May 1626] CAPTAIN Warner and thE DUNKIRK SHIP. 307

out of the field, which they in their braggadesme [braggadacio] enforced so far; that though the rest were silent, this young gentleman, not able to conceal a true English spirit, after some retort of language, there made a protestation, "That if it pleased the Governor to give him leave, he himself would undertake (making choice of his weapon) to fight singly against three of the proudest champions they could produce against him." To cut off circumstance; the challenge was accepted. The Governor prepared the combatants, with the time and place appointed. A great confluence of people assembled: where one young merchant, armed only with his sword and a Spanish pike, in the lists appeared, who by the three adversaries was boldly and resolutely charged. But GOD and his good cause defended him so well, that the combat continued not long till one of them he had laid dead at his foot; and having received from them some few scratches with the loss of a small quantity of blood and without danger, he so actively and resolutely behaved himself against the survivors that they, after divers wounds from him received, began to quail in their former courage and fight more faintly and further off: which the Governor perceiving, commanded the combat to cease, and withal to guard the Englishman from the fury of the displeased multitude who could have found in their hearts to have plucked him in pieces. There calling him up to him, conveyed him safe to his house and, after much commendation of his valour, very nobly secured him to his ship; wishing him for his own safety to be seen no more ashore: whose counsel he followed; and since with much envy from them and great honour to us, he is arrived in his own country.

I desire to be tedious in nothing, but will acquaint you with another exploit; no less remarkable than the former, performed in the beginning of this last month,* April: and thus it was.

A worthy gentleman, one Captain WARNER, with two small Pinnaces, was bound towards some part of the West Indies : neither of them being of above thirty tons burthen. He, being

It is clear from this, that this tract was written in May, 1626. The foregoing incident is a confused and inaccurate account of R. PEEKE'S brave act, which will be found, narrated by himself, on pages 621-643.

308 WARNER'S MOST DARING STRATAGEM. [May '1626.

thus at sea, was chased by a tall Man of War, a Dunkirker [coming from Dunkirk]; who came towards them, as if she meant to overrun them at once and bury their ruins [fragments] in the bottom of the ocean. Which WARNER perceiving, pretended to make away with one of his Pinnaces; as if he purposed to save a stake, and leave the other to the enemy's fury and spoils. The Dunkirker, not able to fasten on both at once, took the advantage of the first; intending when he had seized her to make like prize of the other: hails her, boards her; his sailors and soldiers, being all greedy of booty, neglect their own ship; only busying themselves in the rifling of the other, where I leave them all busy at work.

Which WARNER perceiving, and not willing to slack so good an opportunity, takes advantage of the wind, suddenly casteth about [tacks] and seizeth upon the Dunkirk's ship, whose men were, most of them, aboard the other pinnace; boards her, takes her, mans her: and now being armed with her strength; commands both his other Pinnace and all the enemies aboard her. By which stratagem, he not only ransomed his own, but subdued his enemies; made prize both of ship and goods, and took all the men prisoners. A noble encouragement to all the brave captains and commanders of our nation to try to imitate him in his resolution and valour.

And thus, worthy Countrymen! you see that notwithstanding the proud braves [bravados] of the Public Enemy, their scandals and calumnies with all the aspersions of disgrace that their malice can devise, to cast upon our Kingdom and country; maugre their invasions threatened on land or their naval triumphs boasted at sea: how the great Creator of all things (in whose sight pride, vainglory and ambition are abominable) can when He pleases, by the hand of the young man DAVID stoop the stiff neck of the strongest GOLIATH. And, noble countrymen! may these few encouragements put into you the ancient courage of your ancestors; whose memories through all seas, nations and languages, have been and ever shall be sacred to all posterities. Now is the time of acting, and to show yourselves as you have been ever held and esteemed; brave in attempting, and bold in performing. And so, without question, your expeditions shall be successful, as the fame of your virtues immortal.

The Sequestration of

Archbishop ABBOT from all his

Ecclesiastical Offices, in

1627.

JOHN RUSHWORTH, Esq., of
Lincoln's Inn.

[Historical Collections, i. 435. Ed. 1659.]

RCHBISHOP ABBOT, having been long slighted at Court, now fell under the King's high displeasure; for refusing to license Doctor SIBTHORP's sermon, entituled Apostolical Obedience, as he was commanded; and, not long after, he was sequestered from his Office, and a Commission was granted to the Bishops of LONDON, DURHAM, ROCHESTER, OXFORD, and Doctor,

310 THE ROYAL COMMISSION SEQUESTRATING [9 Oct. LAUD, Bishop of BATH AND WELLS, to exercise archiepiscopal jurisdiction.

The Commission is followeth

CHARLES, by the grace of GOD, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland; Defender of the Faith, &c. To the Right Reverend Father in GOD, GEORGE [MONTAIGNE], Bishop of LONDON; and to the Right Reverend Father in GOD, our trusty and well beloved Councillor, RICHARD [NEYLE], Lord Bishop of DURHAM; and to the Right Reverend Father in GOD, JOHN [BUCKERIDGE], Lord Bishop of Rochester; and to the Right Reverend Father in GOD, JOHN [HOWSON], Lord Bishop of OxFORD; and to the Right Reverend Father in GOD, our Right Trusty and Well Beloved Councillor, WILLIAM [LAUD], Lord Bishop of BATH and Wells.

HEREAS GEORGE, now Archbishop of CANTERBURY, in the right of the Archbishopric, hath several and distinct Archiepiscopal, Episcopal, and other Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Powers and Jurisdictions, to be exercised in the Government and Discipline of the Church within the Province of Canterbury, and in the Administration of Justice in Causes Ecclesiastical within that Province, which are partly executed by himself in his own person, and partly and more generally by several persons nominated and authorised by him, being learned in the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm, in those several places whereunto they are deputed and appointed by the said Archbishop: which several places, as We are informed, they severally hold by several Grants for their several lives, as namely,

Sir HENRY MARTIN Knight hath and holdeth by the grants of the said Archbishop, the Offices and Places of the Dean of the Arches, and Judge or Master of the Prerogative Court, for the natural life of the said Sir HENRY MARTIN.

Sir CHARLES CÆSAR Knight hath and holdeth by grants of the said Archbishop, the Places or Offices of the Judge of the Audience, and Master of the Faculties, for the term of the natural life of the said Sir CHarles Cæsar.

Sir THOMAS RIDLEY Knight hath and holdeth by the grant of the said Archbishop, the Place or Office of Vicar General to the said Archbishop.

And NATHANIEL BRENT, Doctor of the Laws, hath and

27]ARCHBISHOP ABBOT FROM HIS FUNCTIONS. 311

holdeth by grant of the said Archbishop, the Office or Place of Commissary to the said Archbishop, as of his proper and peculiar diocese of Canterbury.

And likewise the several Registrars of the Arches, Prerogative, Audience, Faculties, and of the Vicar General and Commissary of Canterbury, hold their places by grants by the said Archbishop respectively.

Whereas the said Archbishop, in some or all of these several Places and Jurisdictions, doth and may sometimes assume unto his personal and proper Judicature, Order, or Direction, some particular Causes, Actions, or Cases, at his pleasure. And forasmuch as the said Archbishop cannot, at this present, in his own person, attend these services which are otherwise proper for his Cognisance and Jurisdiction; and which as Archbishop of CANTERBURY, he might and ought in his own person to have performed and executed in Causes and Matters Ecclesiastical, in the proper function of Archbishop of the Province.

WE, therefore, of Our regal power, and of Our princely care and providence, that nothing shall be defective in the Order Discipline, Government, or Right of the Church, have thought fit by the service of some other learned and reverend Bishops, to be named by Us, to supply those which the said Archbishop ought or might, in the cases aforesaid, to have done; but, for this present, cannot perform the same.

Know ye, therefore, That We, reposing special trust and confidence in your approved wisdoms, learning, and integrity, have nominated, authorised, and appointed, and do, by these presents, nominate, authorise, and appoint You, the said GEORGE, Lord Bishop of LONDON; RICHARD, Lord Bishop of DURHAM; JOHN, Lord Bishop of ROCHESTER; JOHN, Lord Bishop of OXFORD; and WILLIAM, Lord Bishop of BATH AND WELLS, or any four, three, or two of you, to do, execute, and perform all and every those acts, matters, and things any way touching or concerning the Power, Jurisdiction, or Authority of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY in Čauses or Matters Ecclesiastical, as amply, fully, and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as the said Archbishop himself might have done.

And We do hereby Command you, and every of you, to attend, perform, and execute this Our Royal Pleasure in and touching the premises, until We shall declare Our Will and Pleasure to the contrary.