childes Baptisme should be of stone of pewter of brasse or of silver whether the Minister should descend to the lower ende or the childe ascend to the vpper end of the church Whether the child should haue a great handfull or a litle sponefull of water powred vpon his head In the celebration of the Lordes Supper it is directlie commaunded that the people shal stand sit or passe whether it should be celebrated every first or second Sabboth of the moneth whether in the morning at noone or at night In the ordination of Ministers there is no iust proofe to bee made that any certeyne number of Ministers are to lay on their hands that the day of ordination should be alwayes one that the Minister should bee of such an age or that the prayers should bee of this or of that lenght and forme of wordes And therefore touching these and such like thinges of indifferencie we agree with the Admonitor and reverend Bb. that one forme of externall orders rites ceremonies is not of necessitie to be in every Church because there is no such order witnessed by the holy Scriptures to bee of necessitie But touching the ioynt severall functions of Bishops Pastours and Elders that they or any of them should in any age or state of the church of Christ bee wanting or that such offices as by warrant of the Scripture are coupled together should be severed or that any other persons should be appointed to execute any functions in the Church then such persons only as for their functiōs haue warrant from the holy Scriptures wee can not in any sorte therevnto agree And why forsooth because all both offices and officers in the Church must only and alonely be derived from our Saviour Christ as from the only fountaine and bestower of all officers offices in the house of God And therefore albeit we should graunt as the Admonitor hath saide that the outward order vsed in the primitiue Church touching rites ceremonies by Bishops Pastors and Elders is neither necessarie nor so convenient as it may be otherwise in the time of peace vnder a Christian Magistrate yet we may not herevpō imply as his negatiue implieth viz. that Bishops Pastors Elders or any of them are neither necessary nor so convenient officers or governours as other officers of mans invention might be For which our opinion by the helpe of God wee shall assay as before hath bene mencioned in an other place to lay down out of the worde of God some iust proofes according to the Admonitors request that there ought to be in all ages and states of the Church this outwarde order forme of goverment viz. that Bishoppes Pastours and Elders ought evermore to bee spirituall governours and that evermore they and none other ought to vse that essentiall kind of spirituall goverment and none other which was practised by the Bishoppes Pastours and Elders in the Apostolicall and primitiue Church Allwayes leaving the outward rites and ceremonies of their spirituall kind of goverment to be indifferent as erst hath bene said FINIS Speaches vsed in the Parleament by Sir Francis Knolles and after written to my L. Treasurer Sir William Cecill TO the end I may enform your Lord shippe of my dealing in this Parleament-time against the vndue claimed superioritie of the Bishoppes ouer their inferior brethren Thus it was Because I was in the Parleament time in the 25. yere of King HENRY the eight In which time First all the Clergie aswell Bishops as others made an hūblie submission to King HENRIE the 8. acknowledging his Supremacie and detesting the vsurpation of the Bb. of Romes authoritie Vpō which submission of the Clergie the King gaue vnto the said Bb. the same ample rule that before they had vnder the Pope ouer their inferior brethrē saving that the same rule was abridged by statute by this parenthesis following that is to say without offending the prerogatiue Royal of the Crown of England the lawes customes of the Realm In the latter end of the Statute it was added that whosoeuer offendeth in any one parte of that statute their Aydors Counsellers and Abbetters they did all fall into the penaltie of the premunire And after I had recited this statute in the Parleamēt-house I declared that in King HENRIES the eight days after this There was no Bishoppe that did practise superioritie ouer their inferiour brethren And in King EDWARDES dayes the said Bb. obteyned a statute wherby they were authorised to keepe their Courts in the Kings name the which statute was repealed in Queene Maries dayes and was not revived in her Majesties time that now is wherevppon it was doubtfull to mee by what authoritie the Bishoppes doe keepe their Courts nowe in their own names because it is against the prerogatiue Royall of the Crowne of England that any should keepe a Court without sufficient warrant from the Crowne Wherevpon I was answered that the Bishopps do keepe their Courts now by prescriptions it is true that the Bb. may prescribe that King HENRY the 8. gaue them authoritie by the statute of 25. of his raigne to haue authoritie and rule ouer their inferiour brethren as ample as they had in the Popes time But this was no speciall warrant for them to keep their Courts by and that in their owne names And yet they haue none other warrāt to keep their Courts as they do now in their owne names to my knowledge And this was the cause that made them obtaine a statute in King EDWARDS dayes to keepe their Courts by in the Kings name Now it is a strange allegation that the Bishopps should claime authoritie at this present to keepe their Courtes in their owne names as they do by prescription because the statute of 25. doth restraine thē generallie from offending of the prerogatiue Royall of the Crowne of Englande and the lawes and customes of the Realm And no man may iustly keepe a Court without a speciall warrant from the Crowne of England as is aforesaid And the generall libertie given by King H. the 8. to the Bishops to rule and governe as they did in the Popes time is no sufficient warrant to the Bishops to keepe their owne Courtes in their owne names by prescriptiō as I take it And therefore the Bishops had done wisely if they had sought a warrant by statute to keepe their Courts in the Queenes name as the Bb. did in Kinge EDWARDS dayes In which time Archbishop Crammer did cause Peter Martir and Bucer to come over into this Realme to bee placed in the two Vniversities for the better instructiō of the Vniversities in the worde of God And Bb. Crammer did humblie prefer these learned men without any challenge to him selfe of any superiour rule in this behalfe over his inferiour brethren And the time hath bin that no man could carry away any graūt frō the Crown of England by general words but that he must haue speciall wordes to carrie the same by Therfore how the Bb. are warrāted to carry away the keeping of their Courts in their own names by prescriptiō it passeth my vnderstāding Moreover where as your Lordship said vnto me that the Bishopps haue forsaken their claime of superioritie over their inferiour brethrē latelie to bee by Gods ordinance and that now they doe only claime superioritie from her Majesties supreme goverment If this be true then is it requisite necessarie that my L. of Canterburie that now is do recant and retract his saying in his booke of the great volume against Cartwright where he saith in plaine wordes by the name of Doctour Whitgift that the superioritie of Bb. is Gods owne institution Which saying doth impugne her Majesties supreme govermēt directlie therfore it is to be retracted plainly and truly For Christ plainly truly cōfesseth Ioh. 18. 36. That his Kingdom was not of this world And therfore he gaue no worldly rule or proheminence to his Apostles but the heavenly rule which was to preach the Gospel saying Ite predicate in omnem mundū quicūque crediderit baptizatus fuerit salvus erit qui non crediderit condemnabitur Goe preach in all the world who soever shall beleeue be Baptized shal be saved but he that will not beleeue shal be condemned Mark 16. 15. But the Bishops do cry out saying that Cartwright his fellows would haue no goverment c. So belike the Bb. care for no govermēt but for wordly forcible goverment over their brethren the which Christ never gaue to his Disciples nor Apostles but made them subiect to the rule of Princes who ought not to be resisted saving that they might aunswer vnto Princes that they must rather obey God then men Acts. 5. 29. and yet in no wise to resist the Prince but to take vp the crosse and follow Christ FINIS
the authoritie aforesaide for our said Soveraigne L. the King his heyres and succerssors from tyme to tyme and at all tymes to nominat and appoint by his and their Highnes letters patents vndee the great Seale of England for euerie Shire and Shires Diocesse and Diocesses within his or their H. Dominions one or moe able sufficient persons learned in the civill lawe to be his and their Notarie and Notaries Register and Registers by him them selues or by his or their lawfull Deputie or Deputies to doe performe and execute all and euery such act acts thing and things as heretofore in the Courts and Consistories Ecclesiasticall aforesaid hath bin and now are incident and apperteyning to the office of any Register or Notarie And further at the humble suite of the Commons c. it may please the King to haue it enacted That all singular matters of Wills Testaments with all and everie their appendices that all and singular matters of Spousalls Mariages with their accessories that all and singular matters of diffamation heereto fore determinable in the ecclesiasticall Courtes and if there be anie other causes of the like meere civill nature shall be heard examined and determined by the said civill and secular Officers and Iudges in the said civil and secular Courtes according to the due course of the civil law or statutes of the Realme in that behalfe provided And that all matters of Tythes Dilapidations repayre of churches and if there be anie other of like nature with their accessories and appendices shal be heard examined and determined by the saido civill and secular Officers and Iudges in the said civil and secular Courtes according to the Kings ecclesiasticall lawes statutes and customes of the Realme in that behalfe heeretofore vsed or heereafter by the King and Parleament to be established And at the humble suite of the Commons may it please the King to haue it further enacted That all maner of fees heeretofore lawfull or heereafter by the King and Parleament to bee made lawfull for or concerning the probat of Willes administration of the goods of the intestat letters of tuition receyving or making of accompts inductions to Archbishoprickes Bishoprickes Dearries Parochiall-churches or other spirituall promotions and all other feees what soeuer heretofore lawfull or hereafter to be made lawful for anie travaile or paine to be taken in or about the expedition and execution of any of these causes shall for ever hereafter be fees allowances appropriated to the Iudges and principall Registers of the sayde Courtes equally to be devided betwene them as heeretofore hath bin accustomed and that the said Iudges and Ministers within their severall charges shal be Collectors of the Kings tenthes and subsidies graunted and due by the Clergie taking for their travayle and payne in and about the same collection such fees as heretofore haue bin accustomed Provided alwayes that none of the saide civill and temporall Officers and Ministers nor any of them for any offence contempt or abuse to be committed by any person or persons in any wise incident to any of the said Courts and Consistories suspend excommunicate or interdict any person or persons but shall and lawfully may by authoritie of this present Act proceed against everie offendor and offendors by such ordinarie processe out of the said Register or Notaries office as is vsed vpon a sub-pae-na out of the high Court of Chancerie and there vpon default or contempt to proceed to attachment proclamatiō of rebellion and in prisonment of the partie offending as in the said high Court of Chācerie is vsed Provided also that all appeales hereafter to be made from all and every Court and Courts in the Shyres and Diocesses of the Countrey shal be made to the higher Courtes as heretofore hath bin accustomed onely with an alteration and addition of the names stiles and dignities of Archb. Bb. and other Ordinaries vnto the name stile and dignitie of our Soveraign Lord the King his heyres and successors And that vpon the appeales so to be made it shall and may be lawfull for the Iudges Ministers of Iustice of and in the said higher Courts to make out all maner of processe and processes and to doe execute all and every act and acts thing things for the furtherance of Iustice in the causes afore said as to them shall by the law seeme equall right meete convenient any law statute privilege dispensation prescriptiō vse or customs heretofore to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding Provided also that all and every such Iudge and Minister that shall execute any thing by vertue of this act shal from time to time obey the Kings write writs of prohibition of attachment vpon prohibition and indicavit and not to proceede contrarie to the tenour of such write or writes in such and the same maner and forme and condition as they have or ought to haue done before the making of this act any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided also that this acte or any thing therein conteigned shal not extend or be interpreted to give any authoritie to the said Iudges Ossicers or any of them to put in execution any civill or Ecclesiasticall lawe repugnant or contrariant to the lawes statutes or customes of the Realm or hurtfull to the Kings prerogatiue Royall And thus it may seeme to bee but a small labour a litle cost and an easie matter for the Kinge his Nobles and Wise men of the Realm to devise formes of iudgement and maner of processe proceedings without any offices or functions of the canon law wherby the vse and studie of the civill lawe and the rewarde and maintenance for Civilians might be furthered and increased and not vtterly overthrowne taken away as the Admonitor vncivily beareth vs in hand As for the alteration of the censure of excommunication for contumacie mētioned in this proiect we haue the consent of the reverende Bishops in Pag. 138. this admonition that the same may bee altered For the Admonitor their Prolocutor speaketh on this wise Viz. As for Excommunication for contumacie by the Admonitors iudgement may be takē away without offence and with the good liking of the Bishops the excommunication practised in our ecclesiasticall Courts for contumacie in not appearing or not satisfying the iudgement of the Courte if it had pleased the Prince c. to have altered the same at the beginning and set some other order of processe in place thereof I am perswaded saith he that the Bishops Clergie of the Realme would haue bin very well contented therewith And speakinge of a certaine maner of civill discomoning vsed in the Church of Tigure he further addeth viz. Which or the like good order devised by some godlie persons if it might be by authoritie placed in this Church c I think it would be gladlie receaved to shun the offence that is taken at the other Admonition And matters
perinde vares pluralities non residencies wherin not the people to be taught but their owne backes and bellies to bee clothed and fedde is wholy respected Now theÌ„ that this manner of goverment wherin the afore specified and the like discoÌ„modities daylie fall out vnder colour of not diminishing the Kings prerogatiue of not altering lawes setled of not attempting dangerous innovations of the preserving of the right of Patrones Bb. and Archd. should still be continued without any mention or remembrance to be once had of their discontinuance especiallie in the time of peace vnder a Christian Magistrate and in a state as he sayeth reformed wee humbly leaue to the wise and mature deliberation of our most Christian King and State in Parleament And we most humbly beseech the King State that indifferentlie freelie and largelie it may be argued SupplicatioÌ„ to the Kinge and State in Parleament heard and examined whether it be possible that the tenth parte of these or anie other the like disorders corruptions grievances can possibly fall out in the church by that platforme of Discipline which is required to be planted And to the end that the Kings Maiestie and the State might rightlie and perfectlie bee Petition ordinatioÌ„ c. of Ministers or Pastours howe the same may be made without Bb. or ArchdeacoÌ„s not disagree able to divers lawes alreadie setled informed and resolved of those pointes whereof we now speake viz of the petition ordination election presentation and admittance of every Parochiall Pastour to any church with cure of soules how the same may stand and not be disagreeable to diuers lawes alreadie setled and in force it is requisite that the substance of these thinges in this place bee intreated of wherein against the base office meane person of the Archdeacon we oppose the Royall office most excellent person of the King against the immoderate office and stately person of one lordly Bishop we oppose the meeke and teÌ„perate cariage of a Senat or Presbyterie of many wise learned and grave Ministers togither with a Reverend assemblie of the Ancientes and chiefe Fathers of every Church destitute of a Pastour As for the Patrones right wee are so far from diminishing any iotte of the true right which by laws setled he ought to haue as that he shall quietlie possesse his interest and that with lesse trouble and expence yea and with greater priviledge then he did before Thus therefore touching the office and person of the King the duetie of the Presbiterie people the right of the Patron and the person of the Minister to bee ordeyned thus and thus we saye and thus and thus as we think may our sayings well stand with lawes setled By an Act primo Eliz. c. 1. the King hath ful power and authoritie by letters pateÌ„tes vnder the great seale of England when and as often as need shall require as he shall thinke meete and coÌ„venient and for such and so long time as shall please his H. to assigne name authorize such person or persons beeing naturall born subiectes as his Maiestie shal thinke meete to exercise vse occupie exequut vnder his H. all manner of iurisdictions privileges and preheminences in any wise touching or concerning any spirituall or ecclesiasticall iurisdiction within this Realme of Englande Agayne by the booke of ordeyning Bishoppes Priestes and Deacons it is prescribed that the Bishoppe with their The Bb. Priests must lay on their hands Priestes shall laye their handes severally vpon the heads of everie one that receaveth Orders that every one to be made a Minister must be of vertuous conversation and without crime sufficientlie instructed in the holy Scriptures a man meete to exercise his ministerie duelie that he must be called tried and examined that he must bee presented by the Archd. and be made openly in the face of the Church with prayer to God and exhortation to the people And in a statute made 21. of King H. 8 it is affirmed That a Bishoppe must haue sixe The Bishops must vse six Chapleines at giuing of orders Chapleines at giving of orders Besides by an ancient and lowable custome the Parishes and Parish Churches within every Archdeaconrie remayne vnto this daye distributed into certaine Deanries Every Archdeacon devided into Deanries amoÌ„g the Ministers of which Deanries the Parson or Vicar of the auncientest Church commonly called the Mother Church of the Deanrie vnles by consent some other be chosen by the Ministers them selues hath the first place and is the chief director and moderator of whatsoever things are propounded in their Synodall meeting which Minister also is called Archipresbiter or Decanus curalis according to the appellation of the chief Minister of the mother or chiefe church of that Diocesse who is called Archipresbiter or Decanus cathedarlis so that vnto this day these Ministers meeting at the ArchdeacoÌ„s visitations once in a yeare at the least there remayneth in the Church of England a certaine image or shadowe of the true ancient Apostolicall conferences and meetings Wherefore from these lawes from this ancient maner of the meetinges of Ministers and of having one principal and chief moderator amongst them according to the Apostolicall practise and vsage of the primatiue church thus alreadie setled in the church of England wee humbly leave it to bee considered by the Kings Maiestie First whether it were not meete and convenient for his Highnes by his letters patentes vnder the great Seale of A Minister to be ordeined by the Bishops and a companie of Ministers at the Kings commandement England to assigne name authorize the Bishops six or moe Ministers within everie Deanerie continually resiant vpon their benefices and diligentlie teaching in their charge to vse and execute all maner of iurisdiction privilege and preheminence concerning any spirituall ordination election or institution of Ministers to bee placed in the Parochiall Churches or other places with cure of soules within Secondlie when any Parish Church or other place with cure of soules shal be voide whether it were not meete convenient that the auncientes and chiefe Fathers of that place within a time to be limited for that purpose should intimate the same vacancie vnto the office Vacancie of a benefice to be intimated to the kings office of the Kings civill Officer appointed for that Shire or Diocesse to the end the same Officer by authoritie froÌ„ the King might command in the Kings name the Bishop and other Ministers to elect and ordeine and the people of the same place to approve allow of some able and godlie person to succâ—ede in the Church Thirdly the Patrone if the same be A lay patrone insteed of varying his Clerck may present two Clerkes at one time a common and laie person having now libertie to vary his Clerk if he be found vnable whether it were not meete and convenient to avoid all maner of varying that within
insinuate your selves into their companies you have tabled and boorded with the same parties and that you or one of you have bene heeretofore coÌ„vented for the causes aforesaid before the now lord Archb. his grace for enterteyning into your house a person whiche stood then and yet standed suspended deprived for disliking the booke of common prayer and other godly orders established by her Maiesties authoritie in this Realme Item we obiect vnto you the said G. B. and L. yourwife that you have not frequented divine service celebrated within your parish Church of Bothese vi 5. 4. 3. 2. or one yeares last nor doe not at this present at least every Sunday nor have receyved the holy Communion within your said parish Church during the saide yeares Quere whether the Bishop did not more offend the lawe of God by preferring these articles then the Gentleman did by procuring his children to bee Baptised by a preaching Minister having none at home Item that you the saide G. B. and L. your wife within the time aforesaid haue not Christened nor baptized your children within your parish Church but contrarie to the forme and order of hir Maiesties lawes in that case provided have eyther christened them at home privatelie in your owne house or have caried or caused them to be caried to other Churches And let them declare what Church and what Minister did baptise them and where and whether the same Minister did at the same baptisme signe the childe with the signe of the crosse and lett them declare the cause why they did baptize their children out of their parish Item that the Ministers pew or seate in the church of B. aforesaid by the directioÌ„ Note that the Bishop of L. was not Bishop of the Diocesse of the L. reverend Father in God the Bb. of L. that now is being at the same Church as also by the consent of the Minister and Church-Wardens there was placed in a verie convenient place of the Church to the end the parishioners there might the better heare and vnderstand the Minister at the time of reading the divine service Item we obiect vnto you that you the said F. B. within these vi or 3. monethes last past have without anie sufficient warrant or commaundement from the father in God the Lord Bishoppe of L. or his Chancelour or other having authoritie therein very disorderly and contemptuouslie remooved the same seat to the great offence of the parishioners and bad example of others Item we obiect vnto you that you know beleeue or have heard say that Za. G. is a Preacher of the word of God and a man of good life and conversation lawfull Parson of B. aforesaid Item we obiect vnto you that the premises notwithstanding you the said F. B. vpon a Sunday within a quarter of a yeare last past when the Parishioners of B. were assembled together at the saide Church to heare divine seruice caused divers serving men and others to sit in the pew or place which properly belonged to the Parson of the said Church so that when the saide M. G. came to take his place they thrust him and very disorderlie in the time of prayer kept him out of the said place Item wee obiect vnto you F. B. that about six yeares past you the saide F. brought into the Towne of B. a bastard child as it is credibly thought of your owne and there placed it at nurse and haue lately receyved it into your owne house to the great offence of the inhabitantes there and the bad example of others Et obijcimê° cu m duê° de quolibet Subscribed c. Wherevnto in the foote of these articles was added Maister B. I pray you let this matter be followed ex officio and the parties presently to be sent for by warrant Subscribed c. Now these Gentlemen according to the Bishoppes direction being presently sent for by a Pursevant to aunswere the articles obiected they foorthwith make their repayre to the Archbishop with a copie of the articles with whom they finde such grace as in their behalfe immediatly hee writeth to the Bishoppe as followeth SAlutem in Christo My very good Lorde I haue by meanes received these articles enclosed signed by your Lordsh hand and can not but greatly merveyle that contrary to the orders of the commission Court subscribed by your selfe the rest of the CoÌ„missioners you would cause a Gentleman of such a qualitie as Maister B. is to be sent for by a Pursevant before the ordinarie processe of a letter missiue Note that the signe of the crosse in Baptisme by an Archb. opinion is but of smal moment that suspicion of bastardie may easilie be dismissed were served vpon him especially for matters of so small moment Neither will it bee thought to proceede of any iust cause but rather of some other misconceyte when it shal be vnderstood that there is a controversie in lawe elsewhere depending betwene him and a kinsman of yours And therefore for the avoyding of his further complaint and other offence that may grow thereby I heartely pray your Lordship to suppresse the same and proceed no further therein Desiring you withall to haue due consideration of the cause least I be enforced to deale likewise in the defence of my kinsman as you doe for yours And so praying your Lo. Note that the 17. of Octo. was the Saboth day at what time the Archb. D. C. and D. B. sitting as Commissioners thâ— Archb. took pen inke and crossed the articles all overthwart and so sent them backe with this letter to returne vnto me aunswere herevnto what you meane to doe with my very heartie commendacions I commit you to the tuition of Almightie God FroÌ„ c. the 17. of Octo. c. Subscri c Vnto which letter also was added as followeth Maister B. I pray you according to the tenor of this letter to see that this cause of M. G. and F. B. bee dismissed from thence and if any be bouÌ„d to prosecute the cause against them let them vnderstand that I meane to heare it at c. otherwise let it wholie be dismissed and the bandes delivered The Bishoppes aunswere to the Archbishops former letters MAy it please your grace to vnderstand that I was the more willingly drawen to sende for Ma. B. in that sort because he was oft and of long time accused not only to be a disordered man him selfe but also a great and open mainteyner and carier from place to place of that wrangling puritane W. And as it is to bee prooued a refrainer from his church and from the CoÌ„munion as I am enformed And therefore if we haue omitted any circumstance or ceremonie it is in zeale of the redresse of such a disordered person Which if it should be fouÌ„d in your own brother I thinke your grace would not spare him Neuerthelesse if you yourselfe take it in hand to his redresse I for my part
honorable CouÌ„cell keeper of the Kings privie Seale or two of them calling vnto them one Bishop one temporal Lord of the Kings most honorable Councell the two chiefe Iustices of the Kinges bench and common Pleas for the time being or other two of the Kings Iustices in their absence haue full power and authoritie to punish after their demerits all misdoers being founde colpable before them If wee search our statutes besids the Courts and matters determinable in these spoken of before we shall find that the complaints of errour whether it touch the King or any other person 31. E 3. c. 21 made in the Exchecquer should be done to come before the Chancelor Treasurer who taking to them two Iustices other sage persons are duely to examine the busines and if any errour be found to correct amend the Roles c. By reason of delayes of iudgments vsed in the Chauncerie in the 14. E. 3. c 5 Kinges bench common bench and in the Exchecquer it was assented established and accorded that a Prelate two Earles and two Barons chosen by the ParleameÌ„t by good advise of the Chancelour c. shall proceed to take a good accord and to make a good iudgement When it was complayned vnto the King that the profites c. of his Realme by â—0 K. 2. c. 1 some great Officers c. were much withdrawen and cloyned c. it pleased the King c. to coÌ„mit the surveighing aswell of the estate c. of his house c. vnto the honourable Fathers in God William Archbishop of Canterburie and Alexander Archbishop of Yorke c. by a statute of commission for a 6. H. 6. Sewers by a statute for punishmeÌ„t of b 11. H. 5. c. 25. periurie by a statut against making or executing of actes or ordinances by any c 19 H. 7. c. 7. Maisters c. being not examined c. by the Lord Chancelour Treasurer or chiefe Iustices c. By a statute for the erection of the Court of d 27. H. 8. c 27. AugmeÌ„tation by a statute for erection of the Court of firste e 32. H. c. 45. fruits tenthes and lastly by an f 27. Eli. c. 8 acte for redresse of erroneous iudgements in the Court commonly called the Kinges Bench By all these statutes I say it is very apparant that the Administration of publike affaires in the coÌ„mon weale hath never bene vsually committed to the advisemnet discretion or definitiue sentence of any one man alone Which point is yet more fully and more perfectly Lord president and counsell in Wales Lord president couÌ„sell in the North parts Lord Deputie counsell in Irelande The Kinge and his honorable privie Counsel to be vnderstood by the establishment continuance of the Kings Lord President and Councell in Wales of the Kings Lord President and Counsel established for the North of the Kinges Lord Deputie and Councell within the Realme of Irelande of the Kings Highnesse most honorable privie Councell chosen by him for the assistance of his Royall person in matters apperteyning to his Kingly estate and lastly of the supreame and grand Councell of the three estates in Parleament for matters concerning The Kinge his grand Counsell in Parleament the Church the King and the common Weale For whether respect bee had vnto the secrete affaires of the Kings estate consulted vpoÌ„ in his Highnesse Councell Chamber by his privie Counsaylors or whether we regard the publike tractation of matters in Parleament there can bee no man so simple as not to knowe both these privie and open negotiatioÌ„s to be carried by most voyces of those persons who by the King are called to those honorable assemblies And what a vaine iangling then doth the Admonitor keepe how idlely and wranglingly doth he dispute when against the government of the church by Pastours and Elders he obiecteth that the same will interrupt the lawes of the Realme that it wil be great occasion of partiall affectionate dealing that some will incline to one parte and that the residue wil bee wrought to favour the other and that thereby it wil be a matter of strife discord schisme and heresies Howbeit if never any of these extremities and dangers haue fallen out in the common weale by any partiall or affectionate dealing of the Kings Deputies Presidents Iudges Iusticers and other Officers Ministers associated vnto theÌ„ for the administratioÌ„ of Iustice or equitie in any of the Kings civill Courtes howe much lesse cause haue we to feare any partialitie affectioÌ„ working inclination favour strife debate schismaticall or hereticall opinions if once Pastours and Elders in every Congregation and not thoroughout a Diocesse one Bishop alone had the spirituall administration of the Church-causes Can many temporall Officers Iusticers and Iudges rightly and indifferently administer the law and execute iustice and iudgment without that that some doe incline to one part without that the residue bee wrought to favour the other part And cannot spirituall Officers dispatch spiritual affaires without that that they be partially affectionally disposed What is it so easie a matter that the Ancients of God and the Ministers of Christ can the one part incline to righteousnes and the residue be wrought to favor wickednes can some incline to God and vnto Christ and can other some be wrought to follow Satan and Antichrist For what other controversie is required to be decided by Pastours and Elders then the controversie of sinne betwene the soule of man and his God And is there any Christian Pastour or Elder that wil be wrought rather to favour the sinne of a mortall man then the glorie of his immortall God But to leaue the state of the Kingdome and common weale and the good vsages and customes of the same let vs come to the state of the Church it selfe and to the lawfull government thereof established even amongst vs at this day The gouerment of the Church ought not to be by one alone For whatsoever our reverend Bishoppes practise to the contrarie yet touching ordination and deposition of Ministers touching excommunication and absolution touching the order and rule of Colleges Cathedrall churches and the Vniversities the ecclesiasticall law doth not commit the administration of these things and regiment of these places to any one person alone The Vniversities admit not the goverment of the Chancelour being present nor of his Vicechancelour The gouerment in the Vniuersities not by one alone him selfe being absent as of one alone the Doctors Procurators Regents non-Regents haue all voyces and by most of their voyces the Vniversitie causes take successe The businesses The goverment in Colleges not by one alone of Colleges by the statutes of their founders are commended to the industrie and fidelitie of the President Vice-president and fellowes vnto the Provost Viceprovost and fellowes vnto the Warden Sub-warden and fellowes vnto the Maister
venerabilis viri domini Archidiaconi Surr. omnibus singulis rectoribus c. salutem Cùm nos rite legitime procedentes omnes singulos quorum nomina c. in noÌ„ comparendo coram nobis c. seu saltem in non satisfaciendo mandatis nostris c. pronunciaverimus contumaces ipsosque c. excommunicandos fore decreverimus Cumque discretus vir magister Roul Allen presbyter eosdeÌ„ omnes singulos subscriptos ex officio nostro excommunicaverit in scriptis iusticia id exigente vobis igitur committimus c. quatenus eos omnes c. sicut prefertur ex officio nostro mero excoÌ„municatos fuisse esse c. palam denuncietis c. Datum sub sigillo officialitatis nostrae 19. die Decembris Anno Domini 1587. John Hone Doctor of the Lawes Officiall of the venerable man the Archdeacon of Surr. to all and singular persons c. greeting Whereas we otherwise rightlie and lawfully proceeding all and singular whose naâ—â—s are vnderwritten in not appearing before vs or at least-wise in not satisfying our mandates haue pronounced contumacious and decreed them to be excoÌ„municated And whereas also the discrete man M. Rouland Allen presbyter out of our office hath excoÌ„municated all and singuler vnder written iustice so requiringe wherefore wee charge you that openlie you denounce and declare them everie of them so as aforesayd out of our office to be excoÌ„municated Giuen vnder the seale of our officialitie The 19. day of December 1587. By this practise it doth appeare that Doctor Hone and Rouland Allen canvased manie poore men verie piteouslie And that this poore curate Rouland Allen had a warme seruice to attend vpon Doctor Hone and to ierk those whose points soeuer hee should vntie But because this precept was an article concluded vpon by the reuerend Bishopps in their convocation and confirmed as I suppose by the Royall authoritie of our late Queene wee will forbeare to speake what we thinke might iustlie be spoken against the incoÌ„gruitie therof Onely this without offence to the reuerend Bishoppes wee may safely demaund sithence everie ordinarie whether he be a Bishopp or a presbyter by this article of their owne devise hath such an absolute power resiant in his person as that thereby thoroughout his whole iurisdiction he may thus coÌ„mit the execution of discipline by excommunication partlie to one laie person and partlie to one ecclesiastical person partly to a supposed spiritual Elder and partlie to a lay Elder sithence I say this is so we may safelie demande what reason they can produce to hinder the King from having authoritie to coÌ„mande three or foâ—re or if occasion The Kinge hathas good right to coÌ„mand excoÌ„munication to bee exercised by a Pastor and Elders as the Bb. haue to commit the same to a Curate and one lay Elder serue fiue or six lay Elders as they call them and one spirituall Pastor being a true spirituall Elder in deede all lawfullie chosen ecclesiasticall Officers in the house of God that they ioyntly should not execute the discipline of Christ viz. excommunication and other censures of the church in every Parish within his Kingdome If it bee aunswered that in this case the Presbyter alone doth excoÌ„municate is it not as if one should say that the executioner doth giue iudgmeÌ„t when at the coÌ„mandment of the Iudge he smiteth of the head or casteth downe the ladder or may not as much be said for the excommunication whereof wee speake that the Pastor onlie should excommunicate when by vertue of his office with the consent and not by the prescript of the Elders associated vnto him he should declare and pronounce the partie to be excommunicated But let it bee graunted that Rouland Allen denounceth the lesson which is writteÌ„ in the paper for him to read yet is it cleare by the precept that the same must bee done by the prescript of Doctor Hone. Besides Doctor Hone he citeth he precognizateth the parties and they being absent he pronounceth them contumaciter absentes and in paenam contumaciarum suarum huiusmodi decreeth them to be excoÌ„municate and are not al these necessarie partes incident to the execution of discipline by excommunication And how then can the Minister be saide to excommunicate alone when Doctor Hone of necessitie must play three parts of the foure without all or without any one of which parts the excommunication by reason of a nullitie is merelie voide Againe the acte being done as it were vno puncto at vno halitu and Rouland Allen and Doctor Hone having their commission from the Archdeacon in solidum how can their iudgement be devided Furthermore to say that Rouland Allen doth excommunicate by the authoritie of Doct. Hone were to overthrowe the intendement of the article Because by the scope of the article it is plaine that the Presbyter to be associated to the officiall must onlie derive his authoritie from one who hath taken ecclesiasticall orders But those orders Doctour Hone never tooke otherwise Rouland Allens presence had bene vnnecessarie and superfluous And therefore if the excommunication be of any validitie theÌ„ is discipline by excommunication in the Church of England exercised partlie by one laie Elder as they call him and partly by one Ecclesiasticall Elder wherein againe it is worthy the observation for the matter we haue in hand that Doctor Hone a mere laie temporall man hath authoritie from the Archdeacon to call and associate vnto him to prescribe Roul Allen a Presbiter an other mans hireling Curate in Southwark to excoÌ„municate not only the Parochians of an other Pastors charge but also any other Pastor whatsoever subiect to the Archdeacons iurisdiction And hath not the Kings Highnesse then as good right as great a priviledge and as high a prerogative to command Maister Doctor Andros or Maister Doctor King and lay Elders by a lawfull election to be associated vnto either of them to excommunicate either of their owne Parishioners for publike drunkennes or other notorious sinnes committed in their owne Parish For if it bee lawfull at the voice of a lay stranger that an hireling and stipendary Curate should chase an other mans sheepe out of his owne folde how much more is it lawful that a true sheepherde should disciplinate his own sheepe feeding and couchant within his owne pasture and within his owne fold Furthermore touching the admittance of governing Elders or lay Elders as they call them vnto the Minister of everie congregation according to the former patterne of one lay Elder that the same is not a matter so strange for lay men to bee ioyned in this charge of ecclesiasticall government as the opposites Lay men appointed by the Queenes iniuuctions to execute some part of discipline beare vs in hande to be it shall not be amisse to cal vnto their remeÌ„brances one of our late Soveraigne the Queenes iniuctions wherby certeyne lay persons called overseers were commanded to be chosen by
carefullie vse this his freedome And therefore he may not wholy and altogether put from him selfe and expose at haphazard the provision education instruction dieting appareling and lodging of his wife his sonnes his daughters and his servaunts vnto strangers neither may Husbandes Fathers nor Maisters giue their consent to the making of anie lawe or the bringing in of anie custome whereby their freedomes should be restreyned adnihiled or made voyde in this behalfe For by thus violating the rules and grounds by thus treading as it were vnder foote the equitie of Christ and the freedome they haue by the lawe of God should they not most prophanelie and impiouslie despight God and as it were over turne the whole order he hath set in nature And if the people may not cast off these rules and these groundes this equitie and this freedome in thinges apperteyning to this frayle bodily transitorie and earthlie life howe much lesse may they cast them off or sett litle by them in things apperteyning to the salvation of their soules and to a durable spirituall everlasting and heavenlie life But the peoples right to choose their Obiection that the peoples right did neuer depend vpō the expresse commandemēt of God Bishoppes did never depende vpon the expresse commaundement of God neither can the people chalendge by Gods law the right to chose their Bishoppes I meane saieth he no such thinge is expressed and conteyned in the Scriptures What then if it doe depend or bee conteyned vnder the generall groundes and rules of reason nature christian equitie christian societie principles of humane fellowshippes the law of God the practise of the Apostles and that which was from the beginning Is it not sufficient Though it bee not expressed in these termes viz That the people must chose or that the people haue right to choose their Bishoppes It is not expressed and conteyned in the scriptures that everie man must choose his owne wife or that everie woman must choose her own husband And yet by the doctrine expressed or conteyned in the scriptures is it true that no man hath right either to choose an other mans wife or to choose an other womans husband And that everie man hath right to chose his owne wife and every woman right to choose her owne husbande Againe it is not expressed and conteyned in the scriptures that infantes must bee baptized Neither is it expressed and conteyned in the scriptures that the Bishopp of Lichfield must haue but one wife Yet because it is conteyned in the scriptures that God in the beginning brought but one woman vnto one man and gaue to one woman but one husband I assure my selfe it wil not be denied but that the Bishops must and doth content him selfe with one wife and that every Christian ought to bring their children to be Baptized Besides if Maister Bilson distinguish Bishops in England from Pastors in England and arch-Arch-Bishops in England and Pastours in England two severall orders and degrees of Ministers in the Church of England then I graunt that it is neither expressed nor cōteyned in the Scriptures that the people must choose their Bishops in England And why but because the Scriptures having put no difference betwene Bishops and Pastours knowe no such Bishops as wee haue in Bishopps in England are only Bishops by the Kings grace not by diuine institution England And therfore Bishops in England being Bishops only by the Kinges grace and not by divine institution and ordination as Pastours in Englande be hence is it that the Kings of England by their prerogatiue Royall and not the people by the rule of Scriptures haue chosen their Bishops in England And for this cause also was it that Kinge Henry the eight with advise of the Parleament did reassume the nomination appointment investiture cōfirmation of his Kingly Bishops from the Pope As for the nomination of Pastoures having cure of soules in parishes otherwise Pastors in parochiall Churches were neuer placed by the King as Bb. are in their Bishoprickes then all patrones by right of patronage doe giue presentmentes their choyse institution translation or deprivation the Kings of Enland by their regall power never yet hetherto tooke the same vpon them And if the Kinges of England by any fact or by any law did never take away the right interest and freedome from the people in choosing their Pastours what right other then by vsurpation can the Bishops haue to impose or thrust vpon the people Pastours without their liking But by custome and consent the people haue restreyned them selves Herevnto if it were not already sufficiently answered that the people could not lawfully restreine them selves yet Maister Bilson him selfe answereth That the late Bb. of The people lost their cōsent by cursing fighting of the Popes Rome neuer left cursing fighting till they had excluded both Prince and people and reduced the electiō wholy to the Clergie By cursing and fighting then haue the people bene overruled and excluded and not by custome or consent haue they restreyned them selues Yea by vertue of this cursed fight onely doe the Bishoppes of Englande at this day exclude both Prince and people from medling in the choyse of Pastoures For by authoritie of the canon law made by those late cursing and fighting Bishopps of Rome the Bishoppes of Englād haue the sole ordination and placinge of Pastours over the people And from hence also is it playne that the peoples right was not by their default or abuse relinquished and forfeyted For then then late Bishoppes of Rome needed not to haue cursed and fought for it And now whether it bee not meete that the Lord Bb. professing them selues to bee Christian Bishoppes should still reteyne in their handes and not restore vnto Christian people the possession of their Christian equitie and freedome extorted from them by the cursings and fightinges of antichristian Bb. I leaue it to the consideration of the reverende Bishoppes them selues Touching the mischieves and inconveniences of schisme troubles strifes contentions so often inculcated and so much vrged and excepted against the election of the people there is no man able as I thinke to produce any one pregnant proofe out of any auncient or late Historie that any Kinge or Soveraigne power hath interposed any supreame authoritie to appease any discord or dissentiō ensuing or raised vpō the bare choise made of any meere Parochiall Pastour by any faithfull and Christian people The schismes strifes and factions that were raysed in the old Schismes contentions spring from schismaticall and proud clergy maisters Churches sprang out and flowed onely from the heads and fountaynes of those schismes strifes factions and namely from proud ambitious and hereticall Bishops and great Clergie maisters For they being infected and poysoned with the contagion of schisme and heresie having sowred the mindes of their Disciples with the leaven of their hereticall doctrines no merveile if the people
nominate and elect their new Mayor Sherifes and Baylifes But that the Aldermen principall Townsmen Boroughmaisters and men having borne chief offices in those Cities Townes Boroughes haue easilie bene wrought by ambitious persons to giue their consents vnto vnworthie men though it haue pleased the Ll. Bb. with seene and allowed to haue spred and published this saying yet that the same saying is wholy vnworthie of anie credite to be giuen vnto it or to bee regarded of any wise and indifferent man let the sober peaceable elections made of the worthies of the lande hereafter mencioned be witnesses And to leaue to speake of the election of the Lord The officers in Cities Townes corporate chosen without contentioÌ„ ambitious working of vnworthy men Mayor of the Citie of London Sherifes Aldermen Wardens of companies ChaÌ„berlaynes Bridge-maisters and other annuall officers of honor and dignitie let vs consider whether the Citizens of London haue bene wrought by ambitious persons to choose Maister Wilbraham Maister Onslie Mr Bromly to bee their Recorders all three afterwarde the Queenes sollicitors and Maister Bromly Lord Chancelour of Englande and let vs consider whether the same Citizens as men of affection and want of â—ight iudgement did elect to be Recorders of the same Citie Mai. Serieant Fleetwood Maister Serieant Fleming Maister Serieant Drue and now Maister Crooke a maÌ„ wise learned and religious a CouÌ„seler and Iusticer within the Principalitie of Wales The Recorder of the Towne of Bedford is the right honorable the lord St Iohns of Bletsoe The Recorder of Bristoll was a long time Maister Poppam now Lord chief Iustice of England The Recorder of Northampton before he came to be Iudge in the Kings bench was Maister Serieant Yelverton a favourer of the trueth an vpright Iusticer The Recorder of Warwicke was Maister Serieant Puckering afterward Lord Keeper of the great seale And of the same Towne the Recorder now is a worthie Knight descended from a noble house Sir Foulke Grevile The Recorder of CoveÌ„trie is Sir Iohn Harrington Knight a man zealous for the true feare of God The Recorder of Chichester was Mai. Serieant Lewkner now chief Iustice in the principalitie of Wales The Recorder of Norwich was Maister Cooke the Kings Atturney generall And who soeuer shall enquire after the names after the maner of election of all the Recorders in all other Cities Boroughes of the land I doubt not but he shall find them all to haue bene farre froÌ„ any least shew of ambitious working the Citiezens and Townsmen to nominate and elect theÌ„ Moreover as these Noble persons these sage graue learned and christian Gentlemen quietlie and in all peaceable manner with vpright and good affectioÌ„ and iudgement without ambitioÌ„ haue bene chosen by the Citizens Townsmen Borough-masters to the offices of Recordershippes So likewise manie sundrie honorable CouÌ„selors Honorable Counselors chosen high stewardes without ambitious working haue bene and as occasion is ministred are daily elected by Citizens Townsmen to be their high Stewards Sir FraÌ„cis Knolles an honorable Counsailour one whose faith was famous among the churches as well abroad as at home by the electioÌ„ of the Citizens of Oxford remayned vntill he died high Stewarde of the Citie of Oxford The right honorable Sir Francis Walsingam by the coÌ„mon Counsayle of Ipswich was made high Steward of the same Towne after whose decease the same coÌ„mon couÌ„sell by their electioÌ„ surrogated into the same place the right honorable the L. Hunsdon late L. Chamberlaine the right honorable Sir Christopher HattoÌ„ L. Chancelour of Englande by the Townsmen of CaÌ„bridg was chosen to be high steward for the town of CaÌ„bridge The right honorable the old Earle of Arundell after him the right honorable Earle of Lincolne and after his death the right honorable the Lord High Admirall of England now Earle of Notingham by the Borough-maisters of the Towne of Gildforde was elected to be high steward of the Towne of Gildeford Of all which honorable persons and of all other their Peeres chosen in other places of the Kingdome by the same meanes to the like offices there is great reason iust cause for the reverend Bb. to cary a more reverend estimation towards theÌ„ then to burthen them as ambitious persons to haue sought their places at the hands of men affected wanting right iudgment As for any other offices of credite dignitie charge and gouerment in the common weale now remayning in the choyse of the commons it may easilie be proved that the common people in sundrie places haue bent and opposed theÌ„ selues against ambitious persons who by sinister indirect meanes haue hunted for preferrement at their handes And what if it can not be gayne-said but that some publicke officers chosen by publicke applause of the people haue corruptly behaued themselues in their charges and haue not so equally and indifferently distributed iustice to all degrees as it became them yet this their misdemeanor can no more iustly be laid as a fault nor any more disgrace or discountenance the ancient and commendable forme and manner of election then the hipocrisie or counterfeyt zeale of an euill man ordeyned by the Bishop to be a Minister can be imputed vnto his letters of orders or manner of ordination Besides if none bee able to proue that the choyse of the Knights Knights of the Shires other officers chosen by the people without trouble to the state of our Shires Coroners of the Counties Verderers of the Kings forrests resting in the free voices and consents of the freeholders that the nomination of the high Constables being in the disposition of the Iustices of peace at their quarter sessions that the choyse of our peti-Conestables third Boroughes Tything men Church wardens Wardens for the high wayes overseers for the poore side men such like remayning altogether in the free election of the sutors to courts leets and law dayes and of the inhabitants Parishioners of every Village Hamlet or Tything haue bene troublesome to the Lievetenants of the Shires to the Stewards of our Courts to the Lords of our liberties nor to the Ordinaries of the Diocesses If I say there be not any one man able to bring foorth some few persons for many yeres passed by whom the Officers and Magistrates of the Queenes peace haue bene sued vnto and importuned for the pacification of any strife contention or debate of any busy head or ambitious person raysed among the people about the choise of any one of these Officers then I say it is meete and it importeth the Lords Bishops very deepely that for ever hereafter they bee silent and never any more vtter so vile a slander against so Noble a people as are the people of England viz. that vpon affection and want of right iudgment they will easily be led by ambitious persons to preferre vnworthy persons vnto all Offices of gayne or dignitie Or that
the ordinaries in every Parish for the better retayning of the people in obedience vnto divine service In everie Parish saith the Iniunction three or foure discrete men which tender Gods glorie and his true religion shall be appointed by the ordinaries diligentlie to see that all the parishioners duelie resort vnto their Church vpon all Sundayes and holie dayes and there to continue the whole time of the godlie service And all such as shall be negligent in resorting to the Church having no great or vrgent cause of absence they shall streightlie call vpon them and after due admonition if they ameÌ„d not they shall denounce them to the ordinarie Thus far the iniuction Which that it is not meant of the Church Wardens appeareth by the verie next article for vnto them as is assigned an other name so also another Office That sidemen also are not these kinde of overseers is playne in that they be neither so manie in number as are here required neither chosen by the ordinaries neither yet do they admonish denounce according to this article Wherefore because it is meete that the effect of this Iniunction being religious should bee put in due execution it seemeth a thing verie reasonable and much tending to the honour of the King that his Highnes vnder his letters patents would bee pleased to appoint three foure or more discrete and faithfull persons in everie Parish not onely to performe the effect of this article but also generallie to oversee the life and maners of the people that without great vrgent causes they resorte not vnto Typling-houses or houses of evill note and suspected fame and that vpon the Sabboths they vse no Heathnish dauncing about their disguised May-poles And after due admonition if they amend not to denouÌ„ce them to the Pastor of the place For then might the Pastor be encouraged to giue Book of the forme of ordeining Priestes his faithfull diligence as at the time of his ordination hee solemlie promiseth vnto the Bishop alwayes to Minister the Doctrine and Sacramentes and Discipline of Christ as the Lorde hath commanded by which words inserted in the booke there is a plaine and open confession made by al estates in Parleament that Christe hath not onely established Everie Minister ought to minister the discipline of Christ in his own cure by consent of parleament discipline but a certaine forme of discipline in his Church and that the Pastor to whom the care and charge is committed to teach the people ought to minister the same discipline For it had bene a verie absurd parte for the Parleament to appoint the Bishop to receaue a promise from the Minister to minister the discipline of Christ if Christ had not instituted a Discipline or that the same discipline which he instituted had not in their iudgements belonged vnto the Minister And therefore this verie letter of the booke coÌ„vinceth the whole answere made vnto the abstract touching this point to be verie erroneous frivolous and impertinent to the point in question For whereas in the abstract it is alleaged that the Bishop by vertue of The Minister by promise bindeth himselfe to Minister the discipline of Christ the order and forme appointed by acte of Parleament bindeth the Minister aswell to minister the discipline of Christ within his cure as the doctrine and Sacramentes of Christ as the Lorde hath commaunded c. herevnto first he answereth that these clauses do not dispositively Pag. 55. Pag. 60. ordaine any thing for discipline as though the lawe ment by authoritie hereof to establish that the order in these thinges by the Realme receaved should be holden as agreeablie to the word of God but must be taken enunciatively to declare and affirme that following the order by law established they should doe agreeable to Gods will But alas what repugnancie is there heard for howe Regugnance in the aunswere to the abstract can the law declare and affirme that the Ministers following the order by lawe established shall doe agreeablie to Gods will if the order in these thinges by the Realm receaved should not by the meaning of the law bee holden as agreeable to the word of God What doth the law meane that a man can doe agreeably to Gods will in any thing whiche is not agreeable to his word or if the law haue established an order in the discipline which is not agreeable to Godes worde shall the Ministers do agreeably to Gods will if they follow the Lawe For the meaning of the law is plaine viz. that the Minister by vertue of his promise made to the Bishop shall be no further bound to minister any Doctrine Sacramentes or Discipline receaved by the Realme vnlesse the Realme haue receaved the same according to the coÌ„mandment of God For the ParleameÌ„t having a religious consideration that the Minister of Christ must not haue so much respect what the lawe of the Realme as what the law of God commaÌ„deth carefully provided for his indemnitie in this behalfe Besides what a friuolous comment hath hee made vpon the wordes of the A frivolous comment vppon the wordes of the booâ—e of ordeining Priestes c. booke when he sayth that these wordes of the Bishopp doe not dispositiuely ordeyne any thing for discipline When as the question is not whether the Bb. words but whether the lawe and booke dispose any thing for discipline For the Bishop being but a servaÌ„t to the booke and to the lawe and one vnto whose fidelitie the execution of the law booke is committed though he doe not by his wordes dispose any thing of Discipline yet by his demaunde hee sheweth vnto the Minister that the office of the Ministration of discipline within his cure charge is committed vnto him that by his ordination his person is fully inabled aswell to minister the Discipline as to preach the doctrine of Christ And herevpon also falleth to the ground his other answere as wholie impertinent to the point in questioÌ„ For where he saith that the Lawe meant not by authoritie hereof to establish that the order of these things by the Realme receaved should be holden as agreeable to the worde of God this I saye seemeth wholie to bee impertinent to the purpose of the abstract For there is no such thing insinuated The answer to the abstract wholie impertinent to the point in question to be intended by the statute onely the scope of the Authours drift in that place seemeth to be this viz. That everie Minister by vertue of his promise enioyned by act of Parleament to be made by him and by the office of ministerie taken vpon him at the time of his ordination hath bound him selfe to minister the doctrine sacramentes and discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commaunded And what then if the Lawe The not disposing in perticularitie all rites ceremonies of discipline doeth not hinder the exercise of discipline by the Minister haue not
paynefullie attended vpon him in the Court then will many fathers incite and encourage their sonnes to prepare and furnish them selues to the warres and to the Court But if all mens sonnes in the campe and in the court be capable of enterteynments alike if as well a labourers sonne following the cart as a noble mans sonne a wayter in court may be the Kings lord Chamberlayne in time of peace and if as well a carpet knight as a valiant warriour may be lord generall in time of warre would any father for many yeeres together costly and gorgeouslie braue his sonne at Court or would any father adveÌ„terouslie and dangerouslie hazard his sonne in the field Againe fathers do not therfore send their sonnes to be students at the Innes of Court or to be apprentices in the Citie of London only in regard that they may bee all great Citizens and all great rich men all great lawyers and al great Iudges of the land It sufficeth all parentes and the purpose and intent of all parentes is that their sonnes become such lawyers and such Citizens as by their lawe and by their trades they may thriue and liue baâ—resterlike lawyerlike marchantlike citizen-like though they be not able to liue Serieantlike or Iudge-like Alldermanlike or Lord-like In like sort questionles would it be an excellent encouragement to many fathers to sende manie sonnes vnto many Scholes and Vniuersities of learning if so bee there were manie and good rewardes rathet then few great rewardes provided for manie rather then for fewe learned men in the Church For if there be but fewe rewards albeit the same be great then but a few fathers among many will adventure the spending of their substance vppon a vayne hope that their sonnes shall obtayne great rewardes of learning For what father knoweth the capacitie and diligence of his sonne Or who can divine that his sonne shal be one among the number of a few men greatly learned worthie of a great reward to liue Deanlike Archdeaconlike Bishoplike or Archbishoplike Wherefore if such a change of the Clergie as whereof wee speake were made that is to saye if an vnlearned and vndiscreete ministerie were changed into a discreet and learned ministerie it is not to bee doubted but a farre greater number of sonnes would be sent by their fathers to the studie of good learning then now there be From whence also it followeth that either Papall Prelacie is the onely bane Prelacy the bane of a learned ministerie of a learned Ministerie or ells that an vnlearned Ministerie is the vntimely fruite of the wombe of Papall Prelacie Both which twaine rather then one of which twaine being true we leaue it to be considered whether the mother conceyving to soone or the daughter borne out of time or both as an after birth superfluous members should not bee cast away and cut of from the body of the Church The Admonitors next argument is drawen from the small continuance in the Vniversities Admonition Furthermore who seeth not how small continuance there shal bee in the Vniversities to make men of any profouÌ„d knowledge when the very necessitie of places shall draw men away before they come to any ripenes or profound knowledg c. Assertion This argument is as an headlesse arrowe shott against a corslet of steele out of a bow vnbent for what can this argument pearce when in effect the conclusion is thus If euery parish should haue a learned and discrete Minister theÌ„ men should haue but small coÌ„tinuance in the Vniversitie to make them men of ripenes or of any profound knowledge But that men should be of small continuance in the Vniversity and should be drawen away before they come to ripenes or perfound knowledge is not meete Therefore it is not meete that euery Parish should haue a learned discret Minister The reason of which consequence is this viz. The very necessitie of places Pag. 80. saith he shall draw men away before they come to any ripenes The learnednes then and discretion of a Minister by his reason dependeth vpon his long continuance in the Vniversitie And what shall we then say of the learnednes and discretion of such Ministers of the Bishops making as did never continue in the Vniversitie one day in all their whole life but herevnto they answere that the very necessitie of the one is so great as that the people must haue prayer said and the Sacraments administred least the people in the country should grow to an heathnish barbaritie vnto which aunswere againe I reply and reason thus If a man of vnlearnednes and without knowledge ripenes may be a Minister then a man of small vnlearnednes of small knowlege and of small ripenes may bee a Minister much more and againe If necessitie of places may draw men of no continuance in the Vniversitie of no knowlege and of no ripenes into the Ministerie then may the necessitie of places drawe men of small continuance knowledge and ripenes But the necessity of places may draw men of no continuance knowledge or ripenes into the Ministery Therefore the necessity of places may drawe men of small continuance knowledge and ripenes into the Ministery The second proposition of which sillogisme is confirmed by practise precept by worde and by deede of most of our reverend Bb. And then from their owne practise I argue thus If the necessitie of sayinge prayers of reading seruice and of deliuerie of the elements bâ— of necessitie of necessitie require vnlearned Faith more necessary to be preached then the Sacraments be administred ministers rather then no ministers then much more the necessitie of hauing faith the necessitie of the saluation of our soules and the necessitie of God his glorie is of necessitie and being of necessitie requireth ministers of small learning of small continuance of small knowledge and of small ripenes rather then ministers of no learning no continuance no knowledge and of no ripenes And if Faith saluation of men and the glorie of God as soundly and as sincerelie may be preached and promoted by yong and rude Timothy as by aged learned and eloquent Apollo what necessitie is there of continuance in the Vniuersitie to obteyne more profound knowledge or anie other riper vnderstaÌ„ding then is that knowledge that vnderstanding whereby faith to the saluation of men to the glorie of God is of necessitie to be preached Agayne if by continuance in the Vniuersitie profouÌ„d knowledge ripenes be so necessarie that as is pretended in respect thereof a change of the Clergie may not bee made and that vnlearned vndiscreet ministers as it were by necessitie should still be placed then seemeth it reasonable to moue the Lord Bishoppes that it would please them to effect an abolishment of some of the statutes of all the Colledges in Oxford and Cambridge whereby all Maisters of Art of what youth ignorance or rudenes soever they be excepting some
smal number which by order of their foundation bee put apart to the studie of Lawe or Phisicke some after two some after three some after foure yeres of their coÌ„mencement are compelled eyther to enter into the ministerie or to leaue their fellowships Nay in some Colledges if Bachelers of arts be chosen felows be not ministers after one yeare by statut they loose their places The principle reason of the fouÌ„ders of all which statutes to my best remembrance is this namely that the haruest being great and the laborers but few many labourers shal be sent from those Colledges into the haruest Neither can it be intended that many laborers of long continuance many labourers of profound knowledge or manie labourers of ripenes should be sent But it is simply provided that many labourers and not loyterors should be sent yet now the Admonitor rather theÌ„ that some loyterers should not bee sent contendeth to seclude some labourers from the worke Besides how can they be of any long continuance of any ripenes or of any profound knowledge in the mysteries of faith and Godlines when not hauing accoÌ„plished the age of 24 yeres 26 yeres or 28 yeares at the most not hauing giuen them selues aboue 2. 3. or 4. yeares at the most to the studie of divinitie nay which after the studie of 3. or 4. yeares of Philosophie or artes and no studie of Divinitie must notwithstaÌ„ding enter into the ministerie wherfore from the statutes of the Colleges in the Vniversities I thus dispute If the necessitie of the Colledge statutes doe compell All Maisters of arts before mentioned and some Bachelers of arts not hauing any profound knowledge or being but of small continuance or not of any ripenes eyther to leaue their colleges or to enter into the Ministery then much more the necessity of preaching Faith the necessity of being saued and the necessity of God his glory may compell men of small learning of small knowledge of small ripenes and of small continuance to execute their Ministery rather theÌ„ that any parish should be necessarily clogged with a Minister of no learning of no discretion of no knowledge of no ripenes and of no continuance But the necessity of the college statutes do compell the one Therefore the necessity of Faith c. may compell the other Admonition Against the inconvenience of discipline by excommunication Pag. 81. onely which hee saith we so much cry for he telleth vs that some learned men of this age haue at large declared in their works set forth to the world that the same wil bee of most men contemned and that it will be of small force to bring to effect any good amendement of life Assertion But who taught him to father or to fasten this vntrueth vpon vs only then No discipline by excommunication only called for this might suffice for answere that hee did neuer yet heare any one of our part so much as cal much lesse to cry for discipline by excommunication onlie For we saye cleane otherwise viz. that the Discipline of the Church ought not to be executed as now for the most part it is by excommunicatioÌ„ onlie This maner Discipline by excoÌ„munication only no more to be suffred of discipline therfore by excommunication only is one of the disorders in the Church vsed by the reuerend Bb. which we so much desire to bee reformed And for this cause we intreate their Lordshippes to forbeare the practise of that which as it seemeth they would so fayne haue others to mislike But happely this was not the marke whereat the Admonitor short for Bishopply and Archdeaconly excommunication being daylie vsed it is like that he bent his bowe and aymed at that excommunication onely whiche is Pastorall and Elderly Agaynst which forme The writings of soâ—â— learned men not sufficieÌ„t to coÌ„demne excommunicatioÌ„ by Pastours and Elders and maner of excommunication let be so that some learned men of this age haue at large declared in their workes set foorth to the worlde that the same wil be of most men contemned and that it wil be of small force to bring to effect any good amendment of life let this I say be graunted what of all this must the Church of England therefore dislike and reiect the same God forbid The whole doctrine of Faith and Sacraments we know to be of most men contemned to be of small force to bring most men from superstitions Popiâ—h idolatrie And how theÌ„ is it possible but that the sworde of this doctrine should haue as litle enterteynement amongst most men as the doctrine He that casteth away the kernell will much more despise the shale And hee that setteth light by a sworde will set lesse by the scabberd It sufficeth then that the children of the Church in England striving to enter in at the narow gate embracing the doctrine of the Gospel it is sufficient I say that they submit subiect their neckes vnto the yoke of the Gospell for what haue we to doe with them that are without Doth the law of Englande endight condemne and iudge a Spaniard resiant in Spaine The Admonitor himselfe affirmeth Pag. 134. at the time when our Saviour Christ said dic Ecclesiae that there were manie presidents as it were and governours of the Church together with the chief Ministers of every congregation nay further he saith that hee will not deny that the Apostles afterward the primitiue Pag. 235. The Bb. coÌ„fesseth that the Minister and Elders did gouerne in the primitiue church Church did practise the same These some learned men then either must shew and proue vnto vs the children of God in England that this forme of governing the church excommunicating by many presidents and governours together with the chief Ministers of every Congregation was given to the Churches in the time of Christ and his Apostles but onely for that time that therefore that forme is now at an ende and ceased or else it must be confirmed vnto vs thaâ— God hath in these dayes altered and changed his minde touching England and that he hath by some new vision or reuelation commaunded the reuerend Bb in these dayes to teach the church of Englande that hee will not haue the same manner of gouerment vsed in the Church of England because The opinioÌ„ of some learned men not sufficient for the Church of England to departe from the worde it would bee of most of his children in England contemned and of small force to bring to effect any good amendemeÌ„t of life in them for albeit all the learned men in the world had declared as much in their workes set foorth to the world as is here spoken of what were that to the children of God in England vnlesse the same learned men had taught vnto vs true learning froÌ„ the mouth of God How much lesse are we bouÌ„d to regard what only some learned men of this age haue