THE
BISHOP
OF
CANTERBURIES
CONFESSION
:
Sent
unto
the
Pope
.
MOst
holy
Father
of
the
Roman
Catholike
Church
,
(
generally
acknowledged
the
undoubted
successour
of
Saint
Peter
,
and
Christs
immediate
Vicar
)
I
humbly
beseech
your
Holinesse
,
to
meet
this
my
Confession
with
the
Armes
of
mercy
,
and
excuse
my
unfortunate
zeale
for
the
promoting
and
enlarging
of
your
Sea
and
Vniversall
Episcopacy
;
I
will
now
strip
my
soul
naked
,
with
as
much
humility
as
ever
did
any
confessing
penitent
.
Your
Holinesse
hath
long
since
understood
,
that
as
soon
as
I
knew
Letters
and
Learning
in
the
Vniversitie
of
Oxford
,
I
addicted
my
studies
to
know
the
chief
points
and
principles
of
the
Roman
Religion
;
on
that
foundation
,
I
builded
,
all
the
structure
of
my
Faith
,
yet
kept
my
opinion
secret
,
and
did
my
Acts
in
the
Schooles
at
Oxford
(
contra
Papicolas
)
against
the
Papist
,
but
in
my
heart
I
was
(
pro
Papiculos
)
for
(
the
Adorers
of
your
Holinesse
)
the
Papists
.
And
being
chosen
to
be
Governour
of
Saint
Iohns
in
Oxford
,
which
had
in
it
then
good
wits
,
and
propense
to
ambition
,
these
I
cherished
;
and
sent
some
of
them
to
travell
,
under
pretence
of
Accommodation
of
manners
,
but
indeed
to
drinke
in
the
ayre
and
Religion
of
forraign
Countries
;
especially
,
to
season
them
with
the
salt
and
savory
Holy
water
of
your
Sea
,
some
of
them
returned
again
well
instructed
in
the
tenents
of
the
Romish
Church
,
and
first
in
affection
to
the
Supremacy
of
your
Holinesse
in
all
Ecclesiasticall
matters
,
those
imployd
themselves
(
Semina
Ecclesiae
Catholicae
spurgere
in
vulgus
)
to
sow
the
seeds
of
the
Catholike
Religion
in
the
hearts
of
the
common
people
,
but
they
were
such
bad
base
,
and
barren
ground
,
that
they
would
receive
nothing
but
the
precise
seed
of
Puritan
Doctrine
.
Sed
odi
prophanum
vulgus
,
I
ever
hated
the
simple
common
people
,
as
things
that
ought
to
suffer
;
holding
this
for
an
Axiome
:
Anglica
gens
,
Optima
Flens
,
Pessima
ridens
.
The
English
Nation
were
ever
good
when
your
Holinesse
held
a
strict
hand
over
them
,
and
the
Clergy
were
your
Receivers
here
in
England
;
(
which
times
the
ignorant
called
the
time
of
Popery
)
but
now
since
the
authority
and
power
of
your
universall
Bishopricke
hath
been
expelled
out
of
England
,
what
is
England
but
a
Chaos
of
Confusion
?
An
outside
of
Religion
:
Priest
and
people
rebelling
against
God
and
their
gracious
King
CHARLES
,
whom
in
my
heart
and
soul
I
can
never
enough
reverence
;
for
after
I
had
forsaken
the
Vniversitie
of
Oxford
,
and
was
known
by
the
title
of
Doctor
Lawd
,
and
Bishop
of
St.
Davids
in
Wales
,
I
according
to
my
name
,
thought
that
Magna
placuisse
viris
non
ultima
laus
est
.
That
it
was
a
point
of
wisdome
to
please
great
men
,
especially
,
my
Soveraign
King
CHARLS
and
his
good
Queen
,
who
being
farre
distant
in
opinion
,
I
endeavoured
to
reconcile
them
to
the
Roman
Religion
:
The
beams
of
the
Kings
favour
shining
on
me
,
I
flourished
in
the
Court
,
by
Policie
more
then
by
Divinity
;
and
Bishop
Abbot
dying
,
I
was
by
my
Soveraigne
made
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
,
an
honour
(
as
your
Holinesse
well
knowes
,
and
was
glad
to
understand
)
the
greatest
that
could
be
conferred
in
England
on
a
Churchman
;
having
all
power
Iure
Divino
,
in
Ecclesiasticall
matters
:
And
when
I
was
advanced
,
I
beganne
to
shew
the
(
'
ENERGIA
)
and
efficacie
of
that
Roman
belief
,
which
I
had
formerly
conceited
;
I
did
endeavour
the
advancement
of
your
Holinesse
Supremacy
,
and
to
establish
the
Catholicke
Roman
Religion
,
both
in
the
doctrine
and
discipline
of
the
Church
of
England
,
but
unhappy
events
make
bad
the
best
intents
;
I
did
but
(
inita
ova
excludere
)
hatch
some
windy
egs
of
my
own
desires
,
which
in
promoting
your
Holinesse
Papall
dignity
I
could
never
effect
;
yet
I
beseech
your
Holines
to
take
notice
of
your
humble
servants
diligence
in
some
particulars
,
and
grant
my
endeavors
this
favorable
censure
,
Quod
in
magnis
veluisse
sat
est
,
that
the
will
in
high
attempts
is
to
be
accepted
:
when
I
was
firmly
seated
in
the
Episcopall
dignity
,
I
caused
the
Vniversities
to
put
on
the
opinions
of
the
Roman
Church
,
and
made
Arrianism
the
Cloak
under
which
it
should
have
entred
in
;
all
the
most
pregnant
wits
in
the
Vniversities
were
drawn
to
be
Papists
in
heart
,
in
hope
of
prement
,
which
I
bestowed
on
those
that
ascribed
all
Ecclesiasticall
glory
to
your
Holinesse
;
so
that
the
springs
of
Learning
(
Oxford
and
Cambridge
)
finding
how
I
carried
on
the
streame
of
Religion
untill
it
should
come
unto
the
Sea
of
Rome
,
began
all
to
incline
to
advance
Roman
tenents
,
and
all
Heads
of
Houses
were
either
Arrians
or
cordiall
Papists
.
The
Colledges
had
in
their
Chappels
,
Altars
erected
,
and
so
likewise
,
Altars
were
erected
in
most
Churches
in
England
,
thus
farre
I
had
introduced
something
of
the
Romane
Religion
:
and
I
brought
in
Ceremonies
,
as
necessary
matters
,
besides
Organs
were
heard
in
every
Church
on
Sundayes
,
and
to
make
Religion
more
pleasing
unto
the
people
,
one
Doctor
Rocklington
,
did
by
appointment
,
write
a
Book
intituled
,
Sunday
no
Sabboath
;
and
all
liberty
was
permitted
on
the
Sabbath
day
,
for
the
people
(
I
know
)
would
affect
an
easie
and
pleasant
way
of
Religion
,
which
by
my
contriving
,
was
strewd
with
Roses
,
and
faire
shewes
of
Ceremonies
.
And
when
I
found
that
some
of
the
Zealots
,
or
English
Puritans
,
endeavoured
to
oppose
my
Will
,
and
to
write
and
preach
against
me
,
as
intending
to
raise
the
Hierarchy
of
the
Clergy
,
who
with
my self
,
would
have
willingly
become
obedient
sonnes
unto
you
our
Holy
Father
:
I
being
exasperated
with
high
and
divine
rage
,
and
holy
indignation
,
I
caused
divers
of
the
Reformation
,
stirring
and
painfull
Divines
,
to
bee
imprisoned
.
I
had
my
Pantacousts
or
my
Church
Scouts
,
that
went
abroad
to
hear
Sermons
,
and
if
they
could
bring
me
any
accusation
against
the
Puritan
Preachers
,
I
would
interpret
it
to
be
a
point
of
Lesae
Maiestatis
vel
Religionis
,
either
Treason
against
Majestie
,
or
against
Piety
:
for
I
knew
that
Kings
must
be
upheld
in
their
greatnesse
,
that
they
might
maintain
us
Bishops
,
under
your
Holinesse
,
who
are
the
summum
G●nus
,
in
the
predicament
of
the
Church
:
and
under
your
Holinesse
,
all
degrees
of
Clergy-men
are
constituted
by
the
differences
of
their
severall
Orders
.
And
besides
,
be
pleased
Holy
Father
to
understand
,
that
I
confesse
I
was
yours
in
heart
and
affection
,
striving
to
actuate
and
perform
,
what
I
could
never
bring
to
passe
.
I
used
all
the
meanes
I
could
,
to
settle
the
Roman
Religion
in
Ireland
,
but
was
unhappy
in
obtaining
my
ends
yet
I
did
,
proceed
,
〈…〉
vere
lapidem
,
to
move
forward
every
occasion
,
and
every
stone
to
the
erecting
and
building
up
of
the
Roman
Church
,
whereof
your
Holinesse
is
supreame
Head
.
And
to
that
purpose
,
if
any
known
Papist
(
as
the
Reformers
call
them
)
were
brought
before
me
,
I
examined
them
with
all
the
mildnesse
and
favour
that
I
,
could
extend
towards
them
,
multiplying
their
accusations
:
and
patronizing
and
defending
(
as
your
Holinesse
well
knowes
)
some
Priests
and
Roman
seed
men
,
as
namely
one
a
subtile
Agent
for
your
Holinesse
and
the
Catholick
Religion
,
also
Sancta
de
clara
,
was
by
my
meanes
maintained
and
cherished
,
and
kept
a
long
time
from
the
rigour
of
the
lawes
of
England
,
that
doth
impose
death
on
any
of
these
Emissaries
which
are
,
sent
out
from
Rome
or
other
places
to
serve
your
holinesse
,
and
dis●…
inate
and
sow
abroad
the
Papall
Religion
:
On
the
contrary
I
discountenanced
,
and
discouraged
all
the
professours
,
of
the
Protestant
Religion
especially
,
those
forward
or
rather
factious
fellowes
,
Master
Burton
,
Master
Brin
,
and
Doctor
Bastwick
,
men
(
as
I
thought
of
a
strange
temper
,
but
being
a
Privy
Counsellour
,
I
sate
upon
them
as
their
Iudge
in
the
Star-Chamber
,
and
condemned
them
with
the
rest
of
th●…
Counsell
to
an
ignominious
punishment
which
was
to
loose
their
eares
,
and
after
that
kept
them
in
prison
:
but
all
would
not
serve
to
suppresse
the
Reformed
Religion
,
which
I
sought
to
change
into
that
which
they
call
Popery
.
And
moreover
I
privately
caused
many
Catholicks
books
to
be
printed
and
published
,
as
namely
the
Book
called
,
The
Introductor
to
a
divine
life
,
and
another
intituled
,
The
Epistle
of
Iesus
Christ
to
a
devout
soule
;
and
those
books
were
licensed
by
my
Chaplain
Haywood
,
and
dispersed
abroad
amongst
the
English
Catholicks
.
But
yet
for
all
my
industry
,
my
favouring
of
knowing
Papists
,
my
policie
,
my
printing
of
books
,
surprising
of
zealous
preachers
;
I
was
unhappy
in
my
proceedings
,
my
intents
layed
open
and
discovered
,
and
all
the
endeavours
of
my
life
for
your
holinesse
and
the
Roman
Religion
destroyed
in
a
moment
;
I
was
by
the
Parliament
now
assembled
in
England
,
together
with
my
other
fellow
Bishops
put
out
of
the
House
of
Parliament
,
and
my selfe
(
as
your
Holinesse
long
since
hath
understood
)
was
committed
to
the
Tower
,
where
I
now
remaine
,
and
I
that
was
once
the
feare
,
am
now
the
indignation
of
the
people
;
I
look
dayly
to
come
to
my
grand
tryall
,
and
to
receive
the
expected
sentence
of
death
,
which
I
will
undergoe
like
a
Christian
,
my
greatest
sorrow
being
that
I
shall
not
live
to
doe
your
Holinesse
that
service
,
which
I
desired
in
advancing
Popery
and
the
Catholicke
faith
,
yet
that
I
might
give
your
holinesse
some
accompt
of
my
diligence
and
labours
in
the
great
businesse
of
the
Catholick
Cause
,
I
have
sent
unto
your
holy
hands
this
Confession
of
my
Life
,
and
if
I
dye
for
my
affection
to
your
holinesse
and
the
Papall
seas
,
I
will
carry
my
prayers
for
your
holinesse
into
Heaven
,
desiring
also
your
holinesse
.
Benediction
on
your
most
humble
and
unhappy
Servant
,
WLLIAM
LAUD
Arch-Bishop
of
CANTERBURY
.