Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/268

 230 Readings in European History to the church for the decorating of it, according to their old custom ; but withal we do here account still as pro- hibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear and bull baitings, interludes, and at all times in the meaner sort of people by law prohibited, bowling. To the ardent Puritan the Church of England, as rep- resented by Archbishop Laud, the tyrannical king, and the corrupt courts and judges, formed a single great conspiracy against civil and religious liberty. One of the innumerable pamphlets of the time describes a new treaty just concluded between the devil, the pope, and the Jesuits, on the one hand, and the English courts on the other. 310. Puritan Articles of agreement made, concluded, and done this 28th of pamphlet September, in the year of grace 1641, and of the world 5662, the king's by an ^ betwee?i the high and mighty prince, Lucifer, king of courts (1641). Styx a?id Phlegethon, the holy and most superstitious primate (Extract.) Q y ^ lg ft oman Church, the cardinals, bishops, fesuits, priests, and seminaries, of the one party ; and fudge Bribery, Law- yer Corruption, Attorney Conte?ition, Solicitor Sedition, fus- tice Connivance, failor Oppression, and State Negligence, of the other party, in ma?i7ier and form following : It is this day mutually agreed, by and between the several parties above named, that there shall be a league, offensive and defensive, concluded and confirmed by both parties, at or before Holy-rood day next ensuing the date hereof. Item : That whereas there hath been lately, by the subtle practices of some parliamentary reformists, a discord and dissension raised between the state ecclesiastic and the state of the inns of court, whereby there hath happened no small prejudice unto the ecclesiastic state ; the like whereof is to be doubted may also fall upon the state of the inns of court, and so consequently upon the crown and dignity of our sovereign lord, King Lucifer ; it is therefore mutually agreed that all former controversies and contentions between