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.

Archbishop Abbot his Narrative.

Pars Prima.

IT is an Example, so without Example, that in the Sunshine of the Gospel, in the midst of * 1.1 profession of the true Religion, under a gracious King, whom all the World must acknowledge to be blemished with no Vice; a man of my Place and Years, who have done some service in the Church and Commonwealth, so deeply laden with some furious infirmities of Body, should be removed from his ordinary Habitation, and by a kind of de∣portation should be thrust into one end of the Island (although, I must confess, into his own Diocess) that I hold it fit, that the reason of it should be truly understood, lest it may someways turn to the scandal of my Person and Calling.

Which Declaration notwithstanding, I intend not to communicate to any, but to let it lie by me privately, that it being set down impartially, whilst all things are fresh in memory, I may have recourse to it hereafter, if questions shall be made of any thing contained in this Relation.

And this I hold necessary to be done, by reason * 1.2 of the strangeness of that, which by way of Cen∣sure was inflicted upon me, being then of the Age of Sixty five years, incumber'd with the Gout, and afflicted with the Stone, having lived so many years in a place of great Service, and, for ought I know, untainted in any of my Actions, although my Ma∣ster King James, who resteth with God, had both a searching Wit of his own, to discover his Ser∣vants whom he put in trust, whether they took any sinister courses, or no; and wanted not some suggesters about him to make the worst of all mens actions whom they could misreport: Yet this In∣nocency and good Fame to be over-turned in a month, and a Christian Bishop suddenly to be made Fabula Vulgi, to be tossed upon the Tongues of Friends and Foes, of Protestants and Papists, of Court and Countrey, of English and Forreigners, must needs, in common opinion, presuppose some Crime, open or secret: Which being dis∣covered by the King, albeit not fully appearing to the World, must draw on indignation in so high a measure.

I cannot deny, that the indisposition of my Bo∣dy * 1.3 kept me from Court, and thereby gave occasion to Maligners to traduce me, as withdrawing my self from publick Services, and therefore mis∣liking some courses that were taken; which abstain∣ing perhaps neither pleased the King, nor the Great Man that set them on foot.

It is true, that in the turbulancy of some things; I had no great invitements to draw me abroad, but to possess my Soul in patience, till God sent fairer weather: But the true ground of my abstaining from solemn and publick places, was the weakness of my Feet, proceeding from the Gout; which Disease being hereditary unto me, and having possessed me now Nine years, had debilitated me more and more: So that I could not stand at all, neither could I go up or down a pair of Stairs, but besides my Staff, I must have the service of one, at least, of my Men, which was not fit to be ad∣mitted in every place where I was to come.

And although I was oft remembred by the wi∣sest of my Friends, that I might be carried as the old Lord Treasurer Burleigh was, yet I did not think my service so necessary for the Commonwealth, as his Lordships, by long experience; was found to be. I did not value my self at so high a rate, but remembred, that it was not the least cause of o∣verthrow to Robert Earl of Essex, that he prized himself so, as if Queen Elizabeth and the King∣dom could not well have stood, if he had not sup∣ported both the one and the other.

Now for me, thus enfeebled, not with the Gout only, but with the Stone also and Gravel, to wait on the King, or the Council-Table, was by me held a matter most inconvenient. In the Courts of Princes, there is little feeling of the infirmities belonging to old age, they like them that be young and gallant in their actions, and in their cloaths, they love not that men should stick too long in a∣ny room of Greatness, Change and Alteration bringing somewhat with it. What have they to do with Kerchieves and Staves, with lame or sick men? It is certainly true, there is little compassi∣on upon the bodily defects of any. The Scripture speaketh of men standing before Kings, it were an uncouth sight to see the Subject sit the day be∣fore the Coronation, when on the morrow I had work enough for the strongest man in England, being weak in my feet, and coming into White∣hall to see things in a readiness against the next day; yet notwithstanding the Stone and Gout, I was not altogether an inutile Servant in the King's Affairs, but did all things in my House that were to be done, as in keeping the High-Commission Court, doing all inferiour actions conducing thereunto, and dispatching References from his Majesty that came thick upon me.

These Relations which are made concerning me, be of certain truth, but reach not to the rea∣son whereof I was discarded.

To understand therefore the verity, so it is, That the Duke of Buckingham being still great in * 1.4 the favour of the King, could endure no man that would not depend upon him; among other men, had me in his eye, for not stooping unto him so as to become his Vassal. I that had learn∣ed a Lesson, which I constantly hold, to be no man's servant but the King's (for mine own Roy∣al Master, which is with God, and mine own Reason, did teach me so) went on mine own ways, although I could not but observe, That so many as walked in that path, did suffer for it up∣on all occasions, and so did I, nothing wherein I moved my Master taking place: Which finding so clearly, as if the Duke had set some ill character upon me, I had no way but to rest in patience, leaving all to God, and looking to my self as wa∣rily as I might. But this did not serve the turn, his undertaking was so extraordinary, that every one that was not with him, was presently against him; and if a hard opinion were once entertain∣ed, there was no place left for satisfaction or re∣conciliation.

What befell the Earl of Arundel, and Sir Ran∣dal Crew, and divers others, I need not to re∣port; and no man can make doubt but he blew the Coals.

For my self, there is a Gentleman called Sir * 1.5 H. S. who gave the first light what should befall me: This Knight being of more livelyhood than wisdom, had married the Lady D. Sister to the now Earl of E. and had so treated her, that both for safeguard of her Honour, blemished by him scandalously, and for her Alimony or Maintenance (being glad to get from him) she was enforced to endure a Suit in the High-Commission Court: So to strengthen his party, he was made known to the Duke, and by means of a dependant on his Grace, he got a Letter from the King. That the

Commissioners should proceed no further in hear∣ing of that Cause, by reason that it being a diffe∣rence between a Gentleman and his Wife, the King's Majesty would hear it himself. The Sol∣licitor for the Lady, finding that the course of Ju∣stice was stopped, did so earnestly, by Petition, move the King, that by another Letter, there was a relaxation of the former restraint, and the Commissioners Ecclesiastical went on: But now, in the new proceeding, finding himself by Justice, like enough to be pinched, he did publickly in the Court refuse to speak by any Counsel, but would plead his Cause himself; wherein he did bear the whole business so disorderly, tumultuously, and unrespectfully, that after divers reproofs, I was enforced for the Honour of the Court, and Repu∣tation of the High Commission, to tell him open∣ly, That if he did dot carry himself in a better fashion, I would commit him to Prison.

This so troubled the young Gallant, that with∣in few days after, being at Dinner or Supper, where some wished me well, he bolted it out, That as for the Archbishop, the Duke had a purpose to turn him out of his place, and that he did but wait the occasion to effect it. Which being brought unto me constantly by more ways than one, I was now in expectation what must be the issue of this great man's indignation, which fell out to be as followeth.

There was one Sibthorpe, who not being so much * 1.6 as a Batchelor of Arts, as it hath been credibly reported unto me, by means of Doctor Pierce, Dean of Peterborough, being Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, did get to be conferred upon him the Title of Doctor.

This man is Vicar of Brackley in Northampton∣shire, and hath another Benefice not far from it in Buckinghamshire. But the lustre of his Honour did arise from the being the Son in Law of Sir John Lamb, Chancellor of Peterborough, whose Daugh∣ter he married, and was put into the Commission of Peace.

When the Lent Assizes were in February last at Northampton, the man that preached before the Judges there, was this worthy Doctor; where magnifying the Authority of Kings, (which is so strong in the Scripture, that it needs no flattery any ways to extol it) he let fall divers Speeches which were distasteful to the Auditors; and name∣ly, That they had power to put Poll-money upon their Subjects heads, when against those Challen∣ges men did frequently mourn.

He being a man of a low Fortune, conceived, * 1.7 that putting his Sermon in print, might gain sa∣vour at Court, and raise his Fortune higher, on he goeth with the Transcribing of his Sermon, and got a Bishop or two to prefer this great Service to the Duke; and it being brought unto the Duke, it cometh in his head, or was suggested unto him by some malicious Body, that thereby the Arch∣bishop might be put to some remarkable strait. For it the King should send the Sermon unto him, and command him to allow it to the Press, one of these two things would follow, that either he should authorize it, and so all men that were in∣different, should discover him for a base and un∣worthy Beast; or he should refuse it, and so should fall into the King's indignation, who might pur∣sue it at his pleasure, as against a man that was con∣trary to his service.

Out of this Fountain flowed all the Water that afterwards so wet: in rehearsing whereof, I must set down divers particulars, which some men may wonder how they should be discovered unto me. But let it suffice once for all, that in the word of an honest man, and of a Bishop, I recount no∣thing, but whereof I had good warrant, God him∣self working means.

The matters were revealed unto me, although it be not convenient that in this Paper I name * 1.8 the manner how they came unto me, lest such as did by well doing further me, should receive blame for their labour. Well! resolved it is, that I must be put to it, and that with speed; and there∣fore Mr. William Murrey, Nephew (as I think) unto Mr. Thomas Murrey, sometimes Tutor unto Prince Charles, and the young man now of the King's Bed-chamber, is sent unto me with the written Sermon; of whom I must say, That al∣beit he did the King his Master's business, yet he did use himself civilly and temperately unto me. For avoiding of inquit and inquam (as Tully saith) I said this, and he said that, I will make it by way of Dialogue, not setting down every days confe∣rence exactly by it self, but mentioning all things of importance in the whole, yet distinguishing of times, where, for the truth of the Relation, it cannot be avoided.

Murrey.

My Lord, I am sent unto you by the King, to let you know, that his pleasure is, That * 1.9 whereas there is brought unto him a Sermon to be printed, you should allow this Sermon to the Press.

Archb.

I was never he that authorised Books to be printed; for it is the work of my Chaplains to read over other men's Writings; and what is fit, to let it go, and what is unfit, to expunge it.

Murrey. But the King will have you your self to do this, because he is minded, that no Books shall be allowed, but by you and the Bishop of London: And my Lord of London authorized one the other day (Cousens his Book) and he will have you do this.

Archb. This is an occupation that my old Ma∣ster King James did never put me to, and yet I was then young, and had more abilities of body than now I have; so that I see I must now learn a new lesson: but leave it with me, and when I have read it, I shall know what to say unto it; a day or two hence you shall understand my mind. When I had once or twice perused it, I found some words which seemed unto me to cross that which the King intended, and in a sort to destroy it; and therefore upon his return, a day or two after, I ex∣press'd my self thus.

Mr. Murrey, I conceive, that the King intend∣eth, that this Sermon shall promote the service now in hand about the Loan of Money, but in my opinion it much crosseth it; for he layeth it down for a rule, and because it shall not be forgot∣ten, he repeateth it again,

That Christians are bound in duty one to another, * 1.10 especially all Subjects to their Princes, according to the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom, wherein they live.

Out of this will men except this Loan, because that there is neither Law nor Custom for it in the Kingdom of England.

Secondly, In my judgment, there followeth a dangerous Speech, Habemus necessitatem vindicande libertatis. For this was all that was then quoted out of Calvin, no mention being made of any the other words which are now in the printed Copy: for when by the former Rule he hath set men at li∣berty, whether they will pay or no, he imposeth

upon them a necessity to vindicate this liberty, and Vindicare may be extended to challenge with vio∣lence cum vi. But for my part, I would be most unwilling to give occasion to Sedition and Mutiny in the Kingdom.

Again, here is mention made of Poll-money, which, as I have heard, hath already caused much distaste where the Sermon was preached.

Moreover, what a speech is this, That he ob∣serves the forwardness of the Papists to offer double, according to an Act of Parliament so providing, yea, to profess, that they would part with the half of their Goods, where he quoteth in the Margent, Ann 1. Caroli; the Act for the Subsidy of the Laity, whereby Popish Recusants were to pay dou∣ble; when indeed there is no such Act.

And in the fifth place, it is said in this Sermon, That the Princes of Bohemia have power to depose their Kings, as not being Hereditary, which is a great question. Such a one as hath cost much blood, and must not in a word be absolutely defi∣ned here, as if it were without controversie. I pray you make his Majesty acquainted with these things, and take the Book with you, (where it is to be noted, that all this time we had but one single Copy, which was sometime at the Court, and sometime left with me.)

Murrey.

I will faithfully deliver these things to the King, and then you shall hear further from me.

Some two or three days after he returned again unto me, and telleth me, That he had particular∣ly * 1.11 acquainted the King with my Objections; and his Majesty made this Answer: First, for the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom, he did not stand up∣on that, he had a President for that which he did, and thereon he would insist.

Archb.

I think that to be a mistaking, for I fear there will be sound no such President. King Henry the Eighth, as the Chronicle sheweth, desi∣red but the Sixth part of mens Estates, Ten groats in the pound; our King desireth the whole six parts full out, so much as men are set at in the Subsidy Book: And in the time of King Henry, although he were a powerful King, yet, for that Taxation, there began against him little less than a Rebellion; so that he held it wisdom to desist, and laying the blame upon Cardinal Wolsey, profes∣sed, that he knew nothing of the matter.

Murrey.

Secondly, the King saith, for the words Habemus necessitatem vindicanda libertatis, he ta∣keth them to be for him; and he will stand on his Liberty.

Thirdly, For Poll-money, he thinketh it law∣ful.

Fourthly, It is true, there was no such Act passed, and therefore it must be amended (and yet in the printed Book it is suffered still to stand. Such slight, and, I may say, slovenly care was had by them that published this Sermon.)

And fifthly, for that of Bohemia, he hath crossed it out of the Book.

Some other matters there were, against which I took exception, but Mr. Murrey being a young Gentleman, although witty, and full of good be∣haviour, * 1.12 I doubted, that being not deeply seen in Divinity, he could not so well conceive me, nor make report of my words to his Majesty: And therefore I being lame, and so disabled to wait on the King, did move him, That he would, in my name, humbly beseech his Majesty to send the Bi∣shop of Bath and Wells unto me, and I would, by his means, make known my Scruples: And so I dismissed Mr. Murrey, observing with my self, that the Answer to my Five Objections, especially to two or three, were somewhat strange: As if the King were resolved, were it to his good or to his harm, to have the Book go forth.

After one or two days more, the young Gentle∣man cometh to me again, and telleth me, That the King did not think it fit to send the Bishop of Bath unto me; but he expected I should pass the Book. In the mean time, had gone over one High-Commission day, and this Bishop, who used (otherwise) very few days to fail, was not there; which being joyned to his Majesties Message, made me in some measure to smell, that this whole bu∣siness might have that Bishop's hand in it, especi∣ally I knowing in general the disposition of the man.

The minds of those that were Actors for the publishing of the Book, were not quiet at the Court, that the thing was not dispatched; and therefore one day the Duke said to the King, Do you see how this business is deferred? If more ex∣pedition be not used, it will not be printed before the end of the Term; at which time it is fit that it be sent down into the Countreys.

So eager he was, that either by my credit his undertakings might be strengthned, or, at least, I might be contemned and derided as an unworthy fellow.

This so quickned the King, that the next Mes∣sage which was sent by Mr. Murrey was, in some degree, minatory, That if I did not dispatch it, the King would take some other course with me.

When I found how far the Duke had prevail∣ed, * 1.13 I thought it my best way to set down in wri∣ting many Objections, wherefore the Book was not fit to be published: which I did modestly, and sent them to the King. The words were these, which I culled out of the written Sermon.

1. Page 2. Those words deserve to be well weigh∣ed, And whereas the Prince pleads not the power of Prerogative.

2. 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 put simply to make Laws, it will make much startling at it.

3. Page 10. If nothing may excuse from active o∣bedience, 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.

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 * 1.14 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, * 1.15 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 * 1.16 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 * 1.17 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 * 1.18 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 * 1.19 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, * 1.20 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 * 1.21 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

• * 1.1

  The Arch∣bishop's Narrative concern∣ing his dis∣grace at Court.
• * 1.2

  His Age when this be••••ll him.
• * 1.3

  His indis∣position kept him from Court.
• * 1.4

  The Duke offended with the Archbi∣shop for not stoop∣ing to him.
• * 1.5

  The Arch∣bishop is foretold of the Dukes displea∣sure.
• * 1.6

  Sibthorp's Sermon for Loan money.
• * 1.7

  The Dukes design in having this Ser∣mon sent to the Archbi∣shop to Li∣cence it.
• * 1.8

  Mr. Murrey sent from the King with the Sermon to the Arch∣bishop to have it li∣censed by himself.
• * 1.9

  The dis∣course by way of Di∣alogue, be∣tween the Archbi∣shop and Mr. Murrey on that occasion.
• * 1.10

  The Arch∣bishop's Reasons why he could not license it.
• * 1.11

  His Maje∣sty returns answer by Mr. Murrey to those reasons of the Arch∣bishop.
• * 1.12

  The Arch∣bishop de∣sires Bi∣shop Laud may be sent to him to treat of that Ser∣mon.
• * 1.13

  The Arch∣bishop sends his Objections to the Court in writing a∣gainst the Sermon.
• * 1.14

  Bishop ••and is employed ed to an∣swer these Objecti∣ons.
• * 1.15

  K. James was a long time of∣fended with Bi∣shop Land.
• * 1.16

  He was ad∣vanced by Bishop Williams.
• * 1.17

  Bishops of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & Bath sworn of the Pri∣vy Coun∣cil.
• * 1.18

  Mr. Murrey brings the Answer to the Arch∣bishop's Objections
• * 1.19

  The Arch∣bishop i•• not suffer∣ed to see the Wri∣tings, but Mr. Murrey reads it.
• * 1.20

  Sibthorp's Sermon li∣cenced by the Bp. of London.
• * 1.21

  Mr. Selden.