Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #74: Scandalous, Malignant Priests by John White ©2007

John White (1590-1645) parliamentarian; commonly called Century White; M.P. for Southwark, 1640; chairman of committee to inquire into immoralities of the clergy; vigorously opposed the episcopal system; did much to assist first colonists of Massachusetts. The circumstances surrounding the publication of this pamphlet were that Puritan clergymen, who had been driven from their cures by the king's soldiers, fled to London with their families. They asked Parliament for relief which at first ordered a charitable collection for them but then formed a committee to consider "for the relief of such godly and well-affected ministers as have been plundered; and what malignant clergymen have benefices in and about the town, whose benefices being sequestered may be supplied by others who may receive their profits." --Neal: Hist. of Puritans II:193. John White became the chairman of the committee and published this pamphlet "in order to silence the clamours of the royalists, and justify the severe proceedings of these committees..." --ibid, p.193.

WASHINGTON'S GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER CITED FOR TIPLING ETC

his ensuing summary Declaration of the Grounds and Causes, whereupon this Parliament hath proceeded against divers Ministers, to sequester their Benefices from them, and to place in their roomes, godly, learned, orthodox Divines, diligent Preachers of the Word of God, may serve thee for many excellent purposes.

First, To open thine eyes and clearely convince and satisfie thee, that the Parliament had good, and very great cause from hence, among many other things, to declare and resolve, that the present Church Governement by Arch-bishops, Bishops, their Chancellours, Commissaries, Deanes, Arch-deacons, and other Ecclesiasticall Officers, depending upon the Hierarchie, is evill and justly Offensive and burdensome to the Kingdome, a great Impediment to Reformation and growth of Religion, and very prejudiciall to the State and Governement of this Kingdome, and therefore to be taken away: They have beene by our Lawes entrusted with the Care and Provision for the soules of the King and Subjects, to heed, feed and watch over them: And to attend upon the great Embassie they pretend unto, to pray and beseech them to be reconciled unto God: and to preach and to cause to be preached by able and faithful men: The Word of God in season and out of season: They have not onely neglected their Personall Execution of this weighty trust, but also have generally and mostly committed the same to Persons illiterate and insufficient, dumbe Doggs, as the Scripture calls them, that cannot barke, against whom God hath protested for their ignorance and to men swallowed up with Wine and strong drinke, whose Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse: Whoremongers and Adulterers, who as fed Horses neigh after their Neighbours Wives: Buggerers that change the naturall use into that which is against Nature. And to others scandalous of corrupt mindes, and ill affected to the Peace and Safety of the Kingdome, men unfit to preach to, or live among Christians, their wickednesse being so great, as that they are condemned by Heathens: And hereby they have taken the high-way to destroy the souls committed to them, and to drown them in Perdition. The evill life of a Minister, being like the rods, which Jacob spread before the Sheepe, the people write after his copie with ease and confidence. Sinnes are reputed, as none, or as veniall, which receive Patronage from the Ministers Example. And though some few of these Church Governors, have been men that have otherwise expressed in the course of their lives a true feare of God, yet by a strange Influence of the Divine Curse upon their Offices, branches of the Hierarchy of Rome, plants not planted by our heavenly Father, these as well as the rest, have unhappily laid hands suddenly upon many, and preferred divers wicked and unworthy, by partiality, to marry and put off their hands a Daughter, a Kinswoman, and upon other bie and base respects, without regard of the good of the soules of them, over whom they were set. And in this Booke, thou shalt have an Assay of the Gall and Worme-wood of the Episcopall Governement, taken out of London the Metropolis, and of the Counties adjacent, that when thou seest what Vermine crawles upon, and devoures the principall and vitall parts, thou maist reflect with a mournefull heart upon the more miserable condition of Wales, and of the North, the more remote parts of this Kingdome, where upon scrutiny will be easily found, may for one as vile and abbominable as these. And if thou wouldest have the people perish for want of vision or impoysoned with the destructive Errours of Popery and Arminianisme, and the Lord yet more defiled with cursing, swearing, drunkennesse, whoredome, sodomie, then put thy shoulders still to the support of the said Church-Governement and Governours, but if thou be better minded (as in Charitie I hope thou art) then joyne heart and hand with the Parliament, to purge out such Popish dreggs, and together with them, pray for and endeavour a through Reformation, according to the Word of God

Secondly, Thou maist by perusall of this booke clearly see what manner of persons those Cleargie-men be, that favour the present course of his Majestie against his Parliament and people, and dislike and maligne the Wayes of the Parliament, they will appeare unto thee to be such as cannot endure the purity, power and strictnesse of the true Religion, that hate Reformation, and to be brought in their hearts, Religion and lives to the holy Word of God, that seeke themselves and not the things of Jesus Christ, that are given over to vile affections, to superstition, ambition, persecutions, covetousnesse, malignity and all wickednesse, and knowing the judgement of God and what they deserve that commit such things, yet not only doe the same, but have pleasure in them that doe them.

Thirdly, Thou maiest hereby discerne the principall ground and cause of the general ignorance and debauchery of the Gentry and people of this Kingdome. Like Priest, like people: They cause the people to erre by their lyes and by their lightnesse: They are a snare on Mispah, and a net spread upon Tabor. They have wrested and broken the law of the Lord, defiled his holy things, hid their eyes from his Sabbaths, polluted his Sanctuary, and seduced the people to the same wickednesse, dawbing with untempered Morter: These Prophets prophesie falsly, the Bishops heare rule by their means, and the people love to have it so.

Fourthly, Behold with admiration, and acknowledge with love and thankefulnesse the transcendent mercie of the Lord, to his poore people among us, that whereas he hath infinite just cause to destroy these Priests and people together, cloath them with desolation, and doe unto them after their Waies, and judge them according to their desert. He is graciously pleased to stirre up a spirit of zeale and judgement in the Parliament to deliver the people from the mouthes of these Shepheards, that feed not the flocke, but kill them that are fed, eate the fat, and cloath themselves with the Wool: and to set true Shepheards over them, to seeke that which was lost, and bring againe that which was driven away, to bind them that were broken, and strengthen them that were sick, and to feed them all with knowledge and understanding; and to feed with judgement the wicked shepheards that before with force and cruelty ruled over them.

Fiftly, Behold with comfort and assured expectation of good from Heaven, that as the Lord hath manifested his gracious purpose to reforme his Church in this Land, and set up the Kingdome of Christ among us, in the purity of Doctrine and Discipline, and hath for that purpose called this Parliament, fixed it, set it upon that worke, and maintained it therein, and in all these hath manifested his immediate hand and finger, in stupendious works of Divine providence, opening obstructions, working that himselfe which his servants could not, making the very enemies of Reformation meanes to further it; discovering and preventing the horrid, hellish, treacherous plots of his and our enemies, turning the counsells of Achitophell into folly, discovering the rotten hearts of them that said they were for the Cause of God, but are found lyers; and holding up the hearts of his faithfull ones in the middest of, and against all discouragements. So the Lord is pleased to carry on his great Worke of Reformation, in the very face and in dispight of all oppositions and dangers, that it gaines ground and creepes on every day. These Priests of Baal, sonnes of Beliall, that know not the Lord, whose sinne is very great before God, in making multitudes abhorre the Offerings of the Lord, are taken away and removed as fifthy rubbish from the house of God. The Antinomians that destroy the Law, as neither directory nor obligatory of a Christian to duty: and teach, that God sees not, is not angry with, will not correct, requires not sorrow for, nor repentance of the grossest sinnes that are committed by such as beleeve they be in Christ; and that the elect are actually justified as soone as borne, though they have not faith in forty yeares after, and many such absurdities and barbarians in Divinity, are questioned and in a good way to be suppressed and the Doctrine of our Church in a great part cleared from all aspersions and misconstructions. This is the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. And certainely these works of God, are so many earnest-pence unto us, as the first fruits to the harvest, that God will in his own way and time perfect his said worke of a through Reformation, and bring forth and lay the head and topstone thereof, that we and our posterity shall rejoyce and cry grace grace unto it.

Sixthly, Whereas in severall Proclamations, Declarations and Pamphlets set forth in his Majesties name, and otherwise sent us from Oxford, the Parliament hath been exceedingly reproached and condemned (as in truth they have been for all the good they have done for the Kingdome) for Sequestring the Livings of Reverend Divines (as they stile them) thou mayest by a serious perusall of this Booke, cleerely see what Divinies the Authours and publishers of the said Pamphlets doe so reverence and esteeme; And from thence observe of what spirit these men are that side with, honour, pleade for, and receive unto them such Priests of Baal, of Bacchus, of Priapus; Doth not their affection unto, and high esteeme of such uncleane beasts, abundantly evince, that they serve and prostitute themselves unto the same dung-hill idols and filthy lusts, and that they are all of the same Father? And note further, that these Libellers not only speake evill of Dignities, but also of those things that they know not, they Censure the Supreame Court of Fudicature, themselves being Delinquents, deserving the severest judgement, and that without hearing them, or informing themselves of what they have done, notwithstanding all their acts and proceedings lie fairely of record in their Journall bookes, obvious to every man that desires to understand the same. And that the Parliament may appeare just in their doings, and the mouth of iniquity may be stopped, this Narrative of the crimes, and misdemeanours of those sons of the earth are here published, that all the world may see, that the tongues of these that speake evill of the Parliament, are set on fire of Hell, and lift up against Heaven, and that they hide themselves under falsehood, and make lies their refuge.

And let not the Learning of some few of these men (for which if they had any grace to use it well, they were considerable) move thee to thinke they be hardly dealt with, for learning in a man unsanctified, is but a pearle in a Swines snout, Artius, Pelagius, Arminus, all of them learned, but thereby the more serviceable to doe mischiefe in the Church, like Curio, who was sacundus only ad reipublcae perniciem. Learning and knowledge, we honour in any, but vitiousnesse and lewdnesse we condemne in all: had some of these men sanctity of life as well as light of knowledge, they had been honourable to Religion, and usefull to soules; but their abhorred lusts casting out of them the guidance of light, it is but justice to cast them off from being guides to others: I say, Justice to them, and withall mercy to the poore people, who at once are ridde of a plague, and enjoy a blessing, are freed from such who poisoned their soules, and supplied by such as take care to feed and save their soules.

I know well that all we say or doe in this particular will be reproached by some, but good services must not therefore be deserted because reproached. When the fat Abbies were taken downe in Henry the eights time, the Friers cried out that holy Church was destroyed, yet when the draughts and ponds were searched, so many bones and skulls were found, which assured men of practices distant enough from holinesse. For my part I shall not cease to endeavour and pray for a perfect reformation of the Church, which is the garden wherein God delighteth to walke, and therefore must be purged of all stinking and noysome weeds. And doe thou (whosoever thou art, that fixest thine eye on this display) learne by the evills which thou readest, to bewaile the greater evills in this sinfull Land which thou yet dost not know: When malice hath spoken its worst and done its utmost, then shalt thou cleerely understand what I daily see and certainely know, that the great services and paines of the Parliament have no other scope but divine glory, the Churches reformation, and the Kingdomes safety. Consider sadly and seriously of these things, and the Lord give thee and me understanding of these times, to know what Israell ought to doe in the same; and let us without feare of the hand of violence, or foote of pride, set hand and heart, and shoulder and all, to the perfect cleansing of the house of the Lord, and advancing his Sion to a perfection of beauty, and setting up his Christ upon his Throne, to rule over us in all things according to his own mind, and then expect with fulnesse of assurance, that he will speedily make all his enemies his foot-stoole, and ease himselfe and us of all his adversaries. Which is the prayer of him that desireth to spend himselfe and be spent in the service of the King and Kingdome, JOHN WHITE.

THE FIRST CENTURY of SCANDALOUS and LEWD MINISTER

THE Benefice of John Wilcox Vicar of Arlington in the County of Suffex, is sequestred, for that he in most beastly manner, divers times attempted to commit buggery with Nathaniel Browne Samuel Andrews and Robert Williams his Parishioners, and by perswasions and violence, laboured to draw them to that abominable sinne, that (as he shamed not to professe) they might make up his number eighteene; and hath professed, that he made choice to commit that act with man-kind rather then with women, to avoid the shame and danger that oft insueth in begetting Bastards; and hath also attempted to commit Buggery with a Mare, and at baptizing of a Bastard child, blaspheamously said, openly in the Church, That our Saviour as he was in the flesh, was a Bastard: and usually preacheth, That Baptisme utterly taketh away originall sinne, and that the sinnes committed after Baptisme, are onely by imitation, and not by naturall corruption: and hath in his Sermons, much commended Images in Churches, as good for edification, and that men should pray with Beades, and hath openly said, that the Parliament were Rebells, and endeavoured to starve the King, and that whatsoever the King commands, wee are all bound to obey, whether it be good or evill; and hath openly affirmed, that Buggery is no sinne, and is a usuall frequenter of Ale-houses and a great drinker.

2. The stipend of John Aymes Curate of Lowis in Kent, is sequestred, for that he is a common drunkard, a common haunter of Ale-houses, and a common swearer: and hath affirmed the Parliament to be a Round-headed Parliament, and that their heads should be all shortly chopt off, and wished, that the King might grind them in pieces like a Potters vessell, and for above fifteen weeks hath altogether deserted his Cure

3. The Benefice of Charles Forbench Parson of Henry in the County of Essex, was sequestred, because hee is a common swearer, oftentimes breaking forth into fearfull oaths and imprecations, and very carelesse of his pastorall function, and wholy neglecteth the observing of the monethly Fast, setting his men to plow, himselfe also working on those dayes in the fields, and hath affirmed, that the Earle of Strattford was no traitor, and that he was put to death wrongfully by the Parliament.

4. The Benefice of Stephen Withers Parson of Kelvedon in the County of Essex, is sequestred, for that he hath solicited oftentimes the wise of Philip Glascomb to commit adultery with him, and divers other women, affirming it to be no sin to lie with them. And hath not only practised Altar-worship, but urged his people to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper at the rails, and in his Church read the Booke for prophanation of the Sabbath by Sports, and will not suffer his people to have above one Sermon on the Lords day, though at their charge; and hath expressed great malignity to the Parliament.

5. The Benefice of Emmanuel Uty, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of Chigwel in the County of Essex, is sequestred, for that he affirmed, that there hath been no true Religion in England these forty yeares, and that he loved the Pope with all his heart, peremptorily maintaining that whatsoever men of holy orders speake, they speake by divine inspiration, and that if the Devill himself would have holy orders put on him, he would be inspired by the holy Ghost, and hath denied the Kings supremacy, and exalted the power of Bishops above the Authority of the Prince, affirming them to bee the head of the Church; and blasphemously broached, That the command of the Arch-bishop of Canterburie was to be equally obeyed with the Word of God, and hath declaimed against the Authority of Parliament, and affirmed, That the Parliament-men are Mechanicks and illiterate, and have nothing to doe to intermeddle in matters of Religion.

6. The Benefice of Edward Cherry, Rector of the Parish Church of Much-holland in the County of Essex, is sequestred, for that he usually boweth 12 times towards the East, when he goeth into the Chancell; and his Sermons which were rarely above one a moneth, mostly tend to the upholding and pressing of that and the like superstitious Innovations, and hath refused to give the Sacrament to those of his Parishioners that would not come up to the railes to receive it; and hath taught in his Sermons, That Baptisme washeth away originall sinne, and that all men may be saved if they will, and have free-will thereunto, and hath been very often drunk; and affirmed, that a man may more lawfully play, game and drink in an Ale-house on a Sunday, than on any other day; and hath published a very scandalous Libell against the Earle of Essex, Earle of Warwick, and Earle of Holland, and hath affirmed, That he never knew any good the Parliament did, unlesse it were to rob the Countrey, and pick their purses, and hath deserted his aid Cure for above a yeare last past, leaving the same wholly unsupplyed, and is reputed to have betaken himself to the Army raised against the Parliament.

7. The Benefice of Thomas Thrall, Vicar of the parish Church of S. Mary Mount-thaw London, is sequestred, for that hee hath neither preached not Catechized on the Lords day in the afternoon, nor suffered his Parishioners to have any to performe the same, thought they have desired it at their owne charge; And is a common haunter of Taverns and Ale-houses, spending much of his time there, and hath been often drunk, and not only read the book for sports on the Sabbath in his Church, but hath stirred up his parishioners thereunto, and countenanced them with his presence at Cudgells and the like other sports on that day, and said, That the House of Commons in Parliament was an unjust Court; and doth ordinarily swear and curse, and useth superstitious bowing and cringing to the Communion Table.

8. The Benefice of John Gordon, Rector of the Parish Church of Ockley in the County of Sussex, is sequestred, for that hee is a common haunter of Ale houses and Taverns, sitting and tipling there, night after night, and hath spent the whole Sabbath there, so that no Service nor Sermon was in his Church by reason thereof, and is a common drunkard, and hath not preached on any Fast day since it was enjoyned by King and Parliament, and hath published in his Church, all those to bee Traytours that lent to the Parliament, and hath deserted his said Church for about six Moneths last past, and is reported to have been seen in the Army of the Cavaliers, raised against the Parliament.

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10. The Benefice of Philip Leigh, Vicar of the Parish Church of Redburne in the County of Hertford, is sequestred, for that he is a common drunkard and haunter of Ale-houses, usually drinking healths, and pressing others thereunto, a common swearer and quarreller, and hath expressed much malignancy against the Parliament.

11. The Benefices of Francis Fothersby Vicar of S. Clements in Sandwich, and Parson of Lingsteed in the County of Kent, are sequestred, for that he is a common drunkard, and common swearer and curser, and hath expressed great malignancy against the Parliament, in not only refusing to contribute to the publicke defence of, but saying, that they that would lend the Parliament money should be sent with Ordinances to Hell.

12. The stipend of Daniel Tutivall Preacher of Suttons Hospitall in the Countie of Middlesex, commonly called Charterhouse, is sequestred, for that he hath been often drunk, and that on the Lords day, and hath taught in his Sermons to the said House, that Moses and Aaron being before them (meaning two Pictures set up in the Chappell) and the Organs behind them (newly also set up there) they were a happy people, and what greater comfort could mortall men have? and hath wholly neglected the observation of the monthly Fast, not preaching thereupon; and procured scandalous and Malignant Ministers to preach there to corrupt his people.

13. The Benefice of John Gorsuch, Doctor of Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of Walkerne in the County of Hertford, is sequestred for that he is a common haunter of Ale-houses and Taverns, and often drunke; and oft sitteth gaming whole nights together, and is seldome in the Pulpit, preaching scarce once a quarter; And hath often denyed many of his Parishioners the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, without any cause shewn, and refused to administer it so such as would not come up to the railes; And endeavoured to hire one Jones to ride a Troop-horse for Prince Rupert, to serve under him against the Parliament, saying withall, hee had a snotty nose Jade to send to the Parliament to poyson the whole Band, and hath published a wicked Libell against the Parliament, That some of the Lords whom hee named were Fooles, Bastards and Cuckhoulds.

14. The Benefice of Edward Thurman, Rector of the Parish Church of Hallingbury in the County of Essex, is sequestred, for that he is a common drunkard, and hath presented his Parishioners for going from their owne Church to heare Sermons, when they had none at home; and hath affirmed, that he would drive away all the Puritans out of his Parish, and enforced his parishioners to come to the railes, and hath wholly deserted his said Cure for the space of halfe a yeare now last past.

15. The Benefice of Robert Snell, Vicar of the Parish Church of Maching in the County of Essex, is sequestred, for that he hath often refused to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to such of his Parish that refused to come to the railes to receive it, and there being a Crucifix in the window over the Altar he useth to bow towards it, and would not suffer it to be pulled downe, notwithstanding the Order of Parliament for it: And hath taught his people, That God hath now an Altar, and that the Table set Altar-wise, put him in mind of God, to worship him the better, and in administring the Sacrament, called one of the Communicants Puppy, for that being left-handed, he put forth that hand to receive the bread, and caused the Church-wardens to present such as would not come up to the railes, to receive their, and kneele before them, and hath expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament.

16. The Benefice of Robert Hiliard, Vicar of the Parish Church of Ewell in the County of Surry, is sequestred, for that he said The Parliament is a Parliament for the Devil, and the Devils Court and that the Petitions of the Parliament to the King, are like the Petitions of Jeroboam to Rehoboam, commands and not Petitions and hath discouraged divers from giving or lending toward the publike defence, expressing, that he hoped that they that did so should never see penny of it again, and that he would rather live under the government of a Heathen, than of the Parliament, and is common frequenter of Taverns and Ale-houses, sitting tipling and quarrelling there, and is often drunk, and is a common curser and swearer, and hath jeared the holy Spirit of Grace, saying, We have Ministers now, will preach forsooth, and pray by the Spirit, and hath threatned to kill those that have exhibited Articles against him in Parliament, in case they should proceed against him, and went about with the Cavaliers at Kingstone, directing them to plunder honest men there. 17. The Benefice of Joseph Soane, Vicar of Aldenham in the County of Hertford, is sequestred, for that he is a common Gamester, a common Ale-house haunter, and frequently drunke, and a common quarreller, and hath called the Parliament Souldiers under the command of his Excellency the Earle of Essex, Parliament doggs.

18. The Benefices of William Fairfax, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of S. Peters in Cornhill London, and Vicar of East-Ham in the County of Middlesex, are sequestred, for that he hath refused to deliver the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to such of his Parishioners as refused to come up to the rayles; and refused to let his Parish have a Lecture on the Lords Day in the after-noon, except he might have 50 pounds given unto him for the same: And for the space of 8. yeares refused to let his Parishioners have a Lecture on a week day, which was appoynted, and maintenance for the same given by the will of the dead, and useth to prophane the Sabbath-day by playing at Cards, and hath been often drunk in Ale-houses and other places, and usually seeketh and haunteth the company of women, notoriously suspected of incontinency, and intrudes himselfe into their company, and into the company of other women, walking alone in the streets in the dark and twi-light, and tempteth them to uncleannes, leading them into dark places, & into Taverns, fit for such works of darknes, and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament, and charged the Parliament to be the cause of all the trouble, and disturbances in the kingdome, and hath greatly neglected his Cure, and in his defence hath provided scandalous Ministers to supply the same.

19. The Benefice of James Bradshaw, Vicar of the Parish Church of Chalfont, S. Peters in the Countie of Bucks, is sequestred, for that he is not onely a practiser and maintainer of all the late Innovations, but hath also preached in his Sermons, That the Commissaries Courts were the suburbs of Heaven, and the Commissaries and Officers of that Court, the very supremacies, next to Arch-Angels, and that it was a damnable sinne for any warned to that court not to appeare, and that to preach twice on the Lords day is a damnable sin, and that to use any prayers besides the Book of Common-prayer, was likewise a damnable sin, and wished, that all Lecturers were hanged

20. The Benefices of Robert Cotesford, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of Hadleigh and Munkes Ely in the County of Suffolk, are sequestred, for that he is a strict observer of the late Innovations, still continues bowing toward the East in divine Service, and hath often preached for auricular confessions of sinnes, and that the reason why so many fall into despaire, is, because they come not to their Ghostly Father to confesse their sinnes, and that men have by nature free-will to all good, and that, Baptisme doth wash away originall sinne, ex opere operato, and hath been often drunke, consuming his time in tipling and drinking, sometimes from morning to night, and hath oft attempted the chastity of his maid-servant, that she could not live in the house for him, and seldome preacheth; and for five Months last past, wholly deserted his said Cures, so that the Church wardens were inforced through his default, to make some provision for the said Cure of Hadleigh, and hath not only refused to read the Declarations of Parliament, and especially that of the 22. of October 1643. concerning his Majesties Commissions granted to Papists to raise forces, commanded to be read in Churches, but hath expressed otherwise great malignity against the Parliament and the proceedings thereof.

21. The Benefices of Nicholas Andrews, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of Guilford, and Vicar of Godalmine in the County of Surrey, are sequestred, for that he is not only negligent in preaching himselfe, but hath also expressed himselfe to be an enemy to frequent preaching, inveighing in his Sermons against long Sermons, saying, that Peters sword cut off but one eare, but long Sermons like long swords, cut off both at once, and that the surfet of the Word is of all most dangerous, and that the silliest creatures have longest eares, and that preaching was the worst part of Gods worship, and that if he left out anything, he would leave out that, and refused to give the Parishioners leave to have a Lecturer to preach unto them, and hath presented his Parishioners that went to heare Sermons at other Churches, when they had no preaching at home; and caused the Church-wardens and Sides-men to be presented, for not presenting such into the Ecclesiasticall court: And in delivering the Bread in the Sacrament, he elevateth it, lookes upon it, and bowes low unto it, and useth other frequent bowing in administering the Sacrament; and in his Sermons greatly exclaimes against that Doctrin which teacheth, that the greatest part of the world should be damned, and frequenteth Taverns, and consumes his time in sitting and tipling there: And hath refused to publish the Order of Parliament, concerning the removall of superstitious and Idolatrous pictures and Images, and hath substituted to officiate for him in the said Cure, very scandalous and Malignant Curates, viz. Bucock, Leverland, Pastorloe, Heath, and one Blane, who is in the Army raised against the Parliament, and when his people have propounded honest and Orthodox men to be his Curates, he hath refused them.

22. The Benefice of Ephraim Vdall, Rector of the Parish Church of S. Anstins London,is sequestred, for that he hath affirmed, That the great reformers of the Church now ere Hypocrates; and hath made, framed and published a Booke, intituled, Noli me tangere, without Licence, Charging the Parliament with Sacriledge, in endeavouring to abolish Episcopacy, and to take away the Lands of Deanes and Chapters, to amend therewith the maintenance of preaching Ministers, and that they have thereby brought a Nationall sinne upon the Land, as was formerly done by them in taking away the Monasteries; and that an uncleane spirit did breathe these things into their minds, a devout Devill; pretending care of Gods service, and that all their goodly presences are hipocriticall, and the maske of vile iniquity and holy theft; and that it is a thing senselesse, that Lay-men should have any Tithes, and that Tithes are Jure divino, and that to alien the Lands of Cathedrall Churches, to maintaine preaching Ministers, is, to pervert the will of the dead that gave them; and otherwise expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament

23. The Benefices of _____________Ieofferis, Doctor in Divinity, Vicar of the Parish Churches of Feversham and Ticehurst in the County of Kent, are sequestred, for that he hath preached, That the King may take not only part, but the whole of his subjects Estates, if it please him; And in the same Sermon wished, that evill might befall those that went about to take away governement by Bishops, which had its plat-forme from Heaven, and that the governement by Bishops, Priests and Deacons under the Gospell, was from God, as under the Law, the governement of High-priests, Priests and Levites, and that he knew not from whence the Presbiterian governement came, but from Corah, Dathan, and Abiram: And hath opposed and hindered the Lecturer from preaching a Lecture in the said Church, although appointed by the House of Commons thereunto; And said of the Parliament, That Schismaticall and Pragmaticall fellowes were met together to make new Lawes, and he hath neglected the monethly Fast, and the Lords day, there having been for divers Sabbaths, neither preaching nor prayers in the said Church, and hath deserted his said Cure, for the space of halfe a yeare now last past

24. The Benefice of James Mountford, Rector of the Parish Church of Tewing in the County of Hertford, is sequestred, for that he hath refused to deliver the Sacrament to his Parishioners, for not coming up to the railes; though some of them begged it with teares, and openly reviled them for not conforming to that superstitious Innovation, calling them Doggs, Rogues and Beggers, and presented them to the Commissaries Court for the same, to their great damage and vexation; and hath published in his Church the Booke of Sports on the Lords day, and commended the same, and hath publikely in his Sermons affirmed, That preaching is not necessary for the sanctification of the Sabbath, adn that the Sabbath was made for Ministers to rest in as well as for the people, and that Lay-men ought not to meddle with the Scriptures, but must beleeve as the Church beleeves, which Church he made to be Arch-bishops and Bishops; And the railes being removed, he placed formes instead of them, making his people kneele at them to receive the Lords Supper: And hath preached, That if the King should set up flat Idolatry, we ought to submit, and not to take up Armes, as some doe now; and enveighed against the Parliament, for endeavouring to take away Episcopacy, and hath not only refused to joyne in the publike defence, but hath also discouraged such as have so done.

25. The Benefice of John Peckham, Rector of the Parish Church of Hosteede parva, in the County of Sussex, who giveth out that he is the Kings Chaplaine, is sequestred, for that he hath been very negligent in his Cure, absenting himselfe from his Parishioners, sometimes a whole Moneth together, without leaving any to Officiate for him, and hath refused to administer the Lords Supper to those of his Parish that would not come up to the Railes; and is a common drunkard, and notorious adulterer and uncleane person, having drawne divers women to commit uncleannesse with him, and hath bragged, that he could lie with women, and never get them with child, and hath used sordid and beastly carriages towards women, to intice them to satisfie his lust, not to be named among the Heathen, and hath expressed great malignity against the Parliament and proceedings thereof, and hath affirmed publikely, that a man might live in murther, adultery and other grosse sinnes from day to day and yet be a true penitent person

26. The stipend of John Kidd, Curate of Egerton in the County of Kent, is sequestred, for that he preacheth not to his Parish above once in a fort-night, sometimes not once in a Moneth, or two Moneths, though there in the said Parish neere 400. Communicants, nor provided any other to instruct them, and hath used frequent and unreasonable bowing to the Communion Table in his said Church, and perswaded his people so to doe, and called them openly unreverent Puppies that passed by it without such bowing, and in administring the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, when he had received himselfe, and was going to administer the Bread to his people, assaulted one of the Communicants, and pulled him by the haire of the head, and thrust him out of the Church and Congregation without any just cause, and hath never preached to his Parishioners upon any of the Fast dayes

27. The Benefice of Griffith Roberts, Vicar of the Parish Church of Ridge in the County of Hertford, is sequestred, for that he hath not only practiced the late Innovations, and neglected the publike Fast, and imployed his neighbours to carry home wood for him upon a Fast day, but hath openly declared the Earle of Essex and all his followers, and Armies of the Parliament to be Traitours, and that whosoever sent Horses, Money or Plate to the Parliament, were also Traitours, and that the Parliament had done that that they must die for, even the best of them, if ever the Lawes were setled, and that the said Roberts is a common drunkard and tipler in Ale-houses, and drinker of healths, quarrelling with them that will not pledge him therein.

28. The Benefice of Peter Dausew, Vicar of the Parish Church of Camberwell in the County of Surry, is sequestred, for that he is a common drunkard, and drunke at the times of his officiating at Burials and Baptizings; and hath by his debaushed conversation, disabled himselfe from preaching, and hath not preached for these 12. yeares and upwards, and did protect and hide a Romish Priest in his house, from the Officers that came to seek him, and hath extorted undue and unreasonable fees from his Parishioners, and after the administring of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, expended the money given to the poore in Sack, and dranke it in the Church; And in delivering the Sacrament to one Mistris Wilson, one of his Parishioners, cast the Bread upon the ground, saying to her, take it there if thou wilt have it, and is a common curser and swearer, and hath read in his Church his Majesties Declaration against the Parliament, concerning Levies; and being told of an Ordinance of Parliament against the reading of such things, answered, He cared not for it

29. The Benefice of John Mountford, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of the Parish Church of Austie in the County of Hertford, is sequestred, for that he hath introduced into his said Church and other Churches, a turning of the Communion-Table Altar-wise, and having a great Crucifix and Picture of the Virgin Mary in the East-window over the said Table, used bowings and cringings before the said Table and Crucifix set Alter-wise, and caused the said Table to be railed in, and the Jesuits Badge to be set upon the Carpet there, compelled the people to come up to the railes, there to kneele to receive the Sacrament, teaching them, that God was alwayes present at the Altar by the presence of his grace, and was therefore to be bowed unto, and in his going up to the Table to reade second Service, usually caused that part of the 43. Psalme to be sung, viz. Then shall I to the Altar goe, Of God &c. And hath endeavoured to leaven his people with the doctrines of Arminianisme, and hath forbidden, by vertue of a Commissary or Surrogates place he held under the Deane and Chapter of Paules, preaching in the afternoone on the Lords day, and expounding of the Catechisme within his Jurisdiction, only tying them to use the same by bare Questions and Answers, and pressing the reading of the Booke of Sports on the Sabbath day, and usually enveighed in his Sermons, against those that went out from his said Parish Church to heare Sermons when they had none at home, and did arrest the Church-wardens of the said Parish and the Glasier, for pulling downe the said scandalous Pictures in the said window, in obedience to Order of Parliament, and hath preached against praying ex tempone, as unlawful, and hath in his absence, substituted a very scandalous Curate, very superstitious in his practises, who preached that that conscience was neither good nor quiet, that could not be content with one Sermon a day on the Lords day, and charged them as Rebells, that did not observe his superstitious practices of the late illegall Innovations, and that his people are bound in conscience, to believe whatsoever he and the Doctor did preach, and that the materiall Church was the mistical body of Christ, and to give anything to it was to beautifie Christs body. (Etc., etc., to the 100th case...)