Novemb. 3. 1640.  
To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House of PARLIAMENT, The humble Petition of Peter Smart, a poor prisoner in the Kings Bench,  
Humbly sheweth,  
1 THat after the death of Bishop James, Bishop neal coming to the See of Durham, the then dean and Prebendaries of that Cathedrall Church cast the Communion-Table out of the same Church, and erected an high Altar at the East end of the choir, of Marble stones, with a carved screen most gloriously painted and guilded, which cost about two hundred pound.  
2 And they bought for forty shillings one Cope found in a search for antiscripturists, embroidered with the image of the Trinity, and other Images; and another Cope which cost about ten groats, which had been a long time used by the Youth of Durham in their Sports and May-games: a very fools coat, both which Copes they used at the Administration of the holy Communion at their Altar.  
3 To which Altar themselves both did, and forced others to use most unreasonable frequent bowing.  
4 D. cousin officiated thereat with his face toward the East, and back toward the people.  
5 They( the dean and Prebendaries) did likewise take away the Morning Prayer, to which about two hundred persons did usually resort, used for the space of about sixty yeares in the Cathedrall Church of Durham, as in all other Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches in England, to be red at six a clock plainly and distinctly in a peculiar place appointed for that purpose by Commissioners under the great seal of England, Septemb. 25. primo Eliz.  
6 And instead thereof altered the same into singing with Instruments, without reading any Chapters or psalms at the ordinary ten a clock Prayer.  
7 They did likewise set up fifty three glorious Images and pictures over the Bishops Throne, and about the choir in the said Church.  
8 And they burnt two hundred wax candles in one Candlemas night in honour of our Lady.  
9 They brought in sundry other superstitious and unwarrantable observations into that Church.  
10 To the observation whereof they forced divers, and publicly brawled in the time of Divine Service in the Church with others, who would not observe the same; calling them lazy sows, and dirty whores, tearing some gentlewomen's apparel; calling them Pagans, and thrusting them out of the Church, who refused to obey them therein: for which violent, turbulent demeanour D. cousin was twice indicted at the Quarter-Sessions holden at Durham.  
11 Some of them preached in a Cope and sate to hear Divine Service in a Cope in the said Cathedrall Church.  
12 And others of them, viz. D. cousin, preaching in the said Church upon the Parable of the tares; delivered this doctrine, That the reformers of the Church, when they took away the mass, took away or marred all Religion, and the whole Service of God; And that it was a deformation indeed, though they called it a reformation.  
13 And he, the said D. cousin, publicly maintained, that the Kings Majesty is not supreme Head of the Church in England, nor could be so called, for that he had no more power to meddle in ecclesiastical matters then the fellow that rubs his horses heels; for which he was indicted Anno 1629. at the Assizes at Durham, and found guilty thereof by the oaths of three men of worth: which indictment remaines yet untraversed.  
14 Your Petitioner being a signior Prebendary of that Church, and one of His Majesties High Commissioners for Causes ecclesiastical in the Province of York, and in judgement and practise punctually conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline established in the Church of England, opposed the same innovations, and doctrines, according to his place and calling.  
15 But not prevailing therein, he in July 27. 1628. according to the third Injunction, preached in the said Church, against the said Innovations; for which Sermon he was presently convented before the High-Commission holden at Durham, and before any Articles exhibited against him, suspended, and his living sequestered. And after his answer upon oath to the Articles, and six moneths detention in the said High-Commission, where he was proceeded against with all rigour and extremity, according to the express command ( as some of the High Commissioners in open Court said) of some Bishops in London.  
16 He was served with a Warrant under the High Commission seal for the Province of Canterbury, and hands of William L. Bishop of London, Samuel L. Bishop of Norwich, D. Caesar, and D. Sammes, to appear before the High Commission holden at London, and there forced again to take his Oath Ex Officio, and to attend above a quarter of a year for Articles, which were pretended to be matters of high nature against him.  
17 And was afterward remanded without any Articles to york, where in August 1630. they proceeded to sentence ex parte, having denied your Petitioner a Commission to examine witnesses on his behalf: where he was excommunicated, degraded, fined seven hundred pound, and imprisoned, for opposing and preaching against the said Doctrines and superstitious Innovations.  
81 Notwithstanding that, D. cousin, and one M. Burgoyne were indicted in August, 1629. at Durham Assizes upon several Bills, and found guilty thereof, which remain likewise untraversed; this legal conviction notwithstanding, the said D. cousin since is made one of His Majesties Chaplains in Ordinary, admitted to his Degree of Doctor, Master of Peter-House in Cambridge, and vicechancellor of Cambridge, also Dean of Peterborough( beside four great livings he had before) and all proceedings upon the former indictments against him stopped.  
19 That your Petitioner was two several times imprisoned at York before their said sentence, for which injurious imprisonment he commenced his action at law against some of the said high Commissioners, and obtained judgement thereupon, and six hundred pound damages, yet cannot have any fruit thereof.  
20 That your Petitioner petitioned, and preferred Articles into the High Commission in London against the said Dean and Prebendaries for the said Doctrines, and Innovations, proffering to give good security to prove all the said Articles: But the said Petition and Articles were utterly rejected by the said Court, who said, they would not suffer such worthy men to be questioned.  
21 That your Petitioner hath been kept in prison upon the said sentence in great penury and want almost ten yeares, and lost both his dignity, and Parsonage, and whole estate, whereby he, his wife and children are utterly ruined in their persons, posterity, and fortunes.  
22 That your Petitioner is now, and hath been above twelve moneths close prisoner, and His Majesties most gracious Reference in his behalf unto the now Lord Bishop of Durham revoked; upon pretence that he was lately at Glascow in Scotland, preaching and instigating the Scots against episcopal government; whereas he was never at Glascow in his life, nor in Scotland these twenty four years past: nor had directly nor indirectly any intelligence with the Scots.  
23 In tender commiseration whereof, your Petitioner most humbly beseecheth your serious consideration, both of his miserable distressed condition, and great opressions: as also of the said Innovations and offences of the said D. cousin, and the other Prebendaries of Durham, with their abettors, who persecuted and censured your Petitioner: And to take such course, both for your poor Petitioners relief and release; As also for reformation of the said Doctrines, Innovations, and proceedings, and prevention of the like hereafter, as to your great wisdoms shall seem meet.  
And for that your Petitioner is much decayed in his health, by reason of his late restraint, and very poor: he humbly beseecheth you presently to give order for his release from his close imprisonment; and that he may have present Execution upon the said judgement for the said six hundred pounds, whereby he shall be enabled to prosecute and prove this his most just complaint against all his adversaries. And your Petitioner shall pray, &c.   

A Speech made before the Lords by M. Francis Rous Esquire, March 16. 1640.  
Against D. cousin, and many others impeached by the House of Commons in M. Smarts Cause.  
My Lords,  
I Am commanded by the House of Commons, to present to your Lordships a Declaration and impeachment against D. cousin and others, upon the complaint of M. Peter Smart, which M. Smart was a Protomartyr, or first confessor of note in the last dayes of persecution.  
The whole matter is a three, whereof the branches and fruit are manifest in the Articles of this Declaration, which being red, I shall( with your Lordships favour) discover and lay open the root.  
The Declaration was red, consisting of eighteen Articles delivered to the Lords in writing.  

The Commons Declaration and Impeachment upon the Complaint of Peter Smart Clerk, late Prebendary of Durham, against John cousin, Doctor in Divinity, Ferdinando Morecroft, George Morecroft, William james, John Robson, Gabriel clerk, eleazar Duncum, and Thomas car, Prebendaries of Durham: and against William Lawd Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Charles Caesar, Sir John Lamb, William Sammes, edmond Pope, D. Aylott, High Commissioners of the Province of Canterbury: and against John Scott Dean of york, Phinees Hodshon, Henry Wickham, George Stanhope, Prebendaries of york, Sir George Radcliffe, William Easdall, John Bramhall now Bishop of Derry in Ireland, Richard Perrott, edmond key, Richard Marsh, Timothy Thriscrosse, Robert falcon, Henry Thriscrosse, John Lively, Tho. Burwell, High Commissioners of the Province of york, and Roger Blanchard, pursuivant to the said High-Commission, and against Sir Francis Windebanke, for several crimes and misdemeanours.  
The Impeachment.  
1 THat after the death of D. James late Bishop of Durham, D. neal succeeding him in that bishopric, during the time he was Bishop, the said D. cousin, Ferd. Morecroft, George Morecroft, William James, John Robson, Gabriel Clerk, together with Richard Hunt late dean, and others late Prebendaries of Durham, took away the Communion Table of that Cathedrall Church, and erected an Altar of Marble stones set upon columns, with many Cherubims thereupon, and a carved screen curiously painted and guilded set over the same. Which Altar, Copes, Organs, Images, Pictures, with other furniture, and unlawful alterations in the said Church cost the said dean and Chapter above two thousand pound.  
To which Altar thus set up were frequent bowing, which bowing did increase after D. cousin came to be Prebend there, few going or coming into the said Church without low obeisance: and D. cousin did officiate at the said Altar with his face toward the East, and back toward the people, at the time of the Administration of the holy Communion.  
2 That the said Dean and Prebendaries bought one Cope found in a search for antiscripturists, whereupon was embroidered the image of the Trinity: viz. an old mans face, a crucifix, and a dove; and other two Copes, one having a crucifix upon it, which because they were short, they cut and made into one, whereby the crucifix fell upon the hinder part of him that bare it. And another Cope which cost about two hundred pound, which Copes they frequently used at the Administration of the holy Communion at the said Altar, some of them preaching in a Cope, and sitting to hear Service in a Cope in the said Church.  
3 That the said dean and Prebendaries did also bring in and practise in the said Church sundry innovations in divine Service, both in time, place and manner, changing the Morning Prayer, to which about two hundred persons usually resorted, used for the space of sixty yeares in the Cathedrall Church of Durham, to be red at six a clock plainly and distinctly in a peculiar place appointed for that purpose by Commissioners under the great Seal of England, Septemb. 25. primo Eliz. into solemn Service and singing, both instrumental and vocal, whereby it was brought into so late an hour, that some who formerly frequented the old Morning Prayer, could not attend this. And Judge Hutton in particular complained, that the longnesse and latenesse of it was inconsistent with public employments. And afterwards they took the old Morning Prayer quiter away for divers yeares, and instead thereof divided the ordinary Morning Service, making two of one, whereby there were neither Chapters nor psalms red at ten a clock Prayer.  
4 That the said Dean and Prebendaries set up and renewed many gorgeous images and pictures, three whereof were statues of ston, one of which standing in the midst, represented the picture of Christ, with a golden beard, a blew cap, and Sunrayes upon his head.  
5 That the said Dean and Prebendaries did use an excessive number of candles: more upon a Saints day, then upon the Lords day; And caused the same candles to be lighted in the said Church, in a new, strange and superstitious manner, burning two hundred wax candles in one Candlemas night, whereof there were about sixty upon and about the Altar, where there was no use of light, nor Service then said: whereupon a Popish Priest spake, let us Papists resort to the said Church, to see how D. cousin, and the Prebendaries of Durham do play our apes. D. cousin set up some of these candles himself, and caused others with ladders to set up more round about the choir, some of which the said Dean sent his servant to take down; but D. cousin did struggle with him in time of prayer, to the great disturbance of the congregation: the manner of lighting the candles was this; they caused two Choristers, in their Surplices to come from the West end of the choir, with lighted torches in their hands, who after sundry bowings by the way, to and at the Altar, did light the candles upon the same with their torches: which done, they returned backward with many bowings, their faces toward the Altar, till they came to the choir door: which ceremony of lighting the excessive number of candles came into the said Church after D. cousin was Prebendary.  
6 That the said Dean and Prebendaries did absolutely forbid and prohibit the Psalms in metre to be sung before and after Sermon, and at the Administration of the holy Communion: and instead thereof turned prayers and pieces of reading psalms into Anthems and caused them to be sung, so that the people understood not whether they were prayers or no. Whereupon D. cousin observing that they kneeled not, sent Vergerers to some to command them, and spake to others himself, saying, Masters you must kneel, it is a prayer, you must kneel. And they caused an Anthem to be sung which was not the Word of God; as namely the three Kings of Cullen: Jaspar, Melchior, and balthasar, and caused the Organs to play, and the whole choir to sing, at the Administration of both the Sacraments; to the great disturbance of those holy Actions.  
7 That the said dean and Prebendaries caused many pictures, and carved Images( besides those that were in the said Church) to be set upon the Font, amongst which was a Dove carved, and the four Evangelists, and John baptizing Christ in jordan painted; which did appear at the opening of the Font: which Font they caused to be removed from the ancient usual place in the choir, where it formerly stood; and placed it out of the choir, where divine Service is never red.  
8 That the said Dean and Prebendaries did cause a knife to be kept in the Vestrey for cutting of the sacramental bread, being appropriated only for that use: And was commonly called, known, and shewed to those who came to see the gay ornaments of the Church, by the name of the consecrated knife. And D. cousin did consecrate the cushions and forms by crossing them, before the people came to the Communion.  
9 That the said Dean and Prebendaries did employ a Painter, and glazier( professed Papists) to serve the said Cathedrall Church in their several uses: and brought in, and practised in the said Church several other superstitious Innovations tending to Idolatry.  
10 That D. cousin preaching in the said Church upon the parable of the tares, said, That the reformers of our Church, when they took away the mass, took away or marred all religion, and the whole service of God: they called it a reformation, but it was indeed a deformation: And that the mass was not so taken away, but that the presence of Christ still remaineth; and that if the reformation were otherwise, it were not a reformed but a deformed religion. And that he meant of a corporal presence was plain, for that he complained afterward in the said Sermon, that some had thrust out the presence of Christ: and he likewise said, that in Q. Elizabeths time when Popery was put out, the reformation was a deformation, and instead of bringing in order, they brought in ordure.  
11 That D. cousin persuading a Papist to come to Church, said, that the Body of Christ was substantially and really in the Sacrament: and showing him the new Service-Book intended for Scotland, he said, it was all one with theirs of the Romish Church, for there was in it, the Introit, the Epistle, Gospel, Offertory, Canon, Consecration, Communion& Post-Communion.  
12 That D. cousin at a public dinner said, That the King was not supreme Head of the Church in England, nor could be so called; for which, and introducing and practising of several the said Ceremonies, he was indicted at the general Assizes in Durham, 1629. and Billa vera returned,& spoken other scandalous, scornful and malicious words against His Majesties supremacy.  
13 That these innovations in the Communion-Table, Font, Candles, Pictures, Images, Copes, Singing, Vestments, Gestures, Prayers, Doctrines, and speeches of the said cousin;& the other alterations being unlawfully introduced,& practised in the said Cathedrall Church by the said Dean& Prebends, Peter Smart one of the Prebends aforesaid, opposed the same, and in discharge of his duty, place and calling did upon July 27. 1628. being the Lords day, preach in the said Church against the same, reproving these innovations,& innovators,& exhorted the people to keep themselves from the infections of them, in which Sermon there was nothing scandalous, nor disagreeable to the Word of God, the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England.  
14 That notwithstanding the said D. cousin, both upon M. Smarts reading his Text, and going on in his Sermon suitable thereunto: very turbulently demeaned himself in the said Church; and the Sermon being ended, M. Smarts troubles began, for there was not one day set between his preaching and his punishment, for the said D. cousin and William james, together with others since deceased, the same Lords day did sand a Warrant in the nature of an Attatchment, under the high-Commission seal for that Province, by two pursuivants, to convent him before them: whereupon he personally appeared, and delivered to them the imperfect notes of his Sermon, which were sealed up, and he ordered to attend the next day, that the same might be truly copied out as he preached them, and as he should deliver them upon oath, and be bound in a recognisance of 100. pound to appear before them upon a days warning: but the said Dean and Prebendaries contrary to their order, did break up the seals, and wrote out several copies of the imperfect notes, and sent them to London to several Bishops. And the same day D. cousin asked the advice of a counsellor, whether he might not break open M. Smarts doors to search for papers, adding this reason, because the Lords of the counsel did so. And afterward the said Dean and Prebendaries, with John Lively and D. Easdell, were informers, prosecutors and Judges for six moneths against the said Peter Smart at Durham for the same, where they censured him by two Acts of Sequestration, and one of Suspension, and kept him ex officio in continual personal attendance under great bonds, and pains of excommunication about four moneths before there were any Articles exhibited against him; and five moneths before any Proctor was allowed him, and after he had there answered Articles upon oath, and six moneths detention before them; they caused a Warrant under the High-Commission Seal for the Province of Canterbury, and hands of William Lawd Bishop of London, Samuel Harsnet Bishop of Norwich, D. Caesar and D. Sammes, to be served upon him for his appearance at London; and afterward by Act in Court unlawfully transmitted him to London, to answer in the High Commission there for the same cause.  
That the 12. of February 1628. M. Smart appearing at London before William then Bishop of London, now Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir John Lamb, Edm. Pope, W. Sammes and D. Aleif, together with others deceased, they forced him to take the oath ex officio again, to answer Articles, which the said Archbishop said were matters of high nature against him, and ordered him to be examined thereupon before his departure out of London; and to be proceeded against ex officio, because the said Dean and Prebendaries had recommended the cause thither: according to which order M. Smart attended several times upon the Register of the said High-Commission to answer, but could never get any Articles. And the said 23. of april 1629. the said Archbishop, Bishop of Ely, and others did transmit him and the cause, with all the letters and complaints of the said Dean and Prebendaries against him unto york unto the High-Commission there without any allowance of charges for his unjust vexation at London; because he was convented thither, and proceeded against upon complaint of the said Dean and Prebendaries, and refused to admit of M. Smarts Articles against them, although he offered sufficient bond of a thousand pound to prove the same, saying, they would not suffer such worthy men to be questioned.  
15. That the 20 of June, Samuel then Arch-Bishop of York, Doctor Hodgson, and others, sent a Warrant under the High-Commission seal for that Province, to convent him before them at York: And upon his appearance forced him to take the Oath ex Officio to answer Articles, and afterward unlawfully fined him five hundred pound by intimation, and certified the same into the Exchequer, and in November following committed him unlawfully to prison, and in December, committed him again, and forced him again to take a fourth oath ex Officio, to answer Articles Additionalls, and continued him in vexatious attendance before them under great bonds until the third of August 1630. when they proceeded to sentence ex parte: having sundry times before denied him a commission to examine witnesses on his behalf, interrupted his counsel, and suffered not the brief of his defence to be red; And made many bitter invective speeches against him, and decreed that he should make a Recantation, conceptis verbis, as it should be delivered to him in three several places, in York, and Durham, to be suspended totally ab officio, fined 400 pound, condemned in costs of svit, and committed to prison.  
16 That the second of September following, they excommunicated him, November the 10 sequestered all his ecclesiastical livings, and Novemb. 18. they degraded him, ab omni gradu& dignitate clericali, because he did not recant, and pay costs: by colour of which degradation, his Prebendship, which Doctor car hath most injuriously ever since enjoyed, and Parsonage were both taken from him, and he ever since hath been kept in prison, and lain under all the said several censures, and endured divers other unconscionable, and unjust Acts and proceedings, both at Durham, London, and York; By which heavy and unjust oppressions, his life hath been several times evidently endangered, and he and his children, lost and spent above 14000 pound of real estate, whereby they are utterly undone.  
17 That M. Smart Pasch. 5. Car. Reg. brought an action of false imprisonment in the Kings Bench, against D. Hodgson, D. Easdall, and Roger Blanchard their pursuivant, for their said two unjust commitments before their sentence, and after seven terms spent in delays, and several peremptory orders for them to pled, he obtained judgement upon a nihil dicit, and 600 pound damages upon a writ of Enquiry, which was returned into the said Court; And by the then Judges over-ruled, and M. Smart ordered to accept a long and frivolous plea contrary to the opinion of Judge Crook; to which plea he demurred, but could not get it argued, whereby he never received any benefit or profit thereof.  
18 That in July 1638 M. Smart having obtained his Majesties most gracious reference in his behalf, unto the now Bishop of Durham, Secretary Windebank did revoke the same, by his Letter to the said Bishop; who upon receipt thereof, sent two pursuivants with a warrant under the High Commission seal for that Province, signed by himself, Thomas Burwell, and others; whereby he was apprehended, and carried prisoner unto Durham, where he remained prisoner above six weekes: And from thence brought him prisoner in a cart to London, to the said Secretary, who remanded him prisoner to the Kings Bench; and about two dayes after, by the said Secretaries command was taken out of his own chamber, and put into the common prison, where he remained about a month, and sixteen weekes more close prisoner, in his own chamber, upon pretence that he had been at Glascow in Scotland, preaching and instigating the Scotts against episcopal Government: whereas he was never in Glascow in his life, nor had directly nor indirectly any intelligence with the Scots. Vpon which his said imprisonment, he several times petitioned the said Secretary, Lord Bishop, Arch-Bishop, and his Majesty, but could never get any release or examination thereof; All which he hath, and is still ready to prove; by which unjust, cruel, and illegal Acts, and proceedings, of the said Bishop, Dean and Chapter of Durham, and the said high Commission of London and York, religion hath been mightily scandalised, the Church polluted, Iustice perverted, the laws ecclesiastical and temporal, and the lawful liberty of the Subjects of this kingdom violated and infringed: And the said Peter Smart, his wife children and family most unjustly and unchristianly undone, and ruined, to the great dishonour of God, maintenance of injustice, and pernicious example to posterity.  
All which said matters and things, the Commons do transmit to your Lordships; and impeach all the said parties delinquent, to the end that they may be called to answer their several crimes, and receive such condign punishment: And M. Smart such reparations jointly and severally from them all both for the said losses, and also for his damage here by sustained, and that he be restored to his ecclesiastical dignity, and living: and all the said sentences, and proceedings may be declared to be illegal, and unjust. And that such further proceedings, examinations, trials and judgments be upon every of them had, and used, as is agreeable to law and Justice.   
As soon as this Declaration was red to the Lords, M. Rous proceeded thus.  
My Lords,  
I Am now to discover the root of M. Smarts persecution: Your Lordships have heard of a great design to bring in Popery: you have heard of armies of souldiers, and particularly of the Popish Irish Army, the burden and complaint of the Commons: but there is another Army not so much spoken of, and that is an Army of Priests: for since Altars came in( so they delight to be called) it is a saying of Gregory the great, that when Antichrist is come, Praeparatus est exercitus Sacerdotum, there is an Army of Priests ready to receive him: this is fulfilled in our time, for certainly this Army of Priests doth many ways advance the design and plot of Popery.  
A first is, by the subversion of our laws and government: our Laws and Popery cannot stand together, but either Popery must overthrow our laws, or our laws must overthrow Popery: but to overthrow our laws, they must overthrow Parliaments: and to overthrow Parliaments, they must overthrow property: they must bring the Subjects goods to be arbitrarily disposed, that so there may be no need of Parliaments. This hath been done by D. Manwaring( whom we find wanting yet not in the seats, but at the bar of the Lords House) and the like by D. Beale, and I think it was the intent of the late Canons.  
A second way, by which this Army of Priests advanceth this Popish design, is the way of treaty: this hath been acted both by writings and conference: Sancta Clara himself saith, Doctissimi eorum quibuscunque egi: so it seems they have had conference together: and Sancta Clara on his part labours to bring the Articles of our Church to Popery, and some of our side labour to meet him in the way: we have a testimony that the great Arch-Priest himself hath said, It were no hard matter to make a reconciliation if a wise man had the handling of it. But I verily believe, as the state of Papacy stands, a far wiser man then he cannot reconcile us without the loss of our Religion: for the Pope being fastened to his errors, even by his chair of inerrability, he sits still unmoved, and so we cannot meet, except we come wholly to him. A man standing in a boat tied to a rock, when he draws the rope, doth not draw the rock to the boat, but the boat to the rock. And Sancta Clara doth( in this somewhat honestly) confess it: for he saith he dealt in this way of treaty, not to draw the Church to the Protestants, but the Protestants to the Church.  
A third way is a way of violence: this violence they exercise, partly by secular Arms, and partly by Priestly arms, which they call spiritual: for secular arms, we have their own confession, that the late war was Bellum Episcopale: and we have the Papists confession, that it was Bellum Papale: for in their motives they say, that the war concerns them not only as subjects, but as catholics: for so they falsely call themselves: and if it be so, then bellum episcopale is also bellum pap●… in the episcopal war the papal cause is advanced: for the spiritual arms, thus they come to execution. When a great man is coming, h●… sumpters, his furniture, his provisions go before: the Popes furnit●…, Altars and Copes, Pictures and Images are come before: and if we believe D. cousin, the very substance of the mass: a certain sign the the Pope was not far off. Now these fore-runners being come, if any man resist them, fire comes out of the brambles, and devours the Cedars of Libanus: the Army of Priests fals upon him with their arms of suspension, Sequestration, Excommunication, Degradation and Deprivation. And by these arms hath M. Smart been oppressed and undone, he fals upon their superstitions and innovations, and they fall upon him with their arms: they beat him down, yea they pull him up by the roots, taking away all his means of maintenance and living, yet they leave him life to feel his miseries: Ita feriunt ut diu se sentiat mori, there is no cruelty to priestly cruelty: these are they that did put our very Saviour to death: the calling is reverend, but the corruption is most pernicious: Corruptio optimi peffima: I know no reason of this change, except it be that of the Apostle, because when they knew God, they did not worship him as God, but made a god of this world, placing the excellency of Priesthood in worldly pomp and greatness: and gave the glory of the invisible God to pictures, images and altars: therefore God gave them up to vile affections, to be implacable, unmerciful, and without natural affection. But whatsoever the cause is of their corruption, certainly their arms have fallen heavy upon M. Smart, and priestly cruelty hath cast him into a long misery, from which he could get no release by any priestly mercy.  
And now it is prayed, that as these delinquents by the cruel oppressions of M. Smart have advanced the cause of Popery, so they may in such a degree of justice be punished, that in them priestly cruelty, and the very cause of Popery may appear to be punished and suppressed: And that M. Smart, suffering for the cause of Protestancy, may be so repaired, that in him pious constancy, and the very cause of Protest●… may appear to be righted and repaired.  
FINIS.