Out of ill maners spring good and wholsome lawes The chiefe and especiall pointes of the sayde articles are these that all Preachers there should yeelde their obedience to the Kings Maiesty that they should not pretend any Priuiledge in their allegeance that they should not meddle in matters of State that they should not publikely reuile his Maiesty that they should not draw the people from their due obedience to the King that when they are accused vpon their facts or speeches or for refusing to doo things c. they should not alledge the inspiration of the holy spirit nor serue themselues with colour of conscience but confesse their offences as men and to craue pardon as subiects c. It is great pitty that so worthy a Christian King should be driuen to require such a subscription in his owne kingdome especially of those men that should be lights to the rest and the chiefe examples of all duetifull obedience It is more to be pittied that for ought I can learne his Maiesty cannot as yet obtaine so much at their handes But most of all it is to be lamented that no man can gesse for ought I know how far this Gangrene will spread it selfe At the first they found but faults against the Bishops but after they ouerthrewe them The Anabaptists in Germany began with the Bishops and Clergy but they ended with the ciuill Magistrate Consider of Buchanans dealing whether he maketh not the like assault against Princes that his companions did against Bishops as in deriding their titles misliking their pompe and in glancing at their reuenues He tearmeth the honorable phrases of Maiesty Highnesse and Lordship solaecismos barbarismos aulicos that is vnlawfull corrupt kinds of speech which are vsed in Court and doo proceede as he sayth from flattery Hee gibeth at the state which Princes take vpon them when they shewe themselues to the people comparing them to Childrens puppets which are garishly attyred After also he insinuateth that a good Prince should appeare come abroad only defended with his innocencie non superbo spiculatorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caetu sericatisque nebulonibus stipatus not with a proud company of guarders and of pensioners and of silken knaues He would haue Kings to content themselues with lesse reuenues and seruice commending the Discipline of Laconia where it was strange to haue one man pull off an other mans sockes at his going to bedde and likewise the example of Pelagius that first discomfited the Saracens in Spaine in that he had his house not built after the fashion now a dayes with many stately roomes of honor but was contented with one place for himself his fire his friends and his cattell after the Irish fashion But to let passe these contempts and pointes of Anabaptisme one thing more is likewise to be considered in these Scottish reforming ministers which they haue sucked from their Mother-City Geneua They cannot be content to haue raysed vp sedition and troubles at home to haue slandred both far and nere the most Godly reformation of Religion which their King had made there and to erect you haue seene how in place thereof a meere counterfeit plot of a new Popish tyranny such a one as hath already quite ouerthrown the auncient estate of that Church wroght more mischiefe in that Country in thirty yeares then the Pope of Rome had done before as I thinke in fiue hundred But they presume also much further then becommeth them to cast some of their contentious and disloyall seedes into England Vulpecula cauda amissa reliquis vulpibus callidè persuasit vt similiter ipsae caudas refecarent ne sola turpis deformis in suo genere videretur The Fox hauing lost her tayle craftely persuaded the other Foxes that they would likewise cut off their tayles least she herselfe alone should seeme the foule and deformed beast of all that kinde And hence it commeth as I take it that to bring the flourishing estate of our Church in England into the same misery that theirs is brought into they rayle deuise and clap their handes to set vs here together by the eares Some of them say that our Church is still vnder the bondage of an Antichristian gouernement that our Bishops are a hurtfull relique of Romish confusion that they thrust with side and shoulder to make hauocke of the Church by a disguised persecution and that they do tyrannize aboue their brethren with violence and crueltie They vse these words of her excellent Maiesty Alacke good Princesse the true report of thinges commeth seldome to her eares And do very grossely insinuate nay indeed plainly affirme that there are in Court some crafty miscreants which doo abuse her Maiesty whom they resemble to Ioab Iesabell Haman and Gehasi They doo iustifie the proceedings of our disturbers here animating them to go forward as they haue begun doo tell them that both their causes vz. their owne in Scotland and of our factions in England are most nerely linked together and doo promise that they will not cease to commend their troubled state vnto God in their priuate and publike prayers They compare our hindring in England of the pretended Discipline vnto the hinderance which Gods enemies made vnto the building of Ierusalem They seeke vnder hand to steale away the harts of her Maiesties subiects especially of those that haue beene and still are seduced by our Consistorian Schismatikes by putting them in hope of one Darius that after a time shall giue full authority for the sayde building of Ierusalem Which manner of dealing there is no Darius liuing could take in good part if the like practises were vsed by others amongst his people GOD of his infinite mercy graunt vnto her Maiesty a long a prosperous and a happy raigne ouer vs and so knit the harts of all true English men vnto their Queene of Saba their Hester and their most royall Elizabeth that without the expectation of any Darius whosoeuer they may euer continue her most loyall faithfull and obedient subiects rather wishing in their soules that the world with her Maiesty should end their dayes together then once to take ioy by the least imagination of any future change Amen And thus much of the manner and wayes vsed by certaine Scottish Ministers for Reformation and Discipline Which pointes or Consistorian proceedinges I haue not touched as God knoweth with any minde or intent to dishonour the state of that Country Besides much may well be sayd I assure my selfe in excuse of such of the laity as ioyned in the premisses For I finde they were led with a very great zeale They had beene so long imprisoned in the darkenesse of Popery that when the Gospell appeared vnto them it so dazeled their eyes as that for very gladnesse they considered not well what they did so they might enioy it Their goods their lands their wiues
be serued in the same maner or to preuent all exception as if some Prince of some perticular state or City in Germanie taking vpon him together with his principality the calling of a Preacher Bishop Superintendent or Ruler of many perticular Churches as George the Prince Anhault did should in such a case as the Bishoppe of Geneua was be depriued of both The means which was vsed for such their abandoning of their Bishop was this When they perceiued that the Bishop sought by force to encounter their proceedinges and that as Sleydan noteth hee had excited the Duke of Sauoy to that ende to assist him they ioyned themselues into a more neere amity with Berne So as the Duke and the Bishop comming together to besiege the City they were both repulsed Bernatibus illis auxilium ferentibus The force of Berne assisting the Geneuians Since which time as I suppose it hath been a principle with some of the chief Ministers of Geneua but contrary to the iudgement of all other reformed Churches for ought I know which haue not addicted themselues to followe Geneua that if Kinges and Princes refused to refourme Religion the inferior magistrates or people by direction of the ministerie might lawfullie ought if need required euen by force armes to reform it themselues CHAP. III. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation ACcording to the refourming rule mentioned in the ende of the former Chapter to omit some other examples certaine Ministers in Scotlande with their adherents being meere subiects haue taken vpon them of later yeares by a violent and forcible course to reforme Religion In which course M. Knox a man trayned vp at Geneua in the time of Mary Queene of England and very well instructed for such a worke did shew himselfe to bee a most especiall instrument as it appeareth by a very strange letter written by him from Diepe Anno 1557. Wherein hee sheweth that his opinion and motion of that matter was not grounded onely vpon his owne conceit but vpon the graue counsailes and iudgement of the most godly and learned that then liued in Europe He meaneth the Geneuians Caluin and the rest there Vpon this Letter and some other to and from the sayd Knox An oath of confederacie was taken amongst his followers in Scotland and a testification was made of their intents by a kind of subscription Immediately after they prescribed also Orders for Reformation to be obserued through all that whole Realme Anno 1558. and writ a memorable letter to the Religious houses in the name of the people that they should either remoue thence by such a day or else they woulde then eiecte them by force Shortly after a Parliament being there holden by the Queene Regent they protested to the same that except they had their desires c. they would proceed in their course that neither they nor any that ioined with them should incurre therefore any danger in life or landes or other politicall paines and that if any violence happened in pursuite of those matters they should thanke themselues Afterward the Queene Regent seeing all the disorder that was then proceeded from such of the ministers shee summoned them to haue appeared at Striueling which they refusing to doo were therevpon by the Queenes commaundement as it is there tearmed put to the Horne and all men vnder paine of rebellion were inhibited to assist them But all this notwithstanding their friends did sticke vnto them And presently after vppon a Sermon to that purpose preached by M. Knox in Saint Iohnstowne for the ouerthrowing of Religious houses they fell the same day to their worke and within two dayes had quite destroyed and rased in that towne the houses of the Blacke Fryars of the Grey Fryars and Charterhouse Moonkes downe to the ground And so they proceeded breaking downe images and altars in Fife Angus Meruis and other parts adioyning This course beeing knowne and therevpon the sayde Queene threatning to destroy Saint Iohnstowne they writt vnto her affirming that except shee stayed from that crueltie they should be compelled to take the sword of iust defence and protested that without the Reformation which they desired they would neuer be subiect to anie mortall man Then they writte to all their brethren to repaire vnto them likewise to the Nobilitie vppon paine of Excommunication to ioyne with them saying that it was their duety to bridle the furie and rage of wicked men were it of Princes or Emperours Knox pag. 269. Vpon these letters diuers repaired to Saint Iohnstowne from sundry places in so much as when Lyon Herault in his coat armor commaunded all men vnder paine of Treason to returne to their houses by publike sound of Trumpet in Glasco neuer a man obeyed that charge but went forward to their associatâ— They writte in like manner to the Bishops and Clergie that except they desisted from dealing against them they would with all force and power execute iust vengeance and punishment vpon them and that they would begin that same warre which God commanded Israell to execute against the Cananites This manner of proceeding they tearmed to be the resisting of the enemie After vpon conditions with the Queene this great assembly at Saiut Iohnstowne departed thence But before the seuering of themselues they entred into a league by Oath that if any one member of their congregation should be troubled they should all concurre assist conuene againe together for the defence of the same Presently after vpon a new quarrel against the Queenes dealing an other concourse was made of these reformers at Saint Androes where by M Knox perswasions in his Sermon they made the like hauocke that was before at Saint Iohnstowne and did cast downe spoyle and destroy both the houses of the Fryers and the Abbayes in that towne So dealt they also within a very short time with the Abbay of Scone the Fryars at Striueling at Lithquo at Edenburgh the Queene being fled thence for feare They kept the field two moneths and tooke away to themselues the coyning Irons beeing as the Queene alleaged a portion of the patrimonie of the crowne and iustified the same They entred into a League that though the Queene sent for them they woulde neuer come to her after that time without the consent of their company After the Queene Regent made a Proclamation of her desire of peace and that the state of the Realme might at the last be at quiet but they confuted it did animate those of their faction with all their might to bee alwaies ready to stand vpon their guard They gaue the Queen the lie diuers times and vsed her with most despightfull speeches And at the length they came to that boldnes as that they tearmed the Queenes part a faction and
Ans. Wee may punish theeues and yet wee ought to pray for them Ob. Saint Paule doth command vs to be subiect and obedient to Princes Tit. 3. Ans. Paule writt this in the infancie of the Church There were but fewe Christians then and not many of them rich or of abilitie so as they were not ripe for such a purpose As if a man should write to such Christians as are vnder the Turke in substance poore in courage feeble in strength vnarmed in number fewe and generallie subiect to all kinde of iniuries would he not write as Paul did So as the Apostle did respect the men he writt vnto and his wordes are not to be extended to the body or people of a common wealth or whole Citie For imagine sayth hee that Paul were now aliue where both the King and people do professe Christianity and that there were such Kings as would haue their becks to stand for lawes as cared neither for God nor man as bestowed the Church reuenues scurris balatronibus vpon iesters and rascalls and such as gibed at those that did embrace the more sincere Religion what would he write of such to the Church Surely except he would dissent from himself he would say that he accounted no such for Magistrates hee would forbidde all men for speaking vnto them and from keeping them companie he would leaue them to their subiects to be punished neither would he blame them if they accounted no longer such for their Kings as by the law of God they could haue no societie withall And thus farre the answearer There are diuers other obiections against those reformers which receiue almost as desperate answers But I will not at this time trouble you with them especially if you will giue me leaue to aduertise you that this new Diuinity of dealing thus with Princes is not onely helde by Knox and Buchanan but generally for ought I can learne by most of the Consistorians of chiefe name beyonde the Seas who being of the Geneua humor doo endeuour by most vniust disloyall meanes to subiect to their forged presbyteries the scepters and swordes of Kings and Princes as Caluin Beza Hotoman Vrsinus as he commeth out from Newstadt Vindiciae contra tyrannos Eusebius Philadelphus c. For the further fruit of which Consistorian Diuinitie besides that which is sayd by some of the Ministers of Scotland I referre you to the consideration of such stirres as haue hapned of late yeares in some other countries And thus farre concerning the iustification which is made of the Scottish reformation Now I will leade you backe againe where I left vz. to certaine of the Ministers further proceedings there vppon these aforesaide maine grounds and principles CHAP. VI. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the grounds mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes THe Parliament of Scotland before mentioned Chap. 3. of An. 1560. being dissolued there was then a booke of Discipline or newe kingdome of Christ by their seuerall presbyteries drawne and compiled after the Geneua fashion by M. Knox and others Which booke vpon the offering of it to their associates and fauorites to be allowed receiued and publikely practised was by them reiected and tearmed to bee in truth but a deuout imagination Whereupon now riseth an occasion of a new historie how after they had obtained reformation of religion as touching the true preaching of the worde and administration of the Sacraments they also dealt and preuailed in the ende for the establishing of their Discipline and Consistoriall gouernement It appeareth that in the foresaide spoyles of Abbayes Fryeries and Cathedrall Churches c. euery man almost did seeke his priuate commoditie Which beeing espied before by the saide Ministers they misliked it as finding the pray taken out of their teeth but yet they were gone so far belike as that there was no remedie They told them of it in their sermons in some sort then as it should appear Marry nowe when they came to the ende of their trauaile the hope of their glory the erecting of their gouernment and their raigne ouer all and doo finde themselues crossed therein blame them not though they were not a little angry Then they gaue it out against their owne fauourers afore that some were licentious some had greedilie griped the possessions of the Church others thought they would not lacke their part of Christs coate yea and that before that euer he was hanged Of a Noble man that refused to subscribe to their Discipline as they call it they writ thus He had a very euill woman to his wife if the poore the schooles and the ministerie of the Church had their owne his Kitchen would lacke two parts and more of that which he vniustlie now possesseth And generally to the like effect there were none within this Realme more vnmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Church But in that we haue perceiued the old prouerbe to be true nothing can suffice a wretch And againe the bellie hath no eares They threatned the greatest men of the lande with Gods heauy punishments if they should reiect that Discipline ascribing it to their blind affection to their respect of carnal friends to their corrupt iudgement and to their former iniquities and present ingratitude But notwithstanding that some refused to subscribe to this booke which made the Ministers so angry yet by sundry cunning deuises raylings threatnings c. many yeelded thereunto and did promise thereby to set the same forward to the vttermost of their powers This subscription thus in sort obtained they began to put the same in practise They appointed to haue their assemblies both particular and generall They exercised iurisdictions and appointed one Saunderson to be carted for adulterie but he was rescued A great vprore arising in Edenburgh about the making of a Robinhood they of the Consistorie did excommunicate the whole multitude The Bishops seeking to encounter and represse them in their practises they professed that they would not suffer their pride and Idolatrie They caused diuers places as they tearmed them of superstition to be burnt I thinke they meane some Bishops houses as Palsay the Bishop also narrowly escaping them The Bishops hauing embraced the Gospel it was at first agreed euen by the brethren with the consent of the Regent that the Bishops estate should be maintained and authorised This endured for sundry yeares but then there was no remedie the calling it selfe of Bishops was at last become Antichristian and downe they must of necessitie Whervpon they commanded the Bishops by their owne authoritie to leaue their Offices and their Iurisdictions They decreed in their assemblies that Bishops shoulde haue no voices in Parliament and that done they desired of the
DAVNGEROVS POSITIONS AND PROCEEdings published and practised within this Iland of Brytaine vnder pretence of Reformation and for the Presbiteriall Discipline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious Prou. 24. 21. They despise gouernement and speake euill of them that are in authority Iude. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1593. An aduertisement to the Reader THE Author of this Treatise was required by some persons of honor who might dispose of him and his labours to set downe by way of an historicall narration what hee had obserued touching certaine positions holden and some enterprises atchieued or vndertaken for recommending and bringing the Presbiteriall Discipline into this Iland of Brittaine vnder pretence of reformation The performance of which dutie when hee had vndertaken and was entred into it hee found the worke to grow farre greater vpon him then at the first he did imagine Insomuch as although in the beginning he verily supposed tha hee might easily haue contriued his matter into a few sheetes of paper so that as many coppies as were to bee disposed might easily and in very short time haue beene written forth yet by the necessary length of the Discourse as it fell out and through his manifold quotations hee was constrained as the time required to procure for the better dispatch that some fewe copies might bee printed And albeit there is no meaning that this Treatise laboured but for the priuate satisfaction of some fewe especiall persons should otherwise continue then as an vnpublished Copie yet the writer of it wished to haue it signified that nothing is alleadged therein which is not to be found either in Bookes and writinges published to the view of the world such as he thinketh will not be disclaimed or in publike records or else is to be shewed vnder those parties own hands that haue beene either the principall procurers fauorers or dealers in those thinges whereof hee intreateth Which asseueration of his thus made he will be ready as he sayth God assisting him to iustifie at any time for the satisfaction of such as shall make doubt of it And doth further protest with all sinceritie that he hath not willingly detorted any thing in this whole Discourse to make either the cause it selfe or the fauorors thereof more odious then their owne wordes and deeds shall necessarily inferre and enforce against them with all indifferent and considerate Readers Farewell in Christ. The Contents of the first Booke OF two sorts of men that especially disturbe the Church of England and of the drifts of them both by way of a Preface Chap. 1. Fol. 1. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion and of the Doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached Chap. 2. Fol. 7. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation Chap. 3. Fol. 9. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland Chap. 4. Fol. 14 The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answeres vnto them Chap. 5. Fol. 16. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the groundes mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes Chap. 6. Fol. 18. The Contents of the second Booke The Doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to have procured the like course for Reformation in England to that which was in Scotland Chap. 1. Fol. 34. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it Chap. 2. Fol. 41. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in reuiling and rayling against all that doo encounter them Chap. 3. Fol. 44. The speeches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the State the present reformation and gouernement of the Church Cha. 4. Fol. 47. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiestie c. Chap. 5. Fol. 48. Some of their rayling speeches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England Chap. 6. Fol. 50 Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Chap. 7. Fol. 52. Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall Chap. 8. Fol. 54. Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and ceremonies Chap. 9. Fol. 55. How they doo charge the present gouernement with persecution Chap. 10. Fol. 56. Some of their consistorian speeches of the Clergy of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house Chap. 11. Fol. 58. Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell Chap. 12. Fol. 58. Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergy in England generally that mislike their designements Chap. 13. Fol. 60. Their especiall drift in their said rayling speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose Chap. 14. Fol. 61. The Contents of the third Booke The practises of certaine English reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572 chap. 1. Fol. 65 The secret meetings for Discipline and the matters handled in them heere in England from 1572. till 1583. chap. 2. Fol. 67 A forme or booke of discipline is drawne and a resolution agreed vppon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church chap 3. Fol. 69 About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their discipline and of a consistorian question chap. 4. Fol. 73 Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587 it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places cha 5 Fol. 75. A Synode is held at Couentry 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of discipline is subscribed vnto chap. 6. Fol. 85 The booke of the pretended discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certain Synods are kept and of their estimation chap. 7 Fol. 88 Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed chap. 8. Fol. 91 Cartwright is called for by authority a Synode is held in London it is there resolued that he shall refuse to be examined vpon his oath chap. 9. Fol. 93 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline collected out of the rules of their subscribed booke chap. 10. fol. 94 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline out of the articles they subscribed cha 11. fol. 98. It is confessed that they agreed to
of them they propound to themselues as the fittest patternes for them to followe and namely the Ministers of Geneua but more especially some of the Ministers of Scotland as may hereby appeare As we haue beene an example to the Churches of France and Scotland sayth M. Cartwright to followe vs so the Lorde would haue vs also to profite and be prouoked by their example An other also in this sort Nobiles quidam praecipui huius regni mecum egerunt vt author essem regi meo de tollendis omninò Episcopatibus vt exemplum posteà posset manare in vicinam Angliam Certaine of the chiefe Noble men of England who I thinke nowe are gone dealt with mee by the instigation no doubt of some of our Ministers Anno 1583. to persuade the King of Scotland my maister to ouerthrowe all the Bishoprickes in his countrey that his proceedinges therein might bee an example for England adioyning Vpon a certaine repaire of terme thousand in armes to the King of Scots at Sterling Anno 1585. whereupon the Bishoprickes were indeed suppressed Knewstubbe a Consistorian Minister of Suffolke did write thus to Fielde I would bee glad to heare somewhat of the estate of Scotland it doth more trouble me then our owne For I am conceiuing some hope vpon the change of their former proceeding It also appeareth that there is great and ordinary intelligence betwixt their and our especiall presbyterie ministers for the better and more ready compassing of such deuises and platformes as are sought for by our said ministers so busily amongst vs. The best of our Ministerie sayth Iames Gibson a minister of Scotland to a brother in England are most carefull of your estate and had sent for that effect a Preacher of our Church this last summer 1590. of purpose to conferre with the best affected Ministers of your Church to laye downe a plot how our Church might best trauell for your reliefe And again The Lord knows what care we haue of your Church both in our publike and priuate praiers c. For as feeling members of one bodie we reckon the affliction of your Church to be our owne One Dauison in like manner an other minister of that countrey taketh vpon him to iustifie the proceedings of our malecontent ministers here as it shall herafter more plainely appeare and for the better incouraging of them in their peeuishnes hee telleth them that the iust defence of their holie cause of Discipline must not be left which hath no lesse warrant to bee continued perpetuallie within the Church vnder this precept Feede my sheepe then hath the preaching of the word and ministration of the Sacraments Hee doth also publish it so as the world might take notice of it that the good brethren of England are of the same minde with them of Scotland that both their causes are most neerelie linked together Lastly there is almost nothing more ordinary in all the Consistorian discourses and libels of our owne countreymen whether they bee printed here or in Scotland then to presse vs with the examples of Geneua and Scotland and to inueigle the people of England with I knowe not what great commendation of the proceedings and platformes of some of the ministers in both those places Which points considered being required by those that might command me that whereas certaine writings and letters were come to my handes concerning some courses taken by our saide more friendly disturbers then the Iesuites are but yet very great disturbers I should make the same in some sorte knowne I thought it my best way for the discharging of my duety therein first to lay downe before you the examples patternes proceedings of those Ministers and Churches which those our factious crew propound to themselues to follow secondly that I may not bee enforced to passe by them as one saith D. B. was in his sermon at Paules crosse to make it most apparant vnto you how artificially and effectually they haue already by imitation expressed them Whereby you shall perceiue that although by reason of their said combination and secretnesse vsed many things lie hid from those in authority which they haue done already in the setting forward of their pretended discipline yet there will fall out so much to bee disclosed as laying it to their patternes you may easily discerne notwithstanding all their goodly pretences what to iudge of their proceedings and whereat in truth they doo ayme CHAP. II. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion of the doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached IT seemeth that when the Gospell began first to be preached by Farellus Viretus and others at Geneua they coulde haue beene well content with the gouernement of the Bishop there if hee would willingly haue reiected the Pope and ioyned with them for the reformation of Religion This appeareth by M. Caluins wordes to Cardinall Sadolete Talem nobis Hierarchiam si exhibeant in qua sic emineant Episcopi vt Christo subesse recusent vt ab illo tanquam vnico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societatem colant vt non alio modo quà m eius veritate sint colligati tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fatear si qui erunt qui non eam reuerenter summaque obedientia obseruent If they doo bring vnto vs such an Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement wherein the Bishops shall so rule as that they refuse not to submit themselues to Christ that they also depend vpon him as their onely heade and can be content to rèferre themselues to him in which priestlie gouernment they doo so keepe brother lie societie amongst themselues that they bee knit together by no other knot then by the trueth then surelie if there shall be anie that shall not submit themselues to that Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement reuerentlie and with the greatest obedience that may be I confesse there is no kinde of Anathema or curse or casting to the diuell whereof they are not worthie Thus farre then it must needes be thought that the Bishoppe was offered by suche as soughte to refourme that Church which offer he refusing as I gesse to accept of they dealt as it appeareth by the issue with the inferiour magistrates and people to make such a reformation themselues as they required of them Whereupon the Bishop beeing Lord of the City and hauing aswell in his handes the Soueraigne ciuill Iurisdiction ouer it or as M. Caluin speaketh Ius gladij alias ciuilis iurisdictionis partes c. as the Ecclesiasticall they saide He was a thiefe and an vsurper and so of themselues with such assistance as was procured did thrust him from both those authorities Euen like in my opinion as if a Christian Prince being possessed within his dominions of the supreame Iurisdiction as well in Ecclesiasticall as in ciuill causes might vpon the like occasion
one of that crew then hath written since of them The English Church which was assembled at Geneua was seperated from that superstitious and contentious company that was at Franckford And againe They were more giuen vnto vnprofitable ceremonies then to sincere Religion These things I thought meete for your aduertisement to set downe that the propositions precedent might appeare vnto you not to haue proceeded from any rash or light conceit in our English propounders publishers and maintainers of them but that they doo containe their resolute iudgement agreeable to those points of the Geneua resolution mentioned before out of Knox and Buchanan Whereby it is apparant that if our sayd English Geneuians had found as redy assistance at that time in England as Knox and his complices about or soone after the same time did in Scotland they would not haue fayled to haue put the sayde positions aswell in practise heere with vs as some Scottish Ministers did in that Country Which great mischiefe and disloyall outrage as the state here did then prouidently suppresse and withstande So her Excellent Maiesty hath since preuented by abolishing of the Romish Religion and the restoring of the Gospell which was the quarrell in those dayes pretended So as our English Reformers hauing hitherto had no cause for this point to imitate the foresayde proceedinges in Scotland it remayneth that I shew vnto you how far as yet it is disclosed and how directly they endeuour to follow the said practises of the Scottish Ministers for the erecting vp in England of the Geneua new Papacie CHAP. II. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it IN Scotland notwithstanding that at the last the Ministers had obtayned in some sorte the allowance of the confession of their faith contayning the summe of that doctrine which before they had so greatly desired yet because they wanted the Geneua discipline wherein consisted their very great ioy together with the hope of their future soueraignety they were but a little satisfied with all the rest And euen so it hath fallen out since in England sauing for ought I can read that the sayd Scottish ministers were not then come vnto so great a dotage after this Discipline as there now is growne amongst vs. About some two or three and forty yeares agone and after in the beginning of her Maiesties Raigne the deuisers themselues of this new platforme were well content to accept of and commend such Churches as had abandoned Popery though they had withall imbraced another kinde of Discipline Then in disputation against the Papists and Anabaptists there could bee found in all Fraunce and Geneua but two essentiall notes of the Church vz. the true preaching of the word and the right administration of the Sacraments Then vpon Goodmans Whittinghams Gilbies returne with the rest of their associates from Geneua into England although it grieued them at the hart that they might not beare as great a sway here in their seuerall consistories as Caluin did at Geneua and so not onely repined and grudged at her Maiesties reformation of this Church but laboured as they might to sowe abroade in the lande that seede which hath brought forth a great part of all the disorders troubles and disobediences that since haue ensued Yet notwithstanding they meddle not much in shewe for any thing I can heare of with matters of this Discipline but rather busied themselues about the apparrell of ministers ceremonies prescribed and in picking of quarrels against the common Booke Marry since that Maister Beza deuised a way howe to bring in the Geneua Discipline to be a third essentiall note of the Church since Maister Cartwright hath beene at Geneua and vpon his returne did ingage his credit to iustifie that platforme to be a necessary forme of Gouernement prescribed by Christ for all times and places since Maister Trauerse hath also beene there and did take vpon him in his booke de Disciplina Ecclesiastica to do the like since Maister Cartwright did likewise at his second beeing beyonde the seas sende vs worde in his second booke that Master Beza accounted his sayde third note of the Church vz. the Geneua Discipline to bee as necessarie a note as either the word or Sacraments and since Maister Cartwright and Trauers with the chiefest of their followers in England haue of later yeares vpon consideration of the premisses and further deliberation in their conferences and meetinges to that purpose resolued and concluded generally for the necessity of the same Discipline which before had beene onely deliuered with vs as their priuate opinions Since these times I say the friends and fauorers of it haue from time to time by certain degrees so increased in their fond affections towards it as that now they are in a manner ouercome with the strength and violence of them and doo bragge in their bookes that they will not sticke to dye in the cause Maister Cartwright as I take it had an especiall eye to this deuise when he sayth that certaine of the things which he and his followers do stand vpon are such as if euery haire of their heads were a seuerall life they ought to afford them all in defence of them Diuers other besides doo offer to aduenture their liues for the iustifiyng of it as Vdall Penry nothing will content them without the Geneua discipline For say they it is found to be the onely bond of peace the bane of heresie the punisher of sinne and maintainer of righteousnes It is pure perfect and full of all goodnes for the peace wealth and honour of Gods people and is ordained for the ioy and happines of all Nations The want of the Eldership is the cause of all euill It is not to bee hoped for that any common-wealth will flourish without it This Discipline is no small part of the Gospell it is of the substance of it It is the right stuffe gold for building the Church of God This would make the Church a chast spouse hauing a wonderfull brightnes as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne and terrible like an army with banners Without this Discipline there can be no true Religion This gouernement is the scepter whereby alone Christ Iesus ruleth among men The Churches of God in Denmarke Saxony Tigurin c. wanting this gouernement are to bee accounted maymed and vnperfect The establishing of the Presbyteries is the full placing of Christ in his kingdome They that reiect this Discipline refuse to haue Christ raigne ouer them and deny him in effect to be their king or their Lord. It is the blade of a shaken sword in the hande of the Cherubins to keepe the way of the tree of life Ridiculous men and bewitched As though Christs
the Church there is nothing but sores and blisters yea the griefe is euen deadly at the heart They must needes be not onely traytors to God and his word but also enemies vnto her Maiestie and the land that defend the established gouernement of the Church to be lawfull CHAP. V. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiesty c. THe Bishoppes haue long deceaued and seduced her Maiestie and her people Doo you thinke our Church gouernement to bee good and lawfull because her Maiesty and the state who maintaine the reformed religion alloweth the same why the Lord doth not allow it In effect that her Maiesty and state in maintaining the established gouernement and reiecting theirs doo mayme and deforme the body of Christ and so doo bid God to battell against them Ministers ought not to obey the Prince when he prescribeth ceremonies and a fashion of apparell By the same authority that the Queene commandeth the apparell now appointed to the Ministers she may commaund any piece of Popery so she name it pollicie Achaz of pollicie brought such an altar into Ierusalem as he did see at Damascus where he had ouercome the Idolaters and their Idols But cursed was his policie and so are all they that retaine any thing of their old Idolatrie he addeth for example the candlestickes vppon the Queenes altar kneeling at the communion c. Of necessitie all Christian magistrates are bound to receiue this gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons and to abolish all other Church gouernement Either her Maiestie knoweth not what they desire being abused by the Bishops or else shee is negligent of her dutie and vnthankefull to God Her Maiestie is cunninglie resembled to Ieroboam Ahab Iehoram Ahaz Gedeon Nadab Saule Iehu Asa and Iehosaphat in those points whereby they offended God and she is threatned by their examples in that hauing begon so well she doth not proceede to set vp Christes gouernment throughly A question being asked as the register reporteth by the Bishop of London Anno. 1567. vz. haue we not a godly Prince speake is shee euill There are three answers made by three seuerall men The first what a question is that the fruites do shew The second No. But the seruants of God are persecuted vnder her The thirde Why this question the Prophet answereth in the Psalmes how can they haue vnder standing that worke iniquitie spoiling my people and that extoll vanitie To this obiection that it is Dotanisme to challenge such authoritie ouer Princes meaning the authority which the Eldership challengeth answere is made vz It is flatterie to suffer Princes to do what they list To this position That princes should bee excepted from Ecclesiasticall Discipline and namely from excommunication they answere thus That excommunication should not be exercised against Princes I vtterlie mislike To affirme that It is but a meere mockerie of the Lord and to offer himselfe meaning the now L. Archbishop of Canterbury as a bawd to al maner of sinnes in Princes To insinuate that others being subiect to this correction onelie Princes should be exempted I feare commeth from a worse cause then from simple error CHAP. VI. Some of their rayling speaches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England FOr not admitting the platforme set downe in the first admonition c. Anno. 14. of her Maiestie and suffering the parties that offered it to be punished Thus they write The state sheweth it selfe not vpright alledge the Parliament what it will al honest men shall finde lacke of equitie all good consciences shall condemne that Court. It shalbe easier for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of iudgement then for such a Court. There is no other thing to be looked for then some speedie vengeance to light vpon the whole land prouide aswell as the politicke Machiauels of England thinke they can though God do his worst Likewise of the Parliament the 29. of her Maiestie for their tollerating the Bishops c. in stead of their newe gouernment it is said That they shalbe in danger of the terrible masse of Gods wrath both in this life and in the life to come and that if they did not then abrogate the gouernment by Bishops well they might hope for the fauor and intertainement of Moses that is the curse of the law but the fauour and louing countenance of Iesus Christ they should not see nor euer enioy Againe of the same Parliament it is likewise af firmed that if the reformation desired were not graunted they should betray God betray the truth and betray the whole kingdome They should declare themselues to be an assembly wherein the Lordes cause could not be heard an assembly wherein the felicity of miserable men could not be respected an assembly that wittingly called for the iudgements of God vpon the whole land an assembly wherein trueth religion and pietie could beare no sway There shalbe not be a man of their seede that shall prosper be a Parliament-man or beare rule in England any more Furthermore a prophesie is passed but from that spirit I trust that tooke vpon him to be spiritus mendax in ore prophetarum that if they preuailed not in the said Parliament according to their supplication then the Nauie of the Spaniards should come againe and fight against this land and waste it with fire and sworde that God shal send a terror into the harts of our valiantest and stoutest men that one enemie shall chase a thousand of vs that although we had smit the whole hoast so as there remayned none but wounded men amongst them yet shal euerie man rise vp in his tent and ouerrunne this land Lastly this they write generally of al that do withstād their desires Those kingdomes and states who defend anie Church gouernement saue this of Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons are in danger of vtter destruction None euer defended this Hierarchy of Bishops to be lawfull but Papistes and such as were infected with Popish errors No man can open his mouth against Presbiteries but with a shamelesse face and seared conscience The enemies hereof after the manner of the wicked mentioned in Iob do say vnto the almighty depart from vs because we desire not the knowledge of thy waies yea and in their practise they say who is the almighty that we should serue him This shallbe the portion of as many as to the end oppose themselues against the cause of reformation now laboured for the heauen shall declare his wickednesse and the earth shall rise vp against him the encrease of his house shall goe away it shall flow away in the day of his wrath his eyes shal see his destruction and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almighty They are no better to bee thought of then
enemies to the Gospell of Christ to her Maiestie and people that seeke to keepe Christes holy Discipline from amongst vs. This is that cause against which neuer man yet striued and prospered All the Newgates and Oldgates yea and all the Tiburns in England are too little for such rash and presumptuous he ades that will not giue God leaue to rule but will take the scepter out of his handes I do feare that many of the forwardest ennemies of reformation are not the backwardest frendes that the king of Spain hath in England at this day CHAP. VII Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell OVr Councell may truelie be saide to delight in the iniury violent oppression of Gods saincts Ministers therefore the Lord wil surely visite our Councel with an heauie plague Our Councel cannot possibly deale truely in matters of iustice betweene man and man insomuch as they bend all their forces to bereaue Iesus Christ of his gouernment The which vngodly and wicked course as they haue held on euer since the beginning of her Maiesties raigne so at this day they haue taken great boldnesse and growne more rebellious against the Lord and his cause then euer they were In so much as their honors in token of thankefulnesse to him that exalted them dare now charge the cause of reformation to be an ennemie vnto our state and such as fauor the same to be vnquiet and factious men disturbers of the common peace and quietnes and sowers of sedition among the subiects They do not ablie detect their impiety against God and their enmitie to the kingdome of his Sonne Christ they offer iniury to her Maiestie If her Maiesty giue eare to such Councellors shee may haue cause one day to lament Assuredly those that are our ennemies for the profession of the truth meaning the pretended Discipline cannot bee her Maiesties sure frendes whatsoeuer they pretend Sathan worketh the defacing of the way of truth supporteth his owne kingdome by instruments of no meane countenance Be they noble or vnnoble Councellors or inferior men I am so farre from fearing their power that the more I see them rage the greater strength I haue to stand to the truth which they raue against I do warne and admonish those Councellors with whome and against whome especially I deale in this Treatise to repent them of their great insolencie whereby they haue beene puffed vp with Senacharib to magnifie and oppose themselues against the cause and people of the Lord of Hosts as against the Religion and people of some of the Gods of the earth Otherwise they are to feare least the Lord hauing raised vp many of them out of mean places into the throne of iustice meaneth to shew his power and great name by making them examples of his fearefull wrath as he did Pharaoh who wrought his owne ouerthrow If men will wonder that we being so contemptible in the sight of the world dare yet be so bold as to controll great states and mightie men and to chalenge them of iniustice against the Sonne of God and his members who will not sticke to brag with Pilate that they haue power to crucifie Christ to absolue him they are to vnderstand that wee know of no power but from aboue and therefore of no power that is able to beare out iniustice and wrong The hils of the Robbers wee grant to bee high and vnassayleable in the sight of an eye of flesh but we haue learned of the holy man to account the habitation of the wicked to be accursed euen when hee seemeth to be best rooted for we know that the steppes of his strength shall bee restrayned and that his Counsaile shall cast him downe CHAP. VIII Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall THe Magistracy and ministery haue walked hand in hand in the contempt of true Religion and vnto both the worde of the Lorde is made a reproch Amongst those who deale in the cause of iustice there are found wicked persons euen wicked lawyers and iudges who seeme to know of no other God but their owne gaine that lay waite for the blood of Gods saints as hee that setteth snares and marke whether they can heare of any that go further in the cause of God then the corruption of our state doth permit And if they finde any such they know how to wrest against them a clause of some statute contrary not onely to the meaning thereof but euen contrary vnto all iustice and equity yea common reason it selfe and the verie groundes of all good lawes and statutes So that it is now growen and hath bene of a long time a common practice of these Godlesse men to make of the statutes ordained for the maintenance of Religion and common quietnesse a pit wherein to catch the peaceable of the land The common inditements of the Lords true and faithfull Ministers for matters of trifles as the omission of the surplisse churching of women crosse in Baptisme c. doth manifestly witnesse the iniquitie of these Atheists The lawes that maintaine the Archbishops and Bishops are no more to bee accounted of then the lawes maintaining the Stewes The humaine lawes that maintaine them are wicked and vngodly The lawes are made their common sanctuarie to defend all our wickednesse Impiety is suffered to beare sway against the maiestie of God and that by law and authority Such lawes are retayned in force as iustle and ouerthrow the royall prerogatiue of the sonne of God As great indignity is offered vnto Iesus Christ in committing his Church vnto the gouernement of the common law as can be by meane hyrelings unto a king in committing his beloued spouse vnto the direction of the mistresse of the Stewes and enforcing her to liue after the lawes of a brothel-house CHAP. IX Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and Ceremonies WE striue for true religion As our lackes are there can be no right religion Many religions are mixed together of Christ and Antichrist of God and the deuill Christes Religion is fondly patched with the Popes ioyning fire and water heauen and hel together The truth in a manner doth but peepe out from behinde the screene Their prescript forme of seruice is full of corruption In all the order of their seruice there is no edification but confusion The Communion booke is an vnperfect booke culled and picked out of that popish dung hill the portuise and masse-booke and many of the contents therein be such as are against the word of God And Martin senior calleth it our sterue-vs Booke The Sacraments are wickedlie mangled and prophaned They eate not the Lords supper but play a pageant of their own to
we here may vnderstand your minde we will I trust as we can further it M. Allen liketh well of the matter CHAP. III. A forme or booke of Discipline is drawen and a resolution is agreed vpon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church WHilest the brethren in the Countrey were comming thus fast on forward as you haue heard in the ende of the former Chapter you must not thinke that the Rabbies in London were in the mean time idle Hitherto it should seeme that in all their former proceedings they had relied chiefly vpon the first admonition and Cartwrights booke as hauing had no particular and seuerall platforme that was generally allowed of amongst them for the Church of England But now at the length about the yeare 1583. the forme of Discipline which is lately come to light was compiled and thereupon an assembly or Councell being helde as I thinke at London or at Cambridge certaine decrees were made concerning the establishing and the practise thereof In which decrees mention is made of a collection concluded vpon for the Scottish Ministers fugitiues here in England 1583. which sheweth the time when they were made order is likewise taken for the putting in vse of the Synodicall Discipline which also prooueth the age of that booke The decrees themselues are extant to bee seene vnder Maister Wights hande a man of that brotherhood But it may not be omitted that you must thinke how the godly brethren in all these and such other their zealous courses had neuer any meaning to disturbe the present state established And thereupon forsooth in this conspiracy or councell mentioned like good and quiet spirited men they had an especiall care that the peace of the Church might not be broken by any order or decree of theirs So as then the question amongst them was seeing the Discipline must needs vp how farre they might proceede in the establishing and practise of it keeping notwithstanding the peace of the Church established already by her Maiesty And it was ouerruled accordingly as it followeth in the decrees themselues faithfully translated worde for word out of their owne Latin coppy The title thereof vz. These be the thinges that doo seeme may well stande with the peace of the Church The Decrees Let no man though he be an Vniuersity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take vpon him an vncertaine and vague Ministery though it be offered vnto him But such as bee called to the Ministery by some certaine Church let them impart it vnto that Classis or conference wherof themselues are or else vnto some greater Church assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them bee commended by their letters vnto the Bishop that they may bee ordayned Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Booke of common prayer which being taken from Popery are in controuersie doo seeme that they ought to bee omitted and giuen ouer if it may bee done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be depriued then this matter must bee communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the iudgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the articles of Religion and to the booke of common Prayer shall be againe vrged it is thought that the booke of articles may be subscribed vnto according to the statute 13. Eliz. that is vnto such of them onely as containe the summe of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many waighty causes neither the rest of the articles in that booke nor the booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Churchwardens and Collectors for the poore might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons When they are to be chosen let the Church haue warning fifteene dayes before of the time of election and of the ordinance of the Realme but especially of Christs ordinance touching appointing of watchmen and ouerseers in his Church who are to foresee that none offence or scandall doo arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duely abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts vz. men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to choose men of custome and of course or for their riches but for their faith zeale and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the meane time to be so directed that they make choise of men that be meete Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their dueties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be receiued vnto the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethren are to be requested to ordaine a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalfe that are set downe in the Sinodicall Discipline touching Classicall Prouinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to kepe acts of memorable matters which they shall see deliuered to the Comitiall assembly that frō thence they may be broght by the prouincial assembly Also they are to deale earnestly with patrones to present fit men whensoeuer any Church is fallen voide in that Classis The Comitiall assemblies are to bee monished to make collections for reliefe of the poore and of schollers but especially for reliefe of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendred by the Bishoppes also for reliefe of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary vses All the prouinciall Synodes must continually afore hand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next prouinciall Synodes and for the sending of chosen persons with certaine instructions vnto the Nationall Synode to be holden whensoeuer the Parliament for the kingdome shall be called and at some certaine set time euere yeare Hitherto the Decrees of this graue Councell whereby it seemeth to me that when they resolued they might proceede thus farre and keepe notwithstanding the peace of the Church of England established they opposed in that resolution the worde peace to warre as though they should haue agreed how far they might runne on in this race without vrging of their followers to force armes For otherwise how could any sober men so much as once haue imagined that they might in this sort ouerthrow in effect the present gouernement and establish their owne deuises and yet neuer breake the peace of the Church But I will not presse this point It is more agreeable to my purpose to pursue the chase CHAP. IIII. About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their Discipline and of a Consistorian question TO
vnto it c. Againe if you loue Christ and his Church before your owne glorie and your owne sinnes haue shut vp your mouth then be silent for euer And notwithstanding that Wilcox tooke exception to their authoritie yet in the Letter wherein Field answereth that point and many others he beginneth thus The Lord Iesus open your eyes and giue you such a true sence and feeling of your sins that howsoeuer you for a time be throwne to Sathan in the end your soule may be saued and you may feele assurance of eternall life c. What the issue of this matter was amongst them I find it not It seemeth that in the end Wilcoxe for lacke of his former maintenance which was withheld from him by the brethrens procurement vpon perswasion that after a time he should be restored to his ministerie againe and in the meane space be relieued he was faine to yeeld and to submit himselfe vnto their censure by them tearmed the Scepter of Christ. Marrie still he thought himselfe to be hardly vsed and after some time of expectation desired as it seemeth to know how long hee should vndergoe their heauie indignation Whereunto Field answered thus The brethren thought meet to admonish you vtterly to surcease For how long or how short mee thinkes you should not enquire considering the circumstances who know very well your selfe that if an otherwere in your case that no time can bee limited Neuerthelesse if you doubt the iudgement to bee too hard that already is giuen you may aske the priuate opinions of others your best friends as of Master Cartwright and M. Thomson who are of mind that you are for euer disabled to that function c. CHAP. XV. They haue ioyned themselues into an association or brotherhood and doe appropriate to their meetings the name of the Church THere is often mention made in the premises of the brethren but yet in none other sense thē they approriate to themselues in sundrie of their writinges and Letters as Salute the brethren Salute the reuerend brethren Master Trauers Chark Barber Gardner Egerton Salute our most reuerend brother Maister Cartwright Salute our reuerend brother Maister Cartwright and the rest of the brethren The brethren salute you Commend me to all our brethren Commend mee to all the brethren with you the brethren with vs here are in health Commend me to Maister Charke and Maister Trauers with all the rest of the brethren Remember me to the brethren Let him be accounted among the brethren as hee deserueth I writ to my Mother to speake to you and our good brethren to prouide me of some honest brother to Catechise my family To Maister Field with the rest of the Godly Ministers his brethren in London To his beloued brother Maister Field and to all other his faithfull brethren namely of the Ministery at or about London Our brethren haue determined I'trust you are so linked together by the bond of brotherly loue and the desire of the pure Discipline of the church that nothing may sunder you The brethren assembled the Godly brethren our pore brethren here at Oxford do long to heare from you and in the Articles whervnto they subscribed we the brethren c. Vppon the occasion of these termes and many other such like it is found out by examination that this Classicall and reforming consort with their followers haue diuided themselues from all the rest of the ministerie and Christians in England and linked themselues into a newe brotherhood with this lincke vz. as Doctor Cricke tearmeth it the desire of the pure Discipline thereby shewing themselues to be most notorious Schismatickes When Salutations are written saith maister Iohnson by the brethren that seeke reformation as vnto the godly brethren the meaning is as I euer tooke it to such as haue submitted themselues vnto the holy Discipline Againe when the name brother is giuen to ministers it signifieth them to be of some Classis for their consulting and setting vp of Christes kingdome and when to the laitie those that generally do ioyne with the ministers for the discipline and doe euery of them submit themselues to a minister of some of the Classis c. And these both ministers and people are the godly brotherhood denying the name properly of a godly brother or sister to any other The same also in effect hath he deposed in the Starre-chamber where he further addeth that thus he thought himselfe when hee was of that brotherhood and that it was so commonly maintayned both by him and by the rest of the Northampton Classis And maister Edmondes in like maner hath deposed as much to the same purpose both in the Starre-chamber before her Maiesties Commissioners for causes ecclesiasticall This saith he I do know that when salutations were sent or letters written to London from some Ministers abroad as from Fen or Cartwright c. to maister Field the rest c. therby was alwaies meant properly the ministers or the brotherhood of the Ministery in London and when they vse the name or phrase of godly brethren or sisters or godly brotherhood or sisterhood they meane generally both all the said Ministers and likewise as many as do depend vpon them for the cause of reformation So as the rest of the Ministers and people who and wheresoeuer that doe not ioyne with them as is before said are altogether excluded out of their brotherhood insomuch as they will auoide the company of all other as much as they can possibly refusing eyther to buy or sell or to eat or drinke with them Againe it may not in any wise be omitted that in their seuerall said letters other writings they vse oftentimes the name of the Church and of the Churches in as lewd a sence as they do the name of brethren Thus they write I know the state of this Church Make knowen to vs the state of the Church with you Our Churches are in danger of such as hauing beene of vs do renounce all fellowship with vs. The hand of God is like to be heauy vpon our Churches here if the malice of Sathan and his instruments be not preuented A woman with vs c. sometimes thought to be a friend to Religion c giueth it forth that Maister Walsh had laid witchcraft vpon her She would haue had him conuented by some of the Iustices but when he was once named she was repelled Now she is come to London c She deuiseth newe matter against him and against vs all as that wee should haue had meetinges at her house c. and that wee haue a priuate iurisdiction among our selues thinking that this will make her entrance vnto the Archbishop or high Commissioners c. I pray you first conferre with maister Walsh and then deale as secretly as you may to medicine these mischiefes It is long since
iust occasions committed to prison the matter was greatly grudged at so taken to heart amongst the reforming and zealous brotherhoode as that many deuises and complots were as it seemeth in deliberation not onely how the saide prisoners might for the present bee defended and deliuered but also how thereupon they might proceede for the setting vp of their Discipline To this purpose in mine opinion these words of Wiggintons are verie pertinent Maister Cartwright is in the Fleeâ—e for refusall of the othe as I heare and Maister Knewstubs is sent for and sondry worthy ministers are disquieted who haue been spared long So that wee looke for some bickering ere long and then a battel which cannot long endure How far these wordes may bee drawne I leaue it to be considered of by those that can discerne of such like kind of phrases This I can assure you of that vppon what grounds I know not through the course which was held by the magistrats here against the said prisoners there was great expectation and as it were a hope conceiued by their fauorers in another cuntrey of some bickering amongst vs about that time as Wigginton writeth of Thus a man that hath been of especiall account in Scotland did write vnto a friend of his in England I attend your next answere aswell of the estate of your Church as of all other affaires For there is here great worde of sondry vprores which I trust be false or repressedin due season by her Maiestie But that passeth all to this purpose which falleth out most apparantlie by the view taken of such letters and papers as were found vpon the apprehension of Hacket and his Prophets CHAP. VI. One Edmond Copinger tooke vpon him to worke Cartwrightes c. deliuerance he pretendeth an extraordinary calling and acquainteth diuers with it one Gibson a Scot P. Wentwotrh Cartwright Wigginton Charke Trauers Egerton c. WHilest some were deuising of one way and some of an other for the good of the saide prisoners c. One Edmond Coppinger with his familiars could find no meanes to bee looked for except it might please God according to the foresaide positions to stir vp some zealous brethren by some extraordinary calling to effect their desires This cogitation as it seemeth no soner grew vpon theÌ„ but that by and by they fealt as they thought in themselues some certaine slender instigations to such a heauenly purpose It appeareth that towards the latter end of December 1590 Copinger Arthington and Iohn Bentley maister Knightlies man did hold a fast at one Thomas Lancasters house a scholemaister in Shoe-lane It began vpon the Saturday at night and held till Sonday at night In the time of this fast vz. the Saterday at night Coppinger as he said found himself very extraordinarily exercised c. with a wonderfull zeale to set forth Gods glory any waies which lawfully he might enter into At that time also I mean at that last fast Arthington had likewise his extraordinary calling Thus Copinger did write of his matter to Lancaster the letter was also subscribed vnto by Arthington In your house in your presence and partly by your meanes I had my first extraordinarie calling and of the same minde is my brother Arthington Copinger the next day after the saide fast did ride into Kent and vpon his returne which was with some speed he signified vnto his fellow-fasters how he had been extraordinarily called both before his going the said Satterday at night also in his iourney since he departed from them vz. how God had reuealed vnto him such a secret mystery as was wonderful By the way saith he as I rid I fansied to my selfe that there was leaue giuen mee to speake to God in a more familiar manner then at any time before also I perswaded my self that his spirite did giue me many straunge directions wherein the Lord would vse me to doe seruice to his most glorious Maiestie and to his Church Concerning the substance of his said reuelation hee also tolde Arthington Lancaster thus much vz. that he knew a way how to bring the Queene to repentance and to cause all her Counsell and Nobles to do the like out of hand or els detect them to bee traytors that refused After the relation of these things within a day or two this Copinger and Arthington held another fast by themselues Whereupon saith Copinger I was againe stirred vp to such businesse of such importance as in the eyes of flesh and bloud was likelie to bring much danger to my selfe and vnlikely to bring any good successe to the Church of God Of these his instigations or reuelations hee writ to some preachers in the Realme and to some without as namelie a letter the last day of December 1590. to one Gibson a kinde of preacher in Scotland Wherein hee greatly complayneth of the present state of our Church and desireth of him to bee instructed from the brethren there in diuers points concerning an extraordinarie calling Thee state of our Church saith hee groweth worse and worse our zealous Ministerie and Magistracie are daylye disgraced and displaced the meanes of helpe is taken away except that God woulde eyther moue her Maiestie inwardly shee being bereaued of those holy helpes which Gods seruantes enioy in the publike exercise of religion or else stirre vp some faithfull Zorobabell or Nehemiah to let her see how the Lordes house lyeth waste and how vsurpers of Antichristian tiranny doe keepe Christ Iesus from gouerning in his kingdome And then hee addeth My selfe am acquainted with some who to do seruice herein would aduenture the losse of their liues so that they might haue warrant from the worde for their so doing and haue approbation by the Church And to this end they fancy to themselues to haue receiued an extraordinary calling wherein they feare to be abused by Sathan Then followeth his petitioÌ„ And therefore I thogh most vnworthy haue aduentured to write vnto you to beseech you in the bowels of Christ Iesus to haue conference with such as are most able to aduise you on our behalfe and to returne answere how a man may examine himselfe in this matter and what be the extraordinarie thinges which must bee in him that is so called what course he is to take to haue his extraordinarie calling knowne first to himselfe and then to the Church After hee had sent away this letter into Scotland hee began to draw his doubts into some Methode and did propound them all in eight questions The chiefe summe whereof it this whether in these dayes and in this countrey where there is but preaching heere and there where the Discipline is not established but oppugned by the publike Magistrates whether there bee place for any extraordinarie calling immediately from God of workers and helpers to his Church c. These questions thus contriued hee sent them to his olde acquaintance Wigginton who iustly