Fanatic Moderation Exemplified, Part 1
Fanatick Moderation, Exemplified in Bishop Hall's Hard Measure, As it was written by Himself. To which is Annex'd, A Specimen of the unparralell'd Behaviour of the Sectaries, towards some others of that Sacred Order.
As Likewise, A General Bill of Mortality of the Clergy of the City of London, who were Defunct, by Reason of the Contagious Breath of the Pretended Reformers of that City, from the Year 1641, to the Year 1647.
LONDON, Printed, and Sold by A. Moore, near St. Paul's Church-Yard.
Price 6 d,
Bishop HALL's Hard Measure.
NOTHING could be more Plain, than that upon the Call of this Parliament, and before, there was a general Plot and Resolution of the Faction to alter the Government of the Church especially, the height and insolency of some Church-governors, as was conceived, and the ungrounded imposition of some Innovations upon the Churches, both of Scotland and England, gave a fit Hint to the Project: In the vacancy therefore before the Summons, and immediately after it, there was great working secretly for the Designation and Election as of Knights and Burgesses, so especially (beyond all former Use) of the Clerks of Convocation; when now the Clergy were stirred up to contest with, and oppose their Diocesans, for the Choice of such Men as were most inclined to the favour of an Alteration. The Parliament was no sooner sate, than many vehement Speeches were made against established Church-government, and enforcement of Extirpation both Root and Branch. And because it was not fit to set upon all at once, the resolution was to begin with those Bishops which had subscribed to the Canons then lately published, upon the shutting up of the former Parliament, whom they would first have had accused of Treason; but that not appearing feisible, they thought best to Indite them of very High Crimes and Offences against the King, the Parliament, and Kingdom, which was prosecuted with great earnestness by some prime Lawyers in the House of Commons, and entertained with like fervency by some zealous Lords in the House of Peers; every of those particular Canons being pressed to the most envious and dangerous height that was possible. The Arch-bishop of York (was designed for the Report) aggravating Mr. Maynard's Criminations to the utmost, not without some Interspersions of his own. The Counsel of the accused Bishops, gave in such a demurring Answer, as stopt the Mouth of that heinous Indictment: When this prevailed not, it was contrived to draw Petitions accusatory from many parts of the Kingdom against Episcopal Government, and the Promoters of the Petitions were entertained with great Respects; whereas the many Petitioners of the opposite Part, tho subscribed with many thousand Hands, were slighted and disregarded. Withal, the Rabble of London, after their Petitions, cunningly and upon other Pretences procured, were stirred up to come to the Houses personally to crave Justice, both against the Earl of Strafford first, and then against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and lastly against the whole Order of Bishops; which coming at first unarm'd, were checked by some Well-willers, and easily perswaded to gird on their rusty Swords, and so Accoutred came by Thousands to the Houses, filling all the outer Rooms, offering foul Abuses to the Bishops as they passed, crying out, No Bishops, No Bishops; and at last, after divers Days assembling, grown to that height of Fury, that many of them, whereof Sir Richard Wiseman professed (tho to his Cost) to be Captain, came with Resolution of some violent Courses, in so much, that many Swords were drawn hereupon at Westminster, and the Rout did not stick openly to Profess, that they would pull the Bishops in pieces. Messages were sent down to them from the Lords, they still held firm both to the place and their bloody Resolutions. It now grew to be Torch-light, one of the Lords, the Marquess of Hartford, came up to the Bishops Form, told us that we were in great Danger, advised us to take some course for our own Safety, and being desir'd to tell us what he thought was the best way, counselled us to continue in the Parliament House all that Night; for (saith he) these People Vow they will watch you at your going out, and will search every Coach for you with Torches, so as you cannot escape. Hereupon the House of Lords was moved for some Order for the preventing their mutinous and riotous Meetings; Messages were sent down to the House of Commons to this purpose more than once, nothing was effected; but for the present (for so much as all the Danger was at the rising of the House) it was earnestly desired of the Lords, that some Care might be taken of our Safety: The Motion was received by some Lords with a Smile, some other Lords, as the Earl of Manchester, undertook the Protection of the Archbishop of York and his Company (whose Shelter I went under) to their Lodgings; the rest, some of them by their long stay, others by secret and far-fetch'd Passages escaped Home. It was not for us to venture any more to the House without some better Assurance; upon our resolved for bearance therefore, the Arch-bishop of York sent for us to his Lodgings at Westminster, laies before us the perillous Condition we were in, Advises for Remedy (except we meant utterly to abandon our Right, and to desert our Station in Parliament) to Petition both his Majesty and the Parliament, that since we were legally call'd by his Majesty's Writ, to give our Attendance in Parliament, we might be secured in the performance of our Duty and Service against those Dangers that threatned us; and withal, to protest against any such Acts as should be made during the time of our forced Absence, for which he assured us, there were many Presidents in former Parliaments, and which if we did not, we should betray the Trust committed to us by his Majesty, and shamefully betray and abdicate the due Right, both of our Selves and Successors. To this Purpose, in our Presence, he drew up the said Petition and Protestation, avowing it to be Legal, Just and Agreeable to all former Proceedings, and being fair written, sent it to our several Lodgings for our Hands, which we accordingly Subscribed, intending yet to have had some further Consultation concerning the Delivering and whole Carriage of it. But 'ere we could suppose it to be in any Hand but his own, the first News we heard, was, that there were Messengers addressed to fetch us in to the Parliament, upon an Accusation of High Treason. For, whereas this Paper was to have been delivered, first to his Majesty's Secretary; and after perusal by him, to his Majesty, and after, from his Majesty, to the Parliament, and for that Purpose, to the Lord Keeper, the Lord Littleton, who was the Speaker of the House of Peers; all these Professed not to have perused it at all, but the said Lord Keeper, willing enough to take this Advantage of Ingratiating himself with the House of Commons and the Faction, to which he knew himself sufficiently Obnoxious, finding what Use might be made of it by prejudicate Minds, reads the same openly in the House of Lords; and when he found some of the Faction Apprehensive enough of Misconstruction, Aggravates the Matter as highly Offensive, and of dangerous Consequence; and thereupon, not without much Heat and Vehemence, and with an ill Preface, it is sent down to the House of Commons; where it was entertained hainously, Glynne, with a full Mouth, crying it up for no less than High Treason; and some comparing, yea, preferring it to the Powder-plot. We, poor Souls, (who little thought that we had done any thing that might deserve a chiding) are now called to our Knees at the Bar, and charged severally with High Treason, being not a little Astonished at the suddainness of this Crimination, compared with the perfect Innocence of our own Intentions, which were only to bring us to our due Places in Parliament with safety and speed, without the least purpose of any Mans Offence: But now Traytors we are in all hast, and must be dealt with accordingly; For on January the 30th, in all the extremity of Frost, at Eight a Clock in the dark Evening, are we voted to the Tower; Only two of our Number had the favour of the Black Rod, by reason of their Age, which, tho desired by a Noble Lord, on my behalf, would not be yielded, wherein I acknowledge, and bless the Gracious Providence of my God, for had I been gratified, I had been undone both in Body and Purse; the Rooms being strait, and the Expence beyond the reach of my Estate; The News of this our Crime and Imprisonment, soon flew over the City, and was entertained by our Well-willers, with ringing of Bells and Bonfires; who now gave us up (not without great Triumph) for lost Men, railing on our Perfidiousness, and judging us to what foul Deaths they pleased; and what scurrile and malicious Pamphlets were scattered Abroad throughout the Kingdom, and in Foreign Parts, blazoning our Infamy, and exaggerating our Treasonable Practices? What Insultations of our Adversaries was here? Being Caged sure enough in the Tower, the Faction had now fair Opportunities to work their own Designs, they therefore taking the Advantage of our Restraint, renew that Bill of theirs, (which had been twice before rejected since the beginning of this Session) for taking away the Votes of Bishops in Parliament, and in a very thin House, easily passed it: Which once condescended unto, I know not by what strong Importunity, His Majesty's Assent was drawn from him thereunto; we now, instead of looking after our wonted Honour, must bend our Thoughts upon the guarding of our Lives, which were with no small eagerness pursued, by the violent Agents of the Faction. Their sharpest Wits, and greatest Lawyers, were imployed to advance our Impeachment to the height; but the more they look'd into the Business, the less Crime could they find to fasten upon: In so much, as one of their Oracle, being demanded his Judgment concerning the Fact, professed to them, they might with as good Reason accuse us of Adultery: Yet still there are we fast; only upon Petition to the Lords, obtaining this Favour, that we might have Counsel Assigned us; which, after much Reluctation, and many Menaces from the Commons against any Man of all the Commoners of England, that should dare to be seen to Plead in this Case, against the representative Body of the Commons, was granted us; the Lords Assigned us five very worthy Lawyers, which were nominated to them by us; what Trouble and Charge it was to procure those eminent and much employed Counsellors to come to the Tower to us, and to observe the strict Laws of the Place, for the time of their Ingress, Regress and Stay, it is not hard to Judge. After we had lain some Weeks there, however the House of Commons, upon the first tender of our Impeachment, had desired we might be brought to a speedy Trial, yet, now, finding be like how little ground they had for so high an Accusation, they began to slack their Pace, and suffered us, rather to languish under the fear of so dreadful Arraignment. In so much as now we are fain to Petition the Lords, that we might be brought to our Trial: The Day was set, several Summons were sent unto us; the Lieutenant had his Warrant to bring us to the Bar; Our Impeachment was severally Read; we pleaded not Guilty Modo & Forma, and desired speedy Proceedings, which were accordingly promised, but not too hastily performed. After long Expectation, another Day was appointed for the Prosecution of this high Charge. The Lieutenant brought us again to the Bar; but with what Shoutings, and Exclamations, and furious Expressions of the enraged Multitudes, it is not easie to Apprehend; being thither brought, and severally charged upon our Knees, and having given our Negative Answers to every Particular, Two Bishops, London and Winchester, were call'd in as Witnesses against us, as in that Point, whether they apprehended any such Cause of Fears in the Tumults Assembled, as that we were in any danger of our Lives in coming to the Parliament; who seemed to incline to a favourable Report of the Perils threatned, tho one of them was convinced, out of his own mouth, from the Relations himself had made at the Arch-bishop of York's Lodging. After this, Wild and Glyn made fearful Declamations at the Bar against us, aggravating all the Circumstances of our pretended Treason to the highest Pitch. Our Counsel were all ready at the Bar, to plead for us, in Answer of their clamorous and envious Suggestions; But it was Answered, that it was now too late, we should have another Day, which Day, to this Day, never came; the Circumstances of that Day's hearing, were more Grievous to us than the Substance; for we were all throng'd so miserably in that strait Room before the Bar, by Reason, that the whole House of Commons would be there to see the Prizes of their Champions plaid; that we stood the whole Afternoon in no small Torture, sweating and strugling with a Merciless Multitude, till being dismissed, we were exposed to a new and greater Danger. For now, in the Dark, we must to the Tower, by Barge, as we came, and must shoot the Bridge with no small Perill. That God, under whose Merciful Protection we are, returned us to our safe Custody: There now we lay some Weeks longer, expecting the Summons for our Counsels Answer; but instead thereof, our Merciful Adversaries, well finding how sure they would be Foyl'd in that unjust Charge of Treason, now under Pretences of remitting the height of Rigour, wave their former Impeachment of Treason against us, and fall upon an Accusation of High Misdemeanors in that our Protestation, and will have us prosecuted as Guilty of a Premunire: altho, as we conceive, the Law hath ever been in the Parliamentary Proceedings, that if a Man were Impeached, as of Treason, being the highest Crime, the Accusant must hold him to the Proof of the Charge, and may not fall to any meaner Impeachment upon failing of higher. But in this Case of ours, it fell out otherwise, for although the Lords had openly promised us, that nothing should be done against us, till we and our Council were heard in our defence, yet the next News we heard was, the House of Commons had drawn up a Bill against us, wherein they declared us to be Delinquents of a very high Nature, and had thereupon desired to have it enacted that all our spiritual Means should be taken away: Only there should be Yearly allowance to every Bishop for his Maintenance according to a proportion by them set down; wherein they were pleased that my share should come to 400 l. per Annum. This Bill was sent up to the Lords and by them also passed, and there hath ever since lain; this being done, after some weeks more, finding the Tower, besides the Restraint, chargeable; we petitioned the Lords, that we might be admitted to Bail, and have liberty to return to our Homes, the Earl of Essex moved, the Lords Assented, took our Bail, sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower for our discharge: How glad were we to flie out of our Cage? No sooner was I got to my Lodging, than I thought to take a little fresh Air, in St. James's Park; and in my return to my Lodging in Deans yard passing through Westminster Hall, was saluted by divers of my Parliament acquantaince, and welcomed to my Liberty, whereupon some that look't upon me with an evil Eye run into the House, and complained that the Bishops were let Loose, which it seems was not well taken by the House of Commons, who presently sent a kind of an expostulation to the Lords, that they had dismissed so hainous Offenders without their knowledge and consent; Scarce had I rested in my Lodging, when there comes a Messenger to me with the sad news of sending me and therest of my Brethren the Bishops back to the Tower again; from whence we came, thither we must go, and thither I went, with an heavy (but I thank God not impatient) Heart. After we had continued there some six weeks longer, and earnestly Petitioned to return to our several Charges we were upon 5000 l. Bond dismissed, with a Clause of Revocation at a short warning, if occasion should be required. Thus having spent the Time betwixt New years Even and Whitsuntide in those safe Walls, where we by turnes preached every Lords Day to a large Auditory of Citizens, we disposed of our selves to the places of our several abode.
For my self, addressing my self to Norwich, whether it was his Majesties Pleasure to remove me, I was at the first received with more respect, than in such times I could have expected; there I preach'd the day after my Arrival to a numerous and attentive People: neither was sparing of my pains in this kind ever since, till the Times growing every day more impatient of a Bishop, threatned my silencing. There though with some secret Murmurs of disaffected Persons, I enjoyed peace till the Ordinance of Sequestration came forth, which was in the latter end of March following, then when I was in hopes of receiving the profits of the foregoing half Year, for the Maintainance of my Family, were all my Rents stopped and diverted, and in April following came the Sequestrators, viz. Mr. Sotherton, Mr. Tooly, Mr. Rowly, Mr. Greenwood, &c. to the palace, and told me that by Vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament they must seize upon the Palace, and all the Estate I had, both Real and Personal, and accordingly sent certain Men appointed by them (whereof one had been burnt of the Hand for the Mark of his Truth,) to appraise all the Goods that were in the House, which they accordingly executed with all diligent severity, not leaving so much as a dozen of Trenchers, or my Childrens Pictures out of their curious Inventory. Yea, they would have appraised our very wearing Cloaths, had not Alderman Tooly, and Sheriff Rawley (to whom I sent to require their Judgment concerning the Ordinance in this point) declared their opinion to the contrary. These Goods, both Library and Houshould Stuff of all kinds, were appointed to be exposed to publick Sale. Much inquiry there was when the Goods should be brought to the Market; but in the mean time Mrs. Goodwin, a Religious good Gentlewoman, whom yet we had never known or seen, being moved with compassion, very kindly offered to lay down to the Sequestrators that whole Sum which the Goods were valued at; And was pleased to leave them in our own Hands for our use, Till we might be able to repurchase them, which she did accordingly, and had the goods formally delivered to her by Mr. Smith, and Mr. Greenwood, two Sequestrators. As for the Books, several Stationers lookt on them, but were not forward to buy them; at last Mr. Cook, a worthy Divine of this Diocess, gave Bond to the Sequestrators, to pay to them the whole Sum whereat they were set, which was afterwards satisfied out of that poor Pittance, that was allowed me for my Maintenance; as for my Evidences they required them from me, I denied them, as not holding my self bound to deliver them: They Nail'd, and Seal'd up the Door, and took such as they found with me.
But before this, the first noise that I heard of my Trouble was, that one Morning, before my servants were up, there came to my Gates one Wright, a London Trooper, attended with others, requiring entrance, threatning, if they were not admitted, to break open the Gates; whom I found at my first sight struggling with one of my Servants for a Pistol, which he had in his Hand; I demanded his Business at that unseasonable Time; he told me, he came to search for Arms and Ammunition, of which I must be disarm'd; I told him I had only two Muskets in the House, and no other Military Provision; he not resting upon my word search'd round about the House, look'd into the Chests, and Trunks, examined the Vessels in the Cellar, finding no other Warlike Furniture, he askt me what Horses I had, for his Commission was to take them also; I told him how poorly I was Stored, and that my Age would not allow me to travel on Foot; in conclusion he took one Horse for the present, and such account of another, that he did highly expostulate with me afterwards, that I had otherwise disposed of him.
Now, not only my Rents present, but the Arrerages of the former Years, which I had in Favour forborn to some Tenants, being treacherously confessed to the Sequestrators, were by them called for, and taken from me; neither was there any Course at all taken for my Maintenance; I therefore Addressed my self to the Committee sitting here at Norwich, and desired them to give Order for some Means, out of that large Patrimony of the Church, to be allowed me. They all thought it very just, and there being present Sir Tho. Woodhouse, and Sir John Potts, Parliament men; it was moved, and held fit by them and the rest, that the Proportion which the Votes of the Parliament had pitch'd upon, Viz. 400 l. per Annum; should be allowed to me. My Lord of Manchester, who was then conceived to have great Power in matter of these Sequestrations, was moved herewith; He apprehended it very Just and Reasonable, and wrote to the Committee here to set out so many of the Mannors belonging to this Bishoprick as should amount to the said Sum of 400 l. Annually, which was answerably done under the Hands of the whole Table. And now I well hoped, I should yet have a good Competency of Maintenance out of that plentiful Estate which I might have had: But those Hopes were no sooner conceived then dash'd; for before I could gather up one Quarters Rent, there comes down an Order from the Committee for Sequestrations above, under the hand of Serjeant Wild the Chair-man, procured by Mr. Miles Corbet, to inhibit any such Allowance; and telling our Committee here, that neither They, nor any other had Power to allow me any thing at all: But if my Wife found her self to need a Maintenance, upon her Suit to the Committee of Lords and Commons, it might be granted, that She might have a fifth Part, according to the Ordinance, allowed for the Sustentation of her Self, and her Family. Hereupon she sends a Petition to that Committee, which, after a long Delay, was admitted to be read, and an Order granted for the fifth Part: But still the Rents and Revenues, both of my Spiritual and Temporal Lands were taken up by the Sequestrators, both in Norfolk, and Suffolk, and Esvex, and we kept off from either Allowance or Accompt. At last, upon much pressing, Beadle the Solicitor, and Rust the Collector, brought in an Account to the Committee, such as it was; but so Confused and Perplexed, and so utterly imperfect, that we could never come to know what a fifth Part meant: But they were content, that I should eat my Books, by setting off the Sum engaged for them out of the fifth Part. Mean time, the Synodals, both in Norfolk and Suffolk, and all the Spiritual Profits of the Diocess, were also kept back, only Ordinations and Institutions continued a while. But after the Covenant was appointed to be taken, and was generally swallowed of both Clergy and Laity, my Power of Ordination was with some strange Violence restrained; For when I was going on in my wonted Course (which no Law or Ordinance had inhibited) certain forward Voluntiers in the City, banding together, stir up the Mayor, and Aldermen, and Sheriffs, to call me to an Account for an open Violation of their Covenant. To this purpose divers of them came to my Gates at a very unseasonable time, and knocking very vehemently, required to speak with the Bishop; Messages were sent to them, to know their Busienss, nothing would satisfie them but the Bishop's Presence, at last I came down to them, and demanded what the Matter was; they would have the Gate opened, and then they would tell me; I answered, that I would know them better first: If they had any thing to say to me, I was ready to hear them; they told, me they had a writing to me from Mr. Mayor, and some other of their Magistrates; the Paper contained both a challenge of me for breaking the Covenant, in Ordaining Ministers; and withal required me to give in the Names of those which were Ordained by me, both then and formerly since the Covenant: My Answer was, that Mr. Mayor was much abused by those who misinform'd him, and drawn that Paper from him; that I would the next Day give a full Answer to the writing, they moved that my Answer might be by my Personal Appearance at the Guild-hall; I ask'd them when they ever heard of a Bishop of Norwich appearing before a Mayor, I knew mine own Place, and I would take that way of answer which I thought fit, and so dismissed them, who had given out that Day, that had they known before of mine ordaining, they would have pull'd me and those whom I ordained out of the Chappel by the Ears. Whilst I received nothing, yet something was required of me; they were not ashamed after they had taken away, and sold all my Goods and personal Estate, to come to me for assesments, and monthly Payments for that Estate which they had taken, and took Distresses from me upon my most just Denial, and vehemently required me to find the wonted Arms of my Predecessors, when they had left me nothing: Many insolencies and affronts were in all this time put upon us. One while a whole Rabble of Voluntiers came to my Gates late, when they were locked up, and call'd for the Porter to give them Entrance, which being not yielded, they threatned to make Way by Force, and had not the said Gates been very Strong they had done it: Others of them clambred over the Walls, and would come into mine House, their Errand (they said) was to search for Delinquents, what they would have done I know not, Had not we by a secret way sent to raise the Officers for our Rescue: Another while the Sheriff Toftes, and Alderman Linsey, attended with many Zealous followers, came into my Chappel to look for Superstitious Pictures, and Reliques of Idolatry, and sent for me, to let me know they found those Windows full of Images, which were very offensive, and must be Demolished: I told them they were the Pictures of some ancient and worthy Bishops, as St. Ambrose, Austin, &c. It was answered me, that they were so many Popes; and one younger Man amongst the rest (Townsend as I perceived afterwards) would take upon him to defend that every Diocesan Bishop was Pope, I answered him with some scorn, and obtained leave, that I might with the least loss, and defacing of the Windows give order for caking off that Offence, which I did, by causing the Heads of those Pictures to be taken off, since I knew the Bodies could not offend. There was not that Care and Moderation used in reforming the Cathedral Church bordering upon my Palace. It is no other than Tragical to relate the Carriage of that furious Sacrilidge, whereof our Eyes and Ears were the sad Witnesses, under the Authority and Presence of Linsey, Tofts, the Sheriff, and Greenwood; Lord, what work was here, what clattering of Glasses, what beating down of Walls, what tearing up of Monuments, what pulling down of Seats, what wresting out of Irons and Brass from the Windows and Graves! what defacing of Arms, what demolishing of curious Stone-work, that had not any representation in the World, but only the cost of the Founder, and Skill of the Mason, what tooting and piping upon the destroyed Organ Pipes, and what a hideous triumph on the Market-Day before all the Country, when in a kind of Sacrilegious and profane Procession, all the Organ Pipes, Vestments, both Copes and Surplices, together with the Leaden-Cross, which had been newly sawn down from over the Green-Yard Pulpit, and the Service Books, and Singing Books that could be had, were carried to the Fire in the publick Market-place; A leud Wretch walking before the Train, in his Cope trailing in the Dirt, with a Service Book in his Hand, imitating in an impious Scorn the Tune, and usurping the words of the Litany used formerly in the Church: Near the publick Cross, all these Monuments of Idolatry must be Sacrificed to the Fire, not without much Ostentation of a zealous Joy, in discharging Ordnance to the cost of some who professed how much they had long'd to see that Day. Neither was it any News upon this Guild-day to have the Cathedral now open on all sides to be filled with Musketiers, waiting for the Major's return, drinking and tobaccouring, as freely as if it had turn'd Alehouse. Still yet I remained in my Palace, tho with but a poor Retinue and Means; but the House was held too good for Me: Many Messages were sent by Mr. Corbet to remove me thence; The first Pretence was, that the Committee, who now was at charge for an House to sit in, might make their daily Session there, being a place both more publick, roomy and chargeless. The Committee, after many Consultations, resolved it convenient to remove thither, tho many Overtures and Offers were made to the contrary. Mr. Corbet was impatient of my stay there, and procures and sends peremptory Messages for my present dislodging; we desired to have some time allowed for providing some othep Mansion, if we must needs be cast out of this, which my Wife was so willing to hold, (if the charge of the present Committee-house were the Things stood upon) she would be content to defray the Sum of the Rent of that House out of her fifth part; but that might not be yielded; Out we must, and that in three Weeks warning by Midsummer-day then approaching, so as we might have lain in the Street for ought I know, had not the Providence of God so ordered it, that a Neighbour in the Close, one Mr. Goslin, a Widower, was content to void his House for us.
This hath been my Measure, wherefore I know not, Lord, thou knowest, who only canst remedy, and end, and forgive or avenge this horrible Oppression.
Scripsi May 29. 1647. JOS. NORVIC.