Master William Thomas Esquire His SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT, June 1641.  
Concerning Deans, and their Office, what it was originally, and what it is at this present, and being proved to be for little use, yea of great abuse, therefore declared not only unnecessary, but ought rather to be utterly abolished.  
Printed at London by Tho Harper, 1641.   

Mr. WILLIAM THOMAS his speech in Parliament.  
I Have heretofore delivered the reasons, that induced me, to yield my several votes touching the corruption and unsoundness of the present episcopacy and Church government, so for their unlawfulness of their intermeddling in secular affairs; and using civil power, as also the harm and noxiousness of their sitting as members in the Lord's house, and judges in that most honourable and high Court: Now I crave leave to do the like in showing the reasons of my vote concerning Deans and their office: I say that my opinion then was and now is that as the office is unnecessary, themselves useless, so the subsistence of the one and continuance of the other needless; nay rather, as I will declare, most hurtful, therefore may be easily spared, any rather ought to be abolished; my reasons are these, that the office of D●anes doth ●●●ther tend or conduce (as some have alleged) to the honour of God, the propagation of piety, the advancement of learning, or benefit of the commonweal, but ● contra, that they occasion the dishonour and disservice of God, the hindrance, if not destruction of piety, the suppression and discouragement of learning and learned men, and the detriment and prejudice of Church and Common weal; this 〈◊〉 conceive I shall make most apparent, if time and your patience will permit: But first I humbly crave leave (and I think it will not be impertinent) to declare what Deans were originally in their first birth; secondly, what in their increase and further growth; and lastly, their present condition, being at their full, and, as I think, their final period.  
As to their original, it is not to be denied but themselves and office are of great antiquity, St. Augustine declaring both; but I do not say that it is an ancient office in the church, but what Officers Deans than were, be pleased to hear from Saint Augustine's own delivery in his book 〈◊〉 M●ribus Ecclesi● Gatholica, if that book, as also that of Monachoru● be his, which Erasmus and others have doubted: The Monks (saith he) for their more retiredness and better contemplation, appointed Officers which they called De●●●●, the office of them, and why they were so called, how delivereth in these words as 〈◊〉 as I remember, Opus a●tem 〈◊〉 quas Decanos vocant, e● quad sunt denis pr●pos●●● 〈…〉 〈◊〉 suicorpor is tangat, neque in 〈◊〉 in vestimento, neque so quid ●luid vel qu●tidiane necessitate vel mutate (nt asso●e●●) vale●●dini, hi 〈◊〉 Decani magna solicitu dine, omnia dispo●enses & presto facientes quicquid illa vita propter imbecilitatem corpor is postulot.  
Here we see the office of Deans in Saint Augustins' time, antiquity sufficient, but not antiquity for being officers of the Church, therefore they do not rightly pluad antiquity, as to the point now controverted, the question being whether the office as now it is exercised, be the same that it was then, sure they shall find it not only diff●rent, but in a manner quite contrary; they are deceived that urgo in, but alloy 〈◊〉 to know that this 〈…〉 is able to discern and distinguish and 〈…〉 face of 〈◊〉 from the true, and in vain do they (when the Gib.) labour to deceive as by old 〈◊〉; old shoes, old garments, old 〈◊〉, and old bread that is dry and ●●ould●●y therefore to no purpose, and causeles●● 〈◊〉 they charge unto 〈◊〉 novelty; and to offer to take away Church-governors and government. What those men, I mean Deans, were originally we had how they came to be 〈◊〉 and of the Ministers, and for what cause, I shall here after declare; but we m●y not think this charging of us as innovators strange; when as Christ himself had his doctrine censured as new; what Doctrine is this saith the Jews; Mark 1. 17. we are not then to expect that we shall escape the like censure of innovating.  
The servant is not above his Lord, nor the Disciple above his Master; and indeed so St. Paul found it, for the Grecians made the same demand to him: May we (say they) know what this new doctrine is where of thou speakest; Acts17. But let us liberare animas nostras; conscientiae satisfaciamus, nihil infamam laboremus, consentiamus i● ea quod convenit, non in eo quod traditum.  
But to return where I left, granting the name and office, we find them to be only Caterers or Stewards to provide food and raiment for the Monks, whose garments, as they were not costly, so was not their fare dainty, being but bread and water; as witnesseth St. Hiero●●, Athanasius, Theodoret, and others. And Surius in the life of Pacho mus, written 1200 year since, testifieth the same. To have the like employment now, I neither deny nor envy them.  
Well now, let us see how they increased in authority, and came to be accounted officers of great dignity; then thus, when for the austerity of their lives, and opinion of their sanctity, Princes and othere did besto●e lands and revenues upon the Monks, than their praposits the Deans did partake of their honours and possessions, and then began the corruption and poisoning of them; Tunc venenum 〈◊〉 in Decan. religio peperit divit●● & filia 〈◊〉 〈…〉. Answerable whereto is that of Saint Hierom, In vitas Patrum, since holy Church increased in possessions, it decreased in virtues; the like hath Saint Bernard, and many others.  
Thus we see that the spring that was clear in the barren mountains, descending down to the richer valleys, becomes thick and muddy, and at last is swallowed by the brinish Ocean; Salsum perdulces imbibet Aequor aquas. But to deliver. It in the words of an Honourable author: Time, saith he, is most truly compared to a stream that conveyeth down fresh and pure water into the salt Sea of corruption which invironeth all human actions, and therefore if a man shall not by his industry, virtue, and pol●cy, as it were with the oar, row against the stream and inclination of time, all institutions and ordinances be they never so pure) will corrupt and degenerate; which we shall sea verified in Deans and their officers. For now being endowed with great possessions, it was ordained they should be chosen out of the Presbytery to that place, Ne sit Decanum nice Presbyter, as I find in Saint Bernard. Well, did they test in this state and condition● No, they must be civil Magistrates, Chancellors or Keepers of the Scale, Lord Treasurers, privy councillors, or what have they not of lay offices dignities, and titles? I will not●●●● ble you with enumeration of particular Dea●●s I will only cite one, though (if the time permitted) I might cite 21. and that is a Dean of Paul, about Anno 1197. who was made Lord Treasurer, who carrying that office, quickly hoarded up a great treasure; at last falling into a deadly disease past recovery, he was exhorted by the Bishops and great men to receive the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood, which he trembling at refused to do; whereupon the King admonished and commanded him to do it, he promised him thereupon to do it the next day. Being admonished to make his will, he commanded all to void the room but one Scribe. Who beginning to write his Will in the accustomed forms, In the name of the Father, of the son, &c. the Deane perceiving it, commanded him in a rage to blot it out, and these words only to be written: I bequeathe all my goods to my Lord the King, my body to the grave, and my soul to the Devils; which being uttered, he gave up the ghost. The King hereupon commanded his carcase to be carried into a cart, and drowned in the River. Good God, what a change is this from being humble servants to poor monks, to become proud Prelates, Peers to Princes, Quantum mutati ab illi●, nunc Cigni quomodo Corvi. They now forsake their Templa paupe 〈…〉, & Templa pietatis, tanqum noxia nomins and only ●llow and make choice of Templa honour is, & Templa fortunae. They then took care for the ●oore Monastery, but now poorly care for the ministry: and to speak no less truly then plainly, they do either just nothing, or (what is worse) nothing that is just. But not to tra●e them further, let us examine what their present office is, which we find so honoured and dignified.  
In the Constitutions of H. 8. and E. 6. thus I read, Decani quoque cum in Clero amplu● dignitalem & locum honoratum in Bcclesia soitiantur Presbyteri sun●o, viri graves docti & magna prudentlainsignes Cathedrales Ecclesias juxta illarum Constitutiones regant, Collegiotam Canonicorum quam Clericorum Ecclesiae majoris praesint, neque discipli●●m lab● sinant, providiantque s●rmma diligen●ia ●t in●sna Ecclesia sacred vitue or 〈◊〉 just a rat●ene perigantur 〈◊〉 omni ordine & convenienti gravitat● a●fratrum ●tilitat. agantur, 〈◊〉 ●rehidiaconi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 domi hoc est in Ecclesia Cashedrali & ejus Ca●nicis & Clericis Episcopo sint adjumento quast duo 〈◊〉 membr. utilissima & necessaria. Quare 〈◊〉 Decani abesse debent asua Ecclesia 〈◊〉 maxima & ●words gentissima causa ab Episcopo approbanda. I have delivered the whole Chapter entire, because I would deal clearly.  
Afterwards in the ninth Chapter I read preaching to be part of their duty. Concionens habeat hecanus in Ecclesia Cathedrali singulis diebus dominicis  
Thus their office is declared to be these particulars following.  
1. To rule and order the Church, and to look to the repair, and for the decoration thereof, as is also elsewhere enjoined.  
2. To preserve discipline and holy rites.  
3. To be adjuments or assistants to the Bishops in Cathedrals, as be the Archdeacons abroad.  
Part of which assistance is, as seemeth, to preach for them, but the Bishops will excuse them that service as too painful, nay forbid it as too dangerous; but though they will not busy themselves in preaching, yet have they leisure to be inventive and operative in poor beggarly toys and trifles, which neither bring honour to God nor good to the Church and people; their preaching and godly life did anciently win the people's hearts to love God, and them as his Ministers, whom they received as Angels of God, ambassadors from heaven: humility, piety and industry laid the foundation of all those magnificent structures, dignities, titles, places, revenues and privileges wherewith the churchmen were anciently endowed, what hath or is likely to wast and demolish them is easy to conjecture; King James hath delivered it in these words. The natural sickness that hath ever troubled and been the decay of all Churches since the beginning of the world, hath been pride, ambition, and avarice, and these infirmities wrought the overthrow of the popish Church, in this country and diverse others; but the reformation of Religion in Scotland was extraordinarily wrought by God, though many things were inordinately done by such as blindly were doing the work of God. Thus far that wife and religious Prince.  
But lest I should forget a principal part of the office, Church music, it shall have here the first place, the rather, for that as I read the first coming in thereof was to usher Antichrist, for Idoe find in my reading that Anno 666. the year that was designed or computed, for the coming of Antichrist, Vitalian Bishop of Rome brought to the Chirch singing of service and the use of Organs, &c. as we read in Plas, Baleus, and others, in the life of Vitalian, who therefore was called the musical Pope, although at that time there was greater occasion of sorrow, the Longobards having entered and wasted Italy, and therefore fasting and praying had been more proper than music and melodious singing. Here upon (saith mine Author) ignorance arose among the people, lulled, (as it were) asleep by the confused noixe of many voices. This carried colour of advancing devotion, although it was no better (as the case then stood) than the Altar erected to the unknown God, Acts 17. Hereby the key of knowledge was hid, Luke 11. When the common people understood not what was sung. and the heat of 〈◊〉 quenched in men of understanding whose ears were tickled, but hearts not touched, whilst (at St. Augustine complaineth of himself) so most were more moved by the sweetness of the long then by the sense of the matter, which was ●ung unto them, working their bane, like the deadly touch of the Aspis in a tickling delight, or as the soft touch of the Hien●, which doth infatuate and lull asleep and then devoureth; if Service in the Latin or unknown tongue, whereof the simplest people understood somewhat, was justly censured, certainly this manner of singing psalms and Service, whereof the most learned can understand nothing, is to be condemned: I dislike not singing, though by music of Organs and other instruments, but I wish that what 〈◊〉 sung may be understood; and as Justinian the Emperor commanded all Bishops and Priests to celebia●● prayer with a loud & clear voice, 〈◊〉 mode, that the minds of the hearers might be sti●red up with more devotion to express the praises of God, so wish I, that Service and psalms may be so read and sung that they may be understood, and so edify the mind as well as please the ear.  
Now I am to declare that this office doth neither tend to the honour of God, the propagation of piety, the advancement of learning, or benefit of the common weal, but to the contrary, as I have delivered, rather to the dishonour, &c. But the day being so far spent, I will not assume too much boldness to press upon your patience, for further hearing thereof, but will crave leave for further rendering thereof at fitter opportunity and your better co●veniency.  
FINIS.