THE BISHOP'S MANIFEST: OR, A Comparative Relation of conformity of the English Prelates to those treacherous and deceitful ones in the Reign of King Hen. the eighth.  
Wherein more knavery of theirs is discovered to the world than we think of; in which many of their notorious pranks are made known.  
Humbly presented to the High Court of PARLIAMENT.   English royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE 
LONDON: Printed for W.R. 1641.   

THE BISHOPS MANIFEST.  
1. AS the prestigious Priests in their Woolfe-like ravening under Rome's cruelty, 
H. Stalbridge his Epistaprinted at Basill.  Ann. 1530. were as deceitful as crafty foxes; in whose dens were bred such cruel Adders as have ever since carried stings in their tails to oppress the Church of God, So are those Fox's whelps now become not only as subtle as their Dams, but as cruel as their Sires in their subtleties.  
2. In that Reforming Parliament, 
Rho Mors his Lamentation, title of Ch. 23. B. Hall his Remonstrance, & Replies, and any of them all will now confess it.  the Prelates pretended to be fearful of the destruction of the Church, and the ceasing of that glory in which this kingdom than was, and therefore pretended to take great care for both. And thus do our Prelates imitate them; if we remove them and their Discipline, they traduce us to believe, there will never be any settlement in the Church of England, and if they be taken from their palaces, and dignities, all the glory of this Nation will be eclipsed.  
But for all the cruelty of those Romish Wolveses that were then resident in this Island, 
Hol. Chronicl. Prelates like Satan can transform themselves into Angels of light.  yet were they such subtle foxes, that when they saw that the Roman jurisdiction was contemptible, they then put upon them the skins of those Lambs which before they had devoured, as if they had been those harmless ones: they joined, as if they had been both associates, and assistants in the work; and therefore pretended not only to write, but to swear solemnly against that Roman jurisdiction; nay they would pretend any thing, and transform themselves into any shape, so they might but hold their live, and be permitted in their dominions, and dignities, as they did Anno 1534. And just of their disposition are our Prelates now, 
They are apparent by the Protestation enemies.  for whereas (as who will may clearly enough perceive) that they are more cruel now against the poor Protestants, than any wolf's: witness their cruelty (to their power) executed in their Courts, their forwardness against the Protestants in Scotland, to work their overthrow; their backwardness to have the poor distressed Protestants in Ireland relieved, 
The Prelates were willing to help against Scotland, but have no pity to the poor Protestants in Ireland to help them. H. Sta. Epist.  or the Rebels there subdued: they would give great sums to devour the Protestants in Scotland, or England, or any where indeed; But where is one of them now, that will part with any thing to hasten the expedition against the cruel Adders, and viperous Rebels in Ireland, that have crept from under the Rubbish of their heaps, that have been bred in their dwellings: And yet now they see the whole Land to lament for these poor distressed Protestants in Ireland, they dare not be so bold as to make a show of siding with the Rebels, but we may easily perceive what lies at their hearts, when the Scots risen, they soon procured them to be proclaimed Rebels; but now the Devil, and Rome, and Prelates, and Papists, and Rebels, rise in Ireland, they never solicit the King for any such matter (I warrant you.) They sit in Parliament, and they will make a show to the world to join with the Parliament in the great work they are about. But have we not just cause to complain against them, that they are but as knots in the thread that should sew up the Seams and Rents of these Kingdoms, and yet they sit as Agents in the work; And what hath been done there, they (but how unwillingly who doth not know) have assented to? Nay, they have taken the Oath too, 
Prelates took the Protestation only to colour and daub over their Popery and Innovations.  in which they have protested against all Popery, and Popish Innovations; they have grown brazen faced ever since, they are hardened now, they have got whores foreheads; and instead of scarlet blush (which they affect well enough too) they have got black and white obstinacy, and will be daunted with nothing. And yet indeed now as the case stands, they are willing a while to preach, they will be ruled by the Parliament, they will forsake their Canon Law, they will be the King's Bishops, they will stoop to any thing now, so they may abide in their live, and enjoy their dominions and dignities; which if they be let alone, they hope in short time to rise up again as high as ever.  
4. Now if we do but examine the matter, 
B. of Martyrs, Rh. Mo. Ch. 23.  we shall find how deceitful those Prelates were. For after they had thus bound themselves by their own cords, and past it over as before, 
Fox's Acts and Monuments.  which they did to make the King and State believe, that the Pope's jurisdiction, and all Popery was utterly banished out of England, 
See Tho. Walls. Ypodigma Neustriae, Ann. 1371.1.132.  and that all was now settled for the conforming of the Protestant Church here; But see how both the King and the State was deceived by them; a company of base dissembling Prelates (that they were) for the very same day they both by word and letter, at home, and abroad, took all occasions to draw back King Hen. the 8. his Highness from Reformation.  
And are not our Prelates now as false as they? who for all they have passed the Oath, and protested against Popery, and entry into Covenant with the Lord by the said Protestation, to make the King and State believe, that all Poperd was banished from their hearts; yet how have they juggled in the business, 
Prelates are Jugglers, even the most modern of them are faulty herein. B. Hall Arch. B. of York, etc.  and dealt deceitfully with us already, even since their Protestation. Themselves still maintain their former Popish dominions, and government, and discipline; many and great points of Popish doctrine, labouring to bind men's consciences to observe their Lithergie, and many of their Innovations; and those of them in whom was the greatest hopes (if any: 
How notorious is their Protestation against the high and honourable assembly in Parliament, Decemb. 30. 1641.  One hath since purchased an Archbishopric, and what his Adherents be, the exploits of his Abbey-lubbers can testify: And is it not too apparently manifest to us all, how active the whole body of the Popish Prelates have been against Reformation: Have not they been the greatest trouble both to his Majesty, and both the Houses of Parliament hitherto in the great Work they are about.  
5. On the other hand, 
8. Martyrs, Epist. of Gr. F. La. Is. Cr.  those Prelates, Anno 1540 did procure Injunctions and Articles, with penalties attended; and themselves sat in Commission, and were the chief prosecutors of such as withstood them. And is not the spirit of our Popish Prelates at this day so qualified also?  

The Prelate's labour to hinder Reformation all they can.  Have they not already procured votes in the Upper House for the strict observance of their Lithergie, and a Proclamation from the King's Majesty also, have they not taken all the pains, and made all the friends they can, and used all the policy that they can invent, to have Reformation broken off, and their tyranny to be brought on foot again; have they not (even at this day) set the Land in a great fear of them? Witness Decem. 30. 1641.  
6. Their attempts afterward appeared more plain, to be both against the King, the Queen, the State, the Church: 
Queen Katherine Parr Earl Cromwell, &c  yea and the whole Land too; for all their pretences, and deceitful boastings: They appeared to be but Wolveses in Fox skins, for they were the chief cause then in attempting of the death of the Queen, of some good Nobles, and many faithful subjects besides.  

They by their deal with us expose both King, Queen, Prince, Parliament, &c to danger.  And our Prelates are their right shapen sons, qualified with as blood thirsty spirits as they; Do they not to this day expose the whole Land to danger for them, sparing neither King, Queen, Prince, State's, Parliament, Church, nor the whole land? Do they not more earnestly solicit for seven condemned Jesuits, then for the poor distressed Kingdom of Ireland? nay doth it not easily appear, that they had rather expose us all to the merciless cruelty of the Popish, than themselves to be bercaft of their Pope-like domineering.  

They are blood suckers.  In a word, how do the Papists Prelates in Ireland suck the English Protestant blood there? And how do the English Prelates labour daily to make England to become a slaughter house to them, that thereby they may share our blood amongst them, and so we become their prey.  

English Chro. B. Matter.  7. King Hen. his Prelates caused divers godly Citizens of London, and other Ministers, and godly people to be imprisoned; cast into the fiery flames, and stirred up the State against them, even at the same time, when others died for executing their office under the Pope, and adhering to the Bishop of Rome.  

They are jesuites friend, but Protestants enemies.  And at this day when such care is taken against Popish Priests and Jesuits (as God be thanked there is) and some have suffered: and if it were not for the Prelates, doubtless the others would also▪ yet how do our Prelates inveigh against the City, and divers godly Ministers, and people of God, witness Ireland, who hath been the cause that Kingdom had relief no sooner: Was it not the English Prelates? Who was it that stirred up the Constables about Westminster, to withstand the City, was it not they? Do not they agree in Parliament with the votes of the Popish Lords against Reformation?  

They would take upon them to settle the Land, a fine way to bring in Popery, if they could obtain it.  Oh how they take upon them, how they could settle the Land in quietness, when as themselves have been the boy sterous winds that have so disturbed our ways; yet they boast, that if the Puritans, and Brownists, and some Sectaries, as they call them, were cut off, and some of the Citizens, oh then the Land would be quiet. And this they do to the end that they might gain an opportunity again to share the Romish government of the Land amongst themselves; which could they obtain, they would so reduce us, that they would soon reduce the Land to Popery, and (we may justly fear) bring us under as much cruelty as ever Queen Mary's Prelates, or King Hen. 8. his Prelates subdued them. Therefore I conclude with Roderick Morse in his Lamentation, Oh England, England, 
The Conclusion.  if thou wilt banish Antichrist, and the Pope out of this Realm, thou must fallen down to the ground those rotten Posts the Bishops (which be clouds with out moisture) and utterly abolish all and every his ungodly Laws, Decrees, Traditions, and Ceremonies, without significations; 
No security can be expected till they be removed.  for they do but wait for a time, to rob some Nobleman of his wit. And this is certain, that as the Pope is enemy to the Gospel, so be his children the lesser Bishops; therefore they cannot be suffered thus to reign, except we be partakers of their iniquity, and spillers with them of the blood of the Righteous.  
FINIS.