, page 264; your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that wofull experience proclaimeth our ſpoyling, and being ſpoyled to the world: whereof your Majeſties loyall and loving Subjects are exceeding ſenſible, and laye it much to heart; beſides, it is the ſubject of Strangers diſcourſe, with whom indeed your Majeſties Subjects are much out of that antient eſteeme, that formerly attended them: yet notwithſtanding all this, what face ſo ſhameleſſe, or heart ſo faithleſſe, as to tax your Majeſty with the leaſt ſpot of diſſimulation, which we know your Majeſty doth utterly deteſt and abhorre: For what can your Majeſty doe more then afford the meanes? But if the ſinnes of us all, and the ſecurity in ſinne, turne Gods hand againſt us: If the ſlight and ſedulity of the Enemy, Forraign and Domeſtic be a ſnare to intrap us: Laſtly, if your Majeſties eyes and hand; ſhould deceive us, we can neither do good nor receive good; yea, we cannot ſubſiſt: and therefore your Majeſties Defendant preſumeth to entreat that Senate, being your right Hand, and your right Eye, to look to it.
19 Whereas your Majeſties Defendant is charged to have permitted a thouſand Copies, and to have publiſhed the ſaid Copies; your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that there were little more then half of a thouſand printed; and as for the publiſhing of them, it cannot be proved.
20 Whereas in the cloſier of the Book, your Majeſties Defendant is charged with theſe words:
High muſt Ye ſore, but Glory gives the VVings,
No low attempt a Star-like Glory brings.
Your Majeſties Defendant anſwereth, that he intimateth nothing in theſe words, but this; That high and inveterate evils, ſuch as we labour of, require much yains, wiſdome, and skill, for the curing of them.
21 Laſtly, for all the things aſſerted by your Majeſties Defendant in the ſaid Book, for the qualification of them from peremptory Aſſertion; your Majeſties Defendant hath recourſe to that phraſe, in the Preamble to the Parliament, page 3. As we conceive.
As for your Majeſties Defendants offers in the Epiſtle to the Reader, to make good the things aſſerted; It is to be underſtood but quoad poſſe; whereunto your Majeſties Defendant ſhall in all loyal humility, be ready to ſhew his beſt endeavour, and where it hath been alwayes the practice of the Reverend Fathers of the Church to convince by reaſon, and not priſon; your Majeſties Defendant humbly deſiſireth, that ſome of the Prelates would be pleaſed to take away his grounds, and ſhew him better, where if he be convinced by falſhood or errour by ſound reaſon; your Majeſties Defendant ſhall both heartily retract, and humbly beg pardon: As for the evils charged upon your Majeſties Defendant, in the ſaid Information; this your Majeſties Defendants Anſwer, as he hopeth, ſhall cleere his innocencie.
This Defendant humbly confeſſeth the writing of the Book, mentioned in the Information: But this Defendant ſaith, he did it beyond Seas, out of his Majeſties Dominions, and that not out of any ſuch malitious or ſeditious humor as is alleadged in yt Information. But being perſwaded in judgment, & fearing in his apprehenſion, that ſome great inevitable evil was toward us, except by reformatiō, it were prevented, as the Book at large ſpecifieth; He was moved in Cōſcience, with the poor man in Eccleſiaſtes, to ſet all his thoughts on work, how, under correction, he might caſt in a voyce, for the ſafeguard of our Sion, not being moved thereunto by any ſiniſter reſpect, as hatred, or neglect of any, or ſelf-reflecting end; but he intended only the Glory of God, the honour of his Soveraign, the good of the Nobility, and of all his People & Dominions: For all which, he is not only ready to neglect himſelf and his (as hitherto he hath done) but alſo, if need be, to ſacrifice himſelf upon their ſervice. Further, this Defendant ſaith, that he intended the ſaid Book only for the Parliament; and therfore printed not ſo many Copies, as are laid down in the Information, almoſt by half the number; Namely, between five and ſix hundred; which number, as this Defendant conceiveth, was not ſufficient to ſhew the ſeverall Members of both the Houſes of that high Court of Parliament, being a Body politick (as this Defendant conceived) to which the meaneſt Members of the Common-wealth might intimate their cares and feares concerning the dangers, or deliverances of the Common-wealth, being the Mother of us all; and theſe pious Ends and Intentions, this the ſaid Defendant expreſſeth in his Preamble to the Parliament, and ſundry other Paſſages of the ſaid Book, leaving the ſucceſſe unto God, the Author and Moderator of all good Intents and Actions, ſubmitting alſo both himſelfe and the Book unto the approbation and cenſure of that Honourable and High Court: Neither did this the Defendant, bring or cauſe to be brought any of the ſaid Bookes or Copies into the Land, but it was the Defendants ſpeciall care rather to ſuppreſſe, then to divulge them. And this Defendant further ſaith, he willingly and humbly confeſſed the compoſing of the ſaid Book ſub ſigillo Mandati Regis, under the favour of his Maj. ſpecial Command, from whom as an Angel of God, he could conceal nothing; notwithſtanding that the ſaid Defendant was confident at that time, that no creature could accuſe him of compoſing of the ſaid Book; At which time this Defendant alſo profeſſed, that it could not ſtand with the honour of his Majeſty, that a humble and voluntary minde, under the favour of his gracious Clemency ſhould accuſe or condemn though there were delinquency, but that it ſhould rather graciouſly protect or pardon: and this, this Defendant conceiveth to be free from; from Principles of Divinity, Maximes of Theames, Rules of Reaſon; and inſtances from our own and forraign Hiſtories, eſpecially from the Kings of England and Scotland, his Majeſties Anceſtors; A touch whereof, this Defendant humbly entreateth leave to deliver to this hon…rable Court: Neither doth this Defendant wave the ſaid Confeſſion any wayes to reflect upon his gracious Majeſty; but ſince he is inferiour to no Earthly Power, in all Royal Graces; wherf he is the Ocean, p…y moderat… & inenipatum tutela…, he hath recourſe to the Sanctuary of His Majeſties Royall Favour. This Defendant further ſaith, that he neither delivereth the things contayned in the Book, nor undertaketh the anſwer afore the particulars laid down in the Information by way of peremptory aſſertion: But this qualification ſtill to be underſtood, as is expreſſed in the Preface of the ſaid Book to the Parliament page 3. As he conceiveth. Further, this Defendant ſaith, that he is unſtained to this defence or qualification of the things laid down in the Information, by reaſon of his ſaid Confeſſion made under his Majeſties ſpeciall Command, and taken by his Majeſties Attorney-Generall: For as this Defendant conceiveth, that where there is confeſſio fracti, there muſt be either defenſio juris, or agnitio culpae, he is in all humility and duty to the truth, put upon the beſt defence or qualificatiō, in the ſaid particulars, that he can poſſible make; but if this the Defendant hath erred in judgment (as who may not, &c.) upon the diſcovery of it by cleer and ſound Reaſons, he ſhall be ready both heartily to retract, and humbly to beg pardon. For as the ingenuous and free Soule holdeth no Truth ſo weakly, that any flax or affliction can fire it; ſo it holdeth nothing ſo confidently, but ſound Reaſon may over-rule it: As for the integrity of this Defendants affection to all, from the higheſt to the loweſt, if his heart deceives him not, he may take heaven and earth to witneſſe of it. Further, this Defendant ſaith, that by reaſon of the diſtraction of his Councel aſſigned, he could not have them to meet or agree on putting in his Clauſe, according to an Order from this Honourable Court, he adventured to preſent this weak and informall Anſwer, and that by reaſon this Defendant is not verſed in this Element: All which things, this Defendant humbly offereth to the favourable conſideration of this honourable Cout; And ſo under favour, he cometh to the particulars.
I had Counſell allotted, who acknowledged the Equity of my Cauſe, and freedome from Guilt; but they durſt not plead, and ſo I was ordered to put in mine own Anſwer.
Firſt began the A. G. Quam facile crat in abſentem & proſtratun accuſatorem acerbius agere, an eaſie thing for a man of his place and gifts, with nipping Scoffes, to tryumph over an abſent and proſtrated man, both under the immediate hand of God, and the armed wrath of cruell Enemies. If a man be for God, it is the height of unhappineſſe to play upon him; yea though with Tertullus he could doe it with Eloquence.*Pſal. 1.1. Iob. 16.20. Therefore Caſſiodor ſpeaking of an Advocate, ſaith, he ſhould not be*Ad facetias urſus; adfalendum, vulpos; ad ſuperbiendum, taurus; ad Conſumendumm, inotaurus a Bear for tricks and quirks, a Fox for deceit, a Bull for haughtineſſe, or a Labyrinth to devoure, in Pſalm. 73. eſpecially, where the Intent…ons of the accuſed, are the good of Religion and Policy. It is held a higher commendation in an high Advocate, * that is, as Tully expounds it of Coelius, to defend, better then to accuſe. In ſuch a Caſe,Potiorem ſiniſtram quod dextram habere. the ſame Orator, in his Oration for Roſcius, makes a Gooſe the Hyerogliph of an Accuſer,*Qui obſtrepat tantum noceat tamen rihil. a voyce would be heard, but not to hurt the harmleſſe. But not to inſiſt, if the pleading was no better then the Information layd, as*Adverſ. Haereſ. Lyri…nſis ſaid of a Father in another Caſe, it was but rev…latis nuditatis, a further diſcovery of his nakedneſſe; for neither of both will hold out at the Tribunall of God, before which, we muſt all appear.