A RELATION OF THE TROUBLES Of the three forraign Churches in KENT Caused by the Injunctions of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1634. c. Written by J. B. Minister of the Word of God Et quorum pars magna fui 2 SAM. 10. 12. Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good Imprinted at London for Sam. Enderbie at the Starre in Popes head Alley 1645. To the Christian Reader THE Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament did exhibite divers Articles against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury unto the Lords of the upper house the twelft whereof is set downe in these words He hath traiterously indevoured to cause division and discord betwixt the Church of England and other Reformed Churches And to that end hath supprest and abrogated the Priviledges and Immunities which have been by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome and divers other wayes hath expressed his malice and dis-affection to these Churches that so by such dis-union the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both The truth of this appeares by the Archbishops proceeding against our forraign Churches in England for although the Deputies of all the forraign Churches met at London Anno 1625. and held a Synod whereof I was a Member deputed by the Church of Canterbury and went to the King who was accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Pembroke and Sectetary Morton all deceased and others and a Speech was made in French to the Kings Majesty by M. Primrose containing among other things a Petition for the continuance of our Priviledges concerning our Discipline according to our custom granted heretofore by his Ancestors and Royall Progenitors The King gave us a gracious Answer and 〈◊〉 Promise and gave us his hand to kisse and we enjoyed our Priviledges as long as Archbishop Abbot lived Yet as soone as 〈◊〉 was warme in his Archbishops seat he indeavoured with tooth and naile to suppresse and abrogate our Priviledges and Immunities granted to our forraign Churches by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors to introduce the Book of Common Prayer in our Churches and subject us to the English Liturgie translated into French c. and to withdraw from our Churches those of the first and second descent to have them goe to the English Parishes as may fully appeare by this Relation True it is that in King James his raigne the two forraign Churches French and Dutch in Norwich were assaulted and troubled by Dr. Overald Bishop of Norwich and especially by his Chancellour but that was about two points the one was a prohibition to observe Publicke Fasts without the Kings permission which the Churches had implicite in the toleration of their Discipline The second was A command to the Communicants of both Congregations to receive the Communion not sitting but standing Indeed when the French forraign Churches held their Synod at Norwich Anno Dom. 1619. to the which I was deputed and was chosen Scribe by the Synod at that time the Bishops Chancellour came to our Synod and told us That my Lord would have the Communicants kneele at the Communion which seemed very strange to us I was chosen to goe to the Chancellour accompanied by the whole Synod and declared to him what Priviledges we had from time to time from King Edward Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie and from King James then reigning The Chancellour answered us That the King might alter his word revoke his promise But we replied That we esteemed the Kings word as much as a Patent We went afterwards to the Bishop who told us that his Chancellour had abused him he never intended that those of the forraign Congregation should receive the Communion Kneeling but Standing as they did in France He told us that his Majesty commanded him to look to his Diocesse We answered That the two forraign Congregations in Norwich were in his Diocesse but not of his Diocesse and desired his Lordship to let the Churches be in quiet till we had communicated the businesse to our Consistories and returned our answer to the two Churches Which he promised to doe In the meane time the Bishop died The Bishop who succeeded him was content to let the two Congregations enjoy their Discipline in their Fasts and Communion so that Archbishop Abbot would set his hand to such a permission which was a strange Condition for he might have considered that the Archbishop did not trouble the forraign Churches in his Diocesse but let them enjoy their Priviledges quietly But after the Bishop had heard the Kings answer to the forraign Churches permitting the continuance of their Discipline he did not molest them but the two Congregations lived in peace till Archbishop Lauds time who was not content to trouble the three forraign Churches in his Diocesse but endeavoured to assault all the forraign Churches in this Kingdome and did cite their Deputies to appeare and meant not to deprive them of two or three points of their Discipline but to dispossesse them of all and to submit them to the English Discipline Yet when he saw he could not bring it to passe he would have perswaded the world he never intended such an Injunction as will appeare by this following Treatise We intend not to write of the troubles of all the forraign Churches in England or those of London or of Norwich but by the by or a touch of them by occasion our purpose is to write principally and summarily what hapned to the three forraign Churches in Kent In which Narration it will appeare the malice and dis-affection of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome which stood in his way intending the dissipation and extirpation of them that so his fine designe of bringing in Popery might have taken effect and sure footing in England to the overthrow of the true Protestant Religion had not God in his great mercy put an end and set a period to his ambition his tyranny designes and life A Relation of the Troubles of the three forraigne Churches in KENT AFter the death of George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud Bishop of London was promoted to that See and made Archbishop thereof who at his entrance obtained of the Kings Majesty a Patent for a generall Visitation of all the Diocesses under his jurisdiction as well of those that were exempts as otherwise And although the foraigne Churches of this Realme were not comprehended in that Patent for whereas Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Canons prebendaries ministers and others were nominated the forraine Churches were not named yet the Archbishop presupposed and pretended them to be and therefore in the visitation of his Diocesse of Canterburie by his Commissioners in Aprill Anno Domini 1634. he caused the three forreine churches to be cited to appeare by their deputies in Canterburie
prejudice to the Church-government of England that his intention was to governe the Church of England according to the Canons except the King would restraine him that he told the King that he would begin with his owne Diocesse that they vanted they did not feare him nor care for his injunctions but he hoped the King would maintaine him he could not abide to heare so much of Churches and said there was but one Church and many such like things these criminations and scoffes were not uttered with one breath but intermixed in his discourse The Deputies that came not there to dispute and answer every thing but to request and heare what my Lord would say did answere but now and then as they durst or might not going beyond their commission told him that they were not the cause of scisme and that there were many such scismaticks as he termed them but indeed godly reformed Protestants in those places where no strangers Churches were as in Devonshire Dorsetshire and other Counties that they never vanted in that manner did never exalt their owne discipline but contented with their owne medled not with theirs they hoped they should enjoy their priviledges as heretofore that they could shew certificates of their good behaviour civill and quiet carriage both of the Mayor Aldermen yea Bourmouth of Canterbury of the Deane and Chapter of Christs Church and of the Lords Knights and Gentry of the Country He told them he had heard good report of them and would not disgrace them so much as to aske for certificates and that he thought charitably of them that they were not the cause nor counsellours and maintainers of scismaticks but the permission of the forraigne Churches and discipline was the occasion of many factious persons in his Diocesse The Deputies told him that the execution of his injunctions would be the dissipation yea the destruction of their Churches that the ministry and poore could not be maintained he seemed not to beleeve it and said that they were not to regard two or three Ministers they replyed they did not speak for themselves but for their Churches many among them not understanding the english tongue he said that was but a designe and that from the beginning they should have sent their children to the parishes to learne the language and accustome them to it from their infancy and youth In fine his full resolution was to have his injunctions put in full execution on the day prefixed and that they should look to it to their perils and commanded Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar-generall to goe on with them the Deputies said they had the Kings royall promise who said he would shew unto the forraigne Churches the same savour which the King his Father had shewed unto them my Lord said that they might goe unto the King if they would as any Subject might doe and his hand should not be the heavier on them for it those that were English borne and the Kings Subjects should be subject to his jurisdiction and if they had any thing to say to him hereafter they might come to him againe and so dismissed the Deputies Now because mention is made of the certificate and good testimony of the Chapter of Canterbury it may be fitly inserted in this place We the Deane and chapter of the cathedrall and Metropoliticall church of Christ canterbury At the request of the Walloon congregation here being and residing do testifie and declare that the body of the same congregation for many yeeres past and still doe very religiously obediently orderly and civilly demeane and behave themselves towards God and all the Kings Majesties officers and others in these parts for any thing we have ever heard to the contrary and most painfully and industriously labour in their severall vocations so as none of them are chargeable or axy wayes burdensome to the English but rather very helpfull to the poorer sort by setting them to spinning and other workes whereby they are much relieved 〈◊〉 kept from idlenesse Neither have we knowne or heard of any just complaints made against the same Congregation for any hinderance or prejudice done by them to the English people 〈◊〉 these parts And we are verily perswaded that the example of their painfull industry and diligent labours doth move and stirre up the honest poore of our Nation to set themselves to worke In testimony whereof we have set our cemmon seale Dated 〈◊〉 our chapterhouse the 25. of March in the yeere of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. the one and twentieth and of Scotland the six and fiftieth Anno Dom. 1623. There was another certificate of the Knights and Gentlemen neere Canterbury couched in the same tenor and words and there was one of the Major Bourmouth of Canterbury in the same stile onely an exception by parenthesis except some few of them whom the body of the said Congregation did not nor doe approve of The Deputies related to the Coetus what had passed between my Lord Arch-bishop them who together found it fitting that they should stay till the fifth of February the day appointed for the assembly of the Synod of all the Deputies of all the stranger Churches in this Kingdome then and there to make a relation of all the passages which had happened unto that day The Deputies of the forraign Churches appeared at the appointed time shewed their letters of credence the persons chosen to be the moderator the Assistant and the Scribe of the Synod according to its custome we intend not to write downe the acts of that Synod in this short Epitome but onely what concernes this businesse the Deputies of Kent made a discourse to the Assembly of what they had done and were approved as having begun there where they should namely with my Lord of Canterbury who otherwise would have been very much offended if they had gone first to the King who would without doubt have sent them to his Arch-bishop but they seeing the Deputies could not by their petition to my Lord cause him to revoke his injunctions and that my Lord told them they might goe to the King if they would they holding their priviledges from the Kings Majesty immediatly and not from my Lord and that they had no other way then to goe directly to the King there being especially no Parliament assembled at that time the Synod found it fitting yea necessary to send joyntly together some Deputies to the King in the name of the whole Synod who represented the forraigne Churches of this Kingdome with a petition to his Majesty and a speech to be made unto him The Deputies were Master Marmet Master Primrose Master Gasparus Master Proast Master Beauuois and John Bulteel Ministers besides Master Lucie and Master du Mont Elders Sir William St. Ravi a French Gentleman was the man who at the request of the Deputies went to the King
Master-piece 〈◊〉 Scotland in imposing upon them a popish Service book the Hellena of Greece and cause of all these controversies and fuell of this fire who supposed his authority not surely setled nor fully confirmed untill Scotland were conformed but God raised the 〈◊〉 of that Nation to oppose it with zeale indignation and courage a woman Dux foemina 〈◊〉 leading the dance Whereupon they proclaimed them Rebels and Traytors and an Army speedily raised to enforce them to obedience the 〈◊〉 popish Clergy and Papists instigating the King to this warre and contributing very largely so that it might be called bellum Episcopale and Papale This caused the religious and valiant Scots to raise an Army in their owne defence and when the two Armies were ready for a bloody encounter God who is the Lord of Hosts and God of peace the Stickler and Umpire of both Armies did cast downe his Warder whereupon a friendly pacification ensued to the joy 〈◊〉 both Nations But the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 did mightily 〈◊〉 against it as a dishonorable disgracefull and dis-advantagious peace to King and Kingdome caused the King to break his promise and to renew the warre imitating Julian the Cardinall who 〈◊〉 Ladislaus King of Hungarie to breake the 〈◊〉 with Amurath the Turkish Ottaman fought a battell with that Emperour and lost his Army and life for both the 〈◊〉 King and that Popish Legat Jnlian were slaine The King called a Parliament to have supplies towards the maintainance of that warre which by the jealousies and feares of the Arch-bishop and such 〈◊〉 was dissolved to the amazement and griefe of the Subjects but God who turneth all to the good of his children turned that dissolution to the benefit and safety of the Kingdome so that England might say with Themistocles My children we had been undone if we had not 〈◊〉 undone For had that Parliament continued it had in all appearance afforded twelve Subsidies which would have fomented that unnaturall warre and in 〈◊〉 would have made a 〈◊〉 quarrell though otherwise then the Parliament did intend And that Parliament in all likelihood would have been contented with a superficiall reformation of the Service-book of prayers of the Civill and Commission Court of the exorbitancy of Bishops of the irregularity of the Star-Chamber c. as Luther at the beginning intended onely to cry downe the base sale of indulgences and 〈◊〉 of pardons and goe noe farther Now the Scots seeing the precedent Parliament 〈◊〉 the Kings eare stopped he could he would not heare any Petition from them entred this Kingdome with a strong Army as farre as Newcastle not with a sword and trowall but with a sword and a Petition not pressing on the Army though having opportunity and advantage publishing their Declaration and sending their Petition to his Majesty for justice in their innocent cause against their violent enemies The King whose heart was in the hand of God as the Rivers of water to turne it which way he pleased embraceth and entertaineth good counsell at York where a Treaty was agreed and a cessation of arms and a 〈◊〉 called which may be named a healing Parliament a Parliament which worketh wonders In this Parliament the Archbishop of Canterbury was impeached of high Treason and sent to the Tower to whom might be said that which was spoken to Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester coopt up in the Tower in King Edward the sixth his dayes by the religious Dutchesse of Suffocke It is merry with Lambs when the Wolfe is shut 〈◊〉 The Archbishop had a long time to repent had his grace had the grace to doe it he was not like Sir Thomas Palmer who on the 〈◊〉 on Tower-hill where he suffered in Queene Maries dayes thanked God that he had caused him to learne more in one little darke corner of that Tower then ever he learned by any travell The Archbishop did not confesse his sinne as Achan who troubled all Israel did to 〈◊〉 and gave glory to God he was according to his 〈◊〉 beheaded the axe making a divorce betweene his head and body 〈◊〉 and by the just judgement of God who hath occasioned a divoce betweene the King the head and his faithfull Subjects the body A yong Martyr at the stake 〈◊〉 and said 〈◊〉 of God shine upon me and immediately it shone out of a darke cloud at the 〈◊〉 of this yong 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 was constrained to looke another way but here immediately after the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and death of this old Impostor and Traytor the 〈◊〉 did shine the curtaine of the clouds drawne open and the Sonne of God the Saviour of the world seemed to be pleased with that act of justice but God's justice on offenders goes nor alwayes in the 〈◊〉 path nor the same pace sometimes the Guest in the Inne goes quietly to bed before the reckoning for his supper is brought to him to discharge others pay it before they goe to bed 〈◊〉 who dyed exemplary a strange death his paines saith Austin encreaseth in hell according as his 〈◊〉 encreased on earth sed nolo 〈◊〉 esse we will not enter into Gods private Closet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dive into his Privy Counsell Lackeys that hold their Masten horses before the Pallace of justice are not to dispute of the causes and sentences of judgement Austin saith Misericordia Dei inter pontem 〈◊〉 My friend judge not me I judge not thee betwixt the stirrop and the ground 〈◊〉 I askt 〈◊〉 I found So might the Arch-bishop find 〈◊〉 the Axe and the Block Howsoever he a tumbling and a stumbling block is taken out of the way and removed from troubling the State and the Church and we leave him to his Lord Master and Judge before whom he stands or fals April 15. 1645. Imprimatur JAMES CRANFORD FINIS Errata Page 6 line 9 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 l. 16 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 11 l. 13 Major Bourmouth r. Major and Bourmouth p. 15 l. 27 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 29 l. 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Majesty p. 29 l. 23 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 32l 15 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 36 l. 38 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 39 l. 21 seizing r. 〈◊〉 p. 40 l. 27. 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 E. Registro curiae com Archiepiscopaliscantuar Extract