Pseudo-Abbot 'A Speech to the King Concerning Toleration of Popery, Attributed to Archbishop Abbot (1623)'

The Lorde ArchB[ishop] his speeche at the Councell table in Iuly 1623 to the king after his motion of some things there.

May it please your Majestie, I haue beene too long silent & am afrayde by my silence I haue neglected the duty of the place it hath pleased God to call me vnto, & yo[u]r Maj[es]tie to place me in; but nowe I crave leave that I may discharge my Conscience towards God, & my duty to yo[u]r Maj[esty] & therefore I beseech your highnes to giue me leave freely to deliuer my selfe & then let yo[u]r Maj[esty] doe with me as it please / Yo[u]r Majestie hath propounded a Toleration of Religion I beseech yo[u]r highnes take into your Consideration what the consequence may be / You labour to set vp that damnable & hereticall doctrine of the Church of Rome the whore of Babilon, howe hatefull will it be to God grievous to yo[u]r good subjects the true professors of the Gospell, if yo[u]r Maj[es]tie (who haue ofte disputed & learnedly written against these wicked 112v heresies) should nowe shewe your selfe a Patron of those doctrines which yo[u]r pen hath tould the world & yo[u]r Conscience yo[u]r selfe, are superstitious Idolatries & detestable? Adde herevnto what you haue done in sending the Prince into Spaine with out the consente of yo[u]r Councell, the privitie & approbation of yo[u]r people / & although S[i]r you haue a larger interest in the Prince as the sonne of your flesh yet haue the people a greater as the sonne of the kingdome vpon whom next vnder yo[u]r Maj[esty] are theire eyes fix'te & welfare depend, & so tenderly is his going apprehended that believe it S[i]r how ever his returne may be safe, yet the drawers of him to that action so dangerous to himselfe so desperate to the kingdome will not passe away vnquestioned vnpunished. Besides, This Toleration you endeavour to set vp by yo[u]r Proclamation which cannot be done without a Parliament, vnles yo[u]r Maj[es]tie will let yo[u]r subjects see that you will take vnto yo[u]r selfe a libertie to throwe downe the lawes of the Land at your pleasure / what dolefull consequences these things may drawe after them I beseech yo[u]r Maj[esty] to consider, / & aboue all, Least by this Toleration & discontentment of the true professors of the Gospell (wherewith god hath blessed vs & vnder which this kingdome hath many yeeres florished) yo[u]r Maj[esty] doe not drawe vpon this kingdome in generall & your selfe in particuler Gods heavie wrath & indignation. Thus in discharge of my duty towards God, towards yo[u]r Maj[esty] & the place of my calling, I haue taken humble bouldnes to deliuer my conscience & nowe doe with me as you please.