A RENT IN THE lawn Sleeves OR Episcopacy eclipsed, By the most happy interposition of a Parliament Discoursed Dialogue-wise between a Bishop and a Iesuite, wherein is shewed the ambition of the Prelacy, the creueltie in they prroceedings in their courts: and the happy deliverance of this Land from the slavery of the Church of Rome: as also their adhaerence with that of Rome.  
Whose endeavours were most justly and Auspiciously contradicted by the Scotish Nation, who denied some Innovations intended and commanded to be Allowed in the Church, and since Religiously prosecuted by this kingdom,  
London Printed for John Thomas. 1641.   

A rent in the lawn Sleeves.  Iesuite. 
GOod morning to your Lordship, how f●ires your Grace?  Bishop. 
unhappily, and as all my proceedings do successless, for never did any undertakings receive so unexpected event, as mine have done, for when my plots seemed to give me satisfaction, they were most unhappily nipped and smothered in their birth and infancy.  Ies. 
What plots means your Lordship?  Bi. 
What but those, by whose happy success wee should have expressed our duty to his Holinesse, and have subjected this wandring and erroneous island to the conformity of obediencc unto Rome.  Ies. 
Had your Grace any possibility of effecting these end●avours?  Bi. 
Very great, had they not been crushed by the stubborn Scot, who by pretence of his ancient customs in Church government and Religion, disavowed their allegiance and submission unto the catholic Doctrine, and have contradicted and obstinately opposed all our Religious intention not only by denying our edicts and command, but also by excluding our authority and dignity out of their dominions.  Ies. 
But this Nation of England still retains their Episcopal Hirarchie, and there may be some hopes to settle our Doctrine there.  Bi. 
indeed we have not been idle in the propagation of this matter, for wee have very many within the bosom of this iceland, who have vowed, and do daily express their faithful endeavours and service to the promotion of this holy Cause.  Ies. 
Then your Lordship will proceed and endeavour to perfect, and bring to maturity, what you have so piously begun.  Bi. 
We have not begun with a weak foundation, but our groundwork is laid, and founded upon the understanding Clerg●e of this kingdom, for wee have won very many of them to lean to our opinions, and have wean●d themselves to our Authority, whereby we had introduced, and consummated our intentions. But there arose here also a giddy brained faction, whose tender consciences did kick against our reformation, & whose tumultuous was zeal, did oppose a & struggle our hopeful proceedings.  Ies. 
It seems very strange to me that your Grave and unlimited power could not discountenance and quell the hairebraine multitude, whose ignorance ▪ and fury rather lead them on, then Religion.  Bi. 
We were no may defective in the procecution both of our Authority and Iustice, this age can give sufficient testimony of our severe proceedings, dwee spare no profession whom wee found to be contumatious: many Ministers we did suspend, whose obstinacy withstood our holy commands, others who were not admitted into ecclesiastical orders, we did according to the severity of the laws provided in that case, punish, & had I believe in a very short space obtained our desires, but that we were prevented by a Session of Parliament. For all those whom favour nor promotion could not persuade; although against their consciences, to admit our ceremonies, which were as so many introductions, to the confirmation of the catholic Religion in this land, wee constrained some by whipping and scourging, others by dismembering and strict imprisonment, to give their consent, and receive our Authority. Excommunications were our Recreations, thousands wee excluded by our decrees from the bosom of the Church, and where we found a zealott obstinate in his opinion, wee commanded him to a close imprisonment, and having the strength of the Law at our Command, we sentenced, as wee thought most convenient for our purposes.  Ies. 
It seems strange that wee being so well assisted, and having so many facters in this realm for our cause, that we should so slowly, and with so much hazard prosecute our desires.  Bi. 
The faction I last mentioned to you, have rent and torn our lawn sleeves, and so beslubber'd our episcopal whiteness, that we have small or no hopes to recover. Or the Sempstresses in the Strand, or Westminster cannot mend the Rent we have received, nor all the laundresses about the city scour or cleanse us from the grievous blot and aspersion which is cast upon us. The strict or of professiors, have so prevailed over us, that now we are but shadows of the Authority wee had, and those privileges we enjoyed, of enjoining Pennance and excommunication is taken from us. Many of our lawn society are so Questioned in this Parliament, that they are in jeopardy of their lives and fortunes. The Wrens nest is found to be so defiled, that it is believed he must leave his liberty and betake himself to a Cage. And Canterbury himself, the Metropolitan and First Patron in this cause, now wants a Patron to countenance him: he that so lately so powerfully laboured to promote this cause, is now promoted to the Tower himself.  Ies. 
But are there none who dare boldly undertake for the See of Rome, and interpose themselves in so holy a cause, dare none seek the redress for the contempt offere● to the Church of Rome?  Bi. 
The Prelates of this land have waded so far that they know not many of them, how to evade, but must undergo the hazard of drowning, they have been all so hungry after the thraldom of this Land to Romes supremacy, that I fear the Parliament will give them a choke pear.  Ies. 
Are all the lately introduced Ceremonies of the Church still allowed, and authentic? Is the surplice worn, and in request? are the Organs vocal? and the Altar in as high and reverend estimation as it was?  Bi. 
The surplice is, like our power, scorned and slighted, disrespected generally, and termed by our nice puritans, the smock of the whore of Rome. The Organs are threatened to be put to as much silence as his Grace of Canterbury, and some other of his episcopal fraternity put many Ministers. And the Altar by whose steps wee did hope to ascend to the top of our of ambition, is taken away and demolished and no more sign of it left, then will bee of our Power and Authority.  Ies. 
I am sorry to hear the danger, and ill success of your deserved undertakings, this news will much apale his holinesse, we must recover our hopes by some notable attempt, least wee dishearten those, who are but newly joined to us.  Bis. 
Wee have made so many attempts against this island, for the advancement, and by the advice and countenance of the Church of Rome, that I fear both your, and our profession will be sent to Rome, to his holinesse with a vengeance; I hope his catholic holinesse will give us absolution, and a pardon for our souls, if wee are cut of and martyred for the honour and defence of the catholic religion.  Ies. 
You need not doubt of his tender indulgence, and pardon, whose advancment you have so much laboured. And now I desire to be instructed from your Lordship, what security or hazard wee stand in, who are Romes immediate agents, we who are the objects of the general hate, I know you cannot want certain intelligence of all the present proceedings, and intentions of these times.  Bi. 
For ought I hear, you have had a President of your expectation lately exhibited unto you, unless you leave your seducing ways, and this kingdom; you must expect the same fate, for there is no security conceived can be within this kingdom, until there be an universal extirpation of Priests, and Iesuites.  Ies. 
Thus innocents, and your truest Christians suffer the hardest persecutions, and they must labour the propagation of Christianity, who are most subject to danger & calamity.  Bis. 
This excuse will not defend us from the searching eye of these knowing times, you are stigmatir'd with the brand of seducers, and censured for deluding his Majesties subjects, and shall suffer for seditious traitors you may recollect and tinke how Campian, an Agent in these late yeares past, road attended with a strong guard a mile and a half out of the City, and there surrendered his neck to the halter, his body to the Earth, and his soul to purgatory, until it should be released by his holy Father. Father Arthurs fate may be a warning piece to you, who expects the Popes requiems for his soul; and the reward of his meritorious life, and intercession to the Lady Mary, and all the holy and pious solemnity of Rome, for his safe arrival at the haven of bliss.  Ies. 
But( alas!) sense the union of Scotland and Ireland we are accused of disloyalty.  Bis. 
True indeed: for we are supposed to be guilty of all conspiracies pretended against this island, and conscious of all Stratagems in the tumultuous rebellion against the Protestants in Ireland.  Ies. 
I confess we have been busy in the advancing of the Church of Rome: and if we escape not quickly, we shall be discovered, therefore I conceive it a secure way to follow Einch, Windebancke, to Iermine, and the other shufflers in religion.  Bis. 
I commend your resolution, and if I had liberty I would embrace it too.  Ies. 
I must now leave your grace, now therefore craving pardon, farewell.  Bis. 
Good journey to you: but I fear some of our Tribe will have but ill succsse these Sessions at Newgate, o●… whom hereafter you shall have further intelligence.  
FINIS.