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.

A Particular of manifold evills and heavie pressures, caused and occasioned by the Prelacy, and their depen∣dants.

BEfore they had so much as a pretended Canon for their [unspec 1] warrant the Prelates urged their Ceremonies with such vehemency, that divers of our most learned and paine∣full Ministers for not obeying them were s••lenced, and many of us for the like oppressed in their Courts.

In the yeare ••634. they made such Canons and Constituti∣ons [unspec 2] Ecclesiasticall as enjoyned many corruptions in the worship of God and government of the Church, which exceedingly re∣tarded the worke of reformation, animated Papists, and made way for divers Popish Superstitions.

Our most painefull, godly and learned Ministers were by the [unspec 3] Bishops and their Commissaries, silenced and deprived, for not subscribing and conforming to the sayd unlaw••ull Canons, yea through the hotnesse of their persecution ••orced to flee the Land, and afterward excommunicated, to the danger of all, and losse of some of their lives.

In their places others were obtruded, not onely ignorant [unspec 4] lazie, and lukewarme, but many of them unsound in doctrine, prophane in life, and cruell in persecution.

Many, though sufficiently furnished, were not admitted to the [unspec 5] Ministry, onely for not swallowing downe their groundlesse In∣novations, yea some though conforme, yet for appearing strict in Life, were likewise kept out.

Good and painefull Ministers are not suffered to exercise [unspec 6] the function which God hath called them unto, nor suffe••ed to enjoy any living, whereas the Bishop, doe hold by Commen∣dam many livings, besides those proper to their Bisho••rickes, and doe confer••e livings upon ••••••ir Child••en 〈…〉〈…〉 studendi gratia (as is pre••ended) and diver•• 〈…〉〈…〉 five, sixe, or more upon their Favorites.

[unspec 7] Hence the care of soules are committed to Hirelings, who ••eceive 5.6.8••10. l. by yeare for their cures, divers of which are put together, to the charge of some illiterate Curate, by which meanes the people perish for want of food, though the Parson or Vicar through connivence of the Bishop, is utterly non-resident, and by each one of the many benefices he enjoy∣eth and hath a competent allowance for a moderate minded man to maintaine himselfe and family upon.

[unspec 8] Whereas the Bishops should give all good example by pain∣full preaching and holy conversation, ••hey preach very rarely themselves, and like those in the Gospell who will neither en∣ter ••hemselves nor suffer others to enter, they have supprest divers others from preaching both on the afternoone on the Lords day, and in many places where weekely Lectures were maintained either by the free will of the M••nister, or cost of the people, they have utterly forbidden the same, and showne all manner of discountenan••e to those who were forward therein, so that a Lecturing Minister appeared before them un∣der more prejudice rhan a Popish Priest or undermining Je∣suite.

[unspec 9] Lest those who could not be admitted into the Ministry, undertaking to teach Schoole should there lay impressions of Piety and good learning, they urge on the very Schoole-ma∣sters a Subscription beyond what is injoyned by their owne Canon, and punish by Excommunication and otherwise the refusers thereof: So as the Schooles formerly much frequen∣ted, are now utterly desolate, to the spoyle of youth and pro∣moting of prophanenesse and ignorance.

[unspec 10] Thus whiles they proceede so severely and unjustly in pu∣nishing the refusers to their unlawfull Commands, though other∣wise never so honest and able men, they favour Popery, to the continuance and great increase thereof. Hence,

Titular Bishops are by them winked at, in the exercise of [unspec 11] jurisdiction from forraigne power, Masse Priests are frequent, and pretend a title to every Parish in the Kingdome, Masses publiquely celebrated without controlement to the great griefe of Gods people, and increase of Idolatry and Super∣stition.

[unspec 12] They permit Fryeries and Nunneries to be within their Dio∣cesses, whereby they continue and increase of late in many

places, yea divers of them suffered to remaine in the very places where some of the Bishops have their speciall resi∣dence.

In many places of the Land where Protestants are forbidden [unspec 13] and restrained, Papists are permitted to keepe Schooles, unto some whereof such multitudes of Children and young men doe resort, that they may be esteemed rather Universities, teaching therein not onely the tongues, but likewise the liberall Arts and Sciences.

They set forth and suffer to be published wicked Libells [unspec 14] and ungodly Pamphlets, tending to Sedition faction and dis∣union of the Brittish Inhabitants, such as Examen conjurationis Scoticae, Lysimachus Nicanor, &c. And in their Sermons, prayer and ordinary Table talke, divers of the Bishops, in matters quite besides their calling have not desisted to rayle, curse and most bitterly inveigh against the Kingdome of Scotland, and all their proceedings, labouring to make them odious, thereby proving themselves fire-brands of Sedition, betweene the two Nations, yea proclaiming their prophanity by drinking healths to the confusion of that Nation.

The most learned and seemingly moderate and pious of the [unspec 15] Prelates publiquely in Sermons at Dublin, exclaimed against, and condemned the Scottish Covenant, and Religion profest in that Kingdome with most invective termes. And in the Starchamber in Dublin, at the censure of Henry Stewa••d Esquire, his Wife and two Daughters, and Iames G••ay, for refusing to take an Oath, for which there was no other ground than the Earle of Straffords command, which was against the Covenant of Scotland, uttered these words, viz. These people with Cora•• Dathan and Abiram doe withstand the Ordinance of God; and therefore I leave them to the judgement of Corah, Dathan and Abi∣ram, and agree to their censure though deeper.

They have frequently made Symonicall pactions and bar∣gaines [unspec 16] in the conferring of benefices, and ordinarily permit Ministers to exchange their livings, thereby to nullifie Leases of Tythes, which the former incumbent Ministers have set at certaine rates.

The Prelates have usually appointed such men to be their [unspec 17] Commissaries, officialls and Registers, who altogether negle∣cting the punishment of Vices cognizable in their Courts,

looke onely to their owne game. Hence,

[unspec 18] Though they pretend themselves the advancers of vertue and punishers of Vice, yet they usually without further satis∣faction absolve the most scandalous persons for a summe of money, and often question not at all, such from whom they privately before-hand receive such a summe, which is a cause that many wickednesse doe more and more abound.

[unspec 19] If any be presented by their Apparitors (who are usually Papists) if it be but for non-payment of the Clerkes groate, or not observing some one of their frivolous injunctions, yea though the party presented be not found culpable, yet they require most excessive and unjust Fees. And if their demands be not satisfied (though never so great poverty might plead for mercy) they presently proceed to the Censure of Excom∣munication, thus vainely and blasphemously abusing the High Ordinance of God, so many hundred of us, remaine under that censure, and multitudes constrained to runne out of the Land, to the undoing of them and thers.

[unspec 20] The Prelates, that they might mannage Peters sword as well as his Keyes, have some of them procured that most unlaw∣full writ of Assistance, whereby his Majesties Officers and Ministers, are required to yeeld assistance unto the Bishop, his Officiall, or any deputed by him; which Writ is by their Officers most notoriously abused, and many times put into the hands of their Apparitors, who under colour thereof, apprehend honest men and women, casting them into prison, untill they be forced to free themselves by an heavie compo∣sition.

[unspec 21] They charge Church-Wardens with Articles farre beyond their understanding to every particular whereof, if they re∣fuse to answere or present, then are they bound to answere for it at Councell Table, or High Commission Court, or both: and though there acquitted, yet no remedy left them for their great dammages.

[unspec 22] They force Church-Wardens to attend all their Visitations and circular Courts; and there, for their Articles, Oathes, Ad∣missions and Discharges, they make them pay most excessive and undue Fees, never before practised or required.

[unspec 23] The Commutations for Penance, which either should not be at all, or if exacted, then set apart for the poore, and

other pious uses, commeth either to the Prelates Kitchin, the Commissaries purse, or both.

The Prelates and their faction as they inherit the Supersti∣tion [unspec 24] of the Papacy, so of late they exact with all severity the absolute customes of Saint Mary-Gallons, Mortuaries, Portions, &c. which as they were given by Superstition and used to Ido∣latry, so now they are taken by oppression, and applyed to riotousnesse.

They have also constantly practised and suffered, the buy∣ing [unspec 25] and selling of the Sacraments, which is an heavie burden. And where the poore have not to pay the Minister and Clerks Fees, they will not marry them, nor suffer their dead to be bu∣ried.

In the High Commission Court, against all Law and equity [unspec 26] they sit as Judges in their owne cause, and take cognizance of the highest and smallest matters, going therein without con∣troll. Hence,

In the sayd Court they usurpe with an high hand the judi∣cature [unspec 27] of Civill causes, impose Fines beyond all bounds, and imprison at their pleasure; whereby many have beene utterly undone.

They proceede in the sayd Court by way of most cruell and [unspec 28] lawlesse inquisition, not onely into mens actions and words, but reaching even to their very thoughts, in imposing the most unlawfull Oath Ex Officio, to force to accuse not onely others, but likewise their owne selves, contrary to Law, and the very Maximes of Nature. And if any refuse to take this Oath, then are they imprisoned and fined beyond measure, to the ruine of all that fall under the waight of their indignation.

Divers of the Prelates did joyntly frame and wickedly [unspec 29] contrive with the Earle of Strafford, that most Lawlesse and scandalous Oath, imposed upon the Scottish-Brittish among us who were Protestants, for receiving all commands indefinitely. And some of the Prelates were the occasion, that women and maides should be forced thereunto. Hence, Commissions issu∣ing to all places, for the exacting of it, they were prosecuted with so much rigour, that very many, as if they had beene Tray∣tors in the highest degree, were searched for, apprehended, examined, reviled, threatned, imprisoned, fettered by threes and foures in Iron yoakes, some in chaines carried up to Dublin

in Starchamber fined in thousands beyond ability, and condem∣ned to perpetuall imprisonment, divers poore women but two dayes before delivery of Children were apprehended threatned and terrified, others of them 2. or 3. dayes af••er Child-birth, so narrowly searched ••or, that they were faine to fly out of all harbour into Wood••, Mountaines, Caves, and Cornefields, and man•• da••es and nights together absent them∣selves to the impairing of the heal••h of very many, and death of divers, and losse of their goods, which the enemie at their pleasure made havocke of. These with many more unexpres∣sible, have beene the woefull effects of the Oath drawne up by advice of the Prelates, and so unjustly prest by authority of the Earle of Strafford.

[unspec 30] The Prelates with their Faction have been injurious not onely to the Spirituall, but also to the temporall estates of most men, for under colour of Church-lands, they have injuri∣ously seized into their hands, much of the best Lands in every County, so that there is scarce a gentleman of any worth, whom they have not bereaved of some part of his inhe••itance, fewdaring to oppose their unjust demands, and if any did, none were able to maintaine their just Titles against their power and oppression.

[unspec 31] By these wayes have they ruinated and undone many fami∣lies, destroyed and cast away thousands of Soules, and moreover in their owne persons have beene a scandall to the Gospell and a stumbling blocke even unto the Common enemy, by their sweating, cursing, drunkennesse, Sabbath-breaking, &c. having such servants usually in their families as are the most prophane in the Kingdome, ••ew others countenanced by them but such. And if any seeme to be of an holy life, he is scorned and per∣secuted by them.

Thus they publishing and proclaiming themselves children of Ishmael and Esau, we most humbly beseech you as the true sons of Israel, to take order with them, as God shall direct, whom we shall ever pray to be ayding, and assisting unto you, in this great and glorious worke of Reformation.

And thus much in briefe for the Norman, Scottish, and Irish Prelates, which I thought convenient to annex to our English, being all Birds of the same feather, that I say not Wolves of the same litter.