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The Archbishops several ANSVVERS To the Proofs and Evidence produced to make good the first Branch of his CHARGE, with the Commons Replyes, and Rejoynders thereunto.
VVE have now presented you with the intire evidence of the Com∣mons given in against the Archbishop at the Lords Tribunal, in proof of the first main Branch of his impeachment, to wit, his traiterous endeavours to subvert the true Religion established among us, to introduce and set up Popery, and reconcile us unto Rome, without any diminution, to which I have here and there made some small Additions, not by way of evidence or charge, but only of illustration or amplification of some things given in evi∣dence in the general, briefly pointed at and so passed over, not read at large at the bar for want of time.
We shall next as faithfully, as exactly as our imperfect notes, and frail memo∣ry will assist, relate his several Answers and Replies given to the particular proofs produced against him, both as he delivered them in person after each dayes evi∣dence at the Lords bar, and as he afterwards repeated them in his general de∣fence, with some Additions, in the Lords and Commons House; wherein if I have involuntarily mistaken or misreported his words or answers in any particular as I presume I have not done, his surviving friends must only blame either him, or themselves, not me, who used all the means I could to his Secretary Mr. Dell, his Councel, and others whom he trusted with his Papers, to procure his own Ori∣ginal written Notes, Answers, and Replies, or true Copies of them; that so I might have printed them verbatim, to avoid all calumnies and mistakes; yet could neither by my own intreaties, nor warrants from Authority procure them, or any Copies thereof: Mr. Dell returning me this answer, that he believed the Archbishop himself had burnt all his Notes and Answers in his life time, to prevent their publication after his death.
To avoid prolixity, obscurity, that every Reader may more clearly dis∣cern the insufficiency, falshood, Sophistry of his Answers, and the pregnancy of the Commons proofs, and evidence to make good their impeachment against him in each particular; I shall forbear to relate his Answers and the Commons Replies thereto, intirely together in two distinct continued Relations, as they were delivered at the bar, but subjoyn the Commons distinct Replies to his seve∣rall Answers to each particular proof and part of their evidence, as they lie in order; that so reddendo singula singulis, the pertinency of their evidence, and reality of his guiltinesse, may more perspicuously shine forth to all the world, I aiming only at verity, not victory in this Relation.
The Archbishop began his Answer to the first Branch of the Commons charge, concerning his traiterous endeavours to subvert the true Religion of God by Law established among us, and set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry in its stead, with a general detestation both of the charge and fact, for which presumptuous and unseemly expression, he was justly taxed by the Commons councel, as be∣ing