THough the wicked hath ſettled his habitation with the Eagle among the Starres, and ſay in his minde, I ſhall not be changed, I ſhall not taſte of affliction, neither ſhall the dayes of Adverſity lay hold on me, yet there is an appointed time for all things, And the Almighty who hath diſpoſed the whole world, and hath charge over the Earth, will not pervert Judgement, His Eyes are upon the wayes of Man, He ſeeth all his goings, There is no darkneſſe, nor ſhaddow of Death where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves, but in end the fulneſſe of deſtruction will come upon them, as the wide breaking in of Waters: Terrors will perſue their ſouls as the Winde, and their welfair ſhall paſſe away as a Cloud.

To theſe great Verities do I now humble my ſelf, and in the ſenſe of that convincing power (my reverend Brethren, who ſhould be to your times the Beauty of Integrity) that ſhakes my minde as an Earthquake, do I pronounce the children of Wiſedome bleſſed, and that no State is ſo good, ſo ſure, ſo happy, as the State of a good conſcience. But alas, the immoderate deſire of a fooliſh glory, and the paſſion to raiſe my condition to an height as unlawfull as unbeſeeming, and the want of an humble affection to truth, and hatred of error, hath now produced me an example to after ages, and a beaken to preſerve you from Ship wrack, ſince therefore my angry Starres, will that I forfeit my reputation to ſhame, and my life t • Juſtice; Suffer me (ye that have had a Communion of Fortune with me, and on whom the door of Favour is not, yet altogether ſhat) Suffer me to pour further my Soul in the boſome of your compaſſion: Reſigne all your tears to me, that I may weep for this day, this day of indignation, which hath ſwallowed me up as a prey, and wherein deſtruction hath come upon me like an armed man, Receive theſe my words, my laſt words, I bequeath to you the Counſels of Truth, which if ye treaſure up in your minde, will be a Cordiall to make you live, and not die, for now I am upon the borders of Time, The Vail is removed, and I muſt enter Eternity, Tis no more time to dally with the Goſpell, and the World.

Ye have been my Fellow-Labourers in a ſtrange Work, which we muſt now confeſſe, is not of God, and therfore wonder not, if it tumble down. We have miſerably proſtituted our ſouls to the Imagination of a Miter, whoſe Glory cannot ſave us in the day of ſhame, And all our endeavours have been to erect an Hierarchy, upon the Ruines of Religion and Common-wealths. O conſider this, ye that ſigure to your ſelf a happineſſe, where there is none, and look what pleaſure I have of thoſe things, whereof I am now aſhamed, No nothing but the comfortleſſe ſtings of a reſtleſſe remembrance, of by gone unanſwerable deeds, w •• I ſpeak with horror, and profeſſe with a bleeding heart. I have embraced that Shaddow which ye ſo hotly court; I have been lift up to the Pinacle of the Temple, whereat ye ſo zealouſly aſpire, and was gazed upon as a Starre, which gave life, and motion to you all; I have trode theſe ſame paths wherein ye contend, and liberally taſted theſe empty pleaſures of preferments. And of all my labours, have reaped nothing, but hatred, and ruine to my ſelf, miſery, and reproach to the Church.

And it is in vain to put the day of evill, and Juſtice far from me, for it He that lately did ſwim in his Princes ſmiles, on vvhom Nature had beſtowed her great abilities with a liberall hand, and Fortune had bountifully opened her Breſt, could finde no eloquence to be with the ſword of Juſtice, nor to mollifie the cruelty of the times, but behoved to drink the unavoidable Cup preſented to him, What can I expect when the Appetite of revenge is ſet on edge? And if Wrath has ſo eaſily travelled over Mountains, how ſhall it not ſtrike flat the Molehils: If the angry thunder made the noble Cedars ſhrink, how ſhall not the ſilly ſhrubs, lately crept from the mud of the Valleys be drowned in their Primitive baſeneſſe? I will not harbour the leaſt hopes of eſcape, or think that my Surplice ſtained with the adulterous ſpots, of the great whore, can plead favour, when the purple richly dy'd with the rayes of His Majeſties Countenance, could not meet with pardon.

Though I have hitherto deckt my ſelf with a kinde of Majeſty, and Grace, in my Prelaticall pride arrayed with Splendor, and taught the gazing times to hide my faults, giving my Plots good Fortune, yet behold, an ungratious light (ſudden as a Tempeſt at Sea) hath diſcovered my nakedneſſe, and publiſht my ſhame; I am vile, and abaſed, trode down, and hid in the duſt; Judgement and Juſtice take hold on me, and caſt abroad the rage of their wrath, which will certainly extend their terrours to you, and grinde you to powder, if ye forſake not theſe wayes, whoſe going down are to the chambers of death. And therefore while my Oyl is yet laſting, and my Taper weakly burning, I will diſcloſe the true cauſes of this great miſery, and help you with an upright confeſſion of my wayes, as a Sacrifice for my ſelf (if it were poſſible to expiat the ſtain of my diſhonour, and appeaſe the Worlds diſpleaſure, Univerſall as the Sunne-Beams, and hot conſuming flames) and a Teſtimony againſt you (O children of defection) in the day of your accompt.

That I might appear a great Church-man of vaſt deſires, and deſignes, being radically reſolved to ſet up a Tyrannicall Power in the Perſons of Prelates, over the worſhip of God, over the conſciences, liberties, and goods of the People, It cannot be denyed, but I have negotiated moſt eagerly, and ſtrained all Poſſibilities, and Stratagems of State, to erect an Hierarchy, forgetting the directions of the Goſpel, and the bonds of Monarchy, and the cryes of the oppreſſed, leaving nothing undone to promote my intentions, and atchieve my ends, to which I had emancipated all thepowers of my mind, with ſo ſtrong a Paſſion, as if I had been ſent into the world for no other purpoſe, or as if the glory of God had been intereſſed, the honor of the King wounded, and all Religion had conſiſted in Epiſcopacy.

This I thought to effectuate two manner of wayes, eſpecially, firſt by eſtabliſhing my ſelf at home in England, in the power of Sole and univerſall Juriſdiction, and that I might attain to be a Patriarch, for which ye know I have not ſtuck to plead contentiouſly. 2. By bringing the neighbour Nations of His Majeſties Dominions, but moſt particularly that Kingdom of Scotland (to me ſo fatall) under my verge, and to the obedience of theſe novations, and alternations, wherein my Grandeur, and this change did eſſentially conſiſt; With what excrbitancy of overdaring pride, and what inſolency I have ſwayed all in the Church of England. How impudently I laid by the paſtorall duty, and a care to approve my ſelf to the eternall and ſecular Powers; how I have neglected all fear of Laws, of cenſure and ſhame, ſince I obtained the chair of Canterbury, and begun my Antichriſtian raign, impoſing abſolute Tyranny on the ſouls and wils of people, ſhall the afterage be hardly induced to beleeve. O b • t behold your poor Primitive mother, the diſtreſſed Church of this Iland, (if you be the children concerned in her bleeding miſeries) and look how wofully ſhe is torn, how we have opened her tender ſides, pulled her Crown from her head, and trode her under foot, Nay ſhe lyes breathleſſes, all covered with wounds, with ſores all defiled, And thoſe glorious twins, Religion and Peace, who loved to triumph here, ſweetly kiſſing each other, ſpreading over us the beauty of their halcyonian dayes, how have we alas ſo ſhreudly, ſo undeservedly baniſhed, and given place to the unquiet furies of ugly error, and bloudy warre, ſo that whiles ſhe lyes labouring, like a diſgraced Virgin under the throwes of her thick coming ſorrows, in all the corners of the land, may it juſtly, be complained.

But now her cryes have peirced the Clouds, and he that ſaid he would come, does come full of vengeance, with phials of wrath in his hand to poure upon thoſe who have ſo ſore oppreſſed her. I did voluntary forego her wo, and Sacrificing to the luſts of my own minde, I lul'd the world a ſleep, that the throne which I was building, for the greatneſſe of my name, might riſe more ſafely, I had erected a kinde of Inquiſition through the whole Land, and none dared ſo much to look ſtern upon the face of Epiſcopacy, (though they had been moſt eminent in all the graces of the Spirit) but preſently behoved to be cruſhed; I had ſo cunningly interlaced the Image of the Beaſt, with His Majeſties Pourtrait, that none durſt inveyagainſt the one, but preſently behoved to injure the other (thus caught within the compaſſe of Treaſon,) by a ſtrange Divinity, aſſuring the world, that the Crown could not flouriſh on the Kings head, without the Fellowſhip of a Miter; All my pretentions were deeply guilded with the Beams of Authority, which through Inadvertencie, and faſhion of Times, I made Uſher in ſuch ſtrangers, as deflored the Church, abuſed the State, and diſhonoured the whole Dominion.

When the ſeeds of Arminianiſme, Superſtition, and Popery, (by my Epiſcopall law more tendering the honour of Hierarchy, then the Goſpels integritie) ſimplicity had been very Luxuriant, and over-run the whole Vineyard, I knew that as Rome was now filled with joy, for the fair hopes of our return to her, ſo was England, and all the Churches reformed choakt with fear and ſorrow; For alas, even as the Earth looks ſad, and ſullen, at the Sunnes departure, and every Tree, every flower puts forth a tear when he renews his comfort, Why do not we conceive the lovers of the Spirit of truth, muſt be diſmayed, wounded in heart, and cloathed in ſorrow when truth is baniſht from out the face of the Earth. Yet would I never make ſcruple (out of zeal to that Spirituall Monarchy) to tread down all thoſe who were bold to ſpeak againſt the calamities of Times, iniquities of the Times, and the injuiries done to the Goſpel, though we muſt all confeſſe the Spirit of Truth, did powerfully dwell in them. I ſuppreſſed them, removed them, and ſend them in baniſhment beyond Sea, thereby depriving Church and Common-wealth of their Chriſtian help, both in Religion, and Policy; But my own Creatures, willing Inſtruments to promote my Counſells, and Projects, were moſt ſolemnly advanced to the places in Church and State. Thus We went on, kept our correſpondence, and ordored our game by ſuch a ſtrange cunning, and violence, that there remains a black Hiſtory for our deeds, which will hardly meet with belief in other Churches.

By the whole Current of my carriage, by my practiſes, wayes, motions, and intelligence ye knew, alas, that I was about that great work of the Whore of Rome, (in ſuch ſort that ſome of the Pasquils of the time have Charactered me Her laborious Pander) to make the poſſeſſion of World Hers, and derogate from the glory of the Goſpel, and honour of Kings. O be aſhamed for ſo miſerably proſtituting your ſelves, and your ſouls to the domineering pride of my humor, in fomenting my Popiſh intentions, conſtantly followed by you, as if we had joyntly conſpired to the overthrow of Truth and Religion.

And becauſe the Printers Preſſe did often ſpeake the times, and tell the world the myſtery of my Epiſcopiſing, therefore did I arrogate to my ſelfe the keys thereof, and making the power of Printing depend on me, did ſhut and open the ſame at my pleaſure. Neither durſt any booke though never ſo richly embelliſht with the treaſures of piety and wiſdome once appeare, untill by a ſupercillious licenſe my Canonicke Secretaries had firſt found it reliſh deeply of the Romiſh and Arminian poyſon. And as I was the rule of doctrine, intending and remitting the qualities of Sermons, as the conditions of times required, So were many Pulpits prophaned with Hereſies, Revilings, and Scurrilous reproches; Nay, wherein have I reſtrained my inſolent, and unbridled minde in the purſuit of my ſuperſtitious follies? What Statute Civill or Eccleſiaſticall cannot riſe up againſt mee, and argue guilty? To ſhew how I have framed new Conſtitutions, Ceremonies without number, which infeſt the world daily more and more, Canons, and Articles, and Oaths, printed, publiſhed, and forced upon the people? How wee have dared to grant Licenſes, and make preſumptuous Diſpenſations? How we have kept Courts, made all our Proceſſes, Summons, Citations, and Cenſures in our owne name, & ſtyle, it would make a Hiſtory as long as tedious to the World, as ſhamefull to my abhorred ſelfe: They are written with the point of a Diamond on all the Church windows, every letter whereof to mee is a nigrum Theta; for it muſt be confeſſed, that I and my furious faction ſo ordered all, untill all was put out of frame, making the Kingdome the object of pitie, lacerate with many miſeries and diſtreſſes, and my ſelfe of too juſt an hate, thereby giving occaſion to the Enemies of the Goſpel, to ſing Te Deum, and to the Church of England to cry Ichabod. And never more juſtly then now might it be ſaid, Men groan from out of the City, and the ſouls of the wounded cry out.

But I forbeare to enlarge my ſelf, and afflict you with the ſad relation of theſe conveyances wherein yee had a great hand, & to which yee are privy, only let me confound my ſelf, before the World in this Declaration concerning my tyranny in the Scottiſh affaires, becauſe it is the moſt eminent, and funeſt act of the Tragedy, and has proved moſt effectuall to my perdition, and from thence unde dolor & lachrymae, put forth a Propheſie to you of theſe evils, which will certainly come upon you likewayes, breake you aſunder, and ſhake you to pieces, if you ſtop your eares, and ſtill hate to be reformed, when Hee that is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, hath now revealed himſelfe ſo powerfully, and anſwered the expectation of the upright creature by terrible things, in Righteouſneſſe; for I know the end of your hopes, and gave expanſion to my ſoule to ſeek the things of this world, and not of God, but now, behold, I ſtand upon the ſtage of mortality like an accurſed tree, the miſerable object of this age, groan under the hatred of three Kingdomes, able to cruſh all the Miters in England, ready to be teared by the wrath of mine Enemies, who ſharpe their eyes againſt mee.

Not content with that abſolute Power which the errour and conſuetude of Times, and the indulgence of Princes (importuned with reſtleſſe ambition) ſuffered to fall upon mee heere in the Engliſh Church, I would needes dilate my ſelfe like a ſwolne cloud of infection, to obſcure the light, to poyſon the aire, and to trouble the calme, and ſerenity of other Kingdomes; I could not endure that other Churches ſhould looke grievouſly, and a ſquint upon our manner of government. For I muſt confeſſe, my intentions were deepe and large, againſt all the reformed Churches, and Reformation of Religion, which through his Majeſties Dominions I had wounded to the very ſoul, ſo that it lay groveling, and panting on the ground ready to expire, if I had not been removed, and our plots detected to the glory of God, to the honour of King and Parliament, to the terrour of the wicked, and comfort of all thoſe who have bin labouring after the beauty of theſe times, and would have bought theſe acceptable days with many thouſands.

For this purpoſe, I made the firſt aſſault on the weakneſſe of Scotland, (as in my light eſtimation I conceived, but was deſtitute of the Spirit of Prophecie) and cauſed to be compiled a Service booke for their devotion, obtruding the ſame upon their Church, which I knew the tenderneſs of their conſcience could no ways endure; yet by my owne counſell I was caſt down; for though I knew well it was nothing elſe but a ſtrange Rhapſody of all unclean things and unſavoury, wch once received in the bowels of Church or State, could never give reſt, till like a virulent poyſon it had begotten inteſtine warre in the body Eccleſiaſtick and Civill. I knew likewayes it overturned from the foundation the order of their Church, making a large entry to all Novations to come, being repugnant to the Doctrine, Diſcipline, and order of their Reformation, to their Confeſſion of Faith, Conſtitutions of their Generall Aſſemblies, and Acts of their Parliament eſtabliſhing true Religion; yet would I needs enforce that booke upon a Nation, which ſooner would have welcomed the Plague, the Famine, and the Sword. Hence did ſpring this terrible combuſtion, (which I feare ſhall no other wayes be quenched, then by the bloud of that faction which cauſed the ſame) now threatning with open mouth, and implacable fury to devoure us all; When the Scots affrighted with ſuch an unknown Monſter had in moſt humble manner proſtrate themſelvs to authority, and craved a diſpenſation, from that impreſtable obedience, not able to drinke that poyſon which I had ſo imperiouſly preſented to them, as if Supreame Majeſty had been violated, Monarchy affronted, and a Royall Prerogative many wayes injured, I armed Authority againſt them, and made ſuch ſtrange pretences, diſſembling a Zeale to the honour of the Crowne (which meane while I was trampling under-foote) that any thing behoved to bee done, all the Treaſures of Revenge were to be waſted, before his Majeſties command did not meete with full obedience; but the ſuggeſtions and motions were ever mine, moſt palpably to blow up all, and involve all in conflagration.

All the Supplications (both pious and frequent) the Declarations, Informations, and Reformations (to which none of us could ever reply) of that afflicted Nation, I cauſed to bee ſuppreſſed moſt diligently (not able to ſtand before ſuch a Light, and fearing they ſhould work the overthrow of our cauſe) and procured them to bee anſwered, with terrible Proclamations. And when they were conſtrained to uſe the remedy of proteſtation, without any ſcruple or tryall of the buſines, (like an undiſtinguiſhing fire that delights to feed it ſelf by embracing all Objects) I cauſed them bee declared and publiſhed, in all the Churches of England, Traitors, and Rebells; And laſtly when they were ſeeking to poſſeſſe their Religion againſt my ſtrange devices, and Novations, I Kindled the fatall warre, and rather then I ſhould fall from my counſels, and have any of my intentions caſt back on my face, I choſed to cover the whole Iſland with bloud.

And therefore having once eſpouſed the Roman quarrell, I cauſed diſplay an open banner and muſtered my forces, called forth my Squadrons (as if religion, and the honour Royall had been lying at the ſtake) and ſet forth an Epiſcopall Expedition for defence of the Mitre, which in end will be covered with aſhes in deſpight of all created powers. But ô yee of little providence, for what all this fury? Where were your ſouls? And why did none of us foreſee the black ſucceſſe of ſuch deſtructive, diſtempers, and unmercifull extremities? But this was our houre, our very houre, wherein wee were wiſe to our owne deſtruction.

Thus when by our working the Land was divided in two Armies, advanced and brought in view of each other, yet not ſo much as a Dog to offend; When all matters were ſweetly compoſed, and by a Pacification as undeſired as unexpected of us both Nations had comforted themſelves with the hopes of peace and quietneſſe, then like an angry wind that layes bare the very ocean, or like fire impriſoned, I burſt forth and ſpred my ſelf with greater violence, and could not give reſt to my mind, till a new war was kindled, and all things for their deſtruction with a freſher reſolution then before prepared againſt them. How I beſtirred by ſelf both at the Counſell Table, and privy Juncto, to reproach all his Majeſties Royall intentions of peace with his Subjects, and that Pacification as diſhonourable, and fit to be broken, yee can all beare mee record. I controlled the judgement of the whole Kingdome and Parliament. And though they found no juſt reaſon and emergencie for warre, yet becauſe I apprehended our Kingdome was like to make a fatall end, and our Babel was trembling, ready to tumble down about our eares, and that there was no ſafety left but to build upon the ruines of their confuſion, Therefore in politick probability I thought it moſt fit to ſhake all, and put all in diviſions and diſorders, that ſo wee might work our owne ſafety, and the redemption of Hierarchy from the publike reproach, fiſhing in troubled waters: Thus in my graceleſſe fagacity, I concluded it good counſell to bring both Kingdomes neerer to ruine, that being made poore and paſsive, they might be ruled with the more eaſe.

It is not unknown to you all how impudently, and blaſphemouſly I railed againſt that Covenant of Scotland, (which like a terrible Spear in the hand of the mighty has ſtrickē us through the very ſoul, & muſt triūph through the world, to the aboliſhing of that great Biſhop, if wee obſerve the indeniable finger of a Providence) though it was moſt true that the ſame did containe nothing but the marrow of Religion, was approved by Nationall Aſſemblies, ſubſcribed by his Majeſties Commiſsioners, & by the Lords of his Majeſties Counſell, and by them commanded to be ſubſcribed by all the Subjects of that Kingdome, as a teſtimony of their duty to God & the King. Though the beautiful face of Religion which did ſhine there moſt gloriouſly, and all theſe warrants in a morall way could have juſtified them, and taught mee better manners, yet I would break through all conſiderations, and make good my miſtake, uſing that power whereof I was in poſſeſsion to the effectuall embracements of my owne wiſhes. As they uſed all means to approve themſelves to God and Man, and deliver unto their Poſteritie the true Religion in her purity and majeſty, So I profeſſe my ſtudy was to render them odious, charging with unqueſtioned guilt theſe Subjects that endeavoured to gain his Majeſties favour and were moſt faithfull to his Crown, and dignity.

When the Parliament could not bee induced to diſcend into warre againſt a Nation, maintaining their Religion, and Liberties, I did impede their procedings, and ſtop their Reſolutions, as if they had met for no other purpoſe, then to give up their Judgements to mee, and evidence their devotion to my corrupt ends. And not only did I adviſe the breaking up of that high and honourable Court of Parliament, (on which all the Eys of Europe were faſtned, and whence the reformed Churches expected refreſhment) but did like-ways ſit ſtill in the Convocation houſe, making Canons and Conſtitutions: Ordaining under all higheſt paines, that hereafter the Clergy ſhould preach foure times in the yeere ſuch Doctrines as were contrary not only to the Scottiſh proceedings, but to the Doctrines and proceedings of other Churches, to the Judgement of all ſound Divines, and Politiques, and tending to the utter ſlavery, and ruining of all Eſtates, and Kingdomes, and to the diſhonour of Kings, and Monarchs. Not content herewith, I procured ſix Subſidies to be levied of the Clergie, under pain of deprivation to al who ſhould refuſe for this great exigency, and Holy war. And as if all theſe had not been ſufficient (O hide your faces, and bluſh for ſhame) I cauſed frame and print a Prayer, and ſent through all the pariſhes of England, to be ſaid in time of divine Service, againſt that Nation by the name of traiterous Subjects having caſt off all obedience to their anointed Soveraigne, and comming in a rebellious manner to invade England, that ſhame might cover their faces, as enemies to God and the King. Here let horrour and wonder ſeaſe your ſoul, and all Religion and C • dor be aſhamed; if theſe alas be the fruits of the ſpirit of truth, and peace, or the words of charity or the wayes of the Goſpel God and the World will judge.

Many ſtrange oaths I invented preſſing them upon the paine of impriſonment and huge pecuniall mulets. And in that ſacred Synod (as wee called it, but God is not mocked) was that love-lock of Antichriſt forged, that prodigious that bottomleſſe and unlimited oath coined, which was provided moſt prudently as bonds and chaines to ty the laity from invading our liberties which wee conceived to be powerfully fortified with our imperiors Canons as a Rampard: So that if the wiſdome of the State, in the great counſell and ſupreame Senate of the Kingdome, ſhould think fit to alter any thing hereafter in the government of the Church, we gloried in this as a Maſter-piece of providence, to anticipate and foreſtall their judgement by making them ſweare before hand to damnable hereſies (for why ſhould I now diſſemble) That the government of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deacons, &c. (A ſtrange miſhap in Monſter with a Dragons taile, not ſprung from Scripture,) is jure divino, and that they ſhould never give conſent to any alteration. This was a heavie yoke, and ſtrong fetters caſt upon Chriſtian liberty. Yee all know what meanes wee uſed in that our Conclave to make all ſure againſt the ſtorme that threatned us: for the motive of our meeting was not the peace and purity of the Church, (nay, we threw oile in the flame) nor the extirping of hereſies, (for day after day they ſet up their abominable heads, and came forth as Locuſts out of the pit) and eſtabliſhing the truth, in the power of doctrine and diſcipline; but to aſſure our Epiſcopacie, and exalt Hierarchie, which was now fainting and languiſhing under the weight of ſo many reproaches ready to expire. If we dare not for the illegality of theſe Canons, appeare before that powerfull Sun-beame (the Eſtates of Parliament) which doth melt us like Snow, and make us aſhamed like Bats and Owls, where ſhall we ſtand for their impietie in the great day of our reckoning.

Theſe, ô theſe be the trophees of my triumph, theſe bee the garlands adorning my Mitre, which are now deſperatly blaſted with the angrieſt thunder that ever fell upon an ambitious hea • , which ſhall be likeways ſhortly turned to Cypreſſe at my unlamented funerals. The black cloud of diſhonour hangs over me, and I am drowned in ſhame; I am now the deſpiſed prey of the world, the noyſome ſpectacle of this age, example of juſtice to all thoſe who dare crucifie the harmleſſe truth, diſgrace the beauty of the glorious light, reſiſt the graces of the Goſpell, ſtifle the rayes of Majeſty with impure ſmoake, and drinke with open throat the intoxicate cup of accurſed preferment, which taints the judgement, and poyſons the heart: And therefore on the bended knees of my ſoule let mee entreat you, to caſt your eyes upon mee, not for pity and wonder only, but to hate thoſe things which have plunged me in this depth of miſery. Goe meaſure the height of your hopes, examine the very life & ſtrength of my happines, and compare it with that weight of anguiſh, that mighty trouble of mind, thoſe heavy diſappointments, the loſs of reputation, that bitter hatred (one dram of which evils, drowns the memory of all my forſaken follies, and deceitfull policies) and let this ſad and ſerious remonſtrance beget in you a perfit hatred of my ways, opinions and practices, and bring forth in your melting ſouls, a tender love to the peace of the Church: as you would embrace your owne eternall weal.

For behold I had lately eſtabliſhed my ſelf upon the tops of the Mountaines, and thought I could not be removed, and flouriſhing like a Bay tree, the terrour of three Nations, feared at home, reverenced abroad, (in ſuch ſort that the Romiſh Church thought her ſelfe meritoriouſly acquit, when ſhe made eminent mention of mee in her prayers, as of the Rulers of Kingdomes, and Princes of the earth, that God would bleſſe ſo worthy a Prelate, and the great worke in his hands) But now I paſſe away, and my memory ſtinketh, Lo, there are no more eys in the 3 Kingdomes, nay, in all the Neighbour Churches almoſt, then are bent againſt mee, and ſetting me up as a mark, do ſhoot their anger at mee, and gaze at me with out-ſtretched necks: Conſider this, and looke a little how abject I am now, and how they have peſtred mee, every mouth is filled with railings, and I remaine the ſubject and recreation of the more frolick pens. The World has conſulted with my fate, and found nothing but tyranny contained in the leaf of my deſtiny, which they have pickt out in the anatomy of my name, as if I had beene a man ſet apart for the abuſe of Churches and Kingdomes, while one doth perſecute me with this Anagram,

WILLIAM LAUDE. Anagram. I made will Law.

If this be the world's eſtimation, how is my Garland now humbled, and layed in the duſt? where is that honour, that uſurped power by which I knew well how to muzzell the times, and correct the petulancie of the bolder pens? but now they are filled with the venom of Aſps, and caſt forth flouds of gall upon me. Lo here another monument of my fame, for I thought good to ſhew you with what honourable Elegies they reſolve to attend my Herſe, that yee may be acquainted with your Panegyricks before they be engraven on your Tombe, no kind recompence they will allow you nor ſuch as this.

Here is likeways the laſh of another unmercifull pen; It is my glory to abhor my ſelf, and I muſt preſent theſe little flouriſhes to you who like Camelions feed on the aire of popularity, that in them as in a mirrour, yee may diſcover the minde of the people, and their propenſion to hate you as Vipers & Serpents, enemies to mankind.

A comfortleſſe compariſon and ſad ſentence: but what will not a provoked people (alas too juſtly provoked) ſay in the heat of their rage? all language is too narrow. If you will have more evidences of the univerſall diſtaſte, and know how perfectly odious I am, caſt your eyes upon this following Satyre, where they have ſtretcht themſelves to the furtheſt extent of language, & made me aſwell a Devill, as a Tyrant, reſolving my name thus,

WILLIAM LADE. Anagram. I am a Divell.