72.
An Introduction to a Devout Life, 1637.
This is a translation of the "Praxis Spiritualis, sive Introductio ad vitam devotam," by the celebrated Catholic divine, St. Francis de Sales. Archbishop Laud in writing to his Vice-Chancellor in 1637, speaks thus of the book, "There was an English translation of a book of devotion, written by Sales, Bishop of Geneva, and intitled Praxis Spiritualis, &c., licensed by Dr. Haywood, then my chaplain, about the latter end of November last; but before it passed his hands, he first struck out divers things wherein it varied from the doctrine of our Church, and so passed it. But by the practice of one Burrowes (who is now found to be a Roman Catholic) those passages struck out by Dr. Haywood were interlined afterwards, and were printed according to Burrowes's falsifications. The book being thus printed, gave great and just offence, especially to myself, who upon the first hearing of it, gave present order to seize upon all the copies, and to burn them publicly in Smithfield. Eleven or twelve hundred copies were seized and burnt accordingly."[48]
The following is the proclamation for suppressing the book:—
"By the King.
"A proclamation for calling in a book entituled An Introduction to a Devout Life; and that the same be publikely burnt.
"Whereas a book entituled An Introduction to a Devout Life, was lately printed by Nicholas Oakes of London, and many of them published and dispersed throughout the realme, the copy of which book being brought to the Chaplaine of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for licence and allowance, was by him, upon diligent perusall, in sundry places expunged and purged of divers passages therein tending to Popery. Neverthelesse, the same book, after it was so amended and allowed to be printed, was corrupted and falsified by the translator and stationer, who between them inserted again the same Popish and unsound passages; and the stationer is now apprehended, and the translator sought for, to be proceeded against according to justice. His Majesty, out of his pious and constant care to uphold and maintain the religion professed in the Church of England in its purity, without error or corruption, doth therefore hereby declare his royall will and pleasure to be, and doth straitly charge and command all persons, of what degree, quality, or condition soever, to whose hands any of the said bookes are or shall come, that without delay they deliver or send them to the Bishop or Chancellor of the Diocesse, whom his Majestie requireth to cause the same to be publikely burnt, as such of them as have beene already seized on have been by His Majestie's expresse command; and to this His Majestie's royall pleasure, he requireth all his loving subjects to yeeld all due conformity and obedience, as they will avoid the censure of high contempt.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall, the fourteenth day of May in the thirteenth yeare of our reigne.
"God save the King.
"Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's most excellent Majestie; and by the Assignes of John Bill. 1637."