THE PETITION AND ARTICLES Exhibited in Parliament against Doctor Heywood, late Chaplain to the Bishop of CANTERBURY, By the Parishioners of S. Giles in the Fields.  
With some considerable circumstances (worth observing) in the Hearing of the Business before the grand Committee for Religion, and of his demeanour since.  
London printed. 1641.   

TO THE HONOURABLE, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament, the humble Petition of divers of the Parishioners, of the Parish of Saint Gyles in the fields, in the County of Middlesex.  
Most humbly showeth,  
THAT we live under the pastoral charge of one William Haywood Doctor of Divinity, who hath lately published in sundry Sermons by him preached in his Parish Church most damnable and erroneous Doctrines, full of gross Popish tenants. And whilst he was House Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, did licence a Book Entitled, An Introduction to a devout Life, containing the like Popish Doctrines, all tending to the drawing away and seducing of the respective Readers and Hearers from the true Orthodox faith, and to the upholding and advancing of the Popish Religion, whose practice in Church discipline, is superstitious and Idolatrous; manifested by strange antic jestures of cringings and bowings, by using and approving of many Antiquated obsolet and Popish Ceremonies; both in the Administration of the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and in other holy duties: Contrary to the Laws established within this Realm, in whose Parish Church aforesaid, are set up Crucifixes, and divers Images of Saints, and likewise Organs, with other confused Music hindering devotion, are maintained to the great and needless charge of the Parish. The particulars are contained in a Schedule annexed, ●all tending to the great dishonour of God, the violation of his holy truth, to the abuse of his holy Ordinances, to the utter subversion and overthrow of the true Religion established, to the unspeakable grief of our hearts, who desire only to serve the Lord according to the rule laid down in his holy Word, and who are hereby forced against our wills, to seek out the sincere saving truth in our neighbouring Churches, not being able to hear, and in our consciences not daring to join in such Idolatrous worship, all which we are ready to make good, as this Honourable Assembly shall appoint.  
And therefore we do most humbly pray that this Honourable Assembly will take such a course for his removal, that we may hereafter enjoy a faithful Pastor, who may dispense unto us God's Word and Sacraments, in our Parish, according to Gods own Ordinance, without the superstitious mixture of humane Inventions. And we shall pray, etc.  
Some of the particular Erroneous Popish Doctrines preached in the Parish Church of Saint Gyles in the fields, at several times by William Haywood, Doctor of Divinity.  

I. 1. HE affirmed that a Minister hath power to remit and retain sins, and not declaratively, or Ministerially only, as (he said) some would have it, but actually and absolutely. And for proof whereof he cited john 20.23. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are, etc.  
II. 2. He affirmed that every man in his natural condition is by the fall of Adam wounded only, and but half dead, which he preached the seventh of June last passed, on the Sabbath day, and proved it from Luke 10 30. A certain man went down from jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thiefs, who stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, Leaving him half dead.  
III. 3 He affirmed that the Virgin Mary was free from, and without any mortal sins, which he preached lately on a Sabbath day, on john 2.4. jesus saith unto her, Woman what have I to do with thee, etc.  
iv 4 He affirmed that Confession to the Priest of our particular sins, is very necessary to the forgiveness of sin, and that they who did not do it, were guilty of a great sin. Cum multis al●●, (had they been noted.)   
Particular Erroneous, Popish Doctrines, contained in a Book Entitled, An Introduction to a devout life, allowed (with a large approbation) by the said Doctor to be Printed, whilst he was House Chaplains to the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

1 To prey is a remedy against temptation, but if that fail, Then hastily run in spirit to the Cross of our blessed Saviour Jesus, imagining thou seest him hanging thereon before thy face, and embrace, as it were, the foot of the Cross upon thy knees, laying fast hold upon it as upon an assured Sanctuary, page 591. chap. 7.  
2 Stir up thy heart other times with corporal gestures of outward devotion, prostrating thyself upon the ground, laying thy arms a cross before thy breast, embracing his Image, which Exterior Acts are only to be used when thou art retired alone in some secret Closet, Pa. 159. Cham 9  
3 By necessary obedience thou must obey thy Ecclesiastical superior as the supreme head of Christ's Church; Also Archbishops, Bishops, Pastors, and such as are their Deputies, Thou must obey thy Civil Superiors, to wit, the Princes and Magistrates, but ever in that which he hath charge over us; As in that which belongs to Civil Policy, and public affairs, we must obey our Prince; Our Prelate in that which belongs to Ecclesiastical matters, p. 366, 336.339. c. 11.  
4 Call to the Saints of heaven, our blessed Lady, thy good Angel, and the rest of the Saints to whom thou hast an especial devotion, to keep thee in the way to heaven, Page 691. Pray for the whole Church of God, employing and imploring, to that end the intercession of our blessed Lady, Page 149. When thou comest before thy spiritual guide, imagine thyself to be on Mount Calvary, kneeling right under the feet of Jesus Christ crucified, etc. Pag. 10.  
5 An example of the practice of good thoughts, by S. Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury: a Leveret started and sore pressed by hounds, as this holy Prelate went on a journey, ran under his horse, as to the best place of refuge, that the imminent danger of death suggested, barking and bragging round about, durst not presume to violate the Sanctuary, to which their prey had taken recourse, P. 183, 184.  
6 Examples of good and manful courage of Saint Francis, and Saint Bennet, who feeling the great temptations of the flesh which they suffered, the one cast himself naked into the thorns, and the other into the Snow to mitigate them, Page 571.  
7 Now certain it is that imperfections and venial sins, do not take from us the life of grace, for that is never lost but by deadly sin. The only care then that remains, is, that these imperfections do not daunt our courage, Page 31. for a venial sin, be it never so little, displeaseth Almighty God, though not so heinously, that he will dam us for it, Page 112.  
8 It is no heinous sin (my Philotheus) to tell some little lie in pastime, to exceed somewhat in needless talk, in careless looks, in apparel, in mirth, in play, in dancing, and such like toys, Page 114.  
9 In the Sacrament of Marriage, the Priest halloweth the wedding Ring, Page 520.  
10 Our blessed Saviour hath instituted the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist, which containeth really and verily his flesh and blood, to the end that he that eateth it should live eternally, Page 219. in which he doth annihilate himself in a manner, and turneth himself into our celestial food, that so he may feed and nourish our souls, and make his intrinsical abode for ever within the hearts and bodies of his faithful servants, Page 230.  
11 As for bodily diseases, none are lawful impediments from participating of this holy Sacrament, save only those which provoke much vomiting, Page 226.  
12 To communicate every eighth day is requisite, neither to be guilty of mortal sin, nor of any affection to venial sin, Page 227.   
Doctor Heywards Superstitious and Idolatrous manner of administration of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, in the Parish Church of Saint Gyles aforesaid.  
The said Church is divided into three parts: the Sanctum Sanctorum being one of them, i●●●parated from the Chancel by 〈◊〉 large Screen in the figure of a beautiful Gate, in which is carved two large pillars, and three large statues: on the one side is Paul with his sword, on the other Barnabas with his Book, and over them Peter with his Keys, they are set above with winged Cerubims, and beneath supported with Lions.  
Seven or eight foot within this holy place is a raising by three steps, and from thence a long rail from one wall to the other, into which place none must enter but the Priests and the Subdeacons, this place is covered before the Altar with affair wrought Carpet, the Altar doth stand close up to the wallon the East side, and a Desk raised upon that with degrees of advancement, this Desk is overlaid with a covering of Purple Velvet, which hath a great gold and silk fringe round about, and on this Desk is placed two great Books wrought with needle work, in which are made the pictures of Christ, and the Virgin Mary with Christ in her arms, and these are placed on each side of the Desk, And on this Altar a is double covering, one of Tapestry, and upon that a long fine Lawn doth, with a very rich Bonelace. The walls are hanged round within the rail, with Hue silk Taffeta Curtains. In the exterior Acts of administering the Sacrament; For the preparation to this duty, the said Doctor and three Subdeacons' do all go from the body of the said Church unto the West end, being there clothed according to their Order, some in Scarlet, silk, and fine linen, they bend their course towards the East, every one at their first entrance saluting the Church door with low Congees, than they all move to the middle of the Church, where they all duck down towards the East, than they all advance to the beautiful gate, where they stand; Then every one bowing to the ground three several times as they go. They enter into the Sanctum Sanctorum in which place they read their second Service, and it is divided into three parts, which is acted by them all three, with change of place, and many duckings before the Altar, with divers Tones in their Voices, high and low, with many strange actions by their hands, now up then down, This being ended, the Doctor takes the Cups from the Altar and delivers them to one of the Subdeacons' who placeth ' them upon a side Table, Then the Doctor kneeleth to the Altar, but what he doth we know not, nor what he meaneth by it. This dumb devotion being ended, and the Altar more holy, the Cups are returned to him in the same manner as he gave them, which the Doctor receives kneeling, and so doth he place them upon the Altar, with great adoration, in the bending of his body, and in touching each of them with his finger. The bread being set upon a Plate, and some of the wine poured into a bowl, all are covered with a fine linen cloth; which cloth hath the corners laid in the figure of a cross. This being ended, he continues in his dumb devotion on his knees towards the East, his back being towards the people, he taketh money out of his pocket, and layeth it on the ground for a time, and then he taketh it up, and offereth it, being on his knees with a very great bending of his body to the Altar, which gift is reserved in a Basin only for that use. In these dumb devotions of his, the Organs Play in a doleful low tune. When this is finished, the Doctor gins the Consecration, which being ended, the number of beckings, bowings, and bend, by him and the Subdeacons' before the Altar, are impious, ungodly, and abominable to behold.  
These Articles were all proved before the grand Committee for Religion, which appeared to be fare worse, by the circumstances declared by the witnesses: For it was proved that when that Popish Book was Printing, the Printer seeing such gross Popery in it, commanded his Workman to stay his hand, till he spoke with the Licencer: so he took his Corrector of his Work, (being a Master of Arts) with him, and shown the Doctor divers Popish passages in the Book, saying he durst not Print it, ask him if he had not overslipt the reading of them. He looked on those they shown, and gave the Printer order to go on with the Book, he would justify it, and would preach the same before the King his Master (he being now his Majesty's Chaplain preferred thereto by Canterbury) It was proved that (the book being called in by warrant, &c) the Printer was troubled and put into the Pursivants hands, threatened with Star-chamber, except he would deliver up the original Copy by which he printed, which he refused to do, for that it is ever their custom to keep originals by them for their own safeguards if they should be questioned, to show the Licence, etc. But at length he by promises and threats, was constrained to deliver up the Copy wherein the Licence was witten by the Doctors own hand. Which being got, the Doctor or others for him did procure a Proclamation to be set out, wherein it was declared that the Printer and the Author had conspired, and had put in all the Popery after it was licenced, the Printer being then disabled to prove the contrary.  
At the hearing of the business before the Committee, the Doctor was asked in what places it was altered from that he licenced. He answered, in Page 691. Article 4. He allowed it to be read, Call to mind the Saints of Heaven &c and the Printer had left our the word mind: but what stuff it is so read was observed then by the Committee.  
It was proved that a Parishioner of his being seduced to Popery by a Romish Priest and others, the Doctor was entreated to admonish and reclaim her: and though he had been solicited three or four several times, yet he refused, although he came to the next door (to dinner) where she dwelled: her husband being somewhat importunate the last time to have him confer with his seduced wife, he was very angry with him, and wished him not to trouble him.  
Another woman being perverted, her husband got her to go to the Doctor, hoping by his council and reasons, to have reclaimed her: instead whereof, he confirmed her, in saying, that Salvation might be had in the Church of Rome: which though it were, true was very unseasonably spoken, and shown that he had no great desire she should return.  
He hath caused the Protestation to be read and taken in that ridiculous, absurd, and disdainful manner, with much scorn and jeering, that the Parishioners that are forward and well affected to that just and pious act become the scorn and laughter of their neighbour Papists, and to divers of the Vestry, his Creatures, of whom none hath taken it as Parishioner, nor one word said to encourage others to take it in Pulpit or else where, but much to the contrary.  
Many other things as bad as these could have been proved, but what was already heard, appeared sufficient cause for his removal, which this Honourable Assembly without all question will do, when those other weighty Affairs of more general concernment are settled, especially in regard he doth still persist in his old manner not reforming any considerable thing; his Atar stands decked continually, weekdays and all, and mewed up within the Screen and Rails as before: some of the Parishioners desiring to receive the Sacrament in their pews, were denied it and sent away without it, and he forceth all to come up to the Rails still as before. In divers of his Sermons since the hearing of his business, he hath with much bitterness inveighed against the Petitioners, and at those that go from their own Parish Church, although he hath so weak a voice that he cannot be heard by the one half of those that come to Church.  
All the Premises well known, and seriously considered, there can no reason be given by any well affected Protestant to desire his continuance.  
FINIS.