News with a Witness.
That the World may know, how (no lesse Unchristianly, then Undeservedly) the Vicar of Mitcham in Surry (Master Sadler) hath been Consulted upon, and Conspired against; for his dutifull Ambition to Preach up, the Regal Authority, the Episcopal Jurisdiction, and the Churches Discipline: to Keep up, the Kingdoms Peace, the Peoples Good, and the Joy of All.
This following Letter, and Petition (in Order to his Appeall, unto the King) were Directed to the Lord Bishop of Winton, Humbly to Crave, the Episcopal Assistance, against the Injurie and Insolence of a Contumacious Party; against the Rights and Discipline of the Church of England.
The Letter. IN Matters of the Church, I am bound to be Firme and Impartial in their Vindication; This hath made [Page 4] me to Prosecute Master Cranmer, in a Case of Delapidations and Sacriledge; and that the Churches Free-hold may be Preserved; to Endanger my Selfe, to the utmost of Endamagement: The Tryal (I am sure) will manifest my Innocence; and, that nothing but Duty to the Church my Mother; hath made me thus conscientiously forward, for the Oblieg'd Averment of her known Rights.
This also (the Church-Wardens of my Parish, wilfully refusing to observe the Arch-Deacons Directions;Dr. Peirson. which, at his Visiting of Mitcham, for the Decency of the Church, and the Order of my Parish, were before Doctor Harris, and my Self, given to One of them then present)Edward Bristock. hath made me to Present the said Church-Wardens, and the Things and Persons Faulty (as by the Canon I am to do.)
Insomuch, that upon the 24th day of November last past, I went in Person to Witness my said Presentment, to be both Lawful and Expedient.
The Court Rising, I went with Doctor Floyd, and the Register to Dinner, and being but enter'd into the House, (where Master Cranmer, The said Mr. Cranmer. it seems, and the rest were) He sends Three Serjeants to Arrest me, upon an Action of Trespass of Five Hundred Pound; He Arrested also Master Richardson (Your Lordships Register, and my Procter; as we conceive) for Presenting him into the Ecclesiastical Court: — Surely my Lord, there is a Canon to save us Harmless from Trespass, Suite, and Trouble, in the Case of Presentments.
However, I am at present under Custody, at great Charge, most injuriously debarr'd from my Family, my Study, [Page 5] and the Duty of my Place; not knowing any Reason why, but the Malice of Master Cranmer.
Good my Lord, I most Humbly Beseech You, for God, and the Gospel sake, let me finde that Christian Favour; that (As a Son of the Church of England, and in Your Lordships Diocess) Your Lordship would send for Master Cranmer, and Enforce that Equity, that I may have Proceedings Legal, and not be thus Over-born, and Undone, by the Power, and Prejudice of a Combination.
To the Right Reverend Father in GOD, GEORGE, LORD BISHOP of WINCHESTER.
The Humble Petition of Anthonie Sadler; The Authour of Inquisitio Anglicana against the Triers, 1654.
The Petition. THat whereas in a Just Vindication, of His Majesties Authority, in, and over, the Episcopal Jurisdiction; to preserve the Churches Discipline, from Disorder and Disdain, and to preserve the Churches Free-hold, from Dilapidations and Sacriledge: Your Lordships Petitioner hath Commenced a Suite in Law against, and made a Presentment of, Master Robert Cranmer; as being a Person, very Injurious against the Churches Free-hold, and Disobedient, to the Churches Discipline.
And whereas, the said Master Cranmer, is (by the common out-cry of the Country, credibly devulg'd, and now by Your Lordships Petitioner, is credibly attested, to be a publique Oppressor, and notorious in Oppression: — Because, when Your Lordships Petitioner, had been Two Years and a Half, enforced to be in Law, with, and against the said Master Cranmer, in a Case of Dilapidations and Sacriledge; and had brought the said Case, upon the point of Tryal, in the Court of Arches: —
And Secondly, because when Your Lordships Petitioner Appeared in Person, in Your Lordships [Page 7] Court, to Prosecute the Presentment of the said Master Cranmer, for his Publique Contumancy, against the Act of Uniformity; Your Lordships Petitioner, was at the same time Arrested, by the said Master Cranmer, in an Action of Trespass of Five Hundred Pound; the Proctor also of Your poor Petitioner (being the Register of the said Court) the said Master Cranmer Arrested, in an Action of Trespass, of Five Hundred Pound, — not knowing any Reason why, but the malice and purpose of the said Master Cranmer, to debase our Persons, to discourage our Friends, to discompose our Minds, to stop the said Presentment, and to stifle the said Tryal of the Case depending.
Your Lordships Petitioner was forthwith cast into Prison, and there lay, that Day, that Night, and the Day following: — That Night Master Cranmer, and his Common Lawyer (Master Cornelius Hooker) came to Your Petitioner, in the said Prison, and they offer him Bayle, and Freedome, if he would Engage, to give up his Presentation, to his Patron, the said Master Cranmer.
Your Petitioner (for his Liberty and Healths-sake) yielded to any thing they said; insomuch, that the said Common Lawyer, caused your Over-griev'd, and under-min'd Petitioner, to Subscribe and Seal a Bond of Five Hundred Pound; and also (to the best Remembrance of Your Lordships Petitioner) to Subscribe and Seal, a blank paper or papers; which paper or papers, the said Master Cranmer, and his Common Lawyer, report now (to the utter undoing of Your [Page 8] poor Petitioner, his Wife, and Children) to be a Judgement, and a Warrant to the payment of Five Hundred Pound, as if due from Your Petitioner, to the said Master Cranmer: Your Petitioner not owing him the worth of a penny; but He owing Your Petitioner his Dues and Tythes, for these Three Years and a Half, last past.
Wherefore Your Lordships Petitioner, most humbly submits his very Sad Condition, to the Christian Consideration, and Compassion of Your Right Reverend, and Well-disposed Self: Most Humbly Imploring, no other Favour, but what becomes Your Lordship, in Your Petitioners now Appeal to the King and Council; That the said Papers may be produced before that Right Honourable Table; and in whatsoever, Your Lordships Petitioner, is a Debter or Trespasser, he may be Legally Impleaded, and not be thus Treacherously Ruined by clandestine Proceedings: — To the Dishonouring of Religion Oppressing the Subiect, Adulterating the Law, Debasing of Church Discipline, and the open discouraging of the Subordinate Clergy, from their Dutifull Obedience, unto Just Authority.