of euery man for his gaine and Paule a preacher of the worde of God sustayning the place and persons of the Consistoriall brethren Where by the way see againe the account they make of all that do maintaine the present state of the Church they are but ambitious worldlings Papistes liuers by vnlawfull trades and men pleasers But themselues are Apostles In this Dialogue Paule is set forth as a man desirous vppon the Innekeepers motion to heare some good newes from Scotland who meeting with the Bishop hee vseth him according to the Consistorian humor that is most proudly most spitefully and most slaunderously He condemneth both the calling of Bishops as Antichristian and censureth al their proceedings as wicked Popish vnlawfull and cruell He affirmeth that all the good that hath beene done for the present flourishing estate of the Gospell in England hath beene brought to passe by those men whom the Bishops despise and by that course which they were euer ennemies vnto He saith that very many of all degrees are fully perswaded in the matters of reformation and that he is perswaded this will come of it vz. that he shall see the gouernement of the Church by the rules of their discipline set vp before it be long The Bishop is supposed to haue beene sent out of England into Scotland for the suppressing of the Presbiteries there and so is made vpon his returne homewarde to be the reporter of the Scottish affaires and withall to signifie his great feare least he and the rest of the Bishops in England should bee serued shortly as the Bishops had lately beene in Scotland namely at Edenburgh and Sainct Andrewes c. Ah saith the pretended Bishop my hoste The Puritanes in Scotland haue got-vp their discipline and vtterly ouerthrown all the soueraignty of Bishops by which they preuailed so mightily that we feared our fal in England shortlie to ensue Whereupon I was sent together with this my frend Tertullus who came out of Fraunce into England to goe and seeke the subuersion of their great assemblies and the rest of their iurisdiction wherein I preuailed a while but now it is worse then euer it was And it came so to passe because the whole land cried for Discipline againe and the Noble men so stifly did stand to it and lastly the Ministers that came home from England dealt so boldly with the king that I was vtterly cast out without all hope euer to doe any good there againe and now I make homeward in hast least I loose all there also Here you haue the brethrens approbation of the aforsaide attempt in Scotland whereby it is apparaunt that if they shal be able to bring the people to such a kind of clamor and the nobility to such a manner of stifnes they can be wel content for their partes to haue her maiestie vsed as the Scottish king was for it is according to their Geneua Diuinity Tertullus the Papist he is made the Bishops only Councellour in the whole course of the gouernment of our Church by whose aduise the author of the Dialogue saith that the Bishops do beare with the Popish recusants and that so many waies are sought to suppresse the Puritanes This Tertullus together with the Host and the Vsurer do relate to the Bishop those occurrents in Englande which had fallen out and hapned in his absence And vppon the occasion of this question asked by the Bishop vz. haue not the Bishops yet suppressed the Puritans neither with countenance nor by authority Tertullus maketh this aunswere Suppressed no my Lord a friend of mine writte vnto me that one of their preachers saide in the Pulpit he was perswaded that there were a 100000. of them in England and that the number of them increased dayly in euery place of all estates degrees Is it not time for the Magistrates to looke about them They do take it in scorne to bee thought so weake as that they could bee suppressed Bee it they flatter themselues therein yet their desire is apparant that if they be suffered and shall euer be able they will bring it to that passe And if this be not a necessary consequent of the premisses my iudgement faileth me But to proceede CHAP. II. Of their doctrine for making a reformation themselues and how the people must be thrust into that action ABout foure yeares since it should seeme that some of the brethren were of opinion that they had dealt long inough in the practise of their Discipline after such a secret manner and that then they were bound in dutie to proceede to the publike exercise of it notwithstanding any daunger that might therby ensue For thus one of them writeth Our zeale to Gods glorie our loue to his Church the due planting of the same in this horheaded age should be so warme and stirring in vs as not to care what aduenture we giue and what censures we abide c. The Iesuites Seminaries their diabolicall boldnes will couer our faces with shame c. And after also in the same letter We cānot be discharged of great disloyalty to our cōming Christ except we proceed with practise and so to further the Lords cause by suffering forasmuch as that dutifull suffering for so honorable a matter is as sure a signe of subiection as obeying the time so vrging that bounden duetie It is verily more then time to Register the names of the fittest and hottest brethren round about our seuerall dwellings whereby to put Maister Snecanus godly counsell in execution vz. Si quis obijciat c. If any man obiect that the setting vp and the lawfull practise of the discipline in the Church is hindred by the ciuill magistrate let the magistrate bee freely and modestlie admonished of his duety If he esteeme to be accounted either a godly or a Christian magistrate without doubt hee will admitte wholesome counsailes But if he do not yet let him bee more exactlie instructed that he may serue God in feare and bend his authority to the defence of the church and of Gods glory Marry if by this way there happen no good successe then let the ministers of the Church execute their office according to the appointment of Christ. For they must rather obay God then men In this last point we haue dolefully failed which now or neuer standeth vs in hand to prosecute with all celerity without lingring and staying so long for Parliaments This aduise of Paines was thought by the brethren as I gesse to be somewhat too rash For of likelihoode they could not finde at that time so sufficient a number of such hotte brethren as might serue their turne Whereupon as I suppose out commeth the decrees of the Warwick-shire Classes that for the increasing of the said number euery minister as occasion serued should teach the Discipline vnto the people as wel as the other partes of the Gospel And for the moderating of Paines too hastie aduise it was thus
that in an assembly had either at his house or at Kettring it was propounded treated and concluded that the Apocrypha writings were not to be read in the Church And in an other assembly which of them he doth not remember he affirmeth likewise that it was debated and concluded vpon that the superiority of the Bishops of this land ouer the rest of the Ministers is not warranted by the word of God To these depositions concerning the Northamptonshire Classes I might adde the depositions of one maister Parker Vicar of Dedham in Essex for the proofe of the Classes in that shire as of one about Brayntree side consisting of these Ministers maister Culuerwell maister Rogers maister Gifford c. another about Colchester consisting of these Ministers Doctor Chapman Doctor Chricke maister Dowe maister Farrar maister Newman master Tey c. and so likewise the depositions of others Ego singulis sabbatis si non alius adueniens locum suppleat cum prescripta leiturgias formula nihil habens cōmertij in coetu concionem habeo idque reuerendorum fratrum consilio qui suos habent singulis ferè hebdomadis conuentus qui etiam me in eorum numerum sic est mihi propitius Deus benigne ascripserunt I preach euery Sabbaoth day if no other that commeth by chance doth supply the place hauing nothing to do at all with the forme or booke of Common Prayer and that by the counsell of the reuerend brethren who haue their meetings almost euery weeke who haue also God being so mercifull vnto me admitted me very kindly into their number But in following of that course I should be too tedious I will onely set downe one mans witnesse more agreeing with Master Iohnson for the proofe that the like Classes are or haue beene held in most Shires in England and so referring you to iudge of them all by that of Northampton I will goe forward About two yeares since Maister Snape did say and affirme in the presence of Edward Smith Robert Vicars Edward Birde Richard Holmes himselfe that there were three or foure small Classes of Ministers in euery shire where there were any learned Preachers who did vse in their meetinges to debate of the Discipline by Pastors Doctors Elders Deacons and that the said seuerall small Classes did send their resolutions and opinions to the greater assemblies at Cambridge at Sturbridge Fayre time and at London at Bartholomew Fayre time which did meete together also for the same purpose and that if the said great assembly did like of that which was done by the smaller Classes then was the same so liked of generally concluded to be that which ought to be or stand in the Church As for example That it was concluded and agreed vpon both in the said Classicall and generall assemblies that the dumbe ministerie was no ministerie or else no lawfull ministerie and that the Ministers in their seuerall charges should all teach one kind of doctrine tending to the erecting of the foresaid gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons which pointes sayth Holmes of himselfe in another examination were concluded in the Synode at Sturbridge Fayre last vz. 1588. CHAP. VI. A Synode is held at Couentrie 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of Discipline is subscribed vnto THere is mention made in the last chapter of a Synode or meeting 1587. of the Cambridgeshire Classicall Ministers and peraduenture of some others also with them In which meeting there were certain questions propounded dealt in the which questions were afterwards sent by their direction to the Warwickshire Classes or brethren assembled in those parts to bee further intreated of and resolued The next yeare after vz. 1588. the saide Warwickeshire Classes c. assembling themselues together in councel as it seemeth at Couentry the questions mentioned were determined vpon and besides other matters were also concluded as by the acts themselues following to be shewed vnder Maister Wights hand and are acknowledged in effect vppon two mens othes in the Starre-chamber may sufficiently appeare Thus the proceedinges of that meeting are intituled Acta conuentus Classium Warwic die decimo quarti 1588. The Acts of the assembly of the Warwickeshire Classes the tenth day of the fourth moneth And touching the questions specified Questiones a fratribus ex Synodo Cantabrigiensi anno superiore delatae eâ quae sequitur formulâ sunt explicatae The questions brought the other yeare from the brethren of the Cambridge Synode are resolued in manner as followeth I will not trouble my paper with the fourme which they vsed but these were some of their resolutions vz. That priuate Baptisme is vnlawfull That it is not lawfull to read homilies in the Church That the signe of the Crosse is not to be vsed in Baptisme That the faithfull ought not to communicate with vnlearned ministers although they may be present at their seruice if they come of purpose to heare a sermon The reason is because lay men aswell as ministers may read publike seruice That the calling of Bishops c. is vnlawfull That as they deale in causes ecclesiasticall there is no duety belonging vnto them nor any publikely to be giuen them That it is not lawful to be ordained by thē into the ministery or to denounce either suspensions or excommunications sent from thē That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops depriuation of any from the ministerie except vpon consultation with the neighborministers adioyning and his flocke it seeme so good vnto them but that he continue in the same vntill he be compelled to the contrary by ciuill force That it is not lawfull to appeare in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their vnlawfulnes That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as hauing no ordinary calling That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall discipline it ought to be taught to the people data occasione as occasion should serue That nondum as yet the people are not to be solicited publicè publickly to the practise of the discipline donec till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it That men of better vnderstanding are to be allured priuatly to the present imbracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church And thus farre the prouinciall Synode of the Warwickeshire Classis Likewise at that time there was in the same assembly a great approbation obtained of the foresaid booke of Discipline as to be a draught of Discipline essentiall necessarie for all times and certaine articles being deuised in approbation and for the maner of the vse of that booke were then brought forth treated-of and subscribed vnto as Maister Nutter Maister Cleuely two that were then present haue deposed by Maister Cartwright Maister Fenne Maister Wight c. who promised to guide themselues by the saide Discipline and according to it as it is set downe in the
nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Likewise festi dies sunt commodè abolendi holy daies as we tearme them must be abolished commode as they may handsomely Nowe if this booke had not beene meant to haue beene put in practise in these two pointes before it had come forth authorised by law they would haue said for the reasons alledged from henceforth let there be or it is ordered that there shall be no more preaching at burials nor holy dayes obserued or let them henceforth be abolished Moreouer reliquae liturgiae tota ratio in sacramentorum administratione ex vsu ecclesiae in nuptiarum benedictione consist it Cuius forma commodissima est quae ab ecclesiis vsurpatur quae disciplinam ex Dei verbo instaurârunt The rest of the liturgy doth consist in the administration of the Sacraâ—ents and as the vse of the Church is in blessing of mariages The forme whereof is most fit and commodious that is vsed by those Churches which haue erected the discipline according to the worde of God In the Parliament 27. of her Maiestie as I remember the brethren hauing made another booke tearmed at that time A booke of the forme of common prayers c. and contayning in it the effect of their whole pretended discipline the same booke was penned altogether statute and lawlike and their petition in the behalfe of it was vz. May it therefore please your maiesty c. that it may be enacted c. that the booke hereunto annexed c. intituled a booke of the forme of common prayers administration of Sacraments c. and euery thing therein contained may be from henceforth authorized put in vre practised throughout all your maiesties dominions See here when they hoped to haue attained their purposes by law and to haue had the same accordingly established they offered to the Parliament a booke of their own for the forme of common praiers c. and thought it as it seemeth altogether inconuenient to leaue euery minister to his owne choyse to vse what forme hee list other then such as were allowed in some Church which had receiued the Discipline for any such they liked-of indefinitly Whereby it to me it seemeth manifest that they neuer meant to haue required the enacting of that Chapter de reliquis liturgiae officijs but onely to set downe what course their bretheren should follow for the interim vntill they might take further order for a booke of their owne Lastly in all this whole booke of Discipline there is not once mention made of any authority or office in or ouer the Church belonging to the Christian ciuill Magistrate Hee hath not so much as either voyce or place in any of their Synodes as a member thereof except he be chosen to be an Elder He hath not any power assigned vnto him to call a Synode no though it bee a Nationall Synode nor so much as to appoint the particular times or places of their meetinges nor which is most strange so much as that his assent is to be required to any of their Canons But all these thinges are set downe in this booke as of right to appertaine vnto their Ministers and Elders For the tryall whereof I must needes referre you to the booke it selfe which is in many mens handes where you shall finde the brethren ascribe that to themselues which in the greatest darkenes of Popery all the BB s. in the Land for ought I doo remember durst neuer challenge Which is a proofe sufficient that either they meant by cunning to haue depriued her Maiesty by her owne consent of all her regall authority in these and such like causes of the Church as not of right belonging vnto her which they will not acknowledge or otherwise that they had agreed without her consent to take this authority vnto themselues which if they had any conscience they would not stick to confesse that being assuredly their currant doctrine as in some other place it shall hereafter more fully appeare But it may be said that these are onely collections Well let them be as they are Indeede there is no cause why I should stand vpon collections hauing yet in store most euident demonstrations CHAP. XI Further proofe for their practise of their Discipline out of the articles they subscribed THere hath beene often mention made of the articles whereunto the brethren subscribed for their allowance and practise of the sayd booke of Discipline and they are worde for worde as here I doo set them downe according to the deposition of those that subscribed vnto them and as they are to bee shewed vnder Maister Wights hand We the brethren assembled together in the name of God hauing heard and examined by the word of God according to our best abilitie and iudgement in it a draught of discipline essential and necessary for all times and Synodicall gathered out of the Synodes and vse of the Churches haue thought good to testifie concerning it as followeth We acknowledge and confesse the same agreeable to Gods most holy word so farre as we are able to iudge or discerne of it excepting some fewe pointes which wee haue sent to our Reuerend brethren of this assembly for their further resolution We affirme it to be the same which wee desire to be established in this Church by daily praier to God which we promise as God shall offer oportunity and giue vs to discerne it so expedient by humble suit vnto her Maiesties honour able Councell and the Parliament and by all other lawfull and conuenient meanes to further and aduance so farre as the lawes and peace and the present estate of our Church will suffer it and not enforce to the contrary We promise to guide our selues and to be guided by it and according to it For more especiall declaration of some points more important and necessarie we promise vniformely to follow such order when we preach the word of God as in the booke by vs is set downe in the Chapters of the office of Ministers of the word of preaching or sermons of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper Further also wee promise to followe the order set downe in the Chapters of the meetings as farre as it concerneth the Ministers of the worde For which purpose we promise to meete euery sixe weekes together in Classicall conferences with such of the brethren here assembled as for their neighbourhood may fit vs best and such other as by their aduise we shall be desired to ioyne with vs. The like wee promise for Prouinciall meetinges euery halfe yeare from our conferences to sende vnto them as is set downe in the Chapter concerning the Prouinces and the conferences belonging vnto them beeing deuided according to the order following Likewise also that we will attend the generall assembly euerie yeare and at all Parliaments and as often as by order it shall be thought good to be assembled Hitherto
none be counted to haue a voice but those onely that were chosen by the Church which bring their commissions consigned vnto them If any matter be to bee consulted of that is of speciall importance let the President of the last superior Assembly or the Minister of that Church in which the next Assembly is to be made send it ouer in due time vnto the Ministers of all the churches of that assemblie to the intent they may afore treate thereof with those of their charge and so may know and report their iudgements In making choise of a place for the Assemblies respect is to be had of neerenes and other oportunities in case any party may instly finde himselfe grieued aboue the rest It is expedient that in euerie Ecclesiasticall Assembly there be a President which may gouerne the assembly and that he bee from time to time chaunged if it may be conueniently he must be thus chosen viz. He that was President of the last Assemblie of that kinde afore or the Minister of that congregation where the Assemblie is made conceiuing first a praier directed to that purpose shall preferre vnto the Assemblie the motion for choise of a President The President beeing thus chosen conceiuing first a Prayer fitting vnto the whole action and Assembly shall call ouer the names of those which be present and which bee absent and note them that the absents may be called-vpon at the next assembly to yeeld a reason of their absence Which if it be not sufficient let them be censured by the authoritie of the Assemblie Then let him read the Actes of the last Assembly that if any thing thereof remaine it may then bee dispatched Then shall be aske of euerie one in order as they sit their letters fiduciarie or of credence and their instructions signed Which being propounded in the same order and sufficiently debated by all their opinions hee shall aske their iudgements and gather the suffrages and pronounce what the greater part adiudgeth Which be shall procure to be put into Actes that the Delegates of the seuerall Churches may procure copies and transcripts to bee made which they may impart vnto those Churches to whome it appertaineth The President also by the iudgement and authority of the Assembly is to giue answere either by word of mouth or by letters to such as require it If any censures be to be inflicted hee is to performe them He shall also take care that all things be godly and quietly carried by exhorting them vnto quietnes and moderation of minde one bearing with another as neede shall bee and by preferring vp such as be wilfull and contentious vnto the Assembly lastly he shall propound vnto them touching the time of their next meeting and then with exhortation vnto them chearefully to goe forward in their duety and with thanksgiuing he shall curteously dismisse them Before the dismission of the Assembly let no man depart but with leaue The assemblies according to their seuerall kindes if they bee greater are of more if they be lesse they are of lesse authoritie Therefore it is lawfull to appeale from a lesse assemblie to a greater if any man thinke he haue iniurie except the fact be most euident and plaine vnto euery man but yet none otherwise but that the iudgement of the assemblie shall hold vntill it shall be otherwise adiudged in an assemblie of greater authoritie Assemblies are eyther Classes or Synods Classes are conherences of the fewest Ministers of Churches standing neare together as for example of twelue The chosen men of all the seuerall Churches of that assembly are to meete in conference that is to say for euery Church a minister and an Elder and they shall meete euerie fortnight They shall chiefly endeuour the ouersight and censure of that Classis searching particularly whether in them euery thing be done according to the holy doctrine and discipline of the Gospell vz. Whether any question bee arisen touching any point of doctrine Whether the Ecclesiasticall discipline haue his course Whether any Minister be wanting in any of the Churches that they may speedily prouide a fit person Whether the rest of the Elders and Officers of the Church bee appointed in euery Church Whether care be had ouer schollers and the poore In what pointes the Classes doo want aduise for the further aduancing of the Gospell among them Before they make an ende let some of the Ministers present make a sermon either in course or being chosen thereto by voyces Of whome the rest of the Ministers secluding the Elders shall iudge among themselues and if in any point it shall be requisite they shall monish him brotherly weighing euery thing according to the course afore laid-downe in the Chapter touching those things which are to be performed by him that preacheth to the congregation Synodes A Synode is an assembly of chosen men from â—oe Churches then those that be in one Classis or conference In these the Articles of the holy Discipline and Synodicall must alwaies be read also in them after all other thinges be finished censures or inquisition made vpon all that be present and the supper of the Lorde shall bee celebrated by them in and with that congregation where the Assembly is made if conueniently it may be Of Synodes there be two sortes the first is particular and this conteineth vnder it both Prouinciall and Nationall Synodes A Prouinciall Synode is an assembly of those which bee delegated from all the Classes or conferences of that Prouince Let euery Prouince conteine in it 24. Classes This may be fitte order for the assembling together of a Synode Prouinciall vz. Let this care be laid vpon some certaine Church by consent of the Synode let that Church with aduise of the Classis whereof it is prefixe the place and time for the Assembly let other Churches sende vnto such Church those matters which seeme vnto them of some difficultie to determine and likewise those matters that doo appertaine to the whole Prouince and that diligently in conuenient season to th'intent that that Church may in due time giue aduertisement vnto all the Classes of the Prouince both of the time and place and of the matters to be handled so that such as are sent may come better prepared and that they may iudge thereof according to the resolution of their owne seuerall Classes or conferences Let euery Classis sende vnto the Prouinciall Synode two Ministers and as many Elders It shall bee called euery halfe yeare or more often vntill the Discipline be confirmed But before a Nationall Synode be celebrated let it be called three months afore that they may prepare and furnish vp those things that belong vnto it Let the Acts of all the Prouinciall Synodes be sent vnto the Nationall by that Church in which the Prouinciall assembly was had and let euery Minister be furnished with the copies of the Acts and with the reasons vsed The Nationall is a Synode consisting of the
Delegats from all the Synods Prouincail that are within the dominion of one common-wealth Let the manner of calling it be the same that is appointed for calling the Prouinciall except the Synode it selfe shall take other order herein vz by some certaine Church yet so as the said Church doe appoint for place and time to holde it in such as the Prouinciall Synode of that Church which shall next ensue shall determine and thinke good For the Nationall Synode three Ministers and three Elders must be chosen out of euery Synode Prouinciall In it the common affaires of all the Churches of the whole nation and kingdome are to be handled as of Doctrine Discipline and ceremonies causes not decided in inferiour Assemblies Appellations and such like By the decree of the Nationall Synode one is to be chosen which shall reduce the commentaries or Actes of all the seuerall Churches into one body Hitherto concerning particular assemblies Now followes the vniuersall or oecumenicall Synode of the whole world And this is the Synode that consisteth and is gathered together of the chosen men out of euery particular Nationall Synode The Acts of all Synodes are to be reduced into one body And thus farre these Chapters of the meetings the particular points whereof maister Cartwright and his companions haue bound themselues by their subscriptions to put in practise without any further expectation for her Maiesties assent And according to these pointes as their numbers and oportunities haue serued their turnes they haue accomplished their bonds and promises as by that which hath beene saide and by depositions vppon othes concerning their meetinges and dealinges in them is most apparant to any that is not blinded with wilfull obstinacie CHAP. XIIII Moe points of their booke put in practise fasts calling of Ministers presbyteries censures c. FVrthermore also they haue not contented themselues with the execution of these thinges onely but they haue besides proceeded in like manner with the ful practising almost of all the rest of the booke It is most notorious that according to the doctrine thereof they haue taken vppon them to appoint publicke fasts and then especially they haue done it when their fellowes haue beene most busie to trouble the present estate of the Church Besides that these fasts with their seueral sermons and other prophecyings haue had another principal vse vz. as Lord did write to Fen of maister Cartwrights pleasure that the day following the brethren might talke of other matters Likewise saith maister Iohnson touching the election and making of ministers I thinke they obserue asmuch as they can the order prescribed in the said booke of Discipline As about Proudloe of Weedenbeck his admission 〈◊〉 I haue heard and Snapes and Larkes The manner whereof is that they renounce the calling they haue had of the Bishops and doe take it againe from the approbation of the Classis And againe they will be content to accept orders from the Bishop as a ciuill matter but doe not thereby account themselues Ministers vntill the godly brethren of some Classes haue allowed them But more fully Richard Hawgar The first degree they haue entered into is this that teaching all Ministers which are called according to the order of the Church of England to bee vnlawfull they doe vrge such as they dare trust and who are Ministers alreadie to seeke at their Classis a new approbation which they terme the Lords ordinance In this action the Minister before allowed of must renounce his former calling and take that calling wherby he must stand of them The manner whereof is this when any doe yeeld hereunto they appoint a day of their Classis c. As the example following wil shew One master Hocknel being to haue a benefice was willed by his Patrone to bring some testimoniall of the Ministers of the shyre for his good conuersation Wherevpon hee came to Maister Snape Who dealt with him as is afore mentioned and Hocknell hauing beene a Minister before some sixe or seauen yeares yeelding Snape with his companions gaue him a text and appointed him a day At which time the Classis met in Saint Peters and hee preached After they assembled themselues willing Hocknell to stand aloofe Then Maister Penry beganne to make a speech exhorting them to be carefull to call vpon God to deale without affectiō in this their action c. After which they fel to the matter Some liked that the man shuld be admitted some otherwise Those that were against him made these two reasons First that hee had not iumped meete in deliuering the Metaphore which was in his text secondly because he was neyther Grecian nor Hebrician So as they ouerruling the rest Hocknell was called for and in some sort commended but yet the speaker of the Classis told him he must take more paines at his book before they could allow of him as a fit Minister Hereupon Master Hocknell and they fell out and he contemning their censure did proceede and tooke possession of his benefice When they call a man that is not alreadie a Minister then hauing vsed the order before mentioned they command him to goe to the Bishops as to a ciuile Magistrate for his writinges which they tearme by a prettie name that this ex hath forgotten and this they say is onely for his safe standing in his former calling receiued of them not that thereby hee receaueth any power to be a Minister On this sort was Master Lark dwelling a little from Wellingborow called After this calling by them the parties so called may preache here and there as he thinketh good vntill hee bee called to a charge then he must go to the Bishop for his better standing and so the people calling him he is a full Minister Maister Snape being a Minister already renounced that his first calling was called by the Classis by that calling hee preached but would not administer the Lords Supper After the parrish of Saint Peters knowing that he must not account himselfe a full Minister vntill some particular congregation had chosen him they chose him for their Minister and so he standeth at this present Thus farre Hawger It is likewise deposed by two that Maister Snape for the answering of a question propounded vnto him said that rather then he would haue stood by vertue of any Letters of orders he would haue bin hanged vpon the gallowes But let Maister Snape speake himselfe Touching the substance of my calling to the ministerie I affirme that I had it of the church of God being approued by the learned godly neighbour Ministers and chosen by the people of my charge to that function Touching that allowance that I had of the Bishop I take it to be a thing meerely ciuile belonging to a ciuile Magistrate which authoritie he hath by Act of Parliament which therefore I might lawfully receaue at his hands for the peaceable execution of my Ministery Againe concerning the Presbyteries which the
I heard from you saith one Blake of the state of the Church of London Another By M. West M. Browne you shall vnderstand the state of the Churches wherein we are A third If my offence may not be passed by without a further confession euen before God and his Church in London will I lie downe and licke the dust at your feete and confesse c. A fourth I receiued a letter from you in the name of the rest of the brethren whereby I vnderstand your ioyning together in choosing of my selfe vnto the seruice of the Church vnder the Earle of Leicester c. I am ready to runne if the Church command me according to the holy decrees and orders of the discipline By these their speeches it appeareth that as they haue cut off themselues from the fellowship of the rest of the Christians in England by ioyning themselues into a seuerall brotherhood so haue they already seduced her Maiesties subiects by gathering them together into a new societie whereunto they doe appropriat the name of the Church as though all other Churches in the realme were but as Iewish Sinagogues or heathenish assemblies This is not you shall see my bare collection heare the witnesses what they hereof haue deposed In these brethrens speaches of the Church or Churches it is to be vnderstood that by the Church of England they meane the Church according to humaine lawes and the Popes which is ruled as they terme it by an Antichristian gouernement And by the Godly Churches or the Churches of God in England they meane such places congregations or assemblies as doe embrace the reformation and haue such a minister as is of some Classis Sometime also by the Church as the Church of God in London is meant the Classis of the brethren or their Synods And so maister Edmondes when they vse these or the like speaches in their writing or otherwise vz. the Church or Churches of God heere with this or that or the Church in London hath done this or that they by they especially meane the Ministers thēselues But for the further clearing of this matter because the chiefe Rabbies of this conspiracie do themselues preach in our material Churches it is to be obserued that the parish where they preach being assembled is not the Church properly in their sence but as many thereof onely as are ioyned vnto them with that inuiolable bond mentioned vz. the desire of the godly discipline and those furthermore who leauing their owne parish Churches doe come vnto them As for example The Church of God forsooth in the Black Fryers doth consist besides that parish of a number of men and Marchauntes wiues dispersed here and there throughout the whole Citie Be content to hear the depositions that are taken to like purpose Maister Snape affirmed as Richard Holmes and Richard Hawgar haue deposed that here one there one picked out of the Prophane and common multitude and put a-part to serue the Lord maketh the Church of God and not the generall multitude Maister Iohnson saith that the brethren of the laitie doe seldome come to their owne parish Churches nor receiue the communion there otherwise then they are compelled for feare of trouble For they account those their pastors onely whom they do so choose And maister Edmonds vpon his experience in London The people of this brotherhood do seldome come to their owne parish Churches otherwise then for feare to incurre some daunger of lawes neyther do they accompt the minister of their parishes to bee any of their pastors properly except he be some one of the brethren Ministers before specified or very effectually inclining that way It is likewise to bee obserued that if any of this faction brotherhood or sisterhood do lie dangerously sicke they do seldome or neuer send for their owne pastors to visite them nor moue them to pray for them publikely in their owne parish as neglecting their praiers but do send to the Readers abroad whom they haue chosen for their pastors both to come vnto them to pray with them and for them in their assemblies This also is to bee obserued that the stricter sort of this crue when they lie at the point of death will haue no bell tolled for them and many of them do take order before their death that afterwardes they be not buried in any Church that there bee no sermon nor any wanner of buriall vsed which is prescribed CHAP. XVI A ridiculous pretence of laws with a recapitulation of the summe of this third booke AS they countenance these their conuenticles vnlawful assemblies before specified with the name of the Church so with the like boldenesse to the same purpose some of them are not ashamed to affirme that by the doctrine of the Church of Englād and by the lawes and statutes of this Realm the present gouernment of the Church of England vnder her Maiestie by Archbishops and Bishops is to bee accounted wicked and vnlawfull and withall in effect that by the saide doctrine lawes and statutes all the former proceedings decrees c. of the brethren are to be maintayned and iustified As by the particular proofes following it will appeare The offices of Lord Archbishops and Bishops c. saith Martin Iunior are condemned by the doctrine of the Church of England The doctrine that condemneth the places of Lorde Bishops is approoued by the statutes of this Realme and her Maiesties prerogatiue royall To be a Lord Bishop is directly against the Statute 13. Elizab. According to the doctrine of the Church of England our Prelates haue no authoritie to make Ministers or to proceede to any ecclesiasticall censure their citations processes excommunications c. are neither to bee obeyed nor regarded Men ought not to appeare in their Courtes a man being excommunicated by them ought not to seeke any absolution at their hands And in the behalfe of the brethren he doth also further affirme that by the said doctrine of the Church of England c. all Ministers bee of equall authoritie that the godly ministers ought to ordaine those that would enter into that function without any leaue of the prelates and not so much as once to suffer them to take any approbation of the prelates that euery minister is bound to preach the Gospell notwithstanding the inhibition of the Bishops that a man being once made a minister is not to be kept backe from preaching by the inhibition of any creature and that by the saide doctrine c. all ministers are bound by subscription c. to disauow the Hierarchie of Bishops When you shall reade these strange assertions so farre passing any ordinary bounds of common modestie think with your selues that it is no maruaile to see their writinges so full of authorities For I do assure you that euen in the like sort and with the same sinceritie
faithfulnes doe they alledge for their platformes both Scriptures Councels Fathers and Histories Moreouer what with the pretence of Gods law of mans law and I know not of what law they haue been suffered to go so farre against all lawes that now they haue taken such heart as that some of them are not affraid to affirme and that in print because the people might take notice of it that there is no authoritie which may lawfully suppresse their foresaid proceedinges No Magistrate saith one of the brotherhood may lawfully mayme or deforme the body of Christ which is the Church no lawfull Church gouernment is changeable at the pleasure of the Magistrate of necessitie all christian Magistrates are bound to receiue this gouernment c. And thus hither to you haue seen the proceedings of our English reformers according to their ringleaders actions in Scotland they haue had their draughts of discipline they haue subscribed a particular book for England they haue put their former platformes their said particular booke for the most part of it in practise as neare as they could they haue had their meetinges and Synodes generally throughout all the lande they haue made decrees conclusions not only to further their own conspiracy but also to ouerthrow the present gouernment of the Church they haue had in some places their Elders they haue exempted themselues from the ecclesiastical gouernment in this Realme accounting the same in some respects to be Antichristian and so not to be obeyed in some other to be a meere ciuile and a parliament church-gouernment and in that regard onely after a sort to bee yeelded vnto for their better safer standing in their owne seditious and consistorian waies They haue by their false gloses seduced many of her Maiesties subiectes they haue combined themselues together into a strange brotherhood They challenge to their vnlawfull and seditious assemblies the true and most proper name of the Church They say their doings are according to law They affirme in effect that no Magistrate may lawfully ouerthrow that which they haue builded in asmuch as now it is saide that the Bishops in seeking by the authority which her Maiestie hath giuen and confirmed vnto them to maintaine as they are bound the present church-gouernment and state established by her highnes lawes within this Realme and to suppresse and reforme their schismaticall seditious disorders and such like are the disturbers of the peace of the church that the Bishops beginne the quarrel in disquieting of them who in towne and country were very greatly at vnity tooke sweete councell together for the profiting of the Church That the Bishops are the schismatickes and not they that the crime of schisme which the prelates woulde fasten vppon them doth iustly cleaue to the Bishops and that Bishops may be discharged by the Church And they haue entred alreadie into this consideration how Archbishops Bishops Chauncellors Deanes Cannons Archdeacons Commissaries Registers Apparitors c. All which by their said pretended reformation must be thrust from their liuings should be prouided for that the common wealth be not thereby pestred with beggars Whereby it appeareth that in their owne conceites they haue already attained their soueraintie They and their conuenticles forsooth are the true Church and all England besides is in a schisme So as now it may be dayly expected when these godly brethren for a full conclusion of their attempts will take vpon them as their maisters did in Scotland to discharge the estate of Bishops and to direct their commissioners to her most excellent Maiestie commanding both her and her highnesse most honourable priuie Councell vnder the pain of excommunication to appoint no Bishops hereafter because they haue concluded that state to bee vnlawfull and that furthermore her Highnes vnder the same penaltie shall not presume from thenceforth either any longer to maintaine the present Antichristian Church-gouernment or once to attempt the ouerthrowing of theirs And thus much of this matter vz. concerning our English reformers and their imitation of the Ministers of Scotland in that seeing they could not preuaile with their suites supplications to her Maiestie and the Parliament for the setting vp of their discipline they haue taken vpon them to doe it themselues The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. 1. Some of them seeme to growe desperate and propound to themselues a strange example to follow for the adauncing of their Discipline As the Ministers of Scotland with their adherentes finding sondry impedimentes in theyr foresaide proceedings and in the setting-vp of their discipline did grow to be very angry ther-vpon often-times before they came to armes or violence did cast out many greate speaches and threatnings as it hath beene before declared euen so also it fareth now rightly with our Disciplinarians in England They threaten and bragge aboue measure what shall come to passe and I pray God they be suffered to go no further One of the brethren in the name of the rest complaining that they are oppugned and as he saith persecuted desireth that the same may be prouided for and addeth therwithall these words It is the case already of many a thousand in this land yea it is the case of as many as seeke the Lorde aright c. Greate troubles will come of it if it be not prouided for None seeke the Lord aright but this brotherhood Great ioy of them But what troubles meane they That an other seemeth to cleare where he sayeth that they can endure no such hard dealing as is vsed against them any longer Alas saith hee wee are neuer able to stand against the pouerty losses imprisonment discountenance by our superiors that our bretheren haue sustayned c. Neuer able to swallow vp the slaunders and bitter names of puritanes precisians traitors seditious libellers c. Why what will you doe The best that can bee gathered of his wordes is this Come saith hee let vs make a Captaine and returne againe into Egipt If they haue not their mindes the danger may bee which in deede will bring some troubles that they are not vnlike to become either Atheists or Papistes Shortlie after the straunge attempt before mentioned that was made against the king of Scotland Anno 1585 by ten thousand of his owne people at Sterling whereby the consistorian Ministers preuailed aswell against their Soueraigne as against their Bishops for the aduancing of their presbiteries there came out a rayling Dialogue here in England published abroade in print and scattered by the brotherhoode throughout the whole Realme This Dialogue is intituled the state of the church of England laid open in a conference betweene Diotrephes representing the person of a Bishop Tertullus a Papist brought in to pleade for the orders of our church Demetrius a Vsurer signifying such as liue by vnlawful trades Pandocheus an Inkeeper a receyuer of al and a soother
their confederates into some vnlawfull execution of their distempered designementes that they are come to a wonderfull resolution and assurance as hauing almost in their own conceipts obteined alreadie the verie scepter of their kingdome The Eldershippe is at hande saith the humble motioner And againe vsing reasons why the state here in England shoulde presentlie embrace their gouernement hee falleth vpon these two pointes iumping iustlie with the Scottish ministers logique mentioned before by Diotrephes the pretended Bishop vz. the people are inflamed with zeale and as it seemeth the second reason dependeth vpon the first that is because it is harde daungerous and impossible to stand against it In effect the people crie for the Discipline and therefore it must needes preuaile Indeede they haue slaunderously set out supplications and complaints in the name of the comminaltie thereby to terrifie their withstanders But I trust the people generally are not so madde although there bee some that are straungely bewitched vnto this conceipt of the peoples readines it seemeth to mee that M. Snape had relation when hee vsed these wordes following as they are set down by the othes of some of them to whom he spake them How say you quoth hee if we meaning himselfe and his fellow ministers with their adherentes deuise a way whereby to shake off all the Antichristian yoake and gouernment of the Bishops will iontly together erect the discipline and gouernment all in one day but peraduenture it wil not be yet this yeare a halfe An other of his more then superabundant charitie foreseeing the mischiefes that are ready to fal by his brethrens procurement vpon the Bishops of this realme giueth them warning to begone in time Bee packing Bishops saith he you striue in vaine you are laid open alreadie Friers and Monkes were not so bad Looke to your selues for my sonnes will not see their father thus persecuted at your handes We protest say the authors of a certaine supplication drawen to her Maiesty and found in one of the brethrens studies but he wil not confesse by whose aduise it was penned We protest say they vnto your Maiestie that we will be no longer subiect vnto the Bishops vnlawfull and vsurped authority c. Wherefore let them not looke for it at our handes And an other The trueth will preuaile speaking of the discipline in spight of your teeth meaning the Bishops and all other aduersaries of it Likewise an other dealeth as charitably with the common wealth as his fellow did with the Bishops that is he warneth to take heede saying that it will be very dangerous to our state to mayntaine two contrary factions that the Magistrates are then bound euen for the quieting of our state to put downe the one that those that stande for the discipline neither can nor will giue it ouer so as they will not bee put downe and that the saide Magistrates cannot maintayne the corruption of our Church namely Archbishops and Bishops without the discontentment of their subiectes And an other we haue sought to aduance this cause of God by humble suite to the Parliament by supplication to your Conuocation house by wrighting in defence of it and by challenging to dispute for it seeing none of these meanes vsed by vs haue preuayled if it come in by that meanes which will make all your harts to ake blame your selues And to conclude In this one point saith another the Bishops are of my minde vz. that reformation cannot well come to our Church without bloud Let the place be througly considered The wordes are ambiguously set downe of purpose to couer in some sort the crueltie which lurketh in their own heartes For in my simple iudgement his speaches can haue no other good coherent sence then this vz. that as the Bishops do think as he slaunderously deemeth that there can be no reformation of the Puritanes disordered proceedings without the bloud of some of their brotherhoode so he is of minde that the reformatiō which he and his companions do seeke for cannot be attained vnto without the bloud of some of those that doe withstand their platformes It is true that hee there onely prosecuteth the cruel opinion which hee ascribeth to the Bishops saying that no bloud can handsomly be spilt vnlesse they be the butchers But he passeth cunningly by his own mind as very wel knowing his companions capacities Indeed if they do take vpon them to spil bloud they cannot thanks be to God as yet do it handsomely The Lord of his infinite mercy graunt that their opportunities to such a mischief do neuer serue them better then hitherto they haue done CHAP. V. Vpon Cartwrights committing to prison some strange attempts were looked BEsides prayers to preuent such outrages as are mentioned in former chapters there must be other meanes diligently looked into For out of question it is high time Euery one is acquainted with the execution of Hack. but few do vnderstand the secretes of those attempts They stretch much further then they are supposed You may remember the Disciplinarie mens doctrine before mentioned vz. that when Princes grow to be tyrants whereof seditious spirites will be the iudges and that the inferiour Magistrates will not do their duties the people then if any Ionathan will step foorth to be their captaine are bound to ioyne themselues vnto him and may vse the sword in their own right or otherwise some priuate man that is moued with zeale extra ordinem may execute vengeance vppon prince or Potentate Idolater wicked persons c. euen as the spirit shal moue him The which doctrine as I said they take vpon them to cōfirm out of the scriptures by these examples vz. of Phineas who in zeale killed the adulterers of Ahud who in zeale killed king Eglon in his priuate chamber of Iaell who in zeale killed Sisara of Matathias who in zeale killed a Iew for committing Idolatrie and of the same Matathias who in the same zeal killed likewise at the same time the kings commissioners that commanded the people to conform themselues to the kings proceedings c. To those that know these principles how can it be eyther obscure or difficult what they are both to thinke iudge when they shall heare of any extraordinary callings and secret motions in priuate men whereby they shall take vpon them through the assistance of giddy seduced malecontentes to correct and amend to set vp and throw downe to deliuer and restraine to punish and execute how what where when and whom c. according to their own pleasures and all vnder pretence of such directions as they shall affirme that the holy Ghost doth minister vnto them Vpon the proceedings held by course of law against Vdall and some others and likewise by reason that certaine Preachers but especiallie maister Cartwright being called before her Maiesties commissioners in causes ecclesiastical for their aforesaide vndutyfull proceedings were vpon
of them they propound to themselues as the fittest patternes for them to followe and namely the Ministers of Geneua but more especially some of the Ministers of Scotland as may hereby appeare As we haue beene an example to the Churches of France and Scotland sayth M. Cartwright to followe vs so the Lorde would haue vs also to profite and be prouoked by their example An other also in this sort Nobiles quidam praecipui huius regni mecum egerunt vt author essem regi meo de tollendis omninò Episcopatibus vt exemplum posteà posset manare in vicinam Angliam Certaine of the chiefe Noble men of England who I thinke nowe are gone dealt with mee by the instigation no doubt of some of our Ministers Anno 1583. to persuade the King of Scotland my maister to ouerthrowe all the Bishoprickes in his countrey that his proceedinges therein might bee an example for England adioyning Vpon a certaine repaire of terme thousand in armes to the King of Scots at Sterling Anno 1585. whereupon the Bishoprickes were indeed suppressed Knewstubbe a Consistorian Minister of Suffolke did write thus to Fielde I would bee glad to heare somewhat of the estate of Scotland it doth more trouble me then our owne For I am conceiuing some hope vpon the change of their former proceeding It also appeareth that there is great and ordinary intelligence betwixt their and our especiall presbyterie ministers for the better and more ready compassing of such deuises and platformes as are sought for by our said ministers so busily amongst vs. The best of our Ministerie sayth Iames Gibson a minister of Scotland to a brother in England are most carefull of your estate and had sent for that effect a Preacher of our Church this last summer 1590. of purpose to conferre with the best affected Ministers of your Church to laye downe a plot how our Church might best trauell for your reliefe And again The Lord knows what care we haue of your Church both in our publike and priuate praiers c. For as feeling members of one bodie we reckon the affliction of your Church to be our owne One Dauison in like manner an other minister of that countrey taketh vpon him to iustifie the proceedings of our malecontent ministers here as it shall herafter more plainely appeare and for the better incouraging of them in their peeuishnes hee telleth them that the iust defence of their holie cause of Discipline must not be left which hath no lesse warrant to bee continued perpetuallie within the Church vnder this precept Feede my sheepe then hath the preaching of the word and ministration of the Sacraments Hee doth also publish it so as the world might take notice of it that the good brethren of England are of the same minde with them of Scotland that both their causes are most neerelie linked together Lastly there is almost nothing more ordinary in all the Consistorian discourses and libels of our owne countreymen whether they bee printed here or in Scotland then to presse vs with the examples of Geneua and Scotland and to inueigle the people of England with I knowe not what great commendation of the proceedings and platformes of some of the ministers in both those places Which points considered being required by those that might command me that whereas certaine writings and letters were come to my handes concerning some courses taken by our saide more friendly disturbers then the Iesuites are but yet very great disturbers I should make the same in some sorte knowne I thought it my best way for the discharging of my duety therein first to lay downe before you the examples patternes proceedings of those Ministers and Churches which those our factious crew propound to themselues to follow secondly that I may not bee enforced to passe by them as one saith D. B. was in his sermon at Paules crosse to make it most apparant vnto you how artificially and effectually they haue already by imitation expressed them Whereby you shall perceiue that although by reason of their said combination and secretnesse vsed many things lie hid from those in authority which they haue done already in the setting forward of their pretended discipline yet there will fall out so much to bee disclosed as laying it to their patternes you may easily discerne notwithstanding all their goodly pretences what to iudge of their proceedings and whereat in truth they doo ayme CHAP. II. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion of the doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached IT seemeth that when the Gospell began first to be preached by Farellus Viretus and others at Geneua they coulde haue beene well content with the gouernement of the Bishop there if hee would willingly haue reiected the Pope and ioyned with them for the reformation of Religion This appeareth by M. Caluins wordes to Cardinall Sadolete Talem nobis Hierarchiam si exhibeant in qua sic emineant Episcopi vt Christo subesse recusent vt ab illo tanquam vnico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societatem colant vt non alio modo quà m eius veritate sint colligati tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fatear si qui erunt qui non eam reuerenter summaque obedientia obseruent If they doo bring vnto vs such an Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement wherein the Bishops shall so rule as that they refuse not to submit themselues to Christ that they also depend vpon him as their onely heade and can be content to rèferre themselues to him in which priestlie gouernment they doo so keepe brother lie societie amongst themselues that they bee knit together by no other knot then by the trueth then surelie if there shall be anie that shall not submit themselues to that Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement reuerentlie and with the greatest obedience that may be I confesse there is no kinde of Anathema or curse or casting to the diuell whereof they are not worthie Thus farre then it must needes be thought that the Bishoppe was offered by suche as soughte to refourme that Church which offer he refusing as I gesse to accept of they dealt as it appeareth by the issue with the inferiour magistrates and people to make such a reformation themselues as they required of them Whereupon the Bishop beeing Lord of the City and hauing aswell in his handes the Soueraigne ciuill Iurisdiction ouer it or as M. Caluin speaketh Ius gladij alias ciuilis iurisdictionis partes c. as the Ecclesiasticall they saide He was a thiefe and an vsurper and so of themselues with such assistance as was procured did thrust him from both those authorities Euen like in my opinion as if a Christian Prince being possessed within his dominions of the supreame Iurisdiction as well in Ecclesiasticall as in ciuill causes might vpon the like occasion
Out of ill maners spring good and wholsome lawes The chiefe and especiall pointes of the sayde articles are these that all Preachers there should yeelde their obedience to the Kings Maiesty that they should not pretend any Priuiledge in their allegeance that they should not meddle in matters of State that they should not publikely reuile his Maiesty that they should not draw the people from their due obedience to the King that when they are accused vpon their facts or speeches or for refusing to doo things c. they should not alledge the inspiration of the holy spirit nor serue themselues with colour of conscience but confesse their offences as men and to craue pardon as subiects c. It is great pitty that so worthy a Christian King should be driuen to require such a subscription in his owne kingdome especially of those men that should be lights to the rest and the chiefe examples of all duetifull obedience It is more to be pittied that for ought I can learne his Maiesty cannot as yet obtaine so much at their handes But most of all it is to be lamented that no man can gesse for ought I know how far this Gangrene will spread it selfe At the first they found but faults against the Bishops but after they ouerthrewe them The Anabaptists in Germany began with the Bishops and Clergy but they ended with the ciuill Magistrate Consider of Buchanans dealing whether he maketh not the like assault against Princes that his companions did against Bishops as in deriding their titles misliking their pompe and in glancing at their reuenues He tearmeth the honorable phrases of Maiesty Highnesse and Lordship solaecismos barbarismos aulicos that is vnlawfull corrupt kinds of speech which are vsed in Court and doo proceede as he sayth from flattery Hee gibeth at the state which Princes take vpon them when they shewe themselues to the people comparing them to Childrens puppets which are garishly attyred After also he insinuateth that a good Prince should appeare come abroad only defended with his innocencie non superbo spiculatorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caetu sericatisque nebulonibus stipatus not with a proud company of guarders and of pensioners and of silken knaues He would haue Kings to content themselues with lesse reuenues and seruice commending the Discipline of Laconia where it was strange to haue one man pull off an other mans sockes at his going to bedde and likewise the example of Pelagius that first discomfited the Saracens in Spaine in that he had his house not built after the fashion now a dayes with many stately roomes of honor but was contented with one place for himself his fire his friends and his cattell after the Irish fashion But to let passe these contempts and pointes of Anabaptisme one thing more is likewise to be considered in these Scottish reforming ministers which they haue sucked from their Mother-City Geneua They cannot be content to haue raysed vp sedition and troubles at home to haue slandred both far and nere the most Godly reformation of Religion which their King had made there and to erect you haue seene how in place thereof a meere counterfeit plot of a new Popish tyranny such a one as hath already quite ouerthrown the auncient estate of that Church wroght more mischiefe in that Country in thirty yeares then the Pope of Rome had done before as I thinke in fiue hundred But they presume also much further then becommeth them to cast some of their contentious and disloyall seedes into England Vulpecula cauda amissa reliquis vulpibus callidè persuasit vt similiter ipsae caudas refecarent ne sola turpis deformis in suo genere videretur The Fox hauing lost her tayle craftely persuaded the other Foxes that they would likewise cut off their tayles least she herselfe alone should seeme the foule and deformed beast of all that kinde And hence it commeth as I take it that to bring the flourishing estate of our Church in England into the same misery that theirs is brought into they rayle deuise and clap their handes to set vs here together by the eares Some of them say that our Church is still vnder the bondage of an Antichristian gouernement that our Bishops are a hurtfull relique of Romish confusion that they thrust with side and shoulder to make hauocke of the Church by a disguised persecution and that they do tyrannize aboue their brethren with violence and crueltie They vse these words of her excellent Maiesty Alacke good Princesse the true report of thinges commeth seldome to her eares And do very grossely insinuate nay indeed plainly affirme that there are in Court some crafty miscreants which doo abuse her Maiesty whom they resemble to Ioab Iesabell Haman and Gehasi They doo iustifie the proceedings of our disturbers here animating them to go forward as they haue begun doo tell them that both their causes vz. their owne in Scotland and of our factions in England are most nerely linked together and doo promise that they will not cease to commend their troubled state vnto God in their priuate and publike prayers They compare our hindring in England of the pretended Discipline vnto the hinderance which Gods enemies made vnto the building of Ierusalem They seeke vnder hand to steale away the harts of her Maiesties subiects especially of those that haue beene and still are seduced by our Consistorian Schismatikes by putting them in hope of one Darius that after a time shall giue full authority for the sayde building of Ierusalem Which manner of dealing there is no Darius liuing could take in good part if the like practises were vsed by others amongst his people GOD of his infinite mercy graunt vnto her Maiesty a long a prosperous and a happy raigne ouer vs and so knit the harts of all true English men vnto their Queene of Saba their Hester and their most royall Elizabeth that without the expectation of any Darius whosoeuer they may euer continue her most loyall faithfull and obedient subiects rather wishing in their soules that the world with her Maiesty should end their dayes together then once to take ioy by the least imagination of any future change Amen And thus much of the manner and wayes vsed by certaine Scottish Ministers for Reformation and Discipline Which pointes or Consistorian proceedinges I haue not touched as God knoweth with any minde or intent to dishonour the state of that Country Besides much may well be sayd I assure my selfe in excuse of such of the laity as ioyned in the premisses For I finde they were led with a very great zeale They had beene so long imprisoned in the darkenesse of Popery that when the Gospell appeared vnto them it so dazeled their eyes as that for very gladnesse they considered not well what they did so they might enioy it Their goods their lands their wiues
priests These examples are left for our instruction Where this iustice is not executed the state is most corrupt When Magistrates do cease to do their duties in thus deposing or killing of Princes the people are as it were without officers then God giueth the sword into their hands he himself is become immediatly their head for to the multitude a portion of the sword of iustice is committed from the which no person King Queene or Emperour being an Idolater is exempt he must die the death The people in the 25. of Numbers did hang vp certain of their heads and captains which ought to be for euer a perpetuall example of their duetie in the like defection from God to hang vp such rulers as shall draw them from him If neither the inferior magistrates nor the greatest part of people will doo their offices in punishing deposing or killing of Princes then the minister must excommunicate such a King any minister may doo it against the greatest Prince God will send to the rest of the people which are willing to doo their duty but are not able some Moses or Othoniell If they know any Ionathan they must goe vnto him to be their Captaine and he ought not to refuse them By the worde of God in such a defection a priuate man hauing some speciall inward motion may kill a tyrant as Moses did the Egyptian as Phinees did the lecherous and Ahud did king Eglon or otherwise a priuate man may doo so if he be commaunded or permitted by the common-wealth And vnto some obiections that be made to the contrarie these answeres are shaped Ob. Be subiect to higher powers the powers be ordained of God Ans. Wicked Kings are not Gods ordinance Saint Paule speaketh of lawfull powers Ob. Seruants must be obedient to their Masters thogh they be froward Ans. Paul speaketh of bondmen not of subiects obedience Ob. Peter was commanded to put vp his sword Ans. He was a minister and no magistrate Ob. Christ could haue called for twelue legions of Angels for his defence if it had beene lawfull to haue vsed force for the setting vp of the Gospell Ans. Christs kingdome was not of this world he tooke vpon him no temporall sword but that hindreth not those that haue it Ob. Ieremy was commanded to obey the king of Babel Ans. The secret counsell of God was reuealed to him to that effect It is no generall rule Ob. Dauid said God forbid that I should touch the annointed of the Lord. Ans. It was in his owne priuate cause and so vnlawfull Ob. Sir Thomas Wyat did as you would haue others to do c. but he had no good successe Ans. The goodnesse of his cause is not to be measured by his successe He was no traytour his cause was Gods and none but papists and traytours can iustly accuse him of treason The Councellors and all others that would be accounted nobles and tooke not his part are in very deede traytours to God and his people and to their countrie The author of the booke of obedience he should haue sayd of rebellion endeth his treatise with significatiō that the nobilitie of England hee speaketh of them that were in Queen Maries daies are not to be trusted either by their words othes or handwritings furder then a man doth see hear them scarsely so far And Goodman likewise for his conclusion is most earnest with all english subiectes that they would put his doctrine in practise assuring them that in so doing if they be cast in prison with Ioseph to wild beasts with Daniell into the sea with Ionas into the dungeon with Ieremy into the fiery furnace with Sidrach Misach Abednago yet they shalbe comforted whereas if they will not in seeking to saue their liues they shall loose them they shall be cast out of the fauor of God their consciences shall be wounded with hell like torments they shall despaire seeke to hang themselues with Iudas to murther themselues with Frauncis Spira drowne themselues with Iudge Hales or else fall mad with Iustice Morgan at Geneua This doctrine saith Whittingham afterward vnworthily Deane of Durham was approued by the best learned in these parts meaning Caluin and the rest of the Geneuians The Englishmen of name there at that time besides Goodman and Whittingham were as I take it Anthony Gilby Miles Couerdall Dauid Whitehead and sundry others Who liking the sayde doctrine also exceedingly were very earnest to haue the same printed for the benefite as they sayde of their brethren in England Whittingham made a preface to Goodmans booke wherein hee greatly commendeth this doctrine and writeth thus in the name as it seemeth of all his fellowes there We desire that you meaning all in England and elsewhere that loue to know the truth and follow it should bee perswaded in this trueth Againe here thou doest heare the Eternal speaking by his minister c. quickly giue eare and obay c. And again If thou wish for Christian liberty come and see how it may easily be had c. From Geneua Here it is very material further to be obserued that the rest of the learned men that fled in Queene Maries time as Iohn Scory William Barlow Richard Cox Thomas Beacon Iohn Bale Iohn Parkhurst Edmond Grindall Edwine Sandes Alexander Nowell Robert Wisdome Iohn Iewell very many more hauing no great affection to Geneua bestowed themselues in Germany especially at Zuricke Basill and Franckeford These men maintained the reformation of the Church of England in King Edwards time they vsed in their holy assemblies the forme of seruice and order of ceremonies which were then established and they vtterly misliked condemned the foresayd propositions as very seditious rebellious according to the iudgement of all the reformed Churches for ought I can learne both in Germany and else-where besides Geneua and her offspring Besides they of Franckeford as it appeareth notwithstanding their griefe that they were constrained to leaue their country for their conscience yet in the middest of all their afflictions they retained such duetifull harts vnto Queene Mary imitating therein the Apostles and Disciples of their Maister as that they coulde not endure to heare her so traduced into all hatred and obloquy as shee was by the other sort Maister Knox comming vpon occasion from Geneua to Franckeford was by these graue men accused of Treason as he himselfe confesseth for matters that he had published in print against their Soueraigne and the Emperor and was faine thereupon for the sauing of his life to flye thence secretly backe againe to Geneua Lastly by meanes of their disliking of the sayd propositions and their further course helde in the defence of the foresayde reformation in England against the other mens counterfeit presbyteries these learned men at Franckeford could haue small reputation with them of Geneua Thus
one of that crew then hath written since of them The English Church which was assembled at Geneua was seperated from that superstitious and contentious company that was at Franckford And againe They were more giuen vnto vnprofitable ceremonies then to sincere Religion These things I thought meete for your aduertisement to set downe that the propositions precedent might appeare vnto you not to haue proceeded from any rash or light conceit in our English propounders publishers and maintainers of them but that they doo containe their resolute iudgement agreeable to those points of the Geneua resolution mentioned before out of Knox and Buchanan Whereby it is apparant that if our sayd English Geneuians had found as redy assistance at that time in England as Knox and his complices about or soone after the same time did in Scotland they would not haue fayled to haue put the sayde positions aswell in practise heere with vs as some Scottish Ministers did in that Country Which great mischiefe and disloyall outrage as the state here did then prouidently suppresse and withstande So her Excellent Maiesty hath since preuented by abolishing of the Romish Religion and the restoring of the Gospell which was the quarrell in those dayes pretended So as our English Reformers hauing hitherto had no cause for this point to imitate the foresayde proceedinges in Scotland it remayneth that I shew vnto you how far as yet it is disclosed and how directly they endeuour to follow the said practises of the Scottish Ministers for the erecting vp in England of the Geneua new Papacie CHAP. II. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it IN Scotland notwithstanding that at the last the Ministers had obtayned in some sorte the allowance of the confession of their faith contayning the summe of that doctrine which before they had so greatly desired yet because they wanted the Geneua discipline wherein consisted their very great ioy together with the hope of their future soueraignety they were but a little satisfied with all the rest And euen so it hath fallen out since in England sauing for ought I can read that the sayd Scottish ministers were not then come vnto so great a dotage after this Discipline as there now is growne amongst vs. About some two or three and forty yeares agone and after in the beginning of her Maiesties Raigne the deuisers themselues of this new platforme were well content to accept of and commend such Churches as had abandoned Popery though they had withall imbraced another kinde of Discipline Then in disputation against the Papists and Anabaptists there could bee found in all Fraunce and Geneua but two essentiall notes of the Church vz. the true preaching of the word and the right administration of the Sacraments Then vpon Goodmans Whittinghams Gilbies returne with the rest of their associates from Geneua into England although it grieued them at the hart that they might not beare as great a sway here in their seuerall consistories as Caluin did at Geneua and so not onely repined and grudged at her Maiesties reformation of this Church but laboured as they might to sowe abroade in the lande that seede which hath brought forth a great part of all the disorders troubles and disobediences that since haue ensued Yet notwithstanding they meddle not much in shewe for any thing I can heare of with matters of this Discipline but rather busied themselues about the apparrell of ministers ceremonies prescribed and in picking of quarrels against the common Booke Marry since that Maister Beza deuised a way howe to bring in the Geneua Discipline to be a third essentiall note of the Church since Maister Cartwright hath beene at Geneua and vpon his returne did ingage his credit to iustifie that platforme to be a necessary forme of Gouernement prescribed by Christ for all times and places since Maister Trauerse hath also beene there and did take vpon him in his booke de Disciplina Ecclesiastica to do the like since Maister Cartwright did likewise at his second beeing beyonde the seas sende vs worde in his second booke that Master Beza accounted his sayde third note of the Church vz. the Geneua Discipline to bee as necessarie a note as either the word or Sacraments and since Maister Cartwright and Trauers with the chiefest of their followers in England haue of later yeares vpon consideration of the premisses and further deliberation in their conferences and meetinges to that purpose resolued and concluded generally for the necessity of the same Discipline which before had beene onely deliuered with vs as their priuate opinions Since these times I say the friends and fauorers of it haue from time to time by certain degrees so increased in their fond affections towards it as that now they are in a manner ouercome with the strength and violence of them and doo bragge in their bookes that they will not sticke to dye in the cause Maister Cartwright as I take it had an especiall eye to this deuise when he sayth that certaine of the things which he and his followers do stand vpon are such as if euery haire of their heads were a seuerall life they ought to afford them all in defence of them Diuers other besides doo offer to aduenture their liues for the iustifiyng of it as Vdall Penry nothing will content them without the Geneua discipline For say they it is found to be the onely bond of peace the bane of heresie the punisher of sinne and maintainer of righteousnes It is pure perfect and full of all goodnes for the peace wealth and honour of Gods people and is ordained for the ioy and happines of all Nations The want of the Eldership is the cause of all euill It is not to bee hoped for that any common-wealth will flourish without it This Discipline is no small part of the Gospell it is of the substance of it It is the right stuffe gold for building the Church of God This would make the Church a chast spouse hauing a wonderfull brightnes as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne and terrible like an army with banners Without this Discipline there can be no true Religion This gouernement is the scepter whereby alone Christ Iesus ruleth among men The Churches of God in Denmarke Saxony Tigurin c. wanting this gouernement are to bee accounted maymed and vnperfect The establishing of the Presbyteries is the full placing of Christ in his kingdome They that reiect this Discipline refuse to haue Christ raigne ouer them and deny him in effect to be their king or their Lord. It is the blade of a shaken sword in the hande of the Cherubins to keepe the way of the tree of life Ridiculous men and bewitched As though Christs
the Church there is nothing but sores and blisters yea the griefe is euen deadly at the heart They must needes be not onely traytors to God and his word but also enemies vnto her Maiestie and the land that defend the established gouernement of the Church to be lawfull CHAP. V. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiesty c. THe Bishoppes haue long deceaued and seduced her Maiestie and her people Doo you thinke our Church gouernement to bee good and lawfull because her Maiesty and the state who maintaine the reformed religion alloweth the same why the Lord doth not allow it In effect that her Maiesty and state in maintaining the established gouernement and reiecting theirs doo mayme and deforme the body of Christ and so doo bid God to battell against them Ministers ought not to obey the Prince when he prescribeth ceremonies and a fashion of apparell By the same authority that the Queene commandeth the apparell now appointed to the Ministers she may commaund any piece of Popery so she name it pollicie Achaz of pollicie brought such an altar into Ierusalem as he did see at Damascus where he had ouercome the Idolaters and their Idols But cursed was his policie and so are all they that retaine any thing of their old Idolatrie he addeth for example the candlestickes vppon the Queenes altar kneeling at the communion c. Of necessitie all Christian magistrates are bound to receiue this gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons and to abolish all other Church gouernement Either her Maiestie knoweth not what they desire being abused by the Bishops or else shee is negligent of her dutie and vnthankefull to God Her Maiestie is cunninglie resembled to Ieroboam Ahab Iehoram Ahaz Gedeon Nadab Saule Iehu Asa and Iehosaphat in those points whereby they offended God and she is threatned by their examples in that hauing begon so well she doth not proceede to set vp Christes gouernment throughly A question being asked as the register reporteth by the Bishop of London Anno. 1567. vz. haue we not a godly Prince speake is shee euill There are three answers made by three seuerall men The first what a question is that the fruites do shew The second No. But the seruants of God are persecuted vnder her The thirde Why this question the Prophet answereth in the Psalmes how can they haue vnder standing that worke iniquitie spoiling my people and that extoll vanitie To this obiection that it is Dotanisme to challenge such authoritie ouer Princes meaning the authority which the Eldership challengeth answere is made vz It is flatterie to suffer Princes to do what they list To this position That princes should bee excepted from Ecclesiasticall Discipline and namely from excommunication they answere thus That excommunication should not be exercised against Princes I vtterlie mislike To affirme that It is but a meere mockerie of the Lord and to offer himselfe meaning the now L. Archbishop of Canterbury as a bawd to al maner of sinnes in Princes To insinuate that others being subiect to this correction onelie Princes should be exempted I feare commeth from a worse cause then from simple error CHAP. VI. Some of their rayling speaches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England FOr not admitting the platforme set downe in the first admonition c. Anno. 14. of her Maiestie and suffering the parties that offered it to be punished Thus they write The state sheweth it selfe not vpright alledge the Parliament what it will al honest men shall finde lacke of equitie all good consciences shall condemne that Court. It shalbe easier for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of iudgement then for such a Court. There is no other thing to be looked for then some speedie vengeance to light vpon the whole land prouide aswell as the politicke Machiauels of England thinke they can though God do his worst Likewise of the Parliament the 29. of her Maiestie for their tollerating the Bishops c. in stead of their newe gouernment it is said That they shalbe in danger of the terrible masse of Gods wrath both in this life and in the life to come and that if they did not then abrogate the gouernment by Bishops well they might hope for the fauor and intertainement of Moses that is the curse of the law but the fauour and louing countenance of Iesus Christ they should not see nor euer enioy Againe of the same Parliament it is likewise af firmed that if the reformation desired were not graunted they should betray God betray the truth and betray the whole kingdome They should declare themselues to be an assembly wherein the Lordes cause could not be heard an assembly wherein the felicity of miserable men could not be respected an assembly that wittingly called for the iudgements of God vpon the whole land an assembly wherein trueth religion and pietie could beare no sway There shalbe not be a man of their seede that shall prosper be a Parliament-man or beare rule in England any more Furthermore a prophesie is passed but from that spirit I trust that tooke vpon him to be spiritus mendax in ore prophetarum that if they preuailed not in the said Parliament according to their supplication then the Nauie of the Spaniards should come againe and fight against this land and waste it with fire and sworde that God shal send a terror into the harts of our valiantest and stoutest men that one enemie shall chase a thousand of vs that although we had smit the whole hoast so as there remayned none but wounded men amongst them yet shal euerie man rise vp in his tent and ouerrunne this land Lastly this they write generally of al that do withstād their desires Those kingdomes and states who defend anie Church gouernement saue this of Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons are in danger of vtter destruction None euer defended this Hierarchy of Bishops to be lawfull but Papistes and such as were infected with Popish errors No man can open his mouth against Presbiteries but with a shamelesse face and seared conscience The enemies hereof after the manner of the wicked mentioned in Iob do say vnto the almighty depart from vs because we desire not the knowledge of thy waies yea and in their practise they say who is the almighty that we should serue him This shallbe the portion of as many as to the end oppose themselues against the cause of reformation now laboured for the heauen shall declare his wickednesse and the earth shall rise vp against him the encrease of his house shall goe away it shall flow away in the day of his wrath his eyes shal see his destruction and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almighty They are no better to bee thought of then
we here may vnderstand your minde we will I trust as we can further it M. Allen liketh well of the matter CHAP. III. A forme or booke of Discipline is drawen and a resolution is agreed vpon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church WHilest the brethren in the Countrey were comming thus fast on forward as you haue heard in the ende of the former Chapter you must not thinke that the Rabbies in London were in the mean time idle Hitherto it should seeme that in all their former proceedings they had relied chiefly vpon the first admonition and Cartwrights booke as hauing had no particular and seuerall platforme that was generally allowed of amongst them for the Church of England But now at the length about the yeare 1583. the forme of Discipline which is lately come to light was compiled and thereupon an assembly or Councell being helde as I thinke at London or at Cambridge certaine decrees were made concerning the establishing and the practise thereof In which decrees mention is made of a collection concluded vpon for the Scottish Ministers fugitiues here in England 1583. which sheweth the time when they were made order is likewise taken for the putting in vse of the Synodicall Discipline which also prooueth the age of that booke The decrees themselues are extant to bee seene vnder Maister Wights hande a man of that brotherhood But it may not be omitted that you must thinke how the godly brethren in all these and such other their zealous courses had neuer any meaning to disturbe the present state established And thereupon forsooth in this conspiracy or councell mentioned like good and quiet spirited men they had an especiall care that the peace of the Church might not be broken by any order or decree of theirs So as then the question amongst them was seeing the Discipline must needs vp how farre they might proceede in the establishing and practise of it keeping notwithstanding the peace of the Church established already by her Maiesty And it was ouerruled accordingly as it followeth in the decrees themselues faithfully translated worde for word out of their owne Latin coppy The title thereof vz. These be the thinges that doo seeme may well stande with the peace of the Church The Decrees Let no man though he be an Vniuersity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take vpon him an vncertaine and vague Ministery though it be offered vnto him But such as bee called to the Ministery by some certaine Church let them impart it vnto that Classis or conference wherof themselues are or else vnto some greater Church assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them bee commended by their letters vnto the Bishop that they may bee ordayned Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Booke of common prayer which being taken from Popery are in controuersie doo seeme that they ought to bee omitted and giuen ouer if it may bee done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be depriued then this matter must bee communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the iudgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the articles of Religion and to the booke of common Prayer shall be againe vrged it is thought that the booke of articles may be subscribed vnto according to the statute 13. Eliz. that is vnto such of them onely as containe the summe of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many waighty causes neither the rest of the articles in that booke nor the booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Churchwardens and Collectors for the poore might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons When they are to be chosen let the Church haue warning fifteene dayes before of the time of election and of the ordinance of the Realme but especially of Christs ordinance touching appointing of watchmen and ouerseers in his Church who are to foresee that none offence or scandall doo arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duely abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts vz. men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to choose men of custome and of course or for their riches but for their faith zeale and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the meane time to be so directed that they make choise of men that be meete Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their dueties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be receiued vnto the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethren are to be requested to ordaine a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalfe that are set downe in the Sinodicall Discipline touching Classicall Prouinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to kepe acts of memorable matters which they shall see deliuered to the Comitiall assembly that frō thence they may be broght by the prouincial assembly Also they are to deale earnestly with patrones to present fit men whensoeuer any Church is fallen voide in that Classis The Comitiall assemblies are to bee monished to make collections for reliefe of the poore and of schollers but especially for reliefe of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendred by the Bishoppes also for reliefe of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary vses All the prouinciall Synodes must continually afore hand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next prouinciall Synodes and for the sending of chosen persons with certaine instructions vnto the Nationall Synode to be holden whensoeuer the Parliament for the kingdome shall be called and at some certaine set time euere yeare Hitherto the Decrees of this graue Councell whereby it seemeth to me that when they resolued they might proceede thus farre and keepe notwithstanding the peace of the Church of England established they opposed in that resolution the worde peace to warre as though they should haue agreed how far they might runne on in this race without vrging of their followers to force armes For otherwise how could any sober men so much as once haue imagined that they might in this sort ouerthrow in effect the present gouernement and establish their owne deuises and yet neuer breake the peace of the Church But I will not presse this point It is more agreeable to my purpose to pursue the chase CHAP. IIII. About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their Discipline and of a Consistorian question TO
the Articles Now by these articles and by their subscription vnto them it is most euident that the pretences made by some are but meerly shiftes as that their purpose onely was to haue the booke in readines against a Parliament and that they subscribed the articles to no other ende but onely to testifie their agreement in iudgement for that they were charged to disagree amongst themselues For if that had beene their intent it had beene sufficiently performed by subscribing to the first article onely But they proceede-on further and entred into a certaine league or association binding themselues by promise vnder their hands what they for their owne partes will attempt and as they might perfourme In the second article as it is apparant there are other lawfull meanes promised to bee vndertaken for the aduancing of the Discipline then prayers to God and supplications to her Maiesty and the Parliament Whereupon Maister Litleton a subscriber being examined what hee vnderstoode those meanes to bee answereth vpon his oath that he thinketh their priuate conferences were meant to be those lawfull meanes mentioned in the article Which is according to the resolution of the brethren in of London set downe before out of Maister Edmondes examination vz. that seeing they could not preuaile by sute to the State the Ministers themselues should set vp the Discipline as they should bee able And Maister Iohnson is also as direct vppon his oath to the same effect saying It was a generall conclusion amongst all the Classes and brethren that forasmuch as the Discipline required by petitions could not bee publikely established by lawe it was thought in conscience necessary to establish it and practise it priuately to which purpose also euery man was to vse his endeuour to encrease the number of such as would conforme themselues that way Againe it is promised in the same Article that they would proceede with their sayd meanes for the aduancement of their Discipline so far as the peace of the present state of our Church would suffer Now how farre that is it hath beene before touched in the decrees of one of their Synodes 1583. for as men most strangely bewitched they imagined that they could so cunningly play their feates as that they might in effect set vp their owne Discipline secretely vnder hand and yet neuer disturbe the present gouernement of the Church For as peace is heere taken in their sense one King or gouernement may inuade another with all kinde of hostility and say as they doo that they meane but peace The truth is they may haue peace in their mouths but in their actions there is nothing lesse So as this their restraint being but a vaine pretence doth no way indeed impaeach my assertion Furthermore whereas also it followeth in the same article and not enforce to the contrarie Maister Littleton being examined vpon his oath what that should meane answereth that he himselfe Maister Snape Maister Proudloe and others did agree to put the said articles and Discipline in execution and practise so far as the peace and the present estate of the Church will suffer and not enforce to the contrarie That is to say till the Magistrate did enioyne them or enforce them to leaue the practise of the said Discipline and in another place till the Magistrate did inhibite them to the contrarie and force them to leaue it And further hee also sayth that they did agree to guide themselues by the said booke of Discipline and according to it with the same limitation Now what if by their secret practises to drawe away the peoples harts from the present gouernement of the Church they could haue procured such strength and number to haue followed them as that no reasonable restraint or force of the Magistrate had bin able to haue encountred and suppressed them I doo but aske the question In the rest of the Articles there are but two generall points the one contained in the third Article concerning the vniformitie which they promise to vse in their Ministery and the other is as touching their agreement to follow the orders set downe for their meetinges Classicall contained in the fourth Prouinciall in the fift Nationall in the sixt article So as where before in the second Article they had mentioned other meanes whereby they had promised to aduance their Discipline besides praiers to God and supplications to her Maiestie they doo nowe in part explane themselues in the other Article following and doo set downe what meanes they that were Ministers would vse and put in practise for the aduauncement of it vz. the two points mentioned that is their vniformity in preachings and their meetinges according to Master Littletons deposition in these words they meant by those meanes in the second Article their conferences as he thinketh But to carry this matter past thinking let Master Fen be heard who saith that he agreed to put some things of the booke in execution according to the subscription let Master Lord be heard who sayth that he agreed to put some things of the said booke in practise as in the Articles is contained But let their Coryphaeus Maister Cartwright himselfe be heard who sayth that he agreed to put two points of the Articles in execution vz. touching the order of preaching and touching the assemblies CHAP. XII It is confessed that they agreed to put one point of their booke in practise without her Maiesties assent what it is of strange names giuen to children NOw because it appeareth in the thirde fourth fift and sixt of the sayd Articles that concerning both these points they referre themselues to certain Chapters of their booke of Discipline I haue thought it very conuenient to set downe out of the said Chapters some of those particulars which by their said subscription they bound themselues to practise without any further staying for the ciuil Magistrate and withall to adioyne some part of their constancie if so I may abuse a good worde in the perfourming of their promises touching the said particulars Maister Littleton beeing sworne dealeth as it seemeth very directly to this purpose for as he saith concerning the contents of the foure last Articles hee for his part whilest hee was of that company perfourmed his promise and he thinketh that the rest that subscribed did the like But to the particulars and first of the first point The Minister that is to preach shall appoint the Psalme that is to be song c. After the Psalme let there be made a short admonition to the congregation howe they shall prepare themselues rightly to pray Let a Prayer followe containing the confession of sinnes c. and concluded with the Lords Prayer After the Sermon let Prayers be made for grace that the auditors may profite by the doctrine deliuered also for the whole Church and all particular callinges and let them end likewise with the Lords Prayer Then a Psalme c. and lastly let the
conclusion bee made with some short forme of blessing the congregation taken out of the Scriptures For the practise of this order I referre the proofe of it to all those who haue obserued the manner of any of the brethrens behauiour in their seuerall Churches The most of them that are but Doctors as they terme themselues and readers of Lectures in other mens charges do seldom or neuer come to the seruice which is read in the Church according to her Maiesties Lawes but vnder pretence of studying for their sermons doo absent themselues vntill seruice bee done or at the least almost finished and then they come in grauely I warrant you and doo goe to this their owne forme of seruice The rest of the fraternity that haue cures of their own some of them will haue a Parliament Minister as they terme him vnder them to say seruice and then he himselfe dealeth as it hath beene noted of the Doctor but others that are not able to haue such a one they for their safer standing as their tearme is doo vse some piece of our seruice-booke and peraduenture reade a lesson which things they affirme as it hath beene touched may be performed as wel by those that are not ministers as by them And then they in like sort doo begin their owne ministeriall function and proceede according to the foresaide fashion subscribed-vnto and promised But to proceede vnto their practise of other pointes of that booke The Preachers must leaue off by little and little as they may conueniently to preach at burials least thereby they nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Let not women onely offer infants to Baptisme but the father if it may be conueniently or els some others in his name Let perswasions be vsed that such names as doo sauour either of Paganisme or Popery bee not giuen to children at their Baptisme but principally those whereof there are examples in the Scriptures Whether these pointes especially for two of them haue beene practised by the brethren or not the newe Churchyard in London and many brables in the country about vrging of the natural fathers to become Godfathers to their owne children c can more then sufficiently witnesse And for the third it is also sundry waies apparant For whence else doo these new names and fancies proceede The Lord is nere More-tryall Reformation Discipline Ioy-againe Sufficient From-aboue Free-gifts More-fruite Dust. and many other such like But Richard Hawgar of Northampton did first vnder his hande and after vppon his oath deliuer an especiall history to this purpose of giuing names Snape would not Baptise one Christopher Hodgkinsons childe because hee would haue the childe called Richard The order was this Hodgkinson obtained promise of Snape that he would christen his childe But saith Snape you must then giue it a Christian name allowed in the Scriptures The partie told him that his wiues father whose name was Richard desired the name Well saith Snape you must doe as I bidde you that when you come the congregation be not troubled But notwithstanding the said Hodgkinson not thinking it would haue beene made a matter of such importance the child was brought Snape proceeded in the action till hee came to the naming of the child And when he heard that they called the child Richard that they would giue him no other name hee staied there and would not in any wise Baptize the child And so the child was carried away thence was Baptized the weeke following at Alhallowes being named Richard Of likelyhoode the brethren haue founde this thing to be a matter of great importance that they wil rather leaue an infant vnbaptized then giue him such a name CHAP. XIII A second point of their Booke confessed to be agreed vpon for the practise of it without her Maiesties assent NOw I wil come to Master Cartwrights second point that is of the meetings and set downe the Chapters wherevnto in the Articles subscribed they referred themselues that thereby herafter no man that wil read them may doubt of their purpose of not staying for the Magistrate which are as follow so neere as I could by translation of them out of Latin expresse their meaning Mutuall conference is to bee practised in the Church by common assemblies but in these matters Ecclesiasticall are to bee handled and such chieflie as concerne those Churches whereof the assemblie doth consist They shall not determine except they be requested of anie thing touching other Churches but shall only decree that such matter is to be referred to the next greater assemblie Let the matters and order of thinges to be handled in them be thus Next after the view or calling of those that be present wherin withall the names of such as bee absent must be noted that in the next Assembly they may eyther yeeld sufficient reason of their absence or els bee censured by the iudgement of the assemblie first let the Acts of the next assemblie afore that was of the same sort bee read to the intent that if any thing of them were left then vndone it may be dispatched Then let those matters be done that are peculiar to the Assembly in hand And first let euerie of them deliuer the instructions from their Churches in the same order that they sit together with the Fiduciary or Letters of credence of the Churches next let there be * censures had of the Churches of that assembly whereby may bee vnderstood how they are framed and vsed whether the doctrine and the Discipline haue their course in them and whether the officers of them doe that which appertaineth and such like Besides let them decree those things that shall concerne eyther the common behoofe of all the Churches of that assemblie or of any one of them and this course will be sufficient enough for the view and ouersight of the Churches Lastly if it so seeme good let there bee inquirie Censures had euen of those which be delegated to meete in that Assemblie Such as are to meete in the Assemblies let them bee chosen by the Suffrages of those Churches or Assemblies that haue interest or to doe in it and out of these let such only be chosen as hath exercised some publike office in that Church eyther of a Minister or of an Elder and which hath subscribed both to the doctrine and Discipline and which haue vndertaken to behaue themselues in all things according to the word of God It shall be lawful for other Elders Ministers yea for Deacons and Students in Diuinitie by the appointment of the assemblie especially if they be such as doe exercise themselues in interpreting the Scriptures in the Assemblie to be both present to bee asked their iudgements these of the latter sort are therefore to be admitted that their iudgements to handle the affaires of the Church may hereby both be tried and sharpned Yet let
iust occasions committed to prison the matter was greatly grudged at so taken to heart amongst the reforming and zealous brotherhoode as that many deuises and complots were as it seemeth in deliberation not onely how the saide prisoners might for the present bee defended and deliuered but also how thereupon they might proceede for the setting vp of their Discipline To this purpose in mine opinion these words of Wiggintons are verie pertinent Maister Cartwright is in the Fleeâ—e for refusall of the othe as I heare and Maister Knewstubs is sent for and sondry worthy ministers are disquieted who haue been spared long So that wee looke for some bickering ere long and then a battel which cannot long endure How far these wordes may bee drawne I leaue it to be considered of by those that can discerne of such like kind of phrases This I can assure you of that vppon what grounds I know not through the course which was held by the magistrats here against the said prisoners there was great expectation and as it were a hope conceiued by their fauorers in another cuntrey of some bickering amongst vs about that time as Wigginton writeth of Thus a man that hath been of especiall account in Scotland did write vnto a friend of his in England I attend your next answere aswell of the estate of your Church as of all other affaires For there is here great worde of sondry vprores which I trust be false or repressedin due season by her Maiestie But that passeth all to this purpose which falleth out most apparantlie by the view taken of such letters and papers as were found vpon the apprehension of Hacket and his Prophets CHAP. VI. One Edmond Copinger tooke vpon him to worke Cartwrightes c. deliuerance he pretendeth an extraordinary calling and acquainteth diuers with it one Gibson a Scot P. Wentwotrh Cartwright Wigginton Charke Trauers Egerton c. WHilest some were deuising of one way and some of an other for the good of the saide prisoners c. One Edmond Coppinger with his familiars could find no meanes to bee looked for except it might please God according to the foresaide positions to stir vp some zealous brethren by some extraordinary calling to effect their desires This cogitation as it seemeth no soner grew vpon theÌ„ but that by and by they fealt as they thought in themselues some certaine slender instigations to such a heauenly purpose It appeareth that towards the latter end of December 1590 Copinger Arthington and Iohn Bentley maister Knightlies man did hold a fast at one Thomas Lancasters house a scholemaister in Shoe-lane It began vpon the Saturday at night and held till Sonday at night In the time of this fast vz. the Saterday at night Coppinger as he said found himself very extraordinarily exercised c. with a wonderfull zeale to set forth Gods glory any waies which lawfully he might enter into At that time also I mean at that last fast Arthington had likewise his extraordinary calling Thus Copinger did write of his matter to Lancaster the letter was also subscribed vnto by Arthington In your house in your presence and partly by your meanes I had my first extraordinarie calling and of the same minde is my brother Arthington Copinger the next day after the saide fast did ride into Kent and vpon his returne which was with some speed he signified vnto his fellow-fasters how he had been extraordinarily called both before his going the said Satterday at night also in his iourney since he departed from them vz. how God had reuealed vnto him such a secret mystery as was wonderful By the way saith he as I rid I fansied to my selfe that there was leaue giuen mee to speake to God in a more familiar manner then at any time before also I perswaded my self that his spirite did giue me many straunge directions wherein the Lord would vse me to doe seruice to his most glorious Maiestie and to his Church Concerning the substance of his said reuelation hee also tolde Arthington Lancaster thus much vz. that he knew a way how to bring the Queene to repentance and to cause all her Counsell and Nobles to do the like out of hand or els detect them to bee traytors that refused After the relation of these things within a day or two this Copinger and Arthington held another fast by themselues Whereupon saith Copinger I was againe stirred vp to such businesse of such importance as in the eyes of flesh and bloud was likelie to bring much danger to my selfe and vnlikely to bring any good successe to the Church of God Of these his instigations or reuelations hee writ to some preachers in the Realme and to some without as namelie a letter the last day of December 1590. to one Gibson a kinde of preacher in Scotland Wherein hee greatly complayneth of the present state of our Church and desireth of him to bee instructed from the brethren there in diuers points concerning an extraordinarie calling Thee state of our Church saith hee groweth worse and worse our zealous Ministerie and Magistracie are daylye disgraced and displaced the meanes of helpe is taken away except that God woulde eyther moue her Maiestie inwardly shee being bereaued of those holy helpes which Gods seruantes enioy in the publike exercise of religion or else stirre vp some faithfull Zorobabell or Nehemiah to let her see how the Lordes house lyeth waste and how vsurpers of Antichristian tiranny doe keepe Christ Iesus from gouerning in his kingdome And then hee addeth My selfe am acquainted with some who to do seruice herein would aduenture the losse of their liues so that they might haue warrant from the worde for their so doing and haue approbation by the Church And to this end they fancy to themselues to haue receiued an extraordinary calling wherein they feare to be abused by Sathan Then followeth his petitioÌ„ And therefore I thogh most vnworthy haue aduentured to write vnto you to beseech you in the bowels of Christ Iesus to haue conference with such as are most able to aduise you on our behalfe and to returne answere how a man may examine himselfe in this matter and what be the extraordinarie thinges which must bee in him that is so called what course he is to take to haue his extraordinarie calling knowne first to himselfe and then to the Church After hee had sent away this letter into Scotland hee began to draw his doubts into some Methode and did propound them all in eight questions The chiefe summe whereof it this whether in these dayes and in this countrey where there is but preaching heere and there where the Discipline is not established but oppugned by the publike Magistrates whether there bee place for any extraordinarie calling immediately from God of workers and helpers to his Church c. These questions thus contriued hee sent them to his olde acquaintance Wigginton who iustly
from themselues and layde vppon the Lordes shoulders as though he should haue moued them to such lewd attemptes The other was a kinde of Ballade directed for aduice to a yong courtier wherein they make waye as it seemeth for their frend Hacket and that with wonderfull quotation of Scriptures I will trouble you onely with fowre of the verses A Christian true although he be a clowne May teach a King to weare Scepter and Crowne And after For God will sure confound such as deuise His ordinance or church to tirannise To these rimes both for manner and matter I may well resemble those made I doubt not by the same spirit Either from countrey or Court Martin Mar-Prelate will do you hurt Now that Copinger was a dealer in these thinges with Wigginton before they were printed it appeareth by these wordes of Hackets in his last declaration to maister Young Wiggintons boy can declare all his Maisters writinges for the boy and Maister Copinger sate writing halfe a night by this examinates bedde side but what they writte he cannot tell but one word he heard that the Countrey Clowne can teach the king to weare the Crowne Afterwardes as I take it vz. the 9. of Iuly being fryday M. Charke preached at the blacke Fryers at which Sermō Copinger was present who misliking as it seemeth some wordes then vttered did write a letter presently to M. Charke wherein amongst other pointes he sayth Right reuerend Sir c. I do not denie good Sir but I haue now a long time taken a strange and extraordinary course but such as hath offered occasion of suspition of my not onely doing hurt to my selfe but also to the best sort of men now in question and to the cause it selfe But by what warrant I haue done this that is all For if the holy Ghost hath beene my warrant and carieth mee into such actions as are differing from other mens c. What flesh and blood dare speake against it c. Forbeare to censure me and such other as should deale extraordinarily with mee in the Lordes busines committed to our charge and iudge of vs by the effectes which follow which if you heareafter see to bee wonderderfull great then let all ordinary men call themselues to an examination c. And after The waste of the Church cannot be denied to be greate so that there is a place for extraordinary men c. Againe my desire heretofore hath beene to haue hadde counsaile and direction but now by comfortable experience I finde that the action which the Lorde hath drawn me into is his owne and he will direct it himselfe by the holy Ghost c To conclude I beseech you saith he to shew this letter to M. Trauers and M Egerton M. Charke vpon the receipt of this letter preaching againe the Sonday after in the same place vttered in his sermon these wordes which Copinger saith were ment of him in respect of his foresaide letter there are some persons so desperate that they would willingly thrust themselues vpon the rockes of the land This also appeareth by an other letter cōcerning this second sermon written about the 13. or 14 of Iulie to an other preacher in London but hee is not named it had beene to good purpose if hee had beene named For it seemeth hee was as throughly acquainted with Coppinger and his fellowes designements as it may be well supposed that Wigginton was In my letter vnto Charke I manifested my selfe to haue an extraordinarie calling and signifyed that the Lord had so called others besides my selfe who would approue our selues to bee the seruantes of the Lorde in a high calling Againe the ship that is the Church had perished if the Lord had not immediately called three of vs to helpe to recouer it c. My calling is especially to deale with Magistrates another hath to doe with Ministers who hath written a letter to you of the Citie c. The thirde is the chiefe who can neither write nor reade so that hee is the executioner of the Lords most holy wil. He further offereth to acquaint this Minister with their whole course and willeth him to shew this letter to his brethren and to publish it where euer hee should goe Hacket confessed that being about this time as I take it with Wigginton the saide Wigginton affirmed in the presence of two gentlemen and others that if the Magistrates did not gouerne well the people might draw themselues together and to see a reformation Vpon the 15. day of Iuly Copinger and Arthington did write a iointe letter of purpose to haue drawne Lancaster vnto them for the making vp of a quaternion And this was one perswasion If I Ed. Coppinger do not prefer you before any one man in the land whosoeuer for your wise holy louing and religious course both in the generall calling of a Christian and in your particular calling the Lord confound me After Lancaster had receiued this letter notwithstanding he writ vnto him of some mislike he had of their proceedings yet as Hacket saith he came vnto them all three the same night to one Walkers house at Broken wharfe where they conferred together about an hower after supper Of what great account this Lancaster and some others were with these companions it doth further appeare by that which followeth The same day in the morning that Copinger and Arthington made their seditious Proclamation in Cheapside they two together first and afterwarde Hacket came vnto Wigginton amongst many things as Wiginton himselfe cōfesseth they told him that M. Cartwright had done more against Antichrist then any in the worlde before him since the Apostles times and that Wigginton was comparable vnto him and that M. Lancaster was aboue them both in the estate of heauenlie glorie because he had kept himselfe vndefiled from the common corruptions of these times and had a most simple hart to God Likewise also they saide to Wigginton at the same time that Reformation and the Lordes discipline should now forthwith bee established and therefore charged Wigginton in the Lordes name to put all Christians in comfort that they should see a ioyfull alteration in the state of Church gouernment shortly Arthington after being examined said that Penry had sent him word by a letter out of Scotland that reformation must shortlie be erected in England and that he tooke him in so writing to bee a true Prophet It is not also vnlikely but that Penry was a Prouoker of these men to such their outrages hoping that vpon their outcries proclamations the people would haue risen For he was then in London to haue played his part if their attempts had found the good successe they looked for Marry when he saw Hacket executed he presentlie the same day posted backe againe towards Scotland CHAP. XI Of the trayterous intendments which were towardes the Court. BEfore this their intended insurrection it is to be further
of Nouem 1585 Gelibrand to Field 30. Ianuarie Gelibrand to Field Sandes to Field 20. Iune 1587. This appeareth vnder M. Wights hand M. Iohnson So in effect M. Litleton M. Sharpe a M. Snape reported as much as Edward Smith Ri. Hawgar Ri. Holme haue deposed b M. Sharpe and M. Litleton doe likewise herein agree with M. Iohnson a Mast. Litleton deposeth as much Mast. Sharpe to the same purpose of Dauentry Classis The like Ma. Sharpe of Dauentry Classis M. Sharpe to to the same purpose of Dauentrie Classis This suruey hath beene made in the most shires of England as by the surueies themselues to be shewed it appeareth They are in maner of heathnish libels Stone in the Starchamber Hen. Asker to Field Apr. 14. 1585. Nutter and Cleueley in the Starre-chamber Sharpe and Walker before the Commissioners Iohnson before the Commissioners In the Preface Snape to N. N. 1590. Snape to Barbon Aprill 11. 1590. and so also to Stone Depos in the Star-chamber Cap. de conuent ecclesiae Cap. de concionibus ad ecclesiam habendis Cap. de reliqui Liturg. officiis Litleton Before the Commissioners Before the Commissioners In the Starre Chamber In the Starre Chamber Exami before the Commi De officio Minist c Deioncionibus habendis c. De Baptismo Fenner Barbon Aire Wigginton c. Before the Commissioners Of the assemlie of the Church vz. inquisition as I take it is meant Iohnson before the CoÌ„missioners Rich. Hawgar his depositioÌ„ Rich. Holmes Rich. Hawgar before the CoÌ„missioners Snape in a writing of his owne hand Ma. Edmonds Barbon to Field Holmes Iohnson Ioh. Browne a Barbon to Field Pig to Field Snape to Stone b Barbon to Field c D. chapman to Field d Pig to Field 1586. e Gellibrand from Oxford to Field f Wake to Field g Knew stub to Field h Wade to Field i Barbon to Field k L. Thomson to Field l Lord to Field m Wigginton to Field n D. ChapmaÌ„ to Field o Gellibrand to Field Cricke to Field Iohnson Edmondes a Snape to Field b Knewstub to Field c Knewstub to Field Good Iustice. d Blake to Field e Gelibrand to Field f Rob. Bluet to Field and Egerton g Fenne to Field Iohnson Edmondes Snape Holmes Hawgar Edmondes Martin Iun a Martin Iun b Thes. 49 c Thes. 50 d Thes. 78. e Thes. 82 f Thes. 83 g Thes. 84 h Thes. 72 i Thes. 80. k Thes. 85. l Thes. 86. m Thes. 106. Martin Iun. Thes. 17. 18. 22. a The humble motion pa. 84. b The humble motion pa. 84. c Epistle to the discouerie of R B. c. d Register pa. 69 Lord to Feâ— 158. 9. Declaration B 2. 2. admonit pa 59. Suppl pa. 61 a E. 1. b F. 1. â— B F. 2 3 c. Payne to F. Suppl to the gouern of Wales pa. 15. 16. 36. 37. 38. 39. Goodman with the conent of the Geneuians c p. 214. 215 Martin Iun. Epilog Martin sea pag. 39 Holmes Hawgar c. Epistle to mart epitome W. F. Epistle to the Demonst. Martin iun. Thes. 98. 103. 100. 105. Martins protestation Buch de iuâ—e regn 57. Goodman pag. 185. Iunius Brutu s. 170. Beza de authorit magist insubd p. 97 I. P Of obedience Whittinghams preface Goodman pag. 196 I. P. 121. Wigginton to Porter at Lancaster 6. Nouemb. 1590. P. A. 7. De. cemb. 1590. a Coppinger examined 19 of Iuly Arthing discourse b Coppinger to T. C. c Coppinger and Arthing to Lancaster the 15. of Iuly 1591. d Arthing discourse Cop. to T. C. Arthingtons discourse Cop. to T. C. Cop to T. C. Copping to Gibson Cop. to T. C. Cop. exam 19. Iulie Cop. to T. C. Copin exam 19. Iulie Cop to T. C. Copin exam P. W. to Cop. 25. lan 1590. Cop. to L. 29 Iau 15. 19 Copinger to T. C. 13. of febr 1590 Coppinger to Charke Trauers and Egerton Cop to Hockenh 24. Febâ— 1590. Hacket to Wigginton 3. march 1590. Hackets discourse Arthing ex 19. Iulie 1591. Arthingt ex 30. of Iuly 1591. Arthingt ex 19. of Iuly 1591. Where Hacket then lay by Coppingers appointment Copinger to Hacket Copinger to Hacket 17. of May. 1591. Copinger to Vdall May 1591. Hacket and his fellowes The Copy of Cop. letter to a friend 21 May. 1591. Ibidem Ibidem Ibidem Cop. to Hack. Hackets discourse writen by Copinger 4. Iune 1591. Ibidem Boman to Wigginton Iune 1591. 24. Iune 1591 Wigg ex Epist. to Mart. Epitome Hack. decla Cop. to Chark 9. Iuly 1591. Copin to a preacher the 13. or 14. of Iuly Hack. last ext Hack. ex 21 of Iuly 16. of Iuly Ienk. Ioh. ex Arthingtons prophesie Vdall c. Coppinger in a letter Ibid. Arthin exam 19. of Iuly Hack. on the torture Hacket examined 24. Iuly Hacket to M. Yong in presence of diuerse Conspiracy for Discipline Numb 27. Deut. 31 Iosuah 1. 9. The hist. of the church of Scotland pa. 143. 144. 145. F. Thyn and Buchanan Hist. of the church of Scotland The godly fact and wordes of Iam. Meluin F. Thin and Buchanan Cicer. de natura deorum lib. 3. The hist. of the church Scotland Declaraâ—ion 1582. before mentioned Proclamation at Sterling 1585. F. Thin Histo. of the Church of Scotland pa. 372. 373. Exhort pag. 91. 92. Lib. 5 dec l
aduenturing of all the mischiefes that were intended It was not denied amongst them as Coppinger sayth but that the cause was good which he desired to be an actor in but the thing that stucke in their teeth was this vz. they thought it impossible that he should be fit to intermeddle in it without the endaungering both of himselfe as Egerton saide and of the greate cause which hee would seeme to bee most desirous to further Howbeit though Egerton would not take vpon him to approue his extraordinarie calling for feare of him-selfe yet for all the saide daunger hee thought it no pollicy greatly to discourage him when he qualified his speeches after this sort vz. hee would bee loth to quench the spirite of God in Coppinger or to hinder his zeale Iosuah was called extraordinarily by God him-selfe to cast the enemies of the Israelites out of the land of Canaan that they might possesse it Which example M. Wentworth applying to Coppinger and encouraging him vpon aduice taken as the Lord did Iosuah vz be bold of a good courage feare not to bee discouraged c. he shewed no greate mislike of Copingers purposes Likewise though M. Throgmorton notwithstāding his cōference as it seemeth with Coppinger Arthington and Hacket was not acquainted as he saide with Copingers particular platformes yet in that he confesseth he had heard some buzzes abroade of a sole and singular course intended doth not only aduise him to imitate the serpentes wisedome but saith also that in affection and good will he ioyned with him it could not otherwise be but that Coppinger was thereby greatly animated When Copinger tolde Vdall that certaine vnlearned men then lyinge hid would shortlie take vpon them the defence of the cause which hee and his brethren in prison stood-for and woulde thereby daunt all their ennemies more then they coulde willinge both him and the rest ther-vpon to cheare vp themselues for the day of their redemption was at hand I doe greately maruaile what Vdall thought to bee Copingers meaning It might well haue stoode with M. Charkes duety seeing Coppingers full resolution to enter into some desperate attempt by vertue of his extraordinarie calling to haue disclosed the same to the state When he preached in the Blacke Friers to the brotherhood there about two days after his said intelligence of Copingers resolution and but fiue or six daies before their proclamation that there were some persons so desperate that they would willinglie thrust themselues vpon the rockes of the Land thereby to haue disswaded Copinger who then was present or for what other purpose I know not hee should forth with haue acquainted the saide rockes also what boisterous tempestes and violēt stormes had beene ready to assault them In this briefe summary I omitte the rest of Wiggintons actions referring you to his fellow Hackets iudgement both of him and them They are so apparant by that which hath been sayd as they seeme to me to be past coniectures And I would withal my hart that all which hath bene hetherto saide of the other ministers touching this pointe did onely depende vpon probabilities For then charity would binde vs to iudge the best But men may not cal good euill nor darkenesse light nor treasonable conspiracies ecclesiasticall pollicies Marke them if it please you for disciplinarian practises and then bearing that brande owne them who liste and tearme them as you fancy CHAP. XV. If Hackets treasons had preuailed for the pretended discipline how they might haue beene defended by the disciplinarie doctrine I Am not ignorant that now if any of the saide ministers or their fauorers were asked how they like of Coppingers and his companions proceedings no men will more eagerlie exclaime against them When Hacket with his adherents found themselues preuented and that they were cut of in the beginning of their race then to saue their liues they could confes their extraordinary purposes pretended before with teares with fasting with grones and imprecations to haue proceeded from the spirit of God to be nothing else but illusions of Sathā cruel bloody trayterous designements But if they had preuailed what would haue been said of them then Surely it is no hard matter to gesse If Coppinger Hacket and Arthington had murthered two or three of the Lords in the Star-chamber the last day of the said Trinity Terme the Consistorian doctrine would easily haue defended it especially if their further intents for the discipline had thereby succeeded I will tell you a notable historie to this purpose About the yeare 1545. M. Caluin then raigning in the Consistorie at Geneua one Norman Lesly son to the Earle of Rothsey fell at some iarre with the Archbishop of S. Andrewes then a Cardinall for a priuate cause saith our Chronicle Buchanans betwixt them two for his dealing concerning the burning of one George Wisehart saith the history of the Church of Scotland Whereupon the said Normā with some of his partakers conspired the Cardinals death they being the rather animated therunto throgh the Councell of some greate men of the Realme that had conceiued some deadly hatred against him The effecting of which conspiracie proceeded after this sort as is set downe in the saide Ecclesiasticall history The 29. of Maie 1546 the saide Norman with 16 or 17. moe entred by a wile into the Castle of S. Andrewes where the Cardinal dwelt early in the morning and after some course taken for possessing themselues of the castle Norman Lesly Iames Meluin and Peter Carmichaell got into the Cardinals chamber where finding him set in his chayre and crying vnto them I am a Priest yee will not slay mee the saide Leesly stroke him first once or twise and so did the saide Peter But Iames Meluin a man you may be sure of nature most gentle and most modest perceiuing them both in choller withdrew them and saide This worke and iudgement of God although it be secrete ought to be done with greater grauitie And presenting vnto him the point of the sworde saide Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God M. George Wisehart which albeit the flame of fire consumed before men yet cries it a vengeance vpon thee and we from God are sent to reuenge it For here before my God I protest that neither the hatred of thy person the loue of thy riches nor the feare of any trouble thou couldest haue done to mee in particular moued or moueth me to strike thee but onely because thou hast beene and remainest an obstinate enemie against Christ Iesus and his holy Gospell And so hee stroke him twise or thrise through with a stog-sworde and so he fell The Cardinall being thus murthered they seized vpon the Artilllerie and munition wherewith that fortresse was plentifully furnished and likewise vpon the rich hangings householde stuffe of all sortes apparell Copes iewels ornamentes of Churches
greate store of gold and siluer plate besides no small quantitie of treasure in ready coine Some amongst vs in Englande haue laboured very earnestlie to qualifie Copingers words where he said that God would throw some fearefull iudgement amongst the Lordes so as some the chiefe of them should not goe aliue out of the place as though there had beene no violent course intended by him his associates but that in his fond conceit he had imagined that God himselfe from heauen should haue shewed that iudgement for the deliuerance of Cartwright and the rest And in my conscience one gentelman of good credit not acquainted at all with the Consistorian doctrine in these such like matters thought so in his hart But here this maske is pluckt from such faces as could not be ignorant what was ment in that the same spirit which Was in Copinger speaking before in Iames Meluin or rather as I thinke in Knox and his fellow-ministers according to whose humor he penned that history doe tearme the saide cruell murther of the Cardinall to bee the worke and iudgement of God that for the manner of the executiō of it Besides in the margent of the Booke ouer against the Stabbers blasphemous wordes this note is set downe vz. the godly fact and wordes of Iames Meluin But that which mooueth me most and for the which I haue troubled you with this historie is this that men are animated to commit the like murthers and the doctrine thereof is stoutely iustified according to the heathenish conceit of a certaine tyrant whom Cicero also a heathen man but yet of better iudgement doth confute Dionisius hauing spoiled the temple of Proserpina at Locris of Iupiter in Peloponesus of Aesculapius at Epidaurus because Proserpina drowned him not as he sayled to Syracuse nor Iupiter stroke him in peeces with his thunderboltes nor Aesculapius made an ende of him by some long miserable consumption both he himselfe and many others accounted such his sacrilege to be both iust and lawfull And euen so it falleth out for the murther I speake of He that hath eyes to see let him see After the foresaid Castel was surprised and the Cardinall was murthered Lesly with his company Knox and the rest kept the same Castel by force against the Gouernor But at the last they were compelled to yeeld it vp and being thereupon sent as prisonners into Fraunce they were by directions there committed some of thē to the Gallies and some to other prisons Howbeit in the ende they all escaped with their liues by one meanes or other sauing the saide Iames Meluin who dyed in prison wherevpon commeth in this notable Consistorian doctrine borrowed of the said heathenish conclusions This we write vz. how all but Meluin escaped to let the posterities to come vnderstand saith Knox and his fellowes how potently God wrought in preseruing and deliuering of these that had but a smal knowledge of his truth for the loue of the same hazarded all That if that eyther we now in our dayes hauing greater light or our posterities that shall follow vs shal see a fearefull dispersion of such as oppone themselues to impiety or take vpon them to punish the same otherwise then lawes of men will permit if wee say we or they shall see such left of men yea as it were despised and punished of God yet let vs not damne the persons that punish vice and that for iust cause nor yet despaire but that the same God that deiects for causes vnknowen to vs will raise vp againe the persons deiected to his glorie and their comfort Againe if our said seditious persons had preuailed with the multitude in their other plot concerning their purposes of remouing some of her maiesties most honorable Priuy Councell from her seruice in that place and in appointing others to succeede them whom they fancied to be fauourers of their Discipline you should haue heard I warrant you no cries of the brotherhood nor complaints in your streets of any of that faction It would haue beene saide as Goodman taught at Geneua that seeing the saide Councellors were enemies to Christes kingdome and did seduce her Maiestie now that God had raised them vp an Othoniel or a Ionathan to assist them why should they not haue ioyned themselues vnto him Oh would some haue said the holy discipline the holy discipline the holy discipline what Prince or Potentate may resist the holy discipline and prosper Others See the hand of the Lorde when men do faile what God can doe Others the greatest workes that euer were done in the behalfe of the Church haue beene brought to passe by the basest meanes Others this is the worke of God and it is admirable in our eyes Others thus Iosuah being extraordinarily strengthned by God threw thirty kings out of the land of Canaan Others sufficient warning was giuen what would they haue had men to haue done Then should you haue had such a declaration or proclamation as you haue before heard of penned no doubt by some of the Consistorian ministers in Scotlād vz. of the iust and necessary causes mouing them and their assistantes her Maiesties faithfull subiects to repaire to her Maiesty for resisting of the present daungers appearing to Gods true religion and professors thereof c. and to seeke redres and reformation of abuses remouing from her Maiesty the chiefe authors therof c. that with common consent redresse and remedy might bee prouided Or termed The repairing towards Greenwitch to the Q. Maiesty as else where such attempts haue been colored Likewise if yet thinges had not squared to their likings and that they had gone further with good successe in any violent course against her maiesty as it is confessed they purposed to haue done then also the Geneua-diuinity must haue borne the brunt for the iustification of such extraordinary iudgementes of God And thus you should haue had these matters smoothed ouer as partly it may appeare by the assault mentioned at Sterling wherein the king was present in person and partly by the Consistorian propositions before set down touching this point with many other things both to be noted in the premises and also in those bookes out of the which the saide propositions are drawen I will not trouble you any further with Ifs although I could adde that if the said traitors had proceeded on forward with their confessed purposes to haue touched her maisties estate there wanteth no lesse defence by Disciplinarian learning for such a matter then for the premises You may remember the seditious intollerable propositions before mentioned as they are truely collected out of our own countrey mens books infected at Geneua with that pestilent doctrine Many examples also would haue beene brought for that purpose out of Buchanan Beza Knox and the rest of that humor especiallie the graue resolution giuen by Knox and Wollocke generally against all Princes but particularly then vrged and