ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, OF THE COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT in the name of themselves, and of all the Commons of ENGLAND, Against Matthew Wren Doctor in divinity, late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely, for several crimes, and misdemeanours committed by him, when he was Bishop of Norwich.  
Printed, Anno 1641.   

Articles of impeachment against Matthew Wren Doctor in divinity, late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely.  
THat the said Matthew Wren, being Popishly and superstitiously affected, did at his first coming to be Bishop of Norwich, which was in the year 1635. endeavour by sundry ways, and means, to suppress the powerful and painful Preaching of the Word of God; did introduce divers orders, and Injunctions, tending to superstition and Idolatry; did disturb, and disquiet the orderly, and settled estate of the Ministers, and people, and Churches of that diocese, to the great prejudice of His Majesty, the great grief and disquiet, and hazard of the estates, consciences, and lives of many of His majesty's loyal Subjects there, to the manifest bringing in, and increasing of profaneness, ignorance, and disobedience in the Common people, (as by the particulars ensuing may appear.)  

I.  
Whereas many Chancels of Churches, during all the time of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and of his Majesty that now is, had laid and been continued even, and flat, without any steps ascending cowards the East-end of the same, and are by the rubric in the Book of commonprayer, ordered to continue as they were, and so ought to have continued. He of his own mind and will, without any lawful warrant or authority, in the year 1636. being then Bishop of Norwich, ordered and enjoined, that the same should be raised towards the East-end, some two, some three, some four steps, that so the Communion Table there placed Altarwise, might be the better seen of the people.   

II.  
He in the same year 1636. ordered, That the Communion Table which is appointed by the said rubric, at the time of the celebration of the holy Communion, to be placed in the Body of the Church or chancel, where Divine Prayers are usually read, and where the people might best hear, should be set up close under the Wall at the East-end of the chancel Altarwise, and not to be removed from thence; whereby the Minister, who is by the Law to officlate at the Northside of the Table, must either stand and officiate at the North-end of the Table so standing Altarwise, or else after the Popish and Idolatrous manner, stand and officiate at the Westside of the Table with his back towards the people.   

III.  
He in the same year 1636. enjoined that there should be a rail set on the top of the new raised steps before the Communion Table so set Altarwise as aforesaid, which rail should reach from the Southside of the chancel to the North within, which the Minister only should enter, as a place too holy for the people; and some of the people were punished for stepping into it, as namely Daniel Whayman, and others.   

IV.  
The more to advance blind superstition, he in the same year 1636. ordered that all the pews in the Churches should be so altered, that the people might kneel with their faces Eastward, towards the Communion Table so set Altarwise as aforesaid; And that there should be no seats in the chancel above, or on either side even up with the said Table.   

V.  
He in the same year 1636. enjoined that every Minister after he had finished the reading of some part of the Morning-Prayer, at the Desk, should go out from the same to the holy Table set Altarwise, as to a more holy place and there, when no Communion was to be administered, read at the said Table a part of the Communion Service, now commonly called the second Service, whereby the consciences both of the Minister, and people, have been not only very much offended, and grieved, but also the Service itself was made very unprofitable to the people, who could not hear what was said, or prayed in that place.   

VI.  
That both he in his own person, his Chaplains, and others of the Clergy, as namely, Master John novel, Master William Guest, Master John Dunckon, and others following his example, did ever after the Table was so set Altarwise, use and perform such, so many, and so frequent bowing, and adorations before, and towards the said Table as have been dangerous examples to draw others to the like superstitious gestures, and have given great scandal, and offence to the sound, sincere, and well affected Christians.   

VII.  
He in the said year 1636. enjoined all the people to come up to the rail to receive the holy Communion, and there kneel, and do reverence before the holy Table placed Altarwise▪ And gave directions to the Ministers, not to administer the Communion to such people as should not so come up, and do such reverence as aforesaid, And that the Minister should within the rail deliver the Bread to such people only as should so come up and kneel before the said Table as aforesaid. This was to the offence of the consciences of many good people, who for fear of Idolatry and superstition, durst not come to kneel at the said rail before the Table so placed Altarwise; and many people not coming up thither, though presenting themselves upon their knees in the chancel, have not had the Communion delivered unto them, and afterward for not receiving have been excommunicated, as namely. John Shyming, Samuel Dunckon, Peter Fisher, Thomas Newton, Edward Bedwell, Edmund Day, John Frowar, and many others.   

VIII.  
He did in the said year 1636. enjoin and command that there should be no Sermons on the Lord's days in the afternoon, or on the week days at all, without his Licence. And also enjoined that there should be no Catechising, but only such questions, and answers, as are contained in the Book of the Common prayer. Not allowing the Ministers to expound or open the points of the same to the people. He and his under officers affirming in public places, that such an exposition might be as ill as a Sermon. And the more to hearten, and confirm the people in profaning the Lord's day, He enjoined the Ministers to read publicly in their Churches, a Book published touching sports on the Lord's Day. For not reading whereof, some Ministers were by the command and directions of the said Bishop suspended, viz. Maker William Leigh, Mr Richard Proud, Mr Jonothan Burr, Mr Matthew Brownrigg, Mr Mott, and divers others, some deprived, Master Powell, Mr Richard Raymond, Mr Jeremy borrows, and some otherwise troubled. By all which, knowledge was suppressed, and ignorance and profaneness introduced in that diocese.   

Ix..  
There having been formerly two kinds of ringing of bells, and calling people to the Church in that diocese (viz.) one kind, when there were only Prayers to be read, and another kind, when there were both Prayers to be read, and a Sermon preached, whereby the people did apply themselves to the Service of God in those places, where both Prayers, and Preaching was to be; He to hinder the people in their good desires of serving of God, and edifying their souls, did in the same year 1636. command, and enjoin that there should be no difference in ringing of bells to Church when there was a Sermon, and when there was none.   

X.  
Whereas many godly Ministers for the preventing of the great sin in the people of unworthy receiving the holy Communion of the Lord's Supper, did use to preach two or three days before every Communion, a preparation Sermon to prepare, and instruct the people in the right and worthy receiving of the Communion, He the said Bishop did in the said year 1636. forbid Ministers to preach any such preparation Sermon in that diocese, as namely, Master Devereox, Master Swayn's, and other Ministers.   

XI.  
Whereas all God's Ordinances are sanctified, and made fruitful by the blessing of God upon them by Prayer. He endeavouring to suppress the power, and benefit of Prayer in the year 1636, enjoined that no Minister should use any prayer before his Sermon, but move the people to pray only in the words of the fifty fifth Canon made Anno Dom. 1603. which Canon was not warranted by the Law. And that no prayer should be used before or after the Sermon. And he in his own person having been at the Sermon in the Town of Ipswitch when the Preacher did use or make any other prayer, did sit upon his seat without using, or giving any reverence of kneeling, or otherwise, thereby to discountenance such prayer. And he in the said year 1636. enjoined that no prayer should be made in the Pulpit for the sick, and that such as were prayed for in the reading Desk, should be prayed for only in the two Collects prescribed for the visitation of the sick in private houses.   

XII.  
He the more to alienate the people's heart from hearing of Sermons in the said year 1636. commanded, and enjoined all Ministers to preach constantly in their hood, and Surplice, a thing not used before in that diocese, and much offensive to the people as a scandalous innovation. And the Parishioners of Knattshall wanting a Surplice, he did by his Officers in the year 1637. enjoin the Churchwardens there, that no prayers should be read in that Church till they had got a Surplice, which they not getting for the space of two Lord's days after, had no prayers during that time there.  
13. That during the time of his being Bishop of Norwich, which was about two years, and four months, There were for not reading the second service, at the Communion Table set Altarwise, for not reading the book of sports, for using conceived prayers before and after Sermons, And for not observing some other illegal innovations by him, and his under-officers, by and upon his directions, and Injunctions, sundry Godly painful preaching ministers, that is to say, Master William Powell, Master John Carter, Master Robert Peck. Master William Bridge, Master William Greene, Master Mott, Master Richard Raymond, Master Thomas Scot, Master Greenehill, Master Nicholas Beard, Master Hudson, Robert Kent, Jeremy Burrow, Master Thomas Allen, and others to the number fifty, were excommunicated, suspended, or deprived and otherwise censured, and silenced, to the undoing of many of them, their wives, and children, and they could not be absolved without giving promise to conform to his directions editis & edendis, by means whereof some ministers were enforced to depart this realm into Holland, and other parts beyond Sea, viz. the said Mr. William Bridge, Mr. Jeremy borrows, Mr. Thomas Allen, Mr. John Ward, and others of Norwich, to remove into other more peaceable dioceses, as namely Mr. Edmund Calamy, Mr. Broome, Mr. Beard and others, and some of them so prosecuted, as hath been suspected to be the Cause of their deaths, as namely Mr. Thomas Scot and others; the terror of which proceedings hath caused other ministers to leave their Cures, and go away, viz. Mr. William Kirington, Mr. Thomas Warren, Master John Allen and others; and if a stranger preached at the Cure of such person suspended, the churchwardens permitting such person so to preach, were enjoined penance, and otherwise troubled, as namely the churchwardens of Snailwell, and the stranger for preaching, was also therefore molested, viz, Mr. Ash, Mr. Eades, Master Manning, and other Ministers.  
14. That during the time he was Bishop of the said See of Norwich, he did unlawfully compel the inhabitants of the several parishes, within that diocese, to raise the flowers of the chancels, of their respective Churches, to rail in their Communion Tables, to remove the pews and Seats, and to make other alterations in the respective Churches; in the doing whereof the said inhabitants, were put to great excessive, and unnecessary charges and expenses, amounting in the whole, to the sum of five thousand pounds, and upwards, which said charges and expenses, he did by unlawful means and courses, enforce the said inhabitants to undergo; And such of the said inhabitants, as did not obey the same, he did vex, trouble and molest by presentments, Citation, excommunications, tedious, and frequent journeys, and by attendances at the Courts of his Chancellor, and other his officials, viz. the churchwardens of Lin, Ipswitch, S. Edmunds Bury, and others.  
15. That for not coming up to the rail, to receive the holy communion, kneeling there before the table Altarwise, for not standing up at the gospel, and for not observing and performing of his unlawful innovations, and Injunctions, many other of his majesty's subjects viz. Peter Fisher, Samuel Duncon, James percival, John Armiger, Thomas King and others, have been by him, his Chancellors, Visitors, commissaries, and officials by his command and injunctions, much molested, disquieted, and vexed in their estates and consciences by Citations to the Courts, long attendance there, dismission, Fees, Excommunications, penalties, and other Censures.  
16. That by reason of the rigorous prosecutions, and dealings in the last precedent Articles mentioned, and by reason of the continual superstitious bowing to, and afore the table set Altarwise, the suspending, silencing, driving away of the painful preaching Ministers, the suppressing, and forbidding of Sermons, and prayer; the putting down of Lectures, the suppressing means of knowledge, and salvation, and introducing ignorance, superstition, & profaneness, many of his majesty's subjects, to the number of three thousand, many of which used trades of spinning, weaving, knitting, and making of Cloth, and Stuffe, Stockings, and other manufactures of wools, that is to say, Daniel Sunning, Michael Metcalfe, John Berant, Nicholas Metcalfe, John Derant, Busbie widow Mapes, Richard Cock, John Dicks, Francis laws, John Senty and many others, some of them setting an hundred poor people on work, have removed themselves, their families, and estates into Holland, and other parts beyond the Seas, and there set up and taught the Natives there, the said manufactures, to the great hindrance of trade in this kingdom, and to the impoverishing, and bringing to extreme want, very many who were by those parties formerly set on work, to the great prejudice of his majesty and his people.  
17. That he the said Bishop, finding the people to distaste his innovations hath often in public, and private speeches declared in the said year▪ 1636. That what he did in the same, was by his majesty's command, whereby he contrary to the duty of his place, which he held under his majesty, being Deane of his majesty's royal chapel, and contrary to the duty of a good and loyal subject, endeavoured to free himself of blame, and to raise an ill opinion of his royal majesty, in the hearts of his loving subjects.  
18. That he the said Matthew Wren, being Bishop of Norwich in the said year, 1636. in the Tower Church in Ipswitch, and other places, did in his own person use superstitious and idolatrous actions, and gestures, in the administration of the Lord's supper, consecrating the bread, and wine, standing at the West side of the Table with his face to the East, and his back towards the people elevating the Bread, and Wine, so high as to be seen over his shoulders bowing low, either to or before them, when he after the elevation, and consecration, had set them down on the Table.  
19 That he the more to manifest his Popish affection in the said year 1636, caused a Crucifix, that is to say, the figure of Christ upon the cross to be engraven upon his episcopal seal besides the arms of the See.  
20. That he hath chosen & employed such men to be his Commissioners, rural Deans, and to be his household chaplains, whom he knew to be, and stand affected to his innovated courses, and to popish superstition, and to be erroneous, and unsound in judgement and practice, as namely M. John novel, M. Edmond Mapletoft, M. John Dunkin, M. Bouck, M. Dun, and others.  
21. That he hath very much oppressed divers Patrons of Churches by admitting without any colour of title his own chaplains and others whom he affected into Livings, which became void within his diocese, unjustly enforcing the true and right Patrons to long and chargeable suits to evict such Incumbents, and to recover their own right, some of which he did against his Priestly word given to the said Patrons or their friends in verbo Sacerdotis not to do the same. This he did in the case of one M. Rivet.  
22. That he and others in the year 1635, sold, or granted away the profits of his Primary Visitation for five hundred pounds over and above the charges of the Visitation, and for the better benefit of the Farmer, set forth a book in the year 1636 entitled Articles to be inquired of within the diocese of Norwich, in the first Visitation of Matthew Lord Bishop of Norwich, consisting of 139 Articles, and wherein are contained the number of eight hundred ninety seven questions, according to all which, the Churchwardens were enforced to present upon pain of perjury. And some Churchwardens, that is to say, Robert Langley, Charles Newton, Richard Hart, William Bull, and Zephany Ford, and others not making presentments accordingly, were cited, molested, and troubled, and enjoined penance; notwithstanding many of the said Articles were ridiculous and impossible.  
23. That the Churchwardens, and other men sworn at the Visitation, were enforced to have their presentments written by Clarks specially appointed by such as bought the said Visitation, to whom they paid excessive sums of money for the same, some two and twenty shillings, as namely, Richard Hurrell, John Punchard, and others, some more, some less, for writing one presentment, to the grievous oppression of his majesty's poor subjects in that diocese.  
24. Whereas by the laws of this realm no tithes ought to be paid out of the rents of houses, nor is there any custom or usage in the City of Norwich for such payment, yet the said Bishop endeavoured to draw the Citizens, and other inhabitants within the said City against their wills and consents to pay two shillings in the pound in lieu of the tithes of houses within the several Parishes of the said City, unto the Ministers there, of the said respective parishes. And the better to effect this his unjust resolution, he did by false and undue suggestion in the fourteenth year of his majesty's reign that now is, procure his majesty to declare under his highness' great seal of England his royal pleasure, That if any person, within the said City shall refuse to pay according to the said rate of two shillings the pound unto the Minister of any Parish within the said City, That the same be-heard in the Court of Chancery, or in the Consistory of the Bishop of Norwich. And that in such case no prohibition against the said Bishop of Norwich, their Chancellors, or Commissaries in the said Courts of Consistory be granted. And if any such writ be at any time obtained, the Judges so granting the same, upon sight of his highness' said Order shall forthwith grant a consultation to the Minister desiring the same with his reasonable costs and charges for the same▪ which said order and decree under the great seal of England tended to the violation of the oaths of the Judges, and was devised, contrived, and made by the said Bishop. And afterwards by his evil counsels and false surmises he did obtain his majesty's royal consent thereunto & by colour of the order aforesaid, and other the doings of the said Bishop, the Citizens and inhabitans of Norwich aforesaid, viz. John Collar, Judith Perkeford, and others, have been enforced to pay the said to shillings in the pound in lieu of tithes, or else by suits and other undue means been much molested, and put to great charges and expenses, contrary to the law, and justice.  
25. That he assumed to himself an arbitrary power to compel the respective parishioners in the said diocese to pay great and excessive wages to parish Clarks, viz. the parishioners of Yarmouth, Congham, Tostock, and others, commanding his officers, that if any parishioner did refuse to pay such wages, they should certify him their names, and he would set them into the High Commission Court for example of the rest. And that one or two out of Ipswitch might be taken for that purpose.  
And the said Commons by protestation saving to themselves the liberties of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the said Matthew Wren late Bishop of Norwich, and now Bishop of Ely, and also of replying to the answer that he the said Matthew Wren shall make unto the said Articles, or any of them, or of offering proof of the premises or any other impeachments or accusations that shall be exhibited by them as the case shall (according to the course of Parliaments) require, do pray that he the said Matth. Wren may be called to answer the said several crimes, and misdemeanours, and receive such condign punishment as the same shall deserve, and that such further proceedings may be upon every of them had, and used against him, as is agreeable to law and justice.  
FINIS.