WHere vertue flourisheth, there ma­lice strives to confound, and emu­lation to subvert. This Hell-nou­rished malice has been entertained in the hearts of some malignant, and ill-affected Members to the Church, and in their inveterate spleene they have endeavoured to eradicate that Basis or firme foun­dation of faith, which was laid in Christ by zealous Divines. I need not speake too obscurely, for my meaning includes the Bishops, who have envyed [Page 2] the prosperity of Religion a long time, and have di­ligently aboured to supplant the same by preposte­rous introducement of Popery, Ceremoniall su­perstitions, and Canonicall innovations. And who soever that was zealous for the truth, and did in any manner oppose them in their Prelaticall instituti­ons, was either prosecuted by them in the extreame severity of justice, (and that sometimes extended too beyond its limits) or else suspended by them tam ab officio, quàm ábeneficio. Thus they tyranni­cally insulted over the Church, and without any let or contradiction usurped, whatsoever pleased them­selves best. They have often times deluded the King with calumnious, and Parasiticall suggestions, and by that meanes, under a pretence of his protection, have surreptitiously inserted divers things un­knowne to His Majestie. But they themselves be­ing found too vitiously delinquent by the Parlia­ment, were many of them arraigned of High trea­son, and committed to the Tower, where they maliciously first forged Articles of High treason against Master Pym, the Lord Kymbolton, &c. and withall directed the same unto His Majestie, with a stupendious Declaration concerning them: and implored his consent unto them. But they were in­tercepted in that frustrate expectation: then they moulded second Articles of high Treason against Master Calamy, Master Marshall, Master Burton, Master Case, Master Sedgwicke, Master Evan, &c. with many other painfull Divines: intimating againe to His Majestie, that they were Traitors, [Page 3] and were great disturbers of the Church, who did not onely substract, or at least laboured to induce the people to substract lawfull obedience to His Imperiall Crowne, but also did derogate obsequi­ous loyalty, both frō His Royall dignity in postpo­ning him behind the Parliament.

But give me leave (gentle Reader) to discusse the verity of the thing, and to answer these poore or at least false subjections against them. As for the first Article, their actions can sufficiently testifie to the contrary, for rather then disturbers of the Church, they have laboured to extract all divisions, and disturbances from it, endeavouring to regu­late the free power, and authority thereof, accor­ding to the holy word of God, as it is specified, or at least prototypically presignified in the Scrip­tures. For their substraction of Loyalty from the Crowne, and their labouring to induce the people to substract their dayly practise in their prea­ching can apparently nullifie: for they have always pressed, and exstimulated the people with great fervency of affection to all possible obedience to his Majesty, and all requisit loyalty to his imperi­all Crowne. And seeing these two have beene found false and erronious, the other consequently must be an untruth, for they have laboured to bring the people to become obsequious reciprocally, and mutually as well to the King, as Parliament, so that by subsequent conclusion, no post-position can be found inclusive in them. But I suppose, that it was the Bishops sole malice to misinforme [Page 4] the King, having an intestine envy against them. For because they would have introduced Popery, and these laborious Divines did beat it downe to the confusion of Rome, and its adherents, therefore they have laboured by all possible meanes (if they could) to supplant them, and subvert their inten­tions. But (alas) God is more powerfull than the Divell: men in authority may triumph, and u­surpe too much arrogancy over their brethren for a time, but at length the same machination which they intended against others, shall fall on their owne heads. For these painefull Divines have not onely zealously opposed those Romish innovations, which lately began almost to flourish in our Church: but have likewise laboured with all se­dulity, care, and vigilancy to reduce the same to the sincere truth of the holy Gospell of Christ. Yet notwithstanding they have beene opprobri­ously scandalized by the Prelates, and their adhe­rents, having invective aspersions cast upon their innocuous names; the reason no man can perfect­ly enucleate, unlesse their intents were to bring the Church to an Anarchie: for if the pillars of the Church be shaken, yea taken away, the structure can no longer remaine, and the foundation it selfe will be everted. Yet in spite of all their malice, they are defended from the Tyrannicall mindes and intentions of the Bishops, and will maugre all their wolvish resolutions, be preserved from their nefarious machinations against them: yet envy is [Page 5] a most insufferable torment, and greater than any Tyranny, therefore I will conclude with that sen­tence in Latine.