The antipathie of the English lordly prelacie, both to regall monarchy, and civill unity: or, An historicall collection of the severall execrable treasons, conspiracies, rebellions, seditions, state-schismes, contumacies, oppressions, & anti-monarchicall practices, of our English, Brittish, French, Scottish, & Irish lordly prelates, against our kings, kingdomes, laws, liberties; and of the severall warres, and civill dissentions occasioned by them in, or against our realm, in former and latter ages Together with the judgement of our owne ancient writers, & most judicious authors, touching the pretended divine jurisdiction, the calling, lordlinesse, temporalities, wealth, secular imployments, trayterous practises, unprofitablenesse, and mischievousnesse of lordly prelates, both to King, state, Church; with an answer to the chiefe objections made for the divinity, or continuance of their lordly function. The first part. By William Prynne, late (and now againe) an utter-barester of Lincolnes Inne.

The Bishops of Norwich.

1 1.1Iohn de Gray, the fifth Bishop of Norwich (if we be∣leeve * 1.2 Matthew Paris,) was one of those three Court Bishops who were consiliarios iniquissimos most wicked counsellors to King Iohn, during the time of the inderdict of the Realme: who desiring to please the King in all things, consilium non pro ratione, sed pro volun∣tate dederunt, gave the King counsell, not according to Reason, but Will, and thereby wrought much trouble both to the King and Kingdome.

* 1.3 Pandulphus the next Bishop of this See,2 1.4 consecra∣ted by the Pope at Rome, Anno. 1222. was the Popes Legate, and the chiefe instument, who perswaded King Iohn, most ignominiously, and shamefully to re∣signe up his Crowne and Kingdome to the Pope, to become his Vassall, to his eternall infamy, and to sub∣mit himselfe to S••ephen Langhton, and those other Tray∣terly Prelates who intardicted the Realme, excom∣municated this King, published the Popes deprivati∣on of him from his Crowne, and instigated the French King to invade the Realme of England, and usurpe

the Crowne, which the Pope had conferred on him upon King Iohns deprivation from it, of which you may read more at large before in Stephen Langhton, Archbishop of Canterbury, p. 33. to 41. Onely let me informe you, that during the time of this inderdict (aboue six yeares space) all Ecclesiasticall Sacra∣ments ceased in England, except Confession, and the viaticum in extreame necessity, and the Baptisme of In∣fants; so as the bodyes of dead men were carried out of Townes and Villages, and burried like dogges in Highwayes and Ditches without prayers, and the mi∣nistry of Priests, as Matthew Paris and others testifie. Such was the Prelates piety and charity.

About the yeare of our Lord, 1271. In the time of Roger de Skerwing,3 1.5 12. Bishop of Norwich, there was raysed a dangerous sedition betweene the Citizens of Norwich and the Monkes of the Cathedrall Church;* 1.6 the History whereof is briefely this. At a Faire that was kept before the gates of the Priory, there hapned a fray, in which some servants of the Covent, ••lew cer∣taine citizens: A Jury being empaneled hereupon, found them guilty, and the Officers tooke order for the apprehending of the murtherers if they might be met withall. The Monkes greatly offended herewith, first, excommunicated the Citizens, then shutting the gates, not onely prepared themselves to defence. but also began to offend the other, shooting at the passen∣gers first, and afterward issuing out of their gates, kil∣ling divers persons, and spoiling many houses: The Citizens greatly incensed herewith, fired the gates, en∣tred the Monastery. and after a long conflict (a great number being slaine on both sides) prevailed, rifled the Priory, and set fire on the same in divers places at once. This fire consumed not onely the Cells and Of∣fices of the Monkes, but the Almes house also, the steeple, and greatest part of the Cathedrall Church. The King hearing of this tumult, with all speed posted

thither, with the Bishop of Rochester, and others. The Bishop of Rochester, excommunicated all those who had consented to this wickednesse, and the King cau∣sed divers Citizens to be hanged•• drawne, and quar∣tered; amongst the rest that were executed•• a woman that carried fire to the gates was burned. The Monkes for their part appealed to Rome, and so handled the matter, that they not onely escaped punishment but al∣so forced the Citizens to pay them 3000. markes after 500. markes a yeare, toward the reparation of their Church, and to present them with a Pix or Cup of gold of seven pound weight. This end was made by King Edward the first (his Father being now dead) at the request and solicitation of the Bishop. But the Pri∣or (saith Holinshed) was well enough borne out and defended by the Bishop of Norwich named Roger, who (as it is likely) was the Master of the mischiefe, though hands were not layde upon him, nor upon his adhe¦rents, perhaps for feare, peradventure for favour; and no marvell, though the lesse faulty lost their lives, as most guilty; for

— Rarus venator ad ursos Accedit, tutos conservat Sylva Leones; Debilibus robusta nocent, & grandia paruis. Ales fulminiger timidos infestat olores; Accipiter laniat Turdos, mollesque Columbas. Verficoler Coluber ranas miserasque lacertas; Irretit muscas, transraittit aranea vespes.

So Holinshed.

* 1.7After him Anthony de Becke, the 17th. Bishop of this See attaining this dignity at the Popes hands. behaved himselfe so imperiously in the place,* 1.8 that he bereaved the Monkes of divers ancient and long enjoyed privi∣ledges suffering them to doe nothing in their house but what seemed good unto him, plucking downe and preferring amongst them whom he listed.

Neither could he onely be content thus to tyrannize over them, but scorning to have his actions reformed or called in question by any other, he openly with∣stood Robert Winchelsey, Bishop of Canterbury in his Visitation; affirming, that he would not answer to those things which were objected against him, unlesse it were at the Court of Rome. This boysterous and unruly dealing purchased him such hatred of all men, that at the last he was poysoned by some of his owne servants.

William Bateman the 18th. Bishop of Norwich••5 1.9 forced the Lord Morley for killing certaine Deere in one of his Parkes, and abusing his Keepers,* 1.10 to carry a bur∣ning Taper in his hand, through the streetes of Nor∣wich unto the High-Altar by way of Pennance. And although King Edward the third became an earnest in∣tercessor for him to the Bishop, mingling sometimes threates with requests, yet nothing could move the Bishop following his determinate course; such arro∣gant, malicious, dispitefull froward creatures are Pre∣lates for the most part, both towards Kings and No∣bles. In his time there hapned a great Pestilence, so that in many Monasteries and religious Houses, there were scarce two of twenty left alive, there died onely in Norwich in one yeare, besides religious men 57104 persons.

Henry Spencer,6 1.11 a Gentleman of great valour and skill in martiall affaires, * 1.12 serving the Pope as Generall in his, warres, in the yeere 1370. was made Bishop of Norwich. And being a better Butcher and Souldier than a Shepheard, he (notwithstanding the Kings Commandement to the contrary) procured the Popes authority for levying of an army here in England, which he transported about the yeare 1385. into the Low-Countries for the Popes service in his war••es, where after hee had slaine above 1100. men, in a set batt••ll (wherein the Priests and religious men that were with

the Bishop fought valiantly and most eagerly, some of them slaying sixteene men apeece in one battell against the ••lemmings: vanquished an army of 30000. and burnt the Townes of Graveling, Dunkirke, Newport and others, returned againe into England, the King seising his Temporalties into his hands & detaining them two yeares space for his contempt, in raising an army with∣out, and against his expresse command. This Martiall Prelate, had forgotten what answer all the Bishops, Abbots, and Clergy of England gave to King Henry the third, Anno. 1267. in a Parliament at St. Edmonds Berry, where the King demanding, that all Clergy men holding Baronies, or Lay Fee, should goe armed in person against the Kings enemies, or should finde so many men to serve the King in his Expidition, as per∣tained to so much land or tenement. To this they an∣swered, * 1.13 Quod non debent pugnare cum gladio raateriali; That they ought not to fight with the materiall sword, but with the spirituall, naraely with teares, and sighes, and devout Prayers; and that for their Benefices they were bound to main∣taine peace not warre: and that their Baronies were founded in pure Franck-Almoigne, where they owed no Knights Ser∣vice but what was certaine; neither would they begin any new: and when it was replied, that the Prelates were obliged to grant all the Kings requests (there specified and contradicted by them) whether they would or no, by reason of the Oath they had taken at Coventrie, where they swore, that they would ayde their Lord the King by all meanes that they could. To this they gave this equivocating answer; that when they made this Oath, they understood it not of any other ayde, but spirituall and wholesome councell, denying to grant the King any mony at all. But it seemes that this was then the Bishops received distinction, that they might lawfully beare armes, and fight with the materiall sword, and grant Subsedias to ayde the Pope against his enemies, as this Bishop and the Clergy in his time did; but not to assist the King against his enemies•• This Martiall Act of his war∣like

Prelate is thus censured by * 1.14 William Swinderby, one of our Martyrs in Richard the seconds raigne. Fur∣ther I say, if the Pope hold men of armes, in maintai∣ning his Temporalties and Lordship to venge him on them that gilten and offend him, and gives remission to fight and to sley them that contrary him•• as men say he did by the Bishop of Norwich, not putting his sword into his sheath, as God commanded Peter Mitte, &c. hee is Antichrist, for he does contrary to the Commande∣ments of Jesus, that bade Peter forgive to his brother se∣venty times seventy. Si peccaverit in me frater meus, quotiens dimittam ei? Septies? &c & Christus; non dieo tibi septi••s, sed septuagesies sepcies. Which Walter Brute another mar∣tyr in that time thus seconds, * 1.15 Againe, Christ saith, You have heard that it is said, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but I say unto you, see that you resist not evill. But if any man shall strike you upon the right cheeke, give him the other too; and to him that will strive with thee for thy caate in judgement, let him have thy cloake also, and whosoever shall constraine thee one mile, goe with him also two other. Hee that asketh of thee give him, and he that will borrow of thee, turne not thy self from him. By these things it may plainely ap∣peare how that Christ the King of peace, the Saviour of mankind, who came to save, and not to destroy, who gave a Law of Charity to be observed of his faithfull people, hath taught us not to be angry, not to hate our enemies, nor to render evill for evill, nor to resist evill. For all these things doe foster and nourish peace and charity, and doe proceede and come forth of charity, and when they be not kept charity is loosed, and peace is broken. But the Bishop of Rome approveth and alloweth warres and slaughters of men in warre, as well against our enemies, that is, the Infidells, as also against the Christians for temporall goods. Now these things are quite contrary to Christs Doctrine, and to charity; and to peace, &c. And indeede if wee consider Pope Vrbanes Commission and priviledges

granted to this martiall Prelate against Clement the Antipope and his complices, wee shall see how farre the Popes practises are opposite to Christs practi••e and precepts, and what mercifull, peaceable men Lordly prelates are, I shall give you a taste hereof out of * 1.16 Wal∣singham. In the yeare of our Lord 1382. Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich, received Bulls from the Pope his Lord directed to him, to signe with the Crosse all those who were willing to goe with him into France, to the distruction of the Antipope, who called himselfe Clement, and to sanctifie a warre against all who adhe∣red to him. Which Bulls, because they conferred great power to him, hee caused to be published in Parlia∣ment, and sent abroad Coppies of them round about into every place, which he caused to be fixed on the doores of Churches and Monasteries in open view. These Bulls relate at large the injuries that Clement the Antipope, and the Cardinalls confederating with him, had offered to Vrban, and that Pope Vrban, being un∣able without great offence of Christ, and remorse of conscience any longer to endure so many great ex∣cesses, thought meet to rise up against those wicked ones in the power of the most high, and proceeding judici∣cially against them by a definitive sentence denounced and declared them to be scismatickes, and conspira∣tors against the Pope, and blasphemers, and that they should be punished like Hereticks, and persons guilty of high Treason, and did thereupon excommunicate and accurse them, and withall deprived them from all their Benefices and O••fices whatsoever, making them uncapable to retaine or receive them, or any other, both for the present and future; withall, he degraded all the Nobl••s and Knights who adhered to him from all their honours, dignities, and Knightships, decreed all their goods, moveables and immoveables, rights, and jurisdictions to be confiscated, and their persons to be detestable, and so to be esteemed, and exposed

them to be apprehended by all Christians, and so ap∣prehended to be kept in such sort, that they should not escape, and either be sent immediatly to the said Pope, or else detained close prisoners in safe custody, till hee should give further order therein: Moreover he excommunicated all those who should either be∣leeve, receive, defend, or favour any of them, so as they should not be absolved from this sentence without his privity, unlesse it were at the very point of death; hee further decreed, that whosoever should wittingly pre∣sume to admit any of them to Ecclesiasticall buriall, should be subject to the sentence of Excommunica∣tion, from which he should not be absolved, unlesse at the very point of death; except (O barbarous cruelty) they would first with their owne hands digge them out of their graves, Et procul e••••ecrent ab Ecclesiastica sepul∣tura corpora eorundem; and cast out their bodies far from the Church-yard or Ecclesiasticall burying place. Moreover, he inhibited all Christians wittingly to harbour any of them, or to presume to bring, send•• or suffer to be brought or sent, any corne, wine, flesh•• clothes, wood•• victuals, or any other thing profitable for their use, to any place where any of them should dwell or abide, if it lay in their power to prohibit it; he commanded likewise, that no man should presume in any wise to hinder the apprehention and detention of the said Antipope and his adherents and their trans∣mission to him, and commanded every man to be as∣sisting to their apprehention. And if any did contrary to the premises, or wittingly name, believe in, or preach Clement to be Pope, if he were a single person he should be excommunicated, if a Commonwealth or Corpo∣ration, they should be interdicted, and their cities and Lands, deprived of all commerce with other cities, places, and countries, and that the cities themselves should be deprived of their pontificall dignity, and that none but the Pope himselfe should have power to

absolve them from this interdict, or excommunicati∣on, unlesse it were at the very point of death, hee fur∣ther granted to all persons truely penitent, and confest who would fight against the said Antipope, and his confederates in their proper persons, or by others for one whole yeares space, from the day this Bishop of Norwhich should appoint, either continually, or by times if they were lawfully hindred, to all, as well Clergy men as Lay men who should follow the stan∣dard of the Church, and likewise to all such that should contribute towards the expences of this warre according to their ability, either to the Bishop or to his Deputy, or should hire fit souldiers to warre and continue with him for the said space, the same indul∣gence that was usually granted to those who went to aide the holy Land. Moreover this Pope grants these Priviledges to this his Generall the Bishop of Nor∣wich, for the better promoting of this warre. First, that the said Bishop might execute capitall punishments a∣gainst the Antipope, his adherers, factors, and coun∣cellours in any place, with strong hand. Item that hee should have power to publish processe against the An∣tipope and his adherents and any other, to be fulmina∣ted out by the said Lord the Pope himselfe, against them•• and every of them. Item, that he should have power summarily, and plainely to enquire of all and singular Schismaticks, and to imprison them, and to confiscate all their goods, moveables, and immove∣ables. Item, that he should have power to deprive Lay Schismatiques of all secular Offices whatsoever, and to conferre their Offices upon fit persons. Item, That he should have power of depriving and declaring to be deprived all Schismaticall Clergy men, and of con∣ferring their Benefices with Cure, or without Cure, their dignities, Personages, or Offices to other idone∣ous persons. Item, That he should have power over all exempt persons, Clerkes or Laicks, Seculars or

Regulars, though they were brethren of the Order of the Mendicants, or Professors, or Professed of other Houses, or of the Hospitall of St. Iohns of Ierusalem, or of St. Mary of the Teutonicks, or professors of any other Orders. Item, That he should have power of dispensing with any Beneficed secular Clerks, with Cure, or with∣out Cure, or such who had any dignities, parsonages, or Offices, and with regulars exempt or not exempt, that every of them might be absent with him from their benefices, dignities, offices, and houses un∣der the signe of the Crosse, without any license of their Prelates obtained, with the notice and re∣ception of the fruits of their benefices, as if they per∣sonally had resided. Item, It is granted to all, who goe oversea with him at their owne cost and expences, or at the charges of any other plenary remission of all sinnes, and so many priviledges, as are granted to those who goe to the aide of the holy Land. Item, They who out of their proper goods and meanes shall mi∣nister sufficient wages to fit souldiers, according to the discretion of the said Bishop, or of any deputed by him, albeit he himselfe shall not be personally present in the execution of the said businesse, shall have like remis∣sion of sinnes and indulgence as aforesaid, as they had beene personally present with him. Item, All shall be partakers of this remission who shall congruously mi∣nister of their goods to the said Bishop towards the ex∣pugnation of the said Heretickes. Item, if any in fol∣lowing the same Standard shall chance to die in the journey undertaken, or if the businesse it selfe shall chance to be finished in the interim with a convenient end, he shall intirely receive the same grace, who shall be partaker of the forenamed indulgence & remission. Item, he hath power of excommunicating, suspending, interdicting all rebellious persons; or those who hinder him to execute the power granted to him, of what dig∣nity, state, degree, preheminence, order, place, or condi∣tion soever they shall be, allthough Regall, Queenely,* 1.17 or

Imperiall,* 1.18 or of what other Ecclesiasticall or worldly dignity soever they excell in. Item, He hath power of compelling all religious persons whatsoever, even the professors of the Order of the Mendicants, if it shall seeme expedient to him, to destinate or transmit them where he please for the execution of the premises. This Bishop armed with this large Commission, sends out his Mandates, every where for the advancement of this holy papall warre; and among other his precepts, di∣rects this ensuing mandate to the Clergy of the Pro∣vince of Yorke. Henry, by Divine permission, Bishop of Norwich, Nuncio of the See Apostolicke, to our be∣loved in Christ, all and singular the Rectors, Vicars, and Chaplaines Parochiall within the City and Dio∣cesse of Yorke, greeting in the Lord; Albeit wee have exhorted all, and every of you by Apostolicall autho∣ritie in the Lord, and strictly commanded you, that you should publish the crosse committed to us and its vertue to your parishioners in the most opportune time and places, whose sustainers, fauters, and aiders ac∣cording to Ours, or Our Deputies discretion have plenary remission of sinnes granted, and besides this, have augmentation of eternall salvation permitted, as is more fully contained in the Apostolicall Bulls lawfully published throughout all England. And be∣cause we understand by the relation of credible men, that our exhortation and command hath taken none, or small effect, especially (as is beleeved) by reason of the negligence of Curates, to the diminution of the Catholicke faith, and danger of soules, who easily by your councell and exhortation might obtaine the foresaid priviledges and sempiternall grace. There∣fore wee much affecting the salvation and pofit of soules, lest the precious gift of this spirituall universall grace or our power, should not as much as in us lieth be unknowne to any of your parishoners, for time to come; doe you cause the names of all your

Parishioners to be written, setting downe the summe and donations of those that pay upon their names, and those that pay not, from day to day, as often, and when it shall be most expedient, not onely the rich, but also the poore, according to the similitude of the poore widdow, the healthy, and those that are sicke, especial∣ly in confession, doe you prudently handle, and perswade to put their helping hands to this holy voy∣age, to the destruction and extermination of moderne Heretickes, that so they may be partakers of the merit and reward granted in this behalfe, and your selves hereby very much eased from the burthen of your Cure. Moreover, the desturbers of this holy Voyage, or Rebells to our Commands, or rather to the Apostles, and fauters of the moderne Schisme, you, or some of you shall peremptorily cite, that they personally ap∣peare before us, or our Commissioners by a certaine day perfixed by you, or some one of you in the Cathe∣drall of St. Paul in London, to shew cause, at a precise and peremptory time, wherefore they ought not to be pronounced to have fallen into the censures thundred out against those who perpetrate such things. And further to doe and receive what Justice shall per∣swade. You or some one of you shall distinstly and wisely certifie us or our Commissioners of the nam•••••• and quantity of the almes conferred in this kinde•• and also of the dayes of your citations, and of the manner and forme thereof: Of all, and every of which we burthen every of your consciences, firmely injoyning you by vertue of that obedience you stand obliged to the See Apostolicke•• that you publish these our pre∣sent Letters among your Parishioners, reteining the Coppies of them with your selves, and that yee speedi∣ly transmit them to the next Curate in the foresaid Diocesse: In witnesse whereof wee have to these pre∣sents set to our usuall S••••le in this behalfe: Given at Our Lodging ••t Charing neare Westmi••ster the 9th.

day of the Monesh of February, Anno. Dom. 1382. and the 13th. of Our Consecration. And withall he granted this forme of Absolution to all ayders and Assistants to this holy warre. By the Apostolicall authority com∣mitted to me in this behalfe, wee absolve thee, A. B. from all sinnes confessed with the mouth and sorrowed for with the heart, and which thou wouldst confesse if they came to thy memory, and we grant thee plena∣ry remission of all thy sinnes, and promise thee retri∣bution of just men, and augmentation of eternall sal∣vation; and we grant to thee so many priviledges as are granted to those who goe to the aide of the holy Land, and we impart to thee the suffrages of the prayers and benefits of the Synod of the Vniversall Church,* 1.19 and of the holy Catholike Church. By these recited Letters and Absolutions, you may clearely discerne, 1. The extraordinary insatiable malice, uncharitable∣nesse, cruelty, rage of Popes and Lordly Prelates against their opposites. 2. Their earnest desire and promotion of bloody warres by all manner of instiga∣tions and enforcements. 3. Their exorbitant incroach∣ments and usurpations upon Emperors, Kings, Prin∣ces, Subjects, and all sorts of men, who must be sub∣ject to their Censures, Excommunications, and De∣privations, if they resist their wills and bloody designes. 4. Their notable abuse of Excommunications, and other Ecclesiasticall censures to avenge their owne meere personall wrongs•• and execute their owne malicious designes. 5. Their politicke inventions to raise moneyes, and men to maintaine their warres. 6. The impiety and strange abuse of their pretended indulgences wherewith they grossely cheate poore silly people. 7. The industry of this Martiall Prelate of Norwi••h to promote this holy warre, as he termed it, onely in maintenance of Pope Vrbans inurbanity. This Bull and large Commission of the Pope to the Bishop•• was many dayes debated in Parliament, and so his Voyage: During which time the Bishops fore∣said

Letters & Popes Bull being published throughout the Realme, the silly people, hearing the sweetnesse of so great a benediction to have arrived to the English, would neither reject nor receive in vain so great grace, but inflamed with the heat of devotion and faith, those who thought themselves fit for warre, prepared them∣selves with all speede, and those who seemed unable for the Expedition, according to the councell of their Confessors liberally contributed out of their goods towards the use of those who wentt, ••••t they might de∣serve to be partakers of so great remission and in∣dulgence. And the hearts of all men were so generally inflamed with devotion, that there was almost no man found in so great a Kingdome, who did not either offer himselfe to the said businesse or contribute some∣thing towards it, out of his estate: So that in a short space, divers great summes of money were brought to the Bishop out of many parts of the Kingdome, and multitudes of souldiers resorted to him: whereupon the Bishop takes his journey with part of his army to∣wards the Sea-side, and comes to Northborne in Kent; where making some small stay, he received the Kings writ, commanding him to returne to speake with the King•• and to know his pleasure. The Bishop thinking that if he returned, the King would command him to stay his Voyage, and so all his paines and provision should be lost, and himselfe exposed to derision, ga∣thering together those souldiers he had present by the helpe of Iohn Philpot, transported both him∣selfe and them to Chalis, from whence hee went and besieged Graveling; where in a set battell he van∣quished the Flemmins and Schismaticks, and obtained a glorious victory, slaying at least 12. thousand of them in the battle and flight. The newes whereof comming over into England, so affected the people moved with the hope of the prey they should gaine, that many Ap∣prentices in London, and many servants tooke the Crosse upon them without their Masters consent, and

against their wills, whose example others following throughout the Kingdome, leaving their parents, kind red, and deare consorts, being unarmed, having onely swords, bowes, and arrowes went out to this war; and many religious persons of all Orders, (who craved li∣cense to goe but could not obtaine it) presumed to undertake that Voyage, In magnum personarum suarum dedecus & detrimentum, quia non propter Iesnm tantum pere∣grinare decreverunt sed ut patriam mundumque viderent. Iohn Philpot pro••••••••ng all these with necessaries, trans∣ported them to the Bishop: whose temporalties the King seised and detained many yeares in his hands for undertaking this warre, and passing the sea with his subjects, contrary to his inhibition. A little before this warre, this Martiall Prelate had occasion given him of imploying his valour at home to better purpose. In the yeare 1381 the Commons of Suffolke, and Nor∣folke made one Iohn Lister their Leader, a Dyer of Norwich, called the King of the Commons, endea∣vouring to joyne their forces with those notable Re∣bells Wat ••yler, and Iacke Straw. The Bishop hereupon armed from top to toe, marcheth with such forces as he could raise against these Rebells: meeting with some of them at Ickingham, hee presently laid hold of the three chiefe of them, and without more adoe, cut off their heads, which hee caused to be set upon poles at Newmark••t: Thence hee marched towards Norwich, where he understood the Rebells had determined to make some stay. By the way divers Gentlemen that had hid themselves•• Videntes Episcopum militem in∣duisse, & galeam assumps••sse raetalicam, & lor••cam duram quam non possent penetrare sagittae, nec non gladium ma••erta∣lem ancipitem arr••puisse (as Walsingham writes) joyned with him; so as by that time he came to Norwich hee had a reasonable company about him. With that troope (such as it was) he set upon the Rebells, who had fortified themselves with trenches, and barraca∣does

very strongly, having their carriages, and wa∣gons behinde them. The Martiall Bishop without de∣lay, about to give them open battell, moved with their audacity, commands the Trumpets to blow, and the Drummes to beate; and taking a Lance in his right hand, puts spurres to his horse, and is carried with so great animosity and impetuous boldnesse against them, that with a most speedy course hee pre-ocupies their trenches, before his Archers could come up to him, neither was there neede of Archers, they being come to fight hand to hand. The warlike Prelate therefore, like a wilde Boore gnashing his teeth, spa∣ring neither himselfe nor his enemies, where hee per∣ceives most danger thither hee directs his strength, running through this man, casting downe that man, wounding another, and ceaseth not to hurt the enemy most vehemently, untill all the troope which followed him•• had gotten the Trench, and were prepared to the conflict: the Bishops party then fought valiantly, and so did the Commons, Donec infirmior conscientia partem terreret injustams & animum ab audacia & voluntate sub∣traheret moriendi.* 1.20 Hereupon the fearefull vulgar betake themselves to flight, and because they had no way left besides their Carts and Carriages which they had pla∣ced behinde them, they strove to leape over them, and so to escape. But the Bishop, exercising every where the Office of a circumspect Generall•• dashed these endea∣vours, and hindred those who thought to flee by kil∣ling them, and in hindring slayes them, till hee had ta∣ken their Ringleaders, and Iohn Litcestere their King, whom he caused to be drawne, quartered, and be∣headed. Which done, this Bishop rested not, untill ha∣ving searched out the malefactors throughout the country, he caused Justice to be executed on them, Sicque pacem peperit regioni, & indicibile toto regno com∣modum, laudanda probitas, & audac••a commendanda Pontifi∣cis bellicosi. This Act was very commendable, I con∣fesse

yet unsuitable to his calling. There wa•• great contention betweene him and the Monkes of Norwhich for fifteene yeares, concerning their pri∣viledges and jurisdictions; at last they gave him 400. Markes to enjoy their priviledges.

7 1.21 * 1.22Alexander P••yor of Norwich was next elected B. by the Monks, but the King so misliked their choise, as he not only kept him from his dignity, but also imprisoned him at Winsor almost a whole yeare after his election, yet afterwards at the request of Thomas Arrundell Arch∣bishop of Canterbury, and divers other of the Nobility, he was released, set at liberty, and afforded Consecra∣tion, Anno. 1408.

Richard Nyx. 29. Bishop of this Sea,8 1.23 had a report of a vicious and dissolute liver, and was blind long be∣fore his death. Hilary 25 H. 8. Coram Rege Rot. 15. he was attainted in a praemun••re,* 1.24 put out of the Kings pro∣tection, his person imprisoned, Lands, Goods, and Chattles forfeited to the King, for citing Richard Cocke∣rall, Major of Thetford, and others into his Spirituall Court, and enjoyning them under paine of Excom∣munication, to call a Jury of the said towne before them, and cause them to revoke and cancell a Present∣ment they had found upon Oath touching their Li∣berties, to wit, that none of the said Towne ought to be cited into any Spirituall Consistory, but onely in∣to the Deane of Thetfords Court; and that if any one cited any of that Towne into another Spirituall Court, he ••hould forfeit sixe shillings eight pence for the same, The Glasse-windowes of Kings-Colledge Chappell in Cambridge were bought and set up with part of this Bishops Fine and Forfeiture upon this his attainder, as the Author. of the Catalogue of the Chancellors and Colledges of Cambridge Record••, in his Collegi••m Regis.

9 1.25 * 1.26 Iohn Hopton the 32th Bishop of this Sea, was a great persecuter, and a cause of putting many of our

Martyrs to death; as you may read in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments.

Samuel Harsnet Bishop of this Diocesse,9 1.27 a turbulent Prelate and great opposer of Godly Ministers in the latter end of King Iames, and the beginning of King Charles raigne was questioned and proceeded against in Parliament for divers oppressions, Extortions, and Superstitious innovations introduced in that Dioces••e. Of whom, See more in Yorke, to which he was transla∣ted.

Dr. White,10 1.28 and Dr. Corbet his immediate successors,11 1.29 were men of the same straine with Harsnet, and where∣as Dr. White had gained great fame and reputation in our Church for his learning and Bookes against the Papists whilst he continued an ordinary Minister, his carriage and change was such, that he soone lost all his honour and reputation after he became a Bishop, and when as other men grow commonly white in their old age, he contrariwise like the * 1.30 Albanes (who doe in senectute nigrescere) waxed blacke in his declining dayes, and as some say, deserved the title of that Popish Trea∣tise which he answered in his Orthodox, White dyed blacke. A strange effect of a white Rochet.

But his Successor in this See, Matthew Wren,2 1.31 a man of a more active spirit, thinking it a disparagement to him, not to transcend his predecessors in superstitious Popish Innovations, and extravagant oppressions, both of the Ministers and people of that Diocesse, hath beene so exorbitantly outragious in his procee∣dings, that upon the hearing of sundry Petition•• and complaints against him in Parliament, the whole House of Commons have transmitted to the Lords these subsequent Articles of impeachment against him (already Printed) wherein the malicious venome of his spirit against piety and our Religion, with his se∣ditious, oppressive practises are Anatomized to the full, and most elegantly displaied in their proper co∣lours

by Sir Thomas Widdrington in his Speech at their transmission, which Articles and Speech here I insert.

ARTICLES of Impeachment, of the COMMONS A••sembled in Parliament in the name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, against Matthew Wren, Dr. in Divinity, late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely, for severall Crimes, and Misdemeanors committed by him.

THat the said Matthew Wren, being Popishly and superstitiously affected, did at his first comming to be Bishop of Norwich, which was in the yeare 1635. endeavour by sundry wayes, and meanes, to suppresse the powerfull and painefull Preaching of the Word of God; did introduce divers Orders, and Injunctions, tending to Superstition and Idolatry; did disturbe, and disquiet the orderly, and settled estate of the Mi∣nisters, and people, and Churches of that Diocesse, to the great prejudice of His Majestie, the great griefe and disquiet, and hazard of the estates, consciences, and lives of many of his Majesties Loyall Subjects there, to the manifest bringing in, and increasing of prophane∣nesse, ignorance, and disobedience in the Common people, (as by the particulars ensuing may appeare.)

I. Whereas many Chancels of Churches, during all the time of Queene Elizabeth, King Iames, and of his Majestie that now is, had laid and beene continued, even and flat, without any steps ascending towards the East-end of the same, and are ordered to continue as they were, and so ought to have continued; He of his own minde and will, without any lawfull warrant of authority, in the yeare 1636. being then Bishop of Nor∣wich, ordered and enjoyned, that the same should be raised towards the East-end, some two, some three, some foure steps, that so the Communion Table there placed Altarwise, might be the better seene of the people.

II. He in the same yeare 1636. ordered, That the Com∣munion Table which is appointed by the said Rubrick, at the time of the celebration of the holy Communion, to be placed in the Body of the Church or Chancell, where Divine Prayers are usually read, and where the people might best heare, should be set up close un∣der the Wall at the East-end of the Chancell Altar∣wise, and not to be removed from thence; whereby the Minister, who is by the Law to Officiate at the North-side of the Table, must either stand and offici∣ate at the North-end of the Table so standing Altar∣wise, or else after the Popish and Idolatrous manner, stand and officiate at the Westside of the Table with his backe towards the people.

III. He in the same yeare 1636. enjoyned that there should be a Rayle set on the top of the new raised steps before the Communion Table so set Altarwise as a∣foresaid, which Rayl should raise from the Southside of the Chancell to the North within, which the Mi∣nister onely should enter, as a place too holy for the people; and some of the people were punished for step∣ping into it, as namely Daniel Wayman, and others.

IV. The more to advance blinde Superstition, hee in the same yeare 1636. ordered that all the Pewes in the Church should be so altered, that the people might kneele with their faces Eastward, towards the Com∣munion Table so set Altarwise as aforesaid; And that there should be no seats in the Chancell above, or on either side even up with the said Table.

V. He in the same yeare 1636. enjoyned that every Minister after he had finished the reading of some part of the Morning Prayer, at the Deske, should goe out from the same to the holy Table set Altarwise, as to a more holy place, and there, when no Communion was to be administred, reade at the said Table a part of the Communion Service, now commonly called the se∣cond Service, whereby the consciences both of the Mi∣nister,

and people, have beene not onely very much of∣fended, and grieved, but also the Service it selfe was made very unprofitable to the people•• who could not heare what was said, or prayed in that place.

VI. That both he in his owne person, his Chaplains, and others of the Clergy as namely, Master Iohn Novell, Master William Guest, Master Iohn Dunckon, and others following his example, did ever after the Table was so set Altarwise, use and performe such, so many, and so frequent bowings and adorations before, and to∣wards the said Table as have beene dangerous exam∣ples to draw others to the like superstitious ge∣stures, and have given great scandall•• and offence to the sound, and sincere, and well affected Christi∣ans.

VII. Hee in the said yeare 1636, enjoyned all the people to come up to the Rayle to receive the holy Communion, and there kneele, and doe reverence be∣fore the holy Table placed Altarwise and gave directi∣ons to the Ministers not to administer the Communi∣on to such people as should not so come up, and do such reverence as aforesaid, And that the Minister should within the Rayle deliver the Bread to such people onely as should so come up and kneele before the said Table as aforesaid. This was to the offence of the con∣sciences of many good people, who for feare of Idola∣try and Superstition, durst not come to kneele at the ••aid Rayl before the Table so placed Altarwise; and many people not comming up thither, though presen∣ting themselves upon their knees in the Chancell, have not had the Communion delivered unto them, and af∣terward for not receiving have bin excommunicated, as namely, Iohn Shyming, Samuel Dunckon, Peter Fisher, Tho∣mas Neuton, Edward Bedwell, Edmund Day, Iohn Frowar, and many others.

VIII. He did in the said yeare, 1636. enjoyn and command, that there should be no Sermons on the

Lords Days in the afternoone or on the weeke dayes at all, without his Licence. And also enjoyned that there should be no Catechising, but onely such questions, and answers•• as are contained in the Booke of the Common prayer. Not allowing the Ministers to expound or open the points of the same to the poople. He and his under Officers affirming in publike places, that such an exposition might be as ill as a Sermon. And the more to hearten, and confirme the people in prophaning the Lords Day, He enjoyned the Ministers to read publikely in their Churches, a Book published touching Sports on the Lords Day. For not reading whereof, some Ministers were by the command and directions of the said Bishop suspended, viz. Master William Leigh, Mr. Richard Proud, Mr. Ionathan Burr, Mr. Mathew Brumwrigg, Mr. Mott, and divers others, some deprived Master Powell, Mr. Richard Raymond, Mr. Jeremy Borrowes, and some otherwise troubled. By all which, knowledge was suppressed, and ignorance and prophanenesse introduced in that Diocesse.

IX. There having beene formerly two kinds of rin∣ging of Bells, and calling people to the Church in that Diocesse (viz.) one kinde, when there were one∣ly Prayers to be read, and another kinde, when there were both Prayers to be read, and a Sermon preached, whereby the people did apply themselves to the Service of God in those places, where both Prayers, and Prea∣ching was to be; He to hinder the people in their good desires of serving of God, and edifying their soules, did in the same yeare 1636. command, and enjoyne that there should be no difference in ringing of Bells to Church when there was a Sermon, and when there was none.

X. Whereas many godly Ministers for the preven∣ting of the great sinne in the people of unworthy recei∣ving the holy Communion of the Lords Supper•• did use to Preach two or three dayes before every Com∣munion,

a preparation Sermon to prepare, and instruct the people in the right and worthy receiving of the Communion, He the said Bishop did in the said yeare, 1636. forbid Ministers, to preach any such prepa••ati∣on Sermon in that Diocesse, as namely, Master Deve∣reux, Master Swayn, and other Ministers.

XI. Whereas all Gods Ordinances are sanctified, and made fruitfull by the blessing of God upon them by Prayer; Hee endeavouring to suppresse the power, and benefit of Prayer in the yeare 1636. enjoyned that no Minister should use any prayer before his Sermon, but move the people to pray onely in the words of the fifty fifth Canon made Anno Dom. 1603. which Canon was not warranted by the Law. And that no prayer should be used before or after the Sermon. And he in his owne person having beene at the Sermon in the Towne of Ipswich when the Preacher did use or make any other prayer, did sit upon his seat without using, or giving any reverence of kneeling, or otherwise, thereby to discountenance such prayer. And he in the said yeere 1636. enjoyned that no prayer should be made in the Pulpit for the sicke, and that such as were prayed for in the reading Deske, should be prayed for onely in the two Collects prescribed for the Visitation of the sicke in private houses.

XII. He the more to alienate the peoples heart from hearing of Sermons in the said yeare 1636. comman∣ded, and enjoyned all Ministers to preach constantly in their Hood, and Surplice, a thing not used before in that Diocesse, and much offensive to the people as a scandalous innovation. And the Parishioners of Knatt∣shall wanting a Surplice•• he did by his Officers in the yeare 1637. injoyn the Churchwardens there, that no prayers should be read in that Church till they had got a Surplice, which they not getting for the space of two Lords dayes after, had no prayers during that time there.

XIII. That during the time of his being Bishop of Norwich, which was about two yeares, and foure moneths, There were for not reading the Service, at the Communion Table set•• Altarwise, for not reading the Booke of Sports•• for using conceived prayers before and after Sermons, and for not observing some other illegall innovations by him, and his under-officers, by and upon his directions, and Injunctions, sundry godly painefull Preaching Ministers, that is to say, Master William Powell, Mr. Iohn Carter, Mr. Robert Pe••k•• Mr. William Bridge, Mr. William Greene, Mr. Mott, Mr. Richard Raymond, Mr. Thomas Scot, Mr. Greenehill, Mr. Nicholas Beard, Mr. Hudson, Robert Kent, Jeremy Burrow, Mr. Thomas Allen, and others to the number of fifty, were excommunicated, suspended, or deprived and other∣wise censured, and silenced, to the undoing of many of them, their wives, and children, and they could not be absolved without giving promise to conforme to his directions editis & edendis, by meanes whereof some Ministers were enforced to depart this Realme into Holland, and other parts beyond Sea, viz. the said Mr. William Bridge, Mr. Jeremy Burrowes, Mr. Thomas Allen•• Mr. John Ward, and others of Norwich, to remove into other more peaceable Diocesses, as namely, Mr. Edmund Calamy, Mr. Broome, Mr. Beard and others, and some of them so pros••cuted, as hath bin suspected to be the cause of their deaths, as namely, Mr. Th••mas Scot and others; the terror of which proceedings, hath caused o∣ther Ministers to leave their Cures, and goe away, viz. Mr. William Kirington, M. Thomas Warren, Mr. John Allen and others; & if a stranger preached at the Cure of such person suspended, the Church-wardens permitting such person so to preach, were enjoyned pennance, and otherwise troubled, as namely, the Church-wardens of Snaile-well, and the stranger for preaching, was also therefore molested, viz. Mr. Ash, Mr. Eades, Mr. Man∣ning, and other Ministers.

XIV. That during the time hee was Bishop of the said See of Norwich, he did unlawfully compell the inhabitants of the severall parishes within that Dio∣••esse, to raise the floors of the Chancells, of their re∣spective Churches, to raile in their Communion Ta∣bles, to remove the Pewes and Seats, and to make o∣ther alterations in the respective Churches; in the do∣ing whereof the said Inhabitan••s, were put to great, excessive, and unnecessary charges and expences, a∣mounting in the whole, to the summe of five thou∣sand pounds, and upwards, which said charges and expences, hee did by unlawfull meanes and courses, enforce the said Inhabitants to undergoe; And such of the said Inhabitants, as did not obey the same, hee did vex, trouble, and molest by presentments, Citations, Excommunications, tedious, and frequent Journeyes, and by attendances at the Court of his Chancellor, and other his Officialls, viz. the Church∣wardens of Lin, Ipswich, S. Edmunds Bury, and others.

XV. That for not comming up to the Raile, to re∣ceive the holy Communion, kneeling there before the Table Altarwise, for not standing up at the Gospell, and for not observing and performing of his unlawfull Innovations, and Injunctions, many other of his Ma∣jesties subjects, viz. Peter Fisher, Samuel Duncon, Iames Per∣civall, John Armiger, Thomas King and others, have beene by him, his Chancellors, Visitors, Commissaries, and Officialls by his command and Injunctions, much molested, disquieted, and vexed in their estates and consciences by Citations to the Courts, long atten∣dance there, Dismission, Fees, Excommunications, Penances, and other Censures.

XVI. That by reason of the rigorous prosecutions, and dealings in the last precedent Articles mentioned, and by reason of the continuall superstitious bowing to, and afore the Table set Altarwise, the suspending, silencing, driving away of the painfull preaching

Ministers, the suppressing, and forbidding of Sermons, and Prayer, the putting downe of Lecturer, the suppressing meanes of knowledge, and salvation, and introducing ignorance, Superstition, and prophane∣nesse, many of his Majesties subjects, to the number of three thousand, many of which used trades of Spin∣ning, W••aving, Knitting, and making of Cloth, and Stuffe, Stockings, and other manufactures of Woolls, that is to say, Daniel Sunning, Michael Met∣calfe, John Berant, Nicholas Metcalfe, John Derant, Busby, widdow Mapes, Richard Cocke, John Dicks, Francis Lawes, John Senty, and many others, some of them setting an hundred poore people on worke, have removed them∣selves, their families, and estates into Holland, and other parts beyond the Seas, and there set up and taught the Natives there, the said manufactures, to the great hinde∣rance of trade in this kingdome, & to the impoverish∣ing, and bringing to extreame want, very many who were by those parties formerly set on worke, to the great prejudice of his Majestie and his people.

XVII. That he the said Bishop, finding the people to distaste his innovations, hath often in publike, and private speeches declared in the said yeare, 1636. That what he did in the same, was by his Majesties com∣mand, whereby hee contrary to the duty of his place, which he held under his Majestie, being Deane of his Majesties Royall Chappell, and contrary to the duty of a good and loyall subject, endeavoured, to free him∣selfe of blame, and to raise an ill opinion of his Royall Majestie, in the hearts of his loving subjects.

XVIII. That hee the said Matthew Wren, being Bishop of Norwich in the said yeare, 1636. in the Tower Church in Ipswich, and other places, did in his owne person, use superstitious and idolatrous actions, and gestures in the administration of the Lords Sup∣per, consecrating the bread and wine, standing at the West-side of the Table with his face to the East, and

••is backe towards the people, elevating the Bread and Wine, to be seene over his shoulders bowing low, either to o•• before them•• when he after the Elevation, and Consecration, had set them downe on the Table.

XIX. That he the more to manifest his Popish af∣fection in the said yeare 1636. caused a Crucifix, that is to say, the figure of Christ upon the Crosse to be en∣graven upon the Episcopall Seale besides the Armes of the See.

XX. That he hath chosen and imployed such men to be his Commissioners, Rurall Deanes, and to be his household Chaplaines, whom he knew to be, and stand affected to his innovated courses, and to popish superstition, and to be erroneous, and unsound in judgement and practise, as namely M. Iohn Novel. M. E••mond Maple••of••, M. Iohn Dunkin. M. Bo••ek, M. Dun, and others.

XXI. That he hath very much oppressed divers Pa∣trons of Churches by admitting without any colour of title his owne Chaplaines and others whom he af∣fected into Livings, which became void within his Dioces•• unjustly enforcing the true and right Patrons to long and chargeable suits to evict such Incumbents, and to recover their owne right, some of which he did against his Priestly word given to the said Patrons or their friends in verbo Sac••rdotis not to doe the same. This he did in the case of one M. Rivet.

XXII. That he and others in the yeare 1635, sould, granted away the profits of his Primary Visitation for five hundred pounds over and above the charges of the Visitation•• and for the better benefit of the Farmer, s••t forth a booke in the yeare 1636 intituled, Articles to be inquired of within the Dioces of Norwich, in the first Visitation of Mathew Lord Bishop of Norwich, consisting of 139 Articles, and wherein are contained the number of eight hundred ninety seven questions, according to all which, the Churchwardens were in∣forced

to present upon paine of perjury. And some Churchwardens, that is to say, Robert Langly, Charles Newton, Richard Hart, William Bull, and Zephany Ford, and others not making presentments accordingly, were cited, molested, and troubled, and injoyned pen∣nance•• notwithstanding many of the said Articles were ridiculous and impossible.

XXIII. That the Churchwardens, and other men sworne at the Visitation, were inforced to have their presentments written by Clarkes specially appointed by such as bought the said Visitation•• to whom they paid excessive summes of money for the same, some two and twenty shillings, as namely, Richard Hurrell, Iohn Punchard, and others, some more, some lesse, for writing one Presentment, to the grievous oppression of his Majesties poore subjects in his Diocesse.

XXIV. Whereas by the Lawes of this Realme no tythes ought to be paid out of the rents of houses, nor is there any custome or usage in the City of Norwich for such payment, yet the said Bishop indeavoured to draw the Citizens, and other inhabitants within the said City against their wills and consents to pay two shillings in the pound in liew of the tithes of houses within the severall Parishes of the said City, unto the Ministers there, of the said respective parishes. And the better to effect this his unjust resolution, he did by false and undue suggestions, in the fourteenth yeare of his Majesties reigne that now is, procure his Majestie to declare under his Highnesse great Seale of England his royall pleasure, That if any person, within the said City shall refuse to pay according to the said rat•• of two shillings the pound unto the Minister of any Pa∣rish with in the said city, That the same be heard in the Court of Chancery, or in the Consistory of the Bishop of Norwich. And that in such case no prohibition a∣gainst the said Bishop of Norwich, their Chancellors, or Commissaries in the s••••d Courts of Consistory be

g••anting the same upon ••ight of his Highnesse said Or∣der, shall forthwith grant a consultation to the Mini∣ster, desiring the same with his reasonable costs and charges for the same, which said Order and Decree under the great Seale of England tended to the viola∣tion of the Oathes of the Judges•• and was devised, con∣trived, and made by the said Bishop. And afterwards by his evill counsels and false surmises he did obtaine his Majesties royall consent thereunto, and by colour of the order aforesaid; and other the doings of the said Bishop, the Citizens and inhabitants of Norwich a∣foresaid, viz. Iohn Collar, Judith Perkeford, and others, have beene inforced to pay the said two shillings in the pound in liew of tythes, or else by suits and other undue meanes beene much molested, and put to great charges and expences, contrary to the Law and Justice.

XXV. That he assumed to himselfe an arbitrary power to compell the respective parishioners in the said Diocesse to pay great and excessive wages to Pa∣rish Clarks•• viz. the Parishioners of Yarmouth, Congham, Tostocke, and others, commanding his of∣ficers, that if any parishioner did refuse to pay such wages, they should certifie him their names, and hee would set them into the High Commission Court for example of them. And that one or two out of Ipswich might be taken for that purpose.

And the said Commons by Protestation saving to themselves the libertie•• of exhibiting at any time here∣after any other accusation or impeachment against the said Matthew Wren late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely, and also of replying to the an∣swer to the said Articles, or any of them, or of of∣fering proofe of the premisses or any other impeach∣ments or accusations that shall be exhibited by them as the case shall (according to the course of Parlia∣••ents) require, doe pray that the said Matthew ••ren

may be called to answer the said severall crimes, and misde••eanours, and receive such condigne punish∣ment as the same shall deserve, and that such further proceedings may be upon every of them had, and used against him, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.

Sir THOMAS WIDDRINGTONS SPEECH, At a Conference betweene both Houses, on Tuesday the 20•• of Iuly, 1641. At the transmission of the impeachment against Matthew Wren Doctor of Divinity, late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely.

My Lords, I am commanded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses now assembled for the Commons in Parliament, to deliver to your Lordships these Articles against the Bishop of Ely. May it please your Lordships first to heare them read.

MY Lords, These Articles are dipped in those Co∣lours, in which this Bishop rendred himselfe to the Diocesse of Norwich, they neede no Glosse, nor Varnish. In them you may behold the spirit and disposition of this Bishop, heare the groanes and cries of the people, see a shepheard scattering, (I had almost said) devouring his owne flocke; He that was desi∣red to paint Hercules, thought he had done enough, when he had made a resemblance of the Lyons skin, which he was wont to carry about him as a Trophee of his honour.

I will not say that in these you will finde a resem∣blance of the Lyons skin, I am sure you will finde the resemblance of the skins (that is to say,) the tottered and ruin'd fortunes, of poore innocent Lambs, who have extreamely suffered by the violence of this Bishop.

In the yeare 1635. this man was created Bishop of Norwich: he is no sooner there, but he marcheth fu∣riously.

In the creation of the world light was one of th•• first productions, the first visible action of this Bishop after his creation into this See was to put out many burning and shining lights, to suspend diverse able learned and conscientious Ministers•• he that should have beene the Golden ••nuffer of these lights, became the extinguisher, and when these are taken away, where shall poore men light their Candles?

My Lords, this was not all.

He put out lights, and sets up firebrands in their pla∣ces, suspends painfull Ministers, and sets up idle facti∣ous and superstitious Priests, (to use their owne lan∣guage) in their places, yet it is the fortune of these men at this time, like Rivers in the Ocean, to be buri∣ed the in extreme activity of their Diocesan.

He made a scourge, not of small cords, but of new Injunctions and numerous Articles tyed about with a strong twist of a most dangerous oath; and with this he whips not out buyers and sellers, but the faithfull dispensers of the word out of their Churches, out of their estates, out of their deere Country.

This Noah (if I may so call him without offence) assoone as he entred into the Arke of this Diocesse, he sends, nay forces Doves to fly out of this Arke, and when they returne unto him, with Olive branches in their mouthes of peaceable and humble submissions, he will not receive them into this Arke againe, unlesse like Ravens they would feed upon the Carrion of his new Inventions, they must not have any footing there•• he stands as a flaming sword to keepe such out of his Diocesse.

My Lords, unlesse he had done this, he could never have hoped to have brought that great worke he un∣doubtedly aymed at to any perfection.

Whilst the Palladium of Troy stood, that Citie was impregnable, The Greekes had no sooner stollen that away but they instantly won the Citie•• So then he

first put out the Candles, then was the opportunity to shuffle in his workes of darknesse: h•• first bea••s off the Watchmen and seers, then was likely to follow that which the impiety of some was pleased to stile, the piety of the times.

This being done, he then begins to dresse out Gods Worship according to his owne fancy, this he expres∣seth in Injunctions and directions, the Minerva's of his owne braine; we find them stiled Regales Injunctiones Domini Episcopi: a stile too sacred to Baptise his brats withall; I shall be bold to ca••l them Tyrannicas injuncti∣ones Do•• Episcopi; stories afford not a more barbarous cruelty then to joyne a dead and a living body toge∣ther, the one is miserable, killed with the stinch of the other.

This Bi. who like Aaron should have stood between the living & the dead hath joyned to lively ordinances ma∣ny dead & venemous ceremonies, which have no other life, than what they received from the breath of his Injunctions•• and these are pressed upon the Conscien∣ces•• even these must be observed as morall lawes.

An arbitrary government in the Church is more dangerous, more grievous than that in the state; this is exercised upon men•• conscien••es the most tender parts, and is the very pinacle of ••yranny, and of all o∣ther most intollerable; tha•• blow which will hardly be felt by the arme, will put out the eye.

(My Lords) in the time of King Ri••h. 1. one of this mans predecessors, a valiant Bishop went into the ho∣ly warre, this Bishop hath raised a warre at home in his owne Diocesse; a warre not against Sa••azen••, Bar∣barians, Turks or Infidels, but against good & well dis∣posed people. I know not what stile to give this warre: without doubt (my Lords) this was no holy warre.

The weapons of this warfare were 28. Injunctions, ••••9. Articles containing 87••. questions.

The souldiers were Chancellors, Commissaries, Of∣ficials,

Commissioners, Rurall Deanes, &c.

Himselfe commanded in chiefe.

The wayes of assault and killing were by excom∣munications, suspensions, deprivations, — I stay here, Mille modis mori••ur mortales.

The Magazin wherein all these were originally hat∣ched and lodged, was the superstitious and malicious brest of this Bishop.

This Dioces was the stage where the direfull tra∣gedies of this warre were acted by the space of two yeares and upwards.

Thus did he trouble Israel in the time of peace, nay by these he put some of the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel to flight, out of these he raiseth a farme of 500. pounds for his primary Visitation: if it be considered cum pertinentiis, it was not deere, yet well improved; for formerly but 40. pound in the time of some of his pre∣decessors.

Will it please your Lordships with patience to cast your eyes upon the modell of this Bishops zeale, piety, and Religion: Let his affection to prayer and prea∣ching speake for all the rest.

First, for prayer. It was his hap to finde a prayer which is no prayer, pretended to be prescribed by a Canon which is no Canon, I meane the 55. Canon set forth in the yeare 1603. and no other prayer must be used in his Dioces before Sermons. That monster of conceived prayer (pardon the expression, its not my owne) seemed as bad to him as a spell or charme. It must not be used upon any occasion, without doubt he would never have beene so strait-laced, and severe in this particular, if hee had but dreamed of that strait which a minister a friend of his was put unto by this meanes; the story is short. A Butcher was gored in the belly by an Oxe, the wound was cured, the party de∣sired publike thanksgiving in the Congregation, the Minister finding no forme for that purpose, reads the

Collects for Churching of women.

Next for preaching. That hee is most able in this kinde is agreed by all. But that he ever preached him∣selfe in this Diocesse saving once, I never heard affir∣med by any.

His next care was that others should not preach too often; if they did, they must be put into his blacke Bill: He changed that golden sentence of (vae mihi si non praedicavero) into vae aliis si praedicaverint; he was so farre from the practise of Saint Paul the great Preacher of the Gentiles, who (we reade) preached till midnight, that there must be no Sermons in the afternoone; there may be, nay there must be sports and pastimes then. And as if he had stood in feare of inarticulate language bells which might foretell a Sermon, hee cannot en∣dure to heare the noise of a Sermon in the toll of a Bell.

In a word; he adorned Churches at the charge of other men, and spoyled Pulpits, which ought to have beene the greatest part of his owne charge.

(My Lords) you have now presented to your Lord∣ships a brother, nay, one whose place ingaged him to be a father of the Clergy, yet one who like Iosephs bre∣thren hath taken the coat from Ioseph, nay they were forced to fly from him as Ioseph from his Mistris, or else they must taste of his forbidden waters, but in their going away he rents their skirts, nay their whole garments and livelihoods from them, hee hath taken the locks from many Sampsons, and done what he could to put out their eyes, and to make them grinde in the mill of his pernicious and dangerous innovations.

He should like Moses have led his flocke. Moses led the children of Israel through the red Sea, this man drives part of his flocke over the Sea, but went not himselfe.

Like Nimrod he hath invaded the lawes and liberties of the subject, he hath beene as great a robber as ever

was presented to your Lordships: He hath robbed the King of his Subjects, the greatest glory of Kings; the Kingdome of trade, of tradesmen, the supporters of it.

He that deprives the King of one subject, you know his punishment•• and what shall be the punishment of him who hath robbed the King of so many subjects?

* 3.1In the time of King Henry the third•• we finde a te∣nant in Dower punished in action of waste, because she had destroyed two rich villeynes, and made them beggers.

I appeale to your Lordships, what is his offence who hath committed so much wilfull waste and spoyle, beggered hundreds, not villaines, but free borne subjects.

He robbed the soules of that sweet Manna, which is pabulum animarum, the Word of God.

(My Lords) I have not yet recounted all his rob∣beries; he hath robbed God of part of his day•• makes part of that a day of sports; he hath robbed the subjects of their indubitable birth-right, the Lawes of the Kingdome.

The citizens of Norwich must pay tythes for the rents of houses; there's no Law in England, nor Cu∣stome in Norwich for it: Nay and that they may be sure to be robbed of justice too, the suite for these tithes must be in his owne Consistory, from whence there must be no appeale, no prohibition.

The true•• Patrons of Churches, they are robbed of their presentations•• others who had none or small pre∣tence of right are admitted upon this unhallowed maxim, That if hee should institute those who had right, the pretender was without remedy; by this he inverted a fundamentall Law of this Nation, to invest remedilesse rights with unjust possessions.

(My Lords) I cannot tell you all, but you can mea∣sure a Lyon by the paw.

I am commanded to lay this great malefactour at

your doores, one who hath beene a great oppugner o•• the life and liberty of Religion, and who set a brand of infamy (to use his own words) upon Ipswich education.

In summe, one who is a compleate mirrour of in∣novation, superstition, and oppression•• he is now in the snare of those Articles, which were the workes of his owne hands.

The rod of Moses at a distance was a serpent, it was a rod againe when it was taken into his hands: this Bishop was a serpent, a devouring serpent in the Di∣ocesse of Norwich; your Lordships peradventure will by handling of him make him a rod againe•• or if not, I doubt not but your Lordships will chastise him with such rods as his crimes shall deserve.

(My Lords) I am commanded by the House of Commons to desire your Lordships that this Bishop may be required to make answer to these Articles, and that there may be such proceedings against him as the Course and Justice of Parliament doth admit.

You see by this Parlamentary impeachment what a Regulus, Tyrant, and Serpent this Wren hath beene, I shall say no more of him, but leave him to his legall triall.

Richard Mountague who next succeeded Bishop Wren, in this Sea, proceeded on in his extravagant courses, and Popish innovations; witnesse his strange Visitation Articles printed for the Diocesse of Norwich; many whereof are directly Popish, others unjust, absurd and strangely ridiculous; as, of what Assise is ••our Sur∣plesse? What is your Surplesse or Lords Table worth if it were to be sold? Is your Communion Table ray∣led in, so as Cats and Dogges (he might as well have added, Rats and Mice) cannot get through unto it? &c. This Bishop conscious to himselfe of his owne guiltinesse came not up to this last Parliament for feare of questioning, and being complained of for suspending a Lecturer in Norwich without any just

cause, even sitting this Parliament, the House thereup∣on made an Order, that a speciall Committee should be appointed to examine all his offences old and new; the newes whereof so affrighted him, that within few dayes after he died, to ease the Parliament of that la∣bour, of whom see more in Chichester: Since his de∣cease this See hath continued vacant; and the whole Diocesse earnestly desire it may so remaine till Doomesday, having beene almost ruined, and infi∣nitely vexed by their late monstrous Prelates; of whom I shall now take my farewell, and shape my course to Chester Diocesse.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  IOHN de GRAY.
• * 1.2

  Hist. Angl. p. 221.222.
• * 1.3

  See Matthew Paris Hist. Angl. p. 204. to 278. Matth. West An. 1207. to 1224: Fox Acts and Monu. p 2••6 to 234.
• 2 1.4

  PANDVL∣PHVS.
• 3 1.5

  ROGER de SKERWYNG.
• * 1.6

  Matth. Paris Hist. Angl•• p. 976.977. Matth. West•• Anno. 1271. p. 351. Holish p. 275.276. God∣win p. 346.347.
• * 1.7

  ANTHONY de BECK.
• * 1.8

  Godw. p. 348.
• 5 1.9

  WILLIAM BATEMAN.
• * 1.10

  Godw. p. 349.
• 6 1.11

  HENRY SPENCER.
• * 1.12

  Walsingh. Hist. Angl p. 278.279.315.316 319. to 334.348. Speed. Hist. p. 735.537 Polichro. l. 7 c 5. f 320. Antiquit. Eccl. Brit p. 298. Holinsh p. 442.443.444.445. Godw. p. 350.351.352.
• * 1.13

  Matth Paris Hist. Angl. p. 970.971.
• * 1.14

  Fox Acts, and Monuments, vol. 1. p 613.
• * 1.15

  Ibid. Fox. vol. 1. p•• 633.
• * 1.16

  Walsing. Hist. Angliae p 312.313.314. &c.
• * 1.17

  Note this.
• * 1.18

  Note this.
• * 1.19

  Bulls.
• * 1.20

  Wal••ing. Hist. Anglicae p 278.279.
• 7 1.21

  ALEXAN∣DER.
• * 1.22

  Godw. p 35••.
• 8 1.23

  RICHARD NYX.
• * 1.24

  Godw p. 354. See a Briefe of the Prelates Incr••c••ments. &c. p. 246.247.
• 9 1.25

  IOHN HOPTON.
• * 1.26

  Godw. p. 355.
• 9 1.27

  SAMVEL HARSNET.
• 10 1.28

  D. WHITE.
• 11 1.29

  Dr. COR∣BET.
• * 1.30

  Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7 c. 2. Herodotus l. 2.
• 2 1.31

  MATTHEW WREN.
• * 3.1

  26. H. 3 Wast. ••28.