The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

This is a Fourth Case of Exception.

4. Page 11. The Poll-money, mentioned by him in St. Matthew, was imposed by the Emperor as a Conqueror over the Jews, and the execution of it in England, although it was by a Law, produced a terrible effect in King Richard the Second's time, when only it was used, for ought that appear∣eth.

5. Page 12. It is in the bottom, view the Reign of Henry the Third, and whether it be fit to give such allowance to the Book, being surreptitiously put out?

6. In the same Page, let the largeness of those words be well considered, Yea all Antiquity to be absolutely for absolute Obedience to Princes in all Ci∣vil and Temporal things. For such Cases as Na∣both's Vineyard may fall within this.

7. Page 14. Sextus Quintus was dead before the year One thousand five hundred and eighty.

8. In the same Page, weigh it well, How this Loan may be called a Tribute; and when it is said, We are promised, it shall not be immoderately imposed: How that agreeth with his Majesties Commission and Proclamation, which are quoted in the Mar∣gent?

It should seem, that this Paper did prick to the quick, and no satisfaction being thereby accepted, Bishop Land is called, and he must go to answer to it in writing: This man is the only inward Counsellor with Buckingham, sitting with him sometimes privately whole hours, and feeding his humour with malice and spight.

His life in Oxford was to pick quarrels in the Lectures of the Publick Readers, and to adver∣tise them to the then Bishop of Durham, that he might fill the ears of King James with discontents against the honest men that took pains in their Pla∣ces, and settled the truth (which he called Puri∣tanism) in their Auditors.

He made it his work to see what Books were in the Press, and to look over Epistles Dedicatory, and Prefaces to the Reader, to see what faults might be found.

It was an observation what a sweet man this was like to be, that the first observable act that he did, was the marrying of the Earl of D. to the Lady R. when it was notorious to the World, that she had another Husband, and the same a No∣bleman, who had divers Children then living by her. King James did for many years take this so ill, that he would never hear of any great preferment of him; insomuch that the Bishop of Lincoln, Doctor Williams, who taketh upon him to be the first promoter of him, hath many times said, That when he made mention of Land to the King, his Majesty was so averse from it, that he was con∣strained oftentimes to say, That he would never desire to serve that Master, which could not remit one fault unto his Servant. Well, in the end he did conquer it, to get him to the Bishoprick of St. Davids; which he had not long enjoyed, but he began to undermine his Benefactor, as at this day it appeareth. The Countess of Buckingham told Lincoln, that St. David's was the man that under∣mined him with her Son: And verily, such is his aspiring nature, that he will underwork any man in the World, so that he may gain by it.

This man, who believeth so well of himself, fiamed an Answer to my Exceptions. But to give some countenance to it, he must call in three o∣ther Bishops, that is to say, Durham, Rochester, and Oxford, tried men for such a purpose; and the whole style of the Speech runneth, We and We.

This seemed so strong a confutation, that for re∣ward of their Service, as well as for hope that they would do more, Doctor Neal, Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop of Bath, were sworn of the Privy Council.

The very day, being Sunday, Mr. Murrey was sent unto me with a Writing; but finding me all in a sweat by a sit of the Stone, which was then upon me, he forbore for that time to trouble me, and said, That on the morrow he would repair to me again. I got me to Bed, and lying all that night in pain, I held it not convenient to rise the next day: And on the Munday, Mr. Murrey came unto me, which was the Eighth time that he had been with me, so uncessantly was I plyed with this noble Work.

I had shewed it before to a friend or two, where∣of the one was a learned Doctor of Divinity, and the other had served many times in Parliament with great commendation. We all agreed, That it was an idle work of a man that understood not Logick, that evidently crossed himself, that some∣times spake plausibly, and in the end of his Ser∣mon fell so poor and slat, that it was not worth the reading.

Mr. Murrey coming to my Bed-side, said, That he was sent again by the King, and had a Paper to be shewed unto me.

Archb.

You see in what case I am, having slept little as this last night, but nevertheless since you come from the King, I will take my Spectacles and read it.

Murrey.

No, my Lord, you may not read it, neither handle it; for I have charge not to suffer it to go out of my hands.

'Archb.

How then shall I know what it is?

Murrey.

Yes, I have order to read it unto you, but I may not part with it.

Archb.

I must conceive, that if I do not assent to it, his Majesty will give me leave to reply up∣on it; which I cannot do, but in my Study, for there are my Books.

Murrey.

I must go with you into your Study, and sit by you till you have done.

Archb.

It is not so hasty a work, it will require time, and I have not been used to study, one sitting by me: but first read it, I pray you.

The young Gentleman read it from one end to the other, being two or three sheets of Paper.

Archb.

This Answer is very bitter, but giveth me no satisfaction. I pray you leave the Writing with me, and I shall batter it to pieces.

Murrey.

No my Lord, I am forbidden to leave it with you, or to suffer you to touch it.

Archb.

How cometh this about? are the Au∣thors of it affraid of it, or ashamed of it? I pray you tell his Majesty, that I am dealt with neither Manly nor Scholar-like. Not Manly, because I must fight with Adversaries that I know not; nor Scholar-like, because I must not see what it is that must confute me. It is now Eight and forty years ago that I came to the University, and since that time I have ever loved a Learned man; I have disputed and written divers Books, and know ve∣ry well what appertaineth to the Schools. This is a new kind of Learning unto me. I have former∣ly found fault, that the Author of this Sermon quoteth not the places whereupon he grounds his Doctrine; and when I have oft called for them, it is replied unto me, That I must take them up∣on the credit of the Writer, which I dare not do; for I have searched but one place, which he quo∣ted in general, but sets down neither the Words nor the Treatise, nor the Chapter, and I find no∣thing to the purpose for which it is quoted; and therefore I have reason to suspect all the rest. I pray you therefore, in the humblest manner, to commend my Service to the King my Master, and let him know, that unless I may have all the Quo∣tations set down, that I may examine them, and may have that Writing, wherein I am so ill used, I cannot allow the Book.

Before I go further, it shall not be amiss to touch some Particulars of that which I sent in writing to the King.

The first Page 2. Those words deserve to be well weighed, And whereas the Prince pleads not the power of Prerogative.

To this Mr. Murrey said, The King doth not

plead it: But my reply was, By what then doth he coerce those Refractories? for I have not heard of any Law whereby they are imprisoned, and therefore I must take it to be by the King's Prero∣gative.

To the second, Page 8. The King's duty is first to direct and make Laws. There is no Law made till the King assent unto it; but if it be but simply to make Laws, it will cause much startling at it.

To this I remember not any material thing an∣swered, neither to the third.

Page 10. If nothing may excuse from active obedi∣ence, but what is against the Law of God, or of Nature, or impossible: How doth this agree with the first fundamental Position, Page 5. That all Subjects are bound to all their Princes, according to the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom wherein they live?

This is a fourth Case of Exception.

And here before I go to the rest, the Doctor did truly hit upon a good point, in looking to the Laws and Customs, if he could have kept him to it; for in my memory, and in the remem∣brance of many Lords, and others that now live, Doctor Harsenet, the then Bishop of Chichester, and now of Norwich, in Parliament time preach∣ed a Sermon at Whitehall, (which was afterwards burned) upon the Text, Give unto Caesar the things that be Caesar's. Wherein he insisted, That Goods and Money were Caesar's, and therefore they were not to be denied unto him.

At this time, when the whole Parliament took main offence thereat, King. James was constrain'd to call the Lords and Commons into the Banquet∣ing-house at Whitehall, and there his Majesty calmed all, by saying, The Bishop only failed in this, when he said, The Goods were Caesar's; he did not add, They were his according to the Laws and Customs of the Countrey wherein they did live.

So moderate was our Caesar then, as I my self saw, and heard, being then an eye and ear wit∣ness; for I was then Bishop of London.

To the Fourth, the Poll-money, in St. Mat∣thew, was imposed by the Emperor, as a Con∣queror of the Jews; and the execution of it in England, although it was by a Law, produced a terrible effect in King Richard the Second's time, when only it was used, for ought that ap∣peareth.

Here the Bishop in the Paper excepted divers things, as, That sometimes among us by Act of Parliament, Strangers are appointed to pay by the Poll, which agreeth not with the case; and that it was not well to bring Examples out of weak times, whereas we live in better; but that it was a marvellous fault, the blame was not laid upon the Rebels of that Age.

Those are such poor things, that they are not worth the answering.

But my Objection in truth prevailed so far, that in the Printed Book it was qualified thus [Poll∣money, other persons, and upon some occasi∣ons] where obiter I may observe, That my re∣fusing to sign the Sermon, is not to be judged by the Printed Book, for many things are altered in one, which were in the other.

To the Fifth, Page 12. it is in the bottom, view the Reign of Henry the Third, whether it be fit to give such allowance to the Book, being surrep∣titiously put out.

To this it was said, That being a good passage out of a blame-worthy Book, there was no harm in it.

But before the Question of Sibthorp's T••eatise, the Bishop of Bath himself being with me, sound much fault with that Treatise, as being put out for a scandalous Parallel of those times.

To the sixth in the same Page, Let the large∣ness of those words be well considered, Yea, all Antiquity to be absolutely for absolute Obedience to Princes, in all Civil or Temporal things: For such Cases (as Naboth's Vineyard) may fall within this.

Here the Bishop was a man in a rage, and said, That it was an odious comparison; for it must suppose, that there must be an Ahab, and there must be a Jezebel, and I cannot tell what: but I am sure my Exception standeth true, and reviling and railing doth not satisfie my Argu∣ment, All Antiquity taketh the Scripture into it; and if I had allowed that proportion for good, I had been justly beaten with my own Rod.

If the King, the next day, had commanded me to send him all the Money and Goods I had, I must, by my own Rule, have obeyed him; and if he had commanded the like to all the Cler∣gy-men in England, by Doctor Sibthorp's propor∣tion, and my Lord of Canterbury's allowing of the same, they must have sent in all, and left their Wives and Children in a miserable case. Yea, the words extend so far, and are so absolutely de∣livered, that by this Divinity, if the King should send to the City of London, and the Inhabitants thereof, commanding them to give unto him all the wealth which they have, they were bound to do it: I know our King is so gracious, that he will attempt no such matter; but if he do it not, the defect is not in their slattering Divines, who, if they were called to question for such Doctrine, they would scarce be able to abide it. There is a Meum and Tuum in Christian Commonwealths, and according to Laws and Customs, Princes may dispose of it, that saying being true, Ad Reges Po••••∣stas omnium pertinet, ad singulos ••ropri••tas.

To the seventh, Page 14. Pius Quintus was dead before the year One thousand five hundred and eighty,

They make no Reply, but mend it in the print∣ed Book, changing it into Gregory the Thir∣teenth.

To the last, in the same Page, weigh it well, How this Loan may be called a Tribute; and when it is said, We are promised shall not be immoderately imposed.

How that agreeth with his Majesties Commis∣sion and Proclamation, which are quoted in the Margent, they make no Answer; but in the pub∣lished Sermon, distinguish a Tribute from a Loan or Aid, whereby they acknowledged it was not well before; and indeed it was improper and absurd, worthy of none but Dr. Sibthorp.

I have now delivered the grounds whereupon I refused to authorise this Book, being sorry ••t my heart, that the King, my gracious Master, should rest so great a building upon so weak a foundation, the Treatise being so slender, and without substance, but that it proceeded from a hungry man.

If I had been in Council, when the Project for this Loan was first handled, I would have u∣sed my best Reasons to have had it well ground∣ed; but I was absent, and knew not wher ••p∣on they proceeded, only I saw it was followed with much vehemency: And since it was put in ••xe∣cution,

I did not interpose my self to know the grounds of one, nor of the other.

It seemeth therefore strange unto me, that in the upshot of the business, I was called in to make that good by Divinity, which others had done; and must have no other inducements to it, but Doctor Sibthorp's contemptible Treatise. I imagined this for the manner of the carriage of it, to be some∣what like unto the Earl of Somerset's Case, who a∣bused the Wife of the Earl of Essex, must have her divorced from her Husband, and must himself marry her: And this must not be done, but that the Archbishop of Canterbury must ratifie all judicially. I know the Cases are different, but I only compare the manner of the carriage.

When the Approbation of the Sermon was by me refused, it was carried to the Bishop of Lon∣don, who gave a great and stately allowance of it; the good man being not willing that any thing should stick which was sent unto him from the Court, as appeareth by the Book, which is com∣monly called, The Seven Sacraments, which was allowed by his Lordship, with all the Errors; which since that time have been expunged, and taken out of it.

But before this passed the Bishop's File, there is one accident which fitly cometh in to be recount∣ed in this place. My Lord of London hath a Chap∣lain, Doctor Worrat by name, who is Scholar good enough, but a kind of free Fellow-like man, and of no very tender Conscience. Doctor Sibthorp's Sermon was brought unto him, and, hand over head, (as the Proverb is) he approved it, and sub∣scribed his name unto it. But afterwards, being better advised, he sent it to a learned Gentleman of the Inner Temple, and writing some few lines unto him, craveth his opinion of that which he had done; the Gentleman read it: but although he had promised to return his judgment by Letter, yet he refused so to do, but desired that Doctor Worral would come himself; which being done, he spake to this purpose: What have you done? You have allowed a strange Book yonder; which, if it be true, there is no Meum or Tuum, no man in England hath any thing of his own: If ever the Tide turn, and matters be called to a reckoning, you will be hanged for publishing such a Book. To which the Doctor answered, Yea, but my hand is to it; what shall I do? For that, the o∣ther replied, you must scrape out your name, and do not so much as suffer the sign of any letter to re∣main in the Paper. Which accordingly he did, and withdrew his singer from the Pye.

But what the Chaplain well advised would not do, his Lord, without sticking, accomplished; and so being insensibly hatched, it came flying in∣to the World: But in my opinion, the Book hath perswaded very few understanding men, and hath not gained the King six pence.

Notes

• Bishop ••and is employed ed to an∣swer these Objecti∣ons.
• K. James was a long time of∣fended with Bi∣shop Land.
• He was ad∣vanced by Bishop Williams.
• Bishops of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & Bath sworn of the Pri∣vy Coun∣cil.
• Mr. Murrey brings the Answer to the Arch∣bishop's Objections
• The Arch∣bishop i•• not suffer∣ed to see the Wri∣tings, but Mr. Murrey reads it.
• Sibthorp's Sermon li∣cenced by the Bp. of London.
• Mr. Selden.