prayer over a Man to be strengthned and confirmed by the holy Ghost or to receive the gifts of the holy Ghost as Saint Ambross saith alluding to Heb. 6. 2 c. Nor saith he is it their opinion Confirmation to be unlawful but rather because they have not the use of this in their own hands every Pastor in his Parish to confirm for then it would be accounted an Apostolical institution And indeed Doctor Reynolds seemed to grant replying that some diocess of a Bishop had 609 Parish-Churches as London it was inconvenient to commit confirmation to him alone as impossible to examine all them It was answered that the Bishop usually appoints his Chaplins or Ministers to examine them and none are otherwise confirmed but by testimony of the Parsons or Curats where they are bred and born and Saint Ierome says that the Execution was indeed restrained to Bishops only ad honorem potius sacerdotii quam ad legis necessitatem Ecclesiae salus in summi Sacerdotis dignitate pendet cui si non Exors quaedam et ab omnibus eminens detur potestas tot in Ecclesiis efficerentur schismata quot sacerdotes It was used anciently partly to examine children whether they had been baptized or no for primitively baptism was administered in divers sorts In Nomine patris et filii c. others In Nomine patris Majoris et filii Minoris as the Arrians did some in nomine patris per filium in Spiritu sancto others not in the name of the Trinity but in the name of Christ c. Whereupon Catholick Bishops were constrained to examine them who were baptized in remotis The King concluded as none should confirm so none to preach without the Bishops License Doctor Reynolds complained that the Catechism in the Common-prayer-Book was too brief and Nowells was too long requested one uniform and none other It was thought reasonable the King saying That in Scotland every one well affected or thought to the sonne of a good man set out a Catechism and what was received in one Congregation was never accepted Orthodoxall in another adding this gromical Canon conclusion First that old intricate questions might be avoyded in the fundamental Instructions of the people Secondly not to be such a departure from the Papists in all things as to be therefore in error because we agree in some Then Doctor Reynolds moved for a new Translation of the Bible the old ones of Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth being corrupt Instanced in Galathians 4. 2â— Psal. 101. 28. They were not obedient For not disobedient Psal. 106. 30 c. The King complained thereof and the worst to be Geneva the Marginal notes thereof were partial untrue seditious and trayterous as Exod. 1. 19. the note alloweth disobedience to Kings And 2. Chron. 15. 16. The note taxeth Asa for deposing the Mother and not killing her That errors in matters of faith may be rectified that matters indifferent might rather be interpreted and a gloss added concluding rather a Church with some faults then an Innovation and surely saies he if these be the greatest matters I needed not your complaints Doctor Reynolds complained against publishing some Books unlawfull instance that De jure Magistratus in subditos published of late by Ficlerus a Papist and applyed against Queen Elizabeth for the Pope Bishop of London said That the Author de Iure was a great disciplinarian whereby it appears what advantage these Sects afforded to the Papists who mutatis personis could apply their own arguments against Protestant Princes That for other Books lately admitted viz Disputes between Secular Priests and Iesuites the King told Doctor Reynolds He was a better Colledg-man than a States-man and willed him and His associates to know they were permitted by order of Counsel Table whereby their schisme and his Majesties title handled and the title of Spain confuted and wherein this State was cleered of putting Papists to death not for Religion but Treason And thus much concerning purity of Doctrine The second generall point Pastors to be Resident and Learned The King had ordered the Bishops to be carefull herein but as subita evacuatio was perâ—culosa so subita Mutatio That there were more sufficient divines than Maintenance which must be first provided young ignorant Ministers to be removed if old death must make void for better Jerusalem could not be built in a day It was conceived that Lay-Patrones presented such as liked their humour and faction the Law admitting any mean Clerk and if the Bishop opposed a quare impedit is sent against him Some moved to settle a praying Ministery another while for there are many excellent duties in the Ministers Absolving the Penitent Praying for and Blessing the People Administring the Sacraments but now it is concluded into one onely duty preaching oft time indiscreetly to the prejudice of divine service being usual rather to walk in the Church-yard than be at the service The King said it was most necessary to plant by preaching but in a Church so long established in faith onely the Hypocrite placed all his Religion in the Ear as an easie passage but Prayer expressed the hearts affections and the true devotions of the mind puts us to over-much trouble There ought to concur in prayer an unpartial consideration of our own estates a due examination to whom we pray an humble confession of our sins hearty sorrow and repentance not severed from faith In the mean time that Homilies might be read every Man that can pronounce well cannot perhaps indite well to which the Adversaries confessed They were told of the Pulpits made by them Pasquils a lude custome to traduce Thrird and fourth general heads mingled together Here indeed Doctor Reynolds skipt over the third point into it urging Subscription as an Impeachment to a learned Ministery and desired not to be exacted their reason The books Apocryphal enjoyned in the Common prayer-prayer-book to be read were in part erroneous Instanced Ecclus. 48. 10. That Elias was to come before Christ and so Christ not to be come because saith he Ecclus. useth the very words of Elias in Person which Malachi Chap. 4. doth apply to Elias in resemblance which both an Angell Luke 1. 17. and our Saviour Matth. 11. did interpret to be Iohn Baptist. He was answered with Sir Ieromes distinction Canonici sunt ad informandos mores non ad confirmandam fidem The King desired an even Order Not all Canonical books to be read in the Church unless to be interpreted nor any Apocrypha at all where any error but such as were clear with the scriptures else why printed As the Maccabees excellent to make up the story of the Jews persecution but not to teach a man to sacrifice for the dead or to kill himself But the King finding them to insist so hotly against Ecclesiasticus the place being read he shewed who the Author was then
treacheries worrying the Iesuits with no success scattered some tales that King Iames favoured Papists and despised the Queen who had sight of some Letters in truth indited by the villany of his Secretary Elphingston and the Kings hand counterfeit and Seal to the same and seeming to confirm it they had hired a notorious Villain in England one Tomas condemned for Theft and to unburthen his conscience pretends to reveal a secret and accuse the King in some generals but never revealed any yet was the wretch reprieved and though her wisdom knew well the malice and cunning contrivance of these Plots to clear her belief she sends Bows Ambassadour to the King and by Queries she examples her affection to him before any other and expects no retribution but by him the glory of God and not be wanting to himself The King knew no better means to suppress the credit of false rumours than by his own pious practice in Religion by outward frequency in the exercises of Prayer and Preaching duly performing and executing his Justice and Mercy with such wisdom and piety as made his virtues thereby more transparent to the common view and sense of all men He wisely gave way to divers Books publishing his right of Succession to the Crown of England with Arguments and Reasons of the benefit and advantage to the people of both Nations that in pious policie his intentions would be hereafter to force Ireland to Religion and to continue War with Spain He numbers his then princely issue as the defence of State his power and strength to oppose Enemies the good affections to him of Christian Princes and proposes miserable Examples of Usurpers Whilest Bows was about his business at Court he findes an Englishman Ashfield bold enough to bid himself welcom besides his merit for his brave Present some hunting Horses for the Kings Saddle but in his journey it seems over-saucy with the English Warden or rather suspected as a Spy to carry Tales to the King however Bows had direction to teach him the Ambassadours craft and enticing him by his servants to Lieth was in his drink coached away to Barwick The King takes this indignity offered to himself secures the Ambassadors lodgings and se nds to Barwick for release of the Prisoner The Governour excuses that demand not to demit him without the Queens pleasure And so disputes grew high with the Ambassadour as injurious to the honor of both Crownes which he denied and turn'd the fact upon his men without his knowledge but this was Mentiendi facultate and the King not vouchsafing him any more Audience he departed much discontent Sundry disputes were sawcily maintained concerning the Kings Title to the Crown of England Besides the discourses oppugning Amongst many Iohn Colvil Minister published his Recantation in print and stiled the Palionode of John Colvil c. wherein having confuted the contrary reasons he professed That Malitiously in time of exile as you have heard he had penned the Treatise which now out of conscience he recants Some say that he was not Author of that book which he appugned only to get favour of the King he professed the work that had come forth without a name and was then accounted a Pithy and perswasive cunning discourse of that subject At this time was published the K. Basilicon Doron directed to the Prince upon this occasion Sir Iames Semple servant to the K. and Amanuensis therein lent the copie to Andrew Melvil Minister who misliking so much ruth which touched the Ministers copie-hold in their discipline tdispersed several transcriptions amongst the Brethren and thereupon a Libell was framed and cast in before the Synod of Saint Andrews with such exceptions as they pleased to set down It was asked what censure should be inflicted upon him that had given such instructions to the Prince and whether he could be well affected to Religion that had delivered such precepts of Government The Kings Commissioners in the Synod apprehending the Libell to concern his Majesty whom they knew to be the Author of the book inquired for the Presenters And all pretending ignorance the Commissioners shut the doors and purged each one by oath yet was it prooved the next day to be Iohn Dikes Minister who in fear of the Citation before the Council fled and was denounced Rebell And Hereupon rumors were hatched how prejudicial these directions were to the Church But to satisfie the truth the Book came abroad and was carried into England with admiration of all men to read the Kings piety and wisdom Heretofore somewhat doubted by the deceipt of certain discourses which now were sure to be replied unto and evermore somewhat of Consequence for the Kings just title to the Crown of England By which and his continual disputes and reasoning with learned men of all knowledg He in truth soon became royally famed through Christendom and more effectual with her whom he was to succeed Her self grown very studious and retired and because she excelled in languages she translates out of French and Latine Salust and Horace which she writ with her own hand and extant And in this general Assembly of the Church a politick Ordinance was published To have the next year begin at the Calends of Ianuary and from thenceforth for ever For before that time the year was reckoned as in some other Churches from the 25. of March And now disposing votes for the Ministry in Parliament I shall close up the yeer with the pitifull discovery of the State of Bishopricks and how farr this godly Kirk had incroched upon them So that there rested no more but to Nominate perons to the Bishopricks that were voyd Aberdeen and Arguile had their own Incumbents at the time both actuall Preachers Saint Andrews and Glascow were in the hands of the Duke of Lenox Murray was possessed by the Lord Spinie Orkney by the Earl of Orkney Dunkeld Birchen and Dumblane had their own titulars but were not ordinary Preachers Galloway and the Isles so dilapidated as scarce to be remembred that ever they had been Ross and Cathnes some provision were left And so we return to England The Queen much perplexed the Irish Rebellion mightily increasing and that Nation in lamentable condition by Ter-oen or Tyrone and others though but lately broken out and how to quench that fire was her and her whole Councils continual care And therefore they consider of present forces to be sent over extraordinary under command of a Generalis sâ—mo for that expedition And after some debate the Earl of Essex was markt out by the Queen to that purpose though Secretary Caecil hated him to the death His wit made him equal to mate the others greatness and never left untill he brought him to the Block with the weight also of his own wicked desert Give me leave to let in the Reader with some reasons why and how Essex and Caecil whom Authors make Antagonists had several
Child should not be saved He answered No. But if you be called though in private to baptize him and refuse I think you shall be damned But he concluded Necessity of Baptism to be necessary by lawfull Ministers and none other and yet utterly disliked Rebaptization though after either Women or Laicks Here the Bishop of Winton affirmed that to deny baptizing by private persons in case of necessity crossed all Antiquity that the Minister is not of the essence of the Sacrament yet is he of the essence of the right and lawfull Ministry thereof the commission of Christ Matth. 28. 20. Go preach and baptize Excommunication The King asked Whether the Name might not be changed and yet the censure retained or whether another coercion equivalent He was answered that it had been heretofore often considered but Queen Elizabeth resolved to be Semper eadem and not to alter what she had settled The King professing That though he lived some time as a Ward under Puritans yet since he was of his Sons age the Prince sitting by he ever disliked their opinions though he lived among them he was not of them Opus primae diei The perfect Conference The Bishops Deans and Doctors and a Scotish Minister Patrick Galloway was admitted and Reynolds Sparks Knewstubs and Chaderton The King told them all the intent of the Conference meet for every King at his entrance to the Crown Not to innovate the established Government which by long experience he found was accompanied with singular blessings five and forty years as that no Church upon the face of the earth flourished more than this of England But first to settle an uniform Order therein Secondly to plant unity for suppressing Papists and other Enemies to Religion Thirdly to amend abuses being natural to bodies Politick and to corrupt man as the shadow to the body which once being entered have motion like a wheel set going and because complaints had been made he thought best to summon the gravest and most learned to hear what could be said and so wished the Oponents to object They four kneeled down and Doctor Reynolds the fore-man after a short Preamble gratulatory signified his Majesties summons by virtue whereof these appeared reducing all matters disliked to these four Heads 1. That the Doctrine of the Church might be preserved pure according to Gods Word 2. That good Pastors might be planted to preach 3. That the Church-government might be sincerely ministred according to Gods Word 4. That the Book of Common Prayer might be fitted to more increase of piety In the first that the Book of Articles of Religion concluded 1562. might be explain'd where obscure and enlarged where defective viz. Acts 16. the words are these After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from grace which seem to be contrary to the Doctrine of Gods Predestination and Election in Article 17. both these words might be explained with this addition yet neither totally nor finally and that the nine Assertions upon a conference heretofore at Lambeth might be inserted into that Book Secondly where it is said in Article 23. that none should preach or administer Sacraments in the Congregation without lawfull calling he said implied a lawfulness for any man out of the Congregation to preach c. though he had no lawfull calling Thirdly in Article 25. touching Confirmation grown partly of the corrupt following the Apostles being opposite to those in the Collect of Confirmation in the Communion Book Upon whom after the example of the Apostles argue saith he a contrariety each to other the first confessing Confirmation to be a depraved imitation of the Apostles the second grounding it on their example Acts 8. 19. as if the Bishop in confirming children did by imposing his hands as the Apostles do in those places give the visible graces of the Holy Ghost c. therefore he desired that both the contradictions might be considered and this ground of contradiction examined The Bishop of London first desired his Majesty That the antient Canon might be remembred Schismatici contra Episcopos non sunt audiendi Secondly that if any of these parties were in the Number of the 1000. Ministers who had once subscribed and yet petitioned against it they might be removed according to a very decree of an antient Counsel That no man should be admitted to speak against what he had subscribed and contrary to a statute to speak against the Liturgie and discipline established alleging what Master Cartwright had confirmed that we ought rather to conform to Orders and Ceremonies to the fashion of the Turks than to the Papists Concerning falling from Grace the said Bishop said that very many Men neglecting holiness of Life presumed of persisting in Grace laying all their Religion on Predistination if I shall be saved I shall be saved a desperate doctrine wherein we should rather reason ascendendo than descendendo Thus I live in Obedience to God In love with my Neighbour I follow my vocation c. I trust God hath elected me and predestinated me to salvation But contrariwise they use this argument God hath perdestinated and chosen me to life and though I sin never so grievously I shall not be damned for whom he once loveth he loveth eternally Whereupon he shewed what was the doctrine of the Church of England briefly That we must receive Gods promises as they are set forth generally in Scripture and do that will of God which is expresly declared in Scripture The King wished that the doctrine of Predestination be tenderly handled lest on the one side Gods Omnipotencie might be questioned by impeaching the doctrine of Predestination or on the other a desperate presumption might be averred by inferring the necessary certainty of standing and persisting in grace To the second it was answered none but a Licensed Minister might preach nor administer the Eucharist or the Lords supper and for private Baptism the King said he had ordered already The third point was observed to be of Curiosity or Malice because the Article there read These five commonly called Sacraments Confirmation Penance Orders c. are not to be accounted Sacraments of the Gospel being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following the Apostles c. Insinuateth that the making of Confirmation to be a sacrament is a corrupt imitation But the communion-Communion-Book makes it to be according to the Apostles example which being read the King concluded it to be but a Libel Now for the ground thereof it was not so much founded on the places in the Acts but upon Heb. 6. 2. where it is made a part of the Apostles Catechism which was the opinion of the fathers and of Calvin and Fulk the one upon Hebrew 6. 1. the other upon Acts 8. 27. where with Saint Austin he saith We do not mislike that antient Ceremony of imposing of hands for strengthning and confirming such as had been Baptised being nothing else but a
divers conditions but the Contrivers were two Priests Watson and Clark and Count Arembergh Ambassadour Extraordinary for the Arch Duke who brought in the Lord Cobham and he his Brother and the Parham and others and they the Lord Grey of Wilton Then came in Sir Walter Ralegh the wisest of them all who dallied like the Fly with the flame till it consumed him Willing he was it seems to know it and thought by his wit to over-reach the Confederates whom he knew well enough though none but Cobham for a good while dealt with him and with him Ralegh play'd fast and loose till himself was caught in the Gin. There was one Matthew de Laurencie here at London but a Merchant of Antwerp with whom Cobham held intelligence for many years before and for some Reasons of State connived at by the late Queen and her Council This man was the property which Arembergh used to Cobham who was now much discontented These three made the first step to the Contrivements and it hath been my jealousie for I laboured the truth that Laurencie betray'd it I being often present with Sir Walter Ralegh in his Imprisonment when he privately discoursed hereof But such Designs like wounds if they take air corrupt their Project could not be covertly carried consisting after wards of several persons of different tempers and unsuiting souls and so through the rifts and chinks of their several aims and ends which could not be close jointed the vigilancy of Cecil perhaps or other Counsellours of State stole a glympse of their Design apprehensive enough to light a Candle from the sparks of Arembergh's Discourse And being ripe they were severally examined and restrained noâ— without watchfull eyes on either then to Imprisonment and last to their Trials before the Lord High Steward and the Peers at Winchester whither the Term removed out of this evermore Pestilential City And on the seventeenth of November the Day of Arreignment for Ralegh the Iury called to the Bar against whose Persons he did not except nor could for they were his Pares the most able sufficient of Middlesex were the Fact had its Scene The Indictment was managed by the Attourney General Sir Edward Cook Serjeant Heal and Serjeant Philips drawn from the ninth of Iune 1603. The Accusation double against the King and against the State the personal had two parts against his life and to disable his Title to the Crown To the first was read Brooks Confession that his Brother Cobham used these Speeches That it would never be well till the King and his Cubs were taken away and said That he thought it proceeded from Ralegh Ralegh answered That Brooks was his Enemy it was replied That Cobham was ever your Friend and it would seem a strange malice in Brooks to ruine his Brother to undo you To the second part there was produced a Book which I have read A Defence of the Queens Proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots The Title could defend it self but the matter therein meddled too much in a dangerous consequence to the Kings Succession and treasonable enough Cobham had confessed That Ralegh delivered to him that Book and he to Brooks and Brooks to Grey upon Cobham's discontent Ralegh acknowledged that it contained matter of scandal to the Kings Title and that he had leave of Sir Robert Cecil after his Fathers death to look into his Study for Cosmographical Manuscripts of the West Indies and so lighted on this Book Cecil then present upon the Bench acknowledged this leave and said He would then as really have trusted him as any man though since for some infirmities of Sir Walter the bonds of affection were crakt and yet preserving his duty to the King which may not be dispenced withall he swore By God he loved him and had a great conflict in himself that so compleat a member had fallen from the State And this passage needs no soothing to excuse Cecil either Father or Son for I have heard Sir Robert Cecil when he was Salisbury to say publickly at his own Table that he had intercepted and kept all the considerable Libells against the late Queen and this King but though justifiable in them as Counsellours of State yet was it a crime in Ralegh who never was any And this Book as I remember was of one Brag or Crag a Iesuit But Sir Walter excused all That there was nothing acted thereby to the Kings prejudice for that Book was burnt and others are in print But to insist hereupon Cobham had confessed that Ralegh had agreed that he should treat with Arembergh for six hundred thousand Crowns to advance the Title of the Lady Arabella to this Crown that Cobham under pretence of travelling should prosecute this Design in the Low Countreys Flanders France and Spain and to carry three Letters from Her to the Arch Duke Duke of Savoy and King of Spain and to promise Toleration of Religion and Her to be disposed of in Marriage that at his Return he should meet Ralegh at Jersey the place of his command and there to agree how to dispose the money to Discontents and Ralegh should have seven thousand Crowns from Arembergh to himself And further confessed That Ralegh had instigated him to all these Treasons And that Ralegh should say That the best way to trouble England was to cause Division in Scotland To this onely of Scotland Ralegh answered and confessed the words and that he had so thought these twenty years It seems by the sequel since in these our days that he was not much mistaken Laurencie confessed To have delivered Leters from Arembergh to Ralegh who presently with Cobham conferred thereof in private To all these Ralegh craved That Cobham might appear to accuse him face to face I may not omit this passage that when the Confederates had suffered under some Examination and restrained to their several Houses and Ralegh well knowing that Laurencie was suspected but not examined then did Ralegh discover in a Letter to Sir Robert Cecil where Laurencie was in secret with Cobham and to advise to apprehend him and so to intercept their intelligence whilest matters were ripe What Ralegh's Design was herein is not imagined but this use was made of it to Ralegh's ruine for after that Cobham had denied much of the former stuff upon his first Examinations this Letter was shewed to him under Ralegh's hand then Cobham in an extasie railing against Ralegh delivered his positive Accusation of him as is before mentioned and added that after Ralegh's first Examination before the Lords he writ to Cobham That although he had been examined of many matters he had cleared Cobham of all when as the Lords protested he had not been at all examined concerning Cobham and thereby this was inferred by the Council to confirm Cobham to deny all when he should be examined Sir Walter said That Cobham had not signed his Accusation and
Renestern Swatrenburgh Wertenburgh Hannaw Oeting Glick and Leonstime All in the Baronies of Lenefergh Schenburgh and Wildenfield All the Churches of at least thirty free Cities Many of whose Territories are as ample as Geneva and yet none of them have received the Presbyterian Discipline Add to these the remainder of the Albigenses and Waldenses in Piedmont in the parts adjoyning or of the Taborites in Bohemia the Lutheran Churches also in Poland Denmark and Swethland And indeed Calvin and Beza both are sufficient Judges to prove they were no Enemies to moderate Episcopacy but onely against Romish Hierarchy See Calvin de necessitate reformandae Ecclesiae and Beza de grad Minister Evangel 18. Sect. 3. Themselves well knowing that Episcopacy then did direct the guidance of grave and wise Over-seers which otherwise would fall into Schisms and after grow into Heresies These Items and many more such were put together to set them forth in some measure untill the Day advanced for the Conference at Hampton-court in Iaruary Whether was summoned by Letters the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Bishops of London Durham Winton Worcester St Davids Chichester Carlile and Peterborough the Deans of the Chapel Pauls West-Chester Salisbury and Westminster On the other part were these Doctors Reynolds and Sparks Mr Knewstubs and Mr Chaderton Agents for the Millenary Plaintiffs says the Book and these four were the fittest that could be found amongst them all The King sent for the Bishops to come before him in private and entered their Assemblying with a grave and princely Declaration of this his general drift By example of all Christian Princes in commencements of their Reign establishing the Doctrine and policy of the Church Henry 8. did it toward the end of his Reign Edward 6. altered more Queen Mary reversed all and Queen Elizabeth settled it as now it standeth His happiness is to have no cause to alter but to confirm what he findeth and which so affects him that he entered into a gratulation to Almighty God for bringing him into the promised Land where Religion was purely professed and to sit amongst grave learned and reverend men not as before elsewhere a King without State Honour or Order where beardless boys would yet beard him to his face acknowledging now the Government Ecclesiastical to be approved by manifold blessings of God increase of the Gospel and a glorious Peace But as nothing could be so ordered but may have additions and in any State as in the body of man corruptions might insensibly grow either through time or persons of which some complaints have pretended Reformation His purpose therefore was to try the complaints and remove the occasions if scandalous or to cure them if dangerous or if but frivolous to take so much knowledg thereof as to cast a Sop into Cerberus his mouth never to â—ark more to give factious spirits no occasion of boasting and to redress what should appear fitting without any visible alteration And in particular the King signified he called them alone about some points to be satisfied himself concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Service Excommunication in Ecclesiastical Courts Providing of able Ministers for Ireland First in the Book confirming of Baptism as if without it the Sacrament were invalid then were it blasphemous Secondly for the use at first indeed upon occasion that Infants being baptized and answering by their Patrini it was necessary they should be examined at years of discretion and confirmed by the Bishop with a Blessing and Prayer but abhorred it as a Popish Sacrament and courleration of Baptism About Absolution that there being onely two kindes General and Particular all Prayers and Preaching import an Absolution the other is to be applied to special parties after a scandal and repentance are resolved Thirdly Private Baptism if private for peace so did the Primitive Church if for persons none ought but a lawfull Minister and therefore was earnest against Women and Layicks Excommunication To consider the matter whether executed in light causes and too often In the persons why Lay-men Chancellours and Commissioners do it why not the Bishops with the Dean and Chapters or Ministers or Chaplains Ireland This for Ireland was referred to a consultation hereafter Confirmation The Arch Bishop shewed the Antiquity of Confirmation from the Apostles till of late some particular Churches had rejected it he declared the lawfull use thereof and affirmed that the Church of England did not hold Baptism imperfect without it or added any thing to the virtue and strength thereof this he manifested by the Rubricks in the Communion Book before Confirmation The Bishop of London said It did not depend onely upon Antiquity as in Cyprian Ep. 73. and Hierom. adversus Luciferian but was one of the particular points of the Apostles Catechism in express words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Calvin expound that very place which was read and approved That we made it not a Sacrament or Corroboration and yet the King was of opinion it might rather be intituled Examination with a Confirmation Absolution It was cleared from all abuse or superstition the Minister does but pronounce Absolution in general after the Confession that in the Communion Book there was another particular and personal Form of Absolution for the Visitation of the Sick and that the Confessions of Augusta Boheme Saxon which be there cited do retain and allow it and so does Calvin approve such a kinde of Confession and Absolution Private Baptism That the Administration by Women and Layicks was not practised of the Church but inquired of by Bishops in their Visitations and censured and although the words in the Book might seem doubtfull yet the Compilers did not so intend them and yet propounded them ambiguously perhaps that it might thereby pass in Parliament and in case of necessity onely and was so agreeable to the practice of ancient Church as Acts 2. where three thousand were baptized in one day impossible for the Apostles to do themselves or improbable and besides them there were no Bishops or Priests and Tertullian and Saint Ambrose in Ephes. 4. are plain in that point laying open also the impious opinions who think there is no necessity of Baptism not as if without it God could not save the Childe and the case being put as incertain if not baptized but if baptized an evident assurance and so rather to ground upon Christ's promise than by omission upon Gods secret judgments The King replied That the place Acts 2. was an act extraordinary the Church then unsettled and ungrounded now stablished and flourishing that he maintained necessity of Baptism as to the place of Saint John Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua c. was meant of Baptism and that fourteen Moneths ago he did argue in Scotland against his Divines there for ascribing too little to that Sacrament so that said he a pert Minister asked him if it were so necessary that being omitted the
if they escape there and go disguised yet they may be disclosed by many if the punishment were not death but only immuring in dead walls The penalty of Recusants in a stock would pay the charges Perdat fiscus ut capiat Christus Here we finde extremes in both Councils certainly there is a medium neither Execution nor civill destruction for perpetual Imprisonment renders a Man civily dead a better way may be if we could hint it And why not thus Let Preachers use the spirit against them not as usual to wast an houre-glass to skirmish against government and discipline How can we draw others to our Church without a foundation of our own not like undiscreet Dogs to bark at all but to distinguish A child that sucks Popery from the breast must needs speak the voice of Papists It was the Kings saying and distinction A great cause of continuance of Papistry in common people is That being fuller of Pagentry than Doctrine and the old sent of Roman perfume The common obedience of coming to Church more expected than the instruction of private families or by publick Catechising The first Elements are to be learn'd at home and were orderly contained in the Book of Common-prayer by instruction first and then Confirmation of the Bishops This excellent foundation laid by the fathers of the Church should not be despised by their children In former times Ministers haunted the Houses of worthyest men Countrey-Churches with the best of the Shire Prayer and preaching hand in hand together then Papists smelled ranck therefore for shame they resorted to our Churches and Exercises This was the Counsel then but start-ups with intemperate zeal and indiscretion fore-ran the authority of the Magistrate censuring whatever agreed not with their conceits and now a days we finde the effect The King removes to Greenwich where amongst the ranting Riders at Court one Io Lepton of York Esquire and the Kings Servant made Matches of Horsmanship with the most in Court and to approve his skill and strength for a good Wager rode five several days together between London and York and so back again the next for May 20. Munday he set out from Alders-gate at three of the clock in the morning and came to York between five and six at night the next morn sent him to London at six and seven the next morn he set out to York and came thither at eight and so within half an hour the same time performed it and the last day came also to Greenwich to the King by nine of the clock as spritely and lusty as at the first day to the wonder of all till another do the like The King of Denmark out of singular affection to his Sister Queen Anne arrives in England and anchors at Gravesend where King Iames boards him unexpected and brings him a Guest to Greenwich for a Moneth with such entertainment as Peace and Plenty could possibly afford and so curious he was to take a view of things within his Level about London that disguised sometimes he took that advantage but most unwilling to visit the Tower when he found it a Prison though from thence he rode in triumph through London presented with Pageants and costly complements to shew him the wealth and love of this People He might be shy to shut up his Person having by the Law of Nations submitted his freedom by entring the bounds of another Prince without leave The Earl of Flanders found the effects when in his return from thence to possess his Inheritance of the Kingdom of Spain and being by storm cast upon our Coast King Henry 7. disputing some unkindnesses formerly received not usual with welcome Guests the Earl suspecting the danger was fain to yield to all the Kings demands which was hard in one point being to deliver up the Countess of Warwick and other Fugitives resident in Flanders that took Sanctuary in his Countrey and so had leave to depart The other and worse success may be from Mary Queen of Scots who forfeited her freedom by entring into England and afterwards her life by pretence of Treason as you have heard before though indeed she wrote to Queen Elizabeth for admittance but hastily landed without leave The Earl of Northumberland Henry Lord Mordant and Edward Lord Sturton not coming to Parliament according to Summons by Writ were more than suspected of the Pouder Treason and were committed to the Tower the Barons were fined in Star-chamber and after some durance paid the money and were released The Earl being deeply engaged was fined there also thirty thousand pounds and imprisonment during pleasure as all such Delinquents are which severity of Fine towards him was thought more extreme than usually since the erection of that Court he continuing Prisoner till 1619. and then paid but eleven thousand pounds in all the fate of that Family evermore false to the Crown as Sir Iocelin Piercy was used to say Seldom Treason without a Piercy Camera stellata belonging to the old Palace at Westminster and the 28 Henry 8. called the Starred Chamber then as now had one great Star affixed to the Roof and one over the Door The Court seems to have beginning from the Statute of 3 Henry 7. cap. 1. It is ordained that the Lord Chancellour Treasurer Privy Seal or two of them calling to them a Bishop and a Temporal Lord of the Kings Council and the two Chief Justices of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas or other two Justices in their absence should have power to punish Routs Riots Forgeries Maintenances Embraceries Perjuries and such like not sufficiently provided for by the Common Law But Queen Elizabeth enlarged the number of the Judges And so now it was honoured with all the Kings Privy Counsellours See Powel's Att. Acad. And though Delinquents were severely censured in terrorem Populi yet there was usually a day after every Term where they met to mitigate the Fines and Punishments afterwards to a reasonable summ and Penance This I put to memory because that Court is suppressed for ever by the late long Parliament There was much ascribed to the Kings wisdom in the discovery of this Pouder Treason but the Iesuits had a note of Cecil's name in their Register not against them as a Day-labourer that carried some few stones or sticks but the Master Workman whose forein and domestick Engineers wrought in this Mine of discovery And therefore was he calumniated with many contumelious Papers and Pasquils dispersed like Iob's Messengers one at the others heels He takes time to consider whether to begin a warfare of words against those with whom disputes are endless because their end is clamor untill it was fit to express himself in clear terms lest any of these clouds which are unjustly cast upon him might darken the brightness of his Masters royal minde which hath been always watered with the mildest dew of Mercy and Moderation Amongst many he undertakes one directed to
absolution to be given by any offers of his whatsoever and the like against Angus Arrol and Semple This was too rigorous and unchristian the Church being open to all Penitents And truly the inconveniences being examined from that time by the Churches too frequent Excommunicating of many persons fugitives for Capital Crimes The Kings Christian consideration herein was signified to them by his Commands That their Sentences of that kinde were far abused from the first pious policie of institution for such persons as have been cited before Ecclesiastical judicatures for capital cases and dare not compeir for fear of Life are yet excommunicated as Persons contumacious when onely their fear may excuse their absence and really cannot be judged Contemners of the Church And in truth the Venetian Padre Paulo in his Treatise did learnedly confute the Popes sentence against him for not appearing in a Cause of Heresie onely upon his just fear he pretended and had his Appeal justified by all good Christians and indifferent men Wee may resemble the Scots Courses therein to the Muscovites manner who if he be offended with any man commands him to send his head in a Charger even so they will the offender to come into Court and be hang'd which no Penitent would do rather to suffer sentence than to hazard themselves into Presbyters handling a second Inquisition and so in truth their Church suffers under scandall and contempt And accordingly their Assemblies were afterwards reduced to conform to Reformation herein The Clergies Arguments somewhat Canonicall if as the Pope they cannot erre That the Churches form may not be changed which terrifies the common Man from their Crimes But then let them be answered from the principall end of such Censures especially Excommunication which was reclaiming not confounding of offenders The principal use having no place that other Secondary Ends ought not to be respected The case of fugitives How could the Censure avail to their reclaiming they being absent from admonition Men in such a Case truly sorrowfull for their sinnee sentenced are in truth bound up by the Church whom God hath loosed But that Church evermore expressed their hot zeal of excommunication by their fire-brand Execution the pretended Sanction of their Sion The lustrous ray and beam of Sovereignty was intrenched upon by the Heir of the Earl of Eglington in Scotland being adopted so from him that had no Successor of birth or kindred This man was Sir Alexander Seaton a Cousin Germain and with this Proviso by will That he and his children should take the Name and use of the Arms of the House of Mountgomery This bold bearing came to the disquisition I remember in our Heralds office of which Garter principall King of Arms informs the King as an ill President for though Noblemen may dispose of their lands they cannot alienate their honors from the Sovereign fountain of all honours in his Kingdomes And so Sir Alexander was unlorded till the Kings grace gave him Creation some years after the honors of Eglington onely The King was had in high esteem to be not onely Rex pacificus in temporal affairs but Nutricius Ecclesiae in spiritual relations to the Church yet very tender to meddle in politicks of Neighbour Princes unless by Envoyes and Ambassies of Brotherly advice But for the state of the Church Reformed he was pleased to take upon him Defensor fidei with tongue pen and sword if need were And thereâ—n he gave his reasons for every Christian King to have an Interest though in Aliena Republica And in his hunting progress having met with two Bookes of Conradus Vorstius who had the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Leyden in Holland the one Tractatus Theologicus Dâ—o dedicated to the Landt-grave of Hessen dated 1610. the other his Exegesis Apologetica dedicated to the States 1611. Upon this latter book He dispatches commands to Sir Ralph Winwood his Ambassador Lieger and Counsellor in the Counsel of State in those Countries in his Name to declare to the States General Not onely his Majesties high resentment of the Monstrous Blasphemies and horrid Atheism therein worthy to be burnt and the Author punished but also his infinite displeasure to have him succeed Arminius such another Monster lately dead Divinity Reader in that University And though he hath recanted his former Atheisticall opinions it was too slender Satisfaction for so foul an Enemie to the Essence of the Deity The States General in answer do most humbly acknowledg his Majesties Princely assistance untill this time for preservation of their bodies rights and liberties against their powerfull Enemie introducing the Inquisition and constraint of their consciences in matters of Religion That the Curators of the University of Leyden by custome of that foundation have the charge to settle that Lecture and did elect and send for Vorstius in Anno 1610. from Steinford a Town of the County of Tecklenburgh the first that cast off the yoke of Papacy in Germany and so continue where he was Professor fifteen years and for Learning much admired by Prince Maurice Landt-grave of Hessen as worthy of preferment in any University in his Countrey And their Message was seconded from his Excellency Prince Maurice and the State of Holland in his behalf who notwithstanding had opposition by some against whom and all others accusers he challenged the dispute but they never appeared The next Moneth six Ministers accused him of false and unsound doctrine and disputed it with him before the Curators and six other Ministers in full Assembly of the States of Holland who all of them adjudged the Election lawfull and the man full of merit The next Moneth after that Certain Articles came over thither and dispersed in printed Pamphlets to which publick declarations were made by the States that Vorstius should be ready to answer the intention of the States being to permit no Professâ—rs but according to the Religion reformed and grounded on Gods word and that if his Majestie were well informed he would in his high wisdom prudence and benignity conceave favourably of their proceedings they being confident that this business is managed with all due reverence to his Majesties serious admonition as becometh them 1 Octob. 1611. In the time of these Transactions Vorstius gives ayme for his Bookes to be brought hither accompanied with an other De Apostasia sanctorum and a Letter of the Author Vorstius to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury avowing the doctrine therein to agree with the Church of England and so that Book intended to fire the next Neighbours with this fuell Non solum paries proximus jam ardebat was by order publickly burnt at Pauls-Cross and both Universities The King continuing the Hunt to Unkenell this Fox writes himself to the States That notwithstanding his Ambassà dors propositions They proceed to provide a place for that Corrupted Person and with Protection and License to print his Apologie dedicated to
Du Bartas saies of the destruction of Sodom De peur qu'en Offensant des saincts l'oreille tendre Ie ne les semble plus enseigner que reprendre For fear of offending good peoples Eare I rather teach then with them forbear Then the King falls upon his Bookes especially His modest Christian answer and first in his Preface it is observed how in love he is with himself and his Nick-Name Purus putus Evangelicus a mainly pure Gospeller and indeed the ancient Hereticks called themselves Catharoi and another Sect the Anabaptists Puritans from whence all our Prâ—cifians in these latter times who fancying to refuse conformity with the orders of our Church borrow that Name and Gospeller is assumed by many yet more usual in Hungary and Boheâ—e where are infinites of Sects agreeing onely in Unity against the Pope As for this Book His Arguments are either sophistical or frivolous abusing the fathers and he extracts divers questions thereout thirteen in Number with his resolve on them Wherein the King notes the others cunning to maintain them and how he easily proves Quidlibet è quolibet as the old Hereticks Arius and Samosatenus usually did and so leaves all to Gods will and the States discretion as they will answer it before God And though Vorstius died not long after his tenents increased to a high distemper in that State But what the King desired to suppress in this Man gave example for him to punish in others under his own power and therefore in this year came to the Stake a Couple the most damnable Hereticks Edward Whithman burned at Lichfield and Bartholoâ—ew Legat in Smithfield London somewhat applying to the Ranters of these our times 1654. Legat held these opinions That the Creeds Nicene and Athanasius do not contain the true Christain faith That Christ is begotten and made That there are no Persons in the God-head That Christ was not God from everlasting but began to be God when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary That the World was not made by Christ. That the Apostles teach Christ to be man onely That there is no generation of God but of Creatures That this Assertion God to be made Man is contrary to the rule of faith and monstrous Blasphemy That Christ was not before the fullness of Time except by promise That Christ was not God otherwise then an Annointed God That Christ was not in the form of God equall with God that is in substance of God but in righteousnes and giving salvation That Christ is not to be prayed unto Whitemans Opinions were in effect these come of Ebionites Cerinthians Valentinians Arians Macedonians Simon Magus Manes Manichee Photinus and Anabaptists and of other Heretical Execrable and unheard of opinions That there is not the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Deity That Christ is not the true Natural sonne of God perfect God of the same substance Eternity and Majesty with the Father in respect of his God-head That Christ is onely Man and a meer creature and not God and Man in one Person That Christ took not humane flesh of the substance of the Virgin That that promise the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head was not fulfilled in Christ c. And that God had ordained him the said Whiteman to perform his part in thâ— work of the salvation of the world These and the rest were written subscribed and by him delivered to the King 9. Martii 1611. Thus in those times Hereticks took some pains to preferre themselves to the Divel But now a days we sport our souls away Amongst many strange Ones I wonder most at this meriment of the Adamites Picardus was the first that possest silly people with the perfect State of Adam placed them in an Iland for that purpose which he called Paradise caused them to walk nâ—ked and called them Adamites Horrible sins were committed by them under that pretence promiscous whoredoms and Incest at their Service and when their Saint-Minister pronounceth the word Crescite et Multiplicamini et replete terram the â—ights are suddenly extinct and without any respect to Alliance or kindred they mingle like brute beasts and their wickedness we â—ied the lights are tinded and they returned to their service But now with more Infamy their Innocencie will be liâ—hted they spâ—re not openly to act in the face of Heaven at Noon-day I know Our Adversaries the Romanists lodge this device upon the ancient Waldenses poor harmless souls havocked by the Armies of the Military mercyless Papists Adamites says One that went naked an affront to Nature Indeed poor men rather Nudati than Nudi forced thereto by the Popes Legate who at taking of Cariassone in France whither these people swarmed granted them Life on condition that the Males and Females should pass by his Army stark naked I may be censured by some how unusefull it might be to imprint to the publick these damnable opinions but in that I may be justified by Examples of the Fathers mentioning such Heresies and of Councils and Declarations from time to time against such Tenents The next Favorite a new-come young Man was Robert Carr a Scotish-man of no Eminencie But a Gentleman by his bearing Gules on a Cheviron Arg 3. Mullets Sable in the dexter point of the Escocheon a Lion passant gardant Or. And yet himself remembred the King in his Letters hereafter his fall of his Ancestors merit of which truly I have not read This Man had been Page of honour to the King in Scotland and so may be the first and last original Actor on the Theatre of his family The beginner as an excellent workman in bringing his Tooles and making his Materials but his own Ruine by basely degenerating from what his Master had made him in short time giving end to the structure In truth he became the first Favorite That is one whom the King fancied meerly for his fashion upon no other score and it was enough for the present his Master sufficiencies needed no other instructions onely to choose him apt for impressive Marks of honour better becomes the Sovereigns Creation than to be made so to his hand And therefore after Knighthood he was soon Baron of Brandspeeck Viscount Rochester and had the Garter to boot And we are told the King took much pains to teach him Latine as a most needfull Improvement unto a capability of his affections but this his opinion sents more of a Poet than a Courtier And so mounted by the wings of Love more than merit he says the Earl of Salisbury Treasurer casts many Mists to damp his passage and tells the old wives tale of 1000l a gift to the Viscount which was spread upon a Table in Silver and the King invited thither which Mass of money so amazed his Majesty that the half thereof was concluded too much for any Man Amongst these passages of fancie in the King he forgot not