Section I.
Containing divers seditious, scandalous, libellous passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments, Synods, and temporall Magistrates in generall, in Ecclesiasticall affaires, in the late writings of several Independent New-lights, and Firebrands.

I Shall begin with a Copy of a Letter written by John Lilburne, Lieu, Colonell, (the Ringleader of this Regiment of New-Firebrands) to William Prynne Esq; upon the comming out of his last book, intituled, Truth triumphing over False­hood, Antiquity over [...]Novelty: Of which Letter there have bin three Impressions made by him, without license; contrary to the Ordinance of both Houses, re­straining the printing or dispersing of unlicensed, libellous, & seditious Pamphlets: whre he p. 4. writes thus.

‘Sir, in your last book that you put out, you spend a great deale of paines in ci­ting old rusty Authors, to prove that Kings, Councels, Synods, and States, have for so many hundred yeares medled with matters of Religion. I grant you they have; but I demand of you, by what right, or by what authority out of the Word of God they have so done? Hath God the Father, or Jesus Christ his Sonne gi­ven them any allowance in this? Or have they not hereby rather fulfilled the pro­phesies of the Scripture, which saith, Rev. 17. 17. That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the Word of God be fulfilled, which they have done in assisting the Popes to joyne the Ecclesiasticall and Civill State together, making the Golden Lawes of Christ to depend upon the Leaden Lawes of Man; yea upon such Lawes, as was just suitable to their ty­rannicall lusts, and which might the most advance their wicked ends and designes: and in the doing of this, they have set up a perfect Antichrist against GOD'S CHRIST, yea, England is not free from this.’ [Page 4] And to hold, that Kings, Parliaments, Synods, States, have any thing to do in mat­ters of Religion and Church-Government, he concludes pag. 5. to be a setting of the Potentates of the earth together by the eares with Christ (who is to rule all Nations, Rev. 12. 5.) to pluck his Crown from his head, his Scepter out of his hand, and his person out of his throne and State, that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in.

Which is thus backed by Henry Robinson the (supposed) Author of the Answer to Mr. William Prynnes 12. Questions concerning Church-Government, pag. 6. Particular Churches, members of a Kingdome and Nation, are not obliged in point of Conscience and Christianity, to submit unto whatsoever publike Church Government, Rites, and Discipline, a Nationall Councell, Synod, and Parliament shall conceive most consonant to Gods Word, unlesse it prove so in the whole Kingdomes, Nations, and those very particular Churches Judgement, pag. 8. The grounds of Independent Government, attribute nothing to the Magistrate in Church affaires further then the Magistrate is a member of their Churches and Assemblies, pag. 12. You can no more Justifie a Nationall Church of Christians shall likewise go up to the Temple of Jerusalem from whence by the same Pro­phesie, they are also to receive the Word of God, and not from Parliament, Pope, Synod or Presbytery.

Mr. Henry Burton in his Vindication of Churches commonly called Independent, &c. p. 49, 50, 51, &c: The Church is a spirituall kingdome, whose only King is Christ, and not Man: It is a spirituall Re-publick, whose only Law-giver is Christ and not Man. No man nor power on earth, hath a Kingly power over this kingdome. No earthly Lawgiver may give lawes for the government of this Re­publick. No man can or ought to undertake the government of this communion of Saints. No humane power or law may intermeddle to prescribe rules for the government or form of this spirituall house. NOT COUNCELS, NOT SE­NATES. This is Christs Royall Prerogative, which is uncommunicable to ANY, TO ALL THE POWERS ON EARTH, &c. he adds, p. 60, 61.

We challenge you to shew us, any Parliament, Councell, Synod, ever since the Apostles, that could or can say thus, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us, to determine controversies of Religion, to make and impose Canons to binde all men, &c. Shew this to us at this time, and we will obey. But if you cannot, as you never can; never let any man presse upon us that Scripture, that Synod, which hath no parallell in the whole world, and so is no precedent or patterne, for any Councell, Synod, Parliaments.

A short Answer to Adam Stewarts second part of his over-grown Duply to the Two Brethren; with certaine difficults questions easily answered: printed (with­out license) 1644. supposed to be written by Mr. Iohn Goodwin, p. 13, 17. But perhaps you'l say, there is an Act of Parliament, a Civill law declaring heresie, or any different from the State opinions, such as for the present are in fashion to be censurable by the civill power; I answer, not without all due respect unto the lawes, and such as made them, that if there be any distinction between a Church­state and a civill-state, which all Christians hitherto acknowledge, the enacting civill lawes to punish spirituall offences, is not only a solecisme or impropriety [Page 5] in state, but an incroaching on the Churches power, a profaning of the Keyes, and injurious to the offender, who by this meanes is punished both beyond the degree and nature of his offence. If the blessed Spirit should at any time bear wit­nesse unto your spirit, or unto the spirit of a whole Parliament and Synod, what were this to the spirits of other men? must not they wait with patience untill the blessed Spirit be pleased to visit their spirits likewise, before they can joyne with yours or the Assemblies spirit? But if the Synods determination of this or that controversie should seem good unto the holy Ghost, as the Churches decrees of Je­rusalem did, must they therefore be imposed upon the Countrey, the whole world? Is not this to equallize your Synodall Canons with those decrees of the Apostolicall Church of Jerusalem, and to make Scripture of yours, as well as theirs? is not this to adde to Scripture? nay, to alter it, p. 28. But if King and Parliament may not force a new Religion or Sect, suppose Presbyterian, upon the kingdome, much lesse can the Synod, which neither has not yet pretends as is alleaged, to use the materiall sword? And if for matters of religion all power ori­ginally is in Christ, as you sometimes acknowledge, How can King, Par­liament, or Synod, wrest it from him? Nay what think you? is it not secondari­ly in the people, as well as civill power, which you affirme in the same page? and so doubtlesse is spirituall power, unlesse you will make God to have provided mankinde better of a safegard, or liberty to defend their bodies, than their soules: If then the spirituall power be so inherently in the people next under Christ, as that they cannot so well renounce and part from it in many respects, by what they may of civill; how can it be thought by any one, that the King, Parliament, Sy­nod, though never so much importun'd by a thousand such Asses, should goe a­bout to settle a new Presbyterian Scotch government, with an intention to force a conformity of the whole Kingdome, three quarters whereof cannot as yet be thought to submit unto it willingly or for conscience sake, Pag. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Qu. 5. Is it not an ungodly thing to suffer men to be of any Religion? Ans. No, For both our Saviour his Apostles, and the Primitive Christians did the same: neither is it in the power of flesh and blood to hinder it. Qu. 6. Is it not the most unseemely sight to see the people of one Citty run seambling from their Parishes to twenty Conventicles where so many severall doctrines are taught? An. No, but farre more monstrous and abominable in the eyes of God, for people of twenty severall opinions for feare or favour to assemble and Joyn together hyprocritically in one way of worship or Church discipline. Q. 8. Ought we not then at least to keepe our different opinions and Religion unto our selves in obedience to the Civill Magistrate that commands it? An. No, because it is better to obey God then man. Qu. 9. If Jesuited Papists and other subtile Hereticks be suffered, will they not likely seduce many unto their erronious by-pathe? Ans. Though a Tolleration of erronious opinions may gaine some to sathan, yet truth being therewith to be published and improved will in all probabillity, not onely gaine so many more to God; but any one thus wonne to God, unto his truth, is worth thousands of those that fall from it. Qu. 10. But may not the multiplying of He­resies stifle or expell the truth like as the abounding of tares and weedes often choake the wheate and for this cause not to be permitted? An. Though it seeme to [Page 6] be many of the first, yet our Saviour in the parable of Tares. Math. 13. teaches us a quite contrary doctrine, and forbids (Heresies) the Tares to be pulled up before [the day of Judgment] the harvest. v. 30. 39. least the wheate, the children of the Kingdome true professors, v. 30. 39. be therewith rooted up. Qu. 21. Is it not a pious Act to compell a Company of carelesse Idle people to heare a good sermon, to do a good worke whether they will or no; Ans. No more pious an Act, then for Papists to use the like compulsion towards Iewes and Protestants, inforcing them to heare their sermons, Masse, or Vespers. Q. 24. May not the Civill Gover­ment interpose to punish such Church members with whom the spirituall by rea­son of their refractorinesse cannot prevaile? Answ. Nothing lesse, since the Civill State or government has no more power, nor vertue to make a Papist turne Protestant in England, then it can prevaile to make a Protestant become a Papist in Spaine. Qu. 29. But can there be any hurt in forceing refractory people to be present at Religious orthodox assemblies, where if they will, they may be infor­med of the truth. An. Yes, first because there can come no good thereof through want of willingnesse, which God onely reguards in him which is thus compelled; and secondly, because this (forceing) is a doing evill that good may come there­of, which is prohibited, Rom. 3. 8.

The Falshood of M. W. Prynnes Truth triumphing, &c. printed in London 1645. without license (written by H. Robinson, who hath set up a private unlicensed prin­ting Presse) determines thus: p. 19. 20. 26. But did, the only wise God think we re­solve to create man after his own Image, to estate him in such a sad and execrable condition, worse then that of beasts, wolves, Bears & Tigres, as that he must necessa­rily tyrannize or be Tyrannized over both in soul and body and yet it cannot possi­bly be otherwise; if you will grant a power to Kings, Parliaments or Synods, to re­quire conformity from others in any thing which is not agreeable to their con­sciences; for if such a Latitude and height of Iurisdiction be granted but to the more orthodox Kings Parliaments and Synods; both Papists, Lutherans, Calvinists and Independants pretending and really takeing themselves to be the most ortho­dox, are bound in conscience to lay Clayme to, and put in Execution this power of Compelling all the world unto their uniformity, and so infallibly produce the most cursed enmity and hatred betwixt all the people but differing in opinion ex­ceeding that of Cannibals, or the profoundest of Antipathics betweene any ratio­nall creatures whatsoever. You say the oposites to Parliaments Ecclesiasticall Ju­risdictions have formerly and more especially in this Present Parliament addressed severall Petitions to this High and honorable Court for Reformation of the Church, &c. wherein under favour, I conceive you have mis-apprehended their proceedings & Intentions, which doubtlesse was for the most part, or best affected, that the Parliament, in whom they acknowledge the Soveraigne power to reside, would permit, Cou [...]tenance and encourage all godly men of gifts in preaching down Heresies, Errors, Idolatry, Popery, &c. Many whereof had either beene formerly established by Law, or not permitted to be preached downe, through the Prelates corruption contrary to the Law. This is the best, even all the Refor­mation, which the Civill Magistrate, as Civill, has a Capassity of compassing a­gainst all Heresies and Errors, which must necessarily be vanquished by the sword [Page 7] of the Spirit and cannot possibly be suppressed by carnall weapons or the civill sword; they may destroy the flesh, but cannot properly be said to touch and worke upon the Spirit. Tis no small dis-service which you do both Parliament and Assembly, in thus exposing their proceedings, to be questioned by no little, and that thePray God you prove so. most conscionable and best affected party of the kingdome, such spirits of contention as this of yours, were those which made the first great breach among the Parliaments friends,

Master John Goodwins Theomathia, pag. 48, 49, 50. The generality and promiscuous multitude of the World, who have a right of nominating persons to a Parliamentary trust and power, are but a Secular Root, out of which the Independent Brethren conceive, an impossibility that a spi­rituall extraction should be made: A man may as well bring a clean thing out of an unclean, (in Jobs expression) as make a spirituall extraction out of this secular root, who have no Authority nor power from Christ to nomi­nate or appoint who shall be the men, that shall order the affaires of Christs kingdome, or institute the government of his Church; Therefore there is an impossiblity that a legitimate Ecclesiasticall power, should according to the minde of Christ, or any precept or president of Scripture be by them conferred upon any man, or that the persons so elected should have a power by vertue of such nomination or election, to enact Laws or Statutes in matters of religion; & to order under Mulcts and Penalties, how we shall worship and serve God.

Section II.
Comprizing their seditious, scandalous, libellous and daring passages against sundry Ordinances and Proceedings of this present Parlia­ment in particular not to be paralel'd in any Age, nor tolerable in this.

THeir intolerable libellous seditious passages of this nature are so many and various that I must branch them into severall Heads.1. Libellous seditious pas­sages against the Ordinan­ces in regula­ting Printing.

I shall 1. begin with their Invectives against the severall Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament, for the regulating of Printing, and suppressing the great late abuses, and frequent disorders, in printing many false, scandalous, seditious, libellous and unlicensed Pamphlets, to the great defamation of Religion and Go­vernment.

John Libourne in his unlicensed, printed Libell, intituled, A copy of a Letter to Master Prynne, thus declares against these Ordinances pag. 2, 3. But be­ing that‘Neither I nor the black-coats, but the Parliament, were the sole Authors of these Ordi­nances. you and the Black-coats in the Synod, have not dealt fairly with your Antagonists, in stopping the Presse against us, while things are in de­bate, yea, robbing us of our Liberty (as we are Subjects) in time of free­dome, when the Parliament is sitting, who are sufficiently able to punish that man And there­fore you who have abused your pen, as much as any man. whatsoever he be) that shall abuse his Penne; so that whilst we are with the hazard of our dearest lives, fighting for the Subjects Liberty, we are brought into Egyptian bondage in this and other particulars, by the Black-coats, who I am afraid will prove more cruell Task masters then their [Page 8] deare Fathers the Bishops; who cowardly sit at home, in my apprehension, for no other end but to breed faction and division amongst theYou would say illaffect­ed, as your Li­bels against their power, Ordinances, and procee­dings evidence wel-affected to to the Parliament, promoting thereby their owne interest, which is Lazinesse, Pride, Covetousnesse and Domination, endeavouring to lay lower then the dust, a generation of men whom they falsly call Sectaries, that have in the up­rightnesse of their hearts, without Synodianlike ends, ventured all they have in the world for the good of the Parliament, and the Common-wealth of England, and who may bid defiance to all their adversaries, that brand them with unfaithfulnesse; so that by meanes of which, I have not been able that way, yet to accomplish my earnest desire; and truly it argues no manhood nor valour in you not the Black-coats, by force to throw us downe and tye our hands, and then to fall upon us, to beat and buffet us; for if you had not been men that had been afraid of your Cause, you would have been willing to have fought and contended with us upon even ground and equall termes name­ly, that theSo it is in an orderly & regular, though not in a Libellous & seditious way. Presse might be as open for us as for you, and as it was at the be­ginning of this Parliament; which I conceive, the Parliament did of purpose, that so the free borne English Subjects might enjoy their Liberty to Print Libels, standers, inve­ctives against Parliamenta­ry procee­dings, is not the Subjects Liberty or priviledge but his claim and shame. Liberty and Pri­viledge, which the Bishops had learned of the Spanish Inquisition to rob them of, by locking it up under the key of an Imprimatur, in whose tyrannicall steps the Synod treads; so that you and they think you may rayle at us cum privile­gio, and ranke us amongst the worst and basest of men, asYour Libels, carriages pro­claim them such. rooters up of Par­liaments, and disturbers of States and Common-wealths.’

The scurrilous, blaspemous, unlicensed Libell, stiled, The Arraignment of Persecution; thus contemptuously affronts & jeers this Ordinance, with the Par­liament, Synod and Directory, in the very Title Page; This is licensed and printed according to holy Order, but not entred into the Stationers Monopoly: and in the opposite page:

[Page 10] What more audacious, jeering affront could be afforded to the Commons or As­sembly, then this feigned libellous Order?

In the Book it selfe, page 2. Persecution had a thousand trucks, above all the rest, for to block up all passages. stop all mouths, and fortifie himselfe round; he turned reverend imprima [...]ur: and here the pursuer was at a stand; for all was as fast as the Devil and the Presbyters could make it: They sought to authority toNot to print modest and sober Trea [...]ies, but seditious Libels, [...], blasphe­my. o [...]en the Presse, and still the Presbyters (as the custome is) were in the way, that nothing could be done.

‘P. 10. This fellow Persecution stoppeth Presses, whereby men cannot make their just defence, suffers nothing to be licensed, printed, preached, or otherwise pub­lished, but what himselfe alloweth; and having thus bound the hands, and stopt the mouths of all good men, then he comes forth in print against them, like an armed man, and furiously assaults them, exaults and exalts himselfe over them, faineth Arguments for them, and then like a valiant Champion, gives them a conquering Answer, and thus puts them to flight, and pursues them with revi [...]ings, scandals, forgeries, and opprobrious nick-names, as Anababaptists, Br [...]wnists, Independents, Scismatiques, Heretiques: Thus he dealeth with the godly party; (How godly you are, well appeareth to all the world by these your libellous, seditious, ungodly Pamphlets.)’

The libellous Book in pursuance of this stiled, A sacred Decretall &c. proceeds in the same language, page 24. Lest they should fall upon our reare, under pre­tence of suppressing the Kings papers, we bounded the Presse with our It was a Par­liamentary Ordinance of both Houses not made by Presbiterians. Presbyteri­an compasse; that they could not without hazard of plundering, transgresse our re­verend Imprimatur. Then issued out witlesse scholastick Tractates, against the Anabaptists, &c. Having thus neatly stopt their mouths, we sophisticated their Arguments, &c. and then with our politick Answers, we present them to the peo­ple with an Imprimatur. JAMES CRANFORD or the like. We imploy Doctor Featly's Devil (a very reverend ten pound Sir John) to make a discription of the Anabapti [...]s, &c. and this foule spirit for the love he beares to the Black-coats at the Doctors decease, transmigrated into old Ephram Pag [...]t (seldome lyes the Devil dead in a dry ditch) so that the good old man to confute theIt seems th [...] Libeller de­nies the soules immortality, and writes as it there were no heaven nor hell. morta­lity of the soule, hath made himselfe sure of an immortall spirit.

Many such scurrilous passages against the Ordinances for regulating printing, (made by both Houses, speciall care and direction before the Assembly met) are scattered in their libellous pamphlets, which I pretermit, wherein they write, [...]s if there were neither heaven nor hell.

Onely I shall adde, that some of these persons have acted as contemptuously against these Ordinances, as they have written and printed.

For Master Henry Robinson (the supposed Author of the Arraignment of perse­cution. A sacr [...]d Decretal, M [...]tyns Eccho, and other most scurrilous, sedi­tious Libels) hath maintained a private Printing-presse, and sent for Printers from Amsterdam, wherewith he hath printed most of the late scandalous, libellous Books against the Parliament; and though he hath been formerly sent for before the Committee of Examinations for this offence, which was passed by in silence; yet he hath since presumed and proceeded herein in a farre higher straine [Page 10] then ever: besides John L [...]lburne being questioned before that Committee by spe­ciall Order of the Commons House for printing his libellous Letter▪ contrary to th [...]se Ordinances▪ hath pending his very Examinations▪ contemptuously printed and dispersed abroad his false and scandalous Reasons delivered in to that Committee, for printing his former libellous Letter, with some marginall [...]nno [...]ations and a scandalous, libellous Petition, Remonstrance (as formerly Articles) against Colo­nell 2 King; (to omit other printed unlicensed Papers) an insolent contempt not to be parallel'd,Libellous, se­ditious passa­ges against the Ordi­nance for Tythes. at least not to be tolerated.

Secondly, I shall proceed to their libellous, scurrilous and seditious Invectives against the Ordinance for payment of Tythes; which Iohn L [...]lburne in his foremen­tioned libellous Letter thus affronts charging the Parliament with no lesse then perjury and breach of their Covenant, for making it.

Page 4. 27. If you put the parliament in mind of their Covenant, tell them. I think they have sworne to root out all Popery, and therefore have lately abolished the Common-prayer (that great Idol) but yet have established Tythes, &c. ‘the very They were long before Popery; and being the Mi­nisters main­tainance war­ranted not on­ly by the law of Nature, of Nations, and the old Testa­ment, but by the new too, 1 Cor. 9. 7. to 16. root and support of popery;which I humbly conceive is a contradiction of their Covenant; and which will be [...] greater snare then the Common-prayer to many of the precious consciences of Gods people, whose duty is, in my judge­ment, to dye in prison, before they act or stoop unto so dishonourable a thing as this is to their Lord and Master, as to maintaine the black-coats with Tythes, whom they look upon as the professed enemies of their anointed Christ; he that payes If you add, by vertue & in [...] of the Leviticall law to Leviti­call Priests, your argu­ment, might have some weight, but if by vertue of the fore-cited Gospel Texts, the law of the Land & com­mon equity to Ministers of the Gospel (as now Tyths are [...]) your [...] nonsense Tythes, is subject to the whole law of tythes, in which there was a Lambe to be brought for a sinne Offering, which is abolished; also, he that was to take Tythes,Luke 10. 7. 1 Tim. 5. 17, [...]. was one that was to offer sacrifice daily for sinne, which if any doe so now, it is to deny Christ come in the flesh, and to be the alone sacrifice for sinne by his death, and so overthrow all our comfort, joy and hope.’

A most insolent,G [...]l. 6. 6. scurrilous and seditious passage to stirre up the people to rebell against this Ordinance.

This Libell is thus seconded in the seditious pamphlet, instiled the Arraignment of persecution, in the Epistle Dedicatory.

Many more clauses of like nature are in this prophane Libell, which I pre­termit.

But that which is the most audacious, contemptuous, seditious, publike affront of all others against the Ordinance, is the prophane, scurrilous Libell, intituled. A Sacred DECRETALL nor Hue and cry from his superlative holinesse, Sir Si­mon Synod, for the apprehension of reverend young MARTIN MAR-PRIEST: In the front whereof there is the picture of a Bull, tossing Sir Simon Synod on his hornes, and trampling the ordinance for Tythes under his feet, with this inscription upon it, ORD. for TYTHES.

[Page 12] And page 2. this explanation of it; ‘nothing appeareth but a Bull tossing Sir John upon his hornes, and stamping the blessed Ordinance for tythes under his cloven feet; O PROFANE MARTIN! O wicked MARTIN! O sacrilegi­ous MARTIN! O blasphemous MARTIN! what? tosse a Presbyter, and pro­phane the holy Ordinance for tythes? MARTIN'S not a benefic'd man, that's in­fallible divinity; wherefore being thus jeer'd and bul'd, we Decree and Or­daine &c.’

Page 7. 8. 10. the subtill tell-tale must be taken, else all's mart'd; both Parlia­ment and people will understand our deceit, and then Sir John may goe whistle for his tythes, if the people once understand their owne right: and that the exacti­on of tythes IS MEERE THEFT and ROBBERY: they'le have the wit (if they be wise) to keep their owne; cease hiring us to cheat and delude them to their faces, and we shall be laid levell with the mechanick illiterate Laicks; a wicked­nesse not to be mentioned in the Church of God. Page 10. 11. Else how should we have got in our Tythes, though now, God be thanked and the Parliament, we have an Ordinance for it: In case Martin runne, push or gore at the Ordinance for tythes with the right horne, at the Directory with the left horne, let all the trained bands in the Kingdome he speedily raised to confute him, that we may sophistical­ly conclude our Presbyterian premises, with take him Goaler.

Martyns Eccho proceeds in the like dialect, page 3. 4. 14. (ô divine pillage, gracefull children!) if he had considered your pious providence to make sure the ordinance for tythes, before you could be inspired with the Directory, he would first have had his 400. l. per annum with the Deane of Pauls house, confirmed by the Ordinance of Parliament upon him during his naturall life, like as our Bro­ther Burges hath (a super-Episcopall Induction, &c.) If Sir John Synod shall re­nounce the Ordinance of tythes, be content with the good will of the vulgar, &c. then Martyn will cease libelling against him: In the mean time you are to provide that order may be taken, that the supervisers make diligent search and enquiry after all conventicles and private meetings, &c. for they are very dangerous and de­structive to your proceedings; for truly their practice and obedience to Christ will make your Law and Gospel, your O [...]d. for tythes, and your Directory the two great commandements, the fulfilling of the Law, and the Prophets, your Fathers, of none effect.

Many such passages I find against the Ordinance for tythes; the very designe of these libellous and seditious Sectaries being to incite the people to with-hold all Tythes and maintainance from their Ministers, and so to subvert the Ministery, that none but their illiterate Tub-preachers may instruct mens souls; and this (I feare) brings many Ministers into question as scandalous and malignant, who might else sit quiet would they desert their Tythes, and renounce their ministery to please these Sectaries.

Thirdly, [...]. I shall recite some of their contumelious libellous Invectives against the Ordinances of both Houses of the 26 of April: That no person or persons be per­mitted to [...] Minister.

The seditious, libell [...] pamphlet intituled▪ A sacred synodicall Decretal; or [...] from [...] Simon Synod, for the apprehending of Martyn Ma-Priest: [Page 31] (the Quintessence of scurrility, blasphemy and sedition) writes thus, pag. 5. Yea hee'l not stick to tell the people, that the inhans [...]ng and ingrossing of Inter­pretations, Preachings and Discipline into our owne hands, is a meere Monopoly of the spirit, worse then the Monopoly of soape, &c. and that the NEW ORDI­NANCE of the 26. of April, that no person or persons be permitted to preach that is not ordained a Minister, &c. is but a Patent of the spirit, to get the whole trade in­to their owne hands, and so rob the people with what Ware, and of what price we please, thereby onely to advance and enrich themselves, impoverish and delude them, look in their faces and pick their pockets: If preaching should not be re­duc'd and confined in the ancient bounds of the Clergy, the Mechanicks would out-strip the Scholasticks in teaching and * knowledge would so encrease and mul­tip [...]y among the common-people,He should say [...]. and preaching grow so common with them, that we should grow out of esteem, and all things that are good and dainty depart from us; therefore it was wisely prevented in time.

Pag. 17. Martyn will tell the people, that we (Sir Simon Synod) FORGED THE NEW ORDINANCE (that none may preach that is not ordained Mini­ster, on purpose to make the Sectaries fly before us (to use the Doctors phrase) like lightning before the thunder. Their preaching in the Army is very destructive to our Cloth; therefore the Ordinance was wisely commended to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax to be executed there, which occasioned a pretty story betwixt an English-man and one of Jemmy's owne Countrymen: quoth the Scotch-man, Man, is it fit that Colonell Cromwels Souldiers should preach in their Quarters, to take away the ministeriall function out of the Ministers hands? Why man (quoth the English man) doe they so? quoth the Scotch-man, I say man it is a common thing amongst them; truly saith the English man, I remember they made a gallant Sermon at Marston-Moore neer York (where they were Instruments to save this Kingdome) but your Country-men were in such a fright, they durst not stay to heare them: MARTIN prayes (notwithstanding the Ordinance) they may make many such Sermons, for that was one of the best Sermons that hath been preached in the Kingdome since our troubles began.

Pag. 21. Indeed Sir Johns gummes being lately rub'd with a Parliament Corall (the late Ordinance that none may treach that is not ordained a Minister) is mad to put his boarish tuskes, his huge great iron fangs in execution; to devour, rend, teare and crush these Hereticks. And therefore we wisely consulted among our selves of a COMMITTEE OF EXAMINATIONS to be chosen out of us. It must not be esteemed a Court of Inquisition▪ that's Popery: nor a renovation of the High-commission that's Antichristian; onely an inlet to a thorow Reformation, that's a godly name and may doe much good▪ &c.

How contemptuously they have opposed this very Ordinance in their practise, sending our their Emissaries, Captaines and Souldiers every where to preach in corners, and giving tickets of the time and place of their conventicles (some of them boasting of working miracles, and casting devils out of men possessed by their exercis [...]es at the Jesuits and Papists doe) is so experimentally knowne to all and proved before the Committee of Examinations, in the case of Captaine (newly) Hobson, a Taylor, and his confederate Lay-preachers, who lately exercised [Page 15] their new ministerial function neer Neuport Painel, railing against our Church, Mi­nistery and childrens baptisme, that it needs rather Reformation by, then Infor­mation to the higher Powers.

I shall close this Section with some generall passages, affronting and jeering all Ordinances of Parliament in direct termes.

The new most seditious Libell, called Martyns Eccho, published the last week, stiles Ordinances of Parliament TOYES: page 11. You must be carefull that your Directory and all other yout Ecclesiastical Acts, be with great sanctity and reverence ador'd amongst the people, or else your esteem will goe downe; and this cannot be done without some severe Lawes, ordinances and the like to that end, which you must put the Parliament upon; you know your power and influence up­on them, they'le gratifie you with SVCH TOYES, &c.

The late seditious pamphlet, stiled A sacred Decretal, is yet more vile; pag. 3. 4. O ye classicall Clerks and Sextous of the three Kingdomes, demolish and pull downe all the Martyns nests from your Church-wals and steeples, and have a spi­rituall care (as you will answer the contempt of the new ordinance) that hereafter no birds build, chatter, doe their businesse, or sing there, but Church-owles, Jack­dawes, otherwise called Sir Johns, blind Bats, Presbyterian Woodcocks, and the like: O ye two Houses of Parliament, make another Ordinance to make all the MARTINS flye the three Kingdomes the next midsommer with Cuckowes and Swallowes, that we may have a blew-cap Reformation among Bats, Owles, Jack­dawes and Woodcocks (and then blew-cap for us.)

I could furnish you with more such Independent stuffe, but I am loth to defile more paper with this infernal language of rai [...]ing Rabshakeh's; and shall here ap­peale to every ingenuous mans conscience, whether he can with any shadow of reason or charity beleeve, that this froward, libellous generation of Independent Sectaries, who thus publikely libell, inveigh and oppose themselves against the jurisdiction, Ordinances and proceedings of Parliament, are the most [...] holy, re­ligious, conscientious, best affected party; the most precious Saints and generation of Gods dearest ones; the Parliaments best and faithfullest friends who have to their ut­most power, and divers of them beyond their ability, supported & ventured their lives in the Parliaments cause and service; doing them more reall and faithfull service then any other generation of men in England, and the onely Vindicators of the Parliaments Priviledges and Subjects Liberties against presbiterian and syno­dical usurpations; (as they boast in every one of these their Libels against the Parli­ament and its proceedings;) Or whether they are nor in truth those [...]. despisers of government, those evill speakers against dignities, those resisters of the higher pow­ers, prophecied of the last times; [...] Pet. 2. 10. who have forgotten Saint Paul's Canon, Rom. 13. 1. Let every soule be subject to the higher powers, &c. and Tit. 3. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, [...] 13. 2, 3. to obey Magistrates, &c. Yea, the most desperate unparallel'd, publike contemners, affronters, deriders of the Parlia­ments power, Ordinances, proceedings that ever breathed in our English Climate: who under the pretext name and colour of the wel-affected, faithfull, godly party, and stoutest Champions for the Parliament, endeavour by degrees to advance themselves (by policy and the Sword) above it, and trample its authority (as they [Page 14] doe the Ordinance for Tythes, and others) in the very Front of their sacred De­cretal, under their cloven feet. Doubtlesse they can never fight cordially for the Parliament and its proceedings (but onely for their owne designes and interests) who that seditiously, contemptuously speak, write, print against them; and if their insolencies against the parliament, Synod, Magistrates, be already growne so intolerable, whiles their faction is yet but in the birth, how transcendently arogant and contumelious will they prove when they have accroached greater power, both in our Armies and Councels? God give our supreame councell hearts, wis­dome, zeale and fervency seriously to suppresse and punish these Epidemicall growing insolencies in due time, for feare they become masterlesse, remedilesse in the end; else these Anabaptistical sectaries, these Germane opinions and pra­ctises will (I feare) sodainly involve us in the Germane, Anabaptisticall di­stractions, insolencies, warres and disolations, recorded by Sleidan and others, for Englands admonition.

Section III.
Containing scandalous, seditious, scurrilous passages against the Natio­nall Vow and Covenant, prescribed by Parliament.

THis National Vow and covenant was deemed at first the onely probable means under God to unite our three Kingdomes and the protestant party of all sorts together in a mutuall, brotherly, inviolable League against the common ene­mies of our Religion, parliament, Lawes and Liberties: It was therefore univer­sally prescribed to the Members of both Houses, the Assembly of Divines, Law­yers of all sorts, the Officers and Souldiers in the Army, and to the Ministers and people of all conditions under the parliaments power in all our three Dominions, being refused, oppugned at first apparently by none but papists, Royalists or Ma­lignants: And the Houses were so impartiall in the prescription of it, that such Members of the Lords or Commons House, who did but scruple the taking of it, were suspended the Houses till they did conforme. But now of late, a genera­tion of Independent Sectaries, conceiving this Covenant to thwart their licen­tious, schismaticall whimseys, not onely generally refuse to take it, and plead a spe­ciall priviledge and exemption from it (as if they were more priviledged persons then any Peeres, Commons or Subjects whatsoever, and must be left at large to doe what they lift, when all others are obliged, (and which is strange to me and others, some Independent Ministers,) if not Members of Parliament who have taken it themselves, and enjoyned it to others, have yet adventured to plead for an exemption of this meer refractory party from it, which much encourageth them in their obstinate refusall of it, and hath so animated this seditious, lawlesse generati­on, that they have lately in print, not onely oppugned, but derided, libelled against this sacred Covenant (which we have all most solemnly in Gods presence sworne, and under our hands subscribed to maintaine to the utmost of our power, euen with the hazard of our lives and fortunes) which, I beseech you, let us all [Page 16] now most chearfully, really observe, by proceeding against the contemners in­fringers of it, or else for ever as readily, as solemnly renounce it, to our eternall infamy, as we at first chearfully subscribed to it.

I shall begin with John Lilbournes Letter: pag. 6. 7. It may be in stead of sa­tisfying my desire, you will run and complaine to the Parliament, and presse them with their Covenant, to take vengeance upon me. If you doe, I weigh is not; for I blesse God I am fitted to doe or suffer whatsoever the Parliament shall impose upon me; but if you doe, take these two along with you: if you put them in mind of their Covenant, tell them, I think they have sworne to root out all Popery, but yet have established Tythes, the very root and support of Popery, which I humbly conceive is a contradiction to their Covenant &c. A bold censure and scandall.

The Arraignment of persecution, thus traduceth and jeers the reverend Assembly of Divines and Covenannt together: page 33. 34. Persecution, Is thy name perfect Reformation? Perse. Yes my Lord: Judge. Who gave you this name? I, Reason, His God-fathers & God-mothers in his Baptisme, wherin he was made a Member of the Assembly, and an inheritor of the Kingdome of Antichrist. Judge, Who are your God-fathers and God-mothers? Pers. My Lord, Master Ecclesiasticall supremacy, and Master Scotch-government are my God-fathers; Mistris State-ambition, and Mi­stris Church-revenue are my God-mothers, and I was sprinkled into the Assembly of Divines at the taking of the late SOLEMNE LEAGVE AND COVE­NANT. Judg. 'Tis strange that at the making of the late solemne League and Covenant, blood-thirsty persecution should be anabaptized present Reformation: then HERES A DESIGNE OF BLOOD IN THE COVENANT, if un­der the name of Reformation the Clergy have infused the trayterous, blood-thir­sty spirit of persecution into it. J. Human. My Lord, there was never any Nati­onall or provinciall Synod but strengthned the hand of persecution, and that under the vizor of Religion, J. Reason, As soon as these underling Divines are from un­der their Episcopall Taskmasters, and beginning to encroach upon your Lordships power, they presently take this notorious, bloody traytor persecution, stript by your Lordship of his High-commission habit, and out of their zeale dresse him in a divine synodicall Garbe, and change name from persecution, and christen him Reformation, so to engage your Lordship and the Kingdome of England and Scotland in blood, to settle and establish bloody persecution BY COVENANT, over the Consciences of honest and faithfull men to the State, under the specious and godly pretence of Reformation: page 39. By the late SOLEMNE LEAGVE and COVENANT, good Lord deliver us.

The sacred Decretal runnes in the same straine: page 13. 19. When we had in­troduc'd the Brethren of the holy League, we so joyned their hands in the Synodian hands of Presbytery▪ that their League could not be inviolate, their COVENANT (the bed of their contract) undefiled if our presbitry were not concluded. Martyn will tell the people, that we contrive Oaths and COVENANTS meerly to en­snare and catch the people in our wiles; make them carry a face of Reformation according to the Word of God, and thereby betray their innocent subscription to our presbyterian construction.

John Lilbourne in the unlicensed printed Reasons of sending this Letter; pag 4. [Page 17] complaines against the Parliament; that the COVENANT was as earnestly prest upon tender consciences, though their faithfulnesse were no what doubtfull, as upon Newtrals and Malignants, and refusing, because of some expressions, put from Offi­ces of trust, and publike imployments.

Yet most of our sectaries and Independents (in immitation of the Cavaleers) have entred into Ants covenants against this SOLEMNE COVENANT, in their private Congregations, to defend [...] and maintaine their owne Independent govern­ment even to blood &c. whatever forme of government the Parliament shall esta­blish; the very extremity and height of seisme and sedition, if not of professed rebellion against supreame Authority; which makes them thus to villifie, traduce and contemptuously refuse the taking of this SOLEMN COVENANT, and plead exemption from it, for feare of dis-ingaging so faithfull considerable A PARTY as they have in the Army; who in time (perchance) will prescribe their new Church-covenants unto us, or else exclude us from our Native soyle, as now they doe from their Independent Congregations and the Sacraments, unlesse we will sub­mit unto them.

Section IV.
Containing sundry scurrilous, seditious, libellous, railing and blasphe­mous Invectives against the Assembly of Divines, the Presbyterian Members of it, and their proceedings, though summoned, nominated, continued and directed in all things by Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament.

BEfore this Assembly met by Order of both Houses, or had given intimation what kind of Ecclesiasticall Government they intended to fix upon, our Inde­pendent sectaries not only petitioned for such an Assembly to be called, but made meanes that as many of their party as possible might be elected Members of it. But when at last they discerned the Assembly and Parliament to dis-affect their anomolous, absurd Independent way, as having no foundation in Divinity nor Poli­cy, and tending to utter confusion in Church, State; and thereupon to incline to a Presbiteriall government, embraced by all reformed Churches in the Christian world; upon this they presently begin to declaime against the Assembly and their proceedings in private, and soon after to libell against them in-publike, with such unchristian, uncivill, approbrious, Billingsgate termes, as (I am confident) no Ox­ford Aulicus or Satyricall cavaleere is able to paralell, their very tongues and pens, being doubtlesse James 3. 6. set on fire of hell: And not contented herewith, they lately conspired together to exhibit a petition to the Parliament, for present dissolving the Assembly and sending them hence to country cures (to prevent the setling of any Church-government,) to which end, they met at the Windmil Taverne, where Lievteu. Col. John Lilbourne (a fit instrument for such a seditious designe) sate in the chaire, and Master Hugh Peter suggested the advice, which was accordingly inserted into the Petition; but the Common counsell-men (smelling out the de­signe) [Page 18] when the Petition came to their hands, most discreetly left out that request, as seditious and unjust; which yet the libellous Author of Martyns Echho. page 15. hath since in wish renewed in these scandalous termes.

‘You have as neere as you can made a third party, in labouring by your Jesui­ticall machiavilian subtilty, to divide the Parliament, contrary to the trust repo­sed in them from the godly party, who have assisted them with their estates and blood, [...]. and to deny those their faithfull friends of their just deservings, their pur­chased freedomes, which should they doe, they would be branded as infamous to posterity, even unfaithfull, ungratefull, &c. at meliora spero, I hope better of them if your wicked Machiavilian Assembly were but taken from them and sent to their particular charges.’

In what sort they have libelled against them, hath partly appeared in other Se­ctions, but I shall give you a more particular account thereof in this.

I shall begin with that most infamous, seditious, railing Libell, intituled, The Arraignment of persecution, the whole scope whereof against the Assembly, is thus boldly expressed in the very Title page, The Arraignment of Master Persecuti­on, presented to the consideration of the House of Commons, and to all the Com­mon people of England: ‘In the prosecution whereof, the Iesuiticall designes and secret encroachments of his Defendants, Sir Simon Synod, and the John of all Sir Johns, Sir John Presbiter, upon the liberty of the subject, is detected and laid open, by reverend young Martyn Marpriest, sonne to old Martyn the Metropolitan; printed by Martyn Claw-Clergy, Printer to the reverend Assem­bly of Divines, for Bartholinew Bang-Priest, and are to be sold at his shop in Toleration-street, at the signe of the subjects liberty, right opposite to Persecuti­on-court, 1645.’

The seigned License and Epistle Dedicatory to the Assembly before it are alto­gether libellous, as is the whole book, against the Assembly and its Members: I shall give you only a taste of some phrases and epithites in it, viz. Such a holy such a reverend Assembly, such a Quagmire of croaking, skip-jack Presbiters, A reverend synodian, disguised with a sophisticall paire of breeches, saving your presence in Bocardo, Sir Simon Synod: New upstart frisking Presbiters, Synodian Cormorants, the Synodian Whore of Babylon; the traiterous Synod, called the Assembly of Di­vines, presbiterian horse-leeches, blood thirsty Cattle; this great gore-bellied idoll called the Assembly of Divines, Arch-Jesuiticall traytors; the Jesuiticall and trai­terous designes of the Synod; our dissembly Doctors, a Consistory of devils, and the like. These be the charitable, modest, Independent Epithites which this libel­ler bestowes upon them. See next his libellous and blasphemous speeches against and censure of them, and the good end his charity wisheth to them.

Page 1 [...]. The Synod is guided by the holy Ghost sent in a cloke-bagge from Scot­land, as of old from Rome in the Councell of Trent:Note. Because the Assembly have sadled the Parliament, it is unlawfull for the Presbiters to goe on foot: page 29. The traiterous Synod called the Assembly of Divines, labours with might and main to establish and settle this traiterous spirit (of persecution) in the land.

page 35. 36. It is most certaine that this fellow, whose name Sir Simon faineth to be Reformation, is absolute Persecution, so that had these Reformers but as [Page 19] much power as Queen Marie's Clergy, their reformation, would conclude in fire and faggot.

Judg. Oh insufferable Assembly! I see, 'tis dangerous for a state to pin their faith upon the sleeve of the Clergy.

‘J. Reason. Further my Lord, whereas others are impoverished, spend their estates, engage and loose their lives in this Quarrell they are enriched and advan­ced by it,A most Inde­pend [...]nt false calumny. save their purses and persons, cram and fill their greedy guts, too filthy to be carried to a Beare, heap up wealth to themselves, and give not a penny, while others (against whom they exclaime) venture and expend all; yea my Lord, this great gorebelly Idol, called the Assembly of divines, is not ashamed in this time of state-necessity, to gull up and devour more at one meale, then would make a feast for Bel and the Dragon: for besides all their fat Benefices, forsooth they must have their foure shillings apeece by the day for sitting in constollidati­on, and poore men, when they had filled all benefices with good Trencher-men of their owne presbiterian Tribe, they move your Lorpship, that all Ministers may be A grosse scandall, they never de [...]red, but to be mo­derately taxed in equa [...]ity with others: wholy freed from all taxations, that now the trade of presbiter is the best trade in England; all are taxed, and it goes free; poore men that have no bread to still the cry of their children, must either pay and goe in person to the warres, while these devouring Church lubbers live at ease, feed on dainties, nei­ther pay nor goe themselves, but preach out our very hearts; they make it a case of conscience to give all, but wise men they'le give none: Let the sick, the lame and maimed souldiers, and those that have lost their limbs and begge in streets; let women that have lost their Husbands, let parents that have lost their children, let children that have lost their parents, and let all that have or suffer oppression and misery in and for the publike Cause consider this, and be no longer ridden and jaded by Clergy masters; but to give the devill his due, one thing to their commendations I have observed, that they are so zealously affected with the ho­nour of their Cloth, that 'twere pitty to disrobe them of their cassock Garbe, to be led in a string from Westminster to Algate in Leatherne Jackets, and Mat­tockes on their shoulders: and my Lord, though some thinke they would doe the State more good in leatherne jackets and Mattockes, then in long cloakes and cas­sockes, yet my think they would doe the state better service with their canonical girdles, were the knot tyed in the right place.’

page 36. 37. Primacy, Metropolitanisme, prelacy, &c. are shrunk into the presby­tery, and our High-commission turned into an Assembly of Divines.

My Lord, they have sate even till they have runne mad, you might doe well to adjourne, them to Bedlam; for my Lord, they are raging mad to have the inno­cent blood of the Anabaptists, Brownists, Independents &c.

My Lord, they have over-studied themselves & even wracked their wits to find out a Religion for us; poore men they have beene mightily puzled about it, it hath cost them the consumption of many: fat pig, chicken, capon, &c. the infusion of many a cup of sacke to bring it to birth, and after such dolorous pangs and bitter troubles for almost these two yeers, who would have thought they would be deli­vered of such a ridiculous vermine, called a Presbyter; parturiunt montes, nascitur ridiculus mus: And now my Lord, after this montanous delivery, they are at their [Page 20] wits end, [...] their. what dressing to put it out in; all the Taylors in the Kingdome are not able to content them, what to doe they know not, and now the matter's worse then ever it was; they had thought to have shewne the world it in the god­ly shape of Reformation, but upon examination, 'tis found to be Persecution; a sad event! there is no way now but Bedlam for our Doctors, it may chance to chastise them into their wits againe, and then upon their second thoughts, it may be, they're bethink themselves to put a blew bonnet upon' [...], and then it will passe from England to Scotland, and Scotland to England againe without question or controle.

Page 93. Good my Lord have mercy upon me; I beseech your honour even for the Clergy sake have mercy upon me; consider my Lord, that in my death is their ruine, it will be the greatest inroad upon the Divines of Christendome, that ever was made: Oh!

I beseech you my Lord. by the Mystery of their holy Convocation, by their agony and bloody sweat, by their crosse and passion, at my shamefull approaching death and burial, Good Lord deliver me.

By their glorious resurrection and assention from the Pulpit above the State; by the comming of the holy Ghost to them in a cloak-bag from Scotland, Good Lord deliver me.

By the late solemne League and Covenant; by the 400. and 50. l. for the Copy of their Directory, because they could get no more, by all the fat Benefices and goodly revenues of the Clergy, Good Lord deliver me.

Page 43. 44. It is the sentence of this Court concerning Sir Simon and Sir Iohn Presbyter, who have thus Jesuitically endeavoured to pervert the Justce of this Court, That Sir Simon be committed close prisoner to King Henry the eights chap­pell, there to be kept in Parliamentary safe custody, till the Great Assiges, held in the first yeere of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Christ (when the Kingdom and the greatnesse of the Kingdoms under the whole Heaven shall be given to the Saints of the most high) there and then to be arraigned with the rest of his holy Tribe▪ whether universal, national, provincial or consistorial counsels or Synods, whatsoever before his Highnesse the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and my Lord in the meane time to keep his Holinesse in action, I beseech your Honour that he may Synodicate, a full resolution to these ensuing Queries, 1. Whether it doth not as much conduce to the subjects liberty still to be subjected to Episco­pal usurpation, as to be given over to Presbyterian cruelty? Whether Saint Peters chaire doth not become a Presbyter, as well as a Bishop? &c.

‘As for Sir John Presbit [...]r, this Court hath voted him to the uncleane, filthy, im­pious▪ unholy dark and worldly Dungeon, called jure Humano, &c. as for Persecu­tion, the sentence of this Court is, that thou shalt return to the place from whence thou camest to wit the noysome and filthy Cage of every uncleane and hateful bird, The Clergy of Christendome there to be fast bound with inquisition, synodical, classical, Pres [...]byter, al chains, untill the appearing of that great and terrible J [...]dge of the whole earth; who shall take thee alive, with Sir Simon and his sonne Sir John and cast thee with them and their Confederates into the Lake of fire and brimstone, where the Beast and the false Prophet are, there to be tormented day and right [...] ever and ever.’

[Page 21] Here is the Independents incomparible charity to the Assembly, Presbyters and their Adherents, to adjudge them thus to eternall torments in the fiery Lak [...]; I fear their New-Lights originally sprung upthence, without more charity, sobriety, will undoubtedly be extinguished in this fiery region which they allot to others: the rest of the Invectives against the Assembly and Presbytery in this persecuting Arraign­ment. I shall passe by in silence and proceed to some fresher scurrilites of this kind.

I find another most scurrlous Libell against the Assembly and their proceedings thus intituled; A sacred Decretall, or Hue and Cry from his superlative Holinesse Sir Simon Synod, for the apprehension of reverend young Martin Ma [...]-priest; wherein are displayed many witty synodian conceits, both pleasant and commo­dious; printed by Martin Claw-Clergy, Printer to the reverend Assembly of Di­vines, for Bartholmew Bang-Priest, and are to be sold at his shop in Toleration-street, at the signe of the subjects Liberty, right opposite to Persecution [...] Court, and it concludes thus, Given at our Court of Inquisition in King Henry the sevenths Chappel June 6. 1635.

• William Twisse, Prolocutor.
• Cornelius Burges Assessor.
• Iohn White, Assessor.
• Adoniran Byfield
• Hen. Roborough
• S [...]ibes.

This Libell brings in the Assembly, blasphemously abusing the sacred Scripture Names of God (as El, Eloim, Jah, Theos, Adonas, &c.) in Synodicall Convocation, classicall and Presbiteriall Exorcismes: & pag. 2. Gives the Assembly and Presbiters these most scurrilous, railing Epithites; classicall Bore-p [...]gges, divine, white-faced Bull-calves; Presbyterian Turkey-cocks, bidding them advance their learned Coxcombs, &c. Church-owles, Jack-dawes, blind Bats, Presbyterian Wood-cockes, Presbyterian Hangmen cruell executioners, terrible tormenters, synodian Canibals, the ravenous tythe-panched numerous headed Hydra of Divines: The holy ravenous Order of Syon-Jesuits, absolute Jesuites, onely a little worse: It begins thus, page 1. We the Parliament of Divines now Assembly in holy Convocation at Westmin­ster, taking into our grave, learned and pious consideration, all the goodly fat Be­nefices of the Kingdome, the reverend estimation, honour and supremacy due un­to the Clergy, and out of a godly care and pious providence as becommeth Di­vines▪ for our owne guts, having used all subtilty and policy we in our divine wis­domes could devise, to take a goodly possession of the dearly beloved glorious in­heritance of our Fathers the late Lord Bishops, their divine supremacy, their sweet, their wholsome and nourishing revenues, their deare, delicate, toothsome tythes, most supernaturall and pleasant to a divine pallate: After which it cals them The p [...]issant Assembly of Divines (Lords Paramount over Church and State) in Parlia­ment Assembled at Westminster, divine Merchants, &c. Avers p. 18. That the Or­der. Jesuits may become Disciples to the Order of presby [...]ers for equivocations, men­tall reservations, dispensations of Oathes, Covenants, &c. Chargeth the Assembly, p. 6. For dealing craft [...]ly with the Parliament and cheating the State. Adding this most scandalous, seditions passage, extreamly derogatory to the Parliaments honour.

As the way of a serpent upon a rock is unknowable, so have our circumventions, un­derminigs and subtill contrivances beene ever invisible, insensible to them, and so silently, secretly and gradually, have intic'd them with the bait of Religion; and caught them with a synodian hooke; we held out the League and Covenant, the [Page 22] Cause of God, and the like, to the Kingdome, and at length plucks up a fish called a Parliament out of their proper Magisteriall Element, into our synodian spiritual­lity; and thus neatly wrested the Scepter out of their bands, that they neither know nor perceive it; [...]. that in truth the Assembly is Dissembled into the Parliament, and the two Houses made but a stalking horse to the designes of the Clergy: They say it is decreed and ordained by the Lords and Commons, &c. but in plaine English, it is the Assembly of Divines; 'tis true, 'tis the Lords and Commons in the History, but the Assembly of Divines in the Mystery, as Martin wisely hinted in his Li­cense before the booke of the Arraignment; for we are become the whole di­rective and coercive power both in Church and State, a supremacy due unto us, as well as to the Pope; and though we give them (as men doe bables to children) the title of making and judging of Lawes, to please them, yet with such distin­ctions and limitations (to speak this under the Rose) that we intend for our selves, that which we give unto them, even as our Brethren of the society of Iesu doe concerning his Holinesse the Pope, in the infallibility and temporall power: this honour and priviledge was of divine right given, and anciently enjoyed by our reverend Fathers the Bishops; and why should not we be heires unto it by our legitimate lineall descent? All Lawes, Statutes and Ordinances, both con­cerning Church and State, were Decreed, Ordained and enacted by the Lords spiritual and temporal, &c. And why not now by the Assembly of Divines and Parliament now Assembled at Westminster? this is not yet in the History, for indeed our matter is not yet ripe for such a discovery, &c.

As all other wicked men, so these seditions Libellers grow worse and worse; their next most seditious Libell against the Assembly and Parliaments proceedings being intituled, Martins Eccho, or a Remonstrance from his holinesse reverend young Martin Mar-priest, responsory to the late sacred synodical Decretal; in all humility presented to the reverend pious and grave consideration of the right reve­rend Father in God, the universall Bishop of our soules his superlative Holinesse Sir Simon Synod.

It begins thus.

Whereas his Holinesse reverend young Martin Mar-priest; taking into his grave and learned consideration the insufferable arrogance of our ambitions, aspi­ring Presbytery their super-prelaticall supremacy, their ravenous blood-thirsty ma­lice against the poor Saints of the most high God, their inordinate, insatiable cove­tousnesse after the fat things of the Land, their unparallel'd hypocrisie, their plau­sible pretences▪ their incomprehensible policy, craft and subtilty; their cunning insensible encroachments upon the priviledges of Parliament, the just liberties of and freedome of the people; [...]. their inchanting delusions wherewith they bewitch both Parliament and multitude, the cruell thraldome, inhumane slavery, insuffe­rable bondage they would reforme us and our Children unto from generation to generation; their powerfull endeavours to make the Parliament betray their trust, break their Oathes, pull downe old Courts of tyranny and oppression, to set up new; free us from Episcopall persecution, to devour us with presbyterian cruelty; convey our naturall rights and freedome to the pontifical usurpation of the Clergy, that neither we nor our children after us (notwithstanding the expence of our estates [Page 23] ruine of our families, effusion of our blood to redeem them) may live in the land without the hazard of imprisonment, losse of goods, banishment, hanging &c. except we be presbiterian: these and many other things of high concernment, re­verend young Martin taking into his serious and deliberate consideration▪ and see­ing this eminent, irrecoverable ruine ready to devour both Parliament and people hang over their heads, threatning certaine destruction to us and our posterity, if not timely and sodainly prevented: Hereupon his Holinesse reverend young Mar­tin, out of sincerity to God, and naturall love unto his distressed Country, most willingly became servant to your superlative Holinesse, to ease your burthen in this your toylsome time of Classical exaltation of a little State ambition and spi­ritual supremacy & as much as in him lyeth, to vindicate the priviledge of Parlia­ment, our birth-rights and native freedome from your divine spirituality, that you may have the more time to stuffe your guts extend your panches eram your bellies, farcinate your ventriclesA very mo­dest Christian Phrase. s [...]ort out Directories, blurt out Ordinances, grin at Christ, swell at his Sectaries, and for his meritorious pious endeavours Martin expected a reward, as very justly he might; but to cloake your covetousnesse and ingratitude, you pick quarrels against him for some small failings in his Treatise; I hope you will deale better with Master Prynne for his midnight dreames his distracted subi­tane apprehensions, I can tell you he expects it: But Martin might have conside­red your ingratitude to the Lord Bishops, from whom formerly you received the holy Ghost with all your spirituall preferments, and were first put into a ca­pacity of Lording it, as you now doe over the people; whom, like ungracious children, viperous vermine, inhumane Canibals, notwithstanding their grace and favour; you have devoured up, and share their inheritance amongst you. (O divine pilage! gratefull children!) &c.

page 4. 5. Yet that his Holinesse (like yours) might appeare immaculate and infallible to the whole world; Martin proclaimeth and demonstrates to all per­sons Ecclesiasticall, by what name or title soever dignified or distinguished, whether Arch-bishop Calamie's, or other inferiour single-sold Presbyters; That his Holi­nesse, reverend young Martin Mar-priest, freely offerereth plenary pardon and remission to that traiterous, blood-thirsty Man-eater Sir Simon Synod, for his foule ingratitude, his malicious, mischievous, murtherous debates, consultations and con­clusions, to shed the blood of his Holinesse reverend young Martin Mar-priest, and deliver him as a prey to the monstrous huge iron faings and venomous boarish tuskes of his sonne Jocke, and his bloody crue (breake their teeth o God in their mouth; Psal. 58. break out the teeth of the young Lyons o Lord;) if the said savage, barbarous Caniball Sir Simon Synod, the next day of humiliation after the publishing hereof, shall very penetentially (as if he were to preach a fast sermon) come in unto reve­rend Martin, and humbly submit himselfe to his Holinesse, at his sanctuary in To­leration-street, right opposite to state-opression and synodian tyranny; and there humbly before reverend young Martin confesse his evill, acknowledge his errors, a [...]d be heartily sorry for the same; live sociably and quietly amongst his Neigh­bours, never molest or injure any man for Conscience, suffer his teeth and nayles to be pluckt out and pared by an honest Independent barber, that hereafter he may never bite nor scratch; and then peaceably returne to his Parochial Charge, ren­der [Page 24] up all the goodly fat Benefices in the Kingdome to supply the necessities of the State, pay their Arreares in the Army gratifie their sicke, same and maimed soul­diers with a reward more honourable (according to their deserts) then a tiket to begge; supply the calamity, poverty and misery of poore Widowes and Orphans, whose deare Husbands and Fathers have been slaine in the service of the State, and not (out of synodian state-policy) to save their charity, subject the innocent Babes to be led by the spirit into Indian deserts and Wildernesses, and under pretence of Authority, rob the tender mothers of the fruit of their wombs (a wickednesse insufferable in a Common-wealth) and to send the free-borne out of their native protection to forraigne destruction, least the cry of the fatherlesse and Widowes should call for reliefe out of their fat Benefices pontificiall revenues, &c. O the covetousnesse of the Priests and the mercy of God (as the Germane saith) endure for ever: If he shall hereto assent, renounce the Ordinance of tythes, be content with the good will of the vulger, lay downe his state-ambition and usurpation of the Civill power, suffer the Commons of the Land (both rich and poore) which are free-borne people, to enjoy quietly their owne nationall freedome, &c. he will not deride you any more. But if Sir Simon shall reject this grace and favour freely offered to him and to all the Sir Iohns in the Kingdome by his Holinesse, reverend young Martin Mar-priest, out of his divine clemency thus graciously extended from his holinesse proclaimeth to the whole assembly of Sir Iohns and to the whole Kingdome, [...] well [...] Kingdom [...]. that come bondage, come liberty, come life come death; come what come will, by the grace of God, young Martin is resolved to u [...]mask your vilany to poste­rity, and lay a foundation for a future; it not for the present recovery of the privi­ledge of Parliament, and liberties of the common people from your synodicall, classi­call Presbyterian predominancy; and therefore Sir Simon be advised betime, accept of this grace and favour offered, harden not your hearts as in the dayes of the Bi­shops, lest the fierce wrath of the Lord, even sodaine destruction fall upon you as it did upon them; for be assured, swift and fearfull destruction and ruine does attend you and the Lord will avenge his quarrell at your hands and as it is done unto your Fathers the Bishops, so shall it be done unto you; and if your rising ambition be not sodainly repel'd your rise [...]reign and fall will be terrible to the Kingdom: you may de­lude the people a while, but the time hasteneth that the [...]. people wil cal you to an ac­count the Lord grant it be not, as I fear [...] By the Sword. He addes p. 5. 6. Well Sir Simon, if you will not mend your manners, Martin will observe all your postures, and tels you plainly, that hee'l not only fall upon your bones himselfe, but heel set his celestiall brother. Christopher Scal [...]kie his catechisticall brother, Rouland Rat­tle-priest, his divine Brethren Martin Claw-Clergy. Bartholmew Bang-priest, all upon your back, and amongst us all, we shall in time turne up the foundation of your classicall supremacy, and pull down your Synod your Spheare about your ears; behold a troop commeth Sir Simon, Martin is of the Tribe of Gad, though a host of Sir Iohns overcome him, yet he shal over come at last, yea, heel'e jeere you out of your black Cloaks, and make you ashamed of King Henry the seventh's Chap­pell, and he glad to work with your hands, or to be content with the good will of the vulgar, and then it will too late to compound with reverend MAR­TIN and his divine Brethren, therefore consider with your selfe Sir Simon [Page 25] before the mighty Acts of the house of Martin be come forth against you; we do not intend to dally with you, wee'l handle you with Mittins, thwack your Cas­socks, rattle your Jackets, stamp upon the panch of your villany, and squeze out the filth and garbidge of your iniquity, till you stink in the nostrils of the com­mon people; yea, wee'l beat you and your sonne JACK, guts and all, into a Mouse-hole. There's no one of MARTINS Tribe, but is a man of Mettall, and hates a Tithe-devouring persecuting Priest, as he hates the Devill, scornes their bribes, and bids defiance to their Malice.

These are to advise you, Sir Simon turne ye to MARTIN in Tolleration-street, ye stiffe necked generation of Priests, lest the fierce wrath and sore displeasure of mighty MARTIN fall upon you, confound you and your whole, Sir Johns ge­neration, Root and Branch; hearken ye rebellious Assembly unto MARTIN, persecute no more, take no more Tithes, be content with the good will of the Vulgar.

Whether these most seditious menacing passages and railing Libels against the Assembly, Presbytery, and all Ecclesiasticall Parliamentary proceedings, be not published in print by seditious Seectaries to stirre up the people to mutinie against the Parliament, Assembly, Ministery, to fire us into new Civill warres and commotions among our selves, and that by the underhand plots of some Jesuiticall spirits, and Malignant Royallists, I shall humbly submit to the saddest thoughts of our supreame Councell, which is best able to judge of them, and most able to prevent the eminent dangers which they doe portend.

I shall close this Section with a new printed Libell, intituled, The Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter; Dedicated, To the Right Worshipfull the: ASS: of Di­vines, assembled at Westminster; with a most rayling libellous Epistle; to which these Verses in derision of it are subjoyned.

Section V.
Containing libellous, scurrilous, prophane, and unchristian passages against the Directory, established by Ordinance of Parliament.

YOU have met with some of these Invectives already in the preceding Sections, which I shall not repeat; but only adde two or three passages more of this na­ture, full of Athesticall and blasphemous scurrillity.

The Araignment of Persecution, p. 44. desires, That his Holinesse Sir Simon Synod my Synodecate a full resolution to these ensuing Queres.

[Page 26] Whether it would not have been more profitable for the kingdome of England to have forth with hired a Coach and twelve Horses, to have set a Directory from Scotland; then to have spent the learned consultations, pious debates, and sacred conclusions of such an holy, such a reverend, such a heavenly, such a godly, such a learned, such a pious, such a grave, such a wise, such a solid, such a discreet, such a spirituall, such an Evangelicall, such an infallible, such a venerable, such a super-celestioll Queer of Angels, such a suparlative Assembly of Divines; for al­most these two yeares space, after the profuse and vast expence of above forty thousand pounds, besides their goodly fat Benefices, upon their devouring Guts, for an English DIRECTORY of worship, equivalent to the Scotch DI­RECTORY?

Whether this Directory standing in so many thousands to sumble it together, and the Copy sold at 400 and 50 l. be not of more value then the writings of the Prophets and Apostles?

The sacred Synodicall Decretall or Hue and Cry, useth the like Dialect, p. 23. Be it secula seculorum, as authentick as the Directory, &c. We had better have set two years longer in our most holy Consultations, and made our forty thousand four hundred pound Directory, a Directory of fourscore thousand eight hundred pound value.

Pag. 5. Martin will tell the Country, That we sanctifie our new DIREC­TORY Gospell, but to the temper of the City: Tell the City, That the Country people know not what to do with it, except to stop their Bottles, unlesse we spend the State the other odde trifle of 40000 pounds, to divide it into Chapters and Verses (the Lord put it into their hearts;) and that as the truth is, its sanctity is only grounded upon the Divine Ordinance for Tithes, (some wiser then some) for no longer Penny, no longer Pater-noster,

I will defile no more Paper with such horrid blasphemies; only adde, That Martins Ecco, p. 12. makes the Parliaments endeavouring to establish the Dire­ctory the cause of the losse of Leicester, in these words: And now the Parliament being busied to fortifie your Directory, &c. in the mean time Leicester is taken, thousands are put to the sword, &c. Which is sufficiently answered, by Sir Tho­mas Fairfax routing the Kings whole Army and re-taking Leicester, even whiles the Parliament was most busie in fortifying the Directory. But I proceed to ano­ther Section.

Section VI.
Containing their libellous, scandalous, seditious passages, against our Brethren of Scotland, to raise divisione between us and them, contrary to the Act of Pacifi­cation, and the late solemne League and Covenant.

MAny are their intolerable libellous Invectives of this kinde. I shall transcribe but few.

Hen. Robinson in his Answer to M. Py [...]nes 12 Questions, made the first assault upon our Brethren, in this Language. And what, think we made our Brethren the [Page 27] Scots so successelesse here in England, whilest the warres are now beginning to kindle in their own Countrey, if it were not that they joyne with this Nation, or rather provoke them to establish their so much idolized Presbyteriall discipline of persecutions? when they themselves thought they had just cause to be highly offended with the same (their own) persecuting spirit in Episcopacy. When the Lord required the Israelites to appear before him at Jerusalem thrice a yeare, he promised, that no man should invade their habitations in their absence, Exod. 34. 23, 24. which gracious providence of his, no doubt continues still protecting all such as are imployed by his command: but unlesse our Brethren of Scotland bethink themselves in time, and consider, that even as the persecuting Bishops of England attempting to impose their government in Scotland gave occasion to begin the warres in England: so if the persecuting Presbyters of Scotland continue to ad­vance and get set up the Scotch government in England, it may likely bring all the three Kingdomes to make the seat of warre in Scotland: I would be loath to prophesie upon this occasion; but do much fear, that in how bad condition so­ever both England and Ireland are at the present, if the warres last, but little lon­ger Scotland will yet be farre worse. God of his infinite mercy open the eyes of all three Kingdomes in this their heavie visitation, reconciling himselfe unto them all, and them to one another, for his dear Sonne Christ Iesus sake.

The Araignment of Persecution by way of jear and scorne, p. 3, 8, 9. 19, 39, 42. satyrically inveighes against and derides Scoth government, ranking it with Sa­tan, Antichrist, the Spanish Inquisition, Councell of Trent, High Commission, &c. beings in Liberty of conscience, thus complaining. My Lord, Sir Simon Synod is like to pull out my throat, with the ravinous clawes of an Assembly; and Master Scotch Government was fit to stab me with his Scoth Dagger: Iemmy put up thy Dagger; Averres, The Synod is guided by the Holy Ghost sent in a Cloke-bag from Scotland, as of old from Rome to the Councell of Trent. Oft mentions by way of scorn and jeere, The advancing of the mickle Army into the South; addes, you may easily perceive how they would pinch your Lordships nose with a paire of SCOTCH SPECTACLES, that your Lordship might see nothing but BLEW CAPS; he hath plaistred up the wrinkles of his face with SCOTCH MORTER, &c.

The Sacred Synodicall Decretall, p. 4. tels us, &c. of a Blew-capreformation, and then Blewcap for us, p. 7. Of the ay-blessed Divines of Scotland, p. 16. Of laying Rods in pisse for Crumwel; let him take heed of a Scotch—:another course must be taken with Hereticks, else our Brethren cannot further engage; God speed them well home againe, and let all the people in the kingdome say, Amen. p. 18. Of their run­ning away at Maston-More. p. 20. Of an Angel in the Mount, upon whom o [...] reverend Assembly of grave and learned Divines do daily wait, which Mount is Dunce-Hill (which by translation out of the Originall) by the Divines of Scot­land (whose countrey-man this Angel is) is englished Mount Sion: with other such like stuffe.

And Martins Eccho, p. 8. Our Scottish Brethren advanced lately as far into the South, as from Brampton-moore to Westmerland, for your assistance, are all yours, by vertue of the Holy League and Covenant, which they may in no wise falsifie, untill they see it convenient for them to do, as in the most sacred Exhortation to [Page 28] the taking of the said League and Covenant you have taught them. Many other such seditious passages, tending to sow division between both Nations, (contrary to the fourth clause of the Nationall Covenant) these New-Libels, have lately pub­lished, which I forbear to Register.

Section VII.
Containing most scurrilus, libellous, scandelous, railing invectives against Presby­terians, and Presbyterian government in generall, which many of them not long since so much applauded, desired, before the Bishops removall.

WE have met with much of this scurrilous stuffe in other Sections; to which some few additions only shall be made in this.

Mr. Henry Robinson his FALSEHOOD, &c. shall leade up the Forelorne­hope: where thus he writes to the Christian Reader: Free thy conscience from the thraldome and bondage of those Egyptian Taskmasters, who care not what trash and trumpery they vent, so they may gaine Proselytes and contributions. Which he thus prosecutes, p. 9. But what availeth it to have the head of one Lord­ly Episcopall Prelate cut of, when a Hidra, a multitude, above seventy seven times as many Presbyteriall Prelates succeed instead thereof? Prelatia, Prelacy, Prelacy, as we use it vulgarly, is a preferring one before another; and the Presbyteriall government is much more truly said to be Prelaticall, then either Episcopall or Papall; unlesse you will say that neither Episcopall nor Papall be Prelaticall at all. For in either of those governments there are but few Prelates; but in the other there are, to wit, so many Prelates as there are Presbyters, each whereof is an absoluteAnd is it not much more so in Independ. Churches, where the Mi­nister in truth like a Pope rules all the rest at his pleasure? will admit none but those of his own faction. Prelate; that is, one preferred above his Brethren.

The Araignment of Persecution, declaimes thus against Presbyterian govern­ment, p. 21. Both Papall and Episcopall government is better then Presbyterian, for they are, and have been more uniforme, and have continued many hundred years longer then Presbyterian, and were long before Presbytery was thought on: For alas, it was but a shift at a pinch the Devill made, when neither of the other would serve his turne, and so came up Presbyterie; but what good the Devill will have of it I know not: for who knowes the luck of a lowsie Cur, he may prove a good Dog.

The Sacred Synodicall Decretall inveighes thus against Presbyterian govern­ment, p. 11. Martin will put the Parliament and people in minde of their Prote­station, and tell them, that by the same rule they pull downe the Bishops, they are bound to put downe the Presbyters, &c. For in Martins Astrologicall judgement, all the Plagues of Egypt were but a Flea-biting to what one Presbyterian Church will be (vinci si possunt regales cestibus enses) we having mortified Episcopall Hercules, and possest his Club. p. 19. Indeed the Pope is as truly Christian, and his function as equally Jure Divino, as our Presbyterie, conveyed from his Holiness [...], by our Fathers the late Lord Bishops upon us.

The unlicensed Nativity of Presbytery, said to be licensed by Rowland Rattle-Priest, a terrible Imprimatur: writes p. 5. That the Devill made the Ʋrchin Sir John Presbyter: an abject, a Fugitive, newly come out of Scotland, a Witch, a Rogue, and in apparell delighting in black as his Father the Devill; fitter to be a Weather cock then a Divine: only the Evill Spirit of Mercury, presented him to be the Devils Goat-head.

Section VIII.
Conteining sundry Libellous, Schismaticall, uncharitable, and unchristian passages against the Church of England, her Worship and Ministers in generall.

IOhn Lilburne in his Answer to nine Arguments, Printed without License, Lon­don, 1645. with his picture cut before it; Writes thus of the Church of Eng­land, pag. 4. The Church of England is a true Whorish mother, and you are one of her base-begotten, and Bastardly children, for you know a Whore is a woman as truly as a true wife, and she may have children as proportionable, as the chil­dren of a true wife; yet this doth not prove her children which are base-begot­ten are true-begotten children, because they have all the parts, and limbes of chil­dren, that are begotten in a true married estate and condition; even so say I, the Church of England neither is,Note nor never was, truly married, joyned, or united to Jesus Christ, in that espousall band, which his true Churches are, and ought to be, but is one of Antichrists Nationall Whorish Churches, or Cities spoken of Rev. 16. 19. Vnited, joyned, knit to the Pope of Lambeth; as Head and Husband thereof; being substitute to the Pope of Rome, from whom he hath received his Arch-Episcopall power, and Authority.

Pag. 18. Your Church is false, and Antichristian: Therefore if every Parish in England had power in themselves (which in the least they have not) to choose and make their own Officers, yet for all this they would be false, for a false and Anti­christian Church as yours is, can never make true Officers and Ministers of Iesus Christ, and though that the Churches of the Separation, want Apostles in per­sonall presence to lay hands upon their Officers which lawfully they choose out from among themselves, yet have they their Laws, Rules, and Directions in writing, which is their Office, and is of as great Authority as their personall presence.

Pag. 19. And thus have I sufficiently by the Authority of the Sacred Word of God proved all your Officers, and Ministers false and Antichristian, and none of Christs, which if you can groundedly contradict, shew your best skill chalenge I you, and put you to prop, to hold up your tottering and sandy Church and Mi­nistry, or else your great brags will prove no better then winde and Fables, and you your self found to be a Liar.

Pag. 22. And as for these two things, Of Conversion, and confirmation, or buil­ding up in the wayes of God, which you speak of, if you mean by conversion, and opening of the eyes, to turn them from darknesse to light, and from the power of Sa­tan unto God; or if you mean by conversion, a deliverance from the power of dark­nesse, and a translation into the Kingdom of the Son of God, both of which the Apostles Ministry did accomplish in the hearts and lives of Gods people, Act. 26. 18. Coll. 1. 13. I absolutely deny it, that your Ministery in England doth this: And therefore I desire you to declare, what you mean by Conversion, and prove your definition by the holy Scripture, and also prove that you in England are so conver­ted, which when you have done I shall further answer you by Gods assistance, and as for their building them up in the wayes of God, as all true Shepherds ought to [Page 30] build up their sheep, as Acts 26. 1 Pet. 5. Yet I deny it, that your Ministers do it, for how can they build them up in that, which they themselves are ignorant of, and enemies unto? for as Jannes and Jambres which withstood Moses, so do these men also resist the Truth, being men of corrupt mindes, and destitute of the truth, 2 Tim. 3. 8. And do feed you with husks and Chaffe, being neither willing to im­brace it themselves, nor to let those that would, as their constant preaching and speaking against the truth of God, and the Kingdom of his Son doth witnesse, &c. I have taken the pains by the Word of God, and demonstrable Arguments grounded thereupon, to prove the Church of England Antichristian: I do promise you, I will by the strength of the Lord of Hosts, for ever seperate from Church, Ministery and Worship in England, Note. all and every one of them, as Antichristian and false: Yet thus much I say, and do acknowledge, and the Scripture proves it, that God hath a people or an elect number in spirituall Babylon; yea in the Kingdom of Antichrist, part of which the Church of England is, and none of them shall perish, but be eter­nally saved; yet I say, it is the duty of all Gods Elect, and chosen ones, that are yet in the Whorish bosome of the Church of England, or in any part of Antichrists Re­giment to separate away from it, and come out of it, least God plague them for their staying there.

Pag.Note. 23. All the Ministers of the Church of England are not true Ministers of Christ, but false and Antichristian Ministers of Antichrist.

Pag. 24. And as for your Minor and Assumption, which is, that you in the Church of England do enjoy, and outwardly submit your selves to the true worship of God: It is most false, and a notorious lie and untruth, and as well might wicked Faux, and the rest of the Gunpowder-Plotters say, that they submitted unto Noble King James Laws and Scepter, when they went about to blow up the Parliament House, that so they might destroy him and all his; for you do not only oppose and justle ou [...] the true worship of God, and throw down and trample upon the Scepter of Jesus Christ his son, but also you set up false and Antichristian Wor­ship, the inventer of which is the Devil, and the Man of sin, his eldest and most obedient Son.

Pag. 26, 27. Now from that which I have said, I frame these Arguments:

1. That Worship which is of the Devils and Antichrists invention, institution and setting up, is no true Divine worship.

But the Worship of the Church of England is of the Devils and Anti­christs invention,Note. institution and setting up, as Revel. 13. doth fully prove.

Ergo, the Worship of the Church of England is no true Worship.

2. That Worship, which is a main means and Cause of pulling down the King­dom of Iesus Christ, Note. and establishing, maintaining, and upholding the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist, and sends more souls to Hell, then all the wickednesse, im­piety, ungodlinesse, in the Kingdom doth besides, is no true worship of God, but ought to be detested and abhorred of all his people. But such is the worship of the Church of England; Ergo, &c.

Pag.Note. 29. I absolutely deny your Argument, and affirme, that your Religion neither is the true Religion, nor that it leads men the true way to salvation.

Pag. 37, 38. I groundedly and absolutely deny, that either the Church of Eng­land is, or ever was a true Church, and till you have proved it true, all the pains [Page 31] that you have taken in proving that it is possible for corruptions & evil livers to be in a true Church, is spent in vain, and to no purpose, and I am confident, that you nor none else will ever be able to prove the Church of England true, nor any other Nationall Church: for Christ Jesus by his death did abolish the Nationall Church of the Iews, with all their Laws, Rites and Ceremonies thereof, and in the New Testament did never institute no Nationall Church, nor left no Laws, nor Offi­cers for the governing thereof, but the Church that he instituted, are free and In­dependent bodies, or Congregations, depending upon none but only upon Christ their Head: Therefore Nationall Churches under the Gospel are of Antichrists, that man of sins institution and ordaining, who only hath ordained Laws and Of­ficers of his own for the governing of them; Therefore for you, or any o­ther to say, and affirme, that this monstrous, ugly, botched and scabbed body, is Christs true Spouse, is dishonourable to his blessed being and Mediatorship.

His Schismaticall seditious conclusion from all these Premises is this, pag. 35. Therefore let all Gods people,Note. that yet are in the bosome of the Church of Eng­land, as they love their own inward peace, and spirituall joy, and look that their souls should prosper and flourish with grace and godlinesse look to it, and with­draw their spiritual obedience and subjection from all Antichrists Laws and wor­ship, and joyne themselves as fellow Citizens of the City of God, to worship and serve him in Mount Sion the beauty of holinesse, and there only to yield all spirituall obedience to Christs spirituall Laws and Scepter.

This language and opinion of his, concerning our English Church, and Mini­stry, is seconded by most Independents in their late Pamphlets; of which you have had a bitter taste in the preceding Sections, and their practice proves as much.

For first, though they proclaime Liberty of conscience to all Sects and Reli­gions whatsoever; yet they have so harsh an opinion of Presbyterians, and all others, who submit not to their Independent Modell; that they esteem them no better then Heathens, Master Henry Burton his Vindication of the Churches commonly cal­led Indepen­dent, p. 56. 62, 63. Infidels, unbelievers; and proclaim them in their Books to be * Men who deny, disclaim, and preach against Christs Kingly Government over his Churches; men unconverted, or at least converted but in part, vvanting the main thing, to wit, Christs kingly Office: men visible out of the Covenant of Grace, who have not so much as an outward profession of Faith, who deny Christ to be their King; to whose persons and infants, the very Sacraments and seals of grace, with all Church Communion, may, and ought to be denied, which is in effect to un-Christian, un-Church, un-Minister all Presbyterians, and to make them cast-awayes: If this be their charity to us already, what may we expect from them hereafter if their Faction bear the sway?

Secondly, when they gather any Independent Congregation, their practise is, for their Ministers solemnly to renounce and abjure their former Ordination in, and the people their Pristine Communion with the Church of England, and all Congregations else, whereof they have been Members, and then to new-mould themselves into an Independent Church; which practise they have lately begun in the Plantations of the Summer Islands; as a Friend of mine from thence infor­med me by a Letter dated, May 14. 1645. in these insuing termes.

‘The Independent Church was set up here the last year, wherein they have [Page 32] covenanted to stand unto the death: but their Covenant is not fully exprest re­serving power in themselves, especially in their Pastor, to alter it when they will, and as they think good; they have exprest nothing in writing, though often ur­ged to it,Note. but he that joyns with them, must do it by a kinde of implicite faith, to imbrace what their Church doth or shall imbrace, not knowing what it is or will be: When they began it, their Minister called a Fast for all that would be present, where in the publique Congregation, our Ministers being then but three,Note. Did lay down and renounce their Ordination and Ministry received in the Church of England, and so become (as they said) no Ministers; but did joy [...] themselves together in Covenant by words only to become a Church; first ma­king a kinde of confession of their sins, and signifying that others might also joyn themselves to them, if they were such as after such confession they should ap­prove of, and there was one principall Officer did then joyn himself with them; they then continued weekly Lecturers still, yet as they said, not as Ministers, but only as private men to exercise their gifts: wherein they laboured to draw o­thers to joyn with them, and every week received in some: but that confession of sins grew daily more and more out of date,Such were fit to make Inde­pendant Mem­bers. the rather for that * some were threat­ned to be called in question at the Assises for some things which they confessed there; so that at this time all is in a manner implicite, and though little or no­thing be expressed by the party to be received in, yet he is not put back: But when they had gotten about thirty to joyne with them, they again called a Fast for all that would be present, where it seems having appointed one of our assist­ant Governors for their Prolocutor, he nominated Master White to be their Pa­stor, which the rest confirmed by erection of hands; then it seems Master White nominated our other two Ministers, Master Copland and Master Golding for his ruling Elders, yet they continue to preach constantly as before, but Master White only doth Administer the Sacraments, and that only to such as have joyned themselves in their implicite Covenant with them.’

Their practise therefore and their writings demonstrate, what ungratefull sons, and unnaturall Vipers they are to our Mother Church and Ministers of Eng­land; which hath little cause to harbour these Rebellious Apostate sons, who thus abominate, renounce both her and her Ministers, as Antichristian.

Surely, some of their own Independent Faction, had other thoughts of her and her Ministry (unlesse they dissembled before God and man, as they com­monly do without blush or check) but very few years since; and among other the five Independent Apologists, and Master Hugh Peter, (Solicit [...]r generall of the Independent Cause and Party;) whose Subscription before the Bishop of London, concerning our Church of England in the late Prelaticall times, when far more unreformed then now, I shall here present you with; the Originall whereof I found in the Archbishops study, under Master Peter his own hand, c [...]dorsed with the Archbishops, thus.

IF Master Peter be now of another Judgement, it manifests either his grosse ignorance, or temporizing then, or his levity now, and that he is as unsteady in his opinion, as in his excentrick motion from place to place: But this is in verity, the essentiall property of our Lunacy New sights, who like the Moon (whose light Predominates in them) are alwayes changing;2 Tim. 3. 7. yea, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth; which they continually intricate with their Independent doubts.

Section IX.
Containing Libellious, Scandalous, unchristian Censures, and In­vectives against those Persons, who out of conscience have Written or Preached against the Independents Seditious, Schismaticall wayes and Practises.

I Shall first begin with such Invectives as concern my self: What large En­comiums (beyond my deserts) I received from the Independent party, before I writ against their new wayes & opinions, only in a moderate & modest manner by way of Questions; is very well known to themselves and others, being such and so many, that modesty forbids me to relate them; lest I should be thought the Herald of my own praises and deserts: How many Libells, Scandals, and false reports of all kindes they have causlesly published of me since, by Speech and Printed Libells, only because I differ from them in opinion, and have in point of conscience (being requested so to do) declared my opinion of their new groundlesse wayes and Tenets, is very well known unto many, who have leisure to peruse the severall empty Pamphlets and Invectives daily published a gainst me: I shall give you a taste of some few in lieu of many.

It pleased Iohn Lilburne among others, for whom I have done some courte­sies, but never the least injury, or discourtesie in word or deed, upon the coming out of my Truth Triumphing over Falshood, &c. (Licensed by a Committee of Parliament for the Presse) before ever he had read the Book, to write a Libel­lous Letter to me concerning it, which he sent to the Presse and published in Print without License, before I received and perused it: which though answered in Print by others without my privity; openly complained of in the Com­mons House, (who referred it to the Committee of Examinations as a most Sediti­ous Libell against the Parliament and Assembly;) yet I deemed it more worthy contempt then any Answer, as refuting not one syllable in my Book: In this Letter, he stiles me, An inciter of higher Powers to wage war with the King of Saints, and his Redeemed ones: An endeavourer to set the Princes of the earth toge­ther by the ears with Christ, to pluck his Crown from his head, his Scepter out of his hand, and his Person out of his Throne of State, that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in: He most falsely chargeth me with this false Position: That there is no rule left in the word, how we may worship God; but that Kings and States may set up what Religion they please, or may mould it to the manners of their people: Whereas there is not any such syllable in any of my Books, but the con­trary profe [...]sedly asserted and the Controversies therein debated, concerne not the substance of Gods worship or Religion, but only the Circumstance of Church­Government: which I asserted then, on such grounds as their party hath not yet re­fu [...]ed▪ not to be precisely set down & determined in the New Testament in all particu­lars, but yet conclude, that no Church Government ought to be set up, but that which is agreeable to the Scriptures, though not dogmatically and precisely prescribed in them: [...]o that if this Libeller were not past all shame, he might have blush [...] to Print and [...]print so notorious a falshood, without retractation.

[Page 35] After this he thus proceeds: Had I not seen your name to your Books, I should rather have judged them a Papists or a Iesuits, then Master Prynnes; and with­out doubt, the Pope when he sees them, will CANONIZE YOU FOR A SAINT, in throwing down his enemy Christ. Certainly no Book of mine, either in the Front or Bulke, carries the least badge of a Priest or Jesuit in it; and so far am I from demeriting any thing from the Pope, or to be Canonized by him for a Saint; that I can without vanity or ostentation affirme before all the world, that I have done more disservice to Priests, Iesuits, and the Pope: made more discoveries of their Plots, and written more against them and Popery, then all the whole generation of Sectaries and Independents put together; and I challenge all their Sects to equalize, or come near, what I have really perfor­med in this particular; so that if any man this day breathing in England deserve an Anathema Maranathae, from the Pope & his party, I have more cause to expect itthen any other: The whole Kingdom therefore will Proclaim him a notorious slan­derer in this particular: He proceeds yet further, Surely (he writes, but his words are no Oracles) you have given away your ears, and have suffered as a busie-body in opposing the King and the Prelats: without doubt all is not Gold that glisters: for were you not a man that had more then truth to look after, namely your own ends and particular interests, which I am afraid you strive to set up more then the pub­like good, you should have importuned the Parliament to have continued their favour and respect to that people, that cannot prostrate their consciences to mans devices.

Surely my conscience tells me, that I am free from this injurious calumny: For my ears, I blesse God I gave them not away, but lost them in a just quarrell, against all Law and Iustice, as both Houses of Parliament have unanimously adjudged: But whether you did not justly lose your ears for Sedition then, and deserve not to lose he remainder of them (that I say no more) for your Seditious and Libellious carriage now, is a great question among your most intelligent friends: For my opposing King and Prelates as a busie-body, perchance it might be your own case, it was never mine: What I have done against the unjust usurpations, and illegall excesses of either, I did it in a just and Legall way, upon such grounds and Authority, as was never yet controuled; and this I dare make good without vainglory, that I have done more reall cordiall service with my pen against the Usurpations of Regality and Prelacy, in defence of the Subjects Liberties, and Parliaments jurisdiction, then all Independent Sectaries whatsoever, and that only out of a zeal to Gods glory and the publick good, without the least private end or Interest, which never yet entred into my thoughts, having suffered as much as any man of your Sect (if not more) for the Publick, without either see­king or receiving the least recompence, or reward; having spent not only my time and Studies, but some hundreds of Pounds in the Republicks service since my inlargement, without craving or receiving one farthing recompence in any kinde; whereas if I had sought my self, or been any way covetous or ambiti­ous, I might perchance have obtained as advantagious and honourable prefer­ments, as any Independents have aspired to, if not challenged as their right, for lesse meritorious publick services and sufferings then the least of mine. As for my importuning the Parliament for continuance of their favours to that people you speak of; surely when I finde them more obsequious to the Parliaments just Or­dinances [Page 36] and commands, lesse willfull and more conscientious; I shall do them all the offices of Christian love; but whiles contumnacy, obstinacy, licentiousnesse, un­charitablenesse and Schisme are most predominant in them, the greatest favour I can move the Parliament to indulge them, is to bridle these their extravagances with the severest Laws, and to prefer the publike safety of Church and State, before their private Lawlesse conceits and phantasticall opinions.

He addes, That I am in this as cruell a Task-master as Pharaoh: and that the Son of God, and his Saints are but little beholding to me. Surely to confine Licen­cious lawlesse consciences to the rules of Gods word, the justLaws of the Realm, and rectified reason, can Proclaime me no Egyptian Task-master: but rather decl [...]re your Sect meer Libertines, who will not be Regnlated by, nor confined within these Bounds; yea, I trust the Son of God and his true Saints are as much beholding to me (in your sense) as to the greatest Patriarchs of your In­dependent Tribes, be they whom they will.

This Libeller being questioned before the Committee of Examinations con­cerning this Letter, by their speciall favour returned his Reasons why he sent it in writing, which he no sooner exhibited, but published in Print the next day after, to defame and slander me among his Confederates; who give me now no other E­pithites in their discourses; but a Papist, a Persecutor of Gods Saints, an Enemy of Christs Kingdom, vvho deserve to lose my head for opposing them in this cause, &c. which I no more value, Then the Moon doth the barking of a lousie Cur.

In this new unlicensed Paper, first he vaingloriously relates his own sufferings and deserts: Secondly, Traduceth the justice of the Parliament and others, a­gainst some seditions Sectaries; misreciting many of their proceedings to the scan­dall of Publick justice, and the Parliament, pag. 3, 4. Thirdly, pag. 5. He pre­tends my Books against Independents (Licensed by Authority of a Committee of Parliament) to be the principall causes of the rigid Proceedings against Separatists especially my Truths Triumphing over Falshood; which being subsequent in time to all the particulars he recites, could certainly be no occasion of them; and therefore he playes not only the Sophyster, but Slanderer in this particular. Fourthly, pag. 5, 6. He misrepeats, and misapplies some Passages of mine, to all of his Sect in generall, and to HIMSELF and SVCH AS HE IS in the ARMY and ELSEWHERE: Whereas there is not one Syllable in my Passages to that purpose, but only against some particular Authors I there mention, and such of their Confederates, who maliciously and audaciously oppugne the undoubted Rights, Priviledges, and just Proceedings of Parliament, contrary to their Solemne Covenant, League, and Protestation; and if you proclaim your self or any other in the Army or elsewhere to be of this Anti-Parliamentary Regiment (as now you do) I then professe my self an opposite to you, and shall make good against you what ever I have written, when and where you please. Fiftly, He writes, That I eagerly endeavour to incense the Parliament against him, and such as he is in the Army, and elsewhere, and in the Conclusion of my Indepen­dency examined, presse the cutting of them off by the sword, & executing wrath and vengeance on them upon pain of contracting the guilt of highest Perjury: A most malicious scandall: For first I never mentioned him or his in particular; neither knew I how he stood inclined. Secondly, In my Independency examined; I only [Page 37] in a generall discourse affert, that Kings and Civill Magistrates, have by the Law of God a Lawfull coercive power, thought not to restrain the sincere Preaching of the Gospel and truth of God, yet to suppresse, restrain, imprison, confine, banish the brea­ [...]hers of Heresies, Schismes, Erronious, seditious Doctrines, Enthusiasmes, or setters up of new Formes of Ecclesiasticall Government without Lawfull Authority, to the en [...]ngering of mens souls, or disturbance of the Churches and Kingdoms Peace: These are my formall words which I there make good by Scripture, & Presidents in all Ages (& will justifie by Gods assistance upon any occasion against all Secta­ries & Independents whatsoever) After which I close up this discourse in these very words: And if any Hereticks, false-Teachers, Schismaticks (chuse which of these three ranks you and yours will fall under) obstinatly refuse conformity after due admonition, and all good means used to reclaim them, the Poets Divinity and Policy must then take place, as well in Ecclesiasticall, as civill and naturall maladies.

Is this any urging of the Parliament, To cut you and yours off by the sword? and to execute wrath and vengeance on you? If you be such obstinate Hereticks, Schis­maticks, or false-Teachers, who fall within the compasse of my words, God forbid, but the sword of Iustice should be drawn out against you, as well as others, at least to chastise and reduce you to obedience, though not finally to cut you off, unlesse in case of absolute necessity: But if you are none of this obstinate Here­ticall, Schismaticall Brigade (as I make you not, unlesse you make your selves) my generall indefinite words will relate, neither to your self in person (whom I never once minded in my writings) nor to any of your Tribe: And therefore in this particular, I charge you for a malicious slanderour and false Informer, de­manding justice and reparation from you for this, and all the forementioned pas­sages, wherein you have wilfully done me wrong. Sixtly, pag. 6. He injuri­ously chargeth me, as guilty of being an Incendiary, betwixt the Parliament and their faithfull friends and servants; and that my actions and practises tend to no better end, but to make him and his partie (VS) to be sleighted and contemned, and that they a faithfull, conscientious, AND CONSIDERABLE PARTY IN THE ARMY and KINGDOM MIGHT BE DISIN­GAGEDNote. and CAVSED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMES, &c. After which, he concludes thus, pag. 7. Now I appeal to everie true hearted Englishman, that desires a speedie end of these Wars, of what evil consequence it would be to the Parliament and Kingdoms, to have such a faithfull and considerable partie as Mr. Prynne calumni [...]teth, and reproacheth as bad, if not worse then ever the Bishop of Canterbury did, should be causleslie cut off with the sword, or be dis­ingaged by his means (especiallie seeing the Kingdoms necessities is such, that they stand in need of the help of Forrainers) In which Passage he intimates: First, that those Anti-Parliamentary seditious Sectaries, who confederate with this Libeller know their own particular (pretended) strength in the Army and Kingdom. Se­condly, that they fight only for their own private interests, and to erect their own Church Government, not for Religion not the publick Cause; since my very wri­ting against their Schismaticall seditious wayes but in meer generall terms (as this Libeller, one of their privy Cabinet Councell intimates) and that by Authority of [Page 38] a Committee of Parliament, in just defence of the Parliaments undoubted Eccle­siasticall jurisdiction and Authority (which they most affront of any men what­soever) Is a means to disingage, and cause them to lay down their Armes: Thirdly, I answer, that if he & his party be such faithfull friends and servants to the Parlia­ment, and such a conscientious considerable party both in the Army and Kingdom as he pretends, my writing in defence of the Parliaments jurisdiction (which they pretend to fight for) can be no dis-ingagement or dis-couragement to them; And therefore himself alone must be the Incendiary twixt them and the Parlia­ment, and the dis-ingager of them to lay down their Armes, by these his slanderous Libells against the Parliaments jurisdiction, Priviledges, Proceedings, not I who have only Cordially maintained them (according to my solemn Vow and Covenant) by publike encouragement, and speciall approbation.

I shal therefore challenge so much Iustice from this Epistoler, as publikely to re­tract all these his malicious Libellous slanders of me, without the least provocation given him on my part; or else he must expect from God & all good men (yea from his own best friends and party) the brand of a most malicious Libeller, slanderer, Incendiary, and undergoe the punishment due to such.

To this I might adde a whole bundle of Calumnies and injuries against me in Master Iohn Goodwins Calumny Arraigned and cast, wherein he chargeth me, pag. 2. for aspersing the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers and him­self, in averting, that he was suspended and sequestred by that Committee; which all the Committee then, and himself with his Confederates since experimentally know to be a reall truth, however they outfaced it for a time: His other Ca­lumnies are so grosse, and triviall, that I will not waste Paper to refute them.

These Libellers are not single, but thus seconded by a Brother of their Sect, one Henry Robinson in his Pamphlet intituled; The Pretences of Master Wil­liam Prynne, &c. (A meer empty Libell fraught with nothing but railings, and slanders against me) and in his latter Libell intituled: The Falshood of Master Wil­liam Prynnes Truth Triumphing, in the Antiquity of Popish Princes and Parlia­ments: To which he attributes a sole Soveraign Legislative, Coercive power in all matters of Religion; Discovered to be full of absurdities, contradictions, Sacriledge, and to make more in favour of Rome and Antichrist▪ then all the Books and Pamph­lets which were ever published, whether by Papall or Epi [...]copall Prelats or Parasites, since the Reformation: with twelve Queries, eight whereof visit Master Prynne the second time, because they could not be satisfied at the first; Printed in London, 1645.

Here is a large Libellous Title, but not one syllable of it so much as proved or made good in the Book:Note. wherein he convinceth me, neither of Falshood nor ab­surdities, nor Contradictions, nor Sacriledge: And whereas he chargeth; That my Truths Triumphing, &c. Makes more in favour of Rome, and Antichrist then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever published by Papall or Episcopall Prelats or Parasites since the Reformation (of which he makes not the least offer of proof in his Book) I shall aver to all the world (I hope without ostentation, being thus enforced to it) and appeal to all men of Iudgement who have read it; that it makes more against Rome, Antichrist, and the usurped power of Popish, Lordly Prelates and Clergymen in points of calling Councels, the Authority of [Page 39] Prelates, Clergy men and Synods in making binding Canons, &c. and other points therein debated then any Book or Pamphlet whatsoever of this Subject written by any Prelate, Clergy man, Laicke, or by all the whole Mungrell Regiment of Anabaptists, Sectaries or Independents put together: Therefore this Title of his; is a most false malicious impudent slander, of a Libeller past shame, void both of truth and conscience.

His passage against me, pag. 9. 10. Is much of kin to his Title Page, where thus he writes: ‘The truth is, I cannot deny but Master Prynne was once by more then many, and they godly too, held to be a man of Piety (and was highly honou­red, in whose Books and Pamphlets notwithstanding which have been pub­lished of late) may be observed more corrupted Principles, and a far worse spi­rit of persecution, then ever was discovered in the late Delinquent Decapitated Archbishop, from his first ascending unto his highest growth of Authority and greatnesse; and in the Diary of his life, which I suppose Master Prynne Printed, not to do him honour (though after Ages will not be tyed to be no wiser then Master Prynne) I finde such eminent signes of a Morall Noble pious minde, ac­cording to such weak principles as he had been bred up in (his own persecuting disposition, disabling him from being instructed better) and particularly so inge­nious a passage in his Funeral Sermon, whereby he justifies the Parliament in put­ting him to death; as I may safely professe to all the world, I never yet could dis­cerne any thing near of like piety, or ingenuity to be in Master Pryune, by all that ever I yet heard of him from first to last, or by all the books of his which ever came to my hands, wherein yet I have hitherto done him the honour in being at charges to buy as many, I mean one of every sort, as I could ever meet withall.’

Surely, I am much beholding to this Gentleman, for proclaiming me a man of more corrupt principles, and a person possessed with a worse spirit of persecution then the late Decapitated Archbishop, but the Archbishop far more obliged to him, in Canonizing him for such a Saint: As for his Diary, I published it as I found it, not so much to do him honour as right, which is due to the very Devill himself: But had this Libeller remembred, that I reserved the criminall part of his life, for two other Volumes, one of them already published; and the first part of the other now at Presse, which will render him, the Archest Traitor and un­derminer of Religion, Laws, Liberties, Parliaments that ever breathed in Eng­lish Aire; or had he seriously considered his obstinate impenitency, and justificntion of his innocency (though most criminall of all that for which he was condemned) even on the very Scaffold; he would have blushed at his large Encomiums of such a Traytor in affront of publike justice, to cast the greater blemish on my self, who was publikely called by Authority to bring him to his triall.

Having thus reviled my person only for w [...]iting against Independent new wayes and fancies; having naught else to object against me, he fals soul upon my very Profession of the Law in these reproachfull termes, pag. 21, 22. ‘Certainly tis none of Master Prynnes least oversights thus to bring himself a Lawyer, (whose wrangling faculty sets and keeps all people at worse war amongst themselves, then all Forraign enemies can do) into a Contest with Mr. Goodwin,&c.’

‘If Master Prynne were a man truly godly and conscientious, he might long [Page 40] ere this time have considered the unlawfulnesse of his very calling, acco [...]ding to the greatest part of Lawyers practise, in entertaining more causes then they can possibly take care of as they ought, in taking of excessive Fees, prolonging suits, and so involving the whole Kingdom in their Sophisticall quirks, tricks and quillets, as that a man can neither buy nor sell, speak nor do any thing, but he must be liable to fall into their tallons, without ever being able to redeem him­self, the Lawyers having most of their mysteries written in little lesse then Hea­then Language, and detaining us in such Ignorant captivity, as that we may not plead nor understand; by which and such like devises of theirs, they are become the greatest grievance, Note. crying loudest to heaven for Justice to be done upon them by this Parliament, next to the corrupted, depraved Clergy men.’

Surely these Independent Sectaries, resolve to extirpate all Lawyers and Clergy-men, as the greatest grievances under Heaven; that so both Law and Gospel may be dispensed only by their Lawlesse, Gospellesse lips, hands: and this makes them raile at these two Honourable Professions, without which no Kingdom or Church can long subsist: For my own part, I blesse God, I am not ashamed of my Profession; its no dishonour unto me, (since God himself hath honoured Zen [...] a Professour of it, Tit. 3. 13.) and I trust I shall never dishonour it: and though some perchance abuse it (as many do all other Callings) [...] makes it not unlawfull or a grievance, no more then other Callings, [...] being the fault of the person, nor of the Profession: Take he [...]d therefore how you pr [...]ss [...] this Argu­ment further, lest it reflect with disadvantage on your self, who have much abused the Profession of a Gentleman, by turning Lib [...]ller; of a Merchant, in turning an Independent Preacher; of a Minister, in becoming an unlicens [...]d Mr. Printer of all these new Seditious Libels, in an Alley in Bishopsgate street, the very name whereof, made you such a Panegyrist, to trumpet out the Archbishops P [...]ety and Gr [...]ces to the world, after his Execution as a Traytor.

I shall rake no more in this Pamphleters nasty Kennel, which abounds with such fil [...]hy stincking stuffe, and Billingsgate Language as this.

The Author of The Araignment of Persecution, thus makes himself merry with me, pag. 15. That Learned Gentleman, Just-as conformity of Lincolns Inne, Esq; can throughly resolve you, both by Scripture Texts, Presede [...]ts of all sorts, and the constant uninterupted practises, examples of the Emminentest Emperours, Prin­ces, Councels, Parliaments, &c. It is well these illiterate Ass [...]s are able thus to de­ [...]ide, what they can no wayes Answer or Re [...]ute by Scripture, Reason, or Au­thorities of any kinde, but their own brainsick fancies.

He proceeds thus, pag. 39. By the Apochrypha writings, and Non-sense Argu­ments of Mr. Edwards: By the distracted thoughts, and subitane apprehensions of Mr. Prynne; By the designe of the Clergy; By their forced tears; By their Hy­pocrisie; By their false Glosses, Interpretations, and Sophystications, Good Lord deliver us. Here I am joyned with very good company, though in a Blasphe­mous railing Lyturgy, fit only for such Conventicles as this Libeller indoctrinates.

The Compiler of the Sacred Synodicall Decretall, thus sports himself with Dr. Bastwick and me, pag. 22. Dr. Bastwick and Jockey shall be God-fathers, and the Whore of Babylon God-mother, and it shall be Christened, COMMON­COUNCELL OF PRESBYTERS: (heare's like to be a City well [Page 41] governed) ‘but it is not yet fit to be known by that Name, while the Childe is in the Cradle; when it can go alone, it will be a pretty play-fellow for my son Iack, if the Doctor can but cure him of the Martin: 'Tis true, he hath given him a good Cordiall against some Independent Qualmes, wherewith my son Iack hath been much oppressed, since Mr. Prynne hath been Outlaw'd by the Gospel, his Voluminous errours had the benefit (Sir Reverence) of the peoples posteri­ours to correct them, (Let the Doctor have a care of his Bills) Nam in posteriori pagina, omnia sua fic Corriguntur Errata: that's a signe of some Grace; who sayes Mr. Prynnes not an honest man, that hath consecrated so much to such a Reverend use? But he shall have a better place when it falls, hee's in the way of preferment, he doth supply the place of an Informer already, for he must do a little drudgery before he be a Judge.’

In what an uncivill, unchristian manner they have rayled against my ever honoured Brother Dr. Bastwick, as an Apostate, a fighter against God, an enemy of Iesus Christs, &c. only for writing against their Independent Novelties, him­self hath at large related in his Postscript.

How they have abused Dr. Twisse, Mr. Hindersham, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Mar­shall, Dr. Burges, Dr. Featly, Mr. Paget, and especially Mr. Edwards, (whom they revile beyond all measure) only for opposing their new Anarchicall Govern­ment, hath in part been formerly touched, and would be over-tedious particular­ly to relate: I shall therefore conclude with two passages more; the one con­cerning Doctor Burges, the other Doctor Twisse and the Assembly, in their last Libell, called Martins Eccho, p. 7 8. Such hath been their good service to the Church and State, that for my part, it should not much trouble me, to see them as well knockt down: I mean to see Doctor Burges, and a competent number of his brethren, set down upon their Presbyterian Thrones, judging the Tribes of this our Israel; Be ye mounted upon your great Coach-Horses, which trundle you too and fro, from London to Westminster; mount all your new Canons, and ad­vance like mighty men of valour, The horsemen and Chariots of Israel, even whole black Regiments of you into the fields, under the Conduct of your Gene­ral [...]ssimo, William Twisse, Prolocutor; and fire all your new cast Ordinances at once in the face of your enemies, and so finish your good work your selves, and trust your Sacred cause no longer in the hands of the profane.

By this short taste, you may discern the most uncharitable, slanderous, lying, Li­bellous disposition of these new Independent lights, whose works are so full of in­fernall deeds of darknesse, and of the black Language of Hell.

Section X.
Containing seditious Queries, Passages and Practises to excite the people to mutiny, Sedition, Disobedience, and contumacy against the Parliaments proceedings, Ordinances, and to resume their power from them.

I Have in the preceding Sections, already transcribed sundry clauses of this na­ture; I shall remember you only of some few more, in two or three late unli­censed Libels.

[Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 42] The Author of, an Answer to Mr. Prynnes twelve Questions concerning Church­Government (supposed to be Master Henry Robinson) pag. 2. makes this Quere: What if the Parliament sh [...]uld be for Popery again, Iudaisme or Tur [...]isme? Tis no offence to make a Quere, NOR IMPOSSIBLE TO COME TO PASSE: The greatest part of such as choose our Parliament men are thought to be Popishly or Malignantly affected: by the same Law and Doctrine the whole Kingdom must in consequence, and such obedience as you dictate, con­forme themselves to Poperie, Iudaisme, or Turcisme, &c.

And pag. 24. 25. He propounds these Queries, of purpose to blast the power, and Ecclesiasticall Proceedings of our present Parliament, and render them de­testable, or contemptible to the people.

Whether have not Parliaments and Synods of England in times past established Popery? And whether may they not possibly doYou mean and conclude; Erge, you must not obey them in pulling down Popery, and setting up a Presbyteri [...]ll Government againstus now. so again hereafter? Whether in case a Parliament and Synod should set up Popery, may they therein be disobeyed by the people? If they may be disobeyed in one particular, whether may not they upon the like grounds be disobeyed in another? Whether the people be not judge of the grounds for denying obedience to Parliament and Synod in such a case? Whether the pretence of giving a Parliament and Synod power to establish Religion, and yet reserve in our own hands, a Prerogative of yeelding or denying obedience thereunto, as we our selves think good, be not an absoluteNot so, but only in things simply civill, and directly against Gods word. We must not obey them in things against Gods word, but must obey them in all things not repugnant to it, is no contradiction. contradiction? And lastly, Whether they that Attribute such a power to Parliaments and Synods, as they themselves will question and disobey, whenNo but when God commands us not to obey. they think good; do not in effect weaken and quite enervate the power of Parliaments, or else condemn themselves in censuring the Independents for withholding of obedience from Parliament and Synod in such things, whereinNote, the Parliament must have no more power then Indepen­dents give, or mean to give them. they NEVER GAVE, OR MEANT EVER TO GIVE POWER? If the whole Kingdom may denie obedience unto Popish Acts and Canons, or upon any other the like just occasion, and they themselves be judge whether the occasion be just or n [...]: Whether may not Independents a part of the Kingdom onlie, do the like in all respects? Or whether ought they because a lesser part of the Kingdom, to yield o­bedience to Popish Acts and Canons because a Major part approve of, and agree with a Parliament and Synod in establishing them? Whether would it not be an un­godlie course for anie people to hazard anie thing at the disposall of others, or to be carried by most voices, which may possiblie, if not more then probablie be decided in such a manner as the yielding obedience thereunto would be burthensom to their con­sciences, if not absolutelie sinfull? Whether were it not anWhere any such are impo­sed on them by the Par­liament, they may passively disobey, not seditiously op­pose; But this is not our pre­sent case, but the quite con­trary. ungodlie course for the whole Commons of a Kingdom so farre differing in Religion as that they professe before hand that they dare not yield to another, upon pe­rill of damnation, to make choise of a Parliament and Synod, with entring into Vow and Covenant, to become afterwards all of that Religion, whatsoever the Par­liament and Assembly should agree on? Whether it be not absurd for men to say, they vvill be of such a Religion as shall be settled, before they see evidence to convince them? And vvhether it be in the povver of man to be really of vvhat Religion he vvill, untill he see reason and demonstration for it? If a representative State or ^{* *} [Page 43] Magistrate may have Laws for setting up of a Religion, or establish vvhat Church-Government they please; vvhether have not the people the same povver originallie in themselves, toA seditious Quere to stir up the people against the Parliament, and reseinds their Acts. assume again, and put it in execution vvhen they please? And vvhether vvere this othervvise then to attribute unto a mixt multitude, to the vvorld, if not absolutely as it is distinguished from the Saints in Scripture, Ioh. 15. 18, 19. and 17. 6, 9, 11, 4. at least by some voices, to make choise of a Religion, Lavvs and Discipline, vvherevvith the Saints, houshold and Church of God must necessarilie be governed?

These seditious Quaere's are since reprinted and propounded by the same Au­thor (Henrie Robinson) in another Libell of his, Intituled, The Falshood of Mr. William Prynnes Truth triumphing, &c. p. 26, 27. to what other end, but to stir up the people to Mutiny, to rebellion against the Parliament and its proceed­ings (a thing lately attempted by a mutinous Petition framed by Independents, but afterwards moderated by some discreeter persons, and by some late Libellous, seditious Pamphlets) no wise man can conjecture.

To omit many new seditious, mutinous Passages in the Arraignment tf Persecu­tion, A sacred Decretall, and Martins Eccho; compiled, published, printed, vended, dispersed by Independent Sectaries, who highly applaud them; in­stead of excommunicating, detecting, suppressing, punishing the Authors and dispersers of them, I shall (for brevity sake) transcribe only this most seditious Oration in the close of Martins Eccho, directed to the common people, to excite them to mutiny and Rebellion against the Assembly, Parliament, their Mili­tary, Civil and Ecclesiasticall present proceedings, deserving no lesse then capitall punishment, being done in seditionem Regni, no lesseGlanvil. l. 14. p. 170. then high Treason by the Common Law.

Before the Synod was assembled, the cries of the peo­ple were heard, their Petitions answered, miseries redressed, Monopolies remooved, oppressions eased, tender consciences respected, the servants of God delivered out of pri­sons, courts of tyranny and oppression suppressed, &c. But since their Session, the case is quite altered, nothing but Iesuiticall and Machivillian pollicy hath bin on foote, thousands of Petitions of poore Widdowes, Orphanes and all manner of distressed op­pressed persons, who cry daiely and cannot be heard; and these fat Preists can have Ordinance upon Ordinance for their ends; they can have the sweat of other mens browes confirmed upon them by an Ordinance, whiles others A grosse scandall to the Parliament, tending to mutiny. cannot have their just requests, for their owne rights Answered: though their Wives and Children perish; our This indeed is true of your Independents wives, who marry Ladyes and rich wid­dowes who go thus attyred. Presbyterians wives must go like Ladyes, with their silke & Taffety, some with their fanns and silver watches forsooth hunging by their girdles, to please the pretty sweet faced, lovely Mopphet withall pretty things, tis pitty there's not an Ordi­nance all this while, for them to weare Rattle [...]; Consider this with your selves, & for what your estates and blood have beene engaged, The liberties of the subject, and the Protestant Religion, now how much after this vast expence, this sea of blood, of the subjects Liberties, have you attain'd? even thus much, He that shall open his mouth freely for the Vindication of your Native Liberties, cannot doe it without the hazard of his own, yea of his life; I know that the Priests thirst after my blood, but I call the God of heaven to witnesse, would it quench their thirst, and be a ransome for our posterity, I would freely offer it to the Common good [...] and as for the P [...] ­testant Religion hath it not beene lock'd up in the breasts, of the Assembly? hath not your faith beene pin'd upon their sleeve? your estates spent, and your blood shed for the result of their mindes, right or wrong, and so have fough [...] for you know not what? But it may be you'l say, you have engaged for the suppression of Prelacy, High­Commission &c. you have indeed beat the bush, but the Presbyters have caught th [...] [Page 46] Hare, instead of one High-commission, in the whole kingdome, you shall have one inThis is true of your Inde­pendent Con­venticles. every Parish under the name of a Parochiall Sessions, besides the generall High­commission call'd the Common Councell of Presbyters; Now have you not, to shu [...] the smoke, skippt into the fire? is the matter any thing amended? sure you have got a worthy Reformation: But it may be you have a better esteem of these new Courts, then of the old High-commission: Let me aske you? do you thinke that they'l be bet­ter then their patterne? &c.

Thus you may see what you are, to rely upon, if in conscience you cannot submit to any thing they command, you know your wages, you must be banished: and doe not our Presbyters not onely labour for the banishment, but for the lives of the Con­trary minded to them? And is not this thinke you, as evill measure as ever was mea­sured out of the High-commission? Wherfore I beseech you Friends, consider what you do, consider the frait of your bodies; into what slavery you are fit to inthrall them. I know you would be loath your Children after you should be deprived of trading or living in the Kingdome, though they should differ a litle in opinion from others.

I beseech you therfore, save your selves from this wicked Generation, who have spent your estates,* A most sedi­ [...] flander. your blood and all, and you are now worse then ever you were hitherto, all hath beene in their disposing, and you are betrayd, and daiely delivered as a prey to the Enemy: The Lord Deliver us, Amen.

Whether this be not another Sheba, a Trumpeter to blow up popular sedition and Rebellion against the Parliament, Synod, and their proceedings, deserving Sheba's punishment; and whether it be not more then time for the Honorable Court of Par­liament to proceed severely against such Scismaticall Libellous and Seditious Muti­niers as these forementioned, let all wise men judge. If our foolish pitty and indul­gence towards them (according to the proverbe) destroy our Citty, our Church, our Religion, our Parliament, our Realmes, let those superior Powers answer it, who have authority to prevent it; I can with a good conscience professe and say, Liberavi animam meam, what ever censures, reproaches Scandals, Libels I suffer for my good intentions, from this Libellous Generation of2 Thes. 3. 2. unreasonable men, who have litle faith and lesse Charity.