Princes that looked towards Reformation Mr. Hooker Your advice we highly value as esteemed by us the most learned and wise man that ever the French Church did enjoy since the hour it enjoyed you yet you must understand that it did not become you to obtrude upon the Church of England a new way you had found out for the City of Geneva agreeable to the temper of that people and that time so disagreeing with our temper and our time especially since you could not bring that way to Geneva it self without the consent of the people Two things of principal note there are which deservedly procure you honour throughout the Christian World 1. Your exact institutions of Christian Religion 2. Your no less industrious exposition of Scripture according to those institutions in which two things whosoever bestowed their labour after you you gained the advantage of prejudice against them if they gainsaid you or of glory above them if they consented yea that which you did in the establishment of your way was harmless as being necessary but what you have taught for the countenance of it established is blame-worthy because out of love to your own prudent invention you endeavour to perswade the World that what you found out as yesterday was established by God since the beginning of Christianity we take it not well that what you with much ado imposed upon your own people by your own should be imposed upon us as from Divine Authority and that you should to that purpose disparage the antient Rites of the Church as Ineptiae nugae trifles and I know not what O Mr. Calvin Mr. Calvin There will come a time when three words uttered with charity and moderation shall receive a far more blessed reward then three thousand Vollumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit We wonder that you who said That you did highly approve a Forme of Prayer Doctrine and established Administration of Sacraments which it should not be lawful for the Ministers themselves to neglect that Provision might be made for the ignorant and unskilful 2. That the consent of the Churches might be more apparent 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory levity of them who delight in Innovations We wonder that you should encourage some Zelots at home and abroad to procure so many alterations of and enemies to the Common Prayer in the year 1547. and 3. of King Edward the sixth in so much that Reverend Father Latimer was faine to say in a Sermon before King Edward a little before his Death That the Admiral was gone I heard say he was a seditious man a contemner of Common Prayer I would there were no more in England well he is gone I would he had left none behind him Bish. Bancroft Mr. Calvin was not the only man that disturbed the peace of our Church by countenancing these Innovations and practising in Court City Country and Universities by his Agents till he had laid the first Foundation of the Zuinglian faction who laboured nothing more then Innovation in Doctrine and Discipline Court We pray you Sir what was the maine engine that Mr. Calvin used to bring his way into so much credit and esteeme among us Bish. Bancroft By insinuating to some men well affected the practise of the poor reformed Churches who not being able to set up the Primitive were over-ruled by his authority to comply with his way and gaining an improvident Indulgence unto John a Lasco with a mixt multitude of Poles and Germans to have the Priviledge of a Church for him and his distinct in Government and Worship from the Church of England by Letters Pattents in St. Augustine neer Broadstreet to be hereafter called the Church of the Lord Jesus whence we may observe 1. Of what consequence it is totolerate any people though never so inconsiderable in a way of separation Mr. Durel Dr. Basile Whereas it was suggested by several that most Reformed Churches walked in the way of Calvin and that the Church of England must submit to that way to preserve its Communion with other Churches We will make it appear that there is no Rite Ceremony or order of the Church of England but is observed in some of the Reformed Churches and some of them are observed in all Court Thus encouraged from abroad and indulged at home that party began to appear more publickly And you Mr. Bucer and Dr. Peter Martyr must needs seruple at some Ceremonies Vestments the one as Kings professor at Cambridge the other as Margaret professor and Cannon of Christ-Church in Oxford though with such moderation as that we have no more to say to you but that we are sorry the oversight of those times furnished the Universities and filled up the Chaires with men of your Principles to lay up in those nurseries of Religion and Learning the seed of a separation dissent and chisme that may continue as long as this Church stands we are sorry to hear that you Doctor Bucer refused some Ceremonies at Cambridge especially that you would not use a square Cap because forsooth your head was Round We are sorry likewise that you Dr. Martyr should encourage the Nonconformists in your Letter July 1. 1550. by saying that You thought it most expedient to the good of the Church that they and all others of that kind should be taken away when the next opportunity should present it self for say you as we iudge unchariteably Where such Ceremonies are so stiftly contended for as are not warranted and supported by the word of God there commonly men are less sollicitous of the substance of Religion then they were of the cicumstances of it and that you say in your Letter of the 4. Nov. 1559. that you never used the Surplice when you lived in Oxford though you were then a Cannon of Christ-Church and frequently present in the Qaire And for your part John a Lasco you might have been contented with the great indulgence of a gracious Soveraign to set up a Church with an express order to all the Bishops of the Realm not to disturbe you in the free exercise of your Religion and Ecclesiastical Government notwithstanding that you differed from the Government and formes of Worship established in the Church of England and not have abused his Majesties goodness so far as to appear in favour of the several factions which then began more openly to shew themselves against the established orders and laudable Customes of the Church and to write that scandalous Book called Forma Oratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerij much to their encouragement who impugned all Order and Discipline and you must countenance those that refuse to wear the Cap and Surplice and to write to Dr. Bucer to declare against them for which you were severely reproved by that moderate and Learned man Doctor Martyr Doctor Bucer and John a Lasco Truly we are very sensible of the great favours we
them were burnt at Smithfield by the Statute de Heretico comburendo Fuller Yea to countenance their way they pretended to dispossess several persons of Devils untill a trick was put upon them by one Rachel Pindor aged 12. years who deceived the Ministers of London from whom more prudence and less credulity might have been expected what prayer what fasting what preaching In a word these men grew so extravagant that Mr. Fox and others were deserted by them as lukewarme and remiss in the cause And among these rigid men Coleman Furton Hallingham and Benson exceeded all of their own opinion L. B. E. Yea one of them Deering by name was so bold as to tell Her Majesty that in persecution under her Sister Mary her Motto was Tanquam ovis as a sheep but now it might be Tanquam indomita juvenea as an untanred Heifer Court Surely the Queen still retained much of her ancient Motto as a sheep in that she patiently endured so publick and causless reproof in inflicting no punishment upon him save as they say she commanded him to forbear preaching at Court s. s. s. L. B. L. Upon these mens perverseness others were encouraged particularly the Family of Love who appeared Ao. 1580. set up by one H. Nicholas Ao. 1550. maintaining strange communion with God and venting phantastical and Allegorical interpretations of Scripture and allowing themselves to continue in sin that Grace may abound which the Privy Counsel endeavoured to suppress by an Abjuration L. B. C. To what purpose are they abjured who teach in higher Germany that God hath freed them from all Oaths Vowes Promises Covenants Debts and all carnal Obligations A. B. L. What should be the reason of this looseness in this Kingdome P. H. The turbulent Party had under hand contrived that Edmund Grindal a person a little inclined to their way should be promoted to the See of Canterbury who encouraged private Conventicles under the name of Prophecyings where all might speak one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted which if permited to take place would occasion such Schisme and faction should prove the ruine of Church and Commonwealth Court It is a strange thing to see how the vigilance and activity of these men infinuated their Cause to the favour of the chief men in Church and State how with good words and fair speeches they deceived the hearts of the simple L. B. B. And now they had gotten an Arch-Bishop that would wink at them the Nonconformists were not idle but appointed a meeting at Cockefield Mr. Knewstubs care in Suffolk where threescore of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridge met together to confer of the Common-Prayer-Book what might be tolerated and what was necessary to be refused in every point of it Apparel Matter Forme Daies Fastings Injunctions L. K. Yes and they say they had another in Cambridge finding so much favour as amounted to a connivance at their Discipline A. Y. What was the reason of this Liberty Fuller 1. The State was so intent upon the Jesuits that the Nonconformists escaped 2. My Lord of Leicester in the Counsel and my Lord of Canterbury in the Church were looked upon as Patron generals to Non-subscribers For indeed my Lord of Leicester whether perswaded by the Lord North or his own Policy I know not though publickly complying with other Lords of the Counsel yet privately engaged all his power and Interest for the Nonconformists L. C. T. Wherein did my Lord of Leicester make use of his Power for the Nonconformists Fuller 1. He preferred the Kentish Ministers Petition for liberty of Conscience in reference to the Liturgy the Articles and the Queens Supremacy to which they were called upon by my Lord of Canterbury to subscribe and for further Reformation to the Lords of the Counsel he made Mr. Beale an able and eager Clerk of the Counsel their friend yea he procured a Letter from the Lords of the Counsel viz. Burleigh Sbrewsbery Warwicke Nottingham Hatton c. to the Arch-Bishop to suspend his severity against Nonconformists and to restore those that were outed to their Livings for Nonconformity yea he prevailed so far with Burleigh himself as to write to the Arch-Bishop that as he would not have him so remiss as to leave Ministers to their own liberty so neither would he have him so rigid as to press Conformity to the height Omnia licent saith he omnia non expediunt he set Walsingham upon writing to the Arch-Bishop for several Nonconformists intimating to him that Moderation must settle the Church Court What effect did these great Intercessions produce P. H. They produced this effect that notwithstanding my Lord of Canterburies resolution to stand to the Rules of the Church the Nonconformists at several meetings above said decreed a new Platform which they said consisted of things that might well stand with the peace of the Church Where they resolve first That Schollars should not offer themselves but stay untill they be called to the Ministry in certain charge by the Classis upon the recommendation of the Brethren 2. None ought to conforme any further then the Classis alloweth him and not at all to the Liturgy and Cannons now established 3. Church-Wardens and Overseers should be turned to Elders and Deacons c. 4. That there should be Classical Provincial and National Assemblies yea and Comitial ones too Lem. What were they Fuller That is meetings at the Commencements and Acts in Cambridge and Oxford conveniently shadowed by a confluence of Ministers and people coming to those solemnities Court To see how great a flame a little sparke kindleth to see a party who from an hand bredth is improved to a Cloud that overshadoweth the Heavens the higher power of this Nation But did they stop at this Cambd. No for one Brown of whom it was presaged at Cambridge by Dr. Still and others that he would disturbe the Church returning from Zealand to Warwick with one Harrison a Pedant inveighed against all authority and set up the Independent or Congregational way propagated by several Books untill Coppen and Thacker were hanged for it the one on the 4. of June the other on the 6. of June 1583. at St. Ed. Burg. Court An wholesome severity that some should suffer and all should fear But what became of Brown himself T. F. By the Cecils favour who were his Kinsmen and his own compliance he lived at a Church a good living in Northamptonshire until the Year 1630. when he dyed for an assault and battery in Prison at Northampton Court Where was Authority all this while T. F. It disputed at Lambeth in two Conferences 1584. to no purpose and then pressed the Subscription of these three Articles 1. That the Queen had supream Authority over all persons and Causes 2. That there was nothing in the Common Prayer contrary to Gods Word 3. That the Book of Articles was agreeable to that Word Court Were they convinced by argument or did they submit to
have received from the Church of England and are very sorry that there fell from us any expressions and that there was allowed by us any practice that occasioned the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England if we consider the time how long it continued the eminent persous therein engaged and the doleful effects thereby produced and we observe that there have been three degrees of Nonconformists 1. Those in our dayes in King Edwards who scrupled only at some Vestures and Gestures 2. Those in Queen Elizabeths time who excepted against several things in the Common Prayer Cannons and Articles 2. Those since who have laid the Axe to the Root of the Tree and destroyed the Government it self Court After these men had been a while among us two opposite parties plainly appeared I. The Founders of Conformity such as by politick compliance and cautious concealement of themselves in the dayes of King Edward the sixth were possessed of the best preferments in the Church and retained many Ceremonies decent and ancient the Authority of Cranmer and the Activity of Ridley headed these Parties the former being the highest the latter the hotest for Conformity II. The Founders of Nonconformity such exiles as living in States and Cities of popular reformation were well affected to the Discipline of the places they lived in who returning late to England were at a loss for preferment and renounced all Ceremonies practised by the Papists John Rogers Lecturer of Pauls and Vicar of St. Sepulchers and John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Gloucester were the Ringleaders of this party And that these Divisions grew to that heighth that the King with the advice of his Counsel sets out a Proclamation Septem 23. to this purpose Whereas of late by reason of certain Controversies and seditious Preachers his Majesty moved with the tender Zeal and love he had to the quiet of his Subjects hath forbidden any to Preach without Licence from the Lord Protector or the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury upon hope that they whom they Licensed should Preach and set forth only such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kings Majesties Subjects Yet seeing such Preachers did still behave themselves irreverently and contrary to good order in Preaching against such good instructions as was given them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and ensue in his Majesties Dominions Wherefore his Highness minding to see shortly one Uniforme Order throughout the Realm and to put an end to all Controversies in Religion for which purpose he hath called together the Learned men of the Realm doth inhibit all publick Preaching wishing all Ministers in the mean time to pray for a blessing on the Convocation and so to endeavour themselves that they may be ready to receive from the Convocation a most Godly quiet and Uniforme order to be had throughout all his Majesties Realmes and Dominions L. A. B. C. I pray who appeared first against the order of the Church and how did they behave themselves L. B. W. To feel the pulse of authority one Dr. Glasier as soon as ever Lent was over 1547. and it was well he had the patience to stay so long affirmes publickly in a Sermon at St. Pauls Cross That Lent was not ordained of God to be fasted on nor the eating of Flesh to be forborn but that the same was a politick Ordinance of men and might therefore be broken by men at their pleasure For which Doctrine as the Preacher was never questioned the temper of the times giving encouragement enough to such extravagancies so did it open such a gap to carnal liberty as the King was faine to shut up by Proclamation on the 16. of Jan. and the Protector by an Army raised under pretence of a Warr with Scotland He knowing very well that all great Counsels tending to Innovation in the publick Government especially where Religion is concerned are either to b 〈…〉 cked by Armes or otherwise prove destructive to the undertakers L. B. L. Who was the next who appeared against the Kings Orders and injunctions L. B. G. Encouraged by Glasiers boldness and impunity several persons began to run out to some excesses which occasioned these Words in a Proclamation of the 8. March 154 7 8. We wish all men with such obedience and conformity to receive our Order that we may be encouraged from time to time further to travel for the Reformation and setting forth of such Godly Orders as may be most to Gods glory the edifying of our Subjects and the advancement of true Religion Willing all our Subjects in the mean time to stay and quiet themselves with this our Direction c. As men contented to follow authority and not rashly to run upon such courses as may hinder what they intend to promote For now there arose persons by the name of Gospellers that dispersed as Bishop Hooper observes in the Preface to his Commandments several Blasphemies and Heresies and some Anabapists who lurking in the late Kings time began to appear publickly and were convicted at St. Pauls before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and others where being convicted of their errors some of them were dismissed with an admonition some were sentenced to a recantation and others were condemned to bear their Faggots at St. Pauls Cross these persons among the many wild Opinions they vented were notorious for this one as Campneyes Writings one of themselves but coaverted declared That they laid all they did upon the eternal Predestination making God who is of purer eyes then to behold any the Author of their iniquity Court It 's true these wild persons and the Women that were burnt for heresie might disturbe us but who kept up the old cause of Nonconformity Witnesses One Mr. John Hooper a grave and Learned man who had lived a while in Zuricke with Bullinger and returned after Henry the 8s death with very good affections for the way of the Zuinglian and Helvetian Churches and by his frequent preaching and learned Writings having got credit and esteem with the Earle of Warwicke and other great men was preferred Bishop of Gloucester but when he came to be Consecrated he utterly refused the Episcopal Habits wherein he was to appear at his Consecration by the rules of the Church and the Arch-Bishop Cranmer would not Consecrate him without them Court Why do not you my Lord use these innocent and harmless Weedes Hooper I put my self upon the trial of the Searcher of Hearts that no obstinacy but meer Conscience makes me refuse these Ornaments Court These Ornaments are indifferent of themselves and of ancient use in the Church Hooper They are useless being ridiculous and superstitious Court Nay my Lord being enjoyned by lawful authority they become necessary not to Salvation but to Church Unity Hooper Being left indifferent by God it is presumption in man to make them necessary Court By a moderate use of these Ceremonies we may gain Papists into the
a Prayer for the assistance of Gods spirit and the Sermon with the Articles of Belief with another Psalme they should dismiss the people with a blessing 5. That there should be a prayer for all the Church after Sermon Court What strange alterations are these but were they contented to set up this new way among themselves Fuller No but they require those of Zurick to come thither and joyne with them in that new way Declaring the necessity of joyning themselves in one Congregation where they might serve God in purity of Faith and integrity of life having both Doctrine and Discipline free from any mixture of superstition But they of Zurick excused themselves 1. Because they saw no necessity that all the English should repair to one place it being safer to adventure in several Bottoms 2. Because they were peaceably seated and courteously used at Zurick and did not see how they might be all entertained at Francford 4. Because they were resolved not to recede from the Liturgy used in England under the Reign of King Edward the sixth Court How began the trouble at Francford Fuller Mr. Chambers and Mr. Grindal came from Strasburgh with a motion to those of Francford that they might have the substance and effect of the Common Prayer though such Ceremonies and things which the Country would not bear might be omitted Whereupon Mr. Knox the Pastor of Francford and others drew up a Platform of the English Liturgy as used in England under Edward 6. Court I pray what was Mr. Calvins Judgement of it Fuller He in a Letter of 20. Jan. 1555. saith That in the English Liturgie there was not that purity which was desired to be and although these things were at first tolerated yet it behooved the Learned Grave and Godly Ministers of Christ to enterprize further and to set forth something more filed from Rust and purer Court What was the effect of this Letter Fuller This struck such a stroke especially in the Congregation at Francford that some therein who formerly partly approved did afterwards wholly dislike and more who formerly disliked did now detest the English Liturgy Court O sad at first some Garment and Vestures were disliked then some passages in the Liturgy and now the whole Liturgy it self but we entreat you go on Fuller The Learned and Prudent the pions and resolute Dr. Cox coming out of England and arriving at Francford with several other men entred the Congregation Mar 13. behaving themselves according to the Customes Rites Ceremonies of the Church of England which Customes the Pastor Mr. Knox preached against as superstitious impure and imperfect and withal prevailed with Mr. Glauberg so far that he publickly professed that if the reformed order of the Congregation of Francford were not therein observed as he had opened the Church door to them so would he shut it again a. a. a. Court Who was active there against the Church besides Fuller One Will. Wittingham one though of less authority yet of as much affection to the cause as Knox himself who could not endime the great English Book for so he called the Liturgy Court What did these say for themselves Fulier They murmured that Arch-Bishop Cranmer had composed a far more pure Liturgy but the corrupt Clergy they said would not admit of it Court Who else opposed the Church of England Fuller One Ashley who set up the people above the Ministers and occasioned the drawing up of a new Discipline which occasioned new troubles and the choice of new Pastors untill by the mediation of Dr. Sandy's and others they were perswaded to some tolerable agreement Court I pray let the persons concerned answer to their Names Register Mr. Williams Mr. Knox Mr. Wittingham Mr. Fox Mr. Gilby Mr. Goodman Mr. Cole Mr. Wood Mr. Keth Mr. Kelk Mr. Hilton Mr. South-bouse Mr. Purfote Mr. Escot Mr. Grafton Mr. Walton Mr. Kent Mr. Hellingham Mr. Carier c. Court Could neither the love of peace nor compassion of your suffering mother nor the offence of the Reformed Churches nor your own dangers keep you within compass order government Nonconf We aimed at pure Reformation an holy communion with other Churches and the peace of Protestants Court Truly you have layed the foundation of the most dangerous Schisme that ever was in the World and what the issue may be God only knoweth and late Posterity may suffer O why cannot you agree seeing ye are distressed brethren O why cannot the great things wherein you agree unite you rather then the small matters wherein you differ should divide you Greatly doth concerne all of you in your places and orders to put to all your powers prayers and interests for preserving the Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that in nothing you give offence to the Church of God rather be willing to silence and smother your private judgements and to relinquish your particular liberties and Interests to question and mistrust your singular conceits and fancies then to be in any such thing stiffe and peremptory against the quiet of Gods Church the weak to be humble and tractable the stronge to be meek and merciful you the Pastours to instruct the Ignorant to reclaime the wandering to restore the lapsed to convince the froward with the spirit of meekness and compassion And trouble not your Superiours by ungrounded Scruples uncharitable prejudices or unquiet and in the end uncomfortable singularities If any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowells and mercies Be ye like minded take heed of strife of vaine glory of pride in your own conceits of censure of your brethren of private respects lay aside your own reputation have such humble judgements as that you may be willing to learn any though unwelcome truths and to unlearn any though a darling errour have such humble lives and purposes as that you may resolve to obey with duty whatsoever you are not able with reason to gainsay to the suppressing of those unhappy differences wherewith by the cunning of Satan the Church of God is like to be too much disquieted Whosoever therefore by pride or faction schism or ambition or novel fancies or arrogance or ignorance or sedition or popularity or vain glory or envy or discontent or correspondence or any other carnal reason shall cause Divisions and offence we shall not need load them with any other guilt then the Apostle doth That they are not the servants of Christ Ro. 16. 17. You that are Governours rule with authority and meekness you that are Teachers teach with wisdom and compassion that you cut off occasion from those that seek occasion and may open a way by peace and holiness to your Native Country CHAP. III. Queen Elizabeths Reign COurt There is a restless party that will never suffer the Church to be quiet who when they could not prevaile by force at Francford endeavour to carry on their design by Policy from Geneva For
when they heard that Queen Elizabeth was come to the Crown who they thought would favour the most moderate and prudent Reformation that the world might believe that they were for peace they write to the English at Franeford by Will. Creth Dec. 15. That all offences heretofore taken or given might be forgotten and that for the future they might no more fall out again for superfluous Ceremonies But however to make sure work Calvin writes that the Queen cannot be Head of the Church so that if she would she cannot establish the Liturgy with the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England A. B. C. See how they are improved first they refuse some Gestures and Ornaments next they mislike some passages in the Liturgy and at last they throw away the Liturgy it self and now they deny the Queens Ecclesiastical authority whereby these things are established So that now the Axe is laid to the root of Tree the very Papists being taught by the Centuriaters and Calvin to deny the Queens Supremacy Court What was the next appearance of this Party H Ch. One Mr. Gilpin a grave pions and reverend person refuseth the Bishoprick of Carlisle as that party thought to the great disparagement of that Order Court Mr. Gilpin did you refuse that Bishoprick out of any disaffection to that Office Gilpin No verily but because I had so many Kindred about Carlisle at whom I must either connive at many things not without hurt to my self or else deny them not without offence to them to avoid which difficulties I refused the Bishoprick O. o. o. o. Court What was the next attempt of this Party H. H. Having declared that the Queen was not Head of the Church they undertake to reforme it without her Court How durst you medle with the Church without order Nonconf Idolatry is not to be permitted a minute all that have power have right to destroy it for Gods glory if Soveraigns forget it is fit Subjects should remember their duties Court Do you know what you say though you may reforme private persons and families and refraine to communicate in any outward act contrary to Gods Word yet publick Reformation belongeth to the Magistrate and a good deed may by you be ill done for want of a calling to do it Non licet populo renuente magistratu Reformationem moliri Court What was the next practice of these men Fuller They procured that the 20th Article viz. that the Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies c. was by the malicious cunning of that opposite faction left out of the Printed Articles p. p. p. Court But let us have further evidence concerning these men and their way Fuller When the Reverend Bishops urged subscription to the Liturgy the Ceremonies and Discipline of the Church Mr. Fox appeared before Arch-Bishop Parker to subscribe the old man produced the New Testament in Greek To this saith he will I subscribe and when a subscription to the Canons was required he refused saying I have nothing in the Church save a Prebend of Salisbury and much good may it do you if you will take it away from me Dr. Lawrence Humphry refuseth subscription saying that they should never have his hand who had not his heart And one Gilby more furious declamed against Ceremonies calling them the known liveries of Antichrist cursed patches of Popery and Idolatry worse then Lousy c. William Wittingham and Christopher Goodman would say that they did not fly from Popery in Queen Maries daies to embrace it under Queen Elizabeth The last is Thomas Sampson Dean of Christ church who refused subscription Court If any man teach otherwise and consenteth not with heart and hand to the wholsome forme of sound Words and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is puffed up and knoweth nothing but languisheth about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife rayling evil surmizes froward disputations of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth q. q. q. But did they content themselves in not subscribing L. B. G. No for when the first race of peaceable Nonconformists were almost all dead then behold another more active and zealous succeedes them as Coleman Button Benson Halingham who inveighed against the established Church Discipline accounting every thing from Rome which was not from Geneva Court Did they stop here Cambd. No for they began to defame the Queen who established Church Discipline endeavouring to bafle Ecclesiastical authority by overthrowing the fountaine of it For this year 1567. three London Nonconformists viz. Will. White Tho. Rowland Rob. Hawkins being cited before Grindal Bishop of London and asked this question Have we not a godly Prince speak Is she evil They made their several Answers in this manner 1. White What a question is that the fruits do shew 2. Rowland No but the servants of God are persecuted under her 3. Hawkins Why this question the Prophet answereth in the Psalms How can they have understanding that work iniquity spoiling my people and that extoll vanity Court I pray what followed Cambd. They are imprisoned by her Majesty untill they made a Recantation And in the year 1572. an Act of Parliament requiring that subscription which was before sparingly pressed and daringly denyed that every Minister should subscribe before Decemb. 20. 1562. the Nonconformists kept private meetings in Woods and Fields and private Houses Court What Mr. Cartwright are you turned Conventicler Cartw. That Name which agreeth to Anabaptists is too light and contemptuous to set forth such assemblies where Gods Word and Sacraments are administred even by your own confession Camb. O Mr. Cartwright it is you that sent an admonition to the Parliament concerning grievances with a remedy viz. The admiting of a platforme of discipline by you prescribed Court What is that an admonition that is the lowest of Ecclesiastical Censures and a preparative if neglected to suspension and excommunication what If the Parliament comply not with your admonitions they must be suspended and excommunicated you have brought things to a fair pass We intreat you Mr. Cambden give in some further evidences concerning these persons Cambd. When two admonitions made by Mr. Cartwright had been answered by Dr. Whitgift and defended again by Mr. Cartwright and at last unanswerably confuted by Dr. Whitgift Mr. Cartwright either scorning or not able or not daring to answer attempts some other designes and particularly at Wandsworth in Surrey they presuming upon Parliament favour set up their Discipline privately which they could not establish publickly with the assistance of Mr. Cartwright Mr. Field Lecturer there living in London Wilcox Standen Jackson Bonham Smith of Mieham Serretloe Cram of Roe-hampton Edmonds Clark Travers Barber Gardiner Cheston Crooke Egerton r. r. r. r. Under whose wings a Congregation of Dutch Anabaptists assembled themselves without All-gate in London who being discovered eight of them were banished and two not withstanding Mr. Fox and other Nonconformists intercession for
Authority T. F. Neither but a Parliament being called 29. March 1585. they set up underhand a National Synod who were better discovered by their moving then by their meeting whose practices were more conspicuous then their places some Agents for them were all day at the door of the Parliament House and some part of the night in the Chambers of Parliament men effectually solliciting their business with them Court How did this their diligence appear P. H. In the effects of it this Parliament was observed so extraordinarily busie in Church Affaires about approbation of Ministers about Ecclesiastical Courts Bishops c. that the Arch-Bishop Whitgift was faine to write to the Queen to own her own Lawes Orders and Authority which she did consenting to no Material alteration Court When this way failed them what course took they T. T. They piece the Lions skin with the Foxes tayle and what they could not do by Interest against the Arch-Bishop they attempt by compliance with him L. B. D. How I pray I P. H. Why Mr. Cartwright by Leicesters Mediation gets in with the Arch-Bishop and is so civilly used by him that Leicester writes a Letter of thanks to the Arch-Bishop with a promise that Cartwright shall be at his service L. B. O. But doth the Arch-Bishop trust him T. H. The wary Arch-Bishop is not overfond of his friendship but keepes him at distance and writes to Leicester That he is at peace with him but that he cannot without further tryal of him give him any License to preach Court What doth Travers do all this while P. H. He complaines to his Patron the Lord Burleigh against the Liturgy L B. E. What answer doth that wise Lord make him T. F. He demanded whether they desired the taking away thereof They answered no but only the amendment of what was offensive therein Then said he Do you make a better such as you would have setled instead thereof Court What did they F. F. They divided themselves into four Classes The first whereof framed a new Liturgy after the forme of Geneva The second altered it in 600. particulars The third resolved on another model The fourth dissented from the former And so that wise Statesman put them off for the present untill they should agree Court Then we may observe that it is not so much the Liturgy and Cannons that trouble them as that they have no hand in composing them now we may presume that they are quiet F. F. No for now they endeavour to overthrow the High Commission and the Oath ex Officio the one they perswade the World is against the Law of Liberty none is bound to betray himself the other against the Law of the Land none ought to be disseized of his Liberty or Estate without a tryal by his Peeres Court This was very subtilly done to bring in as many of their party as either were molested in the High Commission Court or troubled with the Oath ex Officio who were the greatest part of the Kingdome Although to avoid the Odium of these things Arch-Bishop Whitgist brought the Nonconformists to the Star-Chamber a Court without dispute and as the High Commission was her Majesties highest Court for Ecclesiastical Causes over which sue was Head so the Oath ex Officio is usually tendred in Chancery in matters not touching life or Limb and there was no man there tyed to betray himself but he that was first betrayed by a common fame from which he was to cleer himself by his Oath according to the Scripture Deut. 21. 7. and the practice of Geneva its self in Camparel and Baltasers case Would none of the Nonconformists when they were indited for a fame of a Conventicle or so clear themselves by an Oath F. F. 1. Some of them would not take this Oath at all but would say If our faults be unknown why are we accused if they are known produce your evidence 2. Some would take the Oath but with a protestation that they would not thereby accuse either themselves or their brethren 3. Others would take the Oath to accuse those that were truely guilty to remove evil from the Land but not to accuse their brethren for those things which are not faulty 4. Others would take the Oath where there were no Witnesses to be had Jo. 17. 21. Court When the Powers in being would not establish them what paines they take to weaken those powers that they might not oppose them but when their Arguments failed them against these Courts did they sit down Cambd. No but in the next Parliament they had such an influence upon the Commons choice that they at their first sitting offered the Lords a Petition of sixteen branches in favour of the Nonconformists 1. That they might be free from the Cannonical Oath 2. That they might not be troubled for some things omitted in the Common Prayer 3. That they might be called before lay Officers 4. That those that were suspended for Non-subscribing might be restored 5. That they might not be troubled at the High Commission but for high offences 6. That they might have in every Arch-Deaconry common conferences among themselves 7. That the high censure of Excommunication might not be denounced for small matters nor by lay-men 8. Non-residency may be removed out of the Church c. And other things against insufficient Ministers in the discussing of these particulars the House fell most fiercely against Non-residence Court Truly Non-residence may be allowed in way of recovering of health by changing of air of study for a time in the University of mortal enmity borne by some of the Parish of prosecution of law or of being employed in publick affaires L. B. Truly I could allow Pluralities as encouragements to learned men so they be in one Diocess L. H. It is fit her Majesty as Head of the Church should confer with the Bishops about these matters T. F. Therefore the Bishops very prudently petition her Majesty to take the case to her own hand to whom it properly belongeth remonstrating the inconveniences ensuing to the State present future to Cathedral Churches to Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case Pluralities were taken away Court Who was it that promoted this cause so far T. F. The Lord Grey seemed the most jealous who wished the Bishops might be turned out of Doores as in the case of premunire in H. 8ths time because they upheld abominable Non-residence and Pluralities against their own consciences and the good of the people Court If the Lord had not been on my side might the Church now say if the Lord had not been on my side they had swallowed me up quick for these were but the pretences under which the adversaries threatned the whole Church for take away encouragements and you take away worth and Parts take away Parts and you overthrow the Church When this most hopeful enterprize that ever the adversary undertook failed him was he satisfied P. H. No for having formerly as