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
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
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
it is verified most properly in her most excellent Maiestie Whether you respect the Reformation of Religion which her Highnesse hath made in this Church of England according to the noble examples of Moses Iosua Dauid Salomon Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias c. or whether you respect not onely the reliefe which strangers persecuted at home for the profession of the Gospell haue here receiued or her Maiesties great and vnspeakeable charges for the ayding and assisting of other Christian States Princes and countries that for their profession of the same right Religion are mightily afflicted by certaine Gyantes of the earth the souldiers and members of that Antichrist of Rome So as in these and many other respects which do concurre with them I neither doubt that her Maiesty whom the Lord protect with his mighty hande long to raigne ouer vs shall bee for euer renowned amongst the most famous Queenes that euer liued in the worlde or that the Church of England so refourmed by her Highnesse is presently at this day the most Apostolike and flourishinge Church simply that is in all Christendome Howbeit let a Church be as richly planted as euer any was before or in the Apostles times Let either Moses with his Aaron or Dauid with all his Councellors gouerne both the Church and Common-wealth as godly as euer any was gouerned yet such is and euer hath been the malice and cunning of Sathan as that he wanteth not at any time either will or meanes to slaunder to depraue and to endanger the same He hath his Core Dathan and Abiram that if need bee dare presume to tell both Moses and Aaron they take too much vpon them Hee is able to set the children of one father the seruants of one master the subiects of one Prince and the members of one Church at dissention at deadly hatred amongst themselues As occasion serueth hee hath his Shemeis to curse King Dauid also his murmurers complayners mockers makers of sectes such as despise gouernement which are presumptuous men that stand in their lewde conceits such as feare not to speak euill of those things they know not and of them that are in dignity that is of Princes and great men be they neuer so high in authority The experience which wee haue hereof at this day in the Church of England is more then pregnant partly through the diuelish and traiterous practises of the Seminary Priests and Iesuites and partly by reason of the lewd and obstinate course held by our pretended refourmers the Consistorian Puritanes both of them labouring with all their might by rayling libelling and lying to steale away the peoples harts from their gouernours to bringe them to a dislike of the present state of our Church and to drawe them into parts-taking the one sort for the embracing of such directiōs as should come vnto them from Rome the other for the establishing of that counterfeit and false Hierarchie which they would obtrude vppon vs by the countenance and name of the Church at Geneua The which proceedings of both the sorts of disturbers are so much the more dangerous in that they deale so secretely and haue combined themselues together with their Proselites into such a league aud confederacy as get out what you can your felfe by meere chance as they say for the discouery of their actions and attempts you shall bee sure that neither the one sort nor the other will detect any thing Nay matters beeing detected in some sort to their handes they will vtterly refuse to bee examined as law prescribeth or if they take any oathe it is as good neuer a whit as neuer the better they dally so exceedingly with it For vnder pretence of not accusing themselues if they finde any thing to be come to light which may any waies touch them they will vtterly refuse for the most part to answere it either vpon oath or without oath saying that neither by the Lawes of God nor man they are bound so to answere Vnder colour whereof they exempt themselues from the ordinary course helde in iustice for criminall causes throughout all the world which is that before witnesses be produced against any supposed offender the party accused shall first answere to the accusation yea or nay c. as wee vse in England and that in matters of life and death but in these without an oathe hee must first pleade guilty or not guilty And as they deale for themselues so doo they for their confederates their fauourers relieuers abetters and receiuers affirming it to be against the rules of charity to bring their Christian brethren and frends into any daunger for doing of those things which both the sorts of these seducers haue drawne them into and doo themselues iudge to be religious and iust From these points all the Iudges of the land and diuers Diuines that haue dealte with them as yet cannot bringe them both the sorts are so setled in this seditious doctrine of Rhemes which is as followeth vz. If thou be put to an oath to accuse Catholikes for seruing God as they ought to doo or to vtter any innocent man to Gods enemies and his thou oughtest first to refuse such vnlawfull oathes but if thou haue not constancie and courage so to doo yet know thou that such oathes binde not at all in conscience and law of God but may and must be broken vnder paine of damnation Now in these confederacies what course should be taken for the preuenting of such daungers as may thereby ensue I referre it to be throughly considered by those that haue the gouernement both of the Church and Common-weale committed vnto them But before they can be preuented they must be vnderstood Concerning the Seminary Priests and Iesuites their very comming into the land doth declare their traiterous intentions What alleageance and loue soeuer they pretend vppon their apprehension to her Maiesty and their countrey it is very well knowne they doo it but for the time rebus sic stantibus that their comming hether is to no other purpose but to make away for the Pope and the Spaniardes the sworne and mortall enemies both to this state and to all other that doo professe the right refourmed religion of Christ. But for the other sort of practitioners their proceedings and designements are not so well as yet discouered Their pretences doo carry a greater shew of good meanings many that are indeede truely zealous little suspecting what hookes doo lie hidde vnder such faire baites are dayly carried as we see headlong with them In respect whereof you are to be aduertised that as it is an easie matter by looking to the said Popish and Spanish practises to knowe in generality their Seminaries dealinges here amongst vs be they in particularity neuer so secrete so are there certaine men in other countries of the same humors with our pretended refourmers whose courses and proceedings as wel for the matters they desire as for the manner of attaining
King that such Commissioners as they should sende to the Parliament and Councell might from thence forth be authorized in the Bishops places for the estate They also directed their Commissioners to the Kings Maiestie commanding him and the Councell vnder paine of the censures of the Church meaning excommunication to appoint no Bishops in time to come because they the brethren had concluded that state to be vnlawfull Hereof as it seemeth they writt to Geneua their newe Rome or Metropolitane Citty From whence they were greatly animated and earnestly perswaded to continue in that course Beza the Consistorian Patriarche assureth them that they had done well and mooueth them ne vnquam illam pestem admittant quamuis vnitatis retinendae specie blandiatur that they would neuer admit againe that plague meaning the calling of Bishoppes although it might allure them with colour of keeping vnitie After they had discharged the Bishops as it hath beene noted they agreed amongst themselues to haue their Superintendents But that deuise continued not long for in the ende it was determined that needes all Ministers of the word must be equall And then especially their Presbyteries began to flourish They tooke vpon them with their adherents to vsurpe the whole Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction They altered the lawes after their owne appetite They assembled the Kings subiects and enioyned Ecclesiasticall paines vnto them They made Decrees and put the same in execution They vsed very trayterous seditious and contumelious words in the pulpits schooles and otherwise to the disdaine and reproch of the King and being called to answere the same they vtterlie disclaimed the Kings authoritie saying he was an incompetent Iudge and that matters of the Pulpit ought to be exempted from the iudgement correction of Princes They prescribed lawes to the King and State They appointed Fasts throughout the whole Realme especially when some of their faction were â—o mooue any great enterprise With these manner of proceedings the King there and the State finding great cause of iust discontentment and danger after diuers consultations and good deliberation order was taken about the yeare 1582. for the checking redressing of them His Maiesty began to take vpon him his lawfull authoritie belonging to all Christian Princes in causes Ecclesiasticall Wherupon he caused the foresaid courses held by the Ministers to be examined and looked into And they were found to be such as that some of them were remoued from their charges some were imprisoned some indighted Commaundement was also giuen that they should not proceede in the execution of their Ecclesiasticall censures as they had done A Proclamation was made in diuers of the chiefest places in the Realme for discharging the Ministers of their foresaid conuentions and assemblies vnder paine to bee punished as Rebels They were published in that Proclamation to be vnnaturall subiects seditious persons troublesome and vnquiet spirites members of Sathan enemies to the King and the Common-wealth of their natiue countrey and were charged to desist from preaching in such sort as they did amongst other matters against the authoritie in Church causes against the calling of Bishops for the maintenance of their former proceedings But the issue of the Kinges good intention to haue refourmed these disorders was this In August 1582. his Highnesse being drawn vnto a certain Noble mans house to be feasted in Rutheuen there he was surprised restrained Which attempt was qualified and tearmed in a Declaration set out 1582. to iustifie the same to be onely a repaire of the Kings faithfull subiects to his Highnes presence and to remaine with him for resisting of the present dangers appearing to Gods true religion c. and for the remouing from his Maiestie the chiefe authors thereof After a time the King deliuered himselfe out of their hands that so had restrained him and by the aduise of his three estates assembled in Councell notwithstanding the saide qualification or pretence of repayre the action in it self was iudged and published in December 1583. to be Crimen lesae Maiestatis the Offence of Treason and some were executed for it others fled and diuers of the Ministers that had bin dealers in that matter pretending they were persecuted escaped into England With this his Maiesties course for Reformation the Disciplinarian faction was greatly displeased and did proceede in their Consistorian humour accordingly In an assembly of Ministers and Elders forsooth at Edenburgh shortly after the State of the Realme was stoutly encountred For although the King with the aduise of his estates had resolued the saide fact of surprising his Maiesties person to be treasonable yet the brethren did not onely authorise and avow the same but also esteeming their owne iudgements to be the soueraigne iudgement of the Realme did ordaine all them to be excommunicated that would not subscribe vnto that their iudgement About the same time or not long after vz. in Aprill 1583. there was another most treasonable conspiracie and rebellion attempted at Sterling and intended to haue beene further executed and prosecuted against his Highnesse person and all vnder pretence of Religion and chiefly in shewe for the Consistorian or Presbyteriall soueraignetie With these and many more such vnduetifull insolencies the King and State there beeing greatly mooued a Parliament was called and held in May 1584. wherein order was taken for a generall Reformation in causes Ecclesiasticall throughout the whole Church of Scotland The Kings lawfull authority in causes Ecclesiasticall so often before impugned was approued and confirmed and it was made treason for any man to refuse to answere before the King though it were concerning any matter which was Ecclesiasticall The third estate of Parliament that is the Bishoppes was restored to the auncient dignity it was made treason for any man after that time to procure the innouation or diminution of the power and authority of any of the three estates The foresayd iudgements Senates and Presbyteriall iurisdictions were discharged and it was enacted in these words that after that time none should presume or take vppon them to conuocate conuene or assemble themselues together for holding of Councells conuentions or assemblies to treat consult or determine in any matter of estate ciuill or Ecclesiasticall excepting the ordinary iudgements without the Kinges especiall commandement It was further then ordayned that none of his Highnesse subiects in time comming should presume to take vppon them by worde or writing to iustifie the most treasonable attempt at Ruthuen or to keepe in Register or store any bookes approouing the same in any sort An Acte was also made for the calling in of Buchanans Chronicle and his booke de iure regni apud Scotos Lastly sayth the Acte of Parliament it selfe Forasmuch as through the wicked licentious publike and priuate speeches and vntrue calumnies of diuers his Highnesse subiects to the disdaine contempt and reproach of his Maiestie
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
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
make good lawes and not see them executed is but labour lost And therefore it should seeme that these wise Law-makers were presently after as carefull to put the sayde orders in practise as they were before to resolue vpon them as it may appeare by a letter written to Master Field from Antwerpe the 25. of Iune 1583. by one Cholmeley in answere of a former Letter sent vnto him from the said Field For thus Cholmeley writeth Laetor intùs in corde de meliori successu rerum vestrarum quòd cum de conuentibus vestris audiam tum de Disciplinae Ecclesiasticae formali 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multò lubentissimè Dicam quòd verum est serò nimis incepistis quisquis iam tandem vel incipere recusauerit vel a tam praeclaro incepto desistat peccatum suum feret paenitendumest de priori lentitudine I am glad with all my heart for the better successe of your affaires not onely in that I heare of your assemblies but most willingly of all in respect of your effectuall practising of the Ecclesiasticall Discipline I will tell you that which is true you haue begun this course too too late Whosoeuer shall now either refuse to begin or shall desist from so notable an enterprise he shall beare his owne sin You ought to repent you for your former slownes And afterward thus out of the same Letter to incourage Maister Field and the brethren In nulla re terreamini ab ijs quise opponunt quod illis quidem est exitij indicium vobis autem salutis idque a Deo In nothing feare your aduersaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of saluation and that from God In Iuly the next yeare vz. 1584. some of the Scottish Ministers afore spoken of went to the Act in Oxford where Maister Gelibrand with his brethren gaue them great entertainement At that time there was a notable question propounded amongst their fauourers there by the sayde Ministers as is manifest by these wordes Here haue beene a good company of godly brethren this Act. Maister Fen Wilcox Axton the Scottish ministers and wee haue had some meeting and conference to our great comfort that are here One point which then was moued I would wish to be throughly debated among you and them concerning the proceeding of the Minister in his duety without the assistance or tarrying for the Magistrate c. What was resolued amongst the brethren of London about this matter at that time I know not Marry this I finde that presently thereupon they grewe more violent and prepared themselues to proceede more resolutely in the challenging of their Discipline as it is plaine by the dealing both of them and of their fauourers that yeare in Nouember and December after at the Parliament 27. of her Maiesty And besides let the sayd Maister Gelibrands words in a Letter to Field dated the 12. of Ianuary after vz. 1584. bee considered For as it seemeth to me they either tend to sedition or to the admitting in Oxford of the foresayd Decrees or Discipline Sure I am that they can hardly for ought I see receiue any good construction Thus he writeth I haue already entred into the matters whereof you write and dealt with three or foure of seuerall Colleges concerning those among whom they liue I finde that men are very dangerous in this point generally fauoring reformation but when it commeth to the particular point some haue not yet considered of these things for which others in the Church are so much troubled others are afraid to testifie any thing with their hands least it breed danger before the time And after many fauour the cause of reformation but they are not Ministers but young students of whome there is good hope if it be not cut off by violent dealing before the time As I heare by you so I meane to goe forward where there is any hope and to learne the number and to certifie you thereof Furthermore at the time of the Parliament last mentioned I finde that there was a nationall Synode helde likewise in London by these brethren according to their former decisions and Synodicall Discipline This appeareth by three letters The first was from eleuen ministers of Essex to Field wherin they desire to be certified whether the brethren meant to be exercised in prayer and fasting and vpon what day The seconde was from nine of the saide Ministers to Fielde and Charke wherein they writ thus We haue elected two Godly and faithfull brethren Maister Wright and Maister Gifford to ioyne with you in that businesse The third was from Gelibrand to Field Wherein he excuseth himselfe of a great ouersight in these words Touching my departure from that holy assembly without leaue c. I craue pardon both of you them c. And thus sayth he commending this holy cause to the Lord himselfe and your godly counsaile to the President thereof I take my leaue CHAP. V. Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587. it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places NOtwithstanding that the booke of Discipline was abroad as it hath beene noted in the third chapter and that the brethren had framed themselues as they might vnto the rules thereof yet there were found some imperfections in it which in the Synode mentioned in the former chapter as I take it were referred to Maister Trauers to bee corrected and ordered by him as his leysure will permitte Which appeareth by a letter of Maister Fields to Maister Trauers in these words Concerning our other busines I would wish that the Discipline were read ouer with as much speed as could be and that some good directions were giuen for the brethren abroad who are earnest to enter some good course for the furtherance of the L cause And after in the same place I finde many abroade very willing to ioyne with the best to put in practise that which shall bee agreed vpon by the brethren If it might please the brethren therefore that those or the like instructions which wee had with a perfect coppie of the Discipline might be sent I would wholly imploy my selfe in that seruice Another also vpon the longer stay thereof I pray you hasten the forme of Discipline and send it And the same man againe I pray you remember the forme of Discipline which Master Trauers promised to make perfect and send it me when it is finished We will put it in practise and trie mens minds therein as we may According to these requests the draught of Discipline was at the last finished and then sent abroade to be approued generally by all the brotherhood as may thus appear The discipline we haue receiued and we giue you and the brethren hartie thanks for it As yet we are not resolued in all points of it hauing had but small time to peruse it nor the commoditie of often meeting
about it But we haue taken order for our monthly assembly and after our owne consents yeelded vnto it for associating other into our companie whom we shall thinke approued And an other We hartilie giue God thanks sayth one for the godly most Christian paines of the brethren in the trauaile of the Discipline which is come to our hands to be considered-of Gelibrands letter of his receit of the booke of Discipline was written in the name of the brethren in Oxford At which time there was another Synode held in London whither sayth the letter Maister West and Maister Browne were sent from Oxford to whom they referred the estate of their Church to be related and by whom they desired to vnderstand directions from the Synode how they might deale afterwardes in those matters Within a while after vz. 1587. as I suppose there was in like sort an assemblie or Synode helde of the Cambridgeshire brotherhood accompanied peraduenture with some of other shires About which time also vpon the new edition of the foresayd booke the further practise of the Discipline mentioned by Cholmeley 1583. as is before shewed began to spread it selfe more freely into the most parts of the Realme but especially for ought I doo yet vnderstand it was most friendly intertained amongst the ministers of Northamptonshire as it appeareth in recorde by some of their owne depositions 16. of May 1590. in these wordes following About two yeares and a halfe since the whole shire was diuided into three Classes 1. The Classis of Northamptonshire consisting of these Ministers Maister Snape Maister Penrie Maister Sibthorpe Maister Edwards Maister Littleton Maister Bradshaw Maister Larke Maister Fleshware Maister Spicer c. 2. The Classis of Dauentrie side consisting of these Maister Barebon Maister Rogers Maister King Maister Smart Maister Sharpe Maister Prowdloe Maister Elliston c. 3. The Classis of Kettring side consisting of these Master Stone Maister Williamson Maister Fawsbrooke Maister Patinson Maister Massey c. This deuise saith Maister Iohnson is commonly receiued in most parts of England as I haue heard in sundrie of our meetings but especially in Warwickshire Suffolke Norfolke Essex c. The maner of euery perticular Classis is this At their meeting which is alwaies in some priuate house but yet in their Mother Cities first a moderator is chosen in this sort one of them conceiueth a praier for Gods direction in that choyse Then he that conceiued the praier sitteth alone in scrutonie and euery one giueth his voice secretlie vnto him He that hath most voyces is chosen The moderator thus chosen conceiueth another praier that God would blesse him in the course of his office Then being set at the tables end with his brethren by him the names of all the brethren are called If any were absent at their first sitting downe he sitteth after in order as he commeth for auoiding of superioritie The authoritie of the moderator endureth vntill the next meeting of that Classis At the breaking vp of euery Classis there is euer some certaine time appointed when they shall meete againe which is sometime within a fortnight but commonly three weeks at the furthest If any thing do fall out in the meane time fit to be consulted vpon the moderator may call the Classis together sooner according to an order made amongst themselues It is a generall order that when any is admitted into a Classis he doth promise vnder his hand that he will submit himselfe and be obedient to all such orders and decrees as shall be set down by the same Classis to be obserued As for example these were part of the particular articles whereunto euerie one of Northampton Classis did subscribe at his entring or admittance into it we doo promise to submit our selues vnto such orders and decrees as shall be set downe by our Classis We do promise to submit our selues to be censured by our brethren of this Classis in all matters concerning doctrine and Discipline c. In this Classis it was furthermore concluded and agreed vpon that when any controuersie did arise touching any matters of doctrine or about the interpretation of any place of Scriptures euerie one of that Classis should alwaies yeeld therein vnto that interpretation and resolution which the brethren of that Classis should determine of And so also when any questions did rise amongest them of greater difficultie As for example Maister Stone mooued this question to the Northampton Classis in the behalfe of one vz. two are contracted one of them marrieth with a third hee or shee so married are free againe The question is whether the former contract doo nowe againe binde And the resolution was it did not which was a false Resolution The determinations and acts concluded vpon in this Classis were registred in a booke by Snape chosen Register by the companie and who alwaies kept the same Besides these perticular Classes there is another kind of meeting which is termed the Assembly And it consisteth for example in Northamptonshire of the number of six that is two of euery Classis which are sent thither by election The ordinarie place of this assembly in Northāptonshire was at Northampton where Snape commonly was one and a chiefe man Barbon King were the men that vsually came from Dauentry side and Stone and Williamson from Kettring side At the meeting of the sixe there is alwaies a moderator first chosen in manner and forme as in the Classis and so likewise for their further order of proceeding The moderator continueth his authoritie ouer all the three Classes vntill the like meeting happen again which is neuer certain But yet commonly within six or eight weeks vpon occasion signified from the Classes vnto this moderator For vnto him belongeth the calling of this assembly The matters which here are handled are those of great moment such as concerne the state of the Church generally As for example the writing of letters to the brethren at Oxford Cambridge London to certifie them of their proceedings to know what course is held amongst them in those places for the Discipline and gouernement which they tearme Reformation to the intent that the particular Classes vpon their aduertisements may direct themselues and their Churches accordingly It is likewise alwaies concluded at such times which of the sixe assembled shall penne the letters And in this choise Snape was commonly the man The men to whom they vsuallie did write were one in Cambridge Trauers in London and Gelibrand in Oxford When any answeres were returned from those places they were commonly directed to Snape or to him that had written to them in the name of the brethren Two especiall points I remember were concluded in this assemblie the one was for a suruay of all the Churches in Northhamptonshire th'other for an order to bee obserued at the last Parliament which then drew neere The suruay was to
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
saide articles which herafter shall be likewise declared It appeareth also by the said parties depositions that diuers others did subscribe at the same time or at the least within a short time after but they might not forsooth by reason of their owne consciences name them Howbeit the matter is otherwise plaine inough who they were by a note taken with Maister Litleton vz. Iohn Oxenbridge Edward Gellibrand Hercules Cleuely Anthony Nutter Leonard Fetherstone Mathew Hulme Edward Lord c. This booke hauing thus at the last receaued this great allowance more authentically was carried farre and nere for a generall ratification of all the brethren It was offered to the Dauentry side Classis as Master Sharp and Master Walker haue deposed and likewise at Northampton by Penry as Maister Litleton affirmeth But that which Maister Iohnson hath set downe is worthy the remembrance The effect of it is this that when the booke of Discipline came to Northampton to be subscribed vnto there was a generall censuring vsed amongst the brethren there as it were to sanctifie themselues partly by sustaining a kinde of penance and reproofe for their former conformity to the orders of the Church established by her Maiestie and other matters of conuersation and partly to prepare their mindes for the deuout accepting of the foresaid booke In which course of censuring vsed at that time there was such ripping vp one of anothers life euen from their youth as that they came vnto great bitternes with many reuiling tearms amongst themselues one growing thereby odious to another and some did thereupon vtterly forsake those kinde of assemblies CHAP. VII The booke of the pretended Discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certaine Synodes are kept and of their estimation IT might haue beene deemed that after so many viewes Synodes and subscriptions this worthy draught of discipline would haue growne to great perfection but it falleth out otherwise For as it is confessed vppon othe at Sturbridge Fayre-time the next yeare after the sayd Classicall counsell of the Warwicke-shire brethren vz. in the yeare 1589. there was another Synode or generall meeting helde in Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge Where saith M. Barber they did correct alter and amend diuers imperfections conteined in the booke called Disciplina ecclesiae sacra verbo Dei descripta and as maister Stone affirmeth did not onely perfect the saide forme of Discipline but also did then and there as he remembreth voluntarily agree amongst themselues that so many as would should subscribe to the saide booke of Discipline after that time The persons that met in this assembly were as these two last deponents affirme maister Cartwright maister Snape maister Allen maister Gifford maister Perkins maister Stone maister Barber maister Harrison with others c. I finde mention also of another Synode 1589. held as I take it at Ipswich Thus one Iohn Warde did write that yeare to certaine at Ipswich I thinke not to come ouer till the Synode which is as I take it a moneth after Michaelmas It hath beene obserued before out of maister Edmonds deposition cap. 2. who were the Classicall brethren of London It is also fit to be vnderstood who they are that most commonly met there also at their more generall prouinciall or nationall assemblies or Synodes And this both maister Barber and maister Stone doo sufficiently declare For the space of about foure yeares last past saith maister Barber and since the last Parliament saith maister Stone there haue bin seuerall meetings in London at the houses of maister Gardiner maister Egerton maister Trauers and maister Barber The persons that vsually mette in these assemblies saith maister Barber were maister Cartwright maister Charke maister Trauers maister Egerton maister Gardiner maister Oxenbridge maister Gelibrand maister Culuerwell maister Browne of Oxford maister Allen maister Gifford maister Sommerscales and himselfe Maister Cartwright maister Trauers and maister Egerton were at sundry times chosen Moderators or Presidents in the said assemblies And afterwardes generally of the office of the Moderators The resolutions conclusions and determinations of such matters as were disputed-of and agreed-vpon by the more number of them that so disputed in the said assemblies were by the saide Moderators or Presidents before named at the times and places of the saide seuerall assemblies summarily and briefly either written in a booke or otherwise set-downe in loose papers as to the saide Moderators or Presidentes should bee thought meet or conuenient As the Classicall assemblies of London were of greater estimation then those in the Country so these more generall meetings or Synodes last mentioned were of highest authoritie and indeed the grand test of all the rest It may be said truely of them both that they haue been the kindling sparkes of all those flames which are in the Church What was there ordered went as perfectly currant From thence the brethren of other places did fetch their light As doubts did arise thither they were sent to be resolued The Classicall and Synodicall decrees in other places were neuer authenticall indeede as it seemeth till there they were ratified The chiefest directions for all the brethren else-where were sent from thence It is wonderfull to consider how men so obstinate and wilfull in their owne waies against the Church of England established by her Maiestie should be brought to submit themselues in such sort as they did to be led by these assemblies as elswhere it doth appeare CHAP. VIII Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed IN the yeare 1590. vpon the detecting before some of her Maiesties Commissioners in causes Ecclesiasticall of the most of these things wherof I haue hitherto spoken Interrogatories were drawen containing in them the effect of all the premisses and diuers such Ministers were sent for as were sayde to haue beene the chiefe ringleaders in all those actions Accordingly they appeared but in the place when they shuld be examined they refused to answere vpon their othes Diuers pretences therof were made as one that first they would see the Interrogatories whereof they should be examined The generall summe of them was imparted vnto them and it was likewise told them that they should bee charged to answere no further then by the lawes of the Realme they were bound to doo But all this would not serue Whervpon the Interrogatories themselues were shewed vnto some as namely to Maister Snape who stood most at the first vppon that point and did pretend that if first hee might see them hee would then aunswere vnto them But the issue was accordingly as it was expected For hauing perused them he was further-of then he was before and writ to his friends what was the summe of them to the intent they might be forewarned and so as he sayd become better armed Which course taken by him was not without the great prouidence of God For thereby their whole plot
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
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
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