







 
   
     
       
         A letter sent from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury (now prisoner in the Tower) to the Vice-Chancellor, doctors, and the rest of the convocation at Oxford, intimating his humble desires to His Majesty, for a speedy reconcilement between him and his high court of Parliament.
         Laud, William, 1573-1645.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A88786 of text R4532 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E83_27). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A88786
         Wing L591
         Thomason E83_27
         ESTC R4532
         99872697
         99872697
         125143
         
           
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         Early English books online.
      
       
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         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 125143)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 14:E83[27])
      
       
         
           
             A letter sent from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury (now prisoner in the Tower) to the Vice-Chancellor, doctors, and the rest of the convocation at Oxford, intimating his humble desires to His Majesty, for a speedy reconcilement between him and his high court of Parliament.
             Laud, William, 1573-1645.
          
           8 p.
           
             Ordered to be printed, First at Oxford by Leonard Lichfield, and now reprinted at London for Edward Vere,
             [London] :
             [1642?]
          
           
             Signed: W.C.
             "This is believed to be a forgery"--Cf. Madan.
             "The supposed Oxford original of this letter probably never existed, nor do the records of Convocation show any trace of it."--Cf. Madan.
             Annotation on Thomason copy: "Decemb: 29".
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Laud, William, 1573-1645.
           Detention of persons -- England -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A88786  R4532  (Thomason E83_27).  civilwar no A letter sent from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury (now prisoner in the Tower) to the Vice-Chancellor, doctors, and the rest of the convocatio Laud, William 1642    2120 4 0 0 0 0 0 19 C  The  rate of 19 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
        2007-02 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
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        2007-04 Jonathan Blaney
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2007-04 Jonathan Blaney
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2008-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           Sent
           from
           the
           ARCH-BISHOP
           OF
           .
           CANTERBVRY
           (
           Now
           prisoner
           in
           the
           Tower
           )
           TO
           THE
           VICE-CHANCELLOR
           ,
           Doctors
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Convocation
           at
           OXFORD
           ,
           Intimating
           his
           humble
           desires
           to
           His
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           for
           a
           speedy
           reconcilement
           between
           Him
           and
           His
           High
           Court
           of
           PARLIAMENT
           .
        
         
           
             Ordered
             to
             be
             printed
             ,
          
           First
           at
           OXFORD
           by
           
             Leonard
             Lichfield
             ,
          
           and
           now
           reprinted
           at
           LONDON
           for
           
             Edward
             Vere
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           A
           Letter
           sent
           from
           the
           Archbishop
           of
           
             CANTVRBVRY
             .
          
        
         
           
             Master
             Vicechancelor
             ,
          
        
         
           And
           you
           Gentlemen
           ,
           the
           rest
           of
           my
           ancient
           friends
           and
           fellow-Students
           ,
           God
           ,
           whose
           Judgements
           are
           inserutable
           ,
           before
           whom
           the
           wisdome
           of
           the
           children
           of
           men
           is
           but
           foolishnesse
           ,
           hath
           beene
           pleased
           to
           lay
           his
           afflictions
           on
           me
           with
           a
           heavie
           hand
           ,
           glorified
           be
           his
           Name
           in
           all
           his
           Works
           ;
           But
           no
           one
           among
           all
           the
           numbers
           of
           my
           miseries
           hath
           ,
           or
           does
           more
           afflict
           me
           then
           that
           I
           am
           by
           my
           misfortunes
           made
           incapable
           of
           serving
           you
           and
           that
           famous
           Nurse
           of
           good
           Letters
           ,
           your
           University
           (
           of
           which
           I
           had
           sometimes
           the
           honour
           to
           be
           Chancelor
           )
           with
           that
           intire
           zeale
           and
           devotion
           ,
           which
           my
           intentions
           aimed
           at
           :
           man
           purposeth
           and
           God
           disposeth
           ,
           otherwise
           had
           his
           Almighty
           Will
           beene
           concurrent
           to
           my
           wishes
           ,
           my
           indeavours
           should
           have
           rendred
           
             Oxford
          
           the
           glory
           of
           the
           Christian
           world
           for
           good
           literature
           ;
           but
           mens
           hopes
           resemble
           much
           the
           Sunne
           ,
           that
           at
           his
           rising
           and
           declension
           casts
           large
           shadowes
           ,
           at
           noone
           ,
           when
           he
           is
           clothed
           in
           all
           his
           brightnesse
           casts
           little
           or
           none
           at
           
           all
           ;
           when
           wee
           are
           farthest
           from
           our
           expectations
           ,
           they
           appeare
           neerest
           to
           our
           hopes
           :
           our
           hopes
           feeding
           our
           imaginations
           with
           the
           prosperity
           of
           our
           intents
           ,
           which
           then
           approch
           swiftly
           to
           ruine
           ,
           like
           quite
           spent
           tapers
           ,
           that
           give
           a
           sudden
           flash
           ere
           they
           extinguish
           .
           It
           was
           just
           so
           with
           mee
           ,
           who
           now
           in
           stead
           of
           all
           the
           honours
           I
           possessed
           ,
           am
           a
           prisoner
           ;
           and
           so
           like
           to
           continue
           ,
           and
           would
           take
           it
           as
           an
           ample
           testimony
           of
           God
           Almighties
           mercy
           to
           me
           ,
           were
           I
           but
           assured
           to
           carry
           my
           gray
           haires
           downe
           to
           the
           grave
           in
           peace
           ;
           but
           his
           Will
           be
           done
           ,
           in
           earth
           as
           it
           is
           in
           heaven
           ,
           I
           shall
           indeavour
           to
           make
           the
           best
           of
           my
           sufferings
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           say
           with
           the
           Psalmist
           ,
           
             It
             was
             good
             for
             me
             that
             I
             was
             in
             trouble
             .
          
           And
           surely
           I
           shall
           so
           demeane
           my selfe
           towards
           God
           ,
           my
           King
           ,
           and
           the
           Common-wealth
           in
           this
           my
           durance
           ,
           that
           in
           my
           very
           enemies
           I
           shall
           beget
           compassion
           ,
           in
           you
           my
           friends
           a
           hearty
           sorrow
           for
           my
           miseries
           ,
           which
           have
           taught
           mee
           that
           true
           
             Dictamen
          
           of
           wisdome
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           advise
           all
           ,
           especially
           you
           of
           mine
           owne
           Calling
           ,
           the
           Clergie
           ,
           never
           to
           meddle
           with
           things
           above
           your
           reach
           ,
           I
           meane
           State
           affaires
           ,
           but
           to
           devote
           your selves
           solely
           to
           the
           service
           and
           worship
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           true
           feeding
           the
           flocks
           committed
           to
           your
           charge
           ;
           for
           dangerous
           it
           is
           to
           meddle
           with
           the
           Councell
           of
           Kings
           ,
           especiall
           for
           those
           who
           have
           professed
           themselves
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           on
           whose
           Lawes
           they
           ought
           onely
           to
           meditate
           ;
           the
           affaires
           of
           State
           being
           Theatres
           on
           which
           whosoever
           acts
           his
           part
           ,
           though
           it
           appeare
           to
           him
           comicall
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           the
           end
           will
           produce
           his
           owne
           tragedie
           ,
           if
           hee
           looke
           not
           with
           the
           greater
           care
           to
           his
           performance
           ;
           as
           it
           happened
           to
           that
           most
           famous
           Clergie-man
           of
           all
           our
           Nation
           ,
           that
           great
           Cardinall
           
             Woolsey
          
           (
           whom
           some
           in
           a
           merry
           mockery
           )
           have
           ●naptly
           made
           my
           paralell
           in
           dignity
           and
           fortune
           ,
           who
           loden
           with
           disgraces
           ,
           
             jam
             sumus
             ergo
             pares
             ,
          
           not
           long
           before
           his
           departing-minute
           exclaimed
           ,
           that
           if
           hee
           had
           served
           God
           but
           with
           halfe
           that
           integrity
           he
           had
           done
           the
           King
           ,
           he
           would
           not
           have
           so
           deserted
           him
           in
           his
           old
           age
           .
           How
           I
           have
           served
           my
           King
           ,
           then
           whom
           no
           man
           ever
           had
           the
           happinesse
           to
           
           serve
           a
           more
           gracious
           Master
           ,
           the
           world
           must
           be
           my
           judge
           ,
           how
           I
           have
           performed
           my
           duty
           to
           God
           of
           that
           ,
           my
           owne
           conscience
           ;
           nor
           shall
           I
           strive
           to
           give
           the
           world
           satisfaction
           in
           that
           point
           ,
           onely
           desire
           them
           to
           remember
           that
           divine
           command
           ;
           
             Iudge
             not
             lest
             you
             be
             judged
             :
          
           howsoever
           I
           have
           demeaned
           my selfe
           ,
           it
           is
           enough
           I
           now
           suffer
           ,
           without
           either
           repining
           at
           the
           Will
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           or
           exprobating
           mine
           accusers
           with
           the
           least
           accusation
           of
           malice
           ,
           though
           never
           man
           hath
           had
           so
           many
           scandalous
           abuses
           cast
           upon
           him
           :
           none
           ever
           (
           considering
           my
           Calling
           )
           having
           been
           made
           so
           notorious
           a
           subject
           for
           ridiculous
           Pamphlets
           and
           Bailads
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           not
           I
           alone
           that
           have
           indured
           injuries
           of
           that
           nature
           ,
           they
           have
           fallen
           with
           the
           same
           licencious
           petulancie
           upon
           my
           betters
           ,
           and
           I
           have
           long
           since
           studied
           that
           Precept
           of
           the
           Wise
           man
           ,
           
             when
             a
             foole
             reviles
             thee
             ,
             regard
             him
             not
             ,
          
           and
           so
           enough
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           ;
           but
           the
           maine
           cause
           of
           my
           writing
           to
           you
           ,
           impute
           this
           needlesse
           
             Exordium
          
           to
           my
           humane
           weaknesse
           ,
           which
           is
           alwayes
           prone
           to
           tediousnesse
           in
           relation
           of
           its
           misfortunes
           ,
           to
           those
           it
           is
           confident
           will
           lament
           and
           pitie
           them
           :
           An
           instance
           whereof
           wee
           have
           in
           children
           ,
           who
           use
           to
           bemone
           themselves
           to
           their
           Mothers
           and
           Nurses
           ,
           purposely
           to
           have
           them
           bemone
           them
           .
           But
           to
           my
           businesse
           :
           It
           is
           not
           unknowne
           to
           you
           Gentlemen
           ,
           nor
           to
           me
           ,
           though
           darknesse
           and
           the
           shadow
           of
           death
           have
           even
           incompassed
           me
           round
           ,
           what
           
             Myriads
          
           of
           increasing
           mischiefes
           these
           times
           have
           produced
           in
           this
           languishing
           and
           almost
           expiring
           Kingdom
           ,
           diffencions
           ,
           wars
           and
           blood-sheds
           ,
           raigning
           in
           every
           place
           ,
           fellow
           Subjects
           ,
           like
           the
           ancien
           Sword-players
           ,
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             Cirques
          
           and
           
             Amphitheatres
             ,
          
           butchering
           one
           another
           merely
           for
           their
           delight
           in
           blood
           ,
           
             
               Fraternus
               acies
               alternaque
               jura
               profunis
               ,
            
             
               De
               certata
               odiis
               ,
            
          
           May
           fitly
           be
           applyed
           to
           the
           condition
           of
           our
           now
           distressed
           Countrey
           ,
           whose
           soule
           is
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           divided
           from
           the
           body
           ,
           and
           itselfe
           only
           the
           carkasse
           of
           that
           
             England
          
           it
           was
           formerly
           .
           
           The
           Kings
           gracious
           Majestie
           by
           fatall
           feares
           and
           misconstructions
           being
           seperated
           from
           the
           body
           of
           the
           Common-wealth
           ,
           the
           Honourable
           the
           high
           Court
           of
           Parliament
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           comfort
           can
           arrive
           to
           make
           a
           man
           love
           his
           misery
           or
           take
           delight
           in
           his
           inthrallment
           ,
           certainly
           I
           have
           ,
           that
           my
           durance
           was
           inflicted
           on
           mee
           before
           this
           sad
           and
           lamentable
           breach
           (
           which
           heaven
           in
           its
           great
           mercy
           soone
           knit
           up
           )
           happened
           betwixt
           his
           Majesty
           and
           his
           Parliament
           ;
           for
           ,
           had
           I
           been
           at
           liberty
           ,
           and
           injoyed
           the
           gracious
           care
           of
           my
           Soveraigne
           as
           formerly
           ,
           surely
           I
           had
           not
           beene
           to
           have
           had
           that
           aspersion
           cast
           upon
           me
           as
           the
           author
           of
           this
           distraction
           (
           such
           a
           fatality
           is
           alwayes
           attendent
           on
           persons
           high
           in
           the
           favour
           of
           their
           Prince
           ,
           to
           have
           all
           the
           misfortunes
           of
           the
           Common-wealth
           inflicted
           on
           them
           ,
           who
           may
           be
           perchance
           ,
           not
           onely
           innocent
           ,
           but
           have
           also
           indeavoured
           to
           have
           diverted
           from
           the
           State
           those
           mischiefs
           of
           which
           they
           are
           suspected
           by
           some
           ,
           and
           by
           some
           concluded
           to
           have
           beene
           the
           maine
           incendiaries
           :
           and
           surely
           I
           could
           wish
           ,
           so
           my
           sufferings
           might
           have
           impeached
           the
           impetuous
           current
           of
           the
           Klngdomes
           miseries
           ,
           that
           I
           had
           undergone
           a
           thousand
           deaths
           before
           this
           dis-junction
           had
           falne
           out
           betweene
           the
           high
           Court
           of
           Parliament
           and
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           who
           being
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           informed
           ,
           now
           with
           you
           at
           
             Oxford
             ,
          
           and
           intending
           there
           to
           reside
           ,
           I
           thought
           my selfe
           ingaged
           in
           conscience
           to
           intimate
           my
           intentions
           to
           you
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           you
           that
           counsell
           ,
           which
           if
           any
           one
           had
           given
           me
           in
           my
           prosperitie
           ,
           I
           might
           ,
           perchance
           at
           this
           instant
           ,
           not
           have
           beene
           unhappy
           .
           I
           know
           there
           are
           among
           you
           divers
           of
           great
           and
           able
           soules
           ,
           take
           heed
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           lest
           you
           pervert
           those
           excellent
           gifts
           which
           God
           and
           education
           hath
           conferred
           upon
           you
           ,
           by
           intruding
           your selves
           into
           the
           affaires
           of
           the
           State
           ,
           and
           inverting
           Religion
           to
           advance
           and
           cherish
           the
           present
           distractions
           .
           The
           King
           is
           now
           amongst
           you
           ,
           a
           good
           and
           gracious
           Prince
           hee
           is
           ,
           as
           ever
           heaven
           blest
           this
           Land
           with
           ,
           doe
           not
           you
           any
           ends
           whatsoever
           ,
           increase
           the
           number
           of
           those
           
           Malignants
           ,
           who
           have
           given
           fire
           to
           all
           the
           Cedars
           of
           Lebanon
           at
           once
           kindled
           a
           flame
           ,
           which
           in
           a
           moment
           hath
           almost
           burn'd
           up
           all
           the
           glories
           of
           this
           Kingdome
           ;
           let
           neither
           the
           disgraces
           cast
           on
           the
           Clergie
           by
           some
           factious
           spirits
           without
           the
           licence
           or
           patronage
           of
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           incense
           you
           to
           cherish
           the
           distractions
           betwixt
           his
           Majesty
           and
           that
           honourable
           and
           wise
           Assembly
           ,
           nor
           hope
           of
           preferment
           seduce
           you
           to
           it
           ;
           for
           credit
           me
           ,
           who
           hath
           more
           experience
           in
           such
           affaires
           then
           many
           of
           you
           ,
           though
           the
           beginning
           of
           proceedings
           of
           that
           nature
           may
           in
           faire
           and
           specious
           outsides
           court
           your
           imaginations
           ,
           their
           period
           will
           be
           nothing
           but
           confusion
           and
           bitternesse
           to
           the
           undertakers
           ,
           as
           other
           sinnes
           are
           ,
           which
           like
           subtile
           Panthers
           ,
           display
           their
           gorgeous
           spots
           to
           intice
           the
           traveller
           to
           gaze
           upon
           them
           ,
           till
           the
           carelesse
           wretches
           are
           surely
           in
           their
           reach
           ,
           and
           then
           they
           assault
           and
           devoure
           them
           .
           It
           is
           ill
           going
           betweene
           the
           barke
           and
           the
           tree
           ,
           (
           sayes
           the
           Proverb
           )
           take
           heed
           of
           it
           ;
           there
           is
           as
           neere
           a
           relation
           betwixt
           the
           King
           and
           his
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           though
           they
           may
           a
           while
           be
           separated
           ,
           that
           violence
           cannot
           be
           long
           lived
           ;
           it
           will
           at
           last
           conclude
           in
           the
           ruine
           of
           those
           that
           have
           caused
           this
           seperation
           ,
           they
           will
           be
           sure
           to
           suffer
           .
           It
           cannot
           be
           but
           offences
           must
           come
           ,
           but
           woe
           be
           to
           them
           from
           whom
           they
           come
           ;
           mischiefes
           alwayes
           meet
           their
           Catastraphes
           in
           the
           destruction
           of
           their
           authors
           .
           Since
           then
           his
           Majesty
           hath
           graciously
           beene
           pleased
           to
           honour
           your
           University
           and
           City
           with
           his
           Royall
           presence
           ,
           like
           good
           
             Samaritans
             ,
          
           indeavour
           to
           powre
           Balme
           and
           Oyle
           into
           the
           wounds
           of
           the
           Common-wealth
           ;
           labour
           as
           much
           as
           in
           you
           lies
           ,
           to
           compose
           these
           dissensions
           :
           it
           is
           your
           Calling
           to
           propagate
           Peace
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Gospell
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           testimony
           of
           peace
           ,
           given
           by
           the
           King
           of
           Peace
           to
           the
           children
           of
           men
           ;
           you
           may
           informe
           his
           Majestie
           even
           out
           of
           your
           Pulpits
           ,
           and
           boldly
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           more
           perquisit
           to
           the
           duty
           of
           a
           Soveraigny
           than
           to
           acquire
           and
           advance
           the
           good
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           which
           can
           no
           way
           so
           well
           and
           suddenly
           be
           effected
           as
           by
           a
           faire
           Accommodation
           of
           peace
           betweene
           his
           Royall
           Selfe
           and
           his
           high
           
           Court
           of
           Parliament
           :
           And
           as
           an
           incitement
           to
           mo●●
           〈◊〉
           Majestie
           to
           thinke
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           such
           a
           wretched
           man
           as
           I
           be
           not
           quite
           lost
           to
           his
           memory
           ,
           tender
           this
           to
           him
           as
           the
           hum●●●
           Petition
           of
           his
           unfortunate
           servant
           ,
           that
           his
           goodnesse
           〈◊〉
           vouchsafe
           to
           reflect
           on
           my
           sufferings
           ,
           who
           am
           impossibili●●●
           by
           his
           absence
           of
           ever
           comming
           to
           my
           triall
           ,
           and
           so
           likely
           to
           end
           my
           dayes
           in
           a
           prison
           .
           But
           this
           onely
           as
           the
           least
           motive
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           for
           my selfe
           ,
           but
           further
           beseech
           his
           Highnesse
           from
           me
           ,
           to
           looke
           with
           a
           compassionate
           and
           tender
           eye
           on
           the
           Religion
           ,
           Nobility
           and
           Commons
           of
           this
           unhappy
           Kingdome
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           speedy
           reconciliation
           with
           the
           honourable
           the
           high
           Court
           of
           Parliament
           at
           once
           finish
           all
           their
           miseries
           .
           And
           lastly
           ,
           pray
           you
           signifie
           to
           his
           Majestie
           ,
           that
           I
           lay
           my
           life
           downe
           in
           all
           humility
           at
           his
           Royall
           feet
           ,
           beseeching
           God
           day
           and
           night
           for
           his
           prosperitie
           ,
           peace
           and
           happinesse
           ,
           desiring
           no
           longer
           life
           for
           any
           end
           ,
           but
           this
           ,
           to
           see
           his
           Majestie
           ,
           the
           glory
           of
           our
           Israel
           ,
           returne
           to
           his
           Ierusalem
           ,
           all
           differences
           attoned
           betwixt
           him
           and
           his
           Parliament
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           continuall
           prayers
           of
           his
           Highnesse
           humblest
           servant
           ,
           and
           your
           true
           friend
           ,
        
         
           
             W.
             C.
             
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
    

