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
his Councell and proceedinges stirring vp his Highnesse subiectes thereby to misliking sedition vnquietnes to cast off their due obedience to his Maiestie Therefore it is ordained that none of his subiects shall presume or take vpon them priuatelie or publikelie in sermons declamations or familiar conferences to vtter any false slanderous or vntrue speeches to the disdaine reproach and contempt of his Maiestie his Councell and proceedings or to meddle in the affaires of his Highnesse vnder paine c. And thus you haue seene some part of the practise of the Geneua resolution in Scotland for their booke of Discipline and reformation in Religion But yet I must needes draw you on a little further Presently after that the sayde Parliament was ended notwithstanding the kings maiesty had in the same most royally religiously cōfirmed with great sincerity the articles of true Religion for preaching the worde and administration of the sacraments accordingly and had likewise vnited to his Crowne the supreame authority in all causes within his Realme aswell Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill yet because their Presbyterial soueraignty was therby abridged diuers very spitefull disloyall and slaunderous speeches were cast abroade by them and their associates against his Highnesse For they gaue out as though the King had beene declined to Popery and had made Acts to derogate the free passage of the Gospell that he endeuored to extinguish the light of the Gospell that there was left nothing of the whole auncient forme of iustice and pollicie in the spirituall state but a naked shadow with many other the like reprochfull and calumnious reportes which they spread abroad in their owne Country Diuers of the chiefe Ministers of that faction likewise that were fled out of Scotland into England for feare of punishment in respect of many their great and haynous offences pretended as it hath beene noted that they fledd hether because they were persecuted at home for their consciences and could not be suffered to preach the Gospell One Dauison a Scottish Minister so rayled against the King of Scots in the pulpit at the parish Church of the olde Iury in London that vpon complaint made thereof by the Lord Ambassador of Scotland direction was giuen to the Lord Bishop of London for the silencing of all the Scottish Ministers in the City And this disloyall and slaunderous course was helde both in Scotland and England so farre as they durst from May vntill Nouember following At what time this stratagem here ensuing was wroght as I am perswaded by the Consistorians instigation The King of Scotland being vpon occasion of a contract nere Striueling heard of certaine enemies as hee then accounted them comming towards him Whereupon his Maiesty raysing such power as hee could conuayed himselfe to Striueling Where before he looked for them ten thousand men presented themselues in armes They pitched their Tents before the towne the first of Nouember and there made a Proclamation in their owne names commanding all the Kings subiects to assist them Many pretenses are alleaged of that their attempt And these namely that whereas there had beene Acts and Proclamations a little before published against the Ministerie and Clergie inhibiting their Presbyteries assemblies and other exercises priuileges and immunities and that the most learned and honest were compelled for safetie of their liues and consciences to abandon their Country c. Nowe the afflicted Church might be comforted and all the said Acts lately made in preiudice of the same might bee solemnely cancelled and for euer adnulled This Proclamation thus knowne the King fortified the towne as he could but to no purpose For within two houres assault it was wonne The King thereupon was enforced to flye vnto the Castle The Conquerours of the towne placed their ensignes before the blockehouse of the Castle and so ordred the matter that there was no way for any in the Castle to escape their hands Wherupon a parley being concluded the King desired by his Commissioners three petitions The first That his life honor and estate might be preserued The second That the liues of certain of his friends with him might not be touched The third That all things might be transacted peaceably The other side by their Commissioners likewise desired other three petitions The first That the King would allow of their intention and subscribe their Proclamation vntill further order were established by the estates c. and that he would deliuer vnto them all the strong Holds in the land The second That the disquieters of the Common-wealth might be deliuered vnto them and abide their due tryall by Law The third That the old guard might be remooued and another placed Vppon mutuall relation from the Commissioners on both sides the parties that were assembled in armes did yeeld vnto the first and third of the Kings petitions and the King graunting to all theirs as there was no remedy committed himself into their hands and had a new guard immediately appointed to attend him And thus the Presbyteries of Scotland by the Kings subscribing to the foresaid Proclamation recouered againe a great part of their strength But not all as it seemeth vpon the sodaine which was the occasion of a new stirre For presently after the sayde Noble victory the Scottish Ministers that were in England hauing al their former disloyalties vppon composition remitted made their repayre without delay into Scotland where finding not such readinesse as they expected for a more authenticall repealing of the statutes made in the foresaid Parliament 1584. they began notwithstanding the Kings late goodnes towards them to exclaime in their Pulpits with most proud and bitter Inuectiues against him One Iames Gibson compared his Maiesty publikely in his preachings vnto Ieroboam tearmed him a persecutor and threatned him that if he tooke that course he should be the last of his race And being called for such his disloyall speeches before the King Councell the xxj of December 1585. he very boldly iustified the same saying to his Highnesse As long as you maintayne these cursed Actes of 1584. the tyranny of Bishops c. Ye are a Persecutor And againe As Ieroboam for the leading of the people of Israell from the lawes of the house of Iudah and from the true worshipping of God to serue Idolatry was rooted out he and all his posterity so should the King if he continued in that cursed course maintaining those wicked Acts against God be rooted out and conclude that race c. What else hath fallen out since that time by reason of the raines which now as it hath beene noted these zealous brethren haue gotten to themselues and how moderately and duetifully they doo proceede in the practise of their Presbyteries and Consistorian Kingdomes the articles which the King not long since offred vnto the Ministers to haue beene subscribed vnto by them doo sufficiently declare and make manifest Ex malis moribus nascuntur bonae leges
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
blinde the people and keepe them still in superstition to make the seely soules beleeue that they haue an English masse and so put no difference betwixt trueth and falsehoode betwixt Christ and Anâ—ichrist betwixt God and the deuill The publike baptisme is full of childish and superstitious toyes And of our orders garments and ceremonies They are carnall beggerly Antichristian pompes rites lawes and traditions popish fooleries Romish reliques rags of Antichrist dregs and remnants of transformed Poperie Pharisaicall outward faces and vizardes remnants of Romish Antichrist of superstition and Idolatrie Knowne liueries of Antichrist accursed leauen of the blasphemous Popish Priesthoode cursed patches of Poperie and Idolatrie they are worse then Lowsie for they are sib be to the sarke of Hercules that made him teare his owne bowels asunder CHAP. X. How they charge the present gouernment with persecution THere is a persecution of poore Christians the professors of the Gospell suffred not far vnlike to the six articles Gods cause is troden vnder foote and the benefite of his Church is little regarded Poore men haue been miserably handled with reuilings depriuations imprisonments bannishments and such like extremities Godly Ministers haue beene brought before the barres of iustice they haue beene arraigned amongst fellons and theeues they haue been imprisoned to the vttermost and defaced they are reproched shaken vp threatened many are depriued they are examined by an inquisition much like tha of Spaine O lamentable case O heynous impietie Shal they be thus marked with the blacke cole of reproach villanie O inhumaine and more then barbarous impietie Besides whorish impudencie halter axe bandes scourging and racking our Bishops haue nothing to defend themselues withall The Clinke Gatehouse White-Lion and the Fleete are their onelie arguments If I say Ieremie Ezechiel Osee Micheas and Zacharie were aliue they would be carried to the Marshall-sea the White-lyon the Kings-bench the Gate-house and other Prisons yea to New-gate In effect as Caine persecuted Abell Esau Iacob the Patriarches their brother Ioseph the Iewes Moses the Priests Ieremie Osea Amazia and Christ euen so in these dayes the Preachers are slandred and persecuted by such as would seeme pillars of true religion If this persecution be not prouided for it is the case of many a thousand in England greate trobles will come of it The land is sore troubled there is no place nor being for a faithfull Minister of the word Our bloud crieth for vengeance against the Bishops I am made like to our Sauiour Christ who hath troden this path in that as he sayth hee is troubled not for euiil but for good It fares with vs as with prisoners in Poperie God sende vs their comfort Mnisters are in worse sort suppressed now then they were by the Papists in Queene Maries time This crosse is common not onelie with him but with all that will liue godly in Christ. The cause is holy and his sufferinges acceptable I k perceiue the Lyon roareth but cannot bite further then the Lord shall permit CHAP. XI Some of their Consistorian speeches of the Clergie of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house THey are wolues It is a Synagogue Their onely endeuour is how to preuent Christ from bearing rule in the Church by his own lawes They are knowne to bee ennemies vnto all sinceritie The whole conuocation house are in iudgement contrarie to our Sauiour Christ they are intollerable oppugners of Gods glory and vtter ennemies vnto the liberties of his Church As long as that house standeth as at this day it doth there can be no hope at al that either Gods heauenlie trueth should haue free passage or the Church her libertie in this kingdom They haue seduced and deceiued the ciuil state people in bearing them in hand that al is wel in the Church They are termed by one of the Captaines of this crue right puissant poisoned persecuting and terrible Priests Clergie maisters of the confocation house the holie league of subscription the crue of monstrous and vngodlie wretches that mingle heauen and earth together horned maisters of the conspiration house an Antichristian swinish rabble ennemies of the Gospell most couetous wretched and Popish Priests the Conuocation house of Diuels Belzabub of Canterbury the chiefe of the Diuels CHAP. XII Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell THe Bishops are the greatest and most pestilent ennemies that now our state hath are like to be the ruine of her Maiestie and the whole state Archbishops and Bishops are vnlawfull vnnaturall false and bastardlie gouernours of the Church and the ordinances of the Diuel pettie Popes pettie Antichristes like incarnat Diuels they are Bishops of the Diuell Bishops are cogging and coosening knaues They will lie like dogs Our Bishops are proud popish presumptuous prophane paltrie pestilent pernicious prelates vsurpers Impudent shamelesse and waynescot faced Bishops like beastes They are in a premunire They ought not to bee maintayned by the authority of the ciuill Magistrate in any common wealth They are in respect of their places ennemies of God The worst Puritane is an honester man then the best Lord Bishop in Christendome Their crueltie is without measure They are butchers and horseleeches it is the portion of their inheritance Their bloud-thirstie attempts These dragons Their tirannie and bloudthirstie proceedings are inexcusable In effect that they conspire to pull the Crowne from her Maiesties head Bishops callings are meere Antichristian The Bishops are robbers Wolues simoniacks persecutors sowers of sedition and discontentednes betweene her Maiesties subiectes They haue incurred the statute of premunire they are ipso facto depriuable Though they bee in the Church yet are they none of the Church The true Church of God ought to haue no more to doe with them and the Synagogue namely their Antichristian Courts them with the Synagogue of Sathan Be packing Bishops you striue in vaine you are laid open already Friers and Monkes were not so bad Of all the Bishops that euer were in the See of the Archbishop of Canterburie there was neuer any did so much hurt to the Church of God as hee hath done No Bishop that euer had such an aspiring and ambitious minde as hee no not Cardinall Wolsey None so proud as he No not Stephen Gardiner of Winchester None so tirannicall as he no not Bonner He sits vpon his cogging stoole which may truelie be called the chaire of pestilence His mouth is full of cursing against God and his Saintes His feete are swift to shed bloud there is none of Gods children but had as leeue see a Serpent as meete him It grieueth them to see so wicked an ennemie of God and his Church Belsebub of Canterbury The Canterburie Caiphas Esau. a
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
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
man to extenuate these things shal say let euery man beare his own burthen be charged with his own particular actions what some in the heate of their zeale haue published it ought to haue a charitable construction cannot wel be further extended to touch any other as if al the factioners had entred into such a seditious conspiracie as the said threatning speeches do import I answere that some indeede there be that do cast these such like colours ouer this matter to bleare mens eyes withall Some commends their zeale but not their discretion some allow their matter but not their manner and some will take vpon them to excuse both but as yet I neuer heard any of that crue but hee would eyther in one respect or other find some occasion to commend the worst of them Besides where so many of any one sect do concurre in their writings about any new point it is commonly taken to be the iudgement of them all And who knoweth not that if Cartwright and the rest had not secretly clapped such fellowes on the backs for their zeale and laughed in their sleeues to see them go so forward but had disliked them his earnest reproofe of the first being their Apostle and worthy would haue preuented all the others that followed being his Disciples But if it be true that I haue heard reported that vpon the comming forth of Martins Epistle Maister Cartwright should say seeing the Bishops would take no warning it is no matter that they are thus handled Surely those words from him were enough to set these men agogge So as that which is commonly reported of great robberies may fitly serue to satisfie the bowlsterers of such lewdnesse There are say they in such attemptes not onely executioners but also setters receiuers and fauourers and in matters of treason concealers who are all of them within the daunger compasse of law How this may be applied I leaue it to any reasonable mans consideration that shall be pleased to weigh the premisses aswell concerning the said threatning speaches great bragges as also the course which was helde by the ministers in prison and those of the London-fraternitie together with some others touching the attemptes which Coppinger and his fellowes tooke vpon them to effect CHA. XIII Briefe collections whereby it may summarily appeare that certaine Ministers in London did know what Coppinger intended WIgginton as you haue heard vpon Cartwrightes commitment c. writeth of a bickering and then a battell to be looked for Coppinger with his companiōs fasteth so dreameth of a way howe to worke wonders He sendeth into Scotland concerning an extraordinary calling signifying that some did fancy to themselues such a manner of calling who would hazard their liues that Christ himselfe by the abolishing of the Antichristian tyranny which he affirmed did raigne in our Church might gouerne in his owne kingdome Wigginton afterwarde approueth the lawfulnesse of such a calling in these dayes our Churches lying wast c. Copinger and Wigginton with some others do thereupon fast againe to know which of them should be so called The lot forsooth falling vpon Copinger chiefly he is not silent but maister Wentworth amongst others must be of his priuy Councel He also disclosed himselfe after a sort as you haue heard to certaine of the Ministers in London before mentioned and namely to Maister Cartwright imparting vnto him his seuerall callings to an extraordinary course for the discipline c. His said writings into Scotland and Wiggintons said approbation of an extraordinary calling He sent Maister Cartwright the same propositions that Wigginton had allowed whereof maister Cartwright afterwardes thought there might bee good vse hee signified vnto him that by his calling he was to take in hand such busines as in the eyes of flesh and bloud was likely to bring great danger to himselfe and vnlikely to bring any good successe to the Church he told him that if he had not beene discouraged he had before that day procured the release of some that stoode then in daunger of their liues meaning as I suppose Vdall and Newman c. As he dealt with Cartwright so did he with the other Ministers and with some of them more plainely desiring still of them all both Cartwright and the rest and that most instantlie that he might be conferred withall offering himselfe to be altogether ruled by them either to proceede if they thought meete in his saide so dangerous businesse or otherwise wholy to desist and leaue it off He also offered to imparte vnto them all his designements as to M. Cartwright not onely in generality what he intended but also the particular meanes whereby he purposed to bring the same to passe Afterwardes when through his acquaintance with Hacket by Wiggintons meanes other incouragements giuen him by an other of his lay friendes and by Wigginton c that he grew to be more resolute hee signifyed the same to M. Charke not past six days before their furie brake forth stil yet desiring conference with him Trauers Egerton Gardiner Cooper and Philips CHAP. XIIII The cunning dealing of certaine ministers in London how notwithstanding they wished Coppingers plot to goe forward yet they might be if it were possible without the compasse of law COnsider I pray you the policy which the saide ministers mentioned in the end of the former Chap. vsed They at the beginning no sooner heard of Copingers conceit of an extraordinary calling to worke such great matters but by by as mē acquainted with the fore-saide Geneua positions they very well knewe wherunto that matter tended And therefore wher-as the poore misse-led gentleman would haue imparted vnto them al his secretes they started from that point and refused wholy to take from him any knowledge of them They sent him some cold messages of their dislike of his proceedings which they after qualified as it hath been shewed not so much to with-draw him from his lewdenesse as that therby if thinges fell out amisse they might haue some meanes to cleare themselues by the testimonies of such their messengers as Hockenhull and others And touching conference that was also by them denied and surely vpon good and prouident reasons For if therby they should haue yelded in opinion vnto him they knewe it might haue broughr them into apparant danger Besides they were not vnlike by sufficient arguments to haue disswaded him from such a fantasie which as it seemeth was very farre from their meaning And lastly it was almost impossible but that in their debating with him of his pretended calling he must needes haue made some mention of such particulars as with their own safety they durst not haue concealed so that way also his platforme would haue beene dashed The safest way therefore for them was not to haue any conference at all with him and that course for ought I finde they tooke to the hardning of Coppingers hart and his fellowes and to the greate
effected by the deposing of the king of Scots grandmother from her ciuil gouernment of that land And peraduenture a part of the said Knox his exhortation to England written from Geneua the twelfth of Ianuary 1559. as soone as he hearde of her maiesties possession of the royall Crown of this Realme would haue beene iustified where he saith that no power nor liberty ought to be permitted to any state degree or authority whatsoeuer they bee to liue without the yoke of Discipline c and that if Prince King or Emperour would enterprise to change or disanull the same he ought to be reputed an ennemie to God and therefore vnworthy to raigne aboue his people And thus you see how al these treasons if they had happened with what Consistorian zeale they might haue been defended afterward by the Disciplinarian doctrine which hath beene sent abroade into this Iland from Geneua and meetely well practised already in some partes thereof by men of that stampe Whereupon I do collect the premises considered by Cartwrights other the ministers intelligence with Copingers desperate purposes that they cared not what mischiefs had ensued so they themselues might haue beene safe For as it is most euident by the threatning speeches before mentioned there is nothing more laboured for amongst that sect then to thrust their many thousandes or some of them into some mutiny or bloudy attempt Their hope was that vpon any such occasion their chiefe fauourers would not cease to solicit her maiesty for feare of further trouble to graunt their desires or at the least to take some other course for theyr contentment then hitherto in their opinions there hath beene taken They knew that whatsoeuer either could or should fal out vnder the preteÌ„ce of seeking for Christs kingdome and for the extirpation of the present gouernment of our Church tearmed by them to bee so abhominable Antichristian if it had good successe for their deuised platformes yet the said Consistorian examples with their Allobrogicall new learning would haue borne it out sufficiently and maintained it I pray God deliuer EnglaÌ„d from these and such like points of Discipline For mine own part I would not haue vrged matters in this sort were it not that I thinke in my conscience it is more then high time that her maiesties faithfull subiectes should learne to know these practises and withall to beware of such sectaries as vnder their many both godly and goodly pretences do thus seditiously endeuour to disturbe the land And the rather also I did it because I see there are diuerse that will needes hood-winke themselues and stop their eares with the Serpent in the Psalme of purpose because they would gladly haue these things smoothered vp For hereby it will be apparant to our posterity that if any such mischiefes which God forbid shal happen hereafter they were sufficiently warned that both should and might in good time haue preuented them and withall it would then be found true which Liuie saith vrgentibus rempublicam fatis Dei hominum salutares admonitiones spernuntur When the Lorde for the sinnes of the people is purposed to punish any Countrey he blindeth the eyes of the wise so as they shall either neglect or not perceiue those ordinary meanes for the safety thereof which very simple men or babes in a manner did easily foresee Which iudgement I pray God turne far away and long from this and all other true Christian lands and kingdomes Amen FINIS Exod. 22. 28. 1. King 24. 1. Xing 26. Eccle. 20. Paule to the Rom. 13. Tertul. in Apologetico Tertul. in Apologet August con lit Petil. lib. 2 cap. 48. Chrisost. de verb. Esa. vidi dominum Mir. lib. 2. adu Iouinianum Numb 16 2 Sam. 16 Iude 2. Pet. 2 Annotat. Rhemish vppon the 23. of the Actes of the Apostles A Letter of P. A. Knewstubbe Gibson to Ed. Cop. Dauison against R. B. Pag. 29. Pag. 29. Pag. 20. * Refor no enemie B. 2 Cal. to Sadolet Ioach. Camerarius Phil. Mela. Georg. Maior de vita eius Whittingham in his Preface to Goodmans booke Knox. Knox in his hist. of the church of Scotland pag 213 a Knox pag. 213. ibid. b Knox p. 217 c Knox p. 218 d Knox p. 234 e Knox p. 256 f Knox p. 258. g Knox. pa. 2â— h Hollindshed pag 366. Knox 262 i Knox. p. 263 k Thynne pag. 366. Buchanan l Knox p. 265 m Knox p. 268 n Knox p. 272 o Knox p. 274 p Knox p. 27â— q Knox p. 276 r Knox p. 283 s Knox p. 288 t Knox pag. 298. 299. Thynne 367 u Knox p. 300 x Knox p. 306 y Knox p. 308 z Knox p. 308 a Knox p. 317. b Knox p. 330 c Knox p. 333. * Knox p. 362 d Knox p. 364 e Knox p. 372 f Knox p. 378 g Knox p. 468 h Knox p. 500 i Knox p. 50â— k Knox p. 216 Knox appel fol. 28. l Knox app 25 m Knox to the Comminalty s. 49. 50 n ibid. fol. 47 o ibid. fol. 55 p ibid. fol. 55 q Knox histo pag. 343. r Knox appel fol. 33. s Knox appel fo 28. 30 c. t Knox appel fol. 30 u Knox appel fol 35. Historie of the Church of Scotl. pa. 187. * Knox histor pag. 372. a knox to England and Scot. fol. 77. b knox ibid folio 78. c Buch. de iure regni page 61. d Ibid pag 13. e ibid pag. 25 f ibid pag. 58. g ibid pag. 40. h ibid pag 62. i ibid pag. 70 k ibid pag. 70 l Buc. de iur egni pag. 49. m Knox appe fol. 26. n Buch. de iure regni pag. 53. o Ibid. pag. 57 p ibid. pag. 57 q ibid. pag. 57 r ibid pag. 50 s ibid p. 50. 55 t Ibid. pag. 56 Note this Diuinity u ibi p. 56. 57 t Knox hist. pag. 502. u Knox hist pag. 468. * Knox hist. pag. â—03 Ibidem y In the conclusion of their booke of Discipline a Knox histo pag. 504. b Declaration B. 1. 2. c Knox histo pag. 523. d ibid. pa. 527 e ibid. pa 531. f ibid. pa. 334 g Knox Iust. 534. * Declaration B. 2. h ibid B. 2. i ibid. B. 2. k Epistola 79. l Declaration B. 3. m Declaration B. 1. n Act of Parliament ca. 4. o Ibid. cap. 2. p Decl A. 3. q Decl. B. 3. r Decl. B. 3. Declaration 1582. Act of Parliament 1584. cap. 7. Declara 1582 Act of Parl. 1584. cap. 7. Declar. 1582 Act of Parl. 1584. cap. 7. u Act of Parl. cap. 2. * ibid. cap. 20 y ibid. cap. 3. z ibid cap. 4. a ibid cap. 7. b ibid. cap. 8. c ibid. cap. 8. d cap. 1. of that Parliament c. e Declar. A. 2. f Thinnes addition to Hollinshed pa. 446. D. A. g Archbishop of Saint Androwes Letter and of other Preachers h M. Hutchinsons Letter and as he is readie to be deposed i Thinnes addition