THE Archbishop's cruelty, Made known in a true Story of one Mr. Edward Rood, Who was Minister at Saint Helen's in ABINGDON, AND Dismissed of this means and ministry by him: And in process of time, after he had been from his means eleven years, he was lately again restored. As also, How he was ca 〈…〉 in prison, what miseries he there sustained, and his deliverance from all. By GILES GULT●R, bachelor in Arts.  
Printed Anno 1641.   

THE Archbishop's cruelty.  
IN the County of Berkes, at a place called Abingdon there dwelled one Master Edward Rood, a man of a very civil and godly behaviour, which was such a heartburning to the wicked, that they sought by all means they could possibly, to undo this honest, religious, and well-meaning man. To this intent therefore they came oftener to Church than they would have done, only to entrap him. Now it happened one time that he had some object to raise a point after this manner, it was concerning the equality and inequality between a Minister and a King: A King (said he) may take a man and bind him hand and foot, and cast him in prison, nay he may take away his life, but there his power ends, it extends no further; but what the Minister binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, and therein a Minister outstrips a King.  
When they heard these words to come from him, they thought that they were well enough now, for surely he was ensnared, and as they ordered the matter, it was so indeed.  
Now you must understand that they had gotten a man as fit for such a mischievous purpose as possibly can be: he was called by a nickname Nuncle Nob, but his right name is Robert Mayot the elder, as far in folly and knavery outstripping the other, as the light of the sun the light of the moon.  
This Nuncle Nob was presently furnished with all things fit for a journey, and hies to London as fast as he can, and then to the Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth he goes, where he makes a most heavy complaint against this Master Edward Rood, that was Minister of the Parish of St. Helen's in Abingdon, that he should speak treason in the Pulpit, and say that a Minister was above a King. Forth with now a pursuivant was sent for this Master Edward Rood, where he was examined in the High Commission Court, and upon this Nuncle Nobs complaint he was committed to prison, where he endured a great deal of misery, which to relate at full would be more than my pen could write, or paper hold; he was kept so close that nobody could have access to speak with him; thinking, I persuade myself, there to starve him; for he called for diet, & their answer was still, By and by, Master Rood; a pox by and by such unlucky knaves: insomuch that for the space of three or four days he was without; then he remembered himself he had a pound of diet broad which was to be sent to his wife, that he made a shift to make serve him a week, and then again when that was gone, they kept him a week again without diet: at last his friends missed him, and ●ought from prison to prison, till at last they heard where he was, and caused a posset to be made; and it was carried by his daughter, her name was Dorcas, and to the prison they came, and they were men of such note, that the Keeper durst not deny them the sight of him for fear of hearing of it hereafter.  
When they came there they found the poor gentleman, poor master, Rood in bed, which when he saw his daughter, and the rest of his friends, his heart began to leap for joy, in so much that joyful tears bedewed his face: well, they were merry with him for a while, and he poor man fed heartily, having been kept so long from diet, and then began to open his cause unto them, how close he was kept, and that he was afraid that their intentions were fully bent to starve him. They heard him, but said but 〈…〉, but they went down to the Keeper, and did fo● school him, wishing him to take heed, for if they heard that he was misused again, the best in the kingdom should quickly know of it: and so they departed. But after that time he was sure to have diet brought unto him three or four times each day, in so much, that that penury was over, which he suffered before by hunger.  
This is but a proaemium to his troubles, for now they began to enact such cruelty upon him that would be almost incredible to relate. There was one now came against him to swear that the words that Nob had related were true, he swore very frankly that he should say that a Minister was above a King, which if Nuncle Nob would also have been so wicked to have sworn to, surely poor Master Rood had lost his life, but God overlooked their deeds, and he will be sure to pay them home at last. Well, this man took his oath against him; upon which he was dismissed of his Ministerial function, and so sent abroad to shift in the wide world. Now this poor man was fain to turn Physician to maintain himself and his family which was great, and so he was turned from post to pillar, from one place to another, that he could scarce get any long abiding anywhere; at length he came to live in a place in Oxford-shire, called Tame, where he was arrested for debts, and carried to Oxford Castle, as cursed a place for poor prisoners to lie in as any is in this kingdom; for there is one Thorpe which is Keeper, a man of a haughty, and proud spirit, tyrannising over poor men abominably, and his Brother Gabriel is tapster, and he hath gotten the true art of cheating, I know it for mine own part to be true what I write. Well, there he lay a great while in great want, and more he had suffered if his friends in Abingdon had not stuck very close to him. At last it pleased God to deliver him thence, from that hell of misery, and miserable usage, and he was abroad again to shift for himself and his poor family. At last it pleased God to call a Parliament to settle things concerning his glory in this kingdom; and upon heinous complaints and misdemeanours, my Lord of Canterbury was committed to the tower; and fearing that this business being so foul, (as you may perceive by the story) he desired to stop the business, that it might not come to the ears of the Parliament. And thus it happened.  
There was one Mr. Newsteed who was Minister all this wile in Mr. Roods place, a man whom I know very well, but not for any dishonesty, for he behaved himself very honestly, and like a gentleman all the time of his abode in Abingdon, now he hearing that this Mr. Rood was resolved to petition the Parliament to have his wrongs redressed, came unto two friends of Mr. Roods (whose names were Mr. William Castle, and Mr. Benjamin Tesdall) and told them his mind after this manner; Gentlemen I here that Mr. Rood which was your ancient Vicar, doth now intend to petition the Parliament for his Vicarage again; I protest I am not willing to eat any man's bread, if Mr. Rood please we will come to some honest and lawful composition, I desire you that you would be pleased somewhat to busy yourselves in this charitable office.  
These two loving Mr. Rood so well would do any thing that might tend to his good, wherefore they sought him out, and brought Mr. Newsteed, and Mr. Rood together, and after some talk between them they presently agreed to go to counsel, and ask what might be done in this business, and so it was ordered that Mr. Rood should have his Vicarage again, whereupon Mr. Newsteed resigned. Thus may you see how many troubles this poor Mr. Rood hath undergone, but I persuade myself had he stood it out to the end, and put it into the Parliaments hands he had had reward for his troubles eleven hundred pounds, for he was without his Vicarage eleven years, which is worth an hundred pound a year.  
This have I writ that the world might see and know that all my Lord Laud's faults are not known; for as you may see this thing hath lain smothered to this day.  
FINIS.