THE CLERGYES BILL of COMPLAINT, OR Submissive suit of one in the behalf of all the Orthodox and great Sorrow-suffering Churchmen throughout England.  
EXHIBITED To the most honourable Houses of Parliament, Against Brownists, Anabaptists, and other Schismatics, showing amongst other things, How the material Churches on earth and our Reverend Divines are made despicable through their misdemeanours.  
BESIDES Necessary Annotations in the end, whereunto the Reader is respectively referred by certain Alphabetical Letters, from A to T included in several lines to this work.  
AT OXFORD, Printed for LEONARD LICHFIELD Printer to the University, 1643.   


The Clergies Complaint.  
I Am not ignorant, what a numerous and almost infinite issue of bastard Books daily comes to light: Even the very streets of the most populous Metropolis or Mother-City, being spread with petty Pamphlets not worth a rotten thread, of no value: Yea, this present day seemeth to procreate more books than Babes: the books (it skils not what they be) b●ing begotten even by Eunuches, and brought forth by the Barren; Certainly▪ if the late offsprings of the Press, which this over-scribling Age hath extruded, any one would number, Arithmetic could hardly give him satisfaction. What need many words? A greater number of books hath been printed at London within this year and half past, then at either of the Universities from the very Cradle, or invention of the typographical Art. Insomuch as that complaint of Famianus Strada touching the prodigious plenty of books, is true. Obruimur libris, Oculi legendo, manus volitando dolent; that is, We are overcloyed with books, our eyes are pained with reading, and our hands with turning over leaves. (a) O egregious future spoils for the Moths and Worms, unless the most devoted lovers of the Nicotian Deity do in the interim sacrifice them in flames. Harken thou Tobacco-sucker, (b) that spokest nothing but fumes, and as the Virgilian Laws, 
Faucibus ingentem fumum, mirabile dictu  
Evomis, involvisque domum caligine caeca  
Prospectum eripiens oculis.   
That is, 
(b) Huge fume dost vomit, wondrous to be told,  
And with blind darkness dost thy house involve  
That none can once discern it.   
Behold enough, and too many sheets that may last everlastingly to light thy contagious herb of many appellations. (c) Sheets worthy to be burned in terrestrial flames, and the greatest part of their Authors (being the inventors of so many false and scandalous Relations) in infernal fire.  
Yet, O you reverend Churchmen, pardon me, and you endued with a soul divine, so many, as not only with open mouth, but with public pen (according to the Talents to you committed by the Almighty) have stoutly fought against the monstrous Heretics daily springing up, especially Brownists, the most deeply sworn enemies of our Church; your posterity, I dare say, coming long after you, shall for your vigilancy repay unto your memory most ample thankfulness. I only point at lurking Knaves, and such kind of Rascals of no reputation, risen out of dirt and dung, whose furious Pen defiles the sacred Orders and pious Ordinances with Cartloads of Contumelies. These things, If any one do dream or surmise that I have slanderously uttered, surely he himself is a notable slanderer, and more blind than a Mole, that denies those things which are well known to barbarous and bleere-eyed men, and most notoriously witnessed by many examples. I call to witness the near numberless Pamphlets of men at the highest, but half learned. (d) For what do books of these days prefer, but an incredible multitude of injuries and reproaches? Can any wicked, execrable, inexpiable thing be devised, that such, so many, and immane swarms of new books may not contain? Who now adays betake themselves to write, that think not all liberty of malediction lies open to their hand?  
(e) First of all the Prelates of the Church, chief Pastors of the Christian flock, and supreme Rulers of the Sacred Orders, they inculcate and contemn even to loathing, as of the fraternity of, I know not, what Utopian Antichrist, and that even by that name, because they be settled in the most eminent degree of the Church: and to the end they may colourably deceive Idiots and (f) Globe head or Brownisticall-men. Texts out of the holy Scriptures they do infinitely multiply. That delight and Darling of the Muses properly said, 
Et latro & cantus praecing itur ense viator;  
Scripturam Haeretici Catholicique legunt.  that is, 
The thief and wary traveller goes guarded with a sword,  
The Heretic and Catholic, both read Gods holy word.   
(g) Moreover, our Liturgy, most like the forms of the former and purer age, and most honoured by us and our Grandfathers many years now past, with ● poisoned stile and exulcerated heart they continually pursue. Admit their victorious and overworn Objection. The Liturgy of Engla●d (say they) is extracted o●t of the Romish Rites ●nd Pope's Masses, and therefore to be utterly shunned by those that are pure. O foolish and mad heads! By like right I will pronounce it altogether unlawful to gather Gold from Dunghills to take pearls out of foul Shells and precious stones out of Toads and Dragons. Others, rather to be derided then confuted, as yet more audaciously do accuse it in their stinging and stinking Scribbling scattered abroad to be full of impiety and (which is heinous to be uttered) horrible blasphemy (g) Yea more the Lords Epitome or Abbreviation of the Gospel, the Cannon of Christians and the most omnipotent Prayer (to use th● words of our Germane Elias) now begins (I tremble in the rehearsal) to be evil spoken of (h) But what should those Pies do with this sweet sounding st●ing? Asses (as they say) with this Angelical h●●p●! To conclude, our most religious Rites, as Popish Refeus' and Relics of Romish superstitions, th●y refuse and abhor! Surely in so great vanity of many which are of the Dregs of the vulgar, who yet do take unto them the honourable name of a Div●ne, it is no wonder, that so many inglorious horrid things, (I will say nothing harder) as well from press s as from pulpits, are propounded both to the Eyes and Ears of the foolish Common people. But let these Patrons of unreverendnesse beware, lest the same be verified of them which the last and also first of the Apostles said of foolish wise men. Rom. 1.22. When they accounted themselves as wise, they became foolish. For truly I fear lest they earnestly avoiding the Charybdis of bread worship (I had almost said Self worship) unadvisedlie fall upon the Scylla of contumacy, while they not only disobey, but also like Enemies oppose themselves against the just Commands of their most loving and indulgent mother, (i)  
Here I say nothing (k) of Cobblers and Howists and other Shameless Mechanics, worthy to be chastieed rather with a Cudgel then ● Quill, who, blasted with a pestilent motion, ascend the pulpit with a sacrilegious boldness (o how great is the Licentiousness of men!) and there do handle with unwashed hands (as the saying is) or which is more true, do miserable ra●k th● word of God. If this be not with Icarus to she without wings, I know not what that saving of Plantus means: I do also pass over the Brethren of ignorance (o what a breeding age is this of such Brethren!) to whom the white Garment, which we call a Surplice, is no less formidable than the Coat of a certain Martyr, (his name I now remember not) mbrodered with horrible images of 〈◊〉 Spirits. I touch not the Anabaptists nor E●thyli●sts the plagues of our times, that use the best means they can to extinguish all humane learning, and by whose judgements, most unjust, our Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (the most renowned mansions of the muses) do suffer as if they were the Seminaries of Heresy and the Apple of Contention. Finally I do not mention the Giant boldness of those that honour the house dedicated to Almighty God (and therefore called Royal and Lordly) no more than the Stable of Augaeus, and contemn Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine, Saint Jerome, etc. Defenders and Champions for the Standard of the Orthodox Faith, as so many old men overcome with Dotage.  
But lest any one more perverse than others should say, what man is this? whence comes he? and when borne? who alone inculcates and reculcates these things even to loathing? I call to witness the sound Doctors of this and the age past, of whom, some have propagated with life, pen, tongue and blood, the repurged Religion which we profess. Behold first the blessed Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, etc. in heaven now triumphing with purple Crowns of Martyrdom: next the most absolute men Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury, and Hooker at lowest lost, but of prime note, and others in the days of our English Deborah, and David numberless: lastlie, a thousand preachers of this age, whose names I spare, most worthy of double honour, as well for profound Doctrine as for Sanctimony of life on either part did with one tongue & pen generally affirm the Hierarchy, Liturgy, and our Church Rites to be most consonant and agreeable to that book of God.  
If therefore any one do compare so many Divines of the greater sort, with the upstart Smatterers in Divinity of the common flock, rushing rather than entering into the: Sanctum Sanctorum, the Church of God; can he believe that those (n. o.) night Owls do more sharply see the truth, than these Eagles; Nay rather, what man well in his wits, dares prefer a very few English Geneva Preachers of different mind, though otherwise not unlearned (and whose authority in other things may be sound) before so many heavenly wits of the Columns or Staples of Christ's Church? Nevertheless, if they had been somewhat more perverse than is meet, and more unjust than those blessed souls do think otherwise; let them faithfully compare the strong (p) arguments of those with the weak and slender reasonings of the dim-sighted Schismatics. For they not with solid and invincible reasons, but only with scoffs, obloquys, calumnies, cavils, and impudent reproaches and distractions, do scurriously handle their cause, and undeservedly desteine with many Criminations and Revile. Some the best (in words chrysostom, in deeds Polycarps) worthy to be honoured with all kind of duties, and maliciously traduce their fame, with more than a certain doglike rage or madness. (q)  
Yea more, the most Reverend Fathers and Doctors of the Church (whom all our Orthodox Divines do reverence with the name of Saint) they vilify as men unworthy of Sanctfiication; And the material Churches being Gods peculiar Houses edified, and ordained for Preaching and Prayer, as in Gen. 28.13. to 18, Esay 56.7. and Mat. 11.13. which by our forefather of blessed life, were set apart and consecrated to divine Service, by the names of the holy Evangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, and other most Religious men; they most profanely and irreligiously endeavour, not only by scandalous speeches, but by most abusive papers, to unsanctify, or at the least, unsaint, and whom they cannot deny to be blessed Saints in in Heaven; will not acknowledge to be worthy of that appellation, some of them nicknaming; and opprobriously terming (as I have been credibly informed) the Churches dedicated to the honour of S. John, S. Matthew, S. Bartholomew, S. Marry, and S. Thomas; Jacks church, Mats church, Bats church, Mobs church, and Tom's church, holden also, or seeming to hold themselves to be so just and faithful, that they rather deserve to be sainted before others, and all Churches so Consecrated, fit to be utterly demolished, or converted to warehouses and barns, or such other profane uses. (r)  
O good God, pardon them I humbly and earnestly desire, that know not what they writ, think, or babble: Yet unto those men of desperate condition, that under the veil of zeal and piety, both with a raging Pen, and Stentorean voice, either for the filling of their purses, or the catching of popular applause, have violated thy holy Orders, be thou asevere Judge and revenger.  
And you Heroic Personages and Senators, I being the meanest amongst the Students of sacred Theology, with all the reverence in my poor power do beseech; that with conjoined strength and associated hearts, you would conserve the Church of England, the most beautiful Spouse of God, amended and defended, aswell from lightharnessed Soldiers, fight not with Thunder, but with Hail thick enough (s) as especially from her capital enemies aforesaid, that would put their Sith (alas) too sharp (unless they feared your Thunder due to Church-Robbers) deep enough into the Ecclesiastical Harvest.  
Hear you Magnanimous Persons, I most humbly entreat; what a Reverend and famous Divine, perfectly well and readily spoke, of those Arch-heretics and wicked wretches, whom he knew without and within.  
They corrupt (saith he) the Decrees of faith they break the Bonds of charity, and practice both with evil speeches to cur in pieces, and with evil deeds to rend asunder the seamlesse Coat of Christ; that is, our Church, flourishing in all-maintaining Peace, under most Royal Charles, her foster Father, amongst so many elsewhere, most turbulent Tempests of Controversies. The 32 Articles of the Brownists confession, impiously cry out, That either we must go out of the English Synagogue, or perish; And they do both write and also think those things of us their Brethren which being christians and English Protestants, which neither scourge-bearing Spaniard, nor misbeleiving Turk, nor Antichristian Pope, nor any Jew, nor Judas himself if he were living, ever dreamt of, neither barbarous Scythia, nor the savage Irish, nor fierce Hercania, nor monster-breeding Africa, nor the Sun itself the World's eye, hath beheld, or the earth brought forth any thing more inhuman, than the envy and cruelty of these men; hither that blessed man. You therefore, the true Patriarches of the English- Israel, and the most excellent Gentry thereof, succour with your benignity the labouring Church, opportunely quench the kindled firebrands of Sedition, suppress the monstrous opinions now of late risen; and in a word, the rage of the Clergy scourging people and other Schismatics, who if they be once permitted to advance the head, I do divine will become more terrible and cruel, than the very Irish, yea, than the Scythian, Anthropophi, or man-eaters, Tigers; these things carefully and seriously again I beseech you as heretofore your Ancestors (whose memory be blessed) have done with exceeding praise. Cam. Annal. R. El. pag. 71. and 275.  
Our most blessed and Almighty GOD grant from my soul I pray) that your course right well begun, you may happily consummate.  
This is my Prayer, and not mine alone, (u)  
With many others which are joined in one.  
FINIS.   

The Annotations whereunto you are referred by Letters placed in the lines of this precedent work.  
(a) This year hath produced great plenty of Pamphlets, there was almost no day, wherein 6. or 8. came not forth. Allusion to Plinii. lib. 1. Epist. 13. Many in these day's itching with the scab of desire to write, have their brains (as the saying is) in their fingers, so great and inconsiderate is the boldness to put any thing in writing. D. Will. Hall.  

(b) Regina Britaina libras ter centum mille quotanis  
Expendit, morbos accellerando novos.  
Non opus Helleboro, nam quisque Tobaccon ab aula  
Principis, ad caulam pauperis; usque bibit  Doct. Vaugh. in Orph. Jun. englished thus, 
Great Britain new infirmities to haste,  
Three hundred thousand pounds doth yearly waste  
We need not Hellebore; for (though it stink)  
From Court to Cottage all Tobacco drink.   
(c.) An Indian root very well known by daily use called Herba Nicotiana, Medica, Petum; commonly Tobacco and perhaps Betele whereof plutarch makes mention in lib. de fancy in orb Lunae.  
But facetiously said one, 
Quod vino madidis detur Tobacco, vocari,  
Do-Baccho cur non rectius ille solet.  which may be thus Englished; 
Tobacco should be called Do-Baccho rather,  
As by the use thereof we well may gather,  
Do-Baccho signifies, I give thee wine,  
Which with that herb makes many sup and dine   
(d) A man half learned is a most pestilent creature. Pr.  
(e) In the book of the holy Fathers, there is scarce a leaf, wherein the Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, with other Orders, and also Priests (which name some do greatly detest) are not named with honour.  
(f) He that hath a head round like a Globe or bowl, is defective in his sense and reason, Alsted. Encycl. published in fol. 773. and thereof our simple Sectaries may be properly called Brownists.  
(g) Galen said, he would give Momus 100 years to change the structure of man's body, even in the least part, and doubted not but he should be forced in the end to confess, that it could be made in none other, or a more perfect man. The same I say to those that cavil against the English Liturgy.  
(h) In all Services, the Lords Prayer is said; for than is the salt and seasoning of the Sacrifice, Durand. rational. lib. 1. cap. 5. numb. 17.  
(i) Those of our Country (to omit Foreign Nations) unanimously maintain, that the bowing of the knee to the holy Eucharist, is very proper. Bp. Winch. Conc. p. 991. Bp. Norw. tom. 1. p. 560. D. Boys. postil. p. 598. D. Don. in Conc. p. 115. D. Featl. in Conc. p. 393. D. Clark. in Conc. p. 264. D. Saunder. in Conc. p. 631. Kellet in his Tricaen. Christi p. 203.567.581.582.638.645.653.  
Sutores crepidam, tractent, fabrilia fabri. that is,  
Let Sowter's meddle with the Last or Shoe,  
smith's in their Art with what they have to do.  
(l) There are in heaven most honourable Crowns of dignity, either white, for Virginity, or purple, for Suffering, or laurel, for Learning; S. Aug.  
(m. n) It is a wonder, if they were mules; and many of one and the same time with us, not of so great name, are far better sighted than Argus.  
(o) Our late Sovereign Lord K. James of famous memory, overthrew the Innovators Rams, Anno 1604. for at that time the Church of England had most acceptable Halcionian days.  
(p) Amongst so great men, Mr. Hooker (a man of a most unreprovable judgement) in Polititia Ecle. giveth most unreprovable Arguments.  
(q) The objections of such trifles, blind Fisher (but in the holy Bible, sharp-eyed enough) doth strongly confute defence of the Liturgy, written in English.  
(r) If our Bishops have committed any fault, they are men and may err; sometimes good Homer slumbered, and sometimes holy Peter slept, who was the first, not the chief of the Apostles. Constantine the Great piously said, That he would cover the crimes of his Priests with his Purple; a saying worthy to be written in gold on Cedar.  
(s) No man sees how the Cavaliers now a days bring into displeasure, and hurry into contention, and how much they move (I speak not of writings but of deeds) every where of strifes and calumnies for every small trifle.  
(t) See the Apology of the B. of Norwich, (whom some do call the christian Seneca, I England's chrysostom) against Brownists; Also Camd. Annals. Q. Eliz. in English pag. 257. and 403.  
(u) De la champ. in the Prayer of David.  
FINIS.