found no such precedent. King HENRY VIII., as the Chronicle sheweth,
desired but a Sixth Part of men's estates, Ten Groats in the Pound:
our King desireth the whole six parts, full out; so much as men are set
at in the _Subsidy Book_. And in the time of King HENRY, although he
were a powerful King; yet, for that taxation, there began against him
little less than a rebellion; so that he held it wisdom to desist; and,
laying the blame upon Cardinal WOLSEY, professed that "he knew nothing
of the matter."
MURRAY. Secondly. The King saith for the words, _Habemus
necessitatem vindicanda libertatis_; he taketh them to be for him,
and he will stand upon his liberty.
Thirdly. For Poll Money, he thinketh it lawful.
Fourthly. It is true, there was no such Act passed; and therefore
it must be amended. (And yet in the printed book, it is suffered
still to stand! Such slight, and, I may say, slovenly care was had,
by them that published this Sermon.)
And fifthly. For that of Bohemia: he hath crossed it out of the
book.
Some other matters there were, against which I took exception; but
Master MURRAY being a young gentleman, although witty and full of good
behaviour: I doubted that, being not deeply seen in Divinity, he could
not so well conceive me or make report of my words to His Majesty: and
therefore I, being lame and so disabled to wait on the King, did move
him, that "He would, in my name, humbly beseech His Majesty to send
[_WILLIAM LAUD, then_] the Bishop of BATH AND WELLS unto me; and I
would, by his means, make known my scruples." And so I dismissed Master
MURRAY; observing with myself, that the Answers to my five Objections
especially to two or three [of them], were somewhat strange; as if the
King were resolved (were it to his good, or to his harm) to have the
book go forth.
* * * * *
After one or two days more, the young Gentleman cometh to me again, and
telleth me, that "The King did not think it fit to send the Bishop of
BATH unto me; but that expecteth I should pass the book."
In the meantime, had gone over one High Commission day; and this Bishop
(who used otherwise on very few days, to fail) was not there: which
being joined to His Majesty's message, made me, in some measure to
smell that this whole business might have that Bishop's hand in it;
especially I knowing in general, the disposition of the man.
* * * * *
The minds of those that were Actors for the publishing of the book,
were not quiet at the Court, that the thing was not despatched.
Therefore, one day, the Duke said to the King, "Do you see how this
business is deferred! If more expedition be not used, it will not be
printed before the end of the Term: at which time, it is fit that it
be sent down into the countreys [_counties_]." So eager was he, that
either by my credit, his undertakings might be strengthened; or at
least, I might be contemned and derided, as an unworthy fellow.
This so quickened the King, that the next message which was sent by
Master MURRAY, was in some degree minatory, "That if I did not despatch
it, the King would take some other course with me!"
When I found how far the Duke had prevailed; I thought it my best way,
to set down in writing, many objections, wherefore the book was not fit
to be published: which I did modestly, and sent them to the King.
1. (Page 2.) These words deserve to be well weighed, _And whereas
the Prince pleads not the Power of Prerogative_.
2. (Page 8.) _The King's duty is first to direct and make Laws._
There is no law made till the King assent unto it; but if it be put
simply to _make Laws_, it will make much startling at it.
3. (Page 10.) If _nothing may excuse from Active Obedience, but
what is against the Law of GOD, or of Nature, or impossible_;
how doth this agree with the first fundamental position: (Page 5.)
_That all subjects are bound to all their Princes, according to
the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom wherein they live._
4. (Page 11.) This is a fourth Case of Exception. The Poll Money,
mentioned by him in _Saint MATTHEW_, was imposed by the Emperor
as a Conqueror over the Jews: and the execution of it in England,
although it was by a Law, produced a terrible effect in King
RICHARD II.'s time; when only it was used, for ought that appeareth.
5. (Page 12.) It is, in the bottom, _View of the reign of HENRY
III._; and whether it be fit to give such allowance to the book;
being surreptitiously put out?
6. (In the same page.) Let the largeness of those words be well
considered! _Yea, all Antiquity to be absolutely for Absolute
Obedience to Princes, in all Civil and Temporal things._ For such
cases as NABOTH's Vineyard, may fall within this.
7. (Page 14.) SIXTUS V. was dead before 1580.
8. (In the same page.) Weigh it well, How this Loan may be called
a Tribute! and when it is said, _We are promised, it shall not
be immoderately imposed_, how agreeth that, with His Majesty's
Commission and _Proclamation_, which are quoted in the margent?
It should seem that this paper did prick to the quick; and no
satisfaction being thereby accepted, Bishop LAUD is called, and he must
go to answer to it in writing.
* * * * *
This man is the _only_ inward [_intimate_] counsellor with BUCKINGHAM:
sitting with him, sometimes, privately whole hours; and feeding his
humour with malice and spite.
His life in Oxford was to pick quarrels in the Lectures of the Public
Readers, and to advertise [_denounce_] them to the then Bishop of
DURHAM [? _T. MATTHEW, or his successor, W. JAMES_], that he might
fill the ears of King JAMES with discontents against the honest men
that took pains in their Places, and settled the truth (that he called
Puritanism) in their auditors.
He made it his work, to see what books were in the press; and to look
over _Epistles Dedicatory_, and _Prefaces to the Reader_, to see what
faults might be found.
It was an observation what a sweet man this was like[ly] to be, that
the first observable act that he did, was the marrying of the Earl of
D[EVONSHIRE] to the Lady R[ICH] [_See Vol. I. p. 483_]: when it was
notorious to the world, that she had another husband, and the same a
nobleman, who had divers children then living by her.
King JAMES did, for many years, take this so ill, that he would never
hear of any great preferment of him: insomuch that Doctor WILLIAMS,
the Bishop of LINCOLN (who taketh upon him, to be the first promoter
of him) hath many times said "That when he made mention of LAUD to
the King, His Majesty was so averse from it, that he was constrained
oftentimes to say that 'He would never desire to serve that Master,
which could not remit one fault unto his servant.'"
Well, in the end, he did conquer it, to get him [_on the 10th
October, 1621_] the Bishopric of ST. DAVIDS: which he had not long
enjoyed; but he began to undermine his benefactor, as, at this day, it
appeareth.
The Countess of BUCKINGHAM told LINCOLN, that "St. DAVIDS was the man
that undermined him with her son." And, verily, such is his aspiring
nature, that he will under-work any man in the world! so that he may
gain by it.
* * * * *
This man, who believeth so well of himself, framed an Answer to my
Exceptions.
But to give some countenance to it; he must call in three other
Bishops, that is to say, DURHAM, ROCHESTER, and OXFORD, tried men for
such a purpose! and the style of the Speech runneth, "We, and We." This
seemed so strong a Confutation, that, for reward of their service,
as well as for hope that they would do more, Doctor NEYLE, Bishop of
DURHAM, and the Bishop of BATH, were sworn of the Privy Council.
* * * * *
The very day, being Sunday, Master MURRAY was sent unto me, with a
writing: but finding me all in a sweat, by a fit of the stone which was
then upon me, he forbore, for that time, to trouble me, and said, "That
on the morrow, he would repair to me again."
I got me to bed, and lying all that night in pain; I held it convenient
not to rise the next day.
And on the Monday, Master MURRAY came unto me; which was the eighth
time that he had been with me, so incessantly was I plied with this
noble work.
I had shewed it [the _Apostolical Obedience_] to a friend or two:
whereof the one was a learned Doctor of Divinity; and the other had
served many times in Parliament with great commendation. We all
agreed that it was an idle work of a man that understood not Logic,
that evidently crossed [_contradicted_] himself, that sometimes spake
plausibly; and, in the end of his Sermon, [it] fell so poor and flat,
that it was not worth the reading.
* * * * *
Master MURRAY coming to my bedside, said, "That he was sent again by
the King, and had a paper to be shewed unto me."
_Archbishop._ You see in what case I am, having slept little all this
last night; but nevertheless since you come from the King, I will take
my spectacles, and read it.
MURRAY. No, my Lord! You may not read it, nor handle it; for I have
charge not to suffer it to go out of my hands.
_Archbishop._ How then, shall I know what it is?
MURRAY. Yes, I have order to read it unto you! but I may not part with
it.
_Archbishop._ I must conceive, that if I do not assent to it, His
Majesty will give me leave to reply upon it; which I cannot do, but in
my study, for there are my books.
MURRAY. I must go with you into your study; and sit by you, till you
have done.
_Archbishop._ It is not so hasty a work. It will require time; and I
have not been used to study, one sitting by me. But first read it, I
pray you!
The young gentleman read it from the one end to the other; being two or
three sheets of paper.
_Archbishop._ This Answer is very bitter; but giveth me no
satisfaction. I pray you leave the writing with me; and I shall batter
it to pieces.
MURRAY. No, my Lord! I am forbidden to leave it with you, or to suffer
you to touch it.
_Archbishop._ How cometh this about? Are the authors of it afraid of
it, or ashamed of it? I pray you tell His Majesty that I am dealt with
neither manly, nor scholar like. Not manly, because I must fight with
adversaries that I know not: not scholar like, because I must not see
what it is that must confute me. It is now eight and forty years ago
[_i.e., in 1579_], that I came to the University; and, since that time,
I have ever loved a learned man. I have disputed and written divers
books, and know very well what appertaineth to the Schools.
This is a new kind of learning unto me. I have formerly found fault,
that the author of this Sermon quoteth not the places, whereupon he
grounds his doctrine: and when I have oft called for them, it is
replied to me that "I must take them upon the credit of the Writer,"
which I dare not do. For I have searched but one place, which he
quoted in general, but sets down neither the words, nor the treatise,
nor the chapter; and I find nothing to the purpose for which it is
quoted: and therefore I have reason to suspect all the rest.
I pray you, therefore, in the humblest manner, to commend my service
to the King my Master, and let him know that, unless I may have all
the quotations set down, that I may examine them: and may have that
Writing, wherein I am so ill used: I cannot allow the book!
* * * * *
Before I go further, it shall not be amiss to touch some particulars of
that which I sent in writing to the King.
The First was Page 2. These words deserve to be well weighed. _And
whereas the Prince pleads not the power of Prerogative._
To this, Master MURRAY said, "The King doth not plead it."
But my reply was, "But what then, doth he coerce those refractories?
for I have not heard of any Law, whereby they are imprisoned; and
therefore I must take it to be by the King's Prerogative."
To the Second (Page 8). _The King's duty is first to direct and
make Laws._ There is no Law made till the King assent unto it; but
if it be put simply to _make Laws_, it will cause much startling
at it.
To this I remember not any material thing was answered; neither to the
Third.
(Page 10.) _If nothing may excuse from Active Obedience, but what
is against the Law of GOD, or of Nature, or impossible_; how doth
this agree with the first fundamental position: (Page 5.) _That all
subjects are bound to all their Princes, according to the Laws
and Customs of the kingdom wherein they live._
This is a fourth case of Exception.
And here, before I go to the rest, the Doctor did truly hit upon a good
point, in looking _to the Laws and Customs_, if he could have kept him
to it.
For in my memory, and in the remembrance of many Lords and others that
now live, Doctor HARSENET, the then Bishop of CHICHESTER, and now of
NORWICH, in Parliament time, preached at Whitehall, a sermon (which
was afterwards burned) upon the text, _Give unto CÆSAR, the things
that be CÆSAR's!_ wherein he insisted that "Goods and Money were
CÆSAR's; and therefore they were not to be denied unto him."
At this time, when the whole Parliament took main offence thereat,
King JAMES was constrained to call the Lords and Commons into the
Banquetting House at Whitehall: and there His Majesty called all, by
saying "The Bishop only failed in this, when he said _The goods were
CÆSAR's_, he did not add _They were his, according to the Laws and
Customs of the Country wherein they did live_."
So moderate was our CÆSAR then, as I myself saw and heard, being then
an Eye and Ear Witness: for I was then Bishop of LONDON.
To the Fourth. The Poll Money, in _Saint MATTHEW_, was imposed by
the Emperor, as a Conqueror over the Jews: and the execution of it
in England, although it was by a Law, produced a terrible effect in
RICHARD II.'s time; when only it was used, for ought that appeareth.
Here the Bishop, in the Paper, excepted divers things "That sometimes
among us, by Act of Parliament, strangers are appointed to pay by the
poll:" which agreeth not with the Case: and that "It was not well to
bring examples out of weak times; whereas we live in better: but it was
a marvellous fault, the blame was not laid upon the rebels of that Age."
Those are such poor things, that they are not worth the answering.
But my Objection, in truth, prevailed so far, that in the printed book,
it was qualified thus: _Poll money, other persons, and upon some
occasions_.
Where, _obiter_, I may observe that my refusing to sign the Sermon, is
not to be judged by the printed book: for many things are altered in
one, which were in the other.
To the Fifth (Page 12). It is in the bottom, _View of the reign
of HENRY III._, whether it be fit to give such allowance to the
book; being surreptitiously put out?
To this, it was said, "That being a good passage out of a blameworthy
book, there was no harm in it."
But before the question of SIBTHORP's treatise; the Bishop of BATH
himself, being with me, found much fault with that Treatise, as being
put out for a scandalous Parallel of those times.
To the Sixth, in the same page. Let the largeness of those words
be well considered! _Yea, all Antiquity to be absolutely for
Absolute Obedience to Princes, in all Civil and Temporal Things._
For such cases as NABOTH's Vineyard may fall within this.
Here the Bishop was as a man in a rage, and said, "That it was an
odious comparison! for it must suppose, that there must be an AHAB, and
there must be a JEZEBEL, and I cannot tell what!"
But I am sure my Exception standeth true; and reviling and railing doth
not satisfy my argument. _All Antiquity_ taketh the Scripture into it:
and if I had allowed that proportion for good, I had been justly beaten
with my own rod.
If the King, the next day, had commanded me to send him all the money
and goods I had; I must, by mine own rule, have obeyed him! and if
he had commanded the like to all the clergymen in England, by Doctor
SIBTHORP's proportion and my Lord of CANTERBURY's allowing of the same;
they must have sent in all! and left their wives and children in a
miserable case.
Yea, the words extend so far, and are so absolutely delivered, that by
this Divinity, if the King should send to the city of London, and the
inhabitants thereof, commanding them "to give unto him all the wealth
which they have," they are bound to do it!
I know our King is so gracious, that he will attempt no such matter:
but if he do it not, the defect is not in these flattering Divines!
who, if they were called to question for such doctrine, they would
scarce be able to abide it.
There is a _Meum_ and a _Tuum_ in Christian commonwealths, and
_according to Laws and Customs_, Princes may dispose of it. That
saying being true, _Ad reges, potestas omnium pertinet, ad singulos,
proprietas_.
To the Seventh (p. 14.), PIUS V. was dead before the year 1580;
they make no reply, but mend it in the printed book; changing it
into GREGORY XIII.
To the last (on the same page). Weigh it well! How this Loan may
be called a Tribute; and when it is said, _We are promised it shall
not be immoderately imposed_. How that agreeth with His Majesty's
Commission and Proclamation, which are quoted in the margent?
They make no answer but in the published Sermon, distinguish a Tribute
from a Loan or Aid: whereby they acknowledge it was not well before,
and indeed it was improper and absurd: worthy of none but Doctor
SIBTHORP.
* * * * *
I have now delivered the grounds, whereupon I refused to authorise
this book: being sorry at my heart, that the King, my gracious Master,
should rest so great a building upon so weak a foundation; the Treatise
being so slender, and without substance, but that it proceeded from a
hungry man.
* * * * *
If I had been in Council, when the Project for this Loan was first
handled, I would have used my best reasons to have had it well
grounded; but I was absent, and knew not whereupon they proceeded: only
I saw, it was followed with much vehemency. And since it was put in
execution, I did not interpose myself to know the grounds of one, nor
of the other.
It seemed therefore strange unto me, that, in the upshot of the
business, I was called in, to make that good by Divinity, which
others had done; and must have no other inducement to it, but Doctor
SIBTHORP's contemptible treatise!
I imagined this, for the manner of the carriage of it, to be somewhat
like unto the Earl of SOMERSET's case; who having abused the wife of
the Earl of ESSEX, must have her divorced from her husband, and must
himself marry her. And this must not be done; but that the Archbishop
of CANTERBURY must ratify all, judicially!
I know the cases are different; but I only compare the manner of the
carriage.
[Illustration]
When the approbation of the Sermon was by me refused, it was carried
to the Bishop of LONDON, who gave a great and stately allowance of it
[_It was entered at Stationers' Hall, under his authority, on the 3rd
May, 1627_]: the good man being not willing that anything should stick
which was sent unto him from the Court; as appeareth by the book which
is commonly called _The Seven Sacraments_, which was allowed by his
Lordship, with all the errors! which since that time have been expunged
and taken out of it.
* * * * *
But before this passed the Bishop's file, there is one accident which
fitly cometh in to be recounted in this place.
My Lord of LONDON hath a Chaplain, Doctor WORRAL by name; who is
scholar good enough, but a kind of free fellow like man, and of no very
tender conscience.
Doctor SIBTHORP's Sermon was brought unto him; and "hand over head" as
the proverb is, he approved it, and subscribed his name unto it: but
afterwards, being better advised, he sendeth it to a learned gentleman
of the Inner Temple; and writing some few lines unto him, craveth his
opinion of that which he had done.
The Gentleman read it; but although he had promised to return his
judgement by letter, yet he refused so to do: but desired Doctor WORRAL
would come himself. Which being done, he spake to this purpose, "What
have you done? You have allowed a strange book yonder! which, if it be
true, there is no _Meum_ or _Tuum_! no man in England hath anything of
his own! If ever the tide turns, and matters be called to a reckoning;
you will be hanged for publishing such a book!"
To which, the Doctor answered, "Yea, but my hand is to it! What shall I
do?"
For that, the other replied, "You must scrape out your name! and do not
suffer so much as the sign of any letter to remain in the paper!"
Which, accordingly he did; and withdrew his finger from the pie.
* * * * *
But what the Chaplain, well advised, would not do; his Lord, without
sticking, accomplished: and so, being unsensibly hatched, it came
flying into the world!
But in my opinion, the book hath persuaded very few understanding men;
and hath not gained the King, sixpence.
_Pars Secunda._
Hitherto, I have declared, at length, all passages concerning the
Sermon; and, to my remembrance, I have not quitted anything that was
worthy the knowing. I am now, in the second place, to shew what was the
issue of this not allowing the worthy and learned Treatise.
In the height of this question, I privately understood from a friend
in the Court, that "for a punishment upon me, it was resolved that
I should be sent to Canterbury, and confined there." I kept this
silently, and expected GOD's pleasure, yet laying it up still in my
mind: esteeming the Duke to be of the number of them, touching whom,
TACITUS observeth, _that such as are false in their love, are true in
their hate_! But whatsoever the event must be, I made use of the
report, that _jacula proevisa minus feriunt_.
The Duke, at the first, was earnest with the King, that I must be
presently sent away before his going to sea [_He left Portsmouth,
on the Rochelle Expedition, on the 27th June_]. "For," saith he, "if
I were gone, he would be every day at Whitehall, and at the Council
table! and there, will cross all things that I have intended."
To meet with this objection, I got me away to Croydon, a month sooner
than, in ordinary years, I have used to do; but the Term was ended
early, and my main [_strong_] fit of the stone did call upon me to get
me to the country, that there on horseback, I might ride on the downs:
which I afterwards performed, and, I thank GOD! found great use of it
in recovering of my stomach, which was almost utterly gone.
The Duke hastened his preparations for the fleet: but still that cometh
in for one memorandum, "That if he were once absent, there should no
day pass over but that the Archbishop would be with the King, and
infuse things that would be contrary to his proceedings."
What a miserable and restless thing ambition is! When one talented, but
as a common person; yet by the favour of his Prince, hath gotten that
Interest, that, in a sort, all the Keys of England hang at his girdle
(which the wise Queen ELIZABETH would never endure in any subject); yet
standeth in his own heart, in such tickle terms, as that he feareth
every shadow, and thinketh that the lending of the King's ear unto
any grave and well seasoned report, may blow him out of all! which in
his estimation, he thinketh is settled on no good foundation, but the
affection of the Prince; which may be mutable, as it is in all men,
more or less. If a man would wish harm unto his enemy; could he wish
him a greater torment, than to be wrested and wringed with ambitious
thoughts!
Well, at first, it went current, that "with all haste, I must be
doffed!" but, upon later consideration, "it must be stayed till the
Duke be at sea, and then put in execution by the King himself; that, as
it seemeth, BUCKINGHAM might be free from blame, if any should be laid
upon any person."
Hence it was, that, after his going, there was a new prosecution of the
Yorkshire men; and the refusing Londoners were pursued more fervently
than before: and it is very likely that the arrow came out of the same
quiver, that the Bishop coming to the election at Westminster, was
driven back so suddenly to Bugden.
Take heed of these things, noble Duke! You put your King to the worst
parts! whereof you may hear, one day! So when your Sovereign, in the
Parliament time, had spoken sharply to both Houses, commanding them
"To go together again, and to give more money!" and commanding them to
"meddle no more with the Duke of BUCKINGHAM!" you came, the next day,
and thought to smooth all, taking the glory of qualifying disturbances
to yourself! Whereas, if you read books of true State Government
(wherewithal you are not acquainted!), sweet things are personally to
be acted by Kings and Princes, as giving of honours, and bestowing of
noted benefits; and those things that are sour and distasting, are to
be performed by their Ministers. You go the contrary way!