A TRUE TABLE OF ALL SUCH FEES AS ARE Due to the Bishop of London, and all his depending Officers, as Commissaries, Registers, Proctors, and Apparitors, as hath been given in to his Majesty's Commissioners in Starchamber under their own hands in the month of November M. DC. XXX. Whereto is added a true discovery of such fees ordinarily exacted by them upon his Majesty's good subjects contrary to this their own table and the statute laws of the land. Published by STEVEN PUCKELL and sent as a love token for his country's good. Isa. 8. 61. I the Lord love judgement, I hate robbery for a offering. 1. Thess. 4. 3. with. 6. For this is the will of God, etc. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such. Imprinted, Anno M▪ DC. ●XX▪ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS of his Majesty's Commissioners for new erected offices, and innovated fees, and to all others that are doers and lovers of justice, health and prosperity attend you in all your lawful designs, with all increase of honour and favour both with God and men. RIght honourable when I considered, not only the wisdom which God hath furnished your Noble Persons withal, together with the power and authority put into your hands by his Majesty for the seeing and enquiring into all extorted and innovated fees, it made me to conceive your honours were the men that God had apppointed to deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, which did encourage me to seek release under your honour's protection, against my cruel oppressors, in which I freely confess I found (to God's glory be it spoken) more than ordinary success, by your honour's means, in that your honours effectually procured my peace for awhile in commanding that Commissary my accuser to suspend his suit against me, in the high commission, but yet it was but for a while, in that my busy and malicious adversary (getting something in respect of my conscience as your honours well know) insenced against me some high Commissioners as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London, who (contrary to your honour's order made) did forthwith pursue me with such violence, as if they thirsted for my blood, and nothing but my life would serve their turn, for which cause I was enforced to leave my own native country, to seek shelter in foreign parts, where through the Lord's goodness having found a place of breathing, I have thought it my duty to speak, according to my strength, from a fare, and to present to your honours a brief discovery of some of their extortions I have taken knowledge of in their proceed, to give your Honour's occasion to dive into this mystery of iniquity, where I doubt not but your wisdoms will soon find out much more than my shallowness can extend to, yet by this little I discern and discover, they are no other than merciless oppressors, intruders upon the subject's rights and privileges, and who is appointed under God and his Majesty to curb them, and to restrain their inordinate & lawless courses but your honours, but they having beme much fleshed by prevailing against all sorts, haply their insolency, will not fear to attempt to make an assault against yours honours in case you question them for their injustice and oppression in these or other their proceed, yet I trust they shall not prevail, but having begun to fall they shall fall more and more, till their usurped power (under which many mourn) be utterly overthrown. To call to your honour's remembrance their late injustice in my own particular, I have presumed once again to renew my complaints to your honours against them, and for farther evidences, every day affoards his just complaint against them, wherever they keep their courts, or excercise authority over his Majesty's subjects in any part of his dominion. If therefore God shall move your honour's hearts to go on with so good a work as to purge not only them of these evils, but free the churches and people of God of these strange offices, God shall have much glory by you, the Church and people of God, much peace and freedom, the land purged of many a crying sin, and the King's throne established in justice and righteousness; which that your honours may be enabled to do the God of truth and justice be with your honours, and double the spirit of courage, and wisdom on you, I rest at your honour's service to be commanded. STEVEN PUCKELL To the truly and well affected Christian Reader. CHristian Reader God by his wise providence ordering all things to his own glory, hath been pleased after many and sore trials to bring me the unworthyest of his servants to a place of more rest and safety in respect of my present condition, than I either had, or possibly could look for in mine own land; I therefore seriously considering by how many bonds I stand bound to Almighty God for those many great mercies ●nd str●nge delyverances which I have received from his mere goodness and 〈◊〉 evidence, as also well considering, how nearly my soul is k●nt to you my ●●ning Countrymen: I could not but out of pity to your present estate, and conscience of mine own duty to God, and you all, answer your reasonable requests and earnest expectation in adventuring to put thes few lines to the open view of the world, the which thing God who knows my hart, knows I aim not at any man's person, neither have I added any thing but have taken a true copy of all the fees as they were presented before his Magesties' Commissioners in Starchamber, confirmed under every of their own general hands, without adding any thing thereto, by the which the wise and discrete reader may in some sort from his own experience (who is the best schoolmaster) plainly see how tremblingly these shoulders and posts by the which the kingdom of Antichrist is yet upheld in our Kingdom of England do tyranise, not only over the souls and consciences, but over the bodies and goods of his Magistyes loving subjects, their Cannons and Constitutions, Injunctions and Decrees, tending to no purpose but only to be snares and 'gins to the souls and bodies of men: thus those who would be thought to be the prophets of England are all like those prophets in Israel: Hosea 9 8. the suare of a fowler is in all their ways, all their projects being how to grow great and maintain their pomp and state, although it be with the blood of the poor fatherless & widow; yea though it be to the overthrow of King and state, which I will endeavour to clear by thes propositions. For proof whereof I will appeal to none other but to thine own experience. First who seethe not that all their Cannons and Decrees both new and old tend to no other end but the enthralling of the souls and bodies of God's people, and the bringing of them under an Antichristian yoke, which appears first that since the year 1624. they have changed the oath of Curchwardens and sidemen (as they call them) into that form that it is now become nothing else but a rack for the consciences of men and may truly be called an injurjous and bloody oath 2. What else is the ground, why they have taken away all those Cannons that respect themselves, that the people cannot see them, but that they might more peaceably and freely pray on the bodies and souls of men at their own pleasures. 3. What is the reason they do of late use so many shifts and tricks to maintain their standings as they do by devising all the inchrochments upon the liberty of the subject, the like whereof cannot beparalelled by robbing of the nobility of their honorus, titles, offices, and dignities, and conferring them on their own heads or the heads of their favourites; yea is it not matter enough (if not a friend to the prelacy) for any (though otherwise deserving never so well) to stand like a beacon on the top of a hill not respected. 4. who seethe not, that all the good and whollesomme laws of the Common wealth is by them turned upside down, & like a leaden wand bowed to every end that suits themselves, be it right or wrong; thus like horses are they prepared to battle with strong unresistible power to bear down all before them that doth but mute against their cursed usurpations. 5. what rank or order of men comes not under their tyranny and oppression in their matchless extortions? they slight the rich in the height of their pride, they regard not the cries of the widow and fatherless, but like men void of compassion or bereft of humanity wring and wrest from all men in all causes abundantly more than is allowed them by their own Cannons and Ecclesiastical laws; and especially in the probates of wills and administrations they are as the Proph. Zeph saith. 3. 3. Like the evening wolves that leave not the bones until the morning, my brethre may not the Lord complain against us as against his own people. jer. 5. 26. that among his people are found wicked men that lay wait as he that setteth snares, they set a trap to catch men; as a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit, therefore they are become great & wax rich, also they Judge not the cause of the fatherless, but as in the 29. shall not the Lord visit for these things? shall not his soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Therefore brethren and loving countrymen considering these things, let me in a word speak to you all under these two ranks, other as you are the called of God, or as yet uncalled by him. And first to you that are called of God, let me speak to you in the words of the Lord by the Prophet jerem. 2. 18. What have you to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? Or for the fear of man to be found in the way of Gilgall, for all their wickedness is in Gilgall, there doth the Lord hate them, and for their iniquities will in his time arrive them out of his house; therefore come not at their courts, obey not their summons sent out in their own names against the law of the land and honour of the King, so that if the King's Majesty were not very patiented towards them, and those that submit to their usurpations where were they? Trust God with your goods and lives, he is able to recompense all with better, add not fire then to this altar of Baal, neither by purse nor presence, Walk not after these commaundemen of men lest Ephraim like, ye he oppressed and broken in judgement, and the Lord become to you (as to him) a moth, or as he was to judah rottenness, Hosea 5. 11. 12. My brethren be not afraid of man in God's cause, consider what the Apostle saith to Timothy 2. epist. 1. 7. God hath not given to us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, of a sound mind, Where observe, this fear of man for the prevailing power thereof, is called the spirit of fear, and is opposed to the spirit of God, as power, and love and a sound mind, whence then we may learn. That where ever his fear of man is residing in the strength and power of it, there no sound power of godliness, nor soundness of judgement, nor power of action, is to be looked for. Besides this fear of man will be a snare to you, for the fear of man bringeth a snare, but who so trusteth in God shallbe sure. Prov. 29. 25. Besides there is a lake prepared for the fearful, say not then with the faint-hearted spies, there be giants, and walls up to heaven, and we shall never overcome, for we overcome in sufferring. Consider also, that God, the Gospel, and the people of God, are more beholding (if I may so speak) to one constant sufferrer sent of God, then to ten thousand faint-hearted apostates and backsliders, therefore my brethren look what Gods worthies have done, and do likewise, as Paul to Timo. 2. epist. 1. 8. so I speak to you all in his words, Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be you partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel, according to the power of God who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling. And to you my countrymen that are yet uncalled what shall I say? to set you a work about the works of a living man that have not a principle of life in you, were but a vain thing, I therefore say no more to you but thus, Take courage to your selus as you are men, and know your own privileges and stand to them, consider the laws of a kingdom are the subjects inheritance, and no subject can be deprived of them without manifest injustice, therefore suffer not your selus to be gulled in these things, look the Statute for the probate of wills and testaments, observe the penalties upon all that shall extort upon the same, the law saying directly in these words That if a Bishop or Archbishop or any other ecclesiastical jurisdiction shall extort or take of any of his Mayestyes subjects, either more or greater fees than is allowed them by law, they shall forfeit to the party wronged three times that they take to the party grieved, and over and above they shall forfeit to the King ten pounds the which shallbe levied by way of trespass, or of debt recoverable by law in any of his Majesty's courts of record, against which action there shallbe no appeal nor act of error to be granted but the moneys so levied shallbe one half to the King, and the other half to the party wronged. Or else thou must maintain thy right by an indictment at the common sessions of the quarter where the offence was committed. Thus in as few words and as punctually as I can I have commended these small labours of mine to thee, which I desire may be to God's glory and thy direction, and then let God deal with me as seemeth good in his own eyes. Farewell in the Lord farewell. From my lodging in Amsterdam the 6. of December 1631. STEVEN PUCKELL. TO ALL THOSE IN ENGLAND exercising Ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction over God's people, Bishops, Archbishops, Archdeacon's, Deans, officials, Commissaries, and all other their depending Officers, from the highest Prelate to the meanest Apparitor in the Kingdom. OH that my counsel might become acceptable to you all, that you would break of your offences by repentance, and your crueltyes by mercy to God's saints and people, and that you would leave lording of it over your fellow brethren, let not the Lord when he shall come in the clouds, find you smiting jeremy on the cheek, lest Pashurs' portion prove your inheritance, and the Lord make you a terror to your selus, for know you all for a certain, that your vineyards are most ripe to the winepress, and that the Angel who hath that sharp sickle in his hand, is coming forth to cut down all the vines of the vineyards of the earth, and to cast them into the winepress of the wrath of almighty God, therefore let me again and again entreat you, to leave lording of it over God's inheritance, and rob not the King's Majesty of his maintenance; nor the nobility of their titles and dignities, nor the magistrates of their power and authority, nor the subjects of their rigths and inheritances, take not the garment from the widow, nor the bread from the fatherless by your extortions, eat not up the Lord's people like bread any longer, lest the Lord bring a plague upon you, out of which you shall not he able to pull your necks, let the Lord Christ's name be honoured and set up in all his offices and ordinances on Zion his holy mountain, jussel him no longer out of his Kingly throne; lest he reckon you among his enemies, and so slay you all before him, build not up your Zion with bloods, nor your jerusalem with crueltyes, lest you make a fruitful land become an heap, or a desolate wilderness, think not by cruelty to suppress God's truth, for rather than it shall want witnesses, God will make the stones to do it, and so raise up witnesses out of the dust of them, whom you and your forefathers have slain, dig no longer so deep to hide your counsels from the Lord, for the Lords knows, and hath revealed it to his saints; that you are no other, than the very bellowes of Antichrist, by which he blows up and kindleth that fire of superstition and idolatry in our English nation, therefore display no longer the colours of Antichrist in the Lord's camp, hold no longer up the ensign staff of that man of sin, by which you have so long beaten the Lords people, lay down your bucklers now at the length at the Lords feet, that if it he possible you may find mercy; oh hear, hear, and be not proud, lest your bonds increase; let not the souls of God's saints (whom you contemn) weep any longer in secret for your pride, be not you a means to cause the Lord to forsake his people and to suffer his people to be led away captive and to sing the songs of Zion in a strange land, and be not so in love with an Italian Lord, as for him to engage your souls, King and country; But why do I thus speak unto you? can a blackamoor change his skin? Not unless it be flayed of, no more can you, unless the Lord change your natures, and make you of wolus, sheep, and of lions, lambs, which the Lord in his time will either effect in you, or else will give you your portion with the beast and the false prophet, and with all those that with you have received the mark of the beast, in their foreheads and hands. Think not that I aim at any man's person, but at the unlawfulness of your callings and standings, for my soul pittyeth your persons to see so many excellent natural parts, which many of you are endued withal, bewitched with those strong delusions, which the just God hath sent for the damnation of all those that receive not the love of the truth, yea the Lord knows I would be glad to become any thing to do you good, but of that I have little hope therefore farewell. S. P. A TABLE OF ALL SUCH FEES AS ARE DUE TO THE Ecclesiastical courts under the Bishop of London in the liberty of Essex and Harford, and to all the depending Officers of them, both judges, Registers, Apparitors and Proctors in causes of instance between party and party. Commissary. Register. Apparitor. INprimis for decreeing the original citation and for sealing of it vj. d. vj. d. nil. Item for decreeing the original citation in a matrimonial cause with an inhibition and for sealing of it xii. d. xii. d. nil. Item for the decree for every party principal ix. d. ix. d, nil. Item for every decree viis & modis ix. d. ix. d. nil. Item for every excommunication or suspension in writing ix. d. ix. d. only iv. d. at nil. the release. Item for every absolution from an excommunication or suspension ix. d. ix. d. iv. d. Item for letters testimonial to be made upon a search or any other cause vj. s. viii. d. vj. s. viii. d. nil. Item for the oath of every witness upon any matter nil. nil. ij. d. Item for examination of every first witness upon any matter ix. d. ix. d. nil. Item for examination of every other witness iv. d. ob. iv. d. ob. nil. Item for the examination of witnesses upon interrogatories ix. d ix. d nil. Item for the examination of every party principal ix. d ix. d nil. Item for the oath of every party principal nil. nil. ij. d Item for the copy of every witness upon any matter produced and examined nil. viii. d nil. Item for the copy of the parties principal answer nil. xii. nil. Item for every commission for the examination of a party principal or witnesses, or for the praising of goods of a deceased or to take the oath of a party upon an inventory or accounts or any other matter v. s. v. s. nil. Item for the constitution of a proctor nil. iv. nil. Item for exhibition of every proxy in writing nil. ij. d nil. Item for every act nil. iv. nil. Item for every act upon the opening or receieving of a prohibition, consultation or any others of the King's writts xv. s. xv. s. nil. Item for every deffinitive sentence and interlocutory decree v. s. v. s. xii. d Item for every significavit, to the chancery for the taking and imprisoning of an excommunicate person in any cause as well of instance as office v. s. v. s. nil. Item for every significavit, to the chancery for the freedom and enlargement of an excommunicate in any cause as well instance as office v. s. v. s. nil. Item for the copy of every order of penance vj. d. vj. d to see it executed xii. d Item for transmitting every process Judicis a quo ad Judicem ad quem, to the Register according to the taxation of the judge ad quem or according to the composition of xxx. between the Register and the party appellant nil. xiii. s nil. Item for the seal of the judge a quo set to the process transmitted vj. s. viii. d nil. nil. Item for all letters of gardionship under seal vj. s. viii. d vj. s. viii. d nil. IN CAUSES OF OFFICE. Commissary. Register. Apparitor. INprimis for every original citation and appearance of every party vj. d vj. d iv. d Item for every decree viis & modis ix. d ix. d iv. d Item for every excommunication or suspension under seal ix. d ix. d iv. d Item for every absolution from an excommunication or suspension ix: d ix. d nil. Item for letters testimonial to be made upon any cause and for the writing of them if the vj. s. viii. d vj. s. viii. d nil. cause so require. Item for the examination of every party principal ix. d ix. d nil. Item for the copy of every parties principal answer nil. xii. d nil. Item for the oath of every party principal nil. nil. ij. d Item for the drawing of proxy for apearance at all visitations and synods nile. ij. s. vj. d nil. Item for the exhibition and consignation of every proxy in writing at the visitations and synods only nil iv. d nil. Item for registering the names of the churhwardens and sidemen of every parish nil. iv. d for warning of them iv. Item for every certificate made to the Bshop by the Commissary for the commutation of any penance vj. s. viii. d vj. s. viii. d xii. Item when any penance is commuted by the Bishop and the commutation extended to the Commissary x. s. x. s. nil. Item for the writing of any bond taken for the indemnity of the judge or his commissary upon any cause nil. xii. d nil. Item for every act passed in court nil. iv. d nil. Item for every faculty grants licence acceptation for teaching. v. s. v, s. nil. Item for exhibiting every bill of presentmens' at the visitations only nil. iv. d nil. Item for the purgation of every person to whom purgation is assigned and for his own hand ix. d ix. d iv. Item for every compurgator first sworn and for his hand ix. d ix. d ij. Item for every other compurgator vj. d vj. d ij. d Item for every intimation sent out for all those that will object against a purgation of any man and his compurgators xv. d xv. d iv. d Item for a dismission of every man out of the court for any cause what ever vj. d vj. d iv. d Item for any search made by the Register for any act of court or any other insterment after a cause is ended nil. xii. d nil. Item for every sequestration of the fruit of a benefice and publication of the same under seal v. s. v. s. xii. d Item for letters commendatory for a curate going out of the jurisdiction iij. s. iv. d iij. s. iv. d nil. Item for every caveat entered nil. xii. d nil. Item for the copy of every order of penance to see it executed vi. d vi. d xii. d Item for transmitting a process Judice a quo: to register according to the taxation of the judge ad quem, or a composition made betwixt the register and party appellent nil. xiii. s. nil. Item for the seal of the judge to the same process vi. s. viii. d nil. nil. Item for the drawing of articles against any man convented of office for lawful proof made of the truth of them xx. d xx. d nil. Item for every act upon the redeluding and withdrawing of a caution out of the registery nil. xj. d nil. IN CAUSES OF OFFICE. Commissary. Register. Apparitor. ITem for every dispensation for exhibiting of an inventory into court vj. s. viii. d vj. s. viii. d nil. Item for an administration of the goods of a deceased not extending to the sum of five pounds nil. vj. d iv. d Item for the administration of the goods of a deceased amounting above the value of five pounds and under forty ij. s. vj. d ij. s. vj. d x. d Item for the administration of the goods of a deceased admounting to forty and upwards let it be as many thousands as it will, is vj. s. viii. d ujs. viii. d xj. d Item for the probat of a will the value doth not exceed the sum of five pounds nil. vj. d iv. d Item for the probat of a will where the goods exceed five pounds and not above forty pounds ij. s. vj. d xii. d x. d Item for the probat of a will where the goods do exceed the value of 40 l. and upwards let it be as much as it will ij. s. vj. d ij. s. vj. d x. d Item for the engrossing of every will according to the length thereof not exceeding viii. s. for every large skin of parchment for every skin nil. viii. s. nil. Item for engrossing every inventory and accounts according to the length thereof not exceeding two shillings for every press of parchment nil. ij. s. nil. Item for exhibiting of every inventory and for subscribing the same vj. d vj. d nil. Item for the copy of eyery act extracted out of the registery under the registers hand nil. xii. d nil. Item for the copy of every inventory testament, libel, matter, allegations, or articles, whatsoever extracted out of the register under the registers hand nil. according to nil. the length thereof. 〈…〉 ●●tters of request made to 〈…〉 ordinary, to cite one dwelling out of the judge's jurisdiction xx. d xx. d nil. Item for every renunciation of an administration of the goods of a deceased, or an executor of a will admitted and enacted vj. d vj. d nil. Item for every decree made upon the distribution of goods among the next of kin, and for registering of the same vj. s. viii. d vj. s. viii. d nil. Item the fee of a proctor every court-day in which he is retained upon any cause what soever xii. d xii. d. the proctor's fee. FINIS. CHRISTIAN READER, TO THE EN●▪ thou mayest the better understand the abominable extortions of these men, in their Courtly government: I will give thee an Abstract, of all such fees, as in mine own experience I have known, & observed to be taken by these men: in which, I will deliver nothing, but with a little observation of thine own, thou shalt see to be most clearly true. And herein for thy better direction, I will go over the whole table offees: showing their error in every particular I know, and where I know nothing, I will pass is over with silence, leaving it to be further scanned by them which are judiciously wise. In causes of instance between party & party. INprimis, whereas there is due for the original citation & sealing of it, twelve pence only, they take that 12. d. & 12. d. more: which they pretend to be for the serving of it, which 12. d. is not due. For decreeing a citation in a matrimonial cause, there is two shillings due. But taken three, or indeed what they can wring out, sometimes it cost 5. sometimes 7. shillings. For a decree, there is due one shilling six pence. But taken by them, 2. s. 6. d. when the jest is taken, except it be of some rare man, whose experience taught him to give less. For excommunications & suspensions 18. d, taken by them 4. s. For absolutions due 1 s. 10. taken by them, ordinarily 3. s. 6. d. For their letters testimonial, there is 13. s. 4. d. due, taken of them besides 12. d. the Clerk, besides that which is taken by other of their Officers, as also dyvers encroachments, to get monies in these causes, as experience proves it. For the oath of every witness 2. d. taken 4. For examination of the first witness, one shilling six pence, & the second 9 but taken of all, one & other 2. s. 6. d. a piece, excepting some bold spirited men, that have courage to detect them in their proceed. For the examinations of witnesses on interrogatories 1. s. 6. d. taken by them 2. s. 6. d. commonly. For examination of the party principal 1. s. 6. d. due, taken of them 2. s. 6. d. commonly. For the oath of the party principal 2. d. taken 4. d. For the copy of every witness his examination 5. d. due, taken by them 12. d. commonly. For the copy of the parties principals answer 12. d. due, taken 1. s. 6. d. commonly. I pass over the commissions to prize goods, & their constituting of proctor's, as having nothing to pay, but this, that whereas the proctor's should take but only 12. d. a day, for their fees, in one & the same case: they do constantly take 3. s. 4. d. a day, & will have no less, although the law allows them no more, as they well know, and have confessed to me: but they plead, they can not live of it, for they say that law was made in the old time, when housekeeeping was better cheap, which is the only argument they have to justify their extortion. For exhibition of a proxy in writing 2. d. due, taken 4. d. commonly. For the acts of court 4 d. a day due, but they commonly take for acts, when none are done, but do delay men's causes, & speed them not: till at length, both plaintiff, & the defendant, are both wearied out, their monies spended, themselves made fools to their own faces, & their suits as fare from end, as when they began, and so they again came home by weeping cross. As daily experience have showed to be true. What they usually take for breaking open the King's writs, for Sentences, for significavit to Chancery, I have had little experience: yet as he, who seeing but the foot of a man, guesseth at his whole body, so we seeing the whole body of this court, may, in some sort guess at the members of it. For every order of penance 12. d. due, & 12. d. to the Apparitor, to see it executed, & here they do take 2. s. for the order of the party that takes it out, & 12. d. for the Apparitor, & yet make the party on whom it is executed, pay that 12. d. again too some times, as is to be proved. For their transmittinge of process, & the judge's seal, & their letters of gardionship, I have little to say but this, where so many small things are sold at so high a rate: matters of such consequence can not be cheap. In causes of office. FOr every original citation, & the appearance of every party 1. s. 4. d. due, taken 8. groats commonly. For every decree 1. s. 10. d. due, taken 2. s. 6. d. For an excommunication under seal, 1. s. 10. d. due, taken 4. s. For an absolution, due 1. s. 6. d. taken 2. s. 6. d. commonly. For their letters testimonial, I say no more, but let him that hath them look to his purse. For excommunications, copies of answer & oaths, before in causes of instance between party & party. For the drawing of prox and visitations and exhibition and suspension, I have little to say, but when the putlouck is hungry, let the hen look to her chickens. For registering the names of their Officers in every parish 4. d. & 4. for warning of them: but what is taken, the country is witness of itself. For their commutations of penance & the charges of it, it is incredibile almost to conceive the deepness of Satan, by the which he worketh in these sons of belial sometynes for monies, passing over incest, condemnable among heathens, & intolerable adulteryes: taking sometimes 20. or 30. yea sometimes 40. pounds, for such a business doing, which monies, goeth all, or the greater part into their own purses: whereby they become great, wax rich, & are like princes in the common wealth. Here also they have such strange devices to get monies, & to satisfy their own ends, and others corrupt humours, in changing the penance from this, to that, from this time, to that, & from this place, to an other, and all to get money & to bolster men in sin, as indeed a modest man would blush to think of, for it is no more with them, but sin and pay & pay and sin. For the bond they ought to take but 12. d. they take 2. s. commonly, till of late. For every act of court 4. d. but see before. For every licence to teach 10. s. but let young Scholars make much of their moneys. For putting in of bills by churchwardens 4. d. due, but taken 7. d and here note the whole charges for the whole year, to every parish, comes but to 1. s. or two at the most, but what is paid, all men know, that come among them. That parish speeds well that comes off with 10. s. charges, & sometimes more, as experience proves it. For their purgations, & their practices herein, this is to be marked among them, that no act so plain & clear, if but denied by the party, they will give him his purgation for it for his monies, whereby it comes to pass, that although the fact be as clear as the sun, it shall escape the censure of the law, as appears most plainly, some having been purged, which afterward have been condemned by the Civil Magistrate to corporal punishment for the same fact, as is clearly manifest, and here what sums of money are taken for purgations and swearing of compurgators & for intimations sending out, is in deed incredible, as experience proves it: some men's estate being almost consumed by their delays in this kind, yea let any man that hath but the face of honesty in him, come among them, although the accusation be never so false, yet hardly gets end in 12. months with much charge, & more disgrace than those shall have, that are most clearly guilty many times. For a dismission of a cause out of court 1. s. 4. d. due, & for a search made by the Register, after a cause is ended 12. d. but they take for that, for the most part 1, s. 6. d. For the sequestration of the first fruits of benefices, & publication of it under seal 11. s. due, but what is taken, I leave to the Clergy to skan, who best know, because they have paid it. For their letters of commendations for a Curate that goes out of the jurisdiction 6. s. 8. d. but what is taken, they know that make account of them. For every caveat entered 12. d. but what is taken, try & then trust. For process transmitted & the judges seal thereto, I have no more to say but this, things far fetched, are dearly bought. For the drawing of articles against any man, consented of afore after lawful proof made of the truth of them 3. s. 4. d. but they take a noble besides, many times with out drawing. For every act upon reducing & with drawing of a caveat out of the Registery 12. d. but sometimes, taken 2. s. sometimes more, yea what they can get of ignorant people. In causes of office. Here Christian Reader, I would have thee to mind that all their extortions, formerly mentioned, are as nothing, in comparison, of these that follow, for here they will pretend law, where none is: & make them that be, to stand aside, to serve their turns, and bring in such strange devices to entrap men, and spin out such long threads with widows & fatherless, who for the most part are weak, & unskilful, & therefore a fit prey for these kites to seize upon, as is almost incredible, having such shows of friendship & such turning devices, to bring things about, that a modest man, may blush at, to see their impiety, which shallbe manifest in their due place, as followeth. For every dispensation, for exhibiting an inventory into court 13. s. 4. d. but taken 20. s. yea sometimes sums of money are given in this case, with many other extortions raised thereupon, if the cause be of any consequence to the party. For an administration of the goods of the deceased, where it exceeds not 5. pounds, there is 10. d. due, but commonly taken 5. s. sometimes 7. & 10. often, besides the cunning put-offs, by which the cause shallbe prolonged only to weary out the party. For an administration of the goods of a deceased, amounting above 5. pounds and under 40. pounds, there is due 5. s. but taken commonly a mark, & 20. s. taken besides, if but referred to pay the cause prolonged, yea it may be one thing or other, shallbe checked at, whereby the party shallbe excommunicated, & so not make an end of his accounts, & all for less than 3. or 4. pounds, more or less, as they can wring & wrest from the party. For an administration, where the goods do exceed 40. pounds, there is due, by their law, a mark, for all charges, but taken for their account & all, sometimes 3. or 4. or sometimes 5. pounds, & never comes of, without some rare time, for less than 40. shillings & here they will not stick to say, they may take what they can g●t, because say they, the common law hath not set down, how much they shall take for an administration, but have left it free, to take what they can get. For the Probate of a will, where the goods do not exceed 5. pounds, there is due 10. d. only, but taken seldom less for the Probate, than 3. or 4. s. as is clearly to be proved, besides, they will have the engrossing of it, although it be engrossed before, & will take for it what they list. For a will, where the goods do exceed 5. pounds, & under 40. pounds, there is 3. s. 6. d. due, but taken 10. s. yea so mtymes 20. s. as is to be made good upon them. For a probat of a will, where the goods do exceed 40. li. due 5. s. but taken 5. pounds, 6. pounds, so mtymes 7. pounds, yea sometime, 10. & 12. pounds charges they will raise upon such a cause, by devysing such tricks, & devices, & putting them on the executor to such wills, that if he look not well to it, one Child's part must go to the court. For the engrossing of every will according to the length thereof not exceeding 8. s. for every long skin of parchment, and here note, that it must be done by the Register, or else there is nothing due, note also the party free, & at his choice, whether he will not engross it himself, or set any other to do it, at his advantage, either for brevity or profit, & that the Register ought not to refuse to prove any will, of what consequence soever, all though it be engrossed by some other, only he may examine the ingrossment, & if he find it not true, he may reject it till it be perfected, but to refuse it, being truly done, he cannot, if he thinks 2. s. 6. d. be to little to pay the writing of the probat, than the law allows him to tell by the line, & to take for every 10. lines of 10. inches long a penny. all ways by the statute, for the probat of wills & Testaments: therefore for the Register to refuse to prove any will when the ingrossments are truly made by some other, or otherwise to detain & keep the executor from such wills, so engrossed, is a most sinful oppression, & punishable by the laws of England. For engrossing every account, & the inventory thereto 2. s. for every patch of parchment, and here note (as before) the Administrator may do it himself, or employ some other for his own advantage: & that it is no less than extortion, for a judge, or Register, to refuse either the inventory, or accounts so made, if it be truly done, For exhibiting of every inventory, & for subscribing the same 12. due, & so taken, but here lies the extortion, in this particular, they will force men to pay for their accounts too, & that at such rates, as do exceed, some times 20. s. sometimes 40. s. sometims 3. or 4. pounds, as is to be proved, yea sometimes they will urge to receive accounts for monies, before the administrator is capable to pass his account: note also, that if any refuse to pay for their account, & that for this reason, because they see no law commanding them, how, or what to pay, their Apparitor shall never leave haunting of them, nor theirselves excommunicating them, till they have compelled them to pay these monies. For the copy of every act extracted out of the registry, under the registers hand, there is due 12. d. taken 2. s. or sometimes 2. s. 6. d. as they can get. Item for every copy of every libel, inventory, will, allegation or articles according to the length thereof, not exceeding the statute, which allows them for every 10. lines of 10. inches long, one penny, which must be under the registers hand. For letters of requests made to another ordinary, to city one, dwelling in some other dyoses 3. s. 4. d. what is taken, they know best that have occasion to use them. For the renunciation of an administration, or an executorship for a will 12. d. For the decree of the judge, in distributing of goods, amoung the next of kin, & for registering of the same 13. s. 4. d. but what beside have been given, & taken are easy to prove, whereby some had their portions enlarged some diminished at the judge's pleasure, or the pleasure of the register. For the fee of a proctor in any cause 12. d. but constantly taken 3. s. 4. as all by experience know to be true. Thus have I run over all these particulars one by one, to this end that the Reader might be informed of their unjust proceed in every particular, wherein I have only shown thee what is taken by way of enhanced fees. But now give me leave, in a word, to give thee a taste of their innovated fees, that is of fees taken for which there is no law, nor colour of law, as also to discover to thee some other of their practices, to increase their fees, which shallbe done very briefly. And first take notice, they have changed the oath of their churchwardens into that it is now become of the nature of an inquisition oath, whereby they rack the consciences of men, & by it do draw out of them, such presentations to their courts, as otherwise they should not meet withal, and this is done by them since the year 1624. what it then was, & now is, may at large appear by comparing them together, by the new oath they compel men to swear, to present, all whom they suspect, for want of conformity to any of the articles given them in charge: what the effect of this oath is to them, is plain in these particulars. First hereby they meet with some tender conscience, which dare not meddle with this oath, & then they must buy it of, for their monies: & hereby great & large fees comes to them, 2. . they meet with some also, that will not come to this, but will reason out the matter with them, these they excommunicate, (even to death as it were) if they stand it out with them, than a significavit, or else, into the high commission with them, and if there once, what the consequences willbe, I spare to write, & if they take the oath, & that the year comes about, & they present no body, than they put him to his oath, upon his former oath, and will make him to swear whether all his parish, both minister & people do duly observe all the articles given them in charge, & thus the consciences of men, are taintered out upon this rack, thereby to confess, who & what they be, & in what part they have offended against the premises, whereby their courts come to be filled with complaints against men, for toys & trifles. 3ly. If any son of belial through malice, envy, or what ground soever, will sue any so sworn according to the tenor of his oath, for perjury in not presenting either minister or people in neglect of any of these devysed articles given him in charge, he shall proceed against him, as against a perjured person, & shall have all favour & respect among them, with all the aid they can afford them, even to the utter undoeing of the party so sued, as mine own experience hath proved. Fourthly: to the intent this oath might be made the more officious to them, & offensive to others, they have added diverse new articles of late years, & by virtue of this oath, do bind all their church Officers to see them executed, & to present the neglect thereof, in which how contrary to the laws of England, they do proceed, I leave to be scanned by them who are judiciously wise. And now for their fees, take notice, that as the law allows them not to take any thing for this book, nor once so much as names what should be given for it, they take 12. d. & sometimes 1. s. 4. d. Secondly: whereas but one book ought to be given out for one year yet they compel men to take two, at their price. Thirdly: they compel their officers to pay for their oaths, where nothing is due. Fourthly: they will let no bills pass the court, but such as are of their own making, for which they take 6. d. Fiftly: these bills will not pass unless one or other be presented. Sixtly: what silencing, & deposing, excommunicating, & imprisoning of God's people for not conforming to this book of articles, and how greatly they increase their fees thereby, and what sum, & sums of monies are daily brought into their treasuries thereby, is easy for all to understand. Seaventhly: to the end that they may freely prey upon the bodies & goods of men, & hold men in bondage to themselves, they have taken out all these articles out of the book which concern their own behaviour, & might any way tend to the benefit of the subject, as may appear at large, by comparing their books now, with their books for the year 1624. Eightly: whereas they should maintain a table of the rates of all fees in every office of the court, that all whom it concerns might come to take a copy of it, they have of purpose taken it away, and do persecute them to death (as it were) that do call for it. see Cannon 136. Ninthly: what fees are daily given, & taken for granting of administrations to this man: and not an other, yea sometimes to the unlawful party, is not all together unknowen, which practice produceth this two fold effect: it sometimes deposeth the lawful heir of his inheritance, or secondly causeth unnecessary & endless suits in their own courts, even to the undoeing of many a man's estate, thus as a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit. Tenthly: what other devices to get monies, they have, may appear in their delaying & protractinge causes, continuances of suits upon suits, demurrings, some of their proctor's offering, that for so much by the year, as he shall agree for, with the party whose cause is bad, he will hold the opposite party from trial 7. years, do what he can, and at last, force him to agree for half his right. Eleventhly: To the end that strength may be in the hand of the oppressor, end none to deliver the oppressed, nor no place left for the innocent to escape, they have made themselves masters of the high commission house, that if any do but mute against their proceed they get him thither, & then he is gone, either he must fly, or else spend his estate, conscience & all, or to their new erected prison, to Newgate, Colehowse, the Clink, or the Counter must be his dwelling, one of these he cannot avoid. Good Reader, if I should relate all the carriages in their commissions and purgations, changes of penance & the like, I should both weary thee, & myself too, what devices & turnings of things about there is, I leave to thy own experience to observe, & what sums of monies are taken for these things, were intolerable to relate, & also their devices to bring men on bare crimes without proof, and what is daily paid among them, in these causes, experience shows the truth of. For probates of wills, & administrations, I have showed before. I will now proceed to show their sinful abuse of that sentence of excommunication among them, which yet is the only weapon they fight withal, by which not a little profit & gain, doth day lie accrue to them & their depending officers, and by which they hold men's souls in tyrannical bondage, & by which they hook not a little profit to them selves, making it the very snare & gin to catch men, as experience proves, every man being so daunted at it, as if indeed what they so sinfully do, were ratified in heaven, in which for thy better information, I will open these things. 1. I will show what this censure is according to the ordinance of Christ, in the Gospel. 2. Who was the author of it. 3. To what end it was ordained in the church of Christ. 4. The great benefit of it in the church. 5. By whom it is to be administered. 6. How it differs from this censure now in use among us. For the first, we must know that this censure is a solemn & fearful, & powerful censure of the church, cutting-off lawfully, & according to God's word, casting out of their public socyety, & present followship, all such as publicly offend in some grievous crime, or be obstinate contemners of the lawful admonitions of the church for private faults, that by such shame they may be driven to repentance and others by their example be kept from the infection of sin, & is warranted by these script. Mat. 18. 15. 1. Cor. 5. 5. 6. 7. 2. Thes. 3. 14. 2. For the Author, it was no other but the Lord jesus Christ, whose laws & ordinances are all unchangeable by man, & to be kept pure & unrebukable, till the apearing of the Lord jesus Christ, as appears by that 1. Tim. 6. 14. compared with Mat. 18. 17. where an express command is given to tell the church. 3. The end for which it was ordained, was three fouled: first, in respect of the party offending it is for the destruction of the flesh, that the soul may be saved in the day of the Lord 1. Cor. 5. 5. Secondly in regard of others, that by their example, they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Thirdly: in regard of the whole body of the church, that they may be purged from the old leaven of sin, as appears 1. Cor. 5. 8. and these are the ends, & no private respect. 4. The benefit of these ordinances in the church, appears by this. 1. By these ordinances, the superfluous members of the church, are kept from hurting and annoying the rest of the body, for it is Gods pruning knife, whereby he cuts off every branch in his vine, that bringeth not forth good fruit, that so those which do bring forth some fruit may be purged, to the end they may bring forth more fruit john. 15. Secondly: hereby are kept out all those that are openly discovered to be profane and wicked, from polluting the ordinances of God: by it the wicked, & sin itself, is greatly stopped in their course, yea this is yet more, the church is terrible to the wicked, as an army with banners, for this ordinance of God, being in the right use of it, is as terrible as death itself. Thirdly, hereby is it, God's Church is fenced (as with a wall) that the wild boor out of the forest, & the foxes that destroy the vines, cannot enter, or if they do through their craft, yet by this ordinance of God, the church can be purged of them. Thus Paul purged the church of Hymeneus & Alexander 1. Tim. 1. 20. Fourthly, The setting up of this ordinance in all the parts of it, would indeed make the church beautiful, & the glory of this second temple, to exceed the first: whose hart can choose then to be affected with the want of so useful an ordinance as this is. And who can see any man running to his own house, letting the Lords housely waste & not mourn for it? alas the profane, do not now as in old, come only to the outer court, but into the holiest of all, & pollute all the holy things of God therein: but oh the cvill time in which we are fallen, in which peace & plenty brings security, every man running to his own house, & thinking that must be builded with hewn stones & timber, hewn by the skill of the builder, but God's house may be builded with stones, as they come out of the rock, or trees as they grow in the forest, without any difference a respect at all. Fiftly, the persons in whom it rests are the body of the church being met together in one place, the grave elder being as the mouth of the rest, in pronounceing of the sentence. Sixtly, the difference between this ordinance of Christ, and that in use among them appears in these things. 1. In regard of the Author, the one being of Christ, the other of Antichrist: it being the same for nature & administration now, that it was when he ruled among us, & the same now in use in his own kingdom, therefore not to be respected nor submitted unto by the subjects of the kingdom of Christ, seeing every subject aught to be governed by the sceptre of his own king, & that because he is his king. 2. They differ in nature, the own is divine, & heavenly: the other is sinful and wicked, the one is ahe truth of God: the other a lie in the right hands of them that put them forth. 3. They differ in the end of them, one is only for the gaininge of sinners, & to purge the church of them: the other to gain monies, & to Lord over the bodies, goods, souls & consciences of men. 4. They differ in the manner of administration, the one used as the last means for the gaining of a sinner, when nothing else will, & therefore never used, but for sins duly convicted & obstinately stood in: the other used sinfully for toys to get monies by, & to be as a snare or net, to catch men by. 5. In regard of the manner, the one is administered by the body of the church, being met together in one place: the other alone by some one man. And by these things we may see what cause men have to fear this censure, as if what they sinfully do, were confirmed in heaven, & God doth indeed pour shame & contempt on them & their Censures, for who sees not all men to esteem of it, as it is, for all men see it is not the destruction of the flesh, but of the man, & his monies, that they seek. And now to speak one word about the oath by which officers are sworn, let the oath itself be minded the form whereof here standeth. You shall swear that you and every of you shall duly and diligently inform yourselves of these articles given you in charge, and that all favour, hatred, through fear or any other corrupt affection, set aside, you shall present all and every such person now or lately of your parish, which hath committed any offence comprised in any of these articles, or which are vehemently suspected or defamed of any such offence, wherein you shall deal according to an upright conscience, neither presenting, nor sparing to present any person contrary to truth, so help you God, and his faithful promise in Jesus Christ. How far this oath is changed from that it was in the years before 1624. let the reader judge. The evils contained in this oath are briefly these. First whereas an oath ought to be done in righteousness, in truth, and in judgement, this is unrighteously taken and imposed, and without judgement, as appears in these particulars. 1. In that it is not imposed by a lawful Magistrate. 2. It swerus from my allegiance to other laws besides the laws of the land, and serus to all those inventions that a Lord Bishop can thrust into an article book, which is contrary to the statute of 25. Henry 8. and 1. Elizabeth. Thirdly it binds me to a necessity of sinning on one hand or other, either I must present my neighbour for toys, yea for mere suspicious without ground, or break my oath, and whoever thou art that takest it, thou bindest thyself by this oath to submit thyself, and so hast made thyself the servant of sinful man, yea by this oath as an enemy to God, a persecutor of his saints, and dost sit under the banner of Antichrist, in that thou hast put to thine hand and sworn with thy mouth to put all such laws and articles in execution, and pursue those that do not the same, consider that in these words, so help me God thou dost call God to witness thy faithfulness in these things, and dost invocate his name, that if thou dost fail to do according to the tenor of this oath, he would do so to thee, and more likewise, that is, bring some eminent judgement on thee, consider these things and fear and tremble. FINIS. AN ADDITION▪ By the foresaid Author. AFter the finishing of the table of Fees, and those observations of their abuses, upon my short experience taken, a copy coming to the hand of a mourner, for such burdens upon his loving Countrymen, was grieved that so many and intolerable abuses should be so briefly passed over; whereupon knowing something farther that might discover the iniquity of this present evil generation, I thought it my duty to spare from my own necessity, some farther charge, for my country's good. Unto their abuses then forementioned, I will add something of their extortion even in their visitation, pretended for the Churches good, to ease burdens, and to reform abuses and corruptions, but effecting nothing less, as may easily appear, by comparing these times, with the times of darkness. In the times of darkness no more procuration might be taken then did necessarily serve for the expenses of the day, whether it were taken in victuals, or in money; neither might the Visitor, whether he were a Bishop, Chancellor, or Commissary, visit any more Churches than one in one day; or if he did, yet was he not to take more than one procuration, to the which all Churches so met, were to communicate; and this appears to be true from that constitution of john Stradford, Bishop of Canterbury; which Procuration is limited by a decree of Bennet the 12. not to exceed the value of So. Turons' of silver, every 12. Turons making one Florence of pure gold, according to the English estimate, not amounting in coin the sum of five shillings at the most, for a Bishop's substitute, and the whole charges for him and his followers, not to exceed 35 s. although he should call forty or fifty, yea a hundred Churches together. And if the Archdeacon's substitute visit, than not to exceed 12 s. 6 d. and if the Archdeacon visit personally himself, than he was to have 20 s. And if the Bishop visit himself, than he was to have for himself and his retainers 5. marks only; and none of them to take more, although they should visit an hundred Churches in one day. And these have also been mitigated since, as being thought too much, by a Provincial constitution in Linwood, whereby an Archdeacon is allowed for one days diet for himself and his followers, but 3 s. 4 d. which (as the gloss saith) seemed to suffice four persons, and their horses, with one Summoner for one day. But now if they be compared to these times, we shall see them to exceed in their procurations at their visitations, as they do in other things; witness their extraordinary pomp, gluttony, I had almost said, their drunkenness too; but if I had, I could make it good on some of them whom I have known: but their excess is known to all, they drink wine in bowls, and rejoicing when they have rob some Churches for their inordinate expenses. Besides, what sums of money are taken and carried away by them, is easy to be proved, and what tricks they will have to increase their fees for every toy, appears by one example known to the world, in which they excommunicated the Churchwardens of T. because they had not finished the repairing of the Church in their year, and would not absolve them without paying an unreasonable sum of moneys. If I should repeat all their extortion in this kind, I might make a volume of complaints. But to leave these great mastertheeves, whose daily oppression all sorts groan under, yet none daring to reprove them, lest he be reputed as he that rebukes the Priest, and so accounted as an enemy to the Church, and an opposer of the King's Prerogative, when as in truth it is themselves that are both enemies to the Church, and prejudicious to the King's Prerogative; for although they pretend to uphold the King's Prerogative, yet it is their own they seek indeed, that they may live like princes in the Common wealth; neither, if the thing be duly searched into, will it be found they exercise any other power, than what was received from the Pope, in the days and times of darkness, now contrary to the laws of the land, which may appear by these particulars. 1 In that all their citations, summons, actions, proceed, sentences, decrees, and judgements in all causes and controversies determinable before any of them, are begun, continued, and ended in their own names, titles, and dignities, without any relation or mention of authority given to them from the King, but as they formerly had their power from the Pope, so do they exercise this power and jurisdiction by Popish constitutions and customs, and by virtue thereof challenge power and right so to do. 2. This appears to be true, from that statute of 28. H. 8. which statute being the rule of our Archbishops, Bishops, and other the like Officers, with all their ushering ceremonies, shows plainly that they are the same they were in the days of darkness, and so contrary to the Laws of God and the King, yea even to the same act in the true meaning of it, as all, who will, may see to be most plain, for first the King, Peers, and commons, being at this time not instructed in the unlawfulness of the Prelacy and their ushering ceremonies, did not only not aabridge any of their former rights and Privileges, but gave them power to exercise them as before, so they were not contrary to the word of God, and the Laws of the Land, now the Prelates being cunning Politicians, and knowing what great revenues came into them, and to the holy Father the Pope, made use of their ignorance and the King's clemency, and so continued all, or so many of their Popish customs as might be sufficient to bring such an estate to them & their followers, as whereby their pride, pomp, and tyrannical rule might be maintained, and hereby is it they Lord it over all. Hereby is it they maintain their courtly governments, and that they cite, Summon, and draw all causes and controversyes before themselves and their courtly government, and do challenge power and right to do so, from their popish customs and constitutions, which have been heretofore added to the several seats and Seas of government, and do begin, continue and end them in their own name, even as they did in the days of darkness, only they use not the Pope's name, but have left off his Supremacy, although it seems to be their grief, which appears in this amongst other things in that they use him and his triple crown for their character and superscrption in their seals of office. Obje: But it will be said to me they do not exercise this rule from themselves, nor from the Pope, but as from the King, and by his prerogative. Ans. To which I answer, do they not stand in relation to the Pope, and more to him then to his Majesty when they will execute his laws to full, and persecute his Majesty's faithful subjects even to death by imprisoning, syning and banishing of them for the least neglect of them, doth not every King speak by his own laws, and by his own officers? Now when the Pope's laws are thus executed by them, doth it not declare them to be Subjects of his Kingdom .. 2. The Laws of the Land and so of the King are they not all snapped in pieces by them? what Law can stand before them if they take-in with the offender? Thirdly, if they do fine any (as they do many not only without but against law) under pretence for the King, do they not prefer one or other of their favourites to beg the fine of the King, and so he is never the better for it. But if it were granted that they stand by the King, yet why should they execute these Laws among us, seeing they do us no good, but hurt and annoy us, and are needles and burdenous, and I would to God both they and all their trash were footles too. 3. No way can we more gratify the Pope, nor give him hopes of a reentrance amongst us, then by authorising and practising his Laws amongst us, and this is the cause he hath so many abetters and favourites amongst us, and this causeth him to look for a day still among us, therefore can we do the Lord no better service, or his Majesty a better turn, or the Land more good, then by rooting out the pedlery wares of that man of sin, & by overthrowing this courtly government, by which these merchants of Rome are grown rich & mighty amongst us, but alas my brethren may we not renew the complaint of the Prophet Habak: 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. to the Lord and say, Oh Lord how long shall I cry unto thee and thou wilt not help, even cry out and thou wilt not hear, cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save, etc. The Law is dissolved, and Judgement doth never go forth, for the wicked doth compass about the righteous, therefore wrong judgement proceedeth. But let God's people be comforted, the ploughman hath a time to sow, and a time to reap, and therefore let them know God hath a time for them, and in his time will send forth that Angel to reap, and command him to thrust in his sickle and reap for the harvest is ripe Apoc. 14. and to cut down all the vines of the vineyards of the earth, and to cast them into the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God, although now the locusts be like horses prepared to battle, Revel. 9 7. strongly linked together with ready prepared minds against all such as do but mute against their cursed usurpation, yet let them know they and all their popish titles and dignities with that head of theirs the Pope, from whom they received their life and power are now almost if not altogether ripe unto the harvest, they are now become as a baskett of summer fruit, and the Lord will not long pass by them any more, let them look on the year, 1539. and gnaw their tongues with grief with the remembrance thereof, as they have often done, and remember that that lopping of their vines that then was, was but a beginning to prepare them for the fire of the wrath of God which shallbe kindled here, and shall burn in the bottom of Hell, at the kindling whereof they and all other the merchants of these things which are wexen rich shall stand afar off, for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing and saying alas alas, Rev. 18. As I am persuaded some of them have done already, and shall do more, for he that rides on the white horse whose name is the Word of God will go forth and conquer and smite the heathen and rule them with a rod of iron, for he it is that treadeth the winepress of the wrath of almighty God, Revel. 19 15. Then shall the Churches rejoice, and all the holy saints therein, when God hath revenged their bloods, for among these men is found the blood of the Prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth, Rev. 18. 24. Having thus far enlarged according to my poor ability to strike at the main pillars of the body of this beast that tyrannize over the bodies and consciences of all, I will add a notable project or compact plotted between some of their under officers, the thing is no fable but a certain truth found out and confessed by the chief actor before the justice, who at first thought to have punished it according to justice as he judged the nature of the offence required, but afterward the Parliamant then approaching, he judged such a notorious fact was more fit to be punished with a more powerful hand, for the terror and example of all such ungodly wretches, but the Parliament breaking up before things for common good were effected, this vermin escaped censure and execution. About Rutland side as I was credibly certified by a minister of good credit of the Church of England, there came a pariter in good apparel like a gentleman to a shepherd keeping sheep in the field, with whom he entered into familiar speech to know what news, the shepherd answered he knew none, no said the pariter dost thou not dwell in such a town? yea said the shepherd, why said the pariter dost thou know nothing of such and such in your town, no said the shepherd I know nothing but well by them, oh said the pariter thou art a fool and knowest nothing, and thereupon he relates to the shepherd a very heinous scandalous offence of those persons, himself had nominated, and by and by went his way. The shepherd coming home relates what he had heard in the field, at the last it passed so from hand to hand that it became a common fame, whereupon the poor innocent were scandalised, and so fare as my memory serus me, were presented upon the fame as the oath of the Churchwarden constrained, but by the gracious providence of God the evil doer was found out, who appeached the Register or some such officer, who had laid the plot with him to get money, and this I suppose is one trick more to get money cleanly, than the common cheaters before knew of, and indeed the cheaters now a days are but novices and new upstarts in comparison of theses lawless thiefs. Now when I consider the boldness of these base underlings, and weigh the exorbitant power of the superior officers of this Antichristian brood, it makes me call to mind the verse of the Poet Quid Domini faciunt, audent quum talia fures. Now before I conclude I desire to propound these things following to the sereous consideration of the juditions godly wise. 1. Whether any of his Majesty's subjects stand bound by any act of Parliament to submit to any new constitutions made by them, and whether they be compellable thereunto by law, or in pain of excommunication for their neglect? 2 Whether it be lawful for any to exercise an absolute power of themselves within his Majesty's Dominions or not? and if any so do, whether they be not under the statute of praemunire, and whether the prelacy do not exercise such a power? 3 Whether it be lawful for any Bishop or Archbishop or any other bearing or exercising ecclesiastical power, to bring any of his Majesty's liege people into inquisition, sifting them by oaths to force them to accuse themselves, or others for want of conformity in any of their injunctions, especially when they live in conformity to all his Majesty's positive laws. 4. Whether any of them have a prerogative above his majesty's statute laws now in force to exact and take of his majesty's subjects more or less fees than is allowed them by law. The reasons why I propound these things for resolution are many and wieghty, because the Prelates and their confederates and subordinate's do most grossly and intolerably encroach both upon Laws divine & humane, to the dishonour of God, shame of all lawful authority, and hurt of the King's Majesties faithful subjects, yea so violent and cruel are these unreasonable men, that they are impatient to see any to live by them, that are not more zealous Ceremoniou of their states and traditions, then truly zealous faithful orthodoxal, both preachers and people. as if they envied the image of God in any, witness their constant persecuting of the Saints in all places where their power extends, and that in most savage manner, I could speak much of their cruel injustice to myself, but let that pass, considering my own weakness and meannes could little benefit any, yet it shows their thirst for blood, who will not spare pains and cost to catch a flea, yet since their cruelty ceaseth not to silence the Lords worthies, that they say to the Seers see not, yea inhumanely hale them out, whiles pressed under the Lord's hand of visitation, unmercifully pill them by their pursuivants, fine them against law and equity to the impoverishing of them and theirs, even after they have suspended, silenced, and excommunicated them, deprived them of all benefit, yet as if all this were too little, and that for no offence committed, (unless it be offence to look upon them, yet we say a Cat may look on a King) the Pursuivants must take them, and carry them to prison, or take bond to appear at the High Commission, who have their Inquisition which will soon sift men either of their goods or goodness. To avoid this snare, alas whither would not poor men, that know them, run? For better to lose much, than goods and liberty and all, I could instance a couple of famous preachers, my neighbours, who by the hard measure of the Bishop of London (that outward demure sheeplike Prelate, but inward ravening wolf) were chased to these parts, the one only for coming into a Church where the Bishop was visitting after their Religious exercises were ended to speak with a friend, but because he stood excommunicate, he might not tread upon holy clodd, but the pursuivant must take him, and carry him away, and no entreaty of any, nor sincere and deep protestation of the party, could prevail for his release, but he must put in bond to appear at the high Commission, and what better there expected, but utter undoing. The other was inhumanely handled for preaching one Lords day after he was suspened, although it was without the Liberty of the Bishop of London, yet he and two others his like, can at the private pleasures make a Commission, and pack out as many pursuivants, to make a prey of the afflicted, or Saule-like to bring him bed and all that they may add the worst they can to the poor afflicted members of Christ's body. What Bonner or Story of more cruel disposition? Let the reader understand I presume to give these two instances without either of the preachers privity, and therefore it is doubtless too short to express the heinousness of the Prelates extreme cruelty towards either of them. Christian reader I not being by the press to give the Corrector some help to understand perfectly my true intentions in my scribbled hand, some faults (and those matereall) have escaped which I pray thee to take knowledge of, & lovingly to correct, or any else overseen by me, in the title page is a transposition of the text of Esai. 8. 61. for. 61. 8. in the first page of Epistle to the reader line 18. tremblingly for terribly, in the 2. page of D. there is lest out a matereall thing I had writ in the margin which now I am constrained here to insert, you shall swear that you will from henceforth submit to all the good laws of the Prince and the lawful demands of your Ordinary, by the good laws of the Prince, they mean all their articles and constitutions both new and old, and by the lawful demands of their Ordinary, they mean all those entrapping demands that their wits can put to them for the ensnaring of themselves and others, their demands being all to this purpose, whether doth your Minister read divine service on holy days, and other festival days? and whether doth he observe all the articles contained in your charge? and whether do all in your parish duty observe the like? or any gadders to Sermons? or that refuse to receive the holy communion kneeling? or any that are otherwise suspected of these or any other thing? where they do force them to confess the names & surnames of those persons, or else charge them with perjurye. These things thus dispatched, and their remaining yet a little white Paper in this sheet, there coming to my hands a book of a man of note in defence of these persons and superstitions here complained against, I knew not how better to supply the defect then by commending a few words to him. To Doctor John Burges of Sutton Coldfield in Warwicksheire. GOod Sir, whilst this last sheet was underhand, there came to my hands by God's providence a book of yours called a rejoinder to D. Mortons' 3 nocent Ceremonies, by the which I perceived how much service you have done to the Prelacy, and how deeply their engagements must by consequence be to you, I therefore presuming thereupon, have been bold to salute you with these few lines, which if you willbe pleased to take to heart, and to cause them to lay down their extortions in these or other like proceed, God shall have much honour by you, and the Saints and people of God much benefit, you have said much in defence of their offices, laws and administrations, although to me it seems but to little purpose, as to cover their nakedness with figleaves, or to daub with untempered mortar, if you will justify also their proceed in this their courtly government, your service I dare say, shall not be unrequited, for the truth is, I am but a poor Weaver, and have no learning, but what I have gained in Christ's School, and by my experience amongst them, having these 14 years been hunted among them, and now at last forced to draw my breath in a strange Land, I dare say there is nothing presented to you, nor to the world, but if you please, your experience will teach you the truth of it, if therefore you shall prevail for their reforming, it will be well, but if not, yet do so much, if you can, as procure my peace that I may again possess my own Country, what it is to be driven out, you know, especially for me who have no means to live on in a strange Land, but if your engagements to them be such as you will not be drawn to that, yet let me entreat you to be seen abroad to the cries of the poor widows and Fatherless with other oppressed ones, and then consider that when you have said all you can for them, and their administrations, you have but made a plaster for a scab, that will not be healed, but causeth a crying out, even in the ears of the Lord of Hosts, as you may see in that 5 Isa. 7. compared with the 9 I pray you therefore whilst you shall receive a further reply spend your spare hours on these things, and if you shall do any good therein, yourself and other shall reap the benefit thereby. Thus I rest Yours in all duty S. P.