22 .
THE LIFE OF
many Samsons, and done what he could to put out their Eyes, and to makethem grind in the Mill of his pernicious and dangerous Innovations.
He should like Moses have led his Flock. Moses led the Children ofIsrael through the Red-sca; this Man drives part of his Flock over the Sea,but went not himself.
Like Nimrod, he hath invaded the Laws and Liberties of the Subject ; hehath been as great a Robber, as ever has been presented to your Lordships; hehath robbed the King of his Subjects, the greatest Glory of Kings ; the King-dom of Trade, of Tradesmen, the Supporters of it.
He that deprives the King of one Subject, you know his Punishment j andwhat shall be the Punishment of him, who hath robb’d the King of somany Subjects ?
1611.3. f. In the Time of King Henry the Third, we find a Tenant in Dower pu-Wajt , 1-8. nish’din Action of Waste, because she had destroy’d two rich Villains, andmade them Beggars.
I appeal to your Lordships, what is his Offence, who hath committed somuch wilful Waste and Spoil, beggar'd Hundreds, not Villains, but freebornSubjects ?
He robb’d the Souls of that sweet Manna, which is pabulum animarum , the> Word of God.
My Lords, I have not yet recounted all his Robberies; he hath robbedGod of part of his Day; makes part of that a Day of Sports ; he hathrobbed the Subjects of their indubitable Birthright, the Laws of the King-dom.
The Citizens of Norwich must pay Tythes for the Rents of Houses; there’sno Law in England, nor Custom in Norwich for it; nay, and that theymay be sure to be robb’d of Justice too, the Suit for these Tythes must bein his own Consistory, from whence there must be no Appeal, no Pro-hibition.
The true Patrons of Churches are robb’d of their Presentations, otherswho had none, or small Pretence of Right, are admitted upon this unhallow-ed Maxim, that if he should institute those who had Right, the Pretenderwas without Remedy ; by this, he inverted a fundamental Law of this Nation,to invest remediless Rights with unjust Possessions.
My Lords, I cannot tell you all, but you can measure a Lyon by thePaw.
I am commanded to lay this great Malefactor at your Doors, one whohath been a great Oppugner of the Life and Liberty of Religion ; and whoset a Brand of Infamy (to use his own Words) upon Ipswich Education.
In sum, one who is a compleat Mirror of Innovation, Superstition, andOppression ; he is now in the Snare of those Articles, which were the Worksof his own Hands.
The Rod os Moses at a Distance was a Serpent, it was a Rod again whenit was taken into his Hands; this Bishop was a Serpent, a devouring Serpentin the Diocese of Norwich j your Lordlhips, peradventure will by handlingof him, make him a Rod again ; or, if not, I doubt not but your Lordlhips-will chastise him with such Rods as his Crimes shall deserve.
My Lords, I am commanded by the House of Commons, to desire yourLordships, that this Bishop may be required to make Answer to these Ar-ticles ; and that there may be such Proceedings against him, as the Courseand Justice of Parliament doth admit.
This furious Speech, deliver’d with so much Rancor against the Bishop ofEly, (suitable with the fashionable Malice, and Uncharitablenels of the Age,
against