So moderate was our Cæsar then, as I myself saw and heard, being then an Eye and Ear Witness: for I was then Bishop of London.
To the Fourth. The Poll Money, in Saint Matthew, was imposed by the Emperor, as a Conqueror over the Jews: and the execution of it in England, although it was by a Law, produced a terrible effect in Richard II.'s time; when only it was used, for ought that appeareth.
Here the Bishop, in the Paper, excepted divers things "That sometimes among us, by Act of Parliament, strangers are appointed to pay by the poll:" which agreeth not with the Case: and that "It was not well to bring examples out of weak times; whereas we live in better: but it was a marvellous fault, the blame was not laid upon the rebels of that Age."
Those are such poor things, that they are not worth the answering.
But my Objection, in truth, prevailed so far, that in the printed book, it was qualified thus: Poll money, other persons, and upon some occasions.
Where, obiter, I may observe that my refusing to sign the Sermon, is not to be judged by the printed book: for many things are altered in one, which were in the other.
To the Fifth (Page 12). It is in the bottom, View of the reign of Henry III., whether it be fit to give such allowance to the book; being surreptitiously put out?
To this, it was said, "That being a good passage out of a blameworthy book, there was no harm in it."
But before the question of Sibthorp's treatise; the Bishop of Bath himself, being with me, found much fault with that Treatise, as being put out for a scandalous Parallel of those times.
To the Sixth, in the same page. Let the largeness of those words be well considered! Yea, all Antiquity to be absolutely for Absolute Obedience to Princes, in all Civil and Temporal Things. For such cases as Naboth's Vineyard may fall within this.